Rosenthal Is Blunt On Clemens

Ken Rosenthal pulls no punches in his article today, telling it like it is on all sorts of pressing baseball issues.  It's like his editors told him to inject an extra dose of attitude into today's column.

On the Rocket:  "Is there anything more tired than the annual Clemens courtship ritual? Clemens' flirtations with the Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers are merely designed to get him top dollar from the Astros."

I have to agree; the Clemens thing feels like deja vu all over again and it's a shame that this is currently one of the biggest stories.  Let's play some ball already!

On Bonds:  "Even if Bonds stays healthy, his passing of Ruth likely would be met with ambivalence outside of San Francisco, even anger. Unknowingly or not, Bonds used substances alleged to be steroids."

I know a lot of folks feel this way, but I'm in the minority.  I'm not going to worship Bonds as a role model, but I have to witness in person the greatest player of my generation.  I'll be in attendance when the Cubs host the Giants in early September, and I'm going to tell my grandkids about watching Bonds play.  Unless he sits that day, in which case I'll be really pissed.

On Bagwell:  "...sympathy for the Astros should go only so far — they're the ones who awarded Bagwell a back-loaded, five-year contract when he was 32."

No kidding!  Same goes for the Yankees when 35 year-old Johnny Damon is earning $13MM to bumble around in center field in 2009.  I have a feeling, though, that the Yankees won't be complaining as they're fully aware that 2009 is a sunk cost here.

Comments

[mike]

Cubs host the Giants in early september not August. I got excited cuz I would have gone to that game if it was in august, but ill be at school in september.

[RumorMonger]

Yeah that's what I meant, oops. I gotta change that.

[Bully]

I agree the hell with Roger Clemens, he is a whiner, and a diner. Wanting to be noticed getting publicity, the best news that I would love to hear from Clemens is his announcement of retirement.

[RumorMonger]

It would be great if he retired, but if he does he better not try the requisite comeback at any point. Reminds me of Michael Jordan's twilight only Clemens is still a good player.

[Bully]

As well as Barry Bonds, where all of the sudden did this guy disappear to when all of the steroid junk was going on, he was juiced himself, and trying to give it up and get into real shape, that is what and where he has been.

[Bully]

It is a shame that Roger Maris' single season homerun record was broken first by Mark McGuire and then Barry Bonds, both juiced up with steroids. And now Hank Aarons career homerun mark is within reach of Bonds. In the record books there should be a huge asterik next to Bonds name. *ON STEROIDS (Strength enhancing drugs)
*Record will not count, but will be added to the MLB archives.

Steroids are not strength enhancing drugs. They help you build muscle; in other words, you still have to hit the gym. Nevertheless, there is no moral ambiguity here: using steroids is cheating and Bonds and McGwire should have their records asterisked.

[steven]

i hate the steriod asterik argument. people tend to forget there was a lot more than just steriods influencing the growth in home runs. mlb wanted more offense and they did pretty much everything in their power to make it happen. also the sad truth is it wasnt even against the rules to take steriods. each generations records stand on their own. its not like anyone is going to break the pitching records from the early days any time soon or probably ever. also i might add maris does deserve a big asterik next to his name given the tangible difference in games but then again ruth hit all those home runs with a 275 down the right field line. you give bonds that for his career he wouldnt need any steriods to obliterate the record. seeing how every player has his own situation i just dont see a real reason to mess around with the record book.

[RumorMonger]

I'm with Steven, especially given that Bonds' and Giambi's leaked testimonies shouldn't give them asterisks as opposed to all of the other players who have also used roids.

[xxx]

I think the real story here is Ken Rosenthal. I seriously have such a newfound respect for that guy after this offseason. He is now the ultimate MLB rumor source as far as I'm concerned.

Well...maybe second only to mlbtraderumors.com of course

[RumorMonger]

Haha...nice try but I could only dream of having Rosenthal's connections.

Is it just me, or did he come out of nowhere to be the #1 scoop guy?

[astrosfan]

I agree with the Clemens comments.

I hope the Rocket doesn't think that he can siphon another 15+ mil again from the Astros just to pitch 5 innings a start for 5 months. If so, he can go ahead and sign with the highes stupid bidder.

Bagwell is a different story. The Damon comparison doesn't work, as Bagwell has been with the Astros his entire career, and the reason his contract is so backloaded is that he agreed to do that so the Astros could acquire additional players in the past. He deserves every penny for being such a great team player and leader in the clubhouse.

If he's really unable to play, I'm sure that Bagwell and the Astros will come to some kind of agreement to compensate him for his years of excellence.

[RumorMonger]

Oh I agree that Bagwell deserves his money. I was just saying that the Astros shouldn't act slighted given the fact that the deal was foolish in the first place.

[Darin]

Rosenthal and Gammon's are by far the know-all of back burner rumors in baseball.

But my question is how does Dayn Perry have a job on Foxsports.com? He is a joke.

[RumorMonger]

I enjoy Dayn's work, he says some unpopular things.

[Mike]

Did anyone else notice Ken's new makeover? Now that he's the man I guess he can afford contact lens and a snazzy haircut.

[Bully]

I blasted Dayn Perry on a Fox Sports Blog. If anyone has read his laughable Nl/AL notes and grades article on FoxSports.com he is way out there, the man show favortism to certian clubs, for one the Diamondbacks, hell Arizona has done very little to improve their team from last year and he gives them an off season grade of B+. Come on the Cubs have done more for their farm system than Arizona has for the big league team. Just go to the story and read over it, I am sure everyone will get some good hearty laughs.

[RumorMonger]

Can you give a link?

[mccray]

actually, bully, dayn perry has shown disdain for arizona in the past. last season, his power rankings often showed arizona as the #28-#30 team in all of baseball, behind even the lowly rockies, despite az being in first or second in the division during that time.

also, he just wouldn't shut up about az's pythagorean record of w/l. sure, it's a good stat, but it's not the be-all and end-all of stats. he was just using it as a crutch to slam the team and point out how bad they were, despite leading the admittedly weak nl-west. i'm not sure what team he pulls for in the nl west, but it sure ain't the dbacks. the dude is biased. just not for my team, unfortunately. =)

[RumorMonger]

But wouldn't his praise of their offseason indicate that he is not biased?

[Kyle]

you all realize that regardless of the insurance thing that Bagwell gets his money they are just trying to figure out if the Astros pay it all of if insurance pays most of it

[Darin]

Kyle,
That is the basis of this situation, but it does run a bit deeper than that. Its about a team telling their best player ever to sit down and not ever play again, even though he still thinks he has something left in the tank.

[Darin]

Ok, here just a few comments that Dayn Perry has made recently and I quote:

**About the '06 Detriot Tigers - "The offense, however, could be among the AL's best."

I'm pretty sure they won't be in the top half.....of their division.

**About the '06 Royals - "They didn't squander any compensatory draft picks by signing guys like Sanders, Grudzielanek, Mays and Dessens, so the moves make some sense on a "getting people to the park" level."

Yup, everyone will be going to Kaufmun just to watch Reggie Sanders play and that guy that made the last out in the '04 World Series.

**About the '06 Devil Rays - "Nice pickup of Branyan. "

Yeah, last year Perry was touting Russell Branyan as a 40 homer guy. He's a borderline major leaguer at best.

**About the '06 Reds - "When Aaron Harang is your undisputed "ace," you have pitching problems. New GM Wayne Krivsky needs to resist the temptation to trade OF Adam Dunn, the team's best player."

Ok I agree with the 1st sentence....but tell me sensai, how is Mr. Krivsky to remedy that problem? I'm pretty sure a Ryan Freel for Matt Clement trade isn't going to happen.

**About the '06 Brewers - "Get Koskie for next to nothing was nice, but the Brewers should've given playing time at third to Russ Branyan or Bill Hall."

Jesus, is Russell Branyan and Dayn Perry cousins? Christ, did they date in high school or what...."Dayn the dude isn't that good!"

Ok, so I'm not sure if I've made my point or not, but I still think he's a moron.

[Darin]

I'm sorry, I was done, then I decided to look up Russell Branyan's stats.

in '02 (the most abs he has logged in a season)

378 abs - 151 so

Can anyone tell me if that's good or not?

[Vince]

He isn't as bad you make him out to be. Finding 1 individual stat, you make a case that a whole lot of players are bad

He strikes out quite a bit. But he has posted OPS+ of 120 and 126 in 04-05. He's not great, but he isn't horrible. He has put of decent power numbers, just doesn't get many AB's.

I do remember laughing while I read the Tigers article though. Then again, doesn't it get old to read the same articles about how the Sox and Indians are going to run away with the Central? If you don't agree with it, at least it makes you laugh.

[Darin]

Vince- Fair enough, but I'm not saying Russell Branyan's a horrible baseball player, just a little below average, but Dayn Perry, this year and last, has insisted he be a starter....and he clearly isn't a full time player. The quote isn't on Foxsports.com anymore, but prior to last year starting he stated that Branyan will put up a 40+ homer season if given the chance to play everyday. Your right, it is a bit laughable....but he's a reporter not a comedian.....or is he?

[RumorMonger]

Branyan is quite better than say, Aaron Boone. He's a solid underrated player available for a million bucks. He truly is a better choice than Koskie.

The Tigers stuff is way out of context. Read the article again:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5301350

And tell me what specific part of calling them a dark horse makes Perry a moron. I suppose you broke down the team in more detail and drew a different conclusion? Let's compare the two analyses then.

As for KC, I agree - the Royals' moves probably won't put butts in the seats.

What's your point about the Reds? That the only way a baseball team acquires pitching is to trade its marquee slugger? What about better player development, rehab projects, shrewd trades?

[RumorMonger]

What's with the Branyan hate? This is a guy with 32 HR over his last 536 ABs. He mashes righties with an OPS near .900. He makes a million bucks.

He's probably a better 3B right now than Mike Lowell, Joe Crede, and Vinny Castilla. Even better than Hank Blalock by some metrics

(http://www.rotoauthority.com/2005/11/best_of_2005_th.html).

Throw in salary concerns and Branyan is a steal, strikeouts and all. How exactly is he clearly not a regular? Because he's been passed over? The Ks? Explain.

[Darin]

Ok, Rumor, 1st the Tigers-

Perry has some valid points, about possible improvements.

However, Ordonez hasn't been healthy in 2 years, nor has Palanco.

While Curtis Granderson did perform quite well during his stint last year, his major league performance is a bit limited, and he could regress and that would be from a .314 obp.

The same can be said for Shelton, but he's a bit more proven, and has shown more patience at the plate.

Dimitri Young has regressed the past 2 seasons in OPS, where as last year's .796 isn't alarming, but the downward trend might be.

And did Pudge finally hit a wall? He usually had .850+ OPS throughout his career and last year he managed a .735 (still respectable, especially by catcher's standards), but if he's also regressing that could spell trouble.

The problem I have with this team is that it's not overly fast/quick and seams to be built on power, but not really having any true power hitters and they play in a carnivorous park. When their pitching staff is as bad as it is, it's easy to say their strength is offense. Kinda like the reverse with the Astros (except their pitching staff is pretty good with or without Clemens).

NOW onto Russell Branyan -

I don't hate Russell Branyan. Not as much as Dayn Perry loves the guy, that's for sure.

And I will completely agree with you on his ability to slug righties. But throw a left handed pitcher at him, and it's like Clark Kent and Kryptonite. Over the past 3 years he's posted a .552 OPS (thats a .233 obp and .319 slg) against lefties. He also has a .944 career fielding percentage as a 3rb baseman.

now to compare OPS splits(over the past 3 years):

Corie Koskie
.892 vs righties
.647 vs lefties

Mike Lowell
.752 vs rightis
1.011 vs lefties

Hank Blalock
.893 vs righties
.646 vs lefties

Vinny Castilla
.779 vs righties
.824 vs lefties

Joe Crede
.722 vs righties
.778 vs lefties

Aaron Boone
.736 vs righties
.721 vs lefties

To me all of these guys can make cases for starting every day, because they don't have a .300 point drop off between splits, and none of them wiff at .552 ops vs lefties, plus everyone one of them have a lifetime fielding percentage about .20 points higher (except Boone he's only about .10). To me, Branyan at best is a platoon option at 3b, 1b, or Dh, but not an everyday player, a Million Dollar platoon player isn't that big of a bargain.

[Vince]

Rumor,

I agree on Branyan. A million bucks, I will take him. I will stick with what I said earlier, he isn't great, but he isn't bad. The left hand side of a platoon I will take him.

Darin, compare Branyan with those guys and their contracts. You get the other half of that platoon for say a million or two. You basically have a better player for less money.

As for the Tigers, I will not doubt he did more research. But the assumptions he makes seem pretty out there. And in my opinion, if all of those assumptions happen, they then maybe have a chance to possibly compete.

But if you are going to assume perfect health and peak performance from all their players, then don't you sort of have to assume that for the Twins, Indians, and Sox, in which case, the Tigers would have another 4th place finish.

Like I said, or meant to express in my first post. Articles like these are written to give a different point of view than the usual Sox/Indians will win the division and the other will win the wild card.

[NeifiChicken]

On Branyan:

I had hoped mightily the Giants would get him. They are one of the best teams against LHP but struggle mightily vs RHP. And their corner INF are hardly stellar with Feliz and Niekro, both lefty mashers. He seemed like the perfect fit for SF to me. I also think he'd be the perfect kind of hitter to take advantage of hitting in front of Barry

ON BARRY:

The most incredible offensive force I've ever seen. It's ridiculous. I personally could care less if he took anything to enhance his strength, because he's still human. It didn't make him the strongest man in baseball, it would've just made him stronger.

What's wrong with being much stronger?

Baseball is not a fair game anyway, it's full of guys who have advantages, why is increasing your strength such a travesty? I believe in 25 years we'll all be taking substances to improve our bodies

[Darin]

Please understand, people I don't hate Russell Branyan. I think that he has something to bring to the table, but he's not an everday player, and that's the point I was making, and will still make. Dayn Perry makes him out to be some underated messiah, and I'm just saying he is what he is, a platoon player, at best and a pitch hitter against righties at worst. Most of you guys, including Rumor, have proved my point for me.

[Vince]

No offense Neifi, but I now rank your post in the top ten most idiotic posts ever written.

"I personally could care less if he took anything to enhance his strength"
"What's wrong with being much stronger"
"I believe in 25 years we'll all be taking substances to improve our bodies"

I don't even know where to start, because anyone that actually believes these statements to be true, is so far from reality, it would be a waste of time.

Maybe you could explain in better detail why steroids are a good idea?

[RumorMonger]

Whoa, what point did I prove for you? You certainly didn't convince me that Branyan is better than the guys I mentioned.

You're throwing around Branyan's problems against lefties based on 94 ABs? That's far from a significant sample.

But anyway, your criteria for starting every day is not having a dropoff between your splits, even if it means sucking equally against righties and lefties? Most pitchers are right-handed.

But if you don't wanna give Branyan the ABs against lefties, fine, play him 80% of the time at 3B and call it a platoon. I'd still take him over any of the other 3Bs, especially considering cost. And please don't be busting out fielding percentage, the metric my grandpa's grandpa's grandpa used to evaluate defense.

[Darin]

Rumor- He's only logged 94 at bats in the past 3 years for a reason.... and that's because he's a platoon guy. He can't hit lefties, so he doesn't get to play against them. I'm not a scout by any means, but if he was better than any of those guys previously listed, then he'd be playing on one of those teams, and full time. Especially considering he's relatively cheap. And if he's as good as you say he is, why does he keep getting passed over, it's not like he's played on teams with great 3b basemen?

He's probably not even going to be starting on the Devil Rays, who could really use a good 3rd baseman. Sean Burroughs and Ty Wigginton don't really sound promising?

How about Zone Rating as a gauge for fielding? .704 last year would have tied him last amoung all regular 3rd basemen with Mark Tehan. The closest out of the previously discussed players was Blalock who logged a .735 Zone Rating.

I'll concede that he warrants some playing time against righties only, and he might need a defensive replacement late in the game if playing 3b.

[RumorMonger]

I just don't agree with the logic that not getting a chance indicates a lack of ability. It's just a lack of opportunity, and teams make the wrong choice all the time. Guys like Hee Seop Choi and Roberto Petagine were better than a host of regular 1Bs, but they just didn't get their chance.

The whole point of calling a player underrated is that his teams don't fully appreciate him.

If you pro-rated his WARP score to a full season, he ranked above all the 3Bs I mentioned. He's no lock to maintain it, but it's worth a shot and there are not 30 better 3Bs in the bigs right now.

[Darin]

"....but it's worth a shot and there are not 30 better 3Bs in the bigs right now."

This could be true, but this was not the point I was originally making, nor was it Dayn's point.

I was basically saying Dayn over values him, especially last year when he was touting him as a 40 homer guy. I just can't see him hitting 40 homers. He may (stressing may) break 30 if given a complete season to do so, and he'd probably break the single season strikeout record at the same time. I don't think it would take long for any decent major league pitcher to stop throwing him fastballs.

I still say he's best fit for a platoon/bench role (for a team desperate for a power hitter, and willing to give up defense). And I still think Dayn Perry's an idiot.

[NeifiChicken]

A) We don't know exactly what he took and if he took them. Assuming he did, I'm sure they were designed to his bloodtype and helped him in his workouts

B) Medicinal steroids are already perscribed by doctors for people with low testosterone levels. They are fine if not abused

C) You'd have to prove how taking steroids to increase body mass and strength make you a better ball player

D) If you've watched Bonds play nearly everyday these past 10 years, you can see why he's better and it's not just strength. It's discipline. He's always had a great eye, but his discipline in the last few years has been ridiculous

People have to prove to me why chemicals are so wrong and how they actually make a ballplayer better. Barry Bonds is certainly stronger than he used to be, but he's not nearly the strongest man in the league.

If he doesn't posess superhuman strength, what's the issue? He made himself stronger than he used to be? And chemicals or no chemicals it still takes a lot of time in the gym. Most steroids just raise your testosterone levels so you can increase your workouts to levels you otherwise couldn't.

Just like A-Rod said a few years ago, he's much better because he's working out while others are taking their kids to school? His being single allows mroe time to workout. Do we blame A-Rod for not having a family?

[Vince]

You have just basically argued that steroids do not help players.

So why did/do so many take them?

And you are trying to say that a guy who is such a health nut and so intense with his workouts like Barry is, "accidently" used a form of steroid that a trainer gave him? He never bothered to ask what that cream was?

Yup, I will buy that

[Darin]

Steriods also decreases the recovery time from injuries. It can lead to improper healing and reoccurring injuries.

[Kyle]

Neifi steroids are cheating that is all there is to it. Given steroids wont turn me into a major leaguer. But they will make a major leaguer ALOT better. They enable them to recover from there workouts and injuries a lot faster. Which in turn keeps people in the gym getting bigger and stronger. And being stronger will always help you to hit more home runs. Strength and timing are what it takes to hit a ball so if you already have the timing increasing your strength will increase your hitting ability. Bonds is a cheater he dishonored the game and for that I hope he doesnt break Ruth's record and (although I know he will) I hope he doesnt get elected into the HOF at least not on the first ballot.

[NeifiChicken]

They enable him to recover from injury and workouts faster, yes.

My point is why is THAT a problem???

Being stronger will help you become a better homerun hitter, yes, but what is wrong with using chemicals to do so???

That's really my issue, I'm not saying the "cream and clear" didn't help him recover from workouts and injuries, but what's wrong with that anyway???

I don't see how the game's been dishonored at all, I don't see the big issue

[NeifiChicken]

And I'm being serious.

I do believe Bonds did take chemicals, whether he knew what they were or not I have no idea, but I'm just not convinced it's a big issue anyway

If you guys can honestly tell me what's so wrong with doing it, I might be convinced.

Enhancing your body to be stronger I thought is considered good work ethic. If a chemical or drug can help you do more with your workouts, I don't see the problem

[Kyle]

For one it is illegal that is the easiest one to point out taking steroids without a perscritption in the united states is illegal and it is also illegal to use them in most sports. The other thing wrong with them is that they have very bad adverse side affects. To compete with bonds another similar player would have to take steroids should a guy have to endanger his health and life just to be able to compete on the major league level. My last reason and for me the by far most important is that it taints the history of baseball. Baseball is america's sport and it has a rich history of atheletes who each captivated the population with there exploits steroids have enabled some of the most cherished records to be wiped off the map. 61 home runs used to mean a lot during the steroid hay day you could hit 61 home runs and not lead the league. It belittles the history of the game. Baseball has rules and people are expected to follow them. Who knows what baseball history was changed by people deciding to cheat. The whole outcome of world series and seasons would have been different had these people not went around the law to make themselves more money and fame. That is why I think using steroids is such a horrible act

[diehardcubbiefan]

I agree with Kyle, but i have a mixed view on this.

Even before Bonds was on steroids, he was a terrific player. He had an awesome OBP, drove in many runs, stole a good amount of bases, and he would still hit a good amount of HRs. He already had enough plate displine even before he was on Roids. He would draw an average of 100 walks, and he would continue to show his excellence throughout his last years with the pirates throughout his years with the giants before he started to "juice up." However, going on steroids was something that i cannnot respect.

[Kyle]

I am not arguing that Bonds was good he probably would have made the HOF if he had never juiced up and may have been more valuable as he was a better fielder and a better base stealer before roids

[diehardcubbiefan]

agreed...

[NeifiChicken]

The problem with all this is you assume what Bonds was taking had averse side effects. Sure, in the past steroids were dangerous, but we're not talking about standard steroids here. We're talking about substances SPECIFICALLY designed to a person's blood. We don't even know if they are steroids, it's just easier to clasify them as that.

The stuff he might have taken is so complex, neither you or I could understand them. They may not be dangerous at all.

And of course the glaring FACT: It was NOT against the rules of major league baseball at the time