DLD 5/8/08: Can someone do too much to fit in?
We all like Nick Swisher, and love his fun loving attitude, and his awareness of Cancer since the passing of his grandmother, but pink facial hair will just be atrocious.
Center fielder Nick Swisher, left-hander John Danks and catcher Toby Hall will dye their facial hair pink in honor of Mother's Day and make a donation to a breast-cancer foundation in Chicago on behalf of their teammates.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8112684/Clubs-lacking-punch-should-start-heating-up
Bob Watson says he doesn't want the Rocket's distractions on his USA team.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Roger Clemens isn't welcome on the U.S. Olympic baseball team.
U.S. general manager Bob Watson said Wednesday that he isn't considering the 45-year-old right-hander for his roster for the Beijing Games.
"From my standpoint, we don't need that type of distraction," Watson said.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/05/07/clemens.olympics.ap/index.html

Haren trade a win-win?
| 1. THE DAN HAREN EXTRAVAGANZA |
(A's send Haren and RHP Connor Robertson to the Diamondbacks for LHP Dana Eveland, LHP Greg Smith, 1B Chris Carter, OF Carlos Gonzalez, OF Aaron Cunningham and LHP Brett Anderson). <!-- INLINE HEADSHOT (BEGIN) -->
Haren
<!-- INLINE HEADSHOT (END) -->
The whole idea of any trade, theoretically, is to make both teams better. So it's tough to beat this one. Arizona wouldn't have the best record in baseball without Haren. But this deal is just as responsible for the A's being 22-14.
Haren has ripped off six quality starts, so he's been as good as advertised. Meanwhile, the A's have gone 10-3 in games started by Eveland and Smith; Anderson is 5-1 in Class A; Gonzalez is hitting .343, with a .410 on-base percentage, in Triple-A. So this trade has set up the A's to be good for years -- just what Billy Beane had in mind.
"Billy knew we had depth that we'd probably talk about," Arizona GM Josh Byrnes said. "So they came out of this with quality and quantity. And for us to get a starting pitcher at Dan Haren's level without getting into free agency … was something that really fit."
Scout's View: "Probably as good a baseball deal as you'll see. Arizona did a hell of a job recognizing this was their chance to win and going out and getting a guy like Haren, and still keeping their top tier of prospects. And Oakland got guys who can help them for a long time."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3386182
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Comments
Baseball Prospectus Future Shock on the AL West
if someone would like to post what it says about the A’s…
by Zonis on May 8, 2008 10:32 AM PDT 0 recs
Matt Sulentic is back
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on
May 8, 2008 10:51 AM PDT
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Going into the year, the A’s decided to do something that they’ve never done before with a struggling prospect—move him up a level. “We had a lot of discussion about this,” said farm director Keith Lieppman. “We weren’t sure what we’d get by returning him to Kane County. There’s a chance that he could get into the been-there/done-that mode, and it’s a pitching-oriented league, it’s cold, and it’s not a great place to get off to a big offensive start,” he continued. “Putting him in Stockton was a good opportunity to get him into a hitter’s environment, surround him with good players so we can hit him down in the lineup, and just let it evolve.”Evolve it has, as the 20-year-old outfielder is batting .322/.412/.506 in 26 games for the Ports, while also showing some significant improvements defensively. Lieppman insists that there have been no changes in Sulentic’s swing or grinding approach to the game, but rather a rebuilt confidence. “He just hadn’t had much success after the debut,” Lieppman explained. “He’s kind of a prototypical A’s guy with a tremendous strike zone, but he became really passive and careful and cautious. We reminded him about who he was when we drafted him, and how everyone would stop what they were doing to watch him take BP in Vancouver, and give him credit; he made a point to really work this offseason. Hit hit all winter—just really worked hard on it.”
And while batting eighth in a lineup filled with top prospects has taken the pressure off Sulentic for now, Lieppman is confident he’ll produce when placed back into the middle of a lineup. “Putting him where we have has done a lot, and he’s really learned a lot from some of the older players on this team while also getting his confidence back.” Lieppman concluded. “He used to be the main man, and now he’s someone that’s just there… he’ll get those main man opportunities again down the line.”
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on
May 8, 2008 1:34 PM PDT
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"tremendous strike zone"
I’m picturing a bull’s-eye with Joe Morgan’s face at the center.
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 2:04 PM PDT
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lol
it took me a second to get that
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on
May 8, 2008 2:14 PM PDT
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Or maybe
HatGuy?
You don't win friends with salad.
by tresselfan on
May 8, 2008 5:49 PM PDT
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I was just reading the Baseball Prospectus handbook again today...
... and I was amused at all the negativity they lobbed toward the A’s.
The “state of the A’s bullpen” led them to say that Fernando Hernandez was going to “definitely stick.” Which has, of course, turned out to be one of the strengths of the team.
On Gio Gonzalez: He “will be the first rank of reinforcements when the Opening Day rotation starts getting smashed to flinders.” Wasn’t aware that “flinders” was a word. Or that leading the league in ERA was the mark of horribility (if they can make up words, so can I).
All told, I find BP to be pretty savvy and fairly high on Beane and what he has accomplished with the A’s, but the handbook’s section on the team was pretty dismal. I don’t subscribe to the website (just obsessively read and re-read their player evaluations in the handbook), so I was wondering—have they printed some sort of retraction? And if not, how well do the A’s have to play and for how long before they do?
President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium
by Joey C. on
May 8, 2008 10:17 PM PDT
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One thing to consider with BPro,
they have a whole bunch of writers working on their annual; and a whole bunch of writers on the site. They don’t all agree with each other, and in fact do often have differing viewpoints.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
May 9, 2008 8:38 AM PDT
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Ah, yes
Good point.
President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium
by Joey C. on
May 9, 2008 8:01 PM PDT
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A couple of Keith Law impressions, one we all agree on, and one we know
foolsh, definitely doesn’t agree on.
Dave (Chicago): Is Trevor Cahill anywhere near this good or is he just beating A-ball hitters with superior off-speed stuff? Keith Law: (1:23 PM ET ) He’s good. Very good. Should spend some time in AA this year.
Dre (Chicago): When will AZ realize that Eric Byrnes is a 4th OF? Is there a better example for a reason to never give out no trade clauses? Keith Law: (1:27 PM ET ) Yeah. If only someone had said last summer that Byrnes was a fourth outfielder…
by theblackpearl on May 8, 2008 10:38 AM PDT 0 recs
They could be playing
“Mr. .955 OPS” Carlos Quentin out there. Instead: paying Byrnes suitcases full of money to be Byrnes.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on
May 8, 2008 10:41 AM PDT
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Couldn't we have been playing Mr. .955 OPS...
Carlos Quentin in our outfield this year? Seems like something could’ve been worked out.
Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb
by FoolshGame22 on
May 8, 2008 5:38 PM PDT
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On the Dbacks, Byrnes maybe should be a 4th OF...
He’s slumping right now, so he’s an easy target. But, he’ll get hot again.
Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb
by FoolshGame22 on
May 8, 2008 5:42 PM PDT
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nice bunt by our L'il Second-baseman
to go along with his walk-off. legit sacrifice
and how about that slroll?
Actually, it was more of a roll than anything, with Hannahan’s side slamming into Roberts’ shin.“Maybe a little of both,” Hannahan said. “A slide and a roll.”
“Yeah, it was a slide and a roll,” Ellis said. “A slroll.”
"The Athletics at Fremont" is noxious
by ArakSOT on May 8, 2008 10:39 AM PDT 0 recs
More of an lsroll, IMO
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
by oblique on
May 8, 2008 10:41 AM PDT
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And if Ellis did a slide and roll, he'd do an lsslroll
Chiba Lotte lost simultaneously in the fighter plane of the Japanese ham.
by JediLeroy on
May 8, 2008 11:48 AM PDT
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Ah, that "L" in the post above isn't a capital "i"
Chiba Lotte lost simultaneously in the fighter plane of the Japanese ham.
by JediLeroy on
May 8, 2008 11:49 AM PDT
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pink facial hair?
Sure, ugly—but awesome.
Here’s my awesomeness test for that sort of thing: would Roger Clemens or Curt Schilling do it? No, they would not. Therefore: awesome.
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on May 8, 2008 10:49 AM PDT 0 recs
It's not appropriate for cancer awareness weekend.
You can’t have your bats matching your beard. The first person I think about when a pink bat comes to mind is Milton Bradley and it’s not easy to picture him with a beard of the same color.
Does Bobby Crosby cRoss Dress for Less?
by ohtobe21likehuston on
May 8, 2008 11:07 AM PDT
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A black man with a pink beard? I don't know if our hair could get that color, but
it would be worst than Swishers, imagine Baron Davis with a pink beard.
by theblackpearl on
May 8, 2008 11:19 AM PDT
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PHOTOSHOP ALERT!
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 11:54 AM PDT
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a black trans-am and a pink guy
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King
by batgirl on
May 8, 2008 12:26 PM PDT
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sounds like Smokey And The Bandit to me!
"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel
by Gaijin_Suketto on
May 8, 2008 3:59 PM PDT
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Is that like not matching your shoes and your purse, but man-style?
pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.
by pam5981 on
May 8, 2008 11:20 AM PDT
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does not compute.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
by oblique on
May 8, 2008 11:24 AM PDT
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Moral of the story:
Don’t dye your facial hair pink.
pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.
by pam5981 on
May 8, 2008 11:34 AM PDT
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What if it was an accident?
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
by oblique on
May 8, 2008 11:37 AM PDT
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does it matter if it is before Memorial day?
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
by 5Aces on
May 8, 2008 12:30 PM PDT
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isn't that about white shoes?
"The Athletics at Fremont" is noxious
by ArakSOT on
May 8, 2008 12:32 PM PDT
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Have you noticed...
Poppy was bitching about you not being around… but where has she been lately?
"Hasn’t the foggiest inclination toward winning ‘tall. Hates to win. Likes to be buggered."
by Jennifer on
May 8, 2008 12:35 PM PDT
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maybe if I stop posting for a while...
"The Athletics at Fremont" is noxious
by ArakSOT on
May 8, 2008 12:41 PM PDT
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What's wrong with that?
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."
--Bilbo Baggins
by kaweahkaweah on
May 8, 2008 12:46 PM PDT
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i think it might be
In which case I would ignore the rule because, obviously, I am in favor of white shoes any time from mid-Feb through the end of October.
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
by 5Aces on
May 8, 2008 12:36 PM PDT
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LOL. At all of this.
pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.
by pam5981 on
May 8, 2008 12:45 PM PDT
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More like cuffs and collar
There is an A in Whimsy.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on
May 8, 2008 2:08 PM PDT
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Oh, boy.
pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.
by pam5981 on
May 8, 2008 2:10 PM PDT
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That's more the equivalent of matching shoes and belt, or shoes/belt/watch band
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 8, 2008 4:54 PM PDT
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Pink facial hair = not good
but it’s better than the alternative of the bleached blond monstrosity facial hair.
pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.
by pam5981 on
May 8, 2008 11:08 AM PDT
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Too Spiezioesque
"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher
by andeux on
May 8, 2008 11:32 AM PDT
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You're absolutely right, Schilling has standards
and when it comes to dying, Curt draws the line at socks.
I...drink...your...milkshake! I drink it up! - Daniel Plainview
by methodrampage on
May 8, 2008 12:08 PM PDT
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We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 12:56 PM PDT
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I can't believe it...
That is a raunchy cartoon…surprised Nico is letting it stay up….
You don't win friends with salad.
by tresselfan on
May 8, 2008 1:04 PM PDT
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Wish I could claim the same thing re: last night?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/08/northernireland.childprotection
If you have no plans for Mother’s Day here is an idea…
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/422247
Does Bobby Crosby cRoss Dress for Less?
by ohtobe21likehuston on May 8, 2008 11:05 AM PDT 0 recs
Lots
Maybe Job Arbuckle should join Fight Club.
Hmm. The work of a certain monkeyball-favored auteur crops up rather frequently on this list.
The world at large finally begins to fathom the mind fracturing, paradigm exploding dynamo of relief pitching prowess that is Santiago Casilla.
Embarking on a baseball-watching excursion to the Dominican Republic is pretty close to the top of my list of things to do before I croak. (right behind “learn Arabic”, “win an argument with PaulThomas”, and “score better than ‘dumb ass’ on that annoying tabletop peg board IQ game“)
One Sunday afternoon, Marichal was set to pitch against the Dominican air force, a team that was the bauble of Ramfis Trujillo, the dictator’s son. Marichal won the game 2-1. It was such a masterful outing that the next morning, a uniformed lieutenant approached Marichal and handed him a telegram that demanded, by order of Trujillo, that he enlist in the air force.
Wow.
I’m a little worried that I might be frittering away all my cognitive surplus skimming crazed game thread wordplay duels on AN.
Sigh. I don’t … I mean, I just … why?
First 6 starts:
Pedro Martinez, 2000: 44.1 IP / 28 H / 7ER / 9 BB / 67 K
Vida Blue, 1971: 43.2 IP / 23 H / 6 ER / 14 BB / 49 K
Cliff Lee, 2008: 44.2 IP / 25 H / 4 ER / 2 BB / 39 K
Words fail.
Right after I get back from the DR, I’m ditching my soul sappingly dull job to become a treasure hunter. The high seas, lumpy sweaters, scraggly beards, chests filled with gleaming booty … geopolitical complications aside, what’s not to like?
Question: “If you could have only one source of news in the world, what would it be?”
Most amusing answers:
“Baseball-Reference.com”
“Hot & smart liberal girlfriend who reads the news for me, and tells me what happened.”
“If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be Jesus, Philip K. Dick and David Lynch. My favorite color is blue.”
“It’s a tough choice between High Times and the Focus on the Family newsletter.”
by 74mk on May 8, 2008 11:09 AM PDT 0 recs
Oh no! The chat with Ashton and Cameron is INSIDER only!
I better subscribe!
stat-addled alien overlord
by salb918 on
May 8, 2008 12:38 PM PDT
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that Jon Arbuckle Web site
had me crying-laughing. I had to abruptly close the page to avoid creating a spectacle in the office. Holy shit, that’s good stuff.
Brainless Automaton #439
by rubin sierra on
May 8, 2008 2:06 PM PDT
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yeah, that's been DLD'ed before
Violent muffled dry heaves of laughter … followed by near-clinical depression/empathy about 48 hours later as the scenarios linger in your brain.
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 2:09 PM PDT
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We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 2:15 PM PDT
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Oh God
I’d better “check in” here in about 48 hours just to report on the battles I have ahead of me.
Great points in your latest Bissinger reply. I am encouraged to hear a persuasive voice tell me that everything’s not going to hell. Or, at least, we’re going there at a rate no faster than the rate we were already going there 30 years ago.
Brainless Automaton #439
by rubin sierra on
May 8, 2008 3:34 PM PDT
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Found on eBay:
NWT- OAKLAND A’S STITCHED WHITE REPLICA JERSEY- AD. XL
I Love the quote:
Don’t be fooled when comparing jerseys on Ebay. This is an authentic MLB jersey, not a rip off, pirated jersey called authentic. Replica button-front design. Authentic decoration and trim.
by As Fan in the Bronx on May 8, 2008 11:44 AM PDT 0 recs
it is authentic
Haven’t you seen the jerseys for teams in Minature Lasso Buying?
What did you think they meant by MLB?
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
by 5Aces on
May 8, 2008 12:34 PM PDT
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Monkey Lard Burying
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 12:57 PM PDT
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Well...he spelled "Athletics" correctly...and the colors are right.
Other than those two things, it has absolutely nothing in common with any uniform ever worn by the Oakland A’s, past or present. Maybe he meant to say “throwaway” instead of “throwback”.
"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi
by McFood on
May 8, 2008 2:20 PM PDT
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and are those quilting buttons down the front?
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 2:22 PM PDT
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Well, this Keith Law tidbit, I have to vehemently disagree with. Many
of his former teammates have mentioned his clubhouse mannerisms, and what on god’s green earth, makes him thinkk Bonds will sign for league minimum.
Dre (Chicago): Your take on the “collusion” claims… is the MLBPA too hard-headed to realize there just isn’t a market for overpaid vets when you can get the same production for the league minimum? Or in Bonds’ case a DH who is a cancer Keith Law: (2:30 PM ET ) Bonds isn’t a cancer. Just because some angry white sportswriters tell you he is doesn’t mean it’s true. And I don’t think anyone can provide Bonds-level production for the league minimum. I do think that there’s merit to an investigation: did MLB/Selig hint to clubs that they’d prefer to see Bonds’ career end?
by theblackpearl on May 8, 2008 12:09 PM PDT 0 recs
I think that's alluding to the fact that nobody has even offered him a league minimum contract.
not that he would actually sign for it, but that the offer isn’t even there for him to decline.
by mikev on
May 8, 2008 12:18 PM PDT
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Why would you offer something you know he's not goint to except, that wouldq
seem to be no worse than not offering at all.
by theblackpearl on
May 8, 2008 12:22 PM PDT
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Would BBond's even be happy getting the minimum?
Might take it as an insult.
The A’s paying minimum to the Big Hurt is very different, since the Blue Jays are paying the remainder.
by MobiusKlein on
May 8, 2008 12:30 PM PDT
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What would you have to lose?
Why wouldn’t a team like Seattle, who thought they’d compete prior to the start of the season, offer him the league minimum. If he says no, well ok, nothing ventured, nothing gained. If he agreed than atleast you wouldn’t have Vidro at DH.
I...drink...your...milkshake! I drink it up! - Daniel Plainview
by methodrampage on
May 8, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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I would think that would go more toward the collusion theory, than no offers
at all. The Union could then say, the offers were blatantly prepostorous they knew he would never except.
by theblackpearl on
May 8, 2008 1:21 PM PDT
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I don't know about other teams, but
Mariners front office has made it clear they want to stay away from any player with a steroid rep, not just Bonds. That’s why they declined arbitration to Guillen, even though it would have made sense for them.
For better or for worse, they have made it clear that wherever making the team better is not in accord with brand image, the brand is the higher priority.
Really, they’re the last team I’d expect to consider signing Bonds.
formerly known as mdl
by iglew on
May 8, 2008 11:01 PM PDT
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Then that is a conspiracy against Bonds
Believe me, if we disagree it is you that is wrong.
by methodrampage on
May 9, 2008 7:40 AM PDT
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Greg Smith: solid release point
http://mvn.com/mlb-transactions/2008/05/08/pitch-fx-profile-greg-smith/
first post. hello all
by uno seis on May 8, 2008 12:17 PM PDT 0 recs
Leaving the question
Why doesn’t he use his curve ball? It’s quite nice, as I recall
by As Fan in the Bronx on
May 8, 2008 12:26 PM PDT
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Reggie Jackson
Great Reggie Jackson tribute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz777Z_ioNk
Enjoy your day off.
by GreggC on May 8, 2008 1:22 PM PDT 0 recs
mlb to draft negro leaguers
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on May 8, 2008 1:38 PM PDT 0 recs
will they have a follow-up promotion ...
... when Charlie O. Finley sells them to the highest bidder?
We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@
by monkeyball on
May 8, 2008 2:07 PM PDT
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Keep your Zombie Finleys the f'k'way from me!
I can see the movie trailer now…
50 Cent… and Ray Fosse… in…
ZOMBIE FINLEYS ATE MY NEIGHBORS!
Starts Friday!
"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel
by Gaijin_Suketto on
May 8, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
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