2013 MLB Season Thread

[flames_fan_down_under]

Alfonso Soriano with a 3 run home run plus another RBI. 18 RBI in his last 4 games.

[Drake]

Milwaukee Brewers embattled left fielder Ryan Braun plans to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Braun, according to people who are familiar with his plans, is ready to soon admit that he used performance-enhancing drugs in parts of the 2011 season, the reasons why he did it, and publicly apologize for the lies and deception.

People familiar with the plans, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because Braun has yet to make the announcement, said he has begun sending apologies to baseball officials, and is expected to express remorse in the statement. It's unclear what specifics will be in the statement.

And, for the first time, he will admit guilt.

People close to Braun said he is eager to be the anti-Alex Rodriguez and is desperately trying to distance himself from the New York Yankees third baseman.

He wants days like Friday, when he was once again entwined with A-Rod, to never happen again.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...nesis/2665881/

Also, he is being sued by a friend.

A longtime friend of Ryan Braun's filed a lawsuit against the suspended slugger last month, charging that Braun defamed him after the friend provided help in his successful appeal of Braun's positive steroid test in 2011.

Ralph Sasson, 29, makes a number of personal accusations against Braun, saying in the lawsuit that Braun doped through his years at the University of Miami, committed academic fraud and accepted money while a student.

Reached this week, Sasson declined to comment and said the lawsuit speaks for itself.

Braun's attorney, Howard Weitzman, rejected the claims.

"This lawsuit is an unfortunate attempt to capitalize on Ryan's recent press attention for taking responsibility for his actions. The factual allegations and the legal claims have absolutely no merit. We believe the lawsuit will be dismissed," he said in a statement.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/95...e-doping-fraud

[KelVarnsen]

Watching A-Roid getting beaned warms my heart.

[Drake]

Braun should go firetruck himself. Just remember Braun karma is a real bitch.

Suspended Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun told stars around baseball before spring training 2012 that the man who collected his urine that tested positive for synthetic testosterone was anti-Semitic and a Chicago Cubs fan in an effort to gather support throughout the game, three sources familiar with the conversations told Yahoo! Sports.

Braun sought backing from Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, whom he had beaten out for the National League MVP months earlier, along with Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, among others, sources said. He reached out to peers in hopes they would publicly stick up for him following an expected suspension.

ESPN.com first reported the subject of the conversations.

A number of players with whom Braun spoke, including Brewers teammates, believed the allegations. A source close to Dino Laurenzi Jr., the test collector, said the anti-Semitism allegation is untrue; his fan allegiance is unclear. It added to the backlash against Braun inside the Milwaukee clubhouse as well as outside following his recent 65-game suspension for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic. Kemp told reporters people in the game felt “betrayed” and that he was “disappointed.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ryan-br...021053235.html

[dustyanddaflames]

Not an A-Rod supporter, nor Yankee/Red Sox supporter, but that homerun he hit last night, and the emotion that went with it - gave me goosebumps. The raw emotion (or in this case, synthetic) will never get old.

[Frequitude]

I hope he mashes down the stretch and helps get the Yankees back in the playoff race. It will only make the story more awesome.

A-Rod homers are to baseball as Rob Ford intoxication videos are to Toronto politics.

[Drake]

Boston Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster received a five-game suspension and undisclosed fine for intentionally hitting the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, Major League Baseball senior vice president Joe Garagiola Jr. announced Tuesday.

Dempster threw one pitch behind A-Rod's knees on Sunday night and two more inside at Fenway Park. Then his 3-0 pitch struck Rodriguez's left elbow pad and ricocheted off his back.

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who also received an undisclosed fine for his argument with umpire Brian O'Nora, said Tuesday before his team's doubleheader against Toronto that Dempster needed to be suspended or it would be "open season" on Rodriguez.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/95...w-york-yankees

[Finny61]

I for one would welcome open season on A-Rod. Maybe he'd leave the game of baseball.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Finny61

I for one would welcome open season on A-Rod. Maybe he'd leave the game of baseball.

I only want arod out of baseball if the Yankees are on the hook for his salary. It would be a shame when he is suspended and it allows them to slip under the luxury tax

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Drake

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/95...w-york-yankees

The ump should get suspended too. That was about as bush league as it gets. The fact that Girardi got a fine is a joke.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by nik-

The ump should get suspended too. That was about as bush league as it gets. The fact that Girardi got a fine is a joke.

No Girardi earned his fine. He was raging big time and earned it. I don't blame him for that however.

Still watching A-Rod getting beaned is awesome. Surprised he isn't suing Dempster.

[nik-]

Girardi would have earned a fine if it was one pitch ... maybe two. Not after he throws four at him. That ump was ######ed and pretty much asked to get #### on.

[fundmark19]

I am pretty sure it was girardi's near miss with his arm motion/punch that got him his fine. He was really close to landing that right handed hook on the umps chin

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I hate the Yankees as much as the next person but:

214 games (or whatever it was) for a first time offense is a bit steep.

Demester should have been tosses out of the game and a 5 game suspension is basically a nominal acknlowedgement that it shouldn't have been done with no real punishment as I heard Dempster won't even miss a game (so the barber told me today).

As much as I like to see the Yankees and d-bags fail, I prefer to see consistency with the rules. That certainly isn't happening.

Then again as long as Bud Selig is commissioner I really shouldn't expect any kind of consistency and fairness with the rules.

[fundmark19]

Troutman your giants are killing me! Why must they spot the Redsox a lead in every game. I hope they can come back and win it!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Troutman your giants are killing me! Why must they spot the Redsox a lead in every game. I hope they can come back and win it!

Bah. Who cares about the American League? Video game baseball.

[KelVarnsen]

And there it is. 4000 hits for Ichiro.

[socalwingfan]

Ichiro gets his 4000th hit tonight - nice ovation from the crowd and the Yankees. Kawasaki looked pretty happy to be part of it as well. What a career!!

[fundmark19]

I would love for ichiro to play 2 more years and take over the number 1 spot so we never have to hear about Pete rose again

[Drake]

Mother ####er! Jason Heyward gone for 4-6 weeks after having his jaw fractured in two places as he was hit by a fastball this afternoon. He was a huge reason for the big lead the Braves have. I'm gonna to go drown my sorrows like a fat kid into some ice cream.