Never mind that steroid fiddle faddle...

[pravata]

Ed Wade has more important issues to address, he's after Mark Prior,

"We talked to his (agent) to see what the lay of the land was," Wade said. "I don't know where it's going to lead. There's a lot of teams that have contacted them, and there was some discussions on the medical stats and that type of thing. I don't know where it's headed."
Link

He may start pulling flowers out of his sleeve for our amusement, and distraction.

[Jacksonian]

Ed Wade has more important issues to address, he's after Mark Prior,

"We talked to his (agent) to see what the lay of the land was," Wade said. "I don't know where it's going to lead. There's a lot of teams that have contacted them, and there was some discussions on the medical stats and that type of thing. I don't know where it's headed."
Link

He may start pulling flowers out of his sleeve for our amusement, and distraction.

Or because he desperately needs starting pitchers and if he doesn't do something now he could be left out in the cold.

[pravata]

Or because he desperately needs starting pitchers and if he doesn't do something now he could be left out in the cold.

I'm assuming he has been in contact with every pitcher who is available to pitch, including the injured ones.  I assume this because he's said so previously.   Today he provides a quote about a pitcher who was non-tendered 2 days ago.  I "don't know" where that's headed either.  I "don't know" exactly as much as I didn't know before he sammed us.  I wonder if McTaggart wanted to ask him a different question?

[Lurch]

I am probably alone here, but purly as a selfish fan I want to know about the Tejada deal first and foremost.  Moving forward without an understanding of what just happened to the team's character (or at least what my perception of it had been) isn't going to be a sufficient option for me.

Inserting preemptive WFW here.  (Where is Jim, anyway?)

[pravata]

I am probably alone here, but purly as a selfish fan I want to know about the Tejada deal first and foremost.  Moving forward without an understanding of what just happened to the team's character (or at least what my perception of it had been) isn't going to be a sufficient option for me.

Exactly why a fluffed up quote with no information on the "day after" is so annoying to me.

[Jacksonian]

Exactly why a fluffed up quote with no information on the "day after" is so annoying to me.

To the weak minded the name Mark Prior invokes visions of wonderment and sugar plums that must be entertained.

[pravata]

To the weak minded the name Mark Prior invokes visions of wonderment and sugar plums that must be entertained.

Or as Bullwinkle once said, "...I think I need a new hat!"

[pravata]

McTaggart is on the issue, but all he can get is a couple "lets move on", "tsk tsk" quotes from Ausmus and Woody, Link

[Noe]

McTaggart is on the issue, but all he can get is a couple "lets move on", "tsk tsk" quotes from Ausmus and Woody, Link

Which is the best thing to say at this point and time until some folks can put away the torches and hangman noose.  It ain't safe to fight this thing right now.  Congress and media have their hackles up and it's dangerous outside.  Stay inside, keep warm, don't answer the door.

[Jacksonian]

McTaggart is on the issue, but all he can get is a couple "lets move on", "tsk tsk" quotes from Ausmus and Woody, Link

Mr. Wade.  Knowing that Gibbons and Guillen were given 15 games suspensions to start the year, if, worst case scenario, Tejada is given a suspension who'll be the starting shortstop in his place?

[pravata]

Which is the best thing to say at this point and time until some folks can put away the torches and hangman noose.  It ain't safe to fight this thing right now.  Congress and media have their hackles up and it's dangerous outside.  Stay inside, keep warm, don't answer the door.

Select-a-Seat event is Saturday.

[Jacksonian]

Select-a-Seat event is Saturday.

Or "We're very excited about the Oswalt/Peavy matchup on opening day in San Diego."

[Noe]

Mr. Wade.  Knowing that Gibbons and Guillen were given 15 games suspensions to start the year, if, worst case scenario, Tejada is given a suspension who'll be the starting shortstop in his place?

I know Ed Wade wouldn't say this, but any reporter who would lump Gibbons and Guillen who failed a drug test under the current system to a player that was included in a report by Mitchell is perhaps the stupidest reporter in the face of the planet.

Tejada has not failed any drug test, so he's not going to be suspended unless the commissioner wants to make a different argument for suspension.  "For the betterment/protection of the league", et. al. are clauses he (the commissioner) could use from the report, but not steriod use because the CBA is in place to catch those who are using right now.  So if the commissioner suspends Tejada and other current players (Brian Roberts, LoDuca, et. al.), and he uses the wider "for the protection of the league", he's going to have a legal fight on his hands (individual players and union).

I doubt he can win that legal fight.  My understanding is that Selig is being told by just about everyone including Mitchell to cease from using the report as a reason to suspend players.  That was not the intent of the report.  Whether Selig listens to anyone and plows ahead is left to be seen.  His next move could be as ill advised as anything he's ever done in his tenure as commissioner.

[Jose Cruz III]

I know Ed Wade wouldn't say this, but any reporter who would lump Gibbons and Guillen who failed a drug test under the current system to a player that was included in a report by Mitchell is perhaps the stupidest reporter in the face of the planet.

Tejada has not failed any drug test, so he's not going to be suspended unless the commissioner wants to make a different argument for suspension.  "For the betterment/protection of the league", et. al. are clauses he (the commissioner) could use from the report, but not steriod use because the CBA is in place to catch those who are using right now.  So if the commissioner suspends Tejada and other current players (Brian Roberts, LoDuca, et. al.), and he uses the wider "for the protection of the league", he's going to have a legal fight on his hands (individual players and union).

I doubt he can win that legal fight.  My understanding is that Selig is being told by just about everyone including Mitchell to cease from using the report as a reason to suspend players.  That was not the intent of the report.  Whether Selig listens to anyone and plows ahead is left to be seen.  His next move could be as ill advised as anything he's ever done in his tenure as commissioner.

If he starts suspending players over this report it may very well cost him his job. He is not that stupid. This thing is hot right now and surely he is just posturing to give the idea that baseball and the commish's office cares about the integrity of the game.

He has every right and responsibility to suspend players that fail drug tests in the here and now. But to retroactively start suspending players over a report that names names from a time that Selig not only ignored the problem, but profited from it, would be a firestorm that would possibly cripple the game to a point it would never recover. Selig should just announce that stricter and tougher testing is coming, follow through with it, and move on with his life.

[dirty steve]

If he starts suspending players over this report it may very well cost him his job. He is not that stupid. This thing is hot right now and surely he is just posturing to give the idea that baseball and the commish's office cares about the integrity of the game.

selig and MLB got fat ($$$) on the roided physiques of sosa, clemens and bonds.  for him to now act "in the best interests of the game" is crap.

[Lurch]

selig and MLB got fat ($$$) on the roided physiques of sosa, clemens and bonds.  for him to now act "in the best interests of the game" is crap.

Good sound bite but how about some substance?  I can get this in a chron blog.

Steroids did not save baseball.

[Fredia]

Good sound bite but how about some substance?  I can get this in a chron blog.

Steroids did not save baseball.

i think what brought about the prevalence of steriod use was the old commericals that where to the effect chicks dig the long ball. was the end of the game as we as fans know it

[Curly]

...damn women!

[pravata]

Good sound bite but how about some substance?  I can get this in a chron blog.

Steroids did not save baseball.

In a Q&A today

G-313877648: Wasn't the steroids era necessary for the survival of a post strike MLB?

Brian_McTaggart: Probably. Cal Ripken was thought to have saved baseball when he broke Gehrig's streak in the mid-1990s, and the Steroid Era really put baseball in the spotlight. Now they pay for it.

He's also reporting that the Astros, and specifically Mclane, is not taking his calls.

[Lurch]

Yeah, I quit.

[BudGirl]

i think what brought about the prevalence of steriod use was the old commericals that where to the effect chicks dig the long ball. was the end of the game as we as fans know it

I've always said the opposite.  I think chicks did the long sticks.  Doesn't steroids lead to smaller sticks?

[Gizzmonic]

I've always said the opposite.  I think chicks did the long sticks.  Doesn't steroids lead to smaller sticks?

Actually, from what I've heard, longer sticks, but smaller balls (call it the Coors Field Effect if you will).

[astrox]

selig and MLB got fat ($$$) on the roided physiques of sosa, clemens and bonds.  for him to now act "in the best interests of the game" is crap.

Not only that, but he'd have to somehow dole out hand slaps to managers and owners.  If the MR showed anything, its how much management suspected and/or knew of players doing steroids, yet looked the other way.

[Craig]

I've always said the opposite.  I think chicks did the long sticks.  Doesn't steroids lead to smaller sticks?

Yeah, but they can swing them harder.

[pots]

Yeah, but they can swing them harder.

Actually just faster not harder

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Actually just faster not harder

Ain't no steroid been invented what can help you hit a curveball.  'Specially in this context.

[BUWebguy]

I know Ed Wade wouldn't say this, but any reporter who would lump Gibbons and Guillen who failed a drug test under the current system to a player that was included in a report by Mitchell is perhaps the stupidest reporter in the face of the planet.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding things, but I think Guillen and Gibbons were suspended based on the results of a separate investigation -- not a failed drug test.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3144472

[Noe]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding things, but I think Guillen and Gibbons were suspended based on the results of a separate investigation -- not a failed drug test.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3144472

Cool, but what is important is that they violated the current drug policy and were caught buying steriods by an investigation.  I think the Mitchell report is not meeting the standards of a criminal investigation.  BALCO, et. al. investigations yet to be concluded could vett out more punishments by the commish.

But from the Mitchell report?  I find it hard to believe that one.  Not unless the commish is fully ready for a huge fight and some more bad PR.  The MLB is making money hand over fist, why would this idiot want to kill the goose that is laying the golden eggs for them?