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I honestly haven't paid too much attention to the Sox this offseason as I was kind of disgusted with what happened. Plus, all the changes made it a whirlwind media frenzy that was even harder to stomach.

I know I will dive right in once the season starts. Go Sox.

Josh Beckett Interview (with my translations):

You’ve been described as a leader of the pitching staff. Do you feel additional responsibility for stuff that went on in the clubhouse?

“I think for me, I can only speak for myself here, I think that we had lapses in judgment. I had lapses in judgment, I can’t speak for everybody else. I want to keep it at that. I can’t speak for Jon or John or Clay or Wakie or anybody. I want this to stay about me. That’s kind of how I feel about it. I can’t speak for anybody else."

Translation: I like booze.

When you say you had things going on that distracted you, are you referring to becoming a new parent?

"I was distracted."

Translation: I like booze. A lot.

Are you more upset about your lapses in judgment or because they became public knowledge?

"I’m upset with myself for lapses of judgment. There’s also some ill feelings toward some people."

When you say people ...

"There’s people."

Translation: I am going to shiv you in the face.

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http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/pos...ses-in-judgment

If the Reds don't make it to the World Series after giving up all they did to shore up the pitching staff, I think Cincinnati might implode.

Dammmmmmmnnnnn, Chipper. How them milkshakes and burgers treating you?

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http://deadspin.com/5887274/

Meh. You have to expect that after guys retire.



Wait, what?

You would think w/all the knee issues that kept him out of action he'd come to camp in shape. Carrying around that extra weight is not going to be conducive to an injury free season. Actually it's a pretty stupid thing to do.

Saw this on reddit

Some guy purchased the domain that is the same name as the new Red Sox Spring Training location and redirected it.

http://www.jetbluepark.com/

Surprised no one is talking about Braun winning his PED appeal.

I will. Don't know if he took PEDs or not, but the reasoning behind the ruling is bullshit. It's just a continued sad indication about where the legal world is moving, in the civil and criminal arenas, in terms of quality of proof. In a world where everyone carries video camera on them, if you lack video proof, it didn't happen. If you can't disprove the negative argument, even when there's no proof whatsoever, it becomes reasonable doubt. So the arbiter concludes that the dirty sample isn't enough proof, because his lawyer presents a completely unfounded argument that it may have been spoiled, when there is no proof of tampering whatsoever ... all because the Fedex place was closed? It's bullshit. Again, this is not about Ryan Braun so much as a flaw in the system. We're moving away from the established standards of proof, and it's upsetting because it allows guilty people to get away with things.

Manny Ramirez signed with Oakland. He'll be suspended the first 50 games of the season.

MLB and MLBPA made the rules as to chain of custody. I'm not saying this makes me happy, but it is what was agreed upon, no?

In the real cursory things I read, they actually followed this. It was more a question of whether the extraordinary circumstances provisions were good enough to maintain the sample. This article quotes Travis Tygart, who may or may not be an asshat, as calling it "the technicality of all technicalities." And as someone that deals with the chain of custody, it's ridiculous. I've had defense attorneys argue about corrupted evidence that sat is an unlocked desk for five minutes, waiting to be picked up. "Really? In five minutes, a corrupt public servant took the evidence, completely replaced it, and vacuum sealed the bag ... all to frame your one client of a minor charge?" Yes, these arguments do happen.

And in that same article, fuck Aaron Rodgers for sticking his big choked-against-the-Superbowl-champs face into this with his post. You have no actual idea what the truth is, you tool. And what you're celebrating as exonerating an innocent man is the same technical flaw that allows hundreds of murders and rapists to get away with their crimes every year. So if the DNA sample proving the case where your daughter got raped was thrown out because the lead detective didn't properly deliver the sample, would you be celebrating how the police tried to sully the reputation of an innocent man? No? Then shut the fuck up.

Edit: Wow, Travis Tygart, the president of the USADA thinks it's a bad decision? Shocking. I'm stunned to find out the head of the anti-doping agency is against this ruling.

Ryan Braun said that the "truth prevailed" in his case. Um, it was reversed on a technicality that probably runs afoul of the science behind the process (i.e., no argument that the sample could have degraded to express a false positive, because the argument ends once their was a flaw in the chain of custody). I have no problem with him speaking out about the process being unfair, but I don't like his semantics about why he won. Getting off on a technicality is the same thing, whether it's a dirty test or a murder conviction. Please don't throw the word "truth" around.

Again, I think he probably juiced, but the test shouldn't have been leaked before the appeal process, no? If it hadn't been leaked, we would never know.

A take on it that supports my views about this, for what it's worth. I'm only posting it to link Braun's quotes.

"If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I would be the first one to step up and say I did it. This substance never entered my body at any point. … There were a lot of times I wanted to come out and tell the entire story, to attack everybody as I’ve been attacked and had my name dragged through the mud.”

Really, OJ, are you going to find the real juicers now? What entire story do you have to tell -- which, of course, you were free to share yesterday and never did, unless it involves you balling up your fists and calling everyone a liar. You peed in a cup. That's your story. Was there some shady figure in the grassy knoll urinal next to you? Are the Yankees somehow involved?

When it comes to these things, the fans ultimately don't care and the media doesn't matter. The fans would be more disappointed about losing you for the suspension than the reason behind why you are actually suspended. What people hate is the lying. Not saying that you are or are not lying, but you validate the arguments that you cheated by speaking so dishonestly and rhetorically. How about this? "I never broke the rules of major league baseball. I'm elated with the arbiter's decision. I'm happy to be back with my teammates and ready to play the game that I love." Done. You can't attack it, no one is made to be the bad guys, and it tells people that you want to move on from this.

Would him saying he never broke the rules of MLB really satisfy you though? You seem to be against the entire idea that he didn't do anything, so it seems you'd be irked by those comments as well.

Look, I guess I'm one of those fans that don't care. I get really angry with these guys when they get caught, and MLB never ever overturns these things, so there must be something to it is all I'm saying.

MLB didn't overturn it, an independent arbiter did.

Well screw me then, that's how much I don't care.

Did I really just see a clip of Daisuke Matsuzaka back in a Red Sox uniform ? Didn't Yanks release him because he failed his physical?

That would be Hideki Okajima.

Yeah but aren't they the ones that all look alike?

You are correct sir!

GOD! Those Marlins uniforms and hats are FUGLY!

Allllright! I'm all in! If everything goes exactly right, why, they might win 84 games this year!

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/...tors_picks=true



OK! Thumbs up!

How big of a whiny bitch is Jonathan Papelbon? He comes out in the paper and says Phillies fans are smarter than Red Sox fans. I hope the Phillies are playing their interleague games w/Sawx in Boston.

That'll change when he bombs a few saves in Philly.

This from the guy who I've heard people I know refer to as "Papelbon-goloid."

American League East
1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles


American League Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals


American League West
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Texas Rangers
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics



National League East
1. Miami Marlins(one of these years SATS)
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Washington Nationals
4. Atlanta Braves(not saying they will suck Kus)
5. New York Mets


National League Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Houston Astros


National League West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Colorado Rockies
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. San Diego Padres



American League Playoff Teams
1. New York Yankees
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Boston Red Sox

National League Playoff Teams
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Miami Marlins
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Cincinnati Reds


American League Champions: New York Yankees
National League Champions: St. Louis Cardinals

World Series Champions: New York Yankees

Heh.

1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Marlins
4. Mets
5. Nationals

Business as usual.

1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Nats
4. Marlins
5. Mets

One can only hope the Marlins implode hard enough for us to catch them. One can only hope.

Shocker!

Why would I root against my own team? Who am I, Pete?

Mets are definitely getting 5th in that division.

World Series of Yankees/San Francisco. I'll make a full prediction later because baseball rules.

http://www.sportspickle.com/opinion/5809/w...-says-about-you

Chipper announced he's hangin'em up at the end of the season. Thanks for everything, Larry.

Bobby Jenks was arrested for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. Looks like they got that drinking problem in Boston under control.

At least Boston doesn't have a Trampoline problem!

Too soon.

Spring is in the air, and I love it.

Ryan Madson out for the year with a torn elbow ligament. Sorry D

Mike, is the Moustakas going to be good this season or did I just draft him because he's Greek?

Listen, I'm totally on board with banning the word "fag" because it carries a history of violence and hate. But you're not taking retarded away from me or John Lackey. This is not a hate word. No one has every spouted off the words, "Fuck you, you fucking retard" toward someone with Down Syndrome. There is a place for a world where someone's stupidity borders on a medical condition. I'm taking back retard for the good of society. And cunt.

I'm down with this, here let me try.

Joba chameberlain dislocating his ankle because he was jumping FROM ONE TRAMPOLINE TO ANOTHER, is retarded.

Right, baseball.

Go Tigers! Rah Rah! Prince Fielder... and all that stuff.

I think it's okay when a retard says retarded, as in the case of John Lackey. Go get Tommy John surgery again and get out of my life.

Dodgers finally sold for $2 billion. See Ya McCourt.