Hank Aaron says that an Asteric * should be put on all stats and records of individuals who are known, or suspected to have been in the steroid era of baseball. I don't like the fact that baseball has been tainted by such a terrible thing, but how can someone say something like that? I think often times people forget that Baseball, had nothing against doping on steroids until a few years ago. This made nothing that any of the athletes were doing illegal. The only thing any athlete, like Mark McGwire, or Barry Bonds has done illegal is possibly lie to a grand jury.
For anyone who has never done steroids, let me be the first to tell you that they're great. Just like any other drug they can be amazing if you use them moderately and under supervision, or at least with the know how. I did steroids back in college. During the course of that time, I went from a geek to a brawny geek. I wasn't playing any sports, except for an intra murial ultimate frisbee team. The results however were staggering. An opposing team had a good friend of mine, who was also an arch enemy. He was a good friend in the fact, that he was my lifting buddy. He was an arch rival in the fact that he played for this other team, because his girlfriend was on it. Hoes before Bros. Him and I were in much better shape than the rest of anyone on either of our teams, or anyone in our league for that matter. We both lifted and did steroids together. There was no advantage to using them when we matched up against each other, because we were both on the leg-up side of the equation.
That little story bring me to my next point, if in baseball, at the time steroids were not illegal to do under the rules of the Major League Baseball Association, and everyone was doing them, where is the advantage in that? These players are paid millions, hundreds of millions even, to play this sport and to do so at the highest level that they can. If you can't hit, you get a hitting coach, put time and effort in and get better at hitting. If you can't pitch, it's the same thing. So if you can't get strong or faster, why not hire a coach for that too? If you're not juicing then you aren't earning your paycheck. You aren't trying your hardest to be the best that you can, because steroids are not illegal in Baseball circa five years ago. If everyone else is doing it to get a leg up, why wouldn't you? It would be a disservice to yourself as a professional to gain that assitance, as well as your team, and your fans.
It's not like you can just take steroids and you're automatically bigger, stronger and faster. The fact of the matter is, you have to put in more hard work than you ever have before. While I was on the 'juice' which can even strangely enough be in pill or powder form, I gained 35 pounds in the 6 months I was on it. But I was eating a very protein rich diet (which is hard for a college student) and I was getting to the gym 6 days a week, and sometimes even twice a day. It was hard work, really hard work requiring tons of sacrifice. I didn't eat one jelly donut during that six months, or even drink a beer.
I understand that Hammerin' Hank didn't ever do any of this, and still was able to achieve such greatness. But the technology in the game has changed, along with the surfaces in which it's played on, along with length of the season, along with everything else. Is an asteric mark going to be put on passballs by catchers because they have gloves and equipment that allow the game to be easier than an 1860's catcher? Are you going to say that Barry Larkin would've had more chances if he didn't play on astro-turfs slick friction instead of playing at the Polo Grounds? If Baseball allows this, along with the many other mistakes they have made in the past, how long is going to be till, they put an asteric by every stat? Well if he had hit that ball at Dodger Stadium instead of Coors Field, it would've been a homerun, instead of an out, so we'll just asteric that a homerun and an out. Are you going to say that in the last stretch of the season, which is more endurance for a player now than a player before, that perhaps those stats should be increased due to the fact that at the beginning of the season perhaps they would have done better?
The hypotheticals are too ridiculous to even consider.
I don't like Barry Bonds for many reasons, but to think that you can just asteric his numbers because he did something that wasn't illegal, seems absolutely absurd to me. Steroids are not even that 'bad' for you, or at least not as bad as Baseball has made them out to be. I've seen no ill effects since taking them five years ago. I'm in great health, since after seeing my physical results were well and good before I left for Asia. I only had the effects, which were minimal like raised libido and slightly more on edge, while I was on cycle.
If you want to stop steroids in the sport now, be my guest, I would love to see a game free of such things. But don't point your fingers at anyone 'then' Bud. You were not so surprised to find out that players were doing it, but stopping it back then would've been bad for business. Maybe we should put an asteric on Selig instead, to seperate when he knew that steroids were being used widely in his sport, and when he finally decided to do something about it.
-Mr. Blue
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A Dodger Fashioned Win
The Dodgers set off to improve on their astonishing one game win streak as they played against the Houston Astros in the last game of their four game set. Hiroki Kuroda matched up against Russ Ortiz, who hadn't picked up a win since April 26th of this year.
After a quick two first inning by Kuroda, he found himself in the third with Michael Bourn on second and Carlos Lee at the plate who no doubtedly singled into right to score Bourn. The next batter, Geoff Blum connected with one into the right field bullpen to give the Astros an early three nothing lead. Kuroda settled down, but only went five innings after 92 pitches 7 hits and two walks given up.
It was the same as usual for the Dodgers relief staff, despite being used very regularly in the first half of the season, the continued to do their job as Guillermo Mota, Ramon Troncoso, and Jonathan Broxton pitched the last four innings in scoreless ball fashion.
The Dodgers, faced with a three run deficit, didn't waste anytime in the bottom of the third as Matt Kemp led the inning off with a walk, promptly stole second and scored with Brad Ausmus doubled to deep right. It was the same song and dance in the fifth when Ausmus came up following a Matt Kemp lead off single, and once again doubled him in, only this time to left field. The Dodgers squandered chances to score further in both innings when Ausmus was stranded on second after reaching there with no one out.
They didn't however waste their chances in the 7th. Kemp led off the inning again, and as if it was going out of fashion, singled again. Ausmus came up, but this time sacrifice bunted Kemp over to second. Blake DeWitt who had been a double switch earlier in the game came up and reached on an error by Houston Astros pitcher Alberto Arias. Rafael Furcal came up with runners now at the corners, the one at third being the tying run, and only one out. He hit a slow roller up the line that Arias fielded. Arias tried to make a quick throw home to cut down the speedy Kemp at the plate and thwart the tying run attempt. The ball slipped out of his hand and fell idly to the ground. The Dodgers, lumberjacks, had chipped away and now evened the score.
The bottom of the eighth appeared promising as Andre Ethier singled to lead it off for the Dodgers, but was quickly erased after James Loney grounded into a double play. That brought up Matt Kemp, already 2 for 2 with a walk and all three Dodger runs scored. The at-bat goes to show just the kind of player Matt Kemp is going to be. Is. Latroy Hawkins, the new pitcher for the 'Stros threw a first pitch ball to Kemp. After a next pitch strike, he followed with another one out of the strike zone to Kemp. The count stayed at two and two for four more pitches, as Kemp fouled three off and took the fourth for a ball. The next pitch Hawkins wishes he could have back, as Kemp drove it deep into the bleachers in left field.
Broxton quickly got ready and came in to finish out the ninth and retire the Astros in order. It was Broxton's 24th of the year, and Troncoso picked up the win for his fourth. Troncoso has the the Cory Wade for the Dodgers this year. His ERA is under a buck fifty and he's done a stellar job despite his workload.
So the Dodgers proved that they are quite possibly the same team they were before the break. Their starting pitcher doesn't do a bad job, but doesn't go deep into the game. Their relief comes in and shuts the door as usual. Broxton gets the save, and the Dodgers win on the shoulders of their young, and old but don't rely on any production from Manny Ramirez.
-Mr. Blue
After a quick two first inning by Kuroda, he found himself in the third with Michael Bourn on second and Carlos Lee at the plate who no doubtedly singled into right to score Bourn. The next batter, Geoff Blum connected with one into the right field bullpen to give the Astros an early three nothing lead. Kuroda settled down, but only went five innings after 92 pitches 7 hits and two walks given up.
It was the same as usual for the Dodgers relief staff, despite being used very regularly in the first half of the season, the continued to do their job as Guillermo Mota, Ramon Troncoso, and Jonathan Broxton pitched the last four innings in scoreless ball fashion.
The Dodgers, faced with a three run deficit, didn't waste anytime in the bottom of the third as Matt Kemp led the inning off with a walk, promptly stole second and scored with Brad Ausmus doubled to deep right. It was the same song and dance in the fifth when Ausmus came up following a Matt Kemp lead off single, and once again doubled him in, only this time to left field. The Dodgers squandered chances to score further in both innings when Ausmus was stranded on second after reaching there with no one out.
They didn't however waste their chances in the 7th. Kemp led off the inning again, and as if it was going out of fashion, singled again. Ausmus came up, but this time sacrifice bunted Kemp over to second. Blake DeWitt who had been a double switch earlier in the game came up and reached on an error by Houston Astros pitcher Alberto Arias. Rafael Furcal came up with runners now at the corners, the one at third being the tying run, and only one out. He hit a slow roller up the line that Arias fielded. Arias tried to make a quick throw home to cut down the speedy Kemp at the plate and thwart the tying run attempt. The ball slipped out of his hand and fell idly to the ground. The Dodgers, lumberjacks, had chipped away and now evened the score.
The bottom of the eighth appeared promising as Andre Ethier singled to lead it off for the Dodgers, but was quickly erased after James Loney grounded into a double play. That brought up Matt Kemp, already 2 for 2 with a walk and all three Dodger runs scored. The at-bat goes to show just the kind of player Matt Kemp is going to be. Is. Latroy Hawkins, the new pitcher for the 'Stros threw a first pitch ball to Kemp. After a next pitch strike, he followed with another one out of the strike zone to Kemp. The count stayed at two and two for four more pitches, as Kemp fouled three off and took the fourth for a ball. The next pitch Hawkins wishes he could have back, as Kemp drove it deep into the bleachers in left field.
Broxton quickly got ready and came in to finish out the ninth and retire the Astros in order. It was Broxton's 24th of the year, and Troncoso picked up the win for his fourth. Troncoso has the the Cory Wade for the Dodgers this year. His ERA is under a buck fifty and he's done a stellar job despite his workload.
So the Dodgers proved that they are quite possibly the same team they were before the break. Their starting pitcher doesn't do a bad job, but doesn't go deep into the game. Their relief comes in and shuts the door as usual. Broxton gets the save, and the Dodgers win on the shoulders of their young, and old but don't rely on any production from Manny Ramirez.
-Mr. Blue
Halladay, Too Expensive
The Dodgers are in a bit of a crisis. Not that they aren't the best team in the league with a 57-34 record. It's certainly not the fact that they sit with a comfortable seven and a half game lead in the NL West. But what is scary, if you're a Dodger fan, is the shaky starting staff the Dodgers have.
The real pinnacle of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has always been pitching. Some of the greatest names in pitching have come through Tinseltown. From Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser just to name a few. The Dodgers definitely had some question marks in the staff from the beginning of the season. Their bullpen being so young and un-tested it was really up to a somewhat senior staff to get the job done. So far it's been a case of the opposites. The starters have been shaky, injured, and many, where the young relief staff has been cool and collected.
Chad Billingsley has been about the only things solid and permanent in the front rotation, even despite his last few outings. He's the obvious Ace and possibly a Cy Young contender this year, after making his first appearance in the Mid-Summer Classic. Clayton Kershaw is soon going to have to change his name to Shawn Merrimam if he keeps this pace, because he's been nothing short of lights out over the past month. He's won 5 straight and posted something ridiculous of an ERA over that span at 0.63. However he still isn't the horse that his counter part Billingsley is, and has only gotten to seven innings twice this year, which puts a hurting on the young arms of the bullpen.
The next questions are big within the starting staff. Hiroki Kuroda would be the number two or three depending on the status of his other sophomore counterpart Kershaw. Kuroda is not as young as either Billingsley or Kershaw. He's an import from Japan and had a good rookie season last year winning nine and posting a strong 3.73 ERA. Back from injury this year, he has not been consistant. If he can be the two or three they need him to be, that would help solidify their staff to be near strong enough for post season play.
The other pitchers that have helped with the rotation have been varied and many. Jeff Weaver, returned to the Dodgers in Spring Training, pitched well, and was dismissed, only to return later this season when injury was at it's peak for Dodgers pitching. He has come in and done a pretty good job, considering he's thought to be a done for pitcher. Eric Stults and Milton two south paws made their way into the rotation, and the job looked to be Milton's after a few good outings, but as always with the ex All-Star, he got injured and found himself out of a job again. Stults had a few outings, including a complete game shut-out but also was pardoned after an injury.
Jason Schmidt, who hasn't pitched in the Majors since July 16th 2007 due to a shoulder injury, is finally back for the Dodgers and will start Tuesday versus Cincinnati. The 13 year veteran will probably be rusty, and if he can show signs of strength and improvement to getting into form, it could allow the Dodgers freedom to not go after another starter. Provided he stays healthy.
If Schmidt comes back, in some miracle performance of his career, to be the pitcher he once was, the Dodgers will most certainly have the complete pitching staff that can take them through a post season and a World Series win. However, at this point the future isn't clear. All that I know is the front 5 needs to be full, and get deeper into games before they wear out the arms of their relief mates.
Answer, it's not the daily double, so don't clap. Roy Halladay is the perennial, always win 20 games and K and Innings leader or near the top that would most certainly deepen the Dodgers starting rotation. He would help them probably more than any other trade that they could get before July 31st. But at what cost?
The Toronto Blue Jays, Halladays team, are next to last in the AL East at ten games behind and a game under .500. Even in the Wild Card, they are practically out of contention. It's time for them to start rebuilding, and Halladay is a big tool in which they can use start getting there. For a team looking to solidify any hopes of playoffs and World Series titles, Halladay is by far the best available. The Dodgers have the necessary tools to get to the World Series as they are. Their front pitching is a question mark, but still very good. Offensively they are about the best around. So if they were to get Halladay, what would they be sacrificing?
The Jays would probably want some of the young talent which the Dodgers possess. The biggest two options, would be Clayton Kershaw or Matt Kemp. Other options arise, like James Loney, or Andre Ethier, but neither of those two will ever been the Star players a Kemp or Kershaw will be. Kershaw, 21, is only in his second season, and this will be his first complete year. He's a strike out machine that's only downside at the moment, is his pitch count and control, two things that he will still develop. Kemp, 24, has been shaping into the superstar that he will become. This year he has made huge strides. He's a five point player in all respects. His speed and defensive mixed with his athletic ability has made him a highlight reel to watch in center field. He hits for average, and power, and only knock against him, was his strikeouts, which over the last few weeks, he's cut down on.
Both of these two are franchise makers. They're homegrown, and fun to watch. If the Dodgers aren't going to make it to the World Series without Halladay this year, I'll take that, because Kershaw and Kemp will lead us their next, and the year after that as well as the year after.... Trade, I say no way.
-Mr. Blue
The real pinnacle of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has always been pitching. Some of the greatest names in pitching have come through Tinseltown. From Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser just to name a few. The Dodgers definitely had some question marks in the staff from the beginning of the season. Their bullpen being so young and un-tested it was really up to a somewhat senior staff to get the job done. So far it's been a case of the opposites. The starters have been shaky, injured, and many, where the young relief staff has been cool and collected.
Chad Billingsley has been about the only things solid and permanent in the front rotation, even despite his last few outings. He's the obvious Ace and possibly a Cy Young contender this year, after making his first appearance in the Mid-Summer Classic. Clayton Kershaw is soon going to have to change his name to Shawn Merrimam if he keeps this pace, because he's been nothing short of lights out over the past month. He's won 5 straight and posted something ridiculous of an ERA over that span at 0.63. However he still isn't the horse that his counter part Billingsley is, and has only gotten to seven innings twice this year, which puts a hurting on the young arms of the bullpen.
The next questions are big within the starting staff. Hiroki Kuroda would be the number two or three depending on the status of his other sophomore counterpart Kershaw. Kuroda is not as young as either Billingsley or Kershaw. He's an import from Japan and had a good rookie season last year winning nine and posting a strong 3.73 ERA. Back from injury this year, he has not been consistant. If he can be the two or three they need him to be, that would help solidify their staff to be near strong enough for post season play.
The other pitchers that have helped with the rotation have been varied and many. Jeff Weaver, returned to the Dodgers in Spring Training, pitched well, and was dismissed, only to return later this season when injury was at it's peak for Dodgers pitching. He has come in and done a pretty good job, considering he's thought to be a done for pitcher. Eric Stults and Milton two south paws made their way into the rotation, and the job looked to be Milton's after a few good outings, but as always with the ex All-Star, he got injured and found himself out of a job again. Stults had a few outings, including a complete game shut-out but also was pardoned after an injury.
Jason Schmidt, who hasn't pitched in the Majors since July 16th 2007 due to a shoulder injury, is finally back for the Dodgers and will start Tuesday versus Cincinnati. The 13 year veteran will probably be rusty, and if he can show signs of strength and improvement to getting into form, it could allow the Dodgers freedom to not go after another starter. Provided he stays healthy.
If Schmidt comes back, in some miracle performance of his career, to be the pitcher he once was, the Dodgers will most certainly have the complete pitching staff that can take them through a post season and a World Series win. However, at this point the future isn't clear. All that I know is the front 5 needs to be full, and get deeper into games before they wear out the arms of their relief mates.
Answer, it's not the daily double, so don't clap. Roy Halladay is the perennial, always win 20 games and K and Innings leader or near the top that would most certainly deepen the Dodgers starting rotation. He would help them probably more than any other trade that they could get before July 31st. But at what cost?
The Toronto Blue Jays, Halladays team, are next to last in the AL East at ten games behind and a game under .500. Even in the Wild Card, they are practically out of contention. It's time for them to start rebuilding, and Halladay is a big tool in which they can use start getting there. For a team looking to solidify any hopes of playoffs and World Series titles, Halladay is by far the best available. The Dodgers have the necessary tools to get to the World Series as they are. Their front pitching is a question mark, but still very good. Offensively they are about the best around. So if they were to get Halladay, what would they be sacrificing?
The Jays would probably want some of the young talent which the Dodgers possess. The biggest two options, would be Clayton Kershaw or Matt Kemp. Other options arise, like James Loney, or Andre Ethier, but neither of those two will ever been the Star players a Kemp or Kershaw will be. Kershaw, 21, is only in his second season, and this will be his first complete year. He's a strike out machine that's only downside at the moment, is his pitch count and control, two things that he will still develop. Kemp, 24, has been shaping into the superstar that he will become. This year he has made huge strides. He's a five point player in all respects. His speed and defensive mixed with his athletic ability has made him a highlight reel to watch in center field. He hits for average, and power, and only knock against him, was his strikeouts, which over the last few weeks, he's cut down on.
Both of these two are franchise makers. They're homegrown, and fun to watch. If the Dodgers aren't going to make it to the World Series without Halladay this year, I'll take that, because Kershaw and Kemp will lead us their next, and the year after that as well as the year after.... Trade, I say no way.
-Mr. Blue
A Year for The Ages
Over the last few years I really haven't followed baseball. I grew up in Southern California, and have always been a big Dodgers fan. My dad used to take me to games on his shoulder, and I used to enjoy the spectacles of the park within Chavez Ravine. Through my high school days I even found myself being a die-hard fan.
The years to follow High School, I started to lose interest in the Dodgers and in baseball. Probably most likely because I went away from it all, and started working towards my career. I worked hard and graduated in life and eventually got a job that was not the best organization, but it has benefits and a good retirement program so I've stuck with it for longer than I have cared too. At the end of last year, they notified me that they had lent me out for a year to a far away Eastern country where I was to do work.
The years to follow High School, I started to lose interest in the Dodgers and in baseball. Probably most likely because I went away from it all, and started working towards my career. I worked hard and graduated in life and eventually got a job that was not the best organization, but it has benefits and a good retirement program so I've stuck with it for longer than I have cared too. At the end of last year, they notified me that they had lent me out for a year to a far away Eastern country where I was to do work.
The year I was finding hard. The work has been long hours and not very fun, and this place of now unfamiliarity and loneliness had started to get to me. With no friends outside of work colleagues, I decided that I needed a new hobby. I started to research the upcoming baseball season one afternoon in curiosity of a lost passion. I read up on all they had done the previous years, and what they were doing now.
I could see with last years finish, that this was a season where they had been picked as the front runners of their respective division, which hadn't happened in awhile. The season picked up, and I began to watch, though not actually see a game, of this 2009 Dodger team.
As the year went along, the Dodgers proved that they were the team most people picked them to be. Despite the pre-season hold out by slugger Manny Ramirez, and even after his 50 game suspension for violating Major League Drug Policy, which I find as a joke; the Dodgers continued to thrive and do well.
The more I've sat here and thought about, got my mind back around the game, the team I love, I felt I could no longer keep my opinions to myself. Present online publication that can relay my stream of consciousness to anyone, it's always a choice, who wants to read it.
You can call me, Mr. Blue
I could see with last years finish, that this was a season where they had been picked as the front runners of their respective division, which hadn't happened in awhile. The season picked up, and I began to watch, though not actually see a game, of this 2009 Dodger team.
As the year went along, the Dodgers proved that they were the team most people picked them to be. Despite the pre-season hold out by slugger Manny Ramirez, and even after his 50 game suspension for violating Major League Drug Policy, which I find as a joke; the Dodgers continued to thrive and do well.
The more I've sat here and thought about, got my mind back around the game, the team I love, I felt I could no longer keep my opinions to myself. Present online publication that can relay my stream of consciousness to anyone, it's always a choice, who wants to read it.
You can call me, Mr. Blue
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