Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
I got my hands on what appears to be the George Mitchell List this morning. I’m calling this list “unofficial” since I got it third hand (though it did originate from the offices of Congress). We’ll all know soon enough.
Since MLB has disputed some of the names on a few of the leaked lists out there, I’m removing the names from the post.
Update: Here is the official Mitchell report that just came out (pdf format). More later when I have time.
Call it the Curse of the Long Term Contract or maybe The Curse of the Rainout. Either way, since Carlos Zambrano has signed his five year contract (and pitched 3 innings of perfect ball only to have the game called because of rain), he has been less than effective. Ok, that’s putting it nicely. Quite … Continue reading “Big Z: Searching for a win”
Call it the Curse of the Long Term Contract or maybe The Curse of the Rainout.
Either way, since Carlos Zambrano has signed his five year contract (and pitched 3 innings of perfect ball only to have the game called because of rain), he has been less than effective.
Ok, that’s putting it nicely. Quite frankly, he’s stunk. He has a 8.29 ERA and 0-5 record over that period. Not only that, he’s close to 6 walks per 9. Hopefully, Monday’s game is the bottom of the barrel for him and he can start climbing out of his funk. After his baserunning boner, he fell apart against Dem Bums and allowed 8 runs.
The media came out strong against Zambrano’s blast of the fans. Maybe it’s me but I don’t think he was THAT out of line. Derrek Lee came out against the booing and I’m glad he did. Bonus: he took Big Z for missing the stop sign.
“I’m a grown man. I know when I make a mistake. I know what I’m doing. I know when I have to come to whoever I offended. I don’t think somebody has to tell me what to do,”
I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt. I’ll bet Z had a nice chat with Rothschild and Piniella. Hendry says that nobody told him what to say. For some reason, I’m dubious.
Zambrano has been inconsistent all year and this is the time of year we really need him. The timing of this downturn doesn’t help his cause.
Zambrano is a different personality. Do I expect him to come forward and be a team leader in the way that Derrek Lee is. Probably not. But I do expect him to pitch effectively and consistently. Whatever it takes to get him to that point, be it a missed start or whatever, Lou needs to do it.
And fans, get off his case. I don’t think the booing helps.
Update: Cubs are now up 4-2 and Lilly pitched well allowing 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings. Maybe we can salvage this last game.
Clear inventor Patrick Arnold has suddenly come on the scene and made his opinion known regarding Bonds and steroids.
“To me it was always implicit that an athlete that Victor was working with was on the program,” Arnold told ESPN Radio.
Arnold told ESPN Radio that the program included a variety of drugs, including growth hormones, EPO, steroids like the “clear” and the “cream” and stimulants.
That said, the article contains many disclaimers from Arnold who by the way hails from Champaign, Illinois. He claims that it was “an opinion”. In addition, Arnold has his own agenda.
This article will generate readers for ESPN. Given the timing of this article, that’s the bottom line.
This spring when we did our predictions, one question we were asked was: Which player would be suspended for steroids first? That was easy, I thought. It will be someone I haven’t heard of. While others were picking star players of questionable repute, my thought was that it will be a new player, perhaps … Continue reading “MLB cracks down on someone I haven’t heard of”
This spring when we did our predictions, one question we were asked was:
Which player would be suspended for steroids first?
That was easy, I thought. It will be someone I haven’t heard of. While others were picking star players of questionable repute, my thought was that it will be a new player, perhaps someone who was just brought up from the minors not too long ago. Someone the MLB can throw the book at and make an example of without really stepping on any team’s toes.
And I was right. Meet Juan Salas.
Salas has 23 ML games to his name which right now, is going down the toilet. His suspension will last the usual 50 games for a first offense. At this point, he is planning on spending it in workouts at the team facility and pitching in the extended spring training program.
Salas, by the way, is the 4th Devil Ray to be suspended for MLB’s drug policy (Josh Hamilton, Alex Sanchez and Matt Rico).
Patrick Arnold, inventor of “the clear” has been sentenced to 3 months in prison. He has been convicted of “steroid-distribution charges”.
Local readers may or may not know that Arnold is a Champaign resident. Proviant Technologies, his research laboratory (since raided by federal agents) is also located in Champaign.
Arnold, of course, put forth an apologetic front:
“I’m very regretful for what I’ve done and especially since what it has precipitated in sports and society,” Arnold said outside court. “I do believe there should be a level playing field and that this whole things [sic]needs to be addressed.”
Yeah, you’re a real crusader.