"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
Someone can (and should) correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember back when the Biogenesis thing broke, there was a discussion on MLBN, and it seemed like the Yankees' potential financial reponsibilities were more a function of the A-Rod contract itself, than something to be determined by MLB.
It came down to what Rodriguez did, and whether that was in breach of the contract. Any suspension (paid or unpaid, and of whatever length) was one thing, but the Yankees' ability to void the contract was another. In the case of the former, I suspect insurance kicks in to alleviate the tangible fiscal burden (you may continue to debate whether the contract should count against the salary cap, regardless of who's paying it). But the latter is what the Yankees would really love to accomplish, at this point, and it would also satisfy my own sense of justice.
Then again, I'm also remembering Harold Reynolds being involved in this MLBN discussion, so it's entirely possible misinformation was being floated about the ability to void a contract. I sort of think there HAS to be some kind of boilerplate "conduct unbecoming" type clause in all MLB contracts, regardless of whether it's a mega-contract like A-Rod's or not... but like I said: I do not possess anything resembling expert knowledge in this area.
Rick
If it were Paul Molitor, very few people here would care at all.
I've found that many baseball fans could care less about Rose in one way or another. He's fading into history. It's ancient history. Young folks today live minute to minute, one text or tweet at a time.
The folks who love him the most, and also hate him the most, are mostly Reds fans. Which is how we've always treated our pro athletes here in Cincinnati.
sorry we're boring
Dougdirt.......no one, and for sure not me, is saying Pete does not deserve every last bit of his punishment.....what I am saying is this, it's time to move on and forgive Pete for what he has done.....and when I say forgive I am referring to the HoF voters, they need to forgive him and let him have his place in history,,...regardless if you like it or not Doug, Pete rose is in the history books and will be for a long time, Pete rose is someone that baseball could use as a teaching tool......yet people like you think that 20 years is still not good enough, but some people, and I am not saying this is like you, but some people will watch every steroid induced stat amd record and love every bit of it....cheaters like PED users have affected the results of games way more than Pete ever did.
Most people have forgotten about Pete rose because that's what baseball wants us to do....and I am fine with that....baseball is still a great game to watch and follow without Pete being involved in some fashion, I just think he could make a difference and baseball could use some good stories about right now....
Let me ask you this Doug.....lets say your father or son or your close family member decided to have a few drinks and drive home and get in a wreck and kill someone.....they plead guilty to manslaughter and the judge orders them to prison for 5 years......after one year the judge decides to let them out on good behavior, would you tell them to stay in there for 4 more years because that's the bed they made and they need to lay in it? Or would you accept them home because the judge feels they are reformed? Pete agreed to the lifetime ban with hopes that he could be re-instated, he never knew it would be 20 years down the road and still no admission to the HOF.....his bed was made and he's got bud bugs he's been laying there so long, when his bed was made it was made with bamboo and palm leaves, that's how long ago it's been.....lets move on. That's all I am saying. Not to mention he is a Red. Nuff said
RedEye (08-01-2013)
I've always been fascinated by how passionate some people are on the Keep Pete Punished side of the debate.
Rounding third and heading for home...
A-Rod could play the last two games of his career for Trenton tonight and tomorrow. That would be a weird result.
What's wrong with that? Was part of his punishment to not profit and make money? Baseball was Pete's sole source of income and when he chose to accept a lifetime ban, he also chose to not be able to make an income from MLB.....Pete, just as you or I or any other normal American has put his foot forward and found other ways to make income....would you be happier if Pete were working in a factory on 2nd shift with mandatory overtime? The guy is trying to make a living and while he might not be doing what you or I would be doing to make money, he is still making a "legal" living and he's doing so at a much lower financial rate than he would be making if he were allowed to work in baseball again.
If Pete were allowed back in baseball and lets just say Walt hired him as hitting coach.....Pete would be the type of coach who never leaves the field.....he would outwork everyone and he would not sleep til his players were doing what they are supposed to do....for crying out loud, he was working 60 hours a week signing autographs when he met his now wife.....she is the sole reason he is not working 7 days a week, 12-18 hour days each and every day of the week.....yet some people still want him punished even more.
I wish more people would research how Pete has lived his life since his banishment....yes he hangs at the casino, 99% of his time at the casino is spent sitting in a fold up chair writing his name on a baseball or a photo.....very little time is spent at the tables, but even if he spent 100% of his time playing poker, it's legal.....sometimes I wish Pete would be our hitting coach, get the primadonnas out of the game.....drew Stubbs would have learned how to bunt I can assure you that...
Of course Pete can sell beds, I have no problem with that. What I meant by that comment is, Pete knew what he was getting himself into when he accepted that ban. Ever since he has tried to sell Reds fans and baseball he never bet on baseball, then it was he is a changed man. If Pete wants us to truly believe he is a changed man, stay away from the cacinos. No, hanging out in a cacino is not against the law, but when you are accused of betting on baseball and you want back in the game, stay away from them. It's not hard, unless you have a problem. He could sign those baseballs at the local supermarket if he wanted to. Pete has deserved everything he has received in life, his accolades while playing, and the shame he has earned upon being banished!!!
RedEye (08-02-2013)
Well, you can't use someone as a teaching tool if they can break a rule that gives a clear punishment and then not hold that person who broke the rules to that punishment. People try to get away with things in situations like that. So that point is awfully poor IMO.
I don't think baseball people have forgotten about Pete. It is impossible to do so. The guy has more hits than anyone ever. He was one of the best 100 players of all time. History won't forget him.
Here is the difference between Pete and the drinking and driving.... Pete accepted a lifetime ban with a chance to apply for reinstatement. That is the punishment he is still serving. The drunk driver plead out to 5 years with a possibility for early release. The driver got his early release, which was a possibility in the deal he agreed to. Pete is serving a deal that hasn't been outside of the terms he agreed to.
And just for the record, I would pretty much distance myself from anyone, family included, who decided to drink and drive.
Thanks for saying what I was trying to say, but my phone wouldn't let me post. I've heard the argument for years that Pete finally came clean about betting on baseball to make money by selling a book, but if I recall, he had already confessed to Bud Selig, and then to a national television audience, before his book came out. Pete Rose has basically two marketable skills that can make him money in life, baseball and being Peter Edward Rose. He can't make money doing one of those any longer, and people don't want him making money doing the other because it makes him appear as though all he cares about is money. Remember, Pete didn't play in a time when players made ten to twenty million dollars a year. The money that he made off of baseball wasn't much compared to today's players. He doesn't have any other skill with which to make money, and it's no secret that he's not the smartest man on the planet, so what do people expect him to do to support himself? Sure, he could sign baseballs at the grocery store, but are there a lot of people at grocery stores who just received a lot of cash and are willing to lay it down for Pete Rose's signature on a baseball while on their way to the Red Box kiosk?
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
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