Roundtable: Manny's 50 Game Timeout

Thursday evening, the three of us got together to discuss two things: the Manny suspension and the return of A-Rod to New York. This is our extensive conversation about Manny's suspension and its effects on baseball.

[22:24] Shaun Parent: Where do we start first?
[22:24] Coryhouser: Manny's the biggest news
[22:24] Coryhouser: Let's start there
[22:24] Gentleman Jim: Ok then.
[22:24] Shaun Parent: Fair enough.
[22:24] Gentleman Jim: Knee jerk reaction?
[22:27] Shaun Parent: ah jeez
[22:28] Coryhouser: Shit
[22:28] Shaun Parent: Your laptop sucks, Jim.
[22:28] Coryhouser: I can't re...JUAN PIERRE
[22:28] Shaun Parent: Juan Pierre?
[22:28] Coryhouser: Yes
[22:28] Gentleman Jim: Sorry about that, Gentlemen.
[22:28] Coryhouser: He's been sitting in the shadows
[22:29] Shaun Parent: Let me tell you something.
[22:29] Coryhouser: Waiting for his chance
[22:29] Gentleman Jim: He has been.
[22:29] Coryhouser: He's a good baseball player
[22:29] Shaun Parent: And this coming from a fan of a team who had him.
[22:29] Coryhouser: Now he'll have a chance to step up for his team
[22:29] Shaun Parent: He's certainly no knight in shining armor.
[22:29] Coryhouser: Well duh
[22:29] Gentleman Jim: Gotta be honest, I never really liked him with us.
[22:29] Coryhouser: There have been people out there
[22:29] Coryhouser: The two best right handed hitters maybe of all-time, are active right now
[22:29] Coryhouser: Manny and Pujols
[22:30] Coryhouser: I like Joe Torre as their manager
[22:30] Shaun Parent: One's suspended and the other plays for a shitty St. Louis team.
[22:30] Coryhouser: Fuck off
[22:30] Shaun Parent: rofl
[22:30] Coryhouser: Juan Pierre used to be a Cub
[22:30] Shaun Parent: I keed.
[22:30] Coryhouser: Fuck you
[22:30] Shaun Parent: I SAID THAT
[22:30] Coryhouser: Just like that uhh
[22:30] Coryhouser: Grudzelanek
[22:30] Coryhouser: (sp?)
[22:30] Coryhouser: That plays for the Royals
[22:30] Shaun Parent: Close enough.
[22:30] Coryhouser: Was a Cub
[22:30] Coryhouser: Then was a Cardinal for a season (05?)
[22:30] Gentleman Jim: yep
[22:30] Coryhouser: Then moved to KC
[22:31] Gentleman Jim: Grudzelanek was here with Walker
[22:31] Shaun Parent: WE'RE GETTING OFF TOPIC.
[22:31] Gentleman Jim: um
[22:31] Gentleman Jim: yeah
[22:31] Coryhouser: Sorry
[22:31] Coryhouser: I still don't think it'll hurt the Dodgers that much
[22:31] Gentleman Jim: What kind of effect do we think this will have on the Dodgers?
[22:31] Coryhouser: Their pitching needs to get the fuck into gear
[22:31] Shaun Parent: Well see.
[22:31] Coryhouser: But other than that
[22:31] Coryhouser: Who the fuck is going to step up to challenge them in that shitty division
[22:31] Coryhouser: THE GIANTS?
[22:31] Shaun Parent: The bats are whats keeping this team afloat with such shitty pitching.
[22:31] Coryhouser: Pffff
[22:32] Coryhouser: It's not just Manny's bat though
[22:32] Coryhouser: That's why I think they'll be ok
[22:32] Shaun Parent: And now you just lost a big one.
[22:32] Shaun Parent: And with Ethier batting behind Manny, he was getting a lot of good pitches.
[22:32] Coryhouser: Yeah
[22:32] Shaun Parent: Now Ethier moves into that "avoid and don't do anything stupid" pitcher deal.
[22:32] Gentleman Jim: Who's any good pitching for them?
[22:32] Gentleman Jim: Besides Billingsley?
[22:33] Shaun Parent: Nobody comes to mind for me.
[22:33] Shaun Parent: And none of us are buying the prescription excuse, are we?
[22:34] Coryhouser: I kinda do
[22:34] Coryhouser: He didn't test positive with his previous tests
[22:35] Shaun Parent: Neither did Rafael Palmero
[22:35] Shaun Parent: Then oooooop
[22:35] Coryhouser: lol
[22:35] Coryhouser: Yeah
[22:36] Coryhouser: The drug boosted testosterone
[22:36] Shaun Parent: Listen, if you're going to make the money you get offered and are a vital part to the team, you make the hell sure on what you're getting.
[22:36] Coryhouser: Yeah
[22:36] Coryhouser: That's absolutely true
[22:36] Shaun Parent: ANYTIME JIM
[22:38] Gentleman Jim: sorry doods
[22:38] Shaun Parent: Wow.
[22:39] Coryhouser: Wow
[22:39] Coryhouser: Yahoo Sports Columnist Jeff Passan wants MLB to completely ban Manny and every steroid user
[22:39] Coryhouser: He wants lifetime bans for offenses
[22:39] Gentleman Jim: That is nuts.
[22:39] Gentleman Jim: There wouldn't be anyone left.
[22:39] Shaun Parent: I want lifetime bans for players that bang supermodels.
[22:39] Shaun Parent: Purely out of jealousy.
[22:39] Gentleman Jim: That's more appropriate.
[22:40] Coryhouser: lol
[22:40] Gentleman Jim: That begs the question, what's an appropriate penalty for players who break the drug policy?
[22:40] Shaun Parent: I think it's fine the way it is.
[22:41] Gentleman Jim: Cory?
[22:41] Coryhouser: I like the lifetime bans
[22:41] Coryhouser: Scare the shit out of them
[22:41] Coryhouser: That's the only fucking way
[22:41] Shaun Parent: Well, you can't.
[22:41] Coryhouser: "Oooh I'll boost myself up once, and only get suspended 50 days, but I'll already be beefed up enough to further my career"
[22:41] Gentleman Jim: But that's not how steroids work.
[22:41] Shaun Parent: Wanna know why you can't do that?
[22:41] Gentleman Jim: Its not just a one time thing.
[22:41] Coryhouser: ?????????????????
[22:41] Shaun Parent: Knock knock.
[22:42] Coryhouser: Who's there
[22:42] Shaun Parent: The MLB Players Union.
[22:42] Coryhouser: lol
[22:42] Gentleman Jim: go on
[22:42] Gentleman Jim: The MLB Players Union who?
[22:42] Shaun Parent: No, that was it.
[22:42] Gentleman Jim: oh
[22:42] Shaun Parent: rofl
[22:42] Gentleman Jim: Orange you glad I didn't say Congress.
[22:42] Shaun Parent: THAT'S the reason why the league doesn't have a one-time and banned rule.
[22:43] Shaun Parent: The Player's Union would take an immediate shit on it and probably do whatever they could to keep it from being that way.
[22:43] Gentleman Jim: And if you do that, you have to deal with what to do with contracts.
[22:43] Shaun Parent: And then that snowballs.
[22:44] Shaun Parent: So, with a few outspoken LA fans and media personalities calling for Manny's head.
[22:44] Shaun Parent: Would it make sense to trade or release him?
[22:44] Gentleman Jim: no
[22:44] Gentleman Jim: Well, trade maybe.
[22:45] Shaun Parent: Really?
[22:45] Gentleman Jim: Release, no.
[22:45] Gentleman Jim: The Dodgers are gonna find out exactly what they've got in the outfield with Manny out.
[22:45] Shaun Parent: By the time he gets back, July 3rd, there's at least three weeks until the trade deadline, yes?
[22:45] Gentleman Jim: Yeah
[22:46] Shaun Parent: Hmmm.
[22:46] Gentleman Jim: If Kemp and Ethier and (Pierre and prospects) do a good job in the outfield, while he's away, they're gonna have options.
[22:46] Coryhouser: I know they're just playing the Nationals
[22:46] Coryhouser: But the Dodgers are up 6 - 0 right now
[22:46] Shaun Parent: Wow.
[22:46] Shaun Parent: So, the fans are wanting blood.
[22:47] Gentleman Jim: Some.
[22:47] Gentleman Jim: The ones that care want blood.
[22:47] Shaun Parent: But what team in their right mind wants to be on the hook for the remainder of Manny's contract?
[22:47] Gentleman Jim: Anyone in the American League that needs to sell tickets.
[22:47] Shaun Parent: Should LA decide to trade.
[22:47] Gentleman Jim: Texas?
[22:47] Shaun Parent: Manny would want to go to Texas?
[22:47] Gentleman Jim: Really anyone that has a DH slot open.
[22:47] Shaun Parent: Wait, does he have a veto clause?
[22:48] Gentleman Jim: It's not up to Manny, he doesn't have a no trade clause.
[22:48] Shaun Parent: Oh, nevermind then.
[22:48] Shaun Parent: I thought he had one.
[22:48] Gentleman Jim: Texas, Cleveland, Detroit
[22:48] Gentleman Jim: Cleveland could be really good, homecoming.
[22:48] Shaun Parent: Manny back to where it all began, perhaps?
[22:49] Coryhouser: No way
[22:49] Shaun Parent: But no matter where he is come August, the fans are gonna take a shit on him from this point out.
[22:49] Gentleman Jim: Why not>
[22:49] Coryhouser: There's no way they would take him back
[22:49] Gentleman Jim: Why not?
[22:49] Coryhouser: The fuck do you think
[22:49] Gentleman Jim: Its the Jason Giambi Corollary.
[22:50] Gentleman Jim: He admits he was wrong. He goes on a little cold streak, while doing all the little things right.
[22:50] Gentleman Jim: Then he gets more fans on his side, then he starts playing well.
[22:50] Coryhouser: eh
[22:50] Shaun Parent: How is he doing with Oakland right now?
[22:50] Gentleman Jim: Its exactly what happened with Giambi in New York.
[22:50] Coryhouser: Uhh
[22:50] Coryhouser: Not good
[22:50] Coryhouser: He went 1 for 3 today
[22:51] Coryhouser: Bringing his average up to a whopping Derrek Lee-Esque total
[22:51] Shaun Parent: Giambi also grew a wicked mustache at the time, too.
[22:51] Coryhouser: of .209
[22:51] Shaun Parent: Hey fuck you we're winning.
[22:51] Gentleman Jim: That's not fair, Derrek Lee is hurt.
[22:51] Shaun Parent: We're on a hot streak.
[22:51] Coryhouser: Derrek Lee's been hurt the last fucking 3 seasons
[22:51] Gentleman Jim: I'm just talking about what happened in New York with Giambi.
[22:51] Coryhouser: Put some dirt on it and stfu
[22:51] Shaun Parent: AND SO HAS CHRIS CARPENTER
[22:52] Coryhouser: yeah but he's not playing hurting his team's chances
[22:52] Shaun Parent: Back on topic.
[22:52] Coryhouser: Lou keeps playing Lee for some reason
[22:52] Gentleman Jim: Yeah.
[22:52] Shaun Parent: And speaking of New York.
[22:52] Coryhouser: AND BATTING HIM IN THE CLEAN UP SPOT
[22:52] Gentleman Jim: Would New York trade for Manny?
[22:52] Coryhouser: They need him
[22:52] Shaun Parent: Well shit.
[22:52] Coryhouser: New York needs something right now
[22:52] Coryhouser: Jesus christ
[22:52] Coryhouser: Pitching
[22:52] Shaun Parent: Money is no issue to New York.
[22:52] Coryhouser: They need pitching
[22:52] Gentleman Jim: A package around Hughes?
[22:53] Shaun Parent: Meeeh.
[22:53] Shaun Parent: Don't know about Hughes.
[22:53] Gentleman Jim: You're not gonna get pitching from the Yankees, not anyone you like at least. (Joba)
[22:53] Shaun Parent: Joba the Hut.
[22:53] Shaun Parent: That's a beefy motherfucker right there.
[22:54] Shaun Parent: Needs to lay off the New York style pizzas.
[22:54] Gentleman Jim: So maybe, the Yankees would take him, but the Dodgers wouldn't get rid of him for what the Yanks offer?
[22:54] Shaun Parent: I think the Yanks would throw some fish food out the way.
[22:54] Shaun Parent: Maybe prospects.
[22:54] Shaun Parent: Perhaps a bullpen guy.
[22:55] Gentleman Jim: But I don't think it would be enough for the Dodgers. The Yanks bullpen kinda sucks too.
[22:55] Shaun Parent: Well hang on.
[22:55] Shaun Parent: Let's not count out the possibility of a three-way trade with another team.
[22:56] Shaun Parent: Odds are a third party would be interested in getting some nickel and dime players and be the middleman in the whole deal.
[22:56] Gentleman Jim: ok, so it would probably need to be a three-way.
[22:56] Gentleman Jim: A sexy party.
[22:56] Shaun Parent: A beefy sexy party.
[22:56] Shaun Parent: I think if Manny were to be traded, a third team would be mandatory.
[22:56] Gentleman Jim: ok
[22:56] Gentleman Jim: Cory, any thoughts?
[22:57] Coryhouser: I like steak
[22:57] Shaun Parent: rofl
[22:57] Shaun Parent: Jesus.
[22:57] Shaun Parent: And see.
[22:57] Shaun Parent: I predicted Manny would be out a some point during the season in my preseason predicitions.
[22:58] Shaun Parent: It's not a DL, but damnit I was close.
[22:58] Gentleman Jim: lol
[22:58] Shaun Parent: And my Yankees finishing behind the Blue Jays predicition is good.
[22:58] Shaun Parent: Although they're 3rd and not 4th.
[22:59] Gentleman Jim: Should we move on or are there any other thoughts about Manny at this point?
[22:59] Shaun Parent: Manny was dumb. Let the fallout begin.
[22:59] Shaun Parent: Get the popcorn, odds are it's going to be fun.
[22:59] Gentleman Jim: Cory?
[22:59] Shaun Parent: CORY WAKE UP
[22:59] Coryhouser: I like popcorn
[23:00] Shaun Parent: God you are a fat fuck.

[23:19] Shaun Parent: Hey hang on.
[23:19] Shaun Parent: I just ran across this.
[23:19] Shaun Parent: Back to ManRam for a second.
[23:19] Gentleman Jim: ok
[23:20] Shaun Parent: A person familiar with the details of the suspension said Ramirez used the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin.
[23:20] Gentleman Jim: Yep.
[23:20] Shaun Parent: Seriously.
[23:20] Shaun Parent: What. The. Fuck.
[23:20] Gentleman Jim: It helps with the creation of testosterone.
[23:21] Coryhouser: I have a lesbian friend who recognized the drug he took
[23:21] Gentleman Jim: lol
[23:21] Shaun Parent: ROFL
[23:21] Gentleman Jim: How does she know the drug?
[23:21] Coryhouser: *shrug*
[23:21] Coryhouser: Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to
[23:21] Gentleman Jim: I totally want to know the answer to that.
[23:21] Gentleman Jim: Wait.
[23:21] Gentleman Jim: Maybe not.
[23:21] Shaun Parent: rofl
[23:22] Coryhouser: I used to go to school with her
[23:22] Coryhouser: Huge tits
[23:22] Shaun Parent: Huge or
[23:22] Shaun Parent: Huuuuuuuuuuuuuge?
[23:22] Gentleman Jim: Probably somewhere between those two.
[23:23] Coryhouser: Huge
[23:23] Coryhouser: Like DD
[23:23] Gentleman Jim: Shit, too bad.
[23:23] Shaun Parent: I demand pictures.
[23:23] Gentleman Jim: Me too.
[23:24] Coryhouser: Are we done?
[23:24] Shaun Parent: Jim?
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: Anything else people?
[23:25] Coryhouser: I have nothing else
[23:25] Shaun Parent: I think I hit on everything I wanted to.
[23:25] Coryhouser: Carpenter's said to be back by next week
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: Dont care.
[23:25] Shaun Parent: rofl
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: Anything important.
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: ?
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: Going once?
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: Going twice?
[23:25] Gentleman Jim: Ok we're done.