Astros cheating is hot topic. I wonder where it will all lead? Likely to big fine, and loss of draft choices. Astros front office isn't helping with statements like this from the GM Jeff Luhnow. What the hell does that mean? Is it that hard to follow the rules, are they vague. Is it like NASCAR where if you aren't cheating you aren't trying?
re: Astros cheated Yu Darvish is receiving apologies from everyone. This is the 2nd time that the Dodgers had the best team, but were cheated by a sophisticated sign stealing system. The other was by the Giants in 1954.
This statement is painful to read if you're trying to give the Astros the benefit of the doubt. Nope!
Might explain Darvish performance in one of his starts, but what about his start in Game 7 at L.A.? No centerfield camera in Dodger Stadium that the Astros had access to right?
The Yankees complained about them a couple of years ago but no one took them seriously. Probably victimized again this year. Baseball stands alone with cheating being a big part of its culture.
It's not just cheating being a big part of its culture but hell, you're not supposed to hit to an abandoned outfield, nor are you supposed to bunt in some instances to get on base. And if you feel disrespected, you're supposed to throw at some batter in the future. Baseball has a lot of unwritten rules too.
The Astros likely join the same club as the Patriots in the minds of many. Any time the outcome of a sporting event is in doubt for tings like this it is bad for the game. How do rationalize it? Is it really any less egregious than betting on the outcome of a game you are involved in or using hormones and speed to enhance performance? One day you are watching MLB, NASCAR or NFL and then suddenly it is WWE. The moment the authenticity is gone it can never come all the way back.
I'll have to ask Joel how you deal with your ball club being cheaters but winning a Title! But a couple of prominent former Astros were apparently at the center of devising the scheme. Oh yeah...Verlander won his 2nd Cy Young, it's too bad there couldn't be co-winners as Cole was also deserving. The funny thing is that some of the reaction around here was that fans were glad Cole didn't win since it's pretty obvious he's leaving the Astros. Verlander and Don Newcombe are the only players to have won Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young Award and MVP. With the retirement of C.C. Sabathia, Verlander becomes the active leader in most major pitching categories. His 225 wins are 20 more than that of teammate Zack Greinke, and his 3,006 strikeouts are 314 more than that of Washington's Max Scherzer. Verlander is also the career leader in innings (2,982), starts (453) and wins above replacement for pitchers (71.4). Met's Ace Jacob deGrom won his 2nd straight Cy Young, the 7th pitcher to do so. deGrom, 31, joins Randy Johnson, Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Scherzer, Greg Maddux and Sandy Koufax on the list of NL back-to-back winners,
deGrom was 10-9 in 2018 and 11-8 this year. ...That shows you how W-L record has become just another stat in an analytics driven game.
Ryu was cheated. deGrom wasn't even on our radar here. Bellinger won the MVP last night, which was a great pick, bur Yelich or Rendon would have been great too. I had no arguments against any of those three... deGrom? Wow...
I hear ya. Boone and LaMahieu came up empty too and the two of them carried the Yankees all year through 31 IL episodes. At one point DJ was the only regular not on the IL. In the AL they should call it the Trout Award. Teams sucks , he did not even play the last six weeks, still wins it. I don't get it.
HOF Ballot is out. The ballot: Bobby Abreu, Josh Beckett, Heath Bell, Barry Bonds XXX Eric Chavez, Roger Clemens XXX Adam Dunn, Chone Figgins, Rafael Furcal, Jason Giambi, Todd Helton, Raul Ibanez, Derek Jeter....lock to be a 1st ballot HOF. Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, Paul Konerko, Cliff Lee, Carlos Pena, Brad Penny, Andy Pettitte ...XXXX J.J. Putz, Manny Ramirez, Brian Roberts, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling....leading returner with 69% last year Gary Sheffield, Alfonso Soriano, Sammy Sosa ..XXX Jose Valverde, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, Larry Walker...last go around.
This is how thin the talent pool is? Half of these guys don't even deserve to be on this list. Jeter, Ramirez ( if you believe he didn't juice ) That's all.
all I know is that if Jeter isn't a unanimous, first-ballot HOFer, then there's no point giving out the award.
Derek Jeter and Curt Schilling should be no-brainers, but you never know. The Dodgers had several no-brainers who're still waiting, because of ignorance; Gil Hodges, Carl Furillo, Orel Hershiser etc. Steve Garvey made ten All-Star teams and was MVP of the NL and the All-Star game twice. The argument against him was defense, but he won four Gold Gloves. The argument against Hodges was that he didn't have enough total hits, but he missed 2-3 years as a Marine fighting in places like Iwo Jima and Okinawa... BTW- George is right about LaMahieu. He didn't even receive any SECOND Place votes! He was better than that.
Appalling that Hodges is not in the HOF. He was one of the great players of his era and an iconic Brooklyn Dodger.