MLB - 2008 Season

[Imran Siddiqui]

This wasn't a stathead in his grandma's basement

Theo Epstein

Though, I do find it amusing when people say Billy Beane's **** (ie, Moneyball, aka, sabermetrics) doesn't work in the playoffs, when Theo Epstein is just as big into sabermetrics as Beane. AND the Red Sox have Bill freaking James on the payroll (as well as Voros McCracken, creator of VORP).

[Arrian]

Theo is like Billy Beane with money.

Also, multiple guys who have worked for Baseball Prospectus now have front office jobs. Keith Woolner (Indians, IIRC) and Dan Fox (Pirates, just hired).

-Arrian

[EPW]

A's have the best record in the American League

[Arrian]

Good for them. I hope they finish ahead of the Mariners, so all the people who thought Mariners + Bedard = contender can sit around scratching their heads and trying to come up with a reason why (the answer will, ultimately, be chemistry... somehow).

The injury situation for the Yanks has gotten fugly. Losing Posada for an extended period (and it's looking that way) is awful. Toss in a re-aggravated quad for ARod, and the team is nearly punchless against LHP (and generally a lot less punchful, period).

The pitching is going to have to carry the team for a while... and that's asking a lot. Hughes vs. Revenge of the Tigers tonight. That's a tough matchup for any pitcher.

-Arrian

[OzzyKP]

Well the Tigers still have a bit to go till they get back to top form. They still are pretty good at finding a way to lose it.

[Arrian]

Well, playing the Yanks without ARod and Posada is the time to play them. The Tiger lineup appears to have hit its stride. The pitching... not so much. Therein I place my hopes, obviously

-Arrian

[asleepathewheel]

Roger Clemens.

heh.

what can go wrong next for him?

[Ninot]

Flesh eating disease is my bet

[Arrian]

Well, last night sucked. I love Phil's curveball (so does Sheff, apparently, though), but his fastball is all over the place and his change & slider are nowhere to be seen. He doesn't seem to have his command, which is essential to his success. It didn't help that we had a total scrub behind the plate who got crossed up about 100 times, and that the OF defense sucked (Matsui in LF, Damon in CF) - which is inexplicable managing by Girardi. That said, Phil just stunk. The debate rages over whether he should be sent down to AAA for a bit.

The offense is pitiful right now. Girardi made things worse via his lineup selection, but w/o ARod (on the DL now) and Posada and using our 4th string catcher, the lineup is just about helpless against LHP, especially since Jeter's in a slump.

Oh, and Granderson is good.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Wow... AL Central is really sucking so far. FOUR of the five teams are below .500. They are the only division that four teams are below the midway line.

At least the NL West is saved by Arizona (and LAD is at .500 at present). The amusing part about the NL West is that Arizona already has a 5.5 game lead over the 2nd place team (LA) and a 9 game lead over last place (San Diego).

[Ming]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
Roger Clemens.
heh.
what can go wrong next for him?

This mornings headlines in New York

Roger Clemens had several women, flew them on private jet

BY TERI THOMPSON and MICHAEL O'KEEFFE in New York and Christian Red in Nashville
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Wednesday, April 30th 2008, 12:10 AM

Roger Clemens hung out with several attractive women in his baseball career, including beauties in California and Boston and a former Manhattan bartender named Angela Moyer.

Clemens, 45, flew the women around the country on his private jet and bought expensive jewelry for at least one of them, a source told the Daily News Tuesday.

As the Daily News first reported Sunday, the Rocket carried on a decade-long affair with country singer Mindy McCready, who confirmed the romantic relationship Monday.

Moyer, a 30-year-old Realtor who lives in the Harrisburg, Pa., area, worked as a bartender from 2000 to 2004 at Sutton Place, a yuppie East Side watering hole. That's roughly the same time the pitching legend played for the Yankees.

Moyer acknowledged she knew Clemens, but has declined to discuss the relationship. She was spotted driving up to her father's apartment house Tuesday night, but said only "no comment" when asked about Clemens. She then sped off.

McCready, meanwhile, appeared at a suburban Nashville studio Tuesday to begin recording the comeback album she hopes will revive her career, which has stalled as the result of legal troubles.

"I've been playing poker and I invented a new game called 'I win,'" McCready said with a laugh, still nervous from her time under the media microscope this week.

Her mother, Gayle Inge, later told The News, "I know Roger was infatuated with Mindy."

The romantic relationship with McCready could cause big problems for Clemens, who portrayed himself as a devoted family man at the Feb. 13 congressional hearing on steroids and baseball.

Clemens filed a defamation suit in January against Brian McNamee, his former personal trainer, who accused the seven-time Cy Young Award winner of using performanceenhancing drugs.

McNamee's lawyer, Richard Emery, said revelations of affairs could hamper Clemens' claims that McNamee's drug allegations damaged his reputation.

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, did not return a call for comment Tuesday night.

The FBI is investigating Clemens for perjury after he denied McNamee's steroid accusations under oath at the February congressional hearing.

His wife, Debbie, has also emerged as a character in Clemens' Mitchell Report saga. The News first reported that McNamee injected Clemens' wife with human growth hormone before she posed for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit spread.

Former slugger Jose Canseco said he was stunned to learn his former teammate had an affair with McCready.

"I found out about it Tuesday and it took me completely by surprise," said Canseco, who wrote in his first book, "Juiced," that the legendary pitcher never strayed from his wife.

"I saw none of it. If it is true, he kept it secret."

[-Jrabbit]

McCready confirmed to the NY Daily News, and McCready's father confirmed it for the Post.

This snarky quote from E! says volumes:

...it's never a good sign when your lawyer is trying to steer the conversation back to illegal substances.

"It is unfortunate that the Daily News has chosen to report anonymous allegations that are completely unfounded, have no basis in fact, and have nothing to do with Roger's baseball career or the issue of steroid use in baseball," Clemens attorney Rusty Hardin said yesterday.

[Arrian]

Wow. The media really smells blood now.

-Arrian

[SlowwHand]

Clemens is so screwed.

[Ninot]

The funny thing is: he's probably not the exception to the rule. How many dozens, if not hundreds, of ball players have had affairs?