We play today…

So the Yankees-RS system is in a state of quantum indeterminacy and SG is going to open the box at some point to see if the cat is alive?  At which point the wave function will collapse and all the unhappy RLYWers will cease to exist?

From PeteAbe:

UPDATE, 1:45 p.m.: Aceves, Bruney and Coke are not available today.

[3] CC better go deep.

[3] CC better go deep.

At least Hughes and Mo are available.  We need at least 7 from CC.

Well, CC threw 100 pitches in his last start and had 5 days off.  He should be good for 115-120 if necessary.

UPDATE, 1:45 p.m.: Aceves, Bruney and Coke are not available today.

Duh.

Melancon and Robertson for lower leverage plus Hughes and Rivera for higher leverage ain’t too shabby.  Meanwhile, do the Sox have any relievers available in front of Papelbon today?

There. I think it’s closed.

Or… is this better?

RLYW: out of control html tagging.

test

clay!

me!

you!

SG, as I look about the internet, the question arises: does conscious prevent us from letting them wince as they try to get back on their high horse, sprained ankles and all?

Francona: “I think David feels like a big weight has been lifted.”

I don’t think so.

I am so excited for today’s game, not only is it the guaranteed win but we get to see how depressed Joe Buck is over the Yankees being in first place.

Oh, now the MLB is saying testing wasn’t as accurate back in 2003 and some players may have failed due to taking legal supplements like Andro. Funny how they waited for Ortiz name to be released to reveal that information, after they left ARod out to hang. And now they are saying, “Don’t draw absolute conclusions, as we don’t have absolute proof.”

[28] I don’t think there’s anything unconscionable about letting them wallow in the results of their own snootiness.

According to PA: Towers to NY.  Melancon to Scranton.

[30] Well, it isn’t actually MLB that’s doing it.  It’s the union, and they’re paid to protect the players, at all costs.

CC is going deep today, come hell or high water.  I could easily see him going 8 innings and giving up 7 runs.  Of course I’d prefer, say, 9 innings and 2 runs.  But he’s going to throw a lot of pitches.

I think Francona meant, by “big weight,” Ortiz himself, lifted by all the ESPN announcers on their shoulders (they had to use steroids to permit them to repeat workouts often enough to build up the necessary strength in time) as they parade him about the studio, with its full-size mock-up of Fenway, singing: “for he’s jolly good giant!”
With intentionally exaggerated, “we don’t really speak English” Dominican accents.

Maybe now we can let Bruney out of his cage.

umpires starting this game off well.

What a play.

Well, it isn’t actually MLB that’s doing it.  It’s the union, and they’re paid to protect the players, at all costs.

Then why didn’t this information come out when ARod’s name was leaked from the list?

McCarver just called Molina “Jose Molino”, I think we have found a closet RLYW fan.

{39} Creepy, I wrote that in the last thread (somehow missed this one)

I’m goign to give the MLBPA the benefit of the doubt and assume they assumed Arod was an isolated leak, and after this leak they feared that this could be a long, dragged out problem.

When ARod’s name was leaked from the list, and before he admitted it.
Just to be clear.

[41]
 
That’s one of the oddest decisions I’ve ever encountered.

Good start.

Love seeing Pedroia K.

I approve of the almost optimal lineup, obviously less Posada who would only play in a day game after a 15 inning night game if it were an elimination game.

Do not let him settle in.

YOUK!!!!

HA

Youk in LF? I LIKE it!

Youkilis plays LF like Damon.

Describe, please!  (You can probably do it before GD even decides to finally show even the result.)

Youklis making Damon look like a slick fielding LF. And the fans shouting, “Yoooooouuuuu” after the error was fantastic.

Left Field has Eyes.

[52] Fly ball to LF, Youkilis backing up, ball goes about 3 inches over his glove.

Is there any way to measure whether Francona’s propensity to shuffle the lineup defensively hurt or help his team?

Aaah booo hitting bat.

Oh, actually, it could probably be done quite easily by comparing the offensive boost above replacement level to the defense lost.

strikes!

I love that they decided to talk over the ovation the crowd gave A-Rod.

I was hoping for a “Clean 1918” chant

They should ask Senator Mitchell why his investigation didn’t reveal any Red Sox players.

Because he was a part owner of the Red Sox?

[59] When he came up to the plate?

I love that they decided to talk over the ovation the crowd gave A-Rod.

Not only talk over it, but go to a replay of the previous AB to avoid showing the fans standing and cheering ARod.

They should ask Senator Mitchell why his investigation didn’t reveal any Red Sox players.

Because he was a part owner of the Red Sox?

You’re ruining the subtle jab at the conflict of interest.

McCarver being the voice of reason here. Very scary.

Good start.

Anyone have a read on if the FOX guys are buying Ortiz’s BS story?

I guess someone did ask in the press conference, why they are defending players now and not when ARod’s name was leaked. Weiner responded with some BS about “its the cumulative effective of the damage being done.”

When he came up to the plate?

Yeah, they zoomed in on Buchholz, gave his scouting report then showed a replay of the strikeout of Teix.

By the time they showed A-Rod, he was already ready to get the first pitch from Buchholz.

It was quite lame - it almost seemed intentional.

McCarver didn’t seem to buy it.

Weiner responded with some BS about “its the cumulative effective of the damage being done.”

I actually prefer that to “Because Ortiz is actually innocent.”

Cumulative damage to the reputation of players on the New York roster isn’t damage at all.
 
But damage to the reputation of the Red Sox?  The strikes at each and every one of us, as human beings and, more importantly, as Americans.

You’re ruining the subtle jab at the conflict of interest.

I understand that, but the MSM and ESPNESN eating up Ortiz’ multiple excuses (I didn’t take anything, but if I did I didn’t know what it was, and if I did fail a steroid test it was probably just a legal supplement that fooled the test) has made me angry beyond subtlety.

[67] They don’t sound like they’re buying it.

Nick Swisher is the last Yankee I’d suspect of GingIDP on the first pitch.  Color me surprised.

I like when this CC is on the mound.

Nice start.

Tapper to the pitcher, 4 pitch K, soft groundout to 2nd.  Helluva an inning.

It’s a shame no one in the MSM has been able to put together the fact that ARod and Ortiz had the same trainer, both failed a test, and ARod admitting using steroids, so MAYBE this means Ortiz did take something other than flintstones. Seems like there is a nice article in there somewhere.

Anyways, Cano now has made two really nice plays.

I hear those flintsones vitamins can be laced with some powerful stuff though.  Who knows what’s in them.

I actually think there’s a reasonable chance that Ortiz had a positive test because he was using 19-norandrostenedione, which was apparently legal and sold over the counter in 2003.

If that were the case, and assuming the union knows it, their response to this situation seems more than fair.

Alex Rodriguez, on the other hand, was linked to Primobolan from the beginning, if memory serves.

[80] the gummy vitamins are delicious.

oo! walking Molino. good sign.

Fear the prowess.

Yes.  The pitcher just walk Jose Freakin’ Molina, so obviously it’s time to give an out away.

Please don’t give away an out here. This pitcher isn’t very good, play for the big inning.

Let’s score early and often.  Not in the mood for another like last night and also I want to feel secure that Buccholz is not and may never be a big time pitcher.

19-norandrostenedione, which was apparently legal and sold over the counter in 2003.

Not exactly.  It is a common contaminant of androstenedione preparations, which were still legal at the time.  It had not yet been specifically scheduled by the FDA, but it was arguably already illegal as a generic steroid precursor.  It seems that nobody in MLB, the union, or the media can be bothered to actually speak accurately about this stuff, even though it wouldn’t be that hard if they put in a little effort.

Alex Rodriguez, on the other hand, was linked to Primobolan from the beginning, if memory serves.

Which was a perfectly legal OTC drug in the DR at the time.

I actually think there’s a reasonable chance that Ortiz had a positive test because he was using 19-norandrostenedione, which was apparently legal and sold over the counter in 2003.

If that were the case, and assuming the union knows it, their response to this situation seems more than fair

I disagree.  Fair would have been disclosing exactly what you conjecture, if that’s how it happened, instead of talking about what “may” have happened and what he “might” have done.  They are relying on you to fill in the story, so you’re doing just that.  It’s a joke, and insult to our intelligence.  I’m embarrassed for Ortiz.  He’s another Sammy Sosa.

[81]
 
You mean the stuff for which Maguire was hung out to dry, denied the HoF, and forced into hiding?  That stuff?

If Ortiz is innocent then Shef really thought they were rubbing him with olive oil

A start, merely a start

yay runs!

BTW, androstenedione is now banned and has been replaced on the GNC shelves with androstenetrione.  But guess what?  Most androstenetrione preparations are heavily contaminated with androstenedione!  This is supposedly what led to that Phillies’ reliever getting busted during the WS.

[91] Haha!

Also, Kurt Russell is at the game, that’s pretty kick ass to have Snake Plissken there in case trouble breaks out.

Most androstenetrione preparations are heavily contaminated with androstenedione!

That sounds entirely accidental.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic—According to the official in charge of the agency which regulates pharmaceutical drugs in the Dominican Republic, Primobolan was not available for legal purchase, over-the-counter or with a prescription in his country between 2001 and 2003.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3920425

Mark McGwire was denied entry into the HoF because of his appearance in front of Congress, in my opinion.  He was still loved when it was discovered that he was using Andro.

And from what I’ve (briefly) read (online), that substance was legally available at the time of the 2003 testing. Arguments that the drug should have been classified as something else shouldn’t be held against those who used it when you could buy it from stores in the U.S. I’m not too concerned with other countries whose drug policies may be more lax.

And I don’t think the union could lay out exactly what I believe is possible, because of the legal restrictions.

If you are a baseball player, and you witnessed McGuire be crucified for using a product called Andro, how do you feel safe taking a supplement that’s first five letters spell “Andro”?

[97] Which is why the union rep says that no one ever told Ortiz what we know the union told all the players on the list - that they were on the list, and what it meant.  To have done what they did is to violate the very court order he was so high and mighty about respecting (unlike those bad, bad men from the NEW YORK (=evil) Times, who aren’t actually prohibited from seeking that information, whether “actively” or otherwise).
Of course they told Ortiz.  Is it possible that he failed to understand them?  It seems highly unlikely that they would have let that slide, although, of course, we can’t say it’s utterly impossible.  Just a rather ridiculous supposition.
But let’s trust the union.  But of course the union leaders are all honorable men.
BTW, did anyone catch Michael Kay’s interview with Marvin Miller?  That was a blast from the Twilight Zone!

FOX now saying Wakefield is able to pitch soon but the Sox are worried he won’t be able to cover first. Whenever he makes his first start back, the first team he faces should be doing nothing but bunting the first two innings.