braylonjetwards

I think it's clear we need to require that everybody drive drunk. If everyone's driving drunk were only killing drunk drivers. Problem solved.

Yeah Pete Rose should be in based on his accomplishments. The argument that they cheated players before them is a crock. Be pissed at science but players in the past are not the ethical standard for today's baseball. Hank Aaron has admitted to using beaver tranquilizer. Babe Ruth injected himself with extract from sheep testicles. The fact that they didn't work isn't a case for why they were cheated. If steroids were available to the older players, they all would have used it. There should be no moral stance on this issue, because baseball players have never exhibited morality in any era. Besides that stats are all relative. You should only be compared to the generation you played in. Babe Ruth faced pitchers that had fastballs that sat around 80 and very few had effective curve balls. Clemens had to face these same juiced up hitters that everybody claims artificially enhanced their numbers. He still dominated. Bonds had to face pitchers that were juiced up. He still dominated as much as anyone relative to their peers at any point in history. These two belong in the hall.

I really have no issue with allowing steroids in the game. I think there should be more education about the dangers of using. However, if a player has knowledge of the dangers and sacrifices future health for the opportunity to be a little better player, I see no issue with it. You still have to hit the ball. If you want to leave off a borderline candidate like McGwire nobody is going to complain. You can make a case that he wouldn't be a HOF w/o the juice. But when we're talking about the greatest player to ever play the game, and one of the 10 greatestt pitchers ever, it shouldn't matter. Put them in a different section in the hall, make it known they took roids, whatever. But even relative to other users these are two of the most dominant players to ever play. That type of dominance should be recognized.

Bonds and Clemens are the two most dominant players of our generation. By all accounts Bonds didn't start using until around 99. He was an inner circle HOF if he retired then. With steroids he's the greatest player to ever play the game. Idc what he used you still have to hit the ball. And he did that better than anyone that's ever played. These two are no doubt HOF and the absence of either would be a joke.

The bigger issue is 5 or 10 years down the road. The pool is going to be watered down. They're will be enough people that vote for the roiders and noone will be able to get the 75% necessary. And enough pricks that will leave off people like Bonds so these guys won't get in. It's going to be tough for anyone to get in. The writers are ruining the HOF.

1. Niners- That defense is relentless and Kapaernick adds a whole new element to the offense. 2. Pats- I want to put the Texans here but Brady is the MVP right now and the front 7 is good enough this year to win it. 3. Giants- Looked downright awful for three weeks but as long as Manning is solid they're fine. It opens up a lead and allows them to Defense takes on a whole new look when the offense gives them a lead. That was a weird 3 games but this is the class of the NFL when clicking. 4. Texans- Obviously have the better record but they've shown a lot of vulnerabilities in that secondary. Big plays will be they're undoing. It's really splitting hairs at the top but the Niners D and Tom Brady trump the balanced attack of Houston. 5. Falcons- I don't even like having them here but 10-1 has them ahead of the Packers and Bears. Clearly a great team but they're not as good as their record. Should have lost to Carolina, Zona and Oakland at home. Ryan is good but not elite. Can't run the ball. They'll be exposed against top teams. Giants Falcons game should be very interesting. 6. Bears- This team is tough to figure out but with Cutler are a legit SB contender. OL issues clearly but elite d+Cutler+marshall means they can't beat anyone. I personally think this team is overall better than the Falcons but the records are the tiebreaker here. 7. Broncos- Manning back playing elite again. DT and Decker are matchup issues. Miller is a beast And Bailey is still a great corner. Moreno is good enough to run with Manning calling the shots. No glaring weakness in this team but they just haven't looked like a top 5 team yet. 8. Packers- Anything is possible with Aaron Rodgera at QB, but they can't run and there's way too many questions on D. Still a great team but not the class of the NFL. 9. Ravens- I hate putting them here but they keep winning. Flacco is atrocious, the defense is vulnerable. Yet they keep winning games. As much as s like to cant leave them off top 10. 10. Steelers- This last spot is a coin flip between a few teams. The Lions, Bengals, Steelers all have claim but IMO the potential is too great if Big Ben returns in time to make the playoffs. With Big Ben this team is clearly better than anyone that could be placed at the 10 spot.

See this is where the Cabrera argument falls apart. It hinges on a narrative that is just blatantly slanted. Miggy C did not "carry" this team down the stretch by himself. He was clearly a monster, but they had the best pitching staff in the majors after the trade for Anibal. The staff along with Cabrera carried the team. That and a collapse by the White Sox. This argument is basically Miggy C (buy moreso the pitching staff) carried the Tigers to the 7th best record in the AL in quite possibly the worst division in baseball. The only way you can argue for Cabrera is if you disqualify anyone who missed the playoffs. Then we're arguing the definition of valuable. But in terms of best player in baseball in 2012, it's Trout. A lot of disclaimers have to be applied to conclude that Cabrera was more valuable than trout this year. I don't even have a problem with the results. The MLB definition of MVP is pretty vague and Cabrera was amazing as he has been his whole career. He had an MVP caliber season. My problem is most of the Cabrera arguments use questionable logic.

Trout had this all but locked up before Hamilton disappeared. Cabrera had a better year each of the last two years but the triple crown narrative took over when Hamilton turned into Alfonso Soriano for the last 2-3 months. That's why this is a debate. Most arguments in favor of Cabrera (playoffs, triple crown) were dependent on collapse by others (Hamilton, White Sox). If you want to argue that the MVP has to go a playoff team then were discussing the semantics of value. If its a question of who the better player is there's really no debate. You keep mentioning hitting as if Trout wasn't a stud at the plate. He was essentially the 2011 version of Ryan Braun at the plate if you want to just look at traditional stats. If you look at some of the deeper metrics (I'm assuming you don't) he was Cabreras equal at the plate this year. I'm no slave to saber metrics, I think it's flawed but it's not so inaccurate that it's useless in the discussion. I agree the power trumps the metrics here and I will give a slight edge to Cabrera at the plate. But It's nothing substantial. Take Trouts swipes and convert them into doubles for his hitting line. Depending on how generous we're being we should add 30-40 doubles to his line. That alone makes him better offensive than Cabrera. Factor in fielding (which is an enormous gap), and running the bases on balls in play, and it's not close. In terms of all around baseball in 2012 Trout>> Anyone.

Better OBP. 49 swipes, but it's not the number alone thats so impressive. He had a 90+% success rate, that's insane and adds a lot of value. While trout struck out more, Miggy grounded into significantly more double plays. Double plays are rally killers and worth a lot more negative value than a strike out. Trout scored 125 runs, was by far the best base runner in baseball. He's a game changer when on base. He went from 1st to home on a single this year. That's all ignoring the fact that Trout was at worst slightly worse than Cabrera with the bat. Factor in base running and he was superior to Cabrera offensively. There's more to baseball offensively than just swinging the bat. Well be generous with Cabrera and say he was "serviceable" at 3B, whatever that means. Trout still laps him defensively by playing elite D at CF. Everybody wants to pump Cabreras triple crown but ignore the fact that Trouts season was more historically rare.He's the the first player in the history of baseball to hit 30, steal 45, and score 125 runs in the same season. Stats are funny like that. You can make something look more impressive than it deserves just by arbitrarily deciding 3 stats are more important than all others. Hmm? The dumbest argument of all is the whole would you rather have Trout or Cabrera for one at bat. I didn't realize a baseball game consisted of one at bat. The better question is if you had to pick one player to start a team with based off of last year. The answer is Trout and it's not close. Miggy is maybe top 5. This is to take nothing away from Cabrera, who is on the fast track to the hall of fame. Trout was just a better player in almost every facet this year.

I just got offered forte/Vjax for my Nicks/Mathews. Think I'm gonna do it but I don't love forte.

Jennings is no slouch. Obviously he's no MJD but thats setting the bar a little high. He's a good runner, catches the ball well and is in line for guaranteed touches. He's also shown that he can produce in this role. These type of players don't just pop up on the waiver every day. Sure the team context is kind of horrible but is it really a stretch to think Henne could be better than Gabbert. Gabbert has been possibly the worst QB in the NFL. They also get Indy, Buffalo, Tennessee, and the Jets on the schedule. A lock for 15-20 touches for a talented back, combined with a pretty soft schedule. He is easily worth the 1st waiver or a decent amount of budget. Of course this is all assuming MJD is done.

I'm emptying my budget for him. I have 70 of 150 that we started with. He's got some good matchups and I'd feel comfortable with him as my flex and some weeks my #2. MJD could be out for awhile. This could be the pickup that wins some leagues.

Just to play devils advocate a little, put yourself in that scenario. Imagine youre with your best friends and a scuffle breaks out. In the heat of the moment someone gets stabbed. I think a lot of peoples instinct would be to get the hell out of there. It's easy to say from our soapbox that we would turn them in. But I don't think it wod be as easy as most think. I know I would be devastated to turn one of my friends in. It may be the right thing to do but let's not make judgements on a situation we weren't involved in. The only thing I know is the man wasn't convicted of murder. He was one of the most amazing speakers, hard worker, and player the game has ever seen. I am going to remember him for his passion and play on the field. I'll reserve judgement on a situation with which we all have very limited knowledge of.

Sabathia is going to pitch one of the next two games regardless and then game 7. You gotta try to steal one against Verlander then you got An advantage when Sabathia goes game 4. You throw Sabathia against Verlander and lose, the series is over. Steal one tonight and still have Sabathia an it's a whole new series.

Murray has a history of getting dinged up but he was also known for being tough in college and playing through injuries. His time missed is a bit exaggerated. Pure speculation, but if it's just a strain I bet he tries to play.