Does anyone else here think that the primary evil doers here are Selig and Fehr?

I think this may be Bud’s way of pressuring A-Rod to open up to the MLB investigators to tell everything he knows and to name names. Given that A-Rod isn’t beloved in the clubhouse and there are many other players mad at the steroid users, I wonder just how much backing the union would give him.

Further, if it’s a long, say 1 year, suspension + the steroid use, would the Yankees be able to void at least the HR $ clause in the contract, if not the whole thing. That clause was based upon the assumption that there was going to be a “clean” player assaulting the record. Now that that is tainted, there’s at least an arguable fraud claim on the part of the Yankees.

My advice to Alex would be to cooperate fully. You’ve shown that you do not want to rat out other guys, which is fine. But now you have an obligation to help your team win the WS, you can’t do that by being suspended.

Isn’t Boss George a convicted felon too?

Hasn’t that fellow been connected with some other players as well? Will they all be suspended? How about anyone else who’s ever been connected with a shady trainer or other character? I believe that there’s some document lying around the Internet called “The Mitchell Report” that details quite a few players having dealings with some shady fellows named Brian McNamee, Kurt Radomski, Greg Anderson, and Victor Conte. (In fact, two of those guys are convicted felons!) I imagine all the active players who had any connections with any of those guys will be suspended too, in light of the rules applying equally to everyone. Oh wait, I forgot, the people revealed in the Mitchell Report have already been granted amnesty! There’s that Bud again, deciding who is subject to the rules and who isn’t.

/sarcasm off

Well, that would be a much more legitimate reason to suspend him than having a positive test result from a supposedly-anonymous test administered before the institution of penalties.

I chalk Law up as another analyst who can’t see past Burnett’s boffo stuff to his underwhelming performance record and lousy health record.

As for the “Life of the Deal” piece on FanGraphs, Seidman seems to be doing his projection based off Burnett’s 2008 season, which everyone, even those in favor of Burnett, such as Law, seems to recognize as a walk-year fluke. I’d say that invalidates his argument, though he still includes this: “Whether Cashman realized it or not, he signed Burnett to his fair market value in 2009, for five seasons.” That seems pretty damning to me given that Burnett’s already 32 years old.

“1050 ESPN New York has learned, it is possible that Alex Rodriguez could be suspended by the Commissioner’s Office depending on what MLB investigators were to find out about A-Rod’s relationship with shady trainer Angel Presinal.”

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/1050espnradio/blog?id=3480300&post=3921195

If the Yankees have to break camp without their thirdbaseman, I will be pissed. And this time it would all be A-Rod’s fault, hurting the team in the here and now.

Burnett might as well come with an “if healthy” sign plastered to his forehead, as that qualifier has been and will continue to be attached to him. His injury history is too lengthy to list here, but elbow soreness (2006) and shoulder pain (2007) are the latest ailments to sideline the 6-5, 230 pounder.

. . .

While Burnett is an extremely talented hurler, his durability remains the great unknown. Burnett tossed a career-high 221.1 IP in 2008, and he didn’t experience health problems during the course of the season. However, the other two seasons in which Burnett crossed the 200-inning threshold both came with consequences. In 2002 as a Marlin, he tossed 204.1 innings. The following year, he made just four starts before succumbing to Tommy John surgery. Burnett again topped 200 innings in 2005 (209 IP). He made just 21 and 25 starts in 2006 and 2007, respectively, dealing with the aforementioned elbow and shoulder maladies.

Will Burnett remain healthy and productive in the Bronx? It’s worth gambling to find out. Just don’t place too high of a wager on his dominant but oft-damaged right arm.

My argument is that the Yankees did place too high a wager on the health of Burnett’s arm.

And if all the pitchers work out, trade them for a good young shortstop.

Note: This comment not intended to re-flog a dead horse.

He could retire in Bangkok where the rate of exchange is “more appropriate” for a person of his wealth and limited abilities. He may even be able to afford to BUY a strip club there. At least he’s eminently and certainly qualified for the Christopher Walken, Deer Hunter-type sporting events they love so much in that region of the world!

For some reason, I am not currently inclined to worry about Jason Giambi’s scope of employment after baseball. Maybe that’s just me being young and stupid… or not…

I hear he got the fake ID from A-Rod’s D.R. pharmacy (j/k)

In other bizarro news, Jose Guillen removed his own ingrown toenail (OWWWW!)
http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/1043320.html

why can’t they just substitute the WBC for those leagues once every four years?

In the case of the winter leagues, there aren’t enough games in the WBC. The winter leagues are actual leagues, what you’re proposing is the equivalent of having MLB shut down substituting it for the WBC.

Spring training is the only “dead time” in baseball, occurring not much longer after the Caribbean Series ends.

Been there …. reported that ….
http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2009/02/16/news-of-the-day-21609/

Nice turn of a phrase there, HC!

(He’s not cut out to be a bouncer, only to hit them.)