2012 Major League Baseball: Showdown!

[Liam_H]

The dude is a knuckleball pitcher, he doesn't know where its gonna go let alone the hitter. He might not have the same success again but he shouldn't regress that much.

[The Incredible Hulk]

Didnt Dickey start out in the AL? Texas IIRC?

[Dr. Evil]

Originally Posted by The Incredible Hulk

Didnt Dickey start out in the AL? Texas IIRC?

Yes. He began his career with Texas. Drafted by them from Florida State in the first round of the 1996 Amateur Draft.

[WildChild]

Can the season start already. Can't remember ever being so excited for a season.OK Blue Jays!

[SpideyVille]

Anyone think we might see a shocking surprise with the Hall of Fame ballot later?

I just saw a tweet from ESPN saying there's a chance that only one player will get voted in this year.

[Liam_H]

You mean Biggio? That's not really surprising. It would be a shock if any of the PED users got in, Clemens, Bonds etc.

[SpideyVille]

No, I think Biggio has been one of the solid favorites since the ballot was announced. But I mean more in the chances that someone like Bonds or Clemens gets voted. I doubt it will happen, but you never really know.

[Liam_H]

Not that shocking with NOBODY getting in.

[Erzengel]

A-Rod, Big Papi, take a look at your future.

[redfirebird2008]

Glad to see the cheaters kept out on the first ballot. Bonds and Clemens will probably get in at some point, but they didn't deserve to go in on the first ballot after disgracing the game and tarnishing their own legacies. Looks like my favorite 90's player Ken Griffey Jr. could get the last laugh by being a first ballot HOFer. It sucked to watch him deal with injury after injury during the last 10 years of his career, while Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, and the others roided like crazy to extend their careers as long as possible.

[Darthphere]

Allegedly. I'd also would be devil's advocate here and ask, how can you be so sure Griffey didn't use PED's?

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by Darthphere

Allegedly. I'd also would be devil's advocate here and ask, how can you be so sure Griffey didn't use PED's?

You can't be, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt with no hard evidence or even circumstantial evidence against him.

[Liam_H]

I take the Buster Olney stance you can't be sure about anybody so just vote as usual and let history take care of itself.

[Darthphere]

Originally Posted by redfirebird2008

You can't be, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt with no hard evidence or even circumstantial evidence against him.

My stance is, you can't give anyone who played in that era benefit of the doubt if you take that approach. Anyone can accuse anyone and have that stigma attached.

[Dr. Evil]

Team USA roster for World Baseball Classic:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Sakuraba]

Stan Musial died. Though he is regarded as a great player and legend, he's probably underrated on all accounts.

[Liam_H]

Before my time, but he was certainly one of the greats.

[Hush]

Musial dieing is sad, the man was really "the man". He was a class act and one of if not the greatest ball player of all time. Now I'm a Cards fan so I'm obviously bias but one could make the argument he really is the greatest. I'm a hockey and football buff so I can't make that great of a argument for it but from everything I've read he belongs in the conversation.

[Spidey-Bat]

RIP Stan Musial and Earl Weaver

Originally Posted by Hush

Musial dieing is sad, the man was really "the man". He was a class act and one of if not the greatest ball player of all time. Now I'm a Cards fan so I'm obviously bias but one could make the argument he really is the greatest. I'm a hockey and football buff so I can't make that great of a argument for it but from everything I've read he belongs in the conversation.

With all due respect to Musial, the conversation of best player of all time starts at number 4 after Ruth, Williams, and Mays. However, of all the greatest players, it's hard to argue anyone was a greater person.

[Poeman]

He is very underrated...Based on his numbers he should be talked about the way Cobb, Gehrig, Dimaggio, Mantle are praised...

[SpideyVille]

Damn, A-Rod among others have been linked to PEDs and a clinic in Miami. I made the prediction back when his surgery was announced that he probably wasn't going to be around in a couple of years, and if they find him guilty in this, he just might be done with the Yankees completely. His career just might follow the path of Manny Ramirez.

[Liam_H]

Sad thing is one just doesn't feel surprised or even interested anymore.

[KalMart]

Holy crap, I just saw an ad on TV with Jose Conseco advertising testosterone supplements.

[Liam_H]

Brandon Webb retires. Guy had a great sinkerball and one of the best, hard to believe he hasn't pitched since 2009.

[NewYorkSpider]

Originally Posted by SpideyVille

Damn, A-Rod among others have been linked to PEDs and a clinic in Miami. I made the prediction back when his surgery was announced that he probably wasn't going to be around in a couple of years, and if they find him guilty in this, he just might be done with the Yankees completely. His career just might follow the path of Manny Ramirez.

I think A-Rod played his last game for the Yankees. I also really don't see any big ball club signing him in the forseeable future. Given his past, the recent allegations, injury/age and his poor playoff performances, it's hard to argue he would be an asset to a top notch team.