chrisarrow222

This year has been more of a rarity because all the best pitchers in baseball were lined up on the remaining 4 teams.

So the question is how long will it be before we see pitchers routinely pulled in the post season after 3-4 innings? (Post season only)

BQ. Will we see it this year?

Like here in the divisional series.

Stephen Vogt, catching for the A's. I can honestly say I never heard of the guy.

Michael Young, getting the start for the Dodgers, I can hardly recall him even going to LA.

David De Jesus. Last I recall he was DFA by the Cubs.

Are you guys up on all that? Or it's just me, I'm slowing down.

Andrus is on an extended 118M deal. Can anyone honestly tell me what he does to justify that?

Votto was arguably the best hitter in the NL when he signed his deal. But he doesn't push of the surgically repaired knee and his power numbers are way down. And I'm not buying the line that the pitchers don't give him anything to hit.

Who else see's that?

I would say on the surface that Ron's a decent manager. Not great, but not horrible.

But hasn't he been consistently out managed in big games through out his career?

BQ. Washington is a minority. Did that have anything to do with his hiring or any decision to keep him? Couldn't this exact same team do better with some new ideas?

Like Ryan Braun who came into the league at 6' 3" 190 lbs and by last year was considerably bulked up at around 230 for obvious reasons.

Or take a look at Giancarlo Stanton, listed at 6' 6", 240 lbs and probably well above that 2 years ago. But taking a look at him recently, his uniform is loose fitting and he looks much thiner.

Do you see any of that? Any other examples?

This is not a question on whether the suspensions are valid or justified.

My idea is that it's unreasonable (unfair to the club) to invoke a suspension that would run across 2 different seasons and preclude the player from attending spring training in 2014.

So I would invoke the suspension as soon as possible and I would apply it to all the players named.

100 games of season 2014 including no spring training for the 2014 season. Loss of pay for 100 games and loss of pay for the period of spring training.

The reason is that in suspending players at mid season (eg Nelson Cruz, Bartolo Colon etc) it disadvantages the club, which you might find to be ok, but it also gives an "unfair" advantage to other clubs in the key part of the season.

By 2014, the clubs will have made adjustments, some players might even be out of contract but that's just the way it goes.

Agree or disagree?

Like will they secretly rub there hands and celebrate. Getting off from over half a year of salary.

BQ: Will they make a move to buy out the remainder of ARod's contract once the ban is over.

BQ2: Does the powerful lobby of the Yankees mean that they are supporting MLB and would prefer a lifetime ban.

If you scan AAA rosters, you still see players 25 and above filing out the rosters, and some of them still carry the "prospect" label. But some of them will never play in the majors, in fact they are destined to be traded or released.

So at what age would you give up on a player, assuming he's still playing and putting up numbers below what is required for the majors.

I was looking at one of our players, I won't mention who. A hard throwing pitcher, projected as a reliever in the majors. 19 IP, 23K's, 18 BB's, that's the kind of thing I mean, he's 26 years old.

Clearing all the hype, I see Harper as a good solid major leaguer. I see nothing to back any superstar status.

He does have 12 HR's on pace for around 40, maybe less if his slump continues. Even 40 HR's would not convince me, with a .280 average and 90 RBI's maximum. In fact I don't think he will reach those numbers.

I happen to think the superstar label doesn't yet fit.

BQ: Name any player similar to Harper which might illustrate how good he is? How about Ryan Klesko.

BQ2: Mike Tout equate to Mickey Mantle, do you agree on that?

I obtained a Certificate of Nullility from my former "wife" because she had a previous husband and she had forged Docs such as the Cenomar.

She told me she has a fiance in the USA, and she will immigrate to the USA. he has 4 children registered in the NSO from 3 different partners. (Yes, it's all true)

With this history how would the US Embassy handle her application for immigration?

I said Chinese not Taiwanese.

I'm a foreigner living in Magsingal, so this is my first hand eye witness account.

It is not uncommon there in Alangan, Puro, Ilocos Sur, to see Chinese boats offshore, like 2-3km out and they usually don't get closer. No customs here, so I'm told various goods change hands and it's not a secret. Last week there was a Vietnamese dredge and a barge bringing up sand for tin mining, apparently under license so I'm told.

Since Sunday, there's a big boat, 60 ft., there off Puro. With a small crowd on the beach watching.

So what do you make of all that encroachment to Philippine coastal waters?

BQ. Do you forsee the Philippines asking for international assistance? Will Subic be reopened to the Americans?

They are 5 games over .500.

Would you agree with my statement that Francona has re-established himself as a top manager?

Arguments pro and con please.

I'm a bit stunned, I tipped the upset just to gain the point, but I was not really sure the Dockers would win it.

Pies hit the front there in the 4th, I thought game over. But the griity Dockers swamped them from there.

So how did anyone else see the game?

I live in Vigan City, Nth Ilocos, 417 km from Metro Manila.

I have here live kick by kick coverage, no video, of Bombers v Cats from Etihad.

Yellow fin tuna are running. We got 5kg for about $10, and we are eating them over 2 days. I have San Miguel lemon flavored beers and brandy back up if needed. I probably won't need it.

Kids, A Man, Connor, all my Dons supporters. We want a win tonight, I feel it coming, but more importantly we want a good game to show we are a top club.

Low scoring first term. But I think we are going to win.

So if I'm in paradise are you with me?

How about you Q.man, Lex, Shifty, Whay, Gimmie...Deedubya , Meth, Romper, Kev,,,are you joining?

In order to answer this question you must give a definitive answer, with some analysis. If it's too early in the season, then you have not answered the question.

You cannot say Cubs, Astros, Marlins, because they were not expected to do anything.

Example: Toronto. Dickey ineffective, Johnson already on the DL, Reyes out. They are already 9.5 out vs 4 quality division rivals. There is no way to make that up.

For those of you here last year, you may recall my observations. I got a few right and a few wrong, but I still think it applies.

The "Go Easy" principle means a club will go out and get the 4 points against obviously inferior opposition. It means, go out and win the game, but don't run up the score so much that it gets out of hand. They will hold out players and keep rotating players off the ground**. However if percentage is an issue, the coach ignores everything and goes for the big kill.

**they tried to rest Judd last year and it worked in reverse when he lacked sharpness after 2 games out.

Bombers v Giants at Etihad. Dons with the best percentage in footy. Hird and Sheedy old friends, still with a mutual respect, most likely will sociaialise with each other over the weekend. A good solid 10-12 goal win is on the cards, but not a 20 goal thrashing.

Pies v Suns. Things may change, but Guy McKenna is very well liked at Collingwood. Whenever they play, there will be damage limitation and a lot of words about how the Suns are improving, as there was last year.

Cats v Dogs. Similar. Scott will not embarass his old mate McCarthy.

Yes or no?

Surely there has to be a clear upset game in each round, otherwise we would all tip 9/9 every week.

Now in answering this question, you must name the club who will pull the upset, without adding maybe and etc. If you said maybe on every game, you are bound to get 1-2 correct.

Suns over Dockers. I'm tipping that. Suns extremely fit, playing at home, they know they have a chance to rack up another win. Against Dockers, a historically poor away side, a side earlier tipped for the 4, but now with question marks, injuries and performance issues.

Tigers over the Cats. Why? Tigers love the big ground and will be really keen here. Cats could have a quiet one after 5 big wins. Gut feeling tells me the Tigers win it, any other time the Cats would thrash them, not this time.

Naming the Suns, Giants or Dees, even the Doggies is not accepted here. Those clubs were not expected to make the finals. The Suns are playing for maybe 5-6 wins, while the Giants will probably look for one win, and they might not get even that.

My nomination. The Crows have fallen right off the map. Apparently losing Tippet was a big blow, and they haven't played well anyway. With Walker out, I think the 2013 season is a washout.

Others?

I would never be so bold as to say how we will finish the year. For me, right now, I think we are looking at a premiership contending side. That's what I think. A side that will play in the finals and compete highly. If I compare us to the Blues, Dockers and Crows, other fringe contenders, I would say we are well ahead.

Your thoughts on that please?

I'm replying on any drug references, so get your facts straight please.

Bombers v Pies is played on Thursday, so usually one of the games of the season and no argument on that.

My Game of the Week or Game of the Day if you are going to get technical, would be Giants v Suns at Manuka.

Is Guy McKenna really as secure as the club would lead us the believe? Would a loss change that? How much have the Suns actually improve? Or have they had a rush at the beginning of the season and it will die down. How is Ablett playing? Will he get 40 touches in a competitive match. How about Hunt? Has he finally adapted to AFL footy?

How about the Giants? Have they actually improved as much as the results suggest? Could they win or worst case scenario, hold the deficit to 15-20 points. Will they draw a respectable crowd to Manuka?

For me a must watch game. So do you agree?

Answers with analysis please.