Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

[JB]

Since the "Sammy" thread has derailed into a he-she debate, I decided this needs its own thread.<br /><br />Where have our morals gone when a multi-million dollar a year pro ball player can cheat-break the rules with an illegal bat- and get off with less than a hand-slap?<br /><br />I am disgusted with pro-ball.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Amen to that JB! What further peeves me is that they had the nerve to say all this hoopla about the corked bat was racial. Trust me if Mark McGuire had a corked bat last season, I would despise him just as much. If they let Shammin Sammy play in the All Star Game or ever let him in the HOF, they will lose one baseball fan forever.<br /><br />These players are supposed to be athletes and they are paid very well to do just that. Hell they make more than the President of the U.S. Its time they started acting like professionals!!!!!

 

[SCO]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

How does a corked bat work? Is it lighter, and lively like a trampolene? Is it possible not to notice a weight difference?

 

[ob]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Do you think that Sammy took it upon himself to use a corked bat?What about scrutinizing the managers and owners of the team.That's where the big money is changing hands.Just my feelings.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

No, SCO its not possible NOT to know the difference when you are a player who has had over 8,000 hits.<br /><br />The way I see it, is that a lighter bat will give you speed in your swing. Speed and hitting the ball just right can make it go another 4-5 feet. That dosen't sound like much but given the right circumstances it is. Sosa has been in a slump lately. Sosa has never been a team player, its 'all about Sammy'.<br /><br />Either way, he tried to get an advantage on the other team. It dosen't get any more wrong than that.<br /><br />Sosa is believed to be one of the greatest home run hitters of our time.<br /><br />The hoopla would have been just as big, if not bigger had the following been caught with a corked bat:<br /><br />Mickey Mantle<br />Willie Mays<br />Harmon Killebrew<br />Hank Aaron<br />Frank Robinson<br />Babe Ruth<br />Lou Gehrig<br />Joe DiMaggio<br />Mark McGwire<br />Jimmy Foxx<br />Mike Schmidt<br />Carl Yastremski

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

To much money invested in them JB. Try to much pressure and the unions step in and cry foul...use to go see the Reds about three times a month..Last time I went cost me fifty bucks and that was being cheap..Need to give them some cheese to go with their whine....

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Now I understand there is an appeal. I guess that means he will play this weekend. <br /><br />It probably dosen't have a thing to do with the fact the Cubs have a very important series against the Yankees. I am soooo disgusted. <br /><br />I have no doubt the Yanks will kick their ass with or without Sosa!<br /><br />Gotta run, the sky is about to fall, black clouds and thunder. We're fixin to have a real gulley washer here.

 

[plywoody]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Eight games is pretty standard for this kind of offense. I have a hunch it will cost him a whole lot more than that in lost endorsements, though.<br />But I don't really think you could have expected much more. Pitchers have been throwing spitters for a long time, and getting caught with emery boards and that's what they typically get as well. You can't really ban him from baseball, like someone who bets on games or something.<br /><br />I'm not defending him. What he did is wrong and affects the integrity of the game as well. But the punishment has to fit the crime.

 

[JB]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

We don't agree on the relative magnitude of the offense, Plywoody.<br /><br />Wagering, away from the ballpark doesn't strike me as serious as CHEATING in the game.

 

[DJ]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Does this mean that if I get caught with one counterfit bill in my wallet-it was a mistake??

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Ball players know which bat is what the moment they step into the dugout. Thats one reason each has "his own" bats.<br /><br />Sammy knew it and just so happened it broke and the umpire seen it, thats all, plain and simple.<br /><br />What is an 8 game suspension anyway? Nothing. Just more time to drill some more bats.<br /><br />Betting on sports away from the game in which it has no effect on your team is not even close to being as serious as what Sammy done.<br /><br />A lot of players use different tactics to try to get better results from their play, and he got caught.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Does this mean the next time I goes fishin' that I can use dynamite? If'n I gets caught I will only be suspended from the sport for 8 days and I should have me enough fish to last/eat for that long!<br /><br />You guys are right - cheating IN the game does more harm than cheating OUTSIDE the game, but both are still wrong, because it is against the rules. This is where we often get into trouble, by saying this thing is worse than that - it is all cheating and ALL WRONG!

 

[Moose_Miller]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Being a lifelong Cubby fan(and a Sosa fanatic), it really hurt to see Sammy's a cheater. How many times has he "accidentally" grabbed the wrong bat? Maybe about 60 times a year?<br /><br />Last year, I took the wife and kids to a Cub's game. Keep in mind, this is a 1500 mile round trip. By the time I bought tickets, gas, hotel, and of course the wife's shopping spree, I spent over $1500.00. WAS even planning another trip... guess I'll go fishing instead.<br /><br />What would be a good punishment for Sosa? Tie him to the main gate at Wrigley, and let everyone who's wasted a single dollar on watching his phoney tail play ball, hit him upside the head with a corked bat... send whats left back to the Dominican Republic.<br /><br />I'm through with the Cubs until they get rid of this loser. Being a Cubs fan, I'm not a stranger to losing but the boys HAD integrity.

 

[plywoody]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Wagering, if you wager on games where you are involved in and have an input in their outcome, (as Rose allegedly did) cannot be tolerated. I do see this as leagues different than corking a bat, which offers a marginal advantage if any at all. But that's just me, I guess.<br />Still there has been a number of people over the years that have been caught corking their bats, and they have all been suspended for 8 or so games.<br />There have been a number of players that have been caught betting on baseball games they were involved in, and they have all been banned for life.<br />Precedent should count for something.<br /><br />I should consider myself privleged to be in the presense of such morally superior people that would never ever do anything against any rule however. I have heard of such people, but until now I have never met any.

 

[billyshears]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

I am with all of you. This is one of the reasons I don't watch sports at all (the girlfriend loves that). But then again I don't watch much TV. Have one TV in the house and it is barely on. Movies mostly. I rather just be outside. Or doing something else. <br /><br />They need to make punishment for breaking rules either extremely harsh to the point it isn't worth it to break, or make no rules at all. For example, if you get caught cheating in baseball (emery cloth, cork, drugs, etc...) then you Lose all pay for the rest of your contract, plus pay back all the money you have gotten so far from the contract. Hit the rich where it hurts!<br /><br />But like I said before, they can cheat all they want, I don't support the sport in any way, and they will never get my money.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

In support of Billy, in sports, or anywhere else in our immoral society of today any and all rules or regulations are non functory unless they are severe enough to make it not worth the risk of breaking them. ha.....ha.....ha

 

[ob]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Glad to hear at least one person listened to the facts surrounding the Pete Rose gambling issue.If I had one bet left and losing that bet resulted in my demise, I would wager that someone within the Cubs organization, besides Sammy, knew something about a corked bat.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

PW, if you are implying that I am morally superior, you are dead wrong. If I have misread your comment, I am sorry.<br /><br />Yes, people make mistakes, people (me included) do not follow all the rules - make too much wake in a no wake zone, drive too fast, etc.<br /><br />But I believe the situation is a bit different with Mr. Sosa, who is being paid bazillions of dollars (okay, maybe a little exaggerated there) to play a kids game, and have people cheer and yell for him. He is supposed to be entertainment, an escape from reality for the rest of us overweight, unatheletic wannabees. Instead, he is a reminder of the immoral world we live in and he brings us right back to reality and takes the joy out of the game for many. That is why he should be punished and punished severly!

 

[plywoody]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

I just think everyone is overreacting just a touch. Do I think he knew full well that bat was corked when he went to the plate? Of course he did. Did others in the organization know? Probably<br />The guy has been in a slump for some time now. Sometimes when things are not going well, you have to do something even if it is wrong.<br />He got caught. Suspend him as baseball has done before when others were caught. He loses a lot plus a lot of endorsement money no doubt.<br />Baseball will survive it.<br /><br />If for some reason baseball wants to alter the rules so that players that cheat in this way get banned for the season or longer, that's fine. But announce a change in policy prior to the season, and not just spring it on someone for whatever reason.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Eight game suspension? That's Outrageous!!

Hey Plywoody!<br /><br />"The guy has been in a slump for some time now. Sometimes when things are not going well, you have to do something even if it is wrong."<br /><br />Being retired, and not getting very much from social security, and my CD is not paying any interest, and taxes, prescriptions, doctor bills, food, taxes, and other expenses are going up lickity split, and the retirement income does not come anywhere close to keeping up, things for myself and other retired persons are in a financial "slump", and "things are not going well", and "you have to do something even if it is wrong". Does that mean that I and other senior citezens should go out and rob a bank, burglarize someones home (where do you live?) rob a liquor store? He....he....he....