2011/2012 MLB Off-season Thread

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by moon

But I hate Phillips and find Votto and Bruce very overrated.

I am curious why you think Votto is overrated...is it defence? because across the board, his career offensive stats are pretty remarkable and consistent.

[moon]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

I am curious why you think Votto is overrated...is it defence? because across the board, his career offensive stats are pretty remarkable and consistent.

I don't think he is in the category of the top players in the game. He shouldn't have won the MVP over Pujols two years ago and I think people often forget how old he is.

I think a lot of people think he is amongst the top hitters in the game and I think he is a step below the top guys.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't think he is in the category of the top players in the game. He shouldn't have won the MVP over Pujols two years ago and I think people often forget how old he is.

I think a lot of people think he is amongst the top hitters in the game and I think he is a step below the top guys.

Fair enough.

[moon]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

Fair enough.

Also as I mentioned earlier I am biased because I hate the Reds more than any other team in the league.

[Sylvanfan]

I hate Jay Bruce. Mostly because he's been a fantasy nemesis of mine, none the less he's my most hated player in the league. St.Louis can still win the NL Central if Carpenter pitches the way he did in the second half and post season.

[dustyanddaflames]

Bedard = Pirates = NL Central Champs

[Drake]

Milwaukee Brewers' star outfielder Ryan Braun's original test for performance-enhancing drugs as the playoffs were winding down in October was "insanely high, the highest ever for anyone who has ever taken a test, twice the level of the highest test ever taken," said a source familiar with the developing case in which Braun was reported to have tested positive for an elevated level of testosterone caused by a synthetic substance, triggering a possible 50-game suspension if the test results are upheld.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...ticle-1.990020

[bluejays]

^ That's an interesting link as the last line quoted infamous Victor Conte saying:

As soon as he was notified of the positive, Braun took a second test, and that test showed normal levels of testosterone. The test was independent of the first sample, which may or may not work toward clearing Braun since many drugs can be flushed from the body quickly.
"The second test probably means nothing," said Victor Conte, the BALCO founder at the center of the steroids scandal in the early 2000s and now a proponent of clean performance. "Depending on the method of ingestion, whether it's injected or taken orally, it could easily be out of the system."

One thing to keep in mind is you don't have to be jacked to be on the juice. From what I understand your body takes on the physique you're training it in, so an Ethopian long distance runner will continue to be skinny, but they'll be able to recover faster than anyone else, from training, and will be able to train much more than their competitors because of this quick recovery. Who knows if Braun is on the juice. You can't tell just from looking at him, but I'm very curious what his defence will be.

[dustyanddaflames]

I don't think there is any defence to be had in something like this - unless part b of his urine sample shows something different. From my understanding part a is tested, if tested positive, they use part b of the same urine sample for confirmation. If confirmed - Braun really has no legs to stand on, and the test will result in a 50 game suspension. I like the fact that a positive test is a positive test, regardless of what was taken to show such elivated levels - this removes all grey area.

I agree with Conte, the second test should mean nothing as there are means to falsify the tests after a positive test is taken. You test postivie = you test positive. From my understanding, there are a lot of measures taken to make sure all the information is available, or tests to make sure this substance is clean, to these players before ingesting anything.

MVP*

[troutman]

Giants have been active:

So long, Whiteside, Keppinger

SF Giants: Why Brian Sabean is moving forward without Carlos Beltran and Cody Ross

In the end, the Giants got two months out of Beltran after sending their top pitching prospect, Zack Wheeler, to the Mets in late July. It was an investment to better the Giants’ chances of reaching the postseason. Beltran missed time with a wrist injury but hit well during the Giants September playoff bid that fell short. [OUCH!]

SF Giants: Bruce Bochy on his new outfield and Andres Torres' departure; bye-bye (Carlos) Beltran; Guillermo Mota to return

SF Giants acquire Angel Pagan for Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez

[VERVE]

Phillies signed Dontrelle Willis. He was once a very dominating left hander for Marlins. I believe he hit for the cycle once. He is still only 29 years of age. Hopefully, playing for Philadelphia will rejuvenate his once illustrious career.

[CofR]

Most of the times have been set for next season... And today the Redsox announced the celebrations for Fenway's 100th Anniversary.

• The Yankees and Red Sox are playing an afternoon game on April 20 -- the exact matchup (besides the Yankees' name change from Highlanders) that was played at Fenway in its first big league game on April 20, 1912. The Sox defeated New York, 7-6, in 11 innings. Tris Speaker brought in the game-winning run in front of 27,000 fans.

• There will be an open house on April 19, on the eve of the anniversary of that first game, during which fans can tour the stadium for free and view the artifacts and memorabilia on display. Sox legends will be on hand, and normally restricted areas, like the dugout tunnels and clubhouse, will be viewable.
• The Harvard University baseball team will visit the ballpark on April 9, for either a game or a workout. The first baseball game of any sort played at Fenway was an exhibition between the Sox and the Ivy Leaguers on that same day in 1912.

• With commemoration for Fenway comes compassion for others. The Sox are rolling out "100 Acts of Kindness" throughout the year, and that effort started Thursday with the donation of the 100 Years book to each of the 18 Boston Public Library branches and each of the 125 Boston public schools. Next week, six more acts of kindness are scheduled, one for each of the New England states -- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island. Donations will be made to hospitals, shelters and other organizations.

[saskflames69]

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies and free agent outfielder Michael Cuddyer have agreed to a three-year deal worth about US$30 million. CBS Sports and the Denver Post first reported the deal Friday morning. The former Minnesota Twins star is the first big-time free agent the Rockies have signed since 2000, when they brought in pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle for a combined $172 million. Cuddyer, who hit .284 with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs last season, also was pursued by the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners.

Why, Cuddy, Why? I guess I sort of saw this coming though, Willingham was probably brought in to replace him.

[bluejays]

Definitely not a fan of Cuddyer. When you look at his numbers he looks solid, but I can't put my finger on why I don't appreciate him as a good player.

[dustyanddaflames]

because he played in minnesota - rarely get a chance to see him unless the twins are playing toronto.

[bluejays]

I actually like the Twins a lot. Perhaps the Canadians on the team, but I've always liked their humble but strong effort-attitude. That's not it, I just think he's an overachiever who'll crash at some point.

[Sylvanfan]

Reds get Matt Latos from the Padres. They give up Yonder Alonso, and another top prospect in Yasmani Grandal, along with Edison Volquez, and a minor league reliever Brad Boxberger. Could be two pretty good hitters and Maybe Volquez puts up better numbers pitching in the NL West. Pretty steep price.

[RedHot25]

That is a pretty steep price to pay: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/73...-two-prospects

[Finny61]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Reds get Matt Latos from the Padres. They give up Yonder Alonso, and another top prospect in Yasmani Grandal, along with Edison Volquez, and a minor league reliever Brad Boxberger. Could be two pretty good hitters and Maybe Volquez puts up better numbers pitching in the NL West. Pretty steep price.

Wow, hope this works out for the friars.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

That is a pretty steep price to pay: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/73...-two-prospects

It is but I think the Reds sense an opportunity this year with Pujols traded, Braun suspended and who knows what with Fielder that the NL Central is weak. Latos makes them clear favourites to win the division.

Worry about the future in the future.