ARod poll

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 12, 2009 11:14 AM CST

Okay, slow day, the morning thread has been hijacked by "Jonny Donuts sucks" stuff...

And Bud Selig is talking about punishing Alex Rodriguez for admitting using PEDs.

So, cast your vote...what do you think Selig should do?

Poll

What should Bud Selig do about Alex Rodriguez admitting he used steroids?

Short suspension (1 week or less)

10 votes

Medium term suspension (1-2 weeks)

25 votes

Long suspension (more than 2 weeks)

112 votes

Nothing

591 votes

738 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 59 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I want my athletes to entertain me.

I want them to do lots of steroids!

by Evil Monkey on Feb 12, 2009 11:23 AM CST reply actions

+976,547,231

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 12, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

You should check out Law’s chat today.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Feb 12, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions

I don't get it.

Why would he do anything? Pettitte wasn’t suspended neither should Alex.

"Come on man you have to admit the average guy in a baseball clubhouse...... is relatively a douchebag." BGL.

by sprite on Feb 12, 2009 11:24 AM CST reply actions

Yup.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 12, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

Exactly

you can’t punish Arod unless you’re willing to fully investigage and punish every other player on that list. No scapegoating.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Feb 12, 2009 1:01 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think he should suspend A-Rod anyway

but the union would throw a hissy fit over any kind of discipline, much less a suspension.

I think a more interesting question discussion would over Selig’s threat to fool around with record books.

by texnykazrus on Feb 12, 2009 11:27 AM CST reply actions

for the simple reason that these tests were supposedly done for the sole purpose of compiling stats. I’m sure that the MLBPA had it written into the agreement that no action involving an individual would be done. Put another way, no chance the PA agreed to that testing if they had any concern that it would held against the players. Nuh-uh.

by bking on Feb 12, 2009 11:29 AM CST reply actions

Can't believe he would even consider it.

Wait, yeah I can . . it’s Selig!

by Evil Monkey on Feb 12, 2009 11:33 AM CST reply actions

Vitale

Last night during the UNC-Duke game Vitale suggested that ARod should “give back” all of the home runs he hit with the Rangers. It made me wonder if Vitale thinks Jim Valvano’s NC State should gave back their national championship because it was won by a sham of a program. I think both are equally ridiculous.

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Feb 12, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions

It makes me wonder

why you listen to Dick Vitale.

"Come on man you have to admit the average guy in a baseball clubhouse...... is relatively a douchebag." BGL.

by sprite on Feb 12, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

Because

HE YELLS AND IS LOUD

by Michael Cave on Feb 12, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions

I don't generally

enjoy watching sporting events with no audio

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Feb 12, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions

Oh, and Vitale

waxed about Jeter and said, “You’ll never see him test positive for steroids.” Ugh.

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Feb 12, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

I was already hoping about 500% Jeter would be one of the "other 103"...

…now that figure is around 1,000,000%.

We couldn't have known it at the time but we definitely killed the wrong Belushi brother.

by Chad Crudup on Feb 12, 2009 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

"Sham of a program"

Based on what?

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Feb 12, 2009 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

based on the fact

that none of his players at NC State ever graduated. It wasn’t a legit college program, it was just a basketball team. I don’t have a major problem with it, that’s the sort of thing that went on then. I just threw that out because Vitale holds up Valvano as a saint, but was willing to public flog ARod.

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Feb 12, 2009 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

I hear ya

I just don’t know that I’d call it a “sham”. Semantics.

I see what you’re saying, and Vitale makes me want to jab pencils in my ears, but A-Rod broke the law and, more importantly, is a douchenozzle. I love wathching his public floggings. Even if it is from Dick.

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Feb 12, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

Has it been demonstrated

that ARod broke the law?

by JBImaknee on Feb 12, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

So did Petitte

I just got off the Tollway. I was doing about 75 but so were just about everyone else.
Should I get a ticket because I confessed?
Speeding killed about 500 people in Texas last year.
How many did steroids kill?

by Evil Monkey on Feb 12, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

A couple of things

1) I never said A-Rod should get “a ticket” or any other formal punishment. I just happen to have a general dislike for the guy for a number of reasons, and I enjoy the shit storm that has come his way.

2) I don’t think the situations are completely analogous, but just for the hell of it let’s say a local traffic cop received evidence from a red-light camera that you ran through a light. Let’s say that you then went to that traffic cop and said “Hey, I committed a traffic violation.” and showed him the picture. At that point, yes, I think you would and should be issued a citation.

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Feb 12, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

Demonstrated?

I think it can be reasonably inferred that he used anabolic steroids without a prescription.

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Feb 12, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions

Nothing

If they’re going to suspend him for admitting use, what then happens to the other 100 something guys on the list who alledgedly tested positive? There would be way too much reprocussion for Selig to go through with this.

-Feldman '12

"Bush also yelled "I'm Matt (expletive) Bush," and "(expletive) East County," before driving over a curb in his Mercedes when leaving the campus"

by Martijn1309 on Feb 12, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions

He's not suspending anyone

This is all false bravado and disingenuous outrage from Selig and MLB because they need to side with the torch-bearers in this witch hunt (nevermind the fact that they provided the bubbling cauldron).

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Feb 12, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions

+{insert your favorite large number here}

by bking on Feb 12, 2009 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

I like Selig's explanation

“Bu, bu, but I sent a memo about steroids in 1997! How come that didn’t solve everything?”

Actually, if Selig is claiming that he sent the 1997 memo because of steroids, that means he had knowledge or suspicions about steroids. And his half-assed response was a memo? Nice job, Bud.

I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.

by WyoRanger on Feb 12, 2009 11:37 AM CST reply actions

Convo

Selig: Uh yea, Hey it seems we’re having some trouble with your home run totals

Baseball Player: Hey wow everyone is hitting home runs at levels that have never even been approached in the 100 year history of the game. Free agents don’t get paid unless they hit at least 20 dingers and that’s playing short. I better get on this steroids thing!

Selig: yea… It’s just that there was this memo, and league policy is that now… uh well we aren’t doing steroids anymore. Did you happen to get that memo?

Baseball Player: Oh I got the memo right here, I misunderstood, look I’ve taken care of it and it won’t happen again

Selig: Great, so uh…. We’ll see if we can’t get you another copy of the memo. K?

by bushe on Feb 12, 2009 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

I read this conversation and all I hear is. . .

. . . the Wayne Enterprises CEO in Batman Begins asking Lucius Fox “did you get the memo?”

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 12, 2009 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

I hear Office Space

“Um. Yeah. We’re going to need you to work this weekend on those TPS Reports”

by NorCalRangersFan on Feb 12, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Nothing

there wasn’t any penalty for it when he did test positive and the results were supposed to have been destroyed at one point, so i dont see how he can suspend him.

and IF he did suspend him then he needs to do the same for everyone else who’s name has appeared in this crap.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Feb 12, 2009 11:37 AM CST reply actions

nothing

I voted nothing also. There was no penalty for steroid use at that time so how can you be penalized in retrospect. Stupid argument.

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on Feb 12, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

Pecota's updated projections:

With Abreu, the Angels go from 80-82 (second place) to 84-78 (first place).

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1175

I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.

by WyoRanger on Feb 12, 2009 11:42 AM CST reply actions

That crazy Arte Moreno...

doing whatever he can to make his team competitive.

I say nothing should be done to ARod.

At the risk of sounding like a liberal tool, that test was supposed to be confidential.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Feb 12, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

Actually, that wouldn't be sounding like a liberal tool at all...

The act of trying to punish someone after the fact for something that you don’t like, but that isn’t illegal, is a liberal construct. You’re on solid ground here. :-)

by bking on Feb 12, 2009 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

At this point during the offseason

PECOTA is about as stable as a teenage girl going through an acne crisis while simultaneously learning that both she and her favorite TV show have become new residents in Dumpville

by Telegraph on Feb 12, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

PECOTA has been reasonably accurate with the Rangers

either hitting their actual win total or Pythagorean total.

They say 73-89 and I would venture they will be within 4 games either side of that total.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Feb 12, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

Your statement and his statement are in separate discussions.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 12, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

That's insane

Abreu is not worth 4 net wins.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Feb 12, 2009 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

Probably true

But it’s not just what he’s bringing to the table but also the suck he’s taking off of it.

I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.

by WyoRanger on Feb 12, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

Well, who is he replacing?

Fangraphs had him as a 1.5 WAR player last year. Now, that’s not WARP, and I don’t really know what WARP’s baseline is, or what PECOTA thought of him. But, the point is, if PECOTA saw the players he’s replacing in their projections as 4 wins worse than Abreu, that doesn’t necessarily mean they see Abreu is a 4 win player.

Also, without having looked at it, I’d be willing to bet there more to it than merely Abreu = 4 wins. Pectoa jumps around this time of year, a lot of things are getting finagled with, not just Bobby Abreu.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 12, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

True all that

I’m just being a mad, reactionary homer.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Feb 12, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions

I think...

they are using a dart board to figure their projections.

by Redcaps on Feb 12, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

Incorrect

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 12, 2009 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

Nothing

If you suspend him it would send the wrong message to other ball players that will be faced with the descion of coming clean or lying to the public and/or congress. IMO it would be a step back in putting this all behind us.

by Anonymous New Guy on Feb 12, 2009 11:44 AM CST reply actions

I put long suspension, but mistakenly

I’ve viewed recent events as a PEDs issue; I think LSB sees it as an ARod issue.

It’s not that interesting, folks. But sure, no punishment of ARod is necessary.

All I notice about these events is I’d never want him around my sister. I doubt anybody’s disputing his greatness, even during his drugged years.

What will be interesting is seeing how he staves off the decline phase, cause with his Hall status beaten down by the (voting) baseball writers, he actually probably won’t pick up another drug regimen during his remaining playing time.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Feb 12, 2009 12:22 PM CST reply actions

I view it as a PED issue

but since it occurred before MLB had a rule against it, I say no penalty.

It’s like if they made a law tonight making barbecue illegal, I would hope to not go to jail for barbecue I ate last year.

If they want to kick Arod out of baseball for failing 3 tests after the start of the new steroid policy, I say go for it.

But ARod hasn’t broken any baseball rules as far as I know.

If they do suspend him, they need to suspend the other hundred and some odd players who tested positive.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 12, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

He’s not getting suspended, goodness.

And his Hall vote…I mean, that might be 20 years away?

Surely this thing’ll be sorted by then, and who knows how many of today’s baseball writers will even be alive let alone pre-retirement.

I call it a PED issue because the PED physical effects, detection, and law enforcement are still just coming into focus/practice.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Feb 12, 2009 1:28 PM CST up reply actions

They'd be better off just shutting down the hall

because probably all hall of famers are suspect.

They also need to kick out Hank Aaron and Willie Mays for using illegal amphetamines.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 12, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

Yep

And most likely Ted Williams as well. I’ve read rumors that suggest he was one of the original sources of amphetamines in baseball- not surprising, considering he was a fighter pilot- which practically makes him a drug dealer, if true.

Then you also have Orlando Cepeda, who actually helped traffic drugs, and is in the Hall, albeit as a Veteran’s Committee pick.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Feb 12, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

There should be an option...

in that poll for Bud Selig to (in my Eric Cartman voice) “suck my balls.”

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Feb 12, 2009 12:26 PM CST reply actions

I hope Bud Selig suspends A-Rod

Just because he would take it so hard from the Union on suspending a player for testing positive on a test that was supposed to have no punishments. It would be a nice way for the Union to start paying A-Rod back for screwing this whole thing up so badly.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 12, 2009 12:38 PM CST reply actions

Nice

Senator “so, Mr. Selig, how did you respond to the issue of steroids in baseball?”
Selig “I think it’s easier if I just demonstrate.”
Senator “You stuck your finger up your nose hoping to pick a winning strategy?”
Selig “pretty much. Does anyone have a tissue? I seem to have a nosebleed.”

I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.

by WyoRanger on Feb 12, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions