Brownie19

I F'ing hate Unions.

Beat me to it as I decided to go off on another tangent. The question may be - do the clubs know which of their players are on PEDs already? Do they factor that risk in when they offer the contracts? I was telling someone the other day how the teams always seem to come out of this without any negative press. Nobody is questioning whether the Jays knew Colabello was on PEDs - even when there's a possibility they knew (and chose to do nothing) - or even that they were INVOLVED in it. Nobody talks about that side of it - but that would certainly cloud the possibility of giving the team an "opt out" clause.

Could we see a day where there's a clause in contracts that gives the team the opportunity to terminate the contract if the player fails a drug test? Wouldn't that solve the problem? I'm fascinated by this type of thing. How much effort do teams put into knowing whether their players are clean or not? That answer would obviously be very different when you look at Colabello (why would the Jays care? He gives them 1 great year when nothing was ever expected and now he's done) vs. the Marlins who just committed $50 to Dee Gordon. How many players take PEDs until they land that big contract that sets them for life - and then go off them (knowing the risk is no longer worth the reward), how many stay on them because they are greedy and want to be the "best"? It's a shame we'll probably never know much of the details.

Da f***?

WTF? Did Shatkins say they only think Edwin will get 2 years on the open market? I never heard that. Regardless, the answer would be - Adrian Beltre just signed for 2 years $36M and he's way better than EE. Papi only signs 1 year deals and he's as good as EE.

Um - that wasn't a routine grounder. It was old man Rollins deep in the hole with a jump throw. Good point - he should probably never try again because he might get hurt.

You suggested it's all Atkin's fault, without acknowledging or knowing how much pull or weight Gibby's opinion has. You have no insight on the situation or the relationship. It's all an assumption. For all we know, Gibby walked into Atkin's office and said "I'm not bringing that ambidextrous piece of s*** into another game. He'll rot in the bullpen, or you can bring me up the next marginal talent in line and we'll hope he sticks". Pitchers don't throw pitches called from the catcher unless they believe in them and managers won't use players on the roster if they don't believe in them - it's human nature. Gibby and Atkins should be having discussions in this regard regularly. It's a little different when you're managing top prospects, Super 2 status and options (where the manager's opinion will be bias) - but that isn't the case here as we're talking s*** in, s*** out. You can argue it's Atkin's job to make Gibby realise that Venditte is slightly better than Tepera and to stick with him....but you have to pick your battles when managing people. The reality is - they both suck. Move on. Nobody is to blame because the last guy in our bullpen sucks b/c that's true for almost every single team in baseball. Overall - I'm tired of seeing people blame individual players or the FO. There are infinite variables in play that we have no f***ing clue about and as Spanky pointed out - this is baseball, it's a roller coaster ride of peaks and valleys over a very long season. It's like some of you love being in rocking chairs - complain, complain, complain even when you know it won't get you anywhere.

You literally have no f***ing idea how this process works. Zero, nada. Stop cluttering the board with your assumptions.

Candidate for worst post of the year...

He tells a story about his new dog, Clutch, a jet black French bulldog puppy he got in the offseason. Clutch got sick this winter and went on a variety of medications. Colabello had all of them analyzed to see if that was where the metabolite originated. He had Clutch’s blood and urine tested as well. “I’ve sent every piece of medication and anything that was different in my life in. I’ve tried to examine or identify whether it was a hand cream, a toothpaste, a shampoo,” Colabello says. “I’ve looked into my mom’s medications for her health issues that she’s had over the last year. The extent to which I’ve gone to try to identify this is beyond bewildering.” He's just trying to find the source. If he's telling the truth - I don't think this is too far fetched.

I don't like the fact that he took a roster spot away from someone who (presumably) has been chasing that childhood dream his whole life without cheating. Although baseball is all about money and business, I think they have to keep the childhood dream alive. As an adult, it's one of the few magical things left in this world for me. I see it in my 5 year old's eyes and never want it to fade.

I would have gone with rehabbing a torn BABIP tendon...

Just to be clear, Colabello says he passed a drug test last year during the playoffs. Those who are much smarter and more in touch then me believe he simply used his masking agent properly and slipped up this spring?

wow - did that ever go right over your head...

Future HOFer Adrian Beltre just signed a 2 year $36M extension. He's of similar age, as productive as Jose and better than EE. Although all 3 could probably get more money in the open market, the notion that 2 and 3 year offers to EE and Jose are insulting is utter f***ing nonsense.

um....Dad bod's are all the rage now man. Get with the times. http://www.msn.com/en-au/health/medical/beer-bellies-are-in-biceps-are-out-introducing-the-dad-bod/ar-BBjewl7

huh? The bolded part is my point. If it becomes 'allowed' in MLB, I think the number of teenagers taking PEDs skyrockets and I think that's bad. End of point.

My concern is the 16 year olds taking drugs because they see pro athletes (their "role models") doing it and making millions. Drugs are bad mkay - I think it's a battle worth fighting.

why do you say this?

First game of the season

Wow. Post of the day. No contest

Montero in LF would be awesome. Great idea.

Let Smoak lead off (over Zeke)

I enjoy this debate...

I thought testing was random? Zaun acted like everyone pees in a cup in Spring Training...I didn't think it worked like that and if it does that's stupid. I don't want to jump to conclusions but what I think Colabello is really saying is "f*** sakes, I forgot to take my masking agent".