In the most stupid things I have heard category:
Antonio Gates is playing in a Rec Basketball League in the off season.
That sounds like a foot ankle knee injury just waiting to happen

good for the feet as well.. ouch

WOW dumbest thing he could have done with his injury history.

"Jon Heyman ? @JonHeymanCBS
50 game ban for 2nd drug violation major disappointment for tim beckham. He's rays 2nd No. 1 overall pick now w/ issue (hamilton)"

Pettitte testifies:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/andy-pettitte-says-roger-clemens-told-him-he-took-hgh-during-testimony-050112

''Roger had mentioned to me that he had taken HGH,'' Pettitte testified. ''And that it could help with recovery, and that's really all I remember about the conversation.''

The rest of the details are fuzzy. Pettitte went on acknowledge that the words were said in passing during an intense workout.

Pettitte also recalled the other time he spoke with Clemens about HGH, during the media swirl surrounding earlier congressional hearings - in 2005 - on drug use in sports. Both were playing for the Houston Astros, and Pettitte asked Clemens at spring training what Clemens would say if asked by reporters about HGH use.

Clemens responded: ''What are you talking about?'' according to Pettitte, and that Pettitte must have misunderstood the 1999-2000 conversation.

''He said, `My wife used it,''' Pettitte said.

''Obviously I was a little flustered,'' Pettitte said, ''because I thought that he told me that he did.''

Both Clemens and McNamee have said that McNamee injected Debbie Clemens with HGH at the Clemens' home in 2003, although they differ over certain details.

Clemens has said publicly multiple times, including before Congress at a February 2008 hearing, that Pettitte ''misremembers'' the 1999-2000 conversation.

** What part does the park have to play with Bell. At Petco there is tons of room,I just wonder if pitchers thinks about it? Poor Heath,got to be killing him.**

You know what's crazy eerie??....Remember how emphatic Bell was about wanting to stay in SD??...I think the guy was so attached to SD/PETCO, that he probably could've told anyone before the season started, that he would be struggling to adapt to a new team environment.

So crazy how guys prosper on teams that aren't expected to do much...then you trade them to a team that ownership invested in heavily, with Bell being one of the guys they really lean on and they do a complete 180.

If you look at Bells periph numbers, each of the last three years his K rate has dropped, walk rate and hit rates(meaning whip as well) have greatly increased. This is not a PETCO thing, this was happening while he was still at PETCO. The writing on the wall was there for this year which is why I was never a fan of bringing him back.

"If you look at Bells periph numbers, each of the last three years his K rate has dropped,"

No, it went up from 2009 to 2010, but it did take a wicked drop last season.

"walk rate and hit rates(meaning whip as well) have greatly increased."

No, his BB/9 and H/9 and WHIP are pretty darn consistent from 2008 through 2011.

Mike Adams gives up a Walk-off shot tonight

How bout that year so far for Latos? Him and Bell still belong here!

I suspect both will be fine

Wow you are right, guess I should have double checked that before I spoke. For some reason I have it in my head that both he and Wilson have had that drop over the past couple years. When I am wrong I am wrong.

** Wow you are right, guess I should have double checked that before I spoke....**

********

hmmm...interesting concept, huh?

Wow you are right, guess I should have double checked that before I spoke.

******

I'm not so sure about Mat...he's still a head case. I've seen him pitch for Cincy a cupla times now...still snatching the ball from the catcher...still talking to himself...still rolling his eyes at the ump...still smiling and shaking his head when guys make errors behind him...

Nothing's changed much with him....but that division will humble him before its all said and done.

"Mike Adams gives up a Walk-off shot tonight"

It happens. :-)

"Wow you are right, guess I should have double checked that before I spoke."

On the larger point I agree with you though. The big dropoff in K rate was a concern and I don't think it made any sense to bring back a 1 inning specialist turning 34 who was destined to command a multi-year deal at a relatively high salary. I know a LOT of people have bought into the "Closer" hype, but I don't agree. There are plenty of pitchers out there who can get you 3 outs without giving up a run or two the vast majority of the time.

I am guessing that moving Mat was 100% about the Padres not believing that he would change his behavior

I don't think so Cam. I think it was such a good deal, the Padres just had to take it. Didn't we get a MLB ready starting pitcher and three other players to boot? It was to good of an offer in my eyes and I hated to see him go. Volquez first start made me wonder if it was the right move or not but, he has come a round since then. That's how I see it bud.

To some degree it might be said that the two teams exchanged head cases....LOL ...Volquez had something of a reputation too -

the deal still surprises me that we got 4 guys coming back - Alonso was clearly blocked and so they could afford to move him and I guess they considered Grandal blocked too.... but two first round choices...

It's too early to make a call on Alonso - but I am not sold on him yet. Grandal I haven't seen...

I think it was a combination of your opinion and Cam's opinion, that took him to Cincy....something of a perfect storm, if you will.

If Darren Balsley can't work with you, no one can. We got good players in return, but there's no doubt that Byrnes via Black and Balsley's opinions, sent Latos outta here with a message attached to his butt.

And the message read as follows:

OK, kid...you wanna act like you're the end all, be all of the team, when there's literally a line of arms behind you, dying to prove themselves, with no attitude and a belly full of hunger?....how many times did we tell you not to big league players and media types?....how many times did we tell you to maintain your composure on the mound at all times?...how many times did we tell you to pull your pants up and pull those earphones outta your head, walking around like you didn't want to be bothered?....well, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna send you to a manager that won't coddle you, AND!!!!!!, he just might have you pitch a million innings a season....btw, good luck with those hitters parks in the Summer, dude....basically Mat, we're going to auction your a** to the best bidder, because we have people to meet and things to do.