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I've heard that he's committed to a few years of pitching in Japan. Of course, for enough money he (or his posting club) might change their mind. Interesting guy, I think one parent is Iranian and one is Japanese (?). He's got great stuff, a nice frame and he's still very young. If he were posted I can't imagine the Sox would stay out of it.

I agree Dojji. I think he could probably put up that OPS right now, and possibly better.

A700, have you seen Tazawa pitch yet? It seems like his performance has been pretty good, and after watching a few videos online and reading about him, it sounds like he has pretty great stuff. He sounds a lot more polished than I--for one--thought he was. I'm pretty excited to see if he can contribute to the Sox in 2010 or 2011. He has the chance to be a tremendous, cost controlled pickup.

He didn't fool anyone who bothered to look at his minor league numbers. Nobody in their right mind would predict someone to be an MVP caliber player, but to predict failure in a player who has had good success through the minors is silly. You have stated repeatedly that you couldn't care less about how someone does in the minors, you don't pay attention to how they do and don't see a need to; then you make evaluations based on short observations in spring training. I'm just saying that there's a more thorough way to do these evaluations, and that should include having an idea about their previous performance. Lars Anderson is widely acknowledge to NOT be 'overmatched' by just about any pitching. He's got a very keen eye and plate control that is considerably above his age and playing level. Nobody knows what his ceiling is, but I think it is safe to say that calling him overmatched based on such a small sample isn't quite right. Do we even know which pitchers he's been facing? Has it been MLB pitchers, or AAA guys? That said, I have to say I'm jealous that you get to be at ST and wish that you and I could watch the players together. I bet we would have a good time with a brew and a bleacher seat. :thumbsup:

At my current salary it would take me about 100 years to earn $5m. I've worked my ass off over the past few weeks. Manny has refused to work, and he got more money. Good lord, why do I even watch these guys? :dunno:

I'm paid by Boras, and I write on behalf of Manny.

People still upset that 'all we got' for Manny was Jason Bay? I think I remember meeting "Jacoby Ellsbury" that night as he ranted about how impossible Manny would be to replace. He wasn't going to come back, so it was either get Jason Bay and lose Manny, or just lose Manny. I hope the Dodgers just say "f*** it! Manny, thanks, but no thanks. You were a douche in Boston, and you're being a douche now. We thought you changed your attitude when you left Boston, but you haven't. Enjoy having the season off." Get some pride Dodgers. He isn't worth selling your soul for.

Yeah, like Burnett! Smoltz had a great past few years--except for being out last season. I think that with plenty of rest and a lengthy recovery he could contribute a lot come June.

How this is anything but good news is beyond me. He's a guy who could have tested the market and gone someplace else. If they keep him, great; if they let him go, it will probably be time.

Then how do you explain the fact that I listen to Mike Turico, Scott Van Pelt, Dan Patrick, etc.,? I'm pretty sure I listen to him because he's the sports radio commentator who is on the radio between 6 and 10am in my area and I drive to work at 7am. I drive for my job a lot so I hear all of those guys. Cowherd uses absurd mocking voices while making strawman arguments that only drooling idiots would make. His thing is to either make a dramatic sounding voice offering an argument that nobody would make (say, SEC football fan saying "all of our teams are better than even the best teams in all other conferences! Don't mess with the South!"), or having someone who represents a small group of callers make a 10 second statement that is easy to shoot down--especially when he doesn't give them the chance to follow up.

Colin Cowherd is a pompus ass. Of course, I listen to him too, but he's a jerk.

It sounds like you're auditioning for USA Today sports page or reading from a teleprompter on ESPN News. If it was in doubt prior to the Pettitte signing, why is it noteworthy today? Couldn't a monkey with a moderate interest in baseball have said that CC, Burnett, Wang, PED-it and Joba were going to be the rotation?

This seems to be a time when you choose to rail on "the Feds", when "the Feds" wouldn't need to do anything if the players association didn't refuse to get off its ass and have a higher standard for its players and their game. The fans are also accountable for still paying attention to something that we all acknowledge is tainted. I don't think the Feds WANT to be involved, but if nobody is manning the ship and the players are making millions and acting as role models for a generation of new cheaters, I don't have a problem with someone trying to kickstart some responsibility into the league. I agree with you that it is well outside the scope of the government's role, but I also think this is another example of something you love to point out whenever available--even if someone else is ultimately reponsible for letting it get to this point.

The irony is that while the ticker on the bottom of MLB network is commenting on A-Rod's steroid indescretions, MLB network is showing the 2004 Home Run Derby: Sosa Bonds Berkman Ortiz Thome Blalock Palmero Tejada In terms of being clean over the past 20 years, this game is f***ed and each reminder is more painful than the last. It's fun to rip on A-Rod, but he's one of many. I'm willing to bet that ALL of the participants of the 04 derby used at some point in their careers.

just wanted to be sure that those who are mockingly posting pictures of Teixeira--the latest Texas-to-NY (via ATL and ANA) transplant--are reminded that THIS is what most of us are thinking about today. Why don't you take a big picture of Angel Presinal and put him up on the board Diony? Go ahead, we're waiting.

:lol: What a f***ing embarassment for the Yankees and their fans. One more reason not to give 10 year contracts, or any long term contracts for that matter. Who knows what is coming around the corner.

Is your argument that he was an ace last year? Provide your own numbers then.

lets hope Mike Lowell is a big man emotionally and that Tito can do a good job of reminding him what he means to this team. It IS business Mike, but you are a good player on a good team.

You know, when I think about it I wouldn't mind either. It definitely sucks for anyone who set a legitimate record (Ichiro? Ripken Jr?) but those records wouldn't disappear, and the asterisk wouldn't make the record invisable. Aside from HRs (career and season), and Bonds' absurd totals, have there been any that are obviously dominated by steroids in terms of single-season performances? I mean, does it matter that McGwire had the 10th highest SLG of all time in 1998 and that his numbers shouldn't be there? In the end, a lot of the guys on the "all time best season" list will have asterisks, and most of them probably should. Interestingly, seasonal RBI and Runs scored records do not seem to have been adversely affected. OBP records were altered single-handedly by Bonds (1st, 2nd, 7th and 11th all time best OBP seasons, ages 36-39) and SLG was, as were HRs.

It certainly doesn't fix everything. The events still happened, the HRs were still hit, etc., That said, I don't think that altering the record book is about us. It isn't about this generation of fans, it is about the future generations of fans. Kids in 2031 will look at baseball-reference or some other site and have to ask "why is there an asterisk (or strikethrough, or whatever)" next to Barry Bonds' name? It should help ensure that people knew that these achievements were done in a different way than the previous ones were. I've been watching the Baseball series (Ken Burns) on MLB network. Great series (have seen it numerous times before). Some of those old time players were really amazing, and i have no reason to think that someone in his mid 20's in my grandfather's generation wouldn't be just as athletically blessed as someone from our generation. Perhaps there's a mild difference with weight training, etc., but the difference isn't as significant as the huge number differences would warrant. Look at a picture of Gehrig or Foxx or Hack Wilson. These were big guys who put up big numbers against guys who threw hard and were hand picked because of their pitching skill. It wasn't a backyard baseball game. The obvious missing piece there was the existence of the Negro Leagues, which served as an obvious barrier to "true" competition, but they played too and had players (Satchel, Gibson, Cool Papa, etc.,) who would likely be MLB caliber stars today. I have no problem altering the record book in a reasonable way. It isn't a 'fix' but it counters the apologists who say "everyone used, so there is nothing you can do". That is condoning it. It can be acknowledged as a real problem without being condoned as okay.