# ML Baseball 2010, talk to tide us over! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 11, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546 "2010-02-11T11:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/241 "2010-03-12T16:36:56Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Reyes is a terrible choice for best, even IF healthy (and that’s just a ridiculous requirement - he’s NEVER healthy). He steals a lot of bases, but he doesn’t have a very good success rate. Where are you getting this from? Reyes is at 80% success rate on steals for his career. For his volume that is really really good. Not quite as good a rate as Ichiro, but good. I also would dispute the never healthy thing. Before last year, he was completely healthy the four previous seasons. Regardless he has never put up an obp of 360, which makes it hard to consider him the best. Is Ichiro still going to leadoff? If I’m the Mariners I’d bat Figgins first and Ichiro second. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/242 "2010-03-12T16:46:16Z")
I would say Ichiro also or Figgins if he matches last year’s numbers. Ichiro [is still projected to leadoff at this point](http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/7043910). To me Jeter is a better leadoff hitter than Reyes also. Reyes when healthy is good but not the best. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/243 "2010-03-12T18:28:09Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Where are you getting this from? Reyes is at 80% success rate on steals for his career. Well, I clearly got it from looking at the numbers too quickly… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/244 "2010-03-15T16:11:48Z")
Ronan Tynan, known for many years worth of elongated renditions of “God Bless America” at Yankees games, was drummed out of New York in a stupid misunderstanding, and now lives in Boston. [Pic of the wide-eared Irishman in a Red Sox jersey](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/03/14/scorned_by_new_york_tenor_regains_a_voice/). If there’s ever a remake of “Are You Being Served?”, he could take the Nicholas Smith role. No word yet on if he’s going to be a regular attraction at Fenway, or only brought out for Yankees games. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/245 "2010-03-15T18:34:18Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > No word yet on if he’s going to be a regular attraction at Fenway, or only brought out for Yankees games. Pray he isn’t. Until they move that “tradition” to either before or after the game, I will continue to hate on it. It’s a distraction, it’s an unneccessary delay, it’s tedious. The Yankees are better off for it - they got sued a year or so ago because their ushers wouldn’t let anyone leave or enter the seats while it was being sung. (Though I do understand how sweet the justice would be to bring him out for Yankees games.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/246 "2010-03-15T18:47:52Z")
Agreed. However, I got over that after going to a minor league game that started with a choral group going through GBA, including the intro, twice and THEN the SSB. I’m as patriotic as any American, but c’mon already. By comparison, once through GBA is nothing. But they do have to do it for the Yankees at least once. Opening Day would be fine. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/247 "2010-03-17T21:01:11Z")
One of the strangest stories I’ve heard recently. The manager of the Texas Rangers was doing cocaine last year. Drug testing the manager? I can’t think of any drug that can give a manager an advantage in a game. [Story](http://www.bbtia.com/home/2010/3/17/report-ron-washington-tested-positive-for-cocaine-in-2009.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/248 "2010-03-17T21:24:29Z")
Well, a little weed might make a manager calm the fuck down and not try to tinker and overmanage, so I guess that’s something. Coke not so much. Very strange indeed. I hadn’t ever heard of a coach being tested either. Speaking of drug tests, Elijah Dukes got released today, too, which was pretty unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/249 "2010-03-17T22:08:58Z")
What’s strange about protecting the public image of the game? Or, for that matter, showing the unionized labor force that management is held to the same standards? The classic case has to be Butch Hobson’s arrest as a minor league manager. He told the cops who came into his hotel room that he was \*shocked \*to find someone had hidden the coke in his toiletries bag, and was just about to bring it to the station to turn it in. He went to rehab anyway. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/250 "2010-03-17T22:48:50Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > One of the strangest stories I’ve heard recently. The manager of the Texas Rangers was doing cocaine last year. Drug testing the manager? I can’t think of any drug that can give a manager an advantage in a game. > > [Story](http://www.bbtia.com/home/2010/3/17/report-ron-washington-tested-positive-for-cocaine-in-2009.html) Jeez, and he’s got Josh Hamilton on the roster, too… Anyway, I’m liking the Reds prospects Aroldis Chapman (he of the 100+mph fastball) and Tommie Frazier. Problem with Frazier is where to put him. He’s primarily a 1st baseman, but Joey Votto is a bonafide budding star there already. Chapman looks like the real deal though. The Reds could have a really nice rotation next year with Homer Bailey finally coming into his own, Johnny Cueto, a healthy Edinson Volquez coming off Tommy John surgery and Aroldis Chapman. The fuck of it is Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo. You never know what you’re going to get with those guys. One game they are great, another they blow. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/251 "2010-03-17T23:47:01Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > What’s strange about protecting the public image of the game? Or, for that matter, showing the unionized labor force that management is held to the same standards? Are you telling me that it isn’t unusual to hear of a professional sports coach giving a hot result on a league drug test? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/252 "2010-03-18T13:15:01Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Very strange indeed. I hadn’t ever heard of a coach being tested either. Well, if they’re going to insist on wearing uniforms, I’m going to insist we test them. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/253 "2010-03-18T13:18:55Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > One of the strangest stories I’ve heard recently. The manager of the Texas Rangers was doing cocaine last year. Drug testing the manager? I can’t think of any drug that can give a manager an advantage in a game. > > [Story](http://www.bbtia.com/home/2010/3/17/report-ron-washington-tested-positive-for-cocaine-in-2009.html) Well they test the players for coke so why not the managers. Neither makes a lot of sense except that a heavy addict like a gambling addict could negatively affect the integrity of the game and all that. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/254 "2010-03-18T16:41:27Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Are you telling me that it isn’t unusual to hear of a professional sports coach giving a hot result on a league drug test? It’s unusual, coaches/managers typically being older and more responsible, but testing itself isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/255 "2010-03-18T16:47:06Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Well they test the players for coke so why not the managers. Nope. [Major league players are not tested for cocaine or other recreational drugs.](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/03/17/washington/index.html?eref=sihp) Minor league players are tested for those drugs, but the union has apparently blocked testing of major leaguers. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/256 "2010-03-18T17:56:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Nope. [Major league players are not tested for cocaine or other recreational drugs.](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/03/17/washington/index.html?eref=sihp) Minor league players are tested for those drugs, but the union has apparently blocked testing of major leaguers. When did that stop? They use to test the players. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/257 "2010-03-18T19:40:19Z")
Another strange story today. The Marlins are moving a 3 game homestand with the Mets to Puerto Rico. The Marlins have a hard time drawing fans, but the Mets are usually close to a sell out with all the retired New Yorkers in South Florida. Marlins agreed because they didn’t want to play games in front of 95% Mets fans with their new ballpark secured? MLB wants to see if there is support for a possible franchise in Puerto Rico? It just seems strange to move a series that would have drawn well. Moving a Marlins/Astros series which would draw under 10,000 makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/258 "2010-03-22T01:28:56Z")
[http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/13095283/mauer-agrees-to-184m-contract-extension-with-twins](http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/13095283/mauer-agrees-to-184m-contract-extension-with-twins) 8 yrs, average of $23m/ no trade clause. Cool, but Nathan is done for the season. Not Cool. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/259 "2010-03-22T02:04:17Z")
This whole preseason is kind of depressing for me. I can usually talk myself into just about any team; I used to do it routinely during the Bobby Bonilla era, for crying out loud. But this season looks like a lot of losing, with a lot of who-cares players who won’t even be around when this team is good again. Thanks, Omar. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/260 "2010-03-22T18:11:07Z")
Nathan’s already 35. Figure 2 years to recover from a Tommy John at that age. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546.md?page=14)