A quick note to those who know me: PLEASE DO NOT text me and tell me that baseball is on TV
(I already know,) and furthermore PLEASE don't tell me the score or what is happening, as it ruins it for me when I do watch the game later. Following are my Spring Training thoughts and observations:
1. Ryan Braun
Was tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PED's) in October during the playoffs. He tried to overturn the ruling by stating that the person who collected his sample mishandled it. Apparently FedEx was closed on Saturday so the man took it home and put it in a refrigerator sealed, and sent it in the next day. This is something the person does for his job often and it had never been a problem. Apparently this violates MLB's requirements and Braun's ruling was overturned.
My thoughts: It's crap. We have determined that PED's should not be used in baseball. We spent the entire decade of the 90's watching Sosa, Bonds, McGuire, and multiple others break record after record. I wouldn't doubt that PED's were used before the 90's and I"m sure they are used today, but rarely. In any case the question is: Can the guy perform the same numbers and be the same player without the PED as he is with it? For some yes. For some no.
With the huge hype and MLB's strict rules on PED's now is it right that Braun is now being freed of a 50 game suspention because of a legality? We know this sample was positive, and I'm pretty sure nobody else peed in the cup?
2. Oswalt
Roy Oswalt is sitting out Spring Training and perhaps the first part of the season. He stated he wanted to go to either the Cardinals or the Rangers. (Coincidence these are the teams that played in the World Series last year?) Either way the Cardinals offered him $3 million for a year, he turned it down and said he wanted to play for the Rangers.
Here is the dilemma: The Rangers have not been sure whether to sign him or not. The Rangers philosophy has always been to raise our young pitchers, believe in them, and we will see production from them. We have given everything to the young guys that our in our rotation, (Holland, Harrison, Feliz, Ogando) and they deserve the opportunity to show us what they've got this year.
On the other hand, we have no veteran pitchers except for Colby Lewis. There is always the IF factor of whether a young guy ends up not being productive, or if someone gets hurt, wouldn't it be nice to have a proven veteran pitcher? However if they signed Oswalt, it would be Harrison in the bullpen, and doesn't that go against the Rangers philosophy of giving our young pitchers a chance?
Oswalt was then given a $5 million for a year by the Cardinals, and he still said no. Appears he wants to be with the Rangers bad enough he's willing to not play for awhile.
3.Darvish
Here he is throwing a ball. One of hundreds you can find out there.
Well there is a ton of hype on Darvish. Everything out there has a picture of Darvish, even if the article isn't about Darvish. They have pictures of Darvish sitting in the bullpen, they have pictures of Darvish holding a ball. They have pictures of Darvish talking to Washington. They have pictures of Darvish standing on the field. You get the point. Holland, his long throw partner, (yes an entire article about that because it's not important) says to not forget there are 53 other players in camp. Evan Grant says "I've never seen anybody throw the ball like like." Apparently everyone is liking what they see.
The caption on this picture was Feliz throwing from the mound. Notice Darvish center in the background. Really....do we have to point out Darvish every time?
Link to a photo shoot with Darvish posing in a cowboy hat. Really is that important to winning a World Series??
Link to Yu Darvish Pitching to Kinsler
4. Rangers Payroll
$127 Million. (Highest in History)
6. Borbon
Julio Borbon was once thought to be our center fielder of the future. That was three years ago. He's played parts of each season. He's had multiple injuries, and his bat doesn't have much to be said for. He is fast, he has a decent arm, but so does Craig Gentry, and he's cuter. Anyhow last year there was a platoon between Gentry, Endy Chavez, and Borbon. Although Borbon ended up getting injured, and never played in the post season. The year the job is Borbon's to secure again.
The Rangers could put Hamilton in Center and Murphy at left, but they are unsure if Hamilton could hold up in Center. While Gentry and Borbon both have similar skills and bats, either one or both will get the job, if they choose not to have Hamilton in Center. The nice thing about having both platoon it, is that Gentry bats right and Borbon left. Either situation is fine for the Rangers, but if you are Julio Borbon, I'm sure that's not what he signed up for when he decided to be a Major League Ballplayer. With that said, the following link has some amusing "Poor Julio Borbon" photos.
Poor Julio Borbon
7. Craig Gentry
Sprained his wrist today. This saddens me greatly as he is my favorite to play center over Borbon; along with many others according to polls I've seen. I suppose in response to what is written above I suppose Borbon is getting to play centerfield, unless they go with Hamilton.
Ice Cream given to a bunch of little kids to hype them out for a game they will sit at for 4 hours, meanwhile it will be melting in 5 minutes in 110 degree heat in July. This doesn't seem like the smartest promotion being done this year.
(I already know,) and furthermore PLEASE don't tell me the score or what is happening, as it ruins it for me when I do watch the game later. Following are my Spring Training thoughts and observations:
1. Ryan Braun
Was tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PED's) in October during the playoffs. He tried to overturn the ruling by stating that the person who collected his sample mishandled it. Apparently FedEx was closed on Saturday so the man took it home and put it in a refrigerator sealed, and sent it in the next day. This is something the person does for his job often and it had never been a problem. Apparently this violates MLB's requirements and Braun's ruling was overturned.
My thoughts: It's crap. We have determined that PED's should not be used in baseball. We spent the entire decade of the 90's watching Sosa, Bonds, McGuire, and multiple others break record after record. I wouldn't doubt that PED's were used before the 90's and I"m sure they are used today, but rarely. In any case the question is: Can the guy perform the same numbers and be the same player without the PED as he is with it? For some yes. For some no.
With the huge hype and MLB's strict rules on PED's now is it right that Braun is now being freed of a 50 game suspention because of a legality? We know this sample was positive, and I'm pretty sure nobody else peed in the cup?
2. Oswalt
Roy Oswalt is sitting out Spring Training and perhaps the first part of the season. He stated he wanted to go to either the Cardinals or the Rangers. (Coincidence these are the teams that played in the World Series last year?) Either way the Cardinals offered him $3 million for a year, he turned it down and said he wanted to play for the Rangers.
Here is the dilemma: The Rangers have not been sure whether to sign him or not. The Rangers philosophy has always been to raise our young pitchers, believe in them, and we will see production from them. We have given everything to the young guys that our in our rotation, (Holland, Harrison, Feliz, Ogando) and they deserve the opportunity to show us what they've got this year.
On the other hand, we have no veteran pitchers except for Colby Lewis. There is always the IF factor of whether a young guy ends up not being productive, or if someone gets hurt, wouldn't it be nice to have a proven veteran pitcher? However if they signed Oswalt, it would be Harrison in the bullpen, and doesn't that go against the Rangers philosophy of giving our young pitchers a chance?
Oswalt was then given a $5 million for a year by the Cardinals, and he still said no. Appears he wants to be with the Rangers bad enough he's willing to not play for awhile.
3.Darvish
Here he is throwing a ball. One of hundreds you can find out there.
Well there is a ton of hype on Darvish. Everything out there has a picture of Darvish, even if the article isn't about Darvish. They have pictures of Darvish sitting in the bullpen, they have pictures of Darvish holding a ball. They have pictures of Darvish talking to Washington. They have pictures of Darvish standing on the field. You get the point. Holland, his long throw partner, (yes an entire article about that because it's not important) says to not forget there are 53 other players in camp. Evan Grant says "I've never seen anybody throw the ball like like." Apparently everyone is liking what they see.
The caption on this picture was Feliz throwing from the mound. Notice Darvish center in the background. Really....do we have to point out Darvish every time?
Link to a photo shoot with Darvish posing in a cowboy hat. Really is that important to winning a World Series??
Link to Yu Darvish Pitching to Kinsler
Moving on:
4. Rangers Payroll
$127 Million. (Highest in History)
6. Borbon
Julio Borbon was once thought to be our center fielder of the future. That was three years ago. He's played parts of each season. He's had multiple injuries, and his bat doesn't have much to be said for. He is fast, he has a decent arm, but so does Craig Gentry, and he's cuter. Anyhow last year there was a platoon between Gentry, Endy Chavez, and Borbon. Although Borbon ended up getting injured, and never played in the post season. The year the job is Borbon's to secure again.
The Rangers could put Hamilton in Center and Murphy at left, but they are unsure if Hamilton could hold up in Center. While Gentry and Borbon both have similar skills and bats, either one or both will get the job, if they choose not to have Hamilton in Center. The nice thing about having both platoon it, is that Gentry bats right and Borbon left. Either situation is fine for the Rangers, but if you are Julio Borbon, I'm sure that's not what he signed up for when he decided to be a Major League Ballplayer. With that said, the following link has some amusing "Poor Julio Borbon" photos.
Poor Julio Borbon
7. Craig Gentry
Sprained his wrist today. This saddens me greatly as he is my favorite to play center over Borbon; along with many others according to polls I've seen. I suppose in response to what is written above I suppose Borbon is getting to play centerfield, unless they go with Hamilton.
Quoted From LoneStarBall.com
The Texas Rangers aren't a perfect franchise. The thing about the Rangers is … see, what's wrong with the Rangers is that …
…
I don't know. There's probably something.
…
Oh, what's this?
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