EVIL~! alkeiper

In game one, with the Yankees down 3-2 in the ninth, Giambi drew a leadoff walk, putting the tying run on base. In game four, in the top of the twelve, Giambi singled, putting the go ahead runner on base. In game five, Giambi pinch hit in the ninth, and hit a home run.

Sometimes old players retire. Other times they find new teams..... You guys got Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez. Will nothing make you happy?

The same Jason Giambi who had a .381 OBP and a .471 slugging percentage?

Wasn't the rule that pine tar can't extend more than eighteen inches from the handle? Isn't that kind of straight forward? I don't have all the details, but besides the issue of pine tar, the penalty of the rule could be in doubt. I'd really have to take a detailed look into the incident.

Ah. That makes much more sense.

Well, we've always known the interest was there, and it was all up to Clemens anyway.

I'd also add that AL president Lee MacPhail felt the regulation was too vauge.

Someone has Yankee issues. I love how he just kind of glosses over the fact that The Royal Pain was in fact breaking a rule Maybe they're busy concentrating on how the Yankees FAILED to win the game. In all seriousness though, KO is a really bad choice of words. It makes it seem like they disallowed it, when in fact they allowed it (I think). The incident reminds me of a tale sometime back (don't remember the year) where a player exploited a technicality in the rulebook which didn't specify that a runner had to go back to the base after a foul ball. The runner promptly set up five feet from home, and scored on the play

Neither is Marlon Anderson. True. I looked up Anderson, and his career OBP is .316, about the same as Hart's. I truly thought it was higher. Since Marlon bats lefty, and Hart righty, perhaps a platoon would work well for the Cards.

And the laziness comment wasn't directed towards you. But the sentiment stands. Athetes don't get the credit they deserve.

I would. Brad Penny's better than most of the Sox staff, save Pedro, and Derek Lowe on a good day.

Ok, I've got two pet peeves of fans I can think of right off. 1. Athletes are lazy, overpaid crybabies who are paid millions of dollars for playing a game. Athletes work HARDER than 99% of the population, and are paid millions because they have skills far above the average person. 2. Any fan who refers to "clutch", "intangibles", or "veteran influence."

I think most of the team genuinely tried. You can go ahead and say the team failed, but to say they didn't try is grossly unfair.

He's not the one bitching about a bad call.

Cardinals sign 2B Marlon Anderson to a one year deal. Good move, as Brent Butler and Bo Hart aren't exactly good, for lack of a better term. Interestingly, they've also signed Ray Lankford to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. He just might be good enough to start on the team (seriously, who else?). In all seriousness, he's probably done, but it would be nice to see him on better terms with the Cardinals this time.

I think after the 2000 offseason, teams are wary of giving anyone a long term deal. As for NYC, I've stated from day one that Vlad would go wherever the good offer came from.

I don't think it makes much sense. Not that it wouldn't work with two catchers, but it doesn't make sense to lock up two players long term at a single position. Besides, I think Vlad will end up with the Orioles. He's holding out for a better offer, but nothing's coming down the pike. No one's offering as much as the O's, or for as many years. I think he'll sign.

He's only two years younger. The Mariners grossly overpaid for Ibanez. He hit 294/345/454 last season, while playing in the best hitting environment in the American League. Now he's moving to one of the worst. Meanwhile, good hitters are getting signed for half the money the Mariners gave Ibanez.

And if that's not enough, just check out this post from last week.

We could also sign Raul Ibanez! Who else could we get at that price? Certainly not Juan Gonzalez!

Detroit actually looks decent now. It's extremely doubtful they'll contend, but they certainly won't lose 119 games again. Another puzzling move from Seattle. Rich Aurilia is not all that much better than Carlos Guillen.

Two new players have hit the market. Maels Rodriguez, age 24. A pitcher with electric stuff, but is an injury risk. Also 2B Yobal Dueñas, aged 31, a former stolen base champion.

Cardinals sign Julian Tavarez to a two year contract.

We're debating whether Sprewell is among the top 20/30. Not whether he's better than average. He ranks 45th in total assists, and 39th in assists per game. Again, "pretty good" does not get you into the league's elite players. How about using some more advanced metrics rather than the relatively meaningless stats the NBA uses? Turnover ratio. Measures the number of turnovers used per 100 possessions. Last year, Sprewell ranked 20th AT HIS POSITION. Points per shot attempt. Sprewell's was 1.00, 44th at his position. That means last year 43 small forwards scored more points per shot attempt than Sprewell. Rebound Rate. Sprewell was the 55th best at his position. 54 small forwards were better at rebounding than Sprewell. Again, Sprewell is overrated.

He scores alot of points because he plays alot of minutes. Otherwise, Sprewell is a poor passer, he's turnover prone, he shoots for a low percentage, he doesn't get to the foul line, and he's a poor rebounder.