I wouldn't sweat Foulke, jg. Two hits and one ER (on a sacfly) isn't the end of the world. Hell, let's face it, neither the BoSox or Rangers have a pitching staff to brag about. That said, my favorite heckle of the game was caught between: "Big Poopy"* or "Papsmearbon"**. Both, somewhat sadly, courtesy of my friend M, who was three seats down from me. *Probably not the first coinage of said name. **Should I know this guy? At least you can chuckle up Lowe's line tonight.
fenriq, I can feel the sarcasm in your reply, no offense but I will consider the source regarding "expecting too much from an astros fan" comment. I guess you just heard of Barry Bonds. Having lived in the SF Bay Area for 16 years before moving back to Houston, I frequently went to Giants/Astros games before and during Bonds arrival. The guy is without a doubt a great ballplayer, but is a no talent ass clown when it comes to interaction with fans...simply put he has no class. I also think that without cheating, he still had the best chance of the homerun record(s). Make no mistake that he cheatec...so did numerous others granted, but they did not have the same level of talent he did. You can make a feeble attempt to insult my being an Astros fan, but unless you are a White Sox fan, your second rate team watched the W.S outside of the chalk lines...who knows maybe the Astros will too this year, but until then, we are the current N.L. champs...none the less I hope your team does well and gives you joy like mine did. Good Luck! (seriously)
Being a "no talent ass clown" to the fans doesn't mean he deserves to be singled out and persecuted as he is and has been. You say, make no mistake that he cheated. Where is the proof? Without proof, you're blowing smoke. And until you and baseball have some proof, it would be a helluva lot more fair to not treat him as if he's guilty just because he's an asshole. Its easier to hate him because he doesn't give a damn what the fans think or what the press thinks. But that doesn't mean that he's automatically guilty and I'm truly sick and tired of the pre-judgment. How would you feel if you went to court and the judge said "So, you guilty asshole, how do you plead?" That's pretty much what Bonds puts up with everyday. BTW, on a more congenial note, I was sorry to see Bagwell have to retire. He was and is a class act (with a funny batting stance) and his presence will be missed.
Nomar Garciaparra's debut with the Dodgers was put off because the converted first baseman injured a muscle in his right side during his first at-bat in Sunday's exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Angels. His injuries are getting very random and ridiculous. Hell, let's face it, neither the BoSox or Rangers have a pitching staff to brag about. I don't think the pitching for Boston is all that bad at all for once.
Agreed, though Foulke's outing would have been worse if Coco hadn't made a terrific catch. I'm willing to overlook it given the quality of Foulke's pitching this spring. Assuming it's a one-time thing, obvs.
It will definitely take more than a single outing to get a read on Foulke especially. Coco has got some wheels. I have a feeling I am going to enjoy the Crisp era.
Foulke is going to take some time to get it all together. If it ain't together by July, I'll worry. I'm perfectly willing to give him April and May. jerseygirl, you got that right: Coco can flat out fly.
I gather from the list of predictions that the Twins will not be involved very much in MLB this season other than to watch a giant Palmeiro jersey burn in Baltimore.
that vastly overrated Bonds. he's probably the best player in history(if not, he's in the top 3) and most certainly the best player of my lifetime. But yea, he's vastly overrated (rollseyes). It's a shame you've let the media so unfairly cloud your judgement on the greatest player of our generation. Meanwhile, your beloved Biggio attempted to bribe a police officer his rookie year when he was driving under the influence, yet statues are being erected for him in the city. We never hear about that, or the fact that Kirby Pucket held a gun to his wife and kids head, or that Cal Ripken refused to stay in the same hotel as his teammates late in his career...because those guys are media darlings. But because Bonds refuses to do interviews, we know every sordid detail of his life and the sheeple lap it up like milk.
sheeple? Is that like a Puggle? The "greatest player" of our generation was juicing during some of his "greatest" contributions. I think that excludes him from wearing the "greatest" moniker.
jerseygirl, again, where is your proof of your allegation that Bonds cheated? bdaddy, exactly, Bonds is vilified because he doesn't give a damn about the media and fans love to hate on the great (sorry). Until there's proof of Bonds' "cheating" its all speculation. And the best anti-proof would be a good season this year with forty or so dingers.
Really fenriq? Does the whole SI article and the Bonds book need to be recapped?
vastly over-rated bonds - the truest words ever spoken. in the top 3? Not really in the top ten. A left fielder who could run a little when young. couldn't begin to hit .300 his first five years in the bigs. compare him to Albert Pujols and consider his entire career. Made by the media not his deeds.
Really fenriq? Does the whole SI article and the Bonds book need to be recapped? well it would help if the information wasn't from TWO SAN FRANCISCO COLUMNIST and the information wasn't completely obtained by ILLEGAL MEANS that can't be confirmed by anyone involved. In fact the subject of most of the information (the Balco exec) has said he will be coming forward with information to prove that most of the data in that book is untrue. Now I'm not saying he didn't juice, in fact I believe he did...the point is, the only proof anyone has is illegally obtained information that you nor I have any right to know to begin with (nor any real reason to trust that information over any other allegations)
vastly over-rated bonds - the truest words ever spoken. in the top 3? Not really in the top ten. A left fielder who could run a little when young. couldn't begin to hit .300 his first five years in the bigs. compare him to Albert Pujols and consider his entire career. Made by the media not his deeds. That is the most ludicrous statement I've ever read. Career 1.053 OPS. 500 steals. 6 time MVP. 8 gold gloves. What are you doing reading a baseball thread? You obviously have no understanding of the sport
In one breath you call him the greatest of our generation, in the other you say you believe he cheated (while making some of his most noteworthy contributions)? That logic doesn't really make sense to me. That's like saying "Bill Clinton was the most faithful and true Presidential husband!" and then following it up with "Oh yeah, he totally got one from Monica in the Oval Office"
The "greatest player" of our generation was juicing during some of his "greatest" contributions. In pittsburgh (before anyones even hinted he took steroids) - from another thread * Top 10 in HR 3 times * Top 10 in OBP 4 times * Top 10 in SLG 4 times * Top 10 in Runs 6 times * Top 10 in RBI 3 times * Top 10 in SB 4 times * Top 10 in extra base hits 6 times * Two MVP Awards This was all before 92...he didn't get accused of steroids in the book until 2001. He was a HOFer well before he ever "allegedly" put the needle in himself.
(03-07) 11:47 PST -- Barry Bonds began using steroids after the 1998 baseball season and came to rely on a wide variety of performance-enhancing drugs over the next several years, according to a book written by two Chronicle reporters and excerpted in this week's Sports Illustrated.
In one breath you call him the greatest of our generation, in the other you say you believe he cheated (while making some of his most noteworthy contributions)? 1) I don't believe he cheated while making his most noteworthy contributions. His 73 HRs in 2002 doesn't make him the greatest any more than McGuires 70 does. His most noteworthy contributions were his 20 years, 1.053 OPS, 500 steals. 6 time MVP, 8 gold gloves, etc...most of which came before his 2001 alleged doping. 2) I have no reason to suspect that any of the others he's being compared against didn't cheat. In fact, just the opposite, most did. "Greenies" were all the fad in baseball. Who knew which guys corked bats. HOF pitchers admitted to doctoring the balls.
1:47 PST -- Barry Bonds began using steroids after the 1998 baseball season and came to rely on a wide variety of performance-enhancing drugs over the next several years, according to a book written by two Chronicle reporters and excerpted in this week's Sports Illustrated. well then that is flawed. His stats from 1992 to 2000 are virtually identical across the board...so if he was taking something, it wasn't working. The only spike you see is in 2001. And I won't be reading the book, but I thought the whole premise of it was that he became jealous of the attention McGuire got and that's when he started.
And I won't be reading the book, but I thought the whole premise of it was that he became jealous of the attention McGuire got and that's when he started. I think that's the other book. There is a couple of them coming out.
Pittsburgh Pirates, same old same old, bring in Torres to blow the game.
jerseygirl, yes, yes it does because the book is based on circumstantial evidence that was obtained illegally and has already been publicly refuted by Victor Conte. Proof isn't allegations from a scorned mistress and illegally obtained and then twisted grand jury testimony. Look, everyone's entitled to an opinion about the guy but don't go and try to say that your opinion is fact until you have something concrete to back it up with. And, good points, bdaddy. If he was enhancing his performance then wouldn't his numbers reflect more power or speed? Funny how little things like stats are overlooked in the witch hunt.
Oh for Christ's sake.
Of course he's clean. He and Sosa and McGwire, etc. etc. all went from scrawny toothpicks to brick shithouses by drinking carrot juice and taking Flinstone chewables. How silly of us to put any credence in a well written, extremely detailed investigative piece written by...oh my god...journalists from San Francisco. And if Victor Conte (convict) says it's not true, then golly, it must not be true.
Sarcasm, but really, you have to recognize that all of the secret grand jury testimony and secret evidence would open them up to criticism. Scan your evidence, post it on the internet, and let everyone see it. Otherwise, we just have to take their word for it. We already know that editors make no effort to fact check these things (ask Oprah).
Comming soon this year to CSI SportsFilter: Bdaddy tells Hank Aaron "He beat you fair and square old man.... where is your evidence?"
I wouldn't sweat Foulke, jg. Two hits and one ER (on a sacfly) isn't the end of the world. Normally I'd agree. But in the big picture, considering how he finished last year, and the fact that he seems a bit of a head case (IMO), I'm pretty negative about foulke working out. They're claiming he was just throwing fastballs and ingoring his change up since the lead was so large. I don't get that. 89 mph with no change up is batting practice. Give me a bat. Hell, let's face it, neither the BoSox or Rangers have a pitching staff to brag about. I don't know. There are a lot of 'ifs' on the sox, but if everything falls into place they could have their best staff in recent memory. The yankees staff has a few questions also. Gonna be interesting.
Phew. I made it all the way through the article (stopping on occassion for things like meals). For those more pressed for time, here are the ten jokes that Gallo managed to "compress" into 162: 1) The Yankees have a $200 million payroll, and that's kooky. 2) Theo Epstein has kooky emotional issues. 3) Barry Bonds has a kooky relationship with media and fans... this being that they hate him. 4) Some players did some kooky performance-enhancing drugs. 5) Manny Ramirez is just so kooky. 6) Kenny Rogers has a kooky habit of hitting people. 7) The Marlins have a very inexperienced roster, which is, of course, kooky. 8) Kerry Wood has a kooky habit of getting hurt. 9) Johnny Damon's arm is kookily weak. 10) The media throw an inordinately kooky amount of their coverage on teams from New York and Boston. (To underscore this point, Gallo -- a member of the media -- devotes about 100 of his 162 jokes to New York and Boston players and teams.) This article : Funny article :: "A Night At The Roxbury" : Chris Kattan SNL skit
