TGC Roundtable: Baseball Questions

The TGC staff got together to answer a few questions about baseball season.

Conspiracy theorist are saying that Alex Rodriguez’s injury is actually a suspension from Major League Baseball for steroids – is their any truth to that? Why or why not.

Kraig Doremus: No. Their is no truth whatsoever. If A-Rod was suspended the MLB wouldnt have tried to cover it up. Think of all the fire they would have been under if they lied about a suspension and instead said he was injured. Its a lie and the MLB wouldnt try to cover anything up.

Chad Jorgenson: Agreed. This isn’t a cover up. MLB would have more to gain by suspending him publicly than doing it secretly like this. It’s just a coincidence. Completely unlike MJ playing baseball for 18 months or however long it was after being secretly suspended for gambling.

Eugene Tierney: It’s not the first time I’ve heard it compared to the Jordan thing. It’s funny that people think this way. It’s a coincident that it’s all played out this way.

Alex Schubert: In no way is this a conspiracy. The image of baseball has been damaged enough with this whole steroids fiasco – MLB would have too much to lose if it was found out they were just covering up a suspension. Besides, why would they cover it up? It’s not like the fact he did steroids is any big secret – if they were to suspend him, I’m sure they’d follow SOP like they’ve done with everyone else.

You have the task of starting a new franchise and you can select any player in the game as the face of it – who do you select?

CJ: I’m taking David Wright. He plays a premium position. Plays good defense, hits the ball all over the field. He can do everything. And he’s been in NY his whole career, so we know he can handle pressure.

ET: I don’t consider 3B a premium position – much like you can find good hitting OFs and 1B easily. As much as I like Wright, I’d consider Chase Utley or Hanley Ramirez better players to build from. Good hitting 2B and SS are harder to find.

If I had to choose one, I’d take Utley. He’s the best player at a shallow position – the top hitter and top fielder in one package.

KD: Winning begins with pitching. Johan Santana is simply the best and an ace to begin building a franchise around. He is good for 15 wins a season and will help imrpove/start a team’s pitching staff.

ET: But if you are looking at long term, would you really want Johan? He just turned 30, so you know you won’t get as much out of him as you would someone like Tim Lincecum on Jon Lester.

CJ: Add in that even the great pitchers like Santana tend to get hurt a little more easily than position players just because of the the fact that throwing a baseball 90 mph is not an activity the human body is built to do repeatedly. I think just on that you have to take a position player.

AS: Got to go with a guy who is still relatively young but who has proven he can win – Brandon Webb. Since 2004, his control has improved drastically, he wins a ton and he doesn’t allow a huge amount of hits. And as of this moment, he’s not even 30 years old yet.

ET: I’m with Chuckles here; pitchers are too risky to build a franchise on. If I want a face for a team, I’d lean towards a hitter.

Webb would be right behind Lincecum for pitchers, though.

Is the World Baseball Classic good for baseball?

CJ: I wouldn’t say it’s “bad” for baseball. But it’s not good for baseball. Pointless, definately. And I haven’t seen a minute of the tourney and don’t care who wins.

KD: Honestly, it’s good for the players more so than the fans. The fans would definately prefer to watch the MLB than the WBC.

ET: I don’t think it’s better for the players than the fans. The players are not in their normal preparation for the season because they are playing these games. Some players struggled at the beginning of the season the last time they did this. I’m surprised guys like David Wright and Dustin Pedroia were allowed to play in the first place. If either is seriously injured, it can really effect their team. I was very happy to see Albert Pujols not play as a Cardinals fan. They’ve been lucky that the only injuries have been to non-superstar players.

As a fan, I like the games. It’s fun to watch some of these All Star Teams lose to the smaller teams. It’s also a good way to see what some prospects can do, and which unsigned players get contracts – like the Dutch closer signing with the Blue Jays.

CJ: See, I don’t think it’s good for the players because of the reasons you said. But I don’t think it’s good for fans either because your average fan just doesn’t care. There is no prestige or anything behind this. Basically, Bud Selig said “Hey, this matters, pay attention.” Only it doesn’t matter and there is no reason to pay attention. The only thing that can happen is your teams player getting hurt. I go to school in Wisconsin, even though everyone knew it was minor, everyone was still freaking out with Braun’s MRI. Nothing good comes from this. It should be stopped.

AS: Well, it’s not bad for baseball. Personally, I don’t even really care about it.