ORS

Actually, a strict application of the rules, which as we all know rarely happens, firmly puts ARod in the wrong. MLB Official Rules - 2.00 Definition of Terms

Fernando Vina is the first I've heard saying it happens everyday. The newspapers and radio shows all had quotes from big leaguers saying they haven't seen it since they were kids. And, if this happens all the time, why have I never, not even once, seen it happen on a broadcast. Hell, if it's something that happens every day, why did he lie to cover it up? What's to hide? Clark heard, "Mine", and tape looks like that is what he said, but ARod covers it up with, "I said HA". And, lots of no comments, or I don't know about that, from his teammates postgame. If this is so normal, why didn't he say, "Yeah, I did it, and I'm glad it worked", and why didn't his teammates say, "Good stuff, I can't believe it worked." No, everyone was acting like there was something to be afraid of. I can understand why you like the "win at all costs" mentality. It's nice to know they care about the outcome. That said, this was bush league. Not as bad or blantant as the slap, but it was bush.

http://www.nndb.com/people/471/000023402/arod-sized.jpg I'm Alex Rodriguez, and this is my beer. http://www.beercollections.com/Breweries/Missouri/Images/IM251612.gif

You would prefer someone else get the garbage time?

Dustin sold that well. Drew pussed up at the wall.

Niceness from the Dice.

I really don't like this line of thinking. Just because they are scoring enough runs to win games, thanks in large part to excellent pitching, doesn't mean they couldn't score more. Making less outs is more important than being fast. Statistical studies have shown than ad infinitum. I will say this though, if the pitching holds up to the level they've put forth thus far, and they keep winning, I don't care who hits where. My concern on the matter is, at some time I feel we'll need those extra runs, so why leave them on the table?

Great slide. Fiyah, Lowell is on fiyah.

Get on base and go station to station with Pedroia and Youk in front of the big guns. Run at the tail end of the order. Anything else just doesn't make sense.

He might not get the best reads, but he closes on the ball as good as any. Great catch.

Test - Test - Test - Test Did anything funny happen to Matt Clement in Tampa during the '05 season?

Fenway is still a hitter's park, but not to the degree that GA is. Ever since they added the .406 club seating, the HR factor has been below 1 every year, so the park added power no longer exists. I think the extra structure blocked out the help from prevailing winds. GA's HR factor has been over 1 during that time.

Good catch. It is this year's draft that is deep. I get so used to having draft coverage follow the season that I forgot the uniqueness (in season) aspect of the baseball draft.

As to the opt out issue, it would depend on whether or not he was offered arbitration. Once he opts out, he is a free-agent, and they can still offer him arbitration. Now, it's possible that they can't offer him arbitration, as was the case with Drew. Like Drew, ARod is a Boras client, and that was a condition to Drew's opt out clause. I don't know the specifics, and they would dictate what's possible here. And, yes, they won't take a pay cut if they accept arb, which is why I said I thought there was significant risk with the other 3. Also, I agree, I don't see Posada or Rivera signing elsewhere, especially not for what would be less. I mean, wasn't Rivera just campaigning for an extension, and arbitration is a defacto extension. Still, it is a chance they could take. Worst case scenario is they accept and the Yankees have to foot the bill for another year. But the potential for a windfall in the draft exists, even if the possibility of it happening is small.

Yeah, a sweep pretty much clinches it, no matter what happens today. FYI, here's a breakdown of the Sox projected record by winning percentage from here on out. First column is the W% range, second is what the Sox final record would be with that percentage from here until October, third is the NY W% (assuming one game better than the Sox record) needed to overtake the Sox, and the last is what that W% would be like over a 162 game season. [table]Sox W%|Record|NY W%|162 .700|114-48|.837|136-26 .675|111-51|.812|132-30 .650|108-54|.787|128-43 .625|105-57|.762|123-39 .600|103-59|.738|119-43 .575|100-62|.713|115-47 .550|97-65|.688|111-51 .525|94-68|.663|107-55 .500|92-70|.638|103-59[/table] Basically, if the Sox play to a .575 or higher, the Yankees have to play like the best team ever for 112 games. If it's from .500 to .575, then the Yankees have to play like a 100+ win team for that stretch. I thought they'd be a high 90 win team with that offense, but not over 100. Yeah, a sweep and the East is out of reach.

Well, this is shaping up to be a deep draft, so the Yankees could try and get 9 picks before the 1st round, but I'm not sure if it would work. Think about it. ARod opts out and they offer him arb, and there is low risk he takes it if he's opting out. That nets a 1st and supplemental pick. The same thing could happen with Posada, Rivera, and Abreu. Of course, they are signed well over their projectable value, so it's doubtful they'll get more (per year) if they sign elsewhere, so the arb offer is a risk. But, it's not like the Yankees couldn't afford to pay them one more year and do it again. All three would be type-A signings, so they could net 4 extra 1st round picks and 4 supplementals to add to their 1st round pick. If it's a top-15, they could still sign a Zambrano long-term and only forfeit a 2nd round pick. Talk about jump starting a rebuild.

Exactly, it's a hot sheet. They put one out every week. Buchholz has been on it twice, at the top once. Like I said, he's a good looking prospect, but as a college draftee just starting out in A+ ball, he has a ways to go before he's the #2 pitching prospect in the minors.

It's nice having two closers.

Got him with the Oki-Doki.

Loogy Lopez keeps getting it done. Thumper's junkectomy gets a reprieve.

Frying. Pan. Hands.

Tonight vs. the Clippers 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 79 pitches