EVIL~! alkeiper

They are 8-5 in first round series since 1991. They don't win every year because it's an eight team tournament, and seven teams lose every year.

This is the first time to my knowledge someone has tested positive twice, correct? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Randy Ruiz of the Reading Phillies and someone from the Yankees organization tested positive twice as well.

And if I hadn't banned future frivolous steroid threads, I'd post that the Marlins' Delgado has violated the league's drug policy. Of course it's Wilson Delgado, but it's always fun to see Mik do a double-take.

Fun read... http://barstoolsports.com/article/The_Defi...alogy_List/344/

Yes, but the results are the same. Baseball players who produce better numbers get higher salaries. Wrestlers with better looks receive bigger pushes and more money. At a point, the results at both ends are exactly the same. The only difference is baseball's infatuation with the record book.

Move to Buffalo. They stock their team for the International League playoffs.

Here's an honest question if you think Palmeiro's crime is worse. Given the rampant steroid use in professional wrestling, would you make the same call given Jamal Lewis versus say, Chris Benoit or Eddie Guerrero?

Just got back from the Pawtucket/Scranton game. Believe the Jon Papelbon hype.

Yes.

What's scary about that Cubs lineup is that Macias is carrying a better OBP than four of the others.

Isn't recreational drug use a violation of NFL's drug policy? Wouldn't breaking that policy be cheating?

Jamal Lewis easily, although neither activity should be welcomed.

Like it takes much to get the governor of Florida involved. Honestly, I am not sure if FSU has any legal standing. The NCAA is ultimately a private institution, and they have the right to decide what is allowed at their events. If FSU does not like it, they have the option to split from the NCAA.

Between Thome's injury and Howard's slam, I think it's safe to say I'm not going to see Ryan Howard back in Scranton again.

Once a year, apparently... http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/VFLO02004.htm

Some Phillies news. Jim Thome will have elbow surgery and is done for the year. Looks like the Ryan Howard issue worked itself out for now. Also, Cole Hamels is out for the year with back problems. It was a banner year for Hamels as he threw more than twice as many innings this year as he did last year. To say Hamels' injuries are frustrating is an understatement.

Why? It's just empty numbers.

Felix Hernandez became the first teenager to win an MLB game since Ed Correa in 1986.

Since we're on the subject, the minor leagues have a month to go, and I highly recommend checking out a game while you all can. Tickets and concessions are cheaper, you can sit closer to the field, players are more accessable, and the game generally moves more quickly. I've been to nearly 30 games and only a handful lasted over three hours.

The Red Barons sit at 56-60, seven games out of the division lead, and nine out of the wild card. The roster is fairly slim as there are only two position players of any promise, catcher Carlos Ruiz and center fielder Shane Victorino. Victorino has really been a bright spot. He's a 24 year old speed player who added power to his repetroire and retained his plate discipline. He's good enough to at least be a reserve outfielder in the bigs. Ruiz is old for a prospect but got a late start. He's at least a backup catcher, and possibly a future starter. The pitching has seen the steady improvement of Eude Brito and the collapse of Gavin Floyd. Floyd has looked completely lost on the mound, setting a new team record for hit batsmen. Overall, the big problem for our team has been the pitching. Franklin Perez imploded, Dan Giese imploded and then retired, and other pitchers have seen better days. It would take a hell of a run in the last 28 games to reach the postseason, but they've been fun to watch (I've seen over two dozen games in person). Over the last couple weeks they have added Aquilino Lopez and Jared Fernandez, and they could be quality acquisitions.

It can be. There's nothing in Sosa's numbers to indicate dominance. Is it a dominant strikeout rate? He's only struck out 6.5 per nine. Low walk rate? He's walked 4.8 per nine, a poor total. Even his hit rate is 8.1 per nine, not especially good. His WHIP has only falled by 0.1 since last year. The only thing different is that his peripherals are not adding up to runs scored, which indicates that Sosa has been fortunate in clutch situations. So he is either lucky, or clutch. And if he is clutch, I would wonder why he does not use his ability to prevent baserunners in the first place. His HR rate is down, and having Andruw Jones in center will benefit any pitcher's statistics. Sosa's better than last year, but he is simply not this good. If recent history is any indication, the Braves will trade Sosa after the season and reap the rewards. As Baseball Prospectus noted, the Mets' system has names that top anything Dickens could come up with. Aarom Baldiris, Ian Bladergroen (since traded), Ambiorix Concepcion, Lastings Milledge, Prentice Redman, Bartolome Fortunado, Yusmeiro Petit, Jae Weong Seo. Checkmate.

Mostly luck. Sosa's statistics are not that great. His BB rate his high, his strikeout rate is down, and even his hit rate has not fallen. His ERA is much lower than we might expect given a player with his peripherals. His home run rate is much lower however, so there is some improvement from last season (of course, much of that is the ballpark). Expect a regression, but never count out a pitcher with a good strikeout rate.

Halladay's ommission from my list was nothing more than a brain freeze. He deserves to rate among the elite.

Posada got a late start on his catching career, so he's in better shape than you'd expect. Roger Clemens, Ben Sheets, Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano, John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Rich Harden, Mark Buehrle, Chris Carpenter, Roy Oswalt, Pedro Martinez, Livan Hernandez, Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis. Baseball's a fascinating sport when you watch more than the Yankees.

Aaron Small's had some success, but he is FAR from a long term solution. He's struck out six and walked six in 20 innings. In addition, Small only struck out 21 batters in 49 AAA innings. You can not strike out so few hitters and remain successful. Something is going to give.