Sir Teddybar Gut Fullung

When I'm in bed, yes.

"Intents and purposes." That's what you meant. (Everything else is spot on.)

Awesome, dude!

- Putting your unnecessary two cents into every single conversation you come across while browsing the internet. - Making sure people know you've put your two cents into their conversation, though unwarranted as it may be.

@avecfor making me laugh when she posts.

Jesus Built My Hotrod.

@cyberbully for posting things that make the boards that much more enjoyable. Thanks, dude.

I live in Texas.

Is that supposed to be a Roman statute with shit as lipstick? XD

This thread is for all things MLB during the 2020 season. I'll start. The Astros have signed star outfielder George Springer to a one-year $21 million deal. Story via ABC13.com. (Local ABC affiliate KTRK-TV.)

Oh, the allegations had been circulating for a while before you made the thread. lol We just decided to use it to discuss everything related to the sign-stealing scandal. Actually, if it's cool with you, I wonder if one of the mods could change the thread to this: "MLB sign-stealing scandal thread". (Or Astros sign-stealing scandal thread, even though at least seven other teams have been implicated in using technology to steal signs.)

I've always liked Andy Dalton. I just wish he never went to Cincy only because he's been stuck in relative mediocrity. (I mean yes, he's been their franchise QB since he's been there. That said, if he had gone somewhere else like, say, the Eagles, he could've kicked a lot of butt.)

The MLB has said the rumor you mentioned never happened. Story via the Houston Chronicle website. Also, Carlos Beltran stepped down as Mets manager. I did not see that coming.

Maybe not in 2017, but we will this season. They have most of the same players from that year on the team heading into spring training.

Agreed. Tannehill has been a Godsend for Tennessee. Also, I can't believe I'm saying this since they used to be the Oilers, but I hope they win it all now. I really do. It was fun seeing them upset both the Patriots and the Ravens. I still can't stand them, but I'd rather the lowly underdog win, and they're the underdog.

NBC News' Corbin Smith wrote an opinion piece about the matter. ------------------------ TL;DR version: Smith believes the punishments handed down by the MLB against Hinch, Luhnow, and Cora are a gross overreaction, especially given the fact that "cheating" (or really, trying to gain a competitive edge) is an integral part of the game. He bases this on the fact that despite all the video technology the Astros employed in their scheme, they only improved their team average by, according to him, 0.035 points. In other words, he's saying the sign-stealing scheme didn't really help them at all. Not only that, but he also believes that the whole reaction by MLB to this is overblown, and states that baseball "has overlearned the lessons of the steroid era and is desperate to seem like it takes policing cheating seriously lest those dark days be relived." Furthermore, he points to the fact that baseball in general is based on tradition. Well, tradition in that it has been slow to embrace technological advances in the game. (Read: very slow to implement instant replay, and even then, it is only meant to be used for certain instances.) Long story short: MLB grossly overreacted, and its gross overreaction is based on the fallout from the steroid era as well as its reluctance to embrace technology to improve the game as it's being played. ------------------------- What say you?

One of my favorite songs of all-time. And it's about the first launch of the Space Shuttle! How awesome is that! From 1982's Signals, I present to you..."Countdown"!

Because reasons? I don't have a fucking clue.

I'm just me, I guess. My grammar is decent enough.

Of course. (Well, anyone associated with the team during the Luhnow-Hinch Era, at least.) Anyway, the highlighted part of your post is why I thought the MLB would leave everything alone due to the fact so many teams have been alleged in doing so. But like I said earlier, I was wrong on that so I expect the league to spread the net wider to include the other accused teams. We'll just have to wait and see. In fact, Milwaukee Brewers 1B Logan Morrison is alleging that the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers were all cheating. Story here via Bleacher Report.

@Athena 92for making interesting threads about work. (No, really. I enjoy them. Also, talking about work-related stuff can be a form of therapy. So keep doing what you're doing.)

Maybe so, but at least by going for it on 4th and 1, you're making the defense try to stop you. By kicking a field goal, the Texans gave the Chiefs confidence in knowing they can stop them from scoring. In other words, when the Texans settled for three points, they gave the Chiefs a "win", which snowballed into what we saw for the rest of the game.

The reason no current or former Astros players involved in the scandal haven't been punished is due to the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the MLBPA. Not only that, but the commissioner put out a league-wide memo in September 2017 not only condemning the use of technology to steal signs, but also saying that if any team is found guilty of doing so, that team's manager and general manager will be held responsible. Hence the suspensions (and subsequent firing) of Hinch and Luhnow. (And of Alex Cora of the Red Sox.) But they're not the only two teams doing it, according to Bleacher Report's Scott Miller. From an article he posted on October 2 of last year, he wrote that "Sources indicate Astros, Red Sox, Dodgers, New York Yankees and Diamondbacks have been adept with technological surveillance. A source mentions the Cubs and Nationals dabbled a bit. Other sources say Indians, Blue Jays and Texas Rangers as well." So when I said that is was a much larger issue than just the Astros, I was right. But so far, as far as we know, only Houston and Boston have been investigated. I've yet to see any other investigations come out of it. But if the article is correct, then that means even the current World Series Champion, the Washington Nationals, should be investigated as well. Here's the full article. I just wonder what else will happen. Will the league leave everyone else alone, or will they go after the others mentioned in the article? Only time will tell.