MLB - 2009 Regular Season Thread!!

[-Jrabbit]

...sponsored by Under Armor.

[Ming]

[Imran Siddiqui]

This may be a reason why Sheets won't get close to $10mil/year

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3886732&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets is considering elbow surgery that would probably keep him out for most, if not all, of the 2009 season, according to a major league source familiar with Sheets' medical prognosis.

The surgery would repair the torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow that kept Sheets from pitching for the Brewers in the NLDS and limited him to just two abbreviated starts over the final 2½ weeks of the regular season. The normal recovery time from the procedure, according to the source, is nine to 10 months.

The injury had not previously been believed to be serious. And in fact, some teams that had pursued Sheets this winter seemed to be more concerned about his shoulder than his elbow.

But it's believed the actual nature of the injury was uncovered after he failed a physical given by the Rangers' physicians, after tentatively agreeing to a two-year contract with Texas.

[Ming]

If that is indeed correct, that does indeed change the picture. As reported, nobody originally thought he was currently seriously injured, and that he was just considered a possible risk. Even up to a few days ago, there was some talk of the Cubs still going after him.

So... based on new information, there is no way he will get the money he would be worth if he was healthy.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That was always a risk though... and Sheets was not getting offers anywhere near $10 mil a year.

[-Jrabbit]

At this point, he should just have the surgery and take the year off.

[rah]

I guess it's time to admit I was mistaken.

[-Jrabbit]

Don't do it, rah!!! What will people think -- that reason, logic and/or FACTS should influence disagreements in Internet forums??????

Think of the children! Say it ain't so!

[Tuberski]

In other, no **** sherlock news, A-Rod test positive for steroids in 2003:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3890785

ACK!

[Guynemer]

Only a matter of time, really.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Everyone's on roids!

[reismark]

Wake me when there's steroid news worth mentioning. Can't wait to see this get completely blown out of proportion; same as what happens with every positive result of a high-profile athlete.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If A-Rod testing positive isn't "worth mentioning" than who is?

Not that I think its some sort of horrible thing (I don't care about roid usage), but that's a strange comment to make.

[reismark]

As far as I'm concerned, steroid tests that were done 6 years ago (and whose release is, of course, in blatant violation of the MLB CBA, but I won't go there) aren't worth mentioning any more. What is worth mentioning are the steroid tests that are being failed now, and the steps that are being taken now to educate athletes on the dangers and consequences of doping, to prevent future positive tests, and restore sports' integrity now rather than dwelling on the past. We all suspected A-Rod used, but after this, he's going to dominate the headlines for the whole year when there will be more relevant stories to the here and now that should be focused on.

And this is not to defend A-Rod. I've never been one of his apologists, despite being a Yankee fan. The way the Floyd Landis case was handled (with pretty much every one of Landis's legitimate arguments being trampled on and ignored on the way to Landis being metaphorically strung up by his balls for everyone to take shots at) exposed the truth about what the war on steroids is really about: it's about the publicity that comes with taking a big-shot athlete down, rather than any sincere effort at cleaning up sports.

Until that approach changes, there won't be any steroid news worthy of mention. (Of course, you and I will probably be long dead when that happens, if ever.)

[Imran Siddiqui]

We all suspected A-Rod used

No we didn't. Back when Bonds was breaking Aaron's record, there were people all over the place saying they hope A-Rod takes it back from Bonds so a non-roided player has the record again.