What a travesty...Sosa's appealing his 8-day suspension! Didn't he say he would accept his punishment? Didn't he admit to using a corked bat and apologize? His words just seem even more hollow now.
What a travesty...Sosa's appealing his 8-day suspension! Didn't he say he would accept his punishment? Didn't he admit to using a corked bat and apologize? His words just seem even more hollow now.
cubs play the yankees the next three days all sold out, two national t.v. games. there are sosa giambi commercials. it's a little crazy in chicago right now. the last time the yankees played in wrigley was the last time babe ruth hit a home run in a world series, the supposed "called shot".
obviously sammy disagrees with you, he has one, to put on "shows" for the fans. (which according to the trib this morning, he's usually the first done with B.P. so not too many fans get to see his "show".) so he thinks it helps.
i know physics professors everywhere are weighing in with their opinions (on whether a corked bat aids to distance), but clearly sammy hasn't been swinging the bat real well since he was beaned and eight strikes outs in two games (some with the same bat) has his confidence shaken. and i think the cork was more for confidence than physics instructors.
and i don't think he was using it to hit the ball further i think he was using it to get around quicker. it's not illegal because it makes the ball go farther it's illegal because it artificially increases swing speeds.
Yes yes I know about the increased swing speed but that isn't the point. What I said was in reply to some guy asking if it should taint his home run record.
Yes yes I know about the increased swing speed but that isn't the point. What I said was in reply to some guy asking if it should taint his home run record.
if you can't get your bat on the ball you can't hit it.
be honest, this is always going to be brought up. will he be kept out of the hall of fame? no. but it's going to be mentioned forever.
Yes absolutely. The cork makes a mockery of Sammy's home runs stats in recent years. He is clearly now and has always been a bat-corking, cheating bastard. No one else in the majors uses corked bats on cold nights. Bad Sammy, BAD BAD BAD!
I don't care what any of you say, it was funny at the game, was funny yesterday, and is still funny today. He got caught trying to pull a little wool over the umps eyes. Just like the ole Joe Niekro emory board incident and dozens of others over the years. IT'S PART OF WHAT GIVES THE GAME ITS CHARM.
I don't care what any of you say, it was funny at the game, was funny yesterday, and is still funny today. He got caught trying to pull a little wool over the umps eyes. Just like the ole Joe Niekro emory board incident and dozens of others over the years. IT'S PART OF WHAT GIVES THE GAME ITS CHARM.
I'm not saying the cheating itself is truly awful, just the lying bit. You mentioned Niekro...that was one of the most pathetic things in baseball ever caught on camera when he tried to whip the sandpaper out of his pocket as if nobody would see it.
It's not charm. It's not dignified. And for Sosa to lie at the post-game press conference was ridiculous. Only the most loyal Sosa fans would fool themselves into believing his story. Lying probably didn't effect the extent of his punishment in a positive way. When you tell the truth, you only have to remember one story to tell. When you lie or pull a Niekro, it comes back to bite you in the ass eventually.
Perhaps because he was the picture of the All-American ball player. White and born in raised in the U.S.A. Where as Sosa is Cuban(?) and black.
I thought that Sammy was Puerto Rican or from the Dominican Repulic ... I really think that it's Peurto Rican though. I think that it was because McGuire had a goatee and goatees were 'all the rage' back then. Even the all the Red Wings players were sporting them. If Sammy had a goatee, then he could have given McGuire a run for his money as far as press coverage. Sorta like Samson from the Bible ... and how his hair gave him his strength or something.
Has there ever been experiments with defferent types of wood?
I am thinking that English Yew wood, the stuff they used to make Long bows out of ( aka Robin Hood ) is remarkable for its tensile strength & flexibilty along with its ability to release energy...\
I love how everyone is so quick to say "Goddamn Sammy! I know he's lying. I can see it in his eyes!". You don't know a goddamned thing. Think about it this way. What if he's telling the truth? Don't you think that to him you're a pretty big asshole for just assuming that he's a liar? It's the funniest damn thing in the world to see how quickly Americans will say "You're at fault! You're guilty!" in a country where their own CONSTITUTION states that one is 'guilty until proven innocent'. You are so ready to crucify anybody these days. Such a mob mentality. And all these Americans wonder why the rest of the world has an anti-american sentiment... You seem to think that the fact that he was caught using the bat is some sort of 'smoking gun' as to whether or not he truely intended to use it or if it was an accident. That is one of those things that may never be proven. But consider the facts:
1) None of the rest of the bats had cork in them
This can be taken two ways. One way is that it is proof that he purposely intended to use the bat. "What are the chances that out of all those bats he chose the wrong one with the cork. Shouldn't he have known which one had the cork if there was only one?" It could also be taken to mean that it was an accident. "See? He didn't have a million and a half corked bats lined up to all be used during games. Secondly all 80-something bats weren't in the dugout. There were only 4 bats there. He had a 1-in-4 chance of taking the wrong one. How many of you out there can honestly say that you've never made and honest mistake? Can you honestly say you've never done anything without thinking about it? Maybe he grabbed the bat without remembering that there was a corked bat in the rack, don't you think?"
2) None of the bats he has in the hall of fame have cork in them
I think that this is at least SOME proof that Sammy isn't out there with a corked bat every game and that every ball he's ever hit since he was a boy has been cheating, as some seem to want to claim.
I think that some people out there need to put down the pitchforks and torches, and stop the lynch mob for a moment to think about what they are doing and saying.
Another thing is that a 2hour special on ESPN about the matter doesn't help anything either. On either side of the issue, this isn't an issue that even warrants a 1-hour special on ESPN. MAYBE a 30-minute special. But I would rather watch the 'Magic The Gathering National Tournament' (this was on ESPN2 once ... they even had commentators and instant reply, which I found very funny) on ESPN2 than a 2 hour debate about Sammy using corked bats. I can't even fathom the amount of times they probably said the same damn things over and over again in those 2 hours.... I shudder at the thought.
I believe Sammy. I think he picked up the wrong bat. I don't think he uses a corked bat intentionally.
But ... the Cubs still suck. No one should go to the Cubs or pay to see a game. The ****ing club scalps its own ****ing tickets for gods sake. DON'T SUPPORT THE CUBS!
What a travesty...Sosa's appealing his 8-day suspension! Didn't he say he would accept his punishment? Didn't he admit to using a corked bat and apologize? His words just seem even more hollow now.
he appealed because the entire world expects him to play againts the yankees, regardless of the suspension. by appealing, he is postponing the punishment so that he can play one of the biggest series in cubs history. he is still going to accept his punishment. you should know this...
i bet you a thousands dollars he drops the appeal monday.
btw, Sammy is Dominican--not cuban, not puerto rican, not native american, not canadian, etc.
he appealed because the entire world expects him to play againts the yankees, regardless of the suspension.
I know precisely why he made the appeal. I also know that it's a friggin' ridiculous reason. He confessed...he should be penalized further for wasting the MLB's time and they should extend that suspension to 15 days in return.
Sammy appealing that suspension - no matter what his reason - is a complete disgrace. He got caught red handed cheating in a game, and he's going to ****ing appeal it? There's no reason in the world you can come up with to cover up the fact that it makes him look terrible. He's making it worse.
I believe Sammy. I think he picked up the wrong bat. I don't think he uses a corked bat intentionally.
Every serious ball player says this is very, very unlikely. The only way this might happen is if a guy breaks a bat hitting a ball foul and the bat boy grabs a whole bunch of bats, one of which he hands to the batter. Batters are finicky...they definitely have a whole order of preferred bats from favorite to least favorite. They don't pick up the wrong one by accident.
I don't think anybody thinks Sammy's been using corked bats consistently throughout his career, but it does make one wonder if he took that bat out during a few of his other slumps. It's more likely than not this isn't the first time...
You can read it if you want. I think it's interesting but I just got back from my senior over night party and graduation so I'm about to die from exhaustion. Just thought you all mihgt like to read it.
You can read it if you want. I think it's interesting but I just got back from my senior over night party and graduation so I'm about to die from exhaustion. Just thought you all mihgt like to read it.
I don't find it interesting at all. Pitchers have to scuff the outside of a baseball to cheat. Home plate umps inspect balls all the time, and occasionally pitchers get caught. Nobody's going to be able to visually identify a corked bat...who knows how many people famous slugges actually use/used them?
Since only a few notable people get caught on both sides, I don't consider it much of a double-standard.
Freaky. ESPN2 just showed the 2000 Home Run Derby which pitted Sosa against Griffey Jr. in the final
-- Sosa hit the longest twelve homers of the event, from the first to last round...TWELVE!
-- Nomar Garciaparra was being interviewed and he joked about how huge Sammy's bat was and how he'd have trouble even lifting it. Then the commentators mentioned how Sosa's bat was indeed very thick barreled and huge...They also noted Griffey Jr. uses very small bats in contrast.
Comments
Originally posted by Eugene
What a travesty...Sosa's appealing his 8-day suspension! Didn't he say he would accept his punishment? Didn't he admit to using a corked bat and apologize? His words just seem even more hollow now.
cubs play the yankees the next three days all sold out, two national t.v. games. there are sosa giambi commercials. it's a little crazy in chicago right now. the last time the yankees played in wrigley was the last time babe ruth hit a home run in a world series, the supposed "called shot".
Originally posted by superkarate monkeydeathcar
obviously sammy disagrees with you, he has one, to put on "shows" for the fans. (which according to the trib this morning, he's usually the first done with B.P. so not too many fans get to see his "show".) so he thinks it helps.
i know physics professors everywhere are weighing in with their opinions (on whether a corked bat aids to distance), but clearly sammy hasn't been swinging the bat real well since he was beaned and eight strikes outs in two games (some with the same bat) has his confidence shaken. and i think the cork was more for confidence than physics instructors.
and i don't think he was using it to hit the ball further i think he was using it to get around quicker. it's not illegal because it makes the ball go farther it's illegal because it artificially increases swing speeds.
Yes yes I know about the increased swing speed but that isn't the point. What I said was in reply to some guy asking if it should taint his home run record.
Originally posted by BR
Yes yes I know about the increased swing speed but that isn't the point. What I said was in reply to some guy asking if it should taint his home run record.
if you can't get your bat on the ball you can't hit it.
be honest, this is always going to be brought up. will he be kept out of the hall of fame? no. but it's going to be mentioned forever.
Originally posted by superkarate monkeydeathcar
... and i think the cork was more for confidence than physics instructors...
Exactly.
I don't care what any of you say, it was funny at the game, was funny yesterday, and is still funny today. He got caught trying to pull a little wool over the umps eyes. Just like the ole Joe Niekro emory board incident and dozens of others over the years. IT'S PART OF WHAT GIVES THE GAME ITS CHARM.
Originally posted by Moogs
I don't care what any of you say, it was funny at the game, was funny yesterday, and is still funny today. He got caught trying to pull a little wool over the umps eyes. Just like the ole Joe Niekro emory board incident and dozens of others over the years. IT'S PART OF WHAT GIVES THE GAME ITS CHARM.
I'm not saying the cheating itself is truly awful, just the lying bit. You mentioned Niekro...that was one of the most pathetic things in baseball ever caught on camera when he tried to whip the sandpaper out of his pocket as if nobody would see it.
It's not charm. It's not dignified. And for Sosa to lie at the post-game press conference was ridiculous. Only the most loyal Sosa fans would fool themselves into believing his story. Lying probably didn't effect the extent of his punishment in a positive way. When you tell the truth, you only have to remember one story to tell. When you lie or pull a Niekro, it comes back to bite you in the ass eventually.
Originally posted by satchmo
Perhaps because he was the picture of the All-American ball player. White and born in raised in the U.S.A. Where as Sosa is Cuban(?) and black.
I thought that Sammy was Puerto Rican or from the Dominican Repulic ... I really think that it's Peurto Rican though. I think that it was because McGuire had a goatee and goatees were 'all the rage' back then. Even the all the Red Wings players were sporting them. If Sammy had a goatee, then he could have given McGuire a run for his money as far as press coverage. Sorta like Samson from the Bible ... and how his hair gave him his strength or something.
Next question.
Has there ever been experiments with defferent types of wood?
I am thinking that English Yew wood, the stuff they used to make Long bows out of ( aka Robin Hood ) is remarkable for its tensile strength & flexibilty along with its ability to release energy...
1) None of the rest of the bats had cork in them
This can be taken two ways. One way is that it is proof that he purposely intended to use the bat. "What are the chances that out of all those bats he chose the wrong one with the cork. Shouldn't he have known which one had the cork if there was only one?" It could also be taken to mean that it was an accident. "See? He didn't have a million and a half corked bats lined up to all be used during games. Secondly all 80-something bats weren't in the dugout. There were only 4 bats there. He had a 1-in-4 chance of taking the wrong one. How many of you out there can honestly say that you've never made and honest mistake? Can you honestly say you've never done anything without thinking about it? Maybe he grabbed the bat without remembering that there was a corked bat in the rack, don't you think?"
2) None of the bats he has in the hall of fame have cork in them
I think that this is at least SOME proof that Sammy isn't out there with a corked bat every game and that every ball he's ever hit since he was a boy has been cheating, as some seem to want to claim.
I think that some people out there need to put down the pitchforks and torches, and stop the lynch mob for a moment to think about what they are doing and saying.
Another thing is that a 2hour special on ESPN about the matter doesn't help anything either. On either side of the issue, this isn't an issue that even warrants a 1-hour special on ESPN. MAYBE a 30-minute special. But I would rather watch the 'Magic The Gathering National Tournament' (this was on ESPN2 once ... they even had commentators and instant reply, which I found very funny) on ESPN2 than a 2 hour debate about Sammy using corked bats. I can't even fathom the amount of times they probably said the same damn things over and over again in those 2 hours.... I shudder at the thought.
But ... the Cubs still suck. No one should go to the Cubs or pay to see a game. The ****ing club scalps its own ****ing tickets for gods sake. DON'T SUPPORT THE CUBS!
Originally posted by Eugene
What a travesty...Sosa's appealing his 8-day suspension! Didn't he say he would accept his punishment? Didn't he admit to using a corked bat and apologize? His words just seem even more hollow now.
he appealed because the entire world expects him to play againts the yankees, regardless of the suspension. by appealing, he is postponing the punishment so that he can play one of the biggest series in cubs history. he is still going to accept his punishment. you should know this...
i bet you a thousands dollars he drops the appeal monday.
btw, Sammy is Dominican--not cuban, not puerto rican, not native american, not canadian, etc.
Originally posted by _ alliance _
he appealed because the entire world expects him to play againts the yankees, regardless of the suspension.
I know precisely why he made the appeal. I also know that it's a friggin' ridiculous reason. He confessed...he should be penalized further for wasting the MLB's time and they should extend that suspension to 15 days in return.
Originally posted by Scott
I believe Sammy. I think he picked up the wrong bat. I don't think he uses a corked bat intentionally.
Every serious ball player says this is very, very unlikely. The only way this might happen is if a guy breaks a bat hitting a ball foul and the bat boy grabs a whole bunch of bats, one of which he hands to the batter. Batters are finicky...they definitely have a whole order of preferred bats from favorite to least favorite. They don't pick up the wrong one by accident.
I don't think anybody thinks Sammy's been using corked bats consistently throughout his career, but it does make one wonder if he took that bat out during a few of his other slumps. It's more likely than not this isn't the first time...
You can read it if you want. I think it's interesting but I just got back from my senior over night party and graduation so I'm about to die from exhaustion. Just thought you all mihgt like to read it.
Originally posted by Argento
Interesting story on Sosa and Baseball's double standard
You can read it if you want. I think it's interesting but I just got back from my senior over night party and graduation so I'm about to die from exhaustion. Just thought you all mihgt like to read it.
I don't find it interesting at all. Pitchers have to scuff the outside of a baseball to cheat. Home plate umps inspect balls all the time, and occasionally pitchers get caught. Nobody's going to be able to visually identify a corked bat...who knows how many people famous slugges actually use/used them?
Since only a few notable people get caught on both sides, I don't consider it much of a double-standard.
-- Sosa hit the longest twelve homers of the event, from the first to last round...TWELVE!
-- Nomar Garciaparra was being interviewed and he joked about how huge Sammy's bat was and how he'd have trouble even lifting it. Then the commentators mentioned how Sosa's bat was indeed very thick barreled and huge...They also noted Griffey Jr. uses very small bats in contrast.