MLB to suspend Arod, Braun, others linked to lab/PEDs

[HereComeTheIrish]

Unless this is going to somehow prevent the Chisox from sucking ***, I don't care.

Not gonna happen... They suck.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Unless this is going to somehow prevent the Chisox from sucking ***, I don't care.

Peralta is tied to the clinic. Maybe schadenfreude and suspension of a conference opponents SS would make you feel better

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Oh no!!! Say it ain't so, J-horny??? Say it ain't so?

 

[peoriairish]

The only thing I care about is if any of my fantasy players are affected. I can't afford any more players out. My DL is maxed out already.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

The only thing I care about is if any of my fantasy players are affected. I can't afford any more players out. My DL is maxed out already.

hahaha.... I'm in first place, but in the same position reL players.

 

[ohara831]

Record book may not show it, but God knows that Hammering Hank is still the HomeRun King.

 

[Rhode Irish]

hahaha.... I'm in first place, but in the same position reL players.

Are you in the IE league, too, HCTI?

 

[FearTheBeard]

Just thought this was kinda funny. Also ive heard rumors from people that Barry Bonds head actually got bigger through his HGH or steroid use or whatever. Whether or not thats even possible idk but ive always thought it was an interesting rumor

 

[GATTACA!]

Am I the only one who doesn't give a shits if any of them used PEDs?

This^^^^ Your sport is constantly bleeding fans because it is so boring. So you try to suspend the players that actually do something entertaining to the masses. (hit HRs) I could care less if the take HGH steroids or bovine urine, just make the game more interesting.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

This^^^^ Your sport is constantly bleeding fans because it is so boring. So you try to suspend the players that actually do something entertaining to the masses. (hit HRs) I could care less if the take HGH steroids or bovine urine, just make the game more interesting.

Then go on and care less and stop insulting baseball fans.

 

[GATTACA!]

Then go on and care less and stop insulting baseball fans.

I am a baseball fan? I said i could care less if the players take PEDs

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I'm still waiting for the day when this headline is reference to Tiger Woods. I tell myself that so that I'm not shocked is disappointment when I see it.

Same here

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I am a baseball fan? I said i could care less if the players take PEDs

You also said that baseball is boring and that homeruns are the only thing that make the game interesting. I read that as an insult to baseball fans, like myself, who would say that baseball is a) not boring and b) interesting without numerous guys hitting 50+ HRs a year. Whether or not we as fans care if guys are taking PEDs doesn't mean much as the MLB and MLBPA have agreed that they are banned. So violations of this aren't disposed of as simply as "I don't care if guys are on them."

And, your statement that "I could care less" is virtually meaningless. I think you're looking for "I couldn't care less."

 

[GATTACA!]

This^^^^ Your sport is constantly bleeding fans because it is so boring. So you try to suspend the players that actually do something entertaining to the masses. (hit HRs) I could care less if the take HGH steroids or bovine urine, just make the game more interesting.

I think you missed that bolded part Kaneyoufeelit

b) interesting without numerous guys hitting 50+ HRs a year.

Interesting that Mcgwire and Sosa basically saved baseball with the record chase, so i would say that alot of people find 50+ hrs interesting.

And, your statement that "I could care less" is virtually meaningless. I think you're looking for "I couldn't care less."

Yea realized that right after I hit post smh lol

 

[Rhode Irish]

You also said that baseball is boring and that homeruns are the only thing that make the game interesting. I read that as an insult to baseball fans, like myself, who would say that baseball is a) not boring and b) interesting without numerous guys hitting 50+ HRs a year. Whether or not we as fans care if guys are taking PEDs doesn't mean much as the MLB and MLBPA have agreed that they are banned. So violations of this aren't disposed of as simply as "I don't care if guys are on them."

And, your statement that "I could care less" is virtually meaningless. I think you're looking for "I couldn't care less."

I agree with you about baseball. I think I'm one of a handful of people left in the country that follows baseball closer than football, and I certainly don't think it is boring. But at the same time I can't get my hair up about PEDs anymore. It is just part of sports now. All sports, not just baseball.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Interesting that Mcgwire and Sosa basically saved baseball with the record chase, so i would say that alot of people find 50+ hrs interesting.l

Not to draw this out much more than it needs to be but at that time baseball was still trying to rebound from a strike and the chase was for one of the most coveted records in sports. The record was held by a Yankee for 37 years and before that by another Yankee, and the greatest baseball player of all time, for over 30 years. Baseball attendance has been up recently:

The last nine baseball seasons (2004-2012) have produced the nine best-attended seasons in the history of Major League Baseball, including four successive record-breaking seasons from 2004-2007. The 2012 attendance total ranks behind only the 2007 (1st), 2008 (2nd), 2006 (3rd) and 2005 (4th) seasons.

Reality Check Regarding Downward Trends For 2013 MLB Attendance

Although this year the numbers are down. There are many possible explanations for the decline early this year. Over the same time home run numbers are down (overall) since their peak in 2000, though they have fluctuated yearly. Home Runs by Year

My issue is that you characterize baseball as a boring sport and suggest that the only intrigue is home runs. Baseball is certainly more than that and if it wasn't then the policies of MLB would reflect that in the way that the NFL has changed the game to be offensively driven. Right now we see some of the best pitching the game has seen in a long time and fans are tuning in. There are a number of young and exciting players who are a lot more than home run threats.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I agree with you about baseball. I think I'm one of a handful of people left in the country that follows baseball closer than football, and I certainly don't think it is boring. But at the same time I can't get my hair up about PEDs anymore. It is just part of sports now. All sports, not just baseball.

Of course it is but that doesn't mean that we should brush off violations of rules. The MLB and the MLBPA have taken steps to rid the game of PEDs. There are players who obey the ban. Players who do not have a competitive advantage because of cheating. There are consequences.

If the MLB whipped the ban of PEDs I might be ok with it. But, while it's in effect I find stuff like this to be major news.

 

[FearTheBeard]

I think i understand what he meant, i do know people who only care about seeing home runs. But imo there isnt much more exciting than seeing a catcher throw out a stealing baserunner...mostly Yadier Molina
Dont get me wrong i love home runs but theres alot of other entertaining aspects than just home runs.

 

[GATTACA!]

My issue is that you characterize baseball as a boring sport and suggest that the only intrigue is home runs. Baseball is certainly more than that and if it wasn't then the policies of MLB would reflect that in the way that the NFL has changed the game to be offensively driven.

Again your ignoring the fact that I was referring in terms of its appeal to the masses.

To that second point, baseball higher ups are more concerned with holding onto the tradition of the game, rather than improving the product. The implementation, or lack of, video review is a glaring example. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that's a problem. Baseball is the American pastime. But to imply that baseball is perfect, otherwise the game would have been improved already seems like a stretch to me.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Again your ignoring the fact that I was referring in terms of its appeal to the masses.

To that second point, baseball higher ups are more concerned with holding onto the tradition of the game, rather than improving the product. The implementation, or lack of, video review is a glaring example. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that's a problem. Baseball is the American pastime. But to imply that baseball is perfect, otherwise the game would have been improved already seems like a stretch to me.

My final point starts with a question: who are the 30,000 who go to a given regular season game if not the masses? You can be as die-hard and as knowledgeable of a fan as you want and still struggle to make it to games. And it certainly is not the same 30,000 showing up to each game.

Further, baseball doesn't NEED the mass appeal in the same way the NFL does. Each team in the NFL has 8 home games to rack up money from tickets and concessions, and 16 games to make money from television contracts. They HAVE to sell out each week and drive ratings up each week. Baseball teams have 81 home games and average around 30,000 a game. Change in Baseball Attendance 2012 to 2013 - Baseball-Reference.com
I say that baseball does appeal to the masses. 74,859,268 fans (roughly 1/4 of the US population) attended a baseball game in 2012, or 30,806 per game. Baseball is not hurting for fans. 2012 Major League Baseball Attendance & Miscellaneous - Baseball-Reference.com. Baseball only has to have mass appeal to get people in once or twice a summer. And as you said, baseball is America's pastime, so a lot of people make a point of getting to a game no matter what. I understand the point about baseball seeming to be "stuck in its ways," for lack of a better term, but I think it is equally valid that baseball is a good enough product to attract fans and satisfy the die-hards. And of course baseball isn't perfect.

Btw, I'm not trying to attack you. I'm just responding to in general to the point you're making which I believe is a common misconception about baseball. I'm sorry if you thought I was coming at you rather than just debating your points.

 

[kmoose]

This^^^^ Your sport is constantly bleeding fans because it is so boring. So you try to suspend the players that actually do something entertaining to the masses. (hit HRs) I could care less if the take HGH steroids or bovine urine, just make the game more interesting.

When this is SEC logic, as it applies to academics, we are all outraged. But our hypocrisy is apparent, when it comes to a sport that we (apparently) have less passion for.

 

[GATTACA!]

Btw, I'm not trying to attack you. I'm just responding to in general to the point you're making which I believe is a common misconception about baseball. I'm sorry if you thought I was coming at you rather than just debating your points.

It's all good

 

[pkt77242]

When I was younger I was a huge fan of baseball but as I get older, I like baseball less and less but not because of PEDS (though I don't like players taking PEDS). I stopped being a fan of baseball because of the inequity of it. I am a Twins fan and due to their spending limitations it is hard for them to compete and one bad signing can ruin their team. Then their are teams like the Yankees and Red Sox who can spend pretty much unlimited money to buy wins. I like that football is very fair, and that each team has about the same to spend and the difference is in how they spend the money and how they draft not in how rich the owners are or how big their market is.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Why all the hate for Braun? Is it just that you guys all root for other midwest teams (Cubs, Cards, etc.) so you don't like the Brewers? Otherwise, I don't get what is not to like. Seems like a dude I would be friends with.

 

[GATTACA!]

Why all the hate for Braun? Is it just that you guys all root for other midwest teams (Cubs, Cards, etc.) so you don't like the Brewers? Otherwise, I don't get what is not to like. Seems like a dude I would be friends with.

I think alot of people hate him because it seems pretty obvious that he weasels his way out of his first suspension on sort of a technicality. Now it turns out he was dirty the whole time.

 

[Rhode Irish]

You don't think there is any chance that the two are related? Seems like a double jeopardy situation to me.

Anyways, why be mad at a guy because MLB botched his situation? Be mad at MLB if you feel the need to be angry. Not sure why anyone would be angry about it at all, though. Caring about steroids was cool in 2005, but I thought we had moved on. This is a dumb crusade to try to take out one of your brightest young stars because Selig feels he was embarrassed.

 

[GATTACA!]

Anyways, why be mad at a guy because MLB botched his situation? Be mad at MLB if you feel the need to be angry. Not sure why anyone would be angry about it at all, though. Caring about steroids was cool in 2005, but I thought we had moved on. This is a dumb crusade to try to take out one of your brightest young stars because Selig feels he was embarrassed.

Well I think the problem was how steadfast he was in his denial rather than simply citing how the sample could have been contaminated. It just adds another layer of lies to his rep. I agree with you on the second part.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

You don't think there is any chance that the two are related? Seems like a double jeopardy situation to me.

Anyways, why be mad at a guy because MLB botched his situation? Be mad at MLB if you feel the need to be angry. Not sure why anyone would be angry about it at all, though. Caring about steroids was cool in 2005, but I thought we had moved on. This is a dumb crusade to try to take out one of your brightest young stars because Selig feels he was embarrassed.

I don't disagree about the double jeopardy feel in Braun's situation.

I'm really interested to see how this plays out between the union and the league (and I'm sure the courts) with the MLB reportedly wanting to add 50 games (or double) the suspension of players because they lied to MLB investigators. I have not read (sounds like my plan for tomorrow between bin files) the CBA nor the agreement between the MLBPA and MLB on controlled substances, but I have a very hard time believing that the most powerful union in sports would have struck a deal which contained a 50-game suspension provision for lying to investigators. Issues of a "smoking-gun" aside, because I think there are certainly think there are actions related to steroids which should result in suspension absent a failed test, it would be an amazing precedent to set if MLB handed out 50 game suspensions for not being truthful to investigators. The Players Association is better than that.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Why all the hate for Braun? Is it just that you guys all root for other midwest teams (Cubs, Cards, etc.) so you don't like the Brewers? Otherwise, I don't get what is not to like. Seems like a dude I would be friends with.

Well I think the problem was how steadfast he was in his denial rather than simply citing how the sample could have been contaminated. It just adds another layer of lies to his rep. I agree with you on the second part.

I think it would be different for a lot of people if he wouldn't have won the MVP the previous year. For a multitude of reasons, it's easy to have negative feelings towards someone who receives accolades; see: every successful athlete ever (small exaggeration).