MC Hammer

Exactly. Just like I said when Manny was being Manny last year ... if I were running the Red Sox Manny could walk into my office and take a dump on my desk every day, and as long as he put up his numbers I wouldn't have a problem with it.

When you're as good as Manny arrogance is a given. I'm not really concerned about Manny missing a little spring training.

I guess we just see this situation differently. The players expect me to continue going to games, and continue to spend money on merchandise, then I expect them to show a little respect. Now I'm not asking that they come to my house and have Sunday dinner with me, but if I ask for an autograph I expect to receive it, and not the "Go f*** yourself" I got from Barry Bonds when I was younger. Should players have to sign 50 autographs for 1 fan, no. Should they sign as many autographs as possible, yes. I'm not saying they have to spend 10 hours at the field after the game, but before games there is plenty of time for autographs, and many players spend as much time as they can before their warm-ups signing autographs. Others will either completely ignore the fans, or curse/yell at them for even asking. Trust me if I ask a player for an autograph "Mr. so and so, can I please have your autograph?" and he politely replies "Sorry ... I need time to warm up" than that’s fine. I respectfully asked for his autograph, and he respectfully denied with good reason. But like I said earlier there are just too many players that are quick to snap at fans, and too many that are very disrespectful, and act like it is the fans privilege to come see them play, when in reality the players are privileged to have the fans come see them play. All I want from a player is respect.

Right and all of that could be prevented by the players simply showing the fans the respect they deserve.

I never said anywhere that players that don't spend time with fans are idiots ... they're simply disrespectful ... just like many fans. If a player is an ass to the fans then the fans have every right to boo that player no matter how good his performance on the field. Like I've said 3 times now ... without the fans there are no players and there is no league.

Because without those fans they would have no talents to exploit. Without the baseball fan, there is no MLB, and if there is, players aren't making millions of dollars. If fans don't tune in to watch games, and buy tickets, and buy merch, the league doesn't exist. Like I said in my last post, without fans, pro sports don't exist. Too many pro athletes take fans for granted. I believe shaking hands and signing autographs doesn't even begin to compensate the fans for the amount of money, and love they've put into the sport, the team, and the players.

Not liking the sport you play is fine with me, but not being fan friendly is not. Without the fans your sport is exactly that, a sport, and you'd no longer be paid for it. I believe proffesional athletes should bend over backwards for fans. We're the reason they're making millions, and in some cases tens of millions of dollars a year. You should be there to sign every autograph, and to shake every hand. Without the sports fan there are no proffesional sports, and no proffesional athletes.

Well it makes sense that he'd want Manny to come with him. Why wouldn't you want one of the best hitters in the game giving you run support?

Yeah I guess it can't really hurt to sign the guy, but a 29 year old who's yet to harness his fastball isn't likely to be able to do it this year. Plus if he's from the DR he's probably closer to 35 than 29.

Curtis Martin hates football and is/was still one of the best RBs in the game. Liking a sport, or being entertained by a sport has nothing to do with being good at it. I don't care how boring Foulke thinks baseball is ... as long as he's on the mound ... and he's saving games.

No because they're still a kid. How can you analyze something your still going through. It'd be like writing a book report when you only read half the book.

No because they're still a kid. How can you analyze something your still going through. BTW teenager and kid are just words ... and I consider anyone under 18 a kid.

I've heard more than a few experts say that 97-00 Pedro Martinez was the greatest pitcher of all time. I've heard even more say that it's the greatest stretch by any pitcher of all time.

word. If you're still a kid you can't talk analyze how a kid thinks.

No he's said before that he wishes things could have gone differently, and he says all the time he wishes the media wasn't so cruel.

You're wrong. Kids are too stupid to see the difference between the player and the man. Thats the problem with kids looking up to athletes.

I love the clips of his HRs. Half of them are hit off the end of the bat ... or the handle ... and should be fly outs. It's hilarious. BTW funny he can't get in shape now that he doesn't have the cream and the clear. People are actually calling BB out for being a media whore on ESPN today.

The number after the dash is his rank. Won-Loss % Act-.701-1 Car-.701-3 BB + H per IP (WHIP) Act-1.021-1 Car-1.021-3 Hits Allowed/9IP Act-6.82-1 Car-6.82-3 Strikeouts/9IP Act-10.25-3 Car-10.25-3 SO to Walk Act-4.32-1 Car-4.32-2 Adjusted ERA+ Act-166-1 Car-166-1 and just something else interesting Similar Pitchers View in Pop-up Sandy Koufax Curt Schilling All stats from baseball-reference.com

I'd love to see a 100% Keith Foulke on the mound this year, but him saying he's never felt better means jack to me. Thats what everyone says. Thats what you're supposed to say. Obviously I'm pulling for him, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Not many, but a lot of them want to be in the NFL, and fact of the matter is no matter how dumb players are kids are still going to look up to them, because they're in the NFL.

Well that statement either way you place the words doesn't apply to BB anymore. HE ADMITTED TO USING STEROIDS .... PERIOD BTW ... great av moose.

I'm with you 100%. BB was one of the best pure athletes I've ever seen ... before roids of course. All BB ever wanted was to be loved by the media and baseball fans, and every move he's made has taken him in the opposite direction.

Well he was proven guilty. He proved himself guilty. He openly admitted in court that he used steroids.

Don't you love baseball? How could you appreciate BB's hitting, when he's cheated to get wherie he is? When he's cheated a game you love. Don't you stop appreciating it when you realize he was on roids? Wouldn't that just make you take the appreciation you had for BB and give it to guys like Pujols, and Manny, and Vlad who have spent their whole lives perfecting a swing ... not just using steroids to get better?

I'd like to see the number retired, but I don't see it happening. I also can't see anyone else putting it on in the near future.