Pastime

DK, Is this it? http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=steroidwitchhunt

That's great. I was worried that if he kept pitching like he has over the past 2 years, he might price himself out of our spending range. But now he's ours for another 3 years.

According to a medical doctor on ESPN, you can catch anyone who has taken steroids in the past year by taking small tissue samples or hair samples. A lot of the steroids are not "water soluble", and can be trapped within fat cells, or skin cells, and they take a really long time to "flush" out of the body.

The big question: Will her coffin be shaped like a pooper scooper or a pack of Marlboros?

Ladies and Gentlemen - our 5th starter.

According to a SportsWire report, former Cincinnatti Reds owner Marge Schott has passed away due to respiratory complications caused by smoking. She was 79 years old.

I don't see what the problem is. That money will be invested back into the payroll, and with the higher prices, we'll have the resources to sign free agents due to the extra revenue. Right, Jerry? :fyou

I just heard this on a newsradio station - NASA has stated that the Mars Rover discovered an area today that has been proven to, YES, once been covered with WATER. "Liquid water," as they called it. How exciting! That's awesome. Here's the scoop: NASA: Liquid water once on Mars Evidence red planet was once 'soaking wet' - By Marsha Walton - CNN.com, Tuesday, March 2, 2004 (CNN) -- Mission accomplished. NASA scientists say the Mars rovers have found what they were looking for: Hard evidence that the red planet was once "soaking wet." "We have concluded the rocks here were once soaked in liquid water," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University. He's the principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin rover, Spirit. "The second question we've tried to answer: Were these rocks altered by liquid water? We believe definitively, yes," said Squyres. Squyres and other NASA officials made the announcement at NASA headquarters in Washington, after several days of giving tantalizing hints that something significant had been discovered. "Three and a half years ago, in July 2000, we were on stage here to talk about sending two rovers to get evidence of past water. NASA and its international partners have turned those dreams to reality," said Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for space science. Scientists used instruments on board the golf cart-sized rovers to study the composition of the rocks and soil on the planet. The rocks' physical appearance, plus the detection of sulfates, make the case for a watery history, and more important, an environment that could have been hospitable to life. Spirit and Opportunity were sent to opposite sides of the planet with the possibility of investigating different types of terrain. Spirit, the first rover to arrive on January 3, landed near the Gusev Crater, which may once have held a lake. But geologists and other researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, were thrilled when they saw the possibilities surrounding Opportunity, which landed three weeks later. It landed inside a small crater in the Meridiani Planum, one of the flattest places on the planet. And its landing site was within driving distance for the spacecraft to reach an exposed slice of bedrock. Since its landing January 25, Opportunity has used the same tools as a human field geologist would to determine the chemical contents of the rocks. Using an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, a device that can identify chemical elements, scientists have identified a high concentration of sulfur in the bedrock. Another instrument on board, a Moessbauer spectrometer, has detected an iron sulfate mineral known as jarosite. From their knowledge of rocks on earth, scientists say rocks with as much salt as this Mars rock either formed in water, or had a long exposure to water after they were formed. The scientists say these rocks could have formed in an acidic lake or even a hot springs. Scientists say the case for a watery past is further strengthened by the pictures taken by the rovers' panoramic cameras and its microscopic imager. One target rock, named "El Capitan," is filled with random pockmarks. Geologists say a texture like that comes from sites where salt crystals have formed in rocks that have sat in salt water. Scientists say they have gained other clues from the physical appearance of the rocks. They see a pattern called "crossbedding," which is often the result of wind or water moving across the rock's surface.

That experience can also turn into another Rick White for us, too. True, but I'm being positive and looking for the bright side of things. I'm trying to exorcise the negativity in my life. I personally think Rick White was done before he came to us. Dave Duncan has a great eye for pitching, and White was a big part of their bullpen, and then all of a sudden the Cards just dumped him (and we saw why).

If Mike Jackson makes the team, then I like the thought of Jackson, Takatsu, and Politte being "savvy veterans" in the bullpen who know that you can get hitters out without blowing the ball past them every time. It's not always just about "raw talent" or "speed of pitches." Experience and knowledge can be extremely valuable as well.

Honestly, did you expect anything less? He's smarmy, that's for sure. He's one of those guys you run into once in a while that you just want to take outside and beat senseless. I'm still waiting for my response from him.

I would ask him if he likes to stay away from hitters, nibble on the corners, and try to fool hitters, or does he just go right at guys, dare them to make contact, and allow them to put the ball in play?

The thought of Ozzie and Shingo carrying on a conversation just cracks me up. Can you imagine if you're just observing the discussion? "Hey, what were they saying to each other?"

YASNY, I don't know if he's read your e-mails, or anyone else's from SoxTalk, but he DID say yesterday on his radio show that "he's tired of getting e-mails from bitter Sox fans." He said that "the Cubs deserve to be talked about more because they are World Series contenders, and their ownership is willing to spend, unlike the Sox." Keep up the fight, my brothers and sisters.

Whatever....... they talk, people b****. They don't talk, people b****. Who the hell cares! - Rex Exactly Rex. Let the Twins forget about the Sox. It'll end up biting them in the ass. -Yasny I had to quote you both because you both hit it on the head. I could care less what the Twins have to say about the Sox. They have enough of their own problems to deal with. And I hope the Twins ignore us and look past us. When they are looking up in the standings, I guarantee they'll think about us then and pay attention. Piss on 'em. The big difference this year is our manager and the team's attitude. Under Sleepy, the team would have read or heard that and just yawned and shrugged their shoulders with a "oh well" attitude. That won't happen this year. And remember this folks - talk is cheap. It's what you do on the field that speaks a helluva lot louder than any stupid quote/s.

I don't know if any of you have heard this already, and I won't make it a separate topic, but according to Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Chronicle will have a story later today that says that testimony given to federal investigators stated that Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds, and Gary Sheffield received steroids from Balco. It didn't say that they USED them, only that they RECEIVED them. I heard this on the nationwide feed we get here in Chicago, so please don't shoot the messenger.

The minor-leaguers scored the only run in the game off Jon Garland. My word, it's starting already. J/K. Gload can be a backup 1B and a valuable left-handed stick off the bench. He'll be replacing the spot that Daubach kept warm last year.

I never recall Gault breaking a tackle. He was too afraid to break a nail, let alone a tackle.

I caught the last hour of the show - the wife and I were up in Michigan having a nice weekend. Besides, the last hour is all that's worth watching anyways - or maybe the last 15 minutes. Did you see Cal Ripken on SportsCenter? He was talking about moving from SS to 3rd, and it doesn't sound like an easy transition. I give it 2 months before A$$Rod is b****ing and complaining. He's going to get hit in the nads quite a few times, he's going to have bruises on his chest like he's never seen before, and he's going to be diving all over the place. Like I said, I give it 2 months. But it's not our problem - it's THEIR problem. Let them rot with it.

Max Kellerman is one of those guys who just can't pull off the facial hair thing. Someone tell him soon - his goatee is pathetic and weak.

I don't want to get into any deep discussions or anything, but if Mars has water, then there is life there. It might only be bacteria (which is all we had here in the beginning until genetic mutations began a grand expansion), but it's exciting to me and other science geeks to hear this. Just call me "Ross" and get it over with.

It truly makes me sad and despondent that I share the same planet with people that are so completely stupid. If they didn't have s*** for brains, they wouldn't have any brains at all. You know, I shouldn't say something that mean, because now I feel like I've insulted fecal matter. Yikes. :headshake

The nice thing about Willie is that he's one of the few guys in the game who can actually outrun the arm of I-Rod, who is in our division now, in case you didn't hear. The guy can flat out fly. However, the old addage is "you can't steal first." I would have Willie choke up on a light bat and just slap the ball. He's our "Willie Mays Hayes" - I HOPE.

Sanders couldn't tackle worth a crap, but he did shut down whatever side of the field he lined up against. Whatever receiver he lined up against was in for a career-low performance. And he could return kickoffs and punts like no one I've ever seen. (Well, except for Donte Hall - but he might be a one-year wonder).

Steff, I love HR's as much as the next fan, but I guess I'm "old school" because I also love the stolen base and slap hitters. Juan Pierre didn't have any HR's last year, but he was just so much fun to watch. That's what I'm hoping to see from Willie Harris this year. I could care less if he hits 1 HR - as long as Willie is getting on base and flying around the basepaths, that's exciting to me, and I will love watching the team even more if that comes to fruition. If Willie can just hit .270 with a .350 OBP, he could steal 50 + bases. And Ozzie will probably give him the green light and let him fly whenever he wants. It could be fun. We can only hope that it happens the way it does when I close my eyes and dream.