dc.

He'll only rise as he gets enough at bats to qualify more legitimately. If under qualified, they add 0/1 as many times as needed to make you qualify... So that's even counting against him. He's been a great surprise, another great find. Waiting for Snider to show his worth...

You'd never know anything happened these days... Just how most people want it. Though I prefer Buck's take: some things shouldn't go back to normal

His minor league numbers via Baseball Reference say he's started every game in his minor league career except a few his rookie league season, so I don't know about that. Looking at his minor league numbers, he is a high strikeout guy ... sometimes too high in the walks department. But except last year in AAA, when he had a 2.5 K/BB ratio, he's averaged a 3.5K/BB ratio every other year of his career. So his average 2.5 BBs per game means lots of Ks. If he can maintain his control, I'll take it.

But I think the biggest strike here is that it seems to indicate that Brady knew these guys and their working and job, which is a direct contradiction to all that Brady said about his knowledge of staff and equipment procedure. "I just pick the ones I like and that's it." But clearly, he's talked to these guys about what he likes and know them.

You know, Brady and the Pats tried to explain a lot... But still haven't seen anything that explains or contradicts these messages: McNally: Tom sucks. I'm going to make the next ball a f---ing balloon. Jastremski: Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done. ... The refs f----d us. A few of them were at almost 16 [pounds per square inch, well above the required 12.5 to 13.5 psi]. McNally: Make sure you blow up the ball to look like a rugby ball so Tom can get used to it before Sunday. Jastremski: Can't wait to give you your needle this week. McNally: F--- Tom. Make sure the pump is attached to the needle. F-----g watermelons coming. Jastremski: So angry. Not only do those messages imply Brady was in on it, not only do they imply it happened, they even reference how hard it must be to make it happen under the supervision of the refs and league...

I was just playing with ya. Is so the same to myself (and do) when I curse a problem or tout a victory and then get the opposite. I agree the pitching has been troublesome... But there's some stability to come. And I am with you: realistic and hopeful is the best way to go.

Re: the organization... Organizations are frequently held responsible for the actions of their employees at all levels, especially in realms that go beyond an individual's actions (ie out want just stealing, it was streaking for someone). " I didn't know " generally isn't an acceptable response from leadership on such matters, especially if there is any previous history of a problem and/or non compliance. Like it or not, it's why people who are injured or hurt or otherwise harmed sure not just the individual employee, but the business as well who is responsible for the employee in many circumstances. One cook didn't wash his hands and spreads some e coli around... It's not just him getting fired, the whole restaurant is getting some big strikes for a systemic failure.

I think we need VA to keep venting so that the team keeps fixing its issues... Touchdowns? Gonzalez says how about almost eight innings without an earned run? ;)

Well, party of the reason is how it all seems to have gone away in his record. He pleaded to a misdemeanor and after punishment got it reduced further to just a violation and removed from his criminal record. And while I am no apologist not sympathizer, as toil hear me say the same in all cases especially when someone is intoxicated, do their stupid words make them racist or anti Semitic? The Post article outright calls him an anti Semite practically. But to all knowledge, this was a single incident of, in the Daily News article, yelling and getting in what ESPN called a scuffle. Apparently others were involved and not charged nor arrested. And at the time he was placed on the tiger's restricted list for a few days. Anyway - I honestly don't care much for Young. I think he's always had a rep. But I'm just not sure of relevance these days?

But do previous strikes matter in punishment? They do in virtually all other circumstances - NFL and otherwise.

That article says they interviewed him for times and then never did a fifth after request. Kraft says it's because pats didn't think it necessary, but attorney says, we just wanted it via phone... It's all a crock. On both sides. That said, I don't blame NFL for saying phone isn't good enough.

So why read it? But no, I didn't hear that.

Cleetz, the only issue I have with your thoughts - though I largely agree - is that Brady played a rule on getting the rules changes to allow qbs/teams to priced their own balls. And i may well be wrong but I thought I heard he even had some influence on what is appropriate PSI. Just follow the darn rule. In baseball, this is like using an underweight bat. The limits are there for a reason.

Fair. I had heard on ESPN,I thought, that they had no recourse.

The team has no way to challenge the punishment. Only players can challenge their punishments on these things. And while people say, "they came down hard on the organization," we also have to step back and say that the employees involved are a part of the organization. Their behavior is the responsibility of the organization at large and the organization at large takes on some share of the burden of the failures of any individual member.

Win will likely mean a minute reduction. But he could also lose for his lack of cooperation with the investigation, " sorry but this is what you get for ignoring it until now "

Garcia was a huge Sox prospect - throwing near 100 in his early 20s - until at least one (maybe two) major elbow injuries. So he's never played above Single A. The Sox put him on the Rule 5 wire this year thinking no one would take the risk of having to hold him all year because he is so raw... the Astros took him, the O's traded for him. The O's actually then had 2 rule 5s... Garcia and another guy who was more polished/ready but less final upside. There was talk they might actually hold on to both at the start of the season. They let the other guy go and held Garcia, obviously. Biggest questions are of course, will he ever hit his potential but also will he even fully recover? He's not throwing near that 100 mark anymore these days... so what is he if he doesn't have that? Rule 5 has treated the O's well. I trust Buck's eye on these things generally too. But man is he a weight on the entire pen right now. Oh how I would love to have the Sox have to pay for giving him up though...

And funnier still... The NFL is so socialist in its profit sharing!

Re: disliking Fox - their sports coverage and news coverage are different. I don't have anything against their sorts, I just think most general sports sites post these articles for clicks not for true analysis. I more agree with the issue if grading a draft now... The Ravens did well for their needs, didn't need another source to tell me that. But real analysis can't happen till we know if these guys are actually worth it. So, I just don't much care what our grade was according to anyone at this point. Good for you if you do.

Ditto.

Can't entirely disagree... And yet, or record says we're alive, and in the must of a killer stretch of overwhelming division games... Meanwhile, this time last year, we were in much the same spot. We ended May 27-27 ... And many were taking about how the year was toast, good teams don't founder so many changes, etc. I'll just wait patiently. More worried about arms than bats these days. Hiding Garcia, the rule 5, and refusing to use him in most games isn't helping.

Also, "More probable than not" (a preponderence of evidence) is the standard in civil court and the standard used by the NFL. You're caught. You pay. Move on. Doesn't have to be in the news for a year. Doesn't have to be the end of his career. But let's also not pretend that guys who cheat in every other way don't get punished when caught.

Well, in criminal Court there would be more authority to force Brady to at least submit his cell records and other data, which could be a game changer. That's what looks worst on him. "I didn't do anything, but I won't cooperate..."

The texts between the equipment guys, referencing Brady and conversations with him, are really damning for Brady. Meanwhile, everyone cheats. You get caught and you get punished.

Further, his post may splits last year were good but quite average. I think 260 or so and decent but plain power numbers. Wouldn't be surprised to see it again, if not injury given his history. Similar to Donaldson in Toronto. Not paying for two months of production.