Once again Joe makes things up. Cruz decided to play in a band box (Baltimore) to pad his stats for a long term contract.

I am pretty happy that we did not sign the pitcher the Birds did. I think that the Indians and lots of other teams are gloating about their refusal to waste money on Jiminez.

Moral: You win some, you lose some.

Bottom line #1....No one was going to give Cruz a four-year deal worth $75 million.

Bottom line #2....No one was willing to surrender a top draft pick (the Rangers made a qualifying offer).

Bottom line #3....Baltimore was the ONLY team to make Cruz an offer. Cruz did not choose Baltimore. Baltimore chose Cruz.

Cruz settled on an 8 million dollar, one year deal (quite a come down from a 19 million/year he was looking for. Baltimore was the only team that gambled and won. They lose their #2 draft pick with the deal (Baltimore lost their #1 pick when they signed Ubaldo. Being a free agent, Baltimore can make a qualifying offer to Cruz this winter to try and redeem their draft pick should anyone be interested in making Cruz a deal. Highly unlikely I think.

"The Orioles have been talking to both Cruz and free agent first baseman Kendrys Morales, but have zeroed in on Cruz in recent days."

Do your homework Dude.

Once again Joe makes things up. Cruz decided to play in a band box (Baltimore) to pad his stats for a long term contract.

FYI .....

Nelson Cruz has hit 15 homers at home and 24 on the road

As usual you do not know what you are talking about. Cruz and his agent told Baltimore they would take a one year discounted contract. No surprise you are supporting another steroid suspended player.

Keep posting about leagues that no one gives a hoot about though.

Wow, liked it better when you were whining about Brian Barton and not posting about third world baseball. Maybe start reporting on little league baseball in the Dominican Republic.

Chris Davis suspended 25 games for use of amphetamines
Peter Barzilai, USA TODAY Sports 12:32 p.m. EDT September 12, 2014


Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis has been suspended for 25 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for amphetamines, the league announced Friday.

The suspension is effective immediately and will run through the playoffs and into next season if necessary. The Orioles, who hold a 10-game lead in the American League East, have 17 games remaining in the regular season.

MLB's joint drug agreement states that a player receives a warning for a first positive test for amphetamines; Davis's suspension is the result of a second positive test.

Davis released a statement saying he has been taking Adderall as he has in the past, but that this season he did not have an exemption from MLB for the drug.

"I apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Orioles organization and especially the fans. I made a mistake by taking Adderall. I had permission to use it in the past, but do not have a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) this year," Davis said. "I accept my punishment and will begin serving my suspension immediately."


Adderall is not considered a performance-enhancing drug akin to steroids by MLB, but Davis was outspoken last season when he had a career year in leading baseball with 53 home runs and 138 RBI. He has struggled this season, hitting .196 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI.

"I was a little frustrated at first just at the thought anybody would even question it," Davis said at the All-Star break in 2013 of questions about the legitimacy of his numbers. "But I understand it comes with the territory.

"I think any time you're being asked about something, you want to be open and honest about it. I've got nothing to hide. I want people to know that. I want people to feel like they can get behind me."

Adderall exemptions have been on the rise in baseball. Last year, MLB granted a record 119 exemption, up from 116 the year before and 103 in 2007.

Last year's 119 exemptions means that 9.9% of players on 40-man rosters received exemptions, almost exactly double the 4.4% of the general adult population that suffers from ADD and related disorders.

MLB executive vice president -- and commissioner-elect -- Rob Manfred has said the game's population makes it likelier its players will receive treatment for ADD.

"Our population doesn't look like the nation," Manfred told USA TODAY Sports in 2012. "We are younger. We are higher income, and there's no question attention is a key part of what these athletes do. So the idea that we would have a higher incidence rate than the general rate is really not that surprising."

MLB will release its report on 2014 exemptions sometime after the postseason concludes.

Orioles manager Buck Showwater told reporters Friday before the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees that Davis called him Thursday night to notify him of the suspension.

"I'm disappointed," Showalter said. "I l know Chris is too. It is what it is. We're going to try and deal with it and move on. The timing is never good. It's one of those challenges."



The Orioles have already had to deal with the loss of catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado who out with season-ending injuries.

"First of all, we got to get to the postseason," Showalter said. "Our goal right now is to get there. It just means we will be without him for the rest of the regular season."

San Diego Padres outfield Cameron Maybin was the first major leaguer to receive an amphetamine suspension this season.

Is Davis from the Dominican Republic

Probably got it from Cruz's locker.

Kazmir was back on his game in his last start, but lost 1-0.

Ubaldo has not appeared in a game since 1/3 inning bullpen debut on August 31 when he was tagged for 3 runs.
I suppose he'll get some work after the Birds clinch the division.
It would make sense for them to leave his big salary off the postseason roster. And hope for better in 2015.

Masterson has been much busier for the Cards, getting into two games this month, lasting 1 1/3 innings, blemished by 2 walks. Does he have a postseason roster spot? Cards don't have any future commitment to him to think about.

Kazmir 5 1/3 innings, fanned 9 like your standard Indians' starter of 2014, but allowed 11 hits and 6 runs, like your standard Jiminez or Masterson start of 2014.

His August and September totals: 54 IP 65 H 40 ER 20 BB 43 K. Record of 2-6. Just think where we would be if we still had Kazmir, Masterson and Jiminez in the rotation instead of Bauer, Carrasco and House.

What a script for Jeter's last home game!

some guys....

John Axford just gave up a grand slam to the Reds, to worsen the Pirates chances at their division.

Kazmir did get a key win for the A's yesterday, his first win in seven starts.

And whatever happened to Justin Masterson? I haven't seen his name in a box score in ages.

And it turns out I haven't missed anything. Last outing was September 9, he walked two and retired one. And has not been seen since.

His post-Cleveland career stats are:

28 2/3 innings pitched
34 hits allowed, that's not too awful
13 walks
that means his WHIP is 1.65
while Kluber or Carrasco would not have allowed 6 runs in that stretch of time, Justin allowed 6 home runs
he did strikeout 23 which sounds good
But his post Tribal ERA is a gaudy 7.53