The Royallypwned 2012 Major League Baseball Thread (Giants WS Champs)

[The Evil Genius]

Another season preview: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...&sct=hp_t11_a2

I will be stunned if Matt Cain hits FA.

[The Evil Genius]

Really? I wouldn't. Lincecum is the ace. They have Bumgarnner who may challenge for a Cy Young (he's basically Cliff Lee, but only 23). They have several other arms in the system, despite trading Wheeler away. I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants dealt Cain at the deadline. Especially if they need another bat.

Cain is the bull in that rotation. Also, he was/is allegedly offering a discount since he married into the Bay Area. Having Cain/Lincecum/MadBum is the key to winning - since most FA bats don't want to play at hitter unfriendly parks like AT&T (and Petco).

[royallypwned]

What I've always wondered is if a player really, really wants to re-sign with a team, what prevents him from doing so after he's been traded? Like, what if the Giants trade Cain and the next offseason, they sign him. Is that allowed?

It happened with Cliff Lee and the Phillies. Traded from Philly one offseason. Signed with Philly the next.

[ixcuincle]

Braun wins appeal.

[The Evil Genius]

Not saying he wasn't guilty..but there was something extremely odd about his test results.

Results that were reportedly the highest ever for anyone who has ever taken a test and 2x the level of the highest test ever taken.

[MattFancy]

I'm glad Braun can play!

[Fight4RGIII]

I hope everything clears up for Braun, but I fear it never will. This stuff will stay with him for life.

[Metalhead]

Not saying he wasn't guilty..but there was something extremely odd about his test results.

Results that were reportedly the highest ever for anyone who has ever taken a test and 2x the level of the highest test ever taken.

That's what strange. The positive test is such an abnormality for anyone, especially for a guy that passed over 25 tests and three others this past season alone.

From what it sounds like, there was a break in the chain of custody/possession of the tested sample which led to the overturned ruling. I'm assuming there is a strict and timed chain of custody for this exact reason...too much time or perhaps not enough time at a certain stage may alter or render a sample invalid.

[MattFancy]

The problem with people saying he got off on a technicality, is that we have no idea what happened with the sample during that time. If it sat at the guys house for 2 days, who knows what could have happened.

I think MLB comes out looking the worst in this situation. This shouldn't have ever been leaked out to begin with and then you have someone who can't even follow proper protocol. Good for Braun. He supposedly passed 3 drug tests during the season, so why would one all of a sudden turn up positive? One that was sitting at someone's house for 2 days.

[MattFancy]

There were a couple years in between that though.

I mean, like guy is traded at the deadline this year, becomes a free agent at the end of the year, and immediately signs with the team that traded him.

The Phillies traded Lee at the beginning of the year and signed him at the beginning of the following year.

But I don't think what you have mentioned as happened before. At least that I can recall off the top of my head.

[MattFancy]

Is it even allowed? I mean, I would be screaming tampering.

Otherwise, every team that isn't in contention should be trading their stars in their last year and then re-signing them the following offseason

I don't see why teams couldn't do that. I mean once you're a FA you can sign with any team.

[MattFancy]

Sounds like Braun offered up a DNA test to prove that it wasn't his urine but MLB decline. Interesting.

http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/s...b-drug-testing

---------- Post added February-24th-2012 at 02:46 PM ----------

Sounds like Braun offered up a DNA test to prove that it wasn't his urine but MLB decline. Interesting.

http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/s...b-drug-testing

[Hitman21ST]

Johnny D ‏ @757clubjd
“@MLB: BREAKING: @Athletics 3B Scott Sizemore to miss season with ACL tear in left knee.” tough news for local boy- get back soon big fella

Ouch. That sucks for the A's.

[MattFancy]

Expanded Playoffs have been approved, with a wrinkle though. The WC team will get the first 2 games at home in the Divisional Round.

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.T1EilYcgeHc

[royallypwned]

Expanded Playoffs have been approved, with a wrinkle though. The WC team will get the first 2 games at home in the Divisional Round.

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.T1EilYcgeHc

My god how stupid. **** you Selig.