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2011-12 MLB Off-Season Thread
Topic Started: Nov 7 2011, 01:48 PM (3,863 Views)
Mad Dog
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ho ho who the hell are you?
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Jeff Bagwell should be getting in but the asshole sports writers are punishing him for being on the same team as Ken Caminiti.
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Erick Von Erich
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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Scrooge McSuck,Jan 6 2012
03:53 PM
Apologizes if it's been told before, but what about kicking Walker's ass off on general principle? :)

He once removed himself from a game because he had a toothache. In 2000 he also went on the disabled list; in the middle of August when he team was right around .500 and still in contention; because he wanted to get LASIK surgery.

Or, when asked about losing a close game, he snidely responded: "hey, I got my hits". He once seriously complained that he wasn't selected "Canadian Athlete of the Year" and was pissed that it went to a race car driver. He had this attitude that it was a pain and an inconvenience for him to play baseball.

The Rockies made several mistakes from 1996 to 2004 (Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle, etc), but trying to build around Larry Walker as their cornerstone was probably the worst. You can look up his numbers and say: 'hey now, he was pretty good'... but he piled up numbers in garbage time (in Coors Field, no less) and could never be counted on for anything other than taking care of himself.

If Walker had played on the East Coast, people would now view A-Rod as a teeny tiny asshole, compared to the giant shitty cornhole that was Walker. Easily my last favorite player of all-time and I wish him a retirement filled with rectal bleeding.
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Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
Don't hold back, please tell us what you really think about Larry Walker. :P


Being an East Coaster, Larry Walker was never much of a subject of interest, and never knew of his poor attitude, or much about him period other than his pretty numbers, enhanced by playing at Coors Field for a good chunk of his career.
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Mad Dog
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ho ho who the hell are you?
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I never understood why it took the Rockies so long to use Todd Helton as their cornerstone guy. It seemed like they waited until his .400 chase to really put any effort into him.
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Erick Von Erich
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Mad Dog,Jan 7 2012
04:28 PM
I never understood why it took the Rockies so long to use Todd Helton as their cornerstone guy. It seemed like they waited until his .400 chase to really put any effort into him.

Helton's .400 chase was in 2000, but the Rockies had already put their eggs in the Walker basket after his '97 MVP season. They were a little blinded by Walker's success, and while he did benefit from Coors Field, he also benefited from some lineup protection in the forms of Dante Bichete, Vinny Castilla, Andres Galaragga and (sometimes) Ellis Burks.

Galarragga was pretty much the franchise player from '93 to '97, so when he left in '98 there was speculation that the Rockies didn't want to rush Helton (a rookie in '97) to be the "new 1B Hero". Helton's 1998 season was solid, but he really started to put it together in the middle of 1999. The next year he was chasing .400 and his career took off with 5 straight All-Star selections. Still, the Rockies felt Helton was there to compliment Walker. They had invested in Walker, both strategically and financially.

I was thrilled when Walker was traded away to the Cardinals in 2004. In 2005 the Rockies started marketing their "Generation R" homegrown team and realized Helton was something they could be proud of. It was a bit late, though, as his best years were just about over.

One of my favorite stories about Helton is from 2003 or 2004. The Rockies sucked hard those years and would have giveaways or promos about every other game. Including ridiculous shit like: "FREE Clipboard night". In September, I went to a weeknight game and there was Todd Helton at the turnstile, checking tickets and passing out the 3-D promo glasses the team was giving away. I went up to him, he handed me the glasses, so I congratulated him on another good year and said "thanks. Good luck tonight, dude".

Helton's a year older than me and made his big league debut exactly a month after I started my first "real job", post-graduation. That first job was a few blocks from Coors Field, so I've always felt a bit of a connection with him. He also seems to have a good sense of humor and is a very level-headed guy. One of the few players I'd like to have a beer with.

Helton will probably not be a Hall of Famer, but he's the best player they've had. Troy Tulowitzki might overtake him in 5 years if he starts producing in the clutch and gains some maturity. Dante Bichete's probably my favorite Rockie to talk about, but Helton's probably my overall favorite player for them.
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Erick Von Erich
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One more zinger about Walker: in his 1997 MVP season, I went to a September game against the Giants. Giants were leading the division and the Rockies still had an outside chance. It was the final week or two of the season, so whenever Walker came to bat, fans would chant "M-V-P". Remember: Denver fans are fucking tools and will chant or support anything.

Around the 5th or 6th, journeyman Danny Darwin is pitching... here comes the NL MVP candidate to the plate with his team trailing and two runners on... d'ohhhhhhhh, he pops up to the catcher!

My dad and I start chanting: "M-V-P! M-V....d'ooohhh...P-2". Some people gave us dirty looks, but one dude in front of us turned back, almost in tears from laughing and said "shit! you guys are hard!"
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Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
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Apparently Jorge Posada is going to call it a career. Good move, says I. I can't imagine a harder decision, as a professional athlete, than admiting it's time to walk away. I'm glad he's retiring a Yankee, and not trying to latch on to another team for one last go. It's going to be interesting to see how the votes go when his 5 years are up and gets on the HoF Ballot.
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torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
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posada had a very good career and I am glad he is smart enough to retire rather than hang on another year or two with another team.

He does not deserve to be in the HOF though.
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Erick Von Erich
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I agree, he had a fine career.

I think Mike Piazza's up for HOF consideration, next year. Folks don't seem to think he'll land much support. So I'd say the HOF looks dim for Posada. Best he can hope for is something in Yankee Stadium's "museum".
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torturedsoulv1
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Piazza is the greatest hitting catcher of all time and he deserves to be inthe HOF.

if Piazza does not make it, Posada has zero chance.
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Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
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Piazza is in, unless someone digs dirt up on him. I want to know if they'll induct him with the Marlins cap on his plaque. I think Posada has an outside chance, just because of the position he plays is always up for debate. He's definitely got a better chance than all the other catchers of the last 20 years, but of course, that isn't a guarantee.



Edit: Maybe Pudge Rodriguez, too, if he ever fucking retires.
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Erick Von Erich
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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I'll say Pudge gets in on his first year of eligibility. Writers loved him and he basically validated his HOF credentials back in the 2003 postseason.

Piazza will have some resistance because he put up sick numbers during the 90's; same thing that voters are showing towards Bagwell. I'd vote Piazza in, but who knows how voters will feel.
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Mad Dog
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ho ho who the hell are you?
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The Washington Nationals are really a stupid franchise. They gave up a shit load for Gio Gonzalez. This is a year after they spent a ton of money on Jason Werth who went out and hit .230. I think they think they're better than they really are.
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Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
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Not much of a surprise Larkin got in, but I am shocked by Morris' jump in total votes. Also, of all the 2012 newbies, BERNIE WILLIAMS gets the highest percentage.... 9%. Almost as much as Don Mattingly. :P
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torturedsoulv1
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Scrooge McSuck,Jan 9 2012
12:39 PM




Edit: Maybe Pudge Rodriguez, too, if he ever fucking retires.

Pudge is not as good a hitter as Piazza but was much better defensively and was a good baserunner for a catcher in his prime and he absolutely should make the HOF
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