Ryan Braun's positive test has me thinking of Matt Kemp, Albert Pujols and Tino Martinez.
Not necessarily in that order. Why Pujols? Because statistically speaking he should have been the league MVP in '01, '03, and '04 - but lost out to a PED performing Barry Bonds.
Which Turns my attention to Matt Kemp - statistically speaking, he should have been this year's MVP but lost out to an elevated testosterone'd Braun.
Why Tino? Probably because he was impacted by Raffy's roids in that Raffy's performance overshadowed Tino which would have potentially led Tino to higher pay if not a Gold Glove at first.
That's what was going through my mind - not that it matters to the story.
On to the story - MLB/ESPN have cited anonymous sources saying that Braun did not test positive for PEDs, but for higher levels of normal testosterone. Don't know what that means, I guess none of us will truly know what it means until the appeal is heard and decided on.
If the ruling is the test stands - Braun could take a step toward rebuilding his credibility by returning the MVP award to its rightful owner in my opinion.
If the test results are legit - then I say it is a good thing as it shows the enforcement policies that are in place and working even though the Roid issue has started to fade.
Good for MLB - not so good for the Brewers franchise and their supporters.
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Showing posts with label Albert Pujols. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Albert Pujols. Show all posts
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
'11 Closes Out With Cards 11th
As difficult as it was to watch the Championship Series, the Fall Classic turned out to be pretty good baseball.
Glad the Cardinals won - don't know why, just can't bring myself to root for the Rangers - plus in mind, the Cards are the Yankees of the NL, so thus my pulling for them.
As good as the games were - only true hardcore fans actually saw more than just the highlight clips on ESPN though. The games start too late. Wish something could be worked out to have the game coverage start at 6 or late afternoon like the Super Bowl. My guess is a broader audience would tune in.
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Albert Pujols is the best offensive player in Major League Baseball. Arguably has been since his arrival into the league. 3 time MVP, but also think he finished 2nd at least 3 other times to beef-roider Barry Bonds.
For several years, I think the best offensive player discussion centered on A-Rod and Pujols. That battle has been decided until further notice in my mind as A-Rod has avg. 30 HRs since joining the Yanks with a much lower batting avg. than Pujols.
More significantly though - Pujols poste season avg. is the exact same level as his regular season avg (.330'ish) - A-Rod's is right at the Mendoza line. So when it counts the most - Pujols is there.
Further, '11 marked Pujols third trip to the Fall Classic, winning two of them. A-Rod has been pysically present in more post seasons, with a better surrounding cast, but has been invisible with the bat most of the time and has only come through once in 8 seasons.
Pujols is the best - both in regular season and post season play.
Glad the Cardinals won - don't know why, just can't bring myself to root for the Rangers - plus in mind, the Cards are the Yankees of the NL, so thus my pulling for them.
As good as the games were - only true hardcore fans actually saw more than just the highlight clips on ESPN though. The games start too late. Wish something could be worked out to have the game coverage start at 6 or late afternoon like the Super Bowl. My guess is a broader audience would tune in.
----------------
Albert Pujols is the best offensive player in Major League Baseball. Arguably has been since his arrival into the league. 3 time MVP, but also think he finished 2nd at least 3 other times to beef-roider Barry Bonds.
For several years, I think the best offensive player discussion centered on A-Rod and Pujols. That battle has been decided until further notice in my mind as A-Rod has avg. 30 HRs since joining the Yanks with a much lower batting avg. than Pujols.
More significantly though - Pujols poste season avg. is the exact same level as his regular season avg (.330'ish) - A-Rod's is right at the Mendoza line. So when it counts the most - Pujols is there.
Further, '11 marked Pujols third trip to the Fall Classic, winning two of them. A-Rod has been pysically present in more post seasons, with a better surrounding cast, but has been invisible with the bat most of the time and has only come through once in 8 seasons.
Pujols is the best - both in regular season and post season play.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Random Thoughts
Melkey Sucks? - The last three or so years, Crash and I must have sent that text to one another, maybe 2 to 3 hundred times. Well guess what? He doesn't suck any longer. Getting sent to the minors last year might have saved this kid's career. He got his wake up call, and is now playing with an intensity on a daily basis that in the past we only saw glimpses of. His batting line: .321, 4HRs, 10 RBIs, OBP .397 (Gardner: .222, 0HRs, 4 RBIs, OBP .286)
Matsui is back - last 7 games he's hitting .333 and running what appears to be full bore.
Ramiro Pena is the real deal - if he keeps developing, what are the implications for DJ when his contract is up in a few?
Tex is feeling the pressure - while his batting average is a Crash-like .189, his OBP is still solid at .354. It's like we have a younger version of Giambi that can actually field. He'll turn it around.
Old Prof is Older. - birthday at the end of April
Concerned about CC - not his recent performance, but Girardi keeping in him for long outings - makes me wonder if he'll have any gas left down the stretch.
BullPen Beatings - I"m glad the lumps are coming now and not in September. Phil Coke seems to have found his way, I think I like what I see out of Melancon. Edwar and Marte are a waste in my view, and would like to see a trade engineered to add to some help in this area.
.500 - If we can be above .500 by the time A-Rod and Wang come back, I'll consider it a huge positive.
Non-Yankees
Triple Crown - Outside of injury, it is happening this year, and it is happening in the NL. Albert Pujols (projected at: 58 HRs, 187 RBI, .356) leads the NL in HRs and RBIs and is 4th in Avg - those above him avg will fade (Beltran, Votto, and Ibanez). He is the best - period end of story.
Dodgers - Joe Torre has that club playing ball. At 18-8, they have the best record in the league with a +41 run differential. I remember there were times I was screaming to have him fired - multiple times, when he was the skipper for us. However, this is turning out to be a case of not knowing what you have until it is gone. I want him back!!!
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An opportunity to make some hay in the division this week. Upcoming schedule: A pair of two game series, first the Sox, then Rays, then a 3 gamer in Baltimore.
.....
Matsui is back - last 7 games he's hitting .333 and running what appears to be full bore.
Ramiro Pena is the real deal - if he keeps developing, what are the implications for DJ when his contract is up in a few?
Tex is feeling the pressure - while his batting average is a Crash-like .189, his OBP is still solid at .354. It's like we have a younger version of Giambi that can actually field. He'll turn it around.
Old Prof is Older. - birthday at the end of April
Concerned about CC - not his recent performance, but Girardi keeping in him for long outings - makes me wonder if he'll have any gas left down the stretch.
BullPen Beatings - I"m glad the lumps are coming now and not in September. Phil Coke seems to have found his way, I think I like what I see out of Melancon. Edwar and Marte are a waste in my view, and would like to see a trade engineered to add to some help in this area.
.500 - If we can be above .500 by the time A-Rod and Wang come back, I'll consider it a huge positive.
Non-Yankees
Triple Crown - Outside of injury, it is happening this year, and it is happening in the NL. Albert Pujols (projected at: 58 HRs, 187 RBI, .356) leads the NL in HRs and RBIs and is 4th in Avg - those above him avg will fade (Beltran, Votto, and Ibanez). He is the best - period end of story.
Dodgers - Joe Torre has that club playing ball. At 18-8, they have the best record in the league with a +41 run differential. I remember there were times I was screaming to have him fired - multiple times, when he was the skipper for us. However, this is turning out to be a case of not knowing what you have until it is gone. I want him back!!!
-------------------------
An opportunity to make some hay in the division this week. Upcoming schedule: A pair of two game series, first the Sox, then Rays, then a 3 gamer in Baltimore.
.....
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