OK, maybe it's not rational, maybe it's not the right move for the team, but I love Manny Ramirez so, so much and I can't deny it, I'd be happy to see him play a year in an Orioles uniform.

Seriously, why didn't he just serve his 50 game suspension last year? What an idiot.

It's disgusting that MLB is allowing this beast back to sully the game. When he eclipses poor Rafael Palmeiro's career totals for HRs and RBI, let it be on Selig's head.

So Barry was persona non grata for the A's, but Manny is just fine. ####### ########.

Seriously, why didn't he just serve his 50 game suspension last year? What an idiot.

Would have been 100 last year. MLB gave him credit for time served without him really serving the time. But yeah, he should have just retired 100 games after he got busted instead of right away.

A’s, O’s leading suitors for Manny Ramirez

Who wrote this, Sesame Street?

Well, I guess every 500 home run hitter plays in Baltimore at one point of their career.

As many primates can attest to, hit he #500 in Baltimore.

Who wrote this, Sesame Street?

Today's program has been brought to you by the number 24.

A’s, O’s leading suitors for Manny Ramirez

E's, I's, and U's wonder why Manny wont return their calls, wonder if it has something to do with those trampy Y's

Seriously, why didn't he just serve his 50 game suspension last year? What an idiot.

It's just Manny being Manny.

Duquette has signed Casey Fossum, and is working on Manny. After that, he will prepare a lucrative offer for Laser Lansing

What might Manny's production look like in 2012?
Would it not have been better to resign Vlad versus Manny?
Which one is most likely to perform like burned toast?

So Barry was persona non grata for the A's, but Manny is just fine. ####### ########.

Bonds' availability was purely bad timing, coming as it did right in the middle of the Jack Cust Era.

So Barry was persona non grata for the A's, but Manny is just fine.

Racism.

A's considering Bonds as their new designated hitter

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics need a designated hitter, and they aren't going far for one potential candidate to fill the spot: Barry Bonds. A's general manager Billy Beane has had conversations with Bonds' agent Jeff Borris about the 42-year-old slugger, who has played the past 14 seasons with San Francisco. ...

"We've talked about a lot of players internally," said A's assistant GM David Forst, speaking on behalf of the organization as Beane dealt with a death in the family. "Barry is one of the guys out there who we're considering. ... He's probably the best player in the game the last 15 years. I think anybody would be interested in having his bat in the lineup."...

A's skipper Bob Geren, hired Friday as a first-year major league manager, has thought about the possibility of working with Bonds. And A's owner Lew Wolff has had kind words regarding Bonds' talent. "I have let that creep in my mind," Geren said. "All I can say about him is he's the greatest player I've ever seen in my baseball life. I couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't want him on his team."

hit he #500 in Baltimore.

Who wrote this, Yoda?

The O's and A's are tied for # of 500-HR hitters with the Yanks and Dodgers too, all on 5 (unless I missed somebody). The Dodgers easily have the lamest set as none of them are thought of as Dodgers:

Baltimore(5): Sosa, Robinson, Raffy, Reggie, Murray
A's (5): McGwire, Reggie, Foxx, McCovey, Thomas
Yankees (5): Ruth, Mantle, AROD, Sheffield, Reggie
Dodgers (5): Manny, Thome, Robinson, Sheffield, Murray

Teams with 4:

Giants (4): Bonds, Mays, McCovey, Ott (all genuine Giants)
Braves (4): Aaron, Ruth, Mathews, Sheffield
Red Sox (4): Ruth, Williams, Manny, Foxx
Cubs (4): Sosa, Foxx, Raffy, Banks
Indians (4): Thome, Manny, Robinson, Murray
White Sox (4): Sosa, Griffey, Thome, Thomas

I think the Cubs/Sox combo would put Chicago in the lead city-wise with 7. The Mets add Mays to the Yanks but I think that's it.

EDIT: Oops, Ott added to the NY total.

I think the Cubs/Sox combo would put Chicago in the lead city-wise with 7. The Mets add Mays to the Yanks but I think that's it.

1972? The 1951-57 New York Giants weep quietly.

Duquette has signed Casey Fossum

I had no idea he was still in baseball.

A’s, O’s leading suitors for Manny Ramirez

Who wrote this, Sesame Street?

When I read that headline, I pictured two homeless bums fighting over the remains of a McDonald's fish sandwich that had been tossed into a dumpster.

OTOH the O's came through big time when the entire country was rooting for them, so I guess I hope that they wind up with the sandwich.

So Sheffield is listed on nine teams?

Seriously, why didn't he just serve his 50 game suspension last year?

This wasn't a mystery. During a MLB drug suspension, you have to keep getting tested again frequently. Manny didn't want to expose himself to that and a possible even harsher punishment if something went wrong again. That's why MLB can't just let him back in now and count his retirement as suspension time, or else everybody could "retire" to get around the suspension/rehabilitation program.

During a MLB drug suspension, you have to keep getting tested again frequently. Manny didn't want to expose himself to that and a possible even harsher punishment if something went wrong again.

But if his intention at the time was to retire, why couldn't he just stop taking whatever he was taking and pass the tests?

But if his intention at the time was to retire, why couldn't he just stop taking whatever he was taking and pass the tests?

Perhaps his intention at the time wasn't to retire, but rather avoid the testing/rehab program.

DB

Perhaps his intention at the time wasn't to retire, but rather avoid the testing/rehab program.

I can believe that Manny might have thought such an end-run was possible, but the guy does have representation. And Boras, Inc is up on these things, no?

I have let that creep in my mind

Letting him in was your first mistake, Geren

I think the Cubs/Sox combo would put Chicago in the lead city-wise with 7. The Mets add Mays to the Yanks but I think that's it.

Once Pujols reaches 500, the Angels can add him and Reggie to the Dodgers total.

On that note, after Albert, there isn't an obvious 500 HR candidate out there. Vlad and Chipper look done and both are 50 away. At their current production, Chipper needs 3 more years, Vlad 4. Jones and Giambi are over 70 away. Konerko at 396 is a pretty big longshot. After him, the active leaders are Ortiz (no), Dunn(hmmm), Berkman (no), Carlos Lee (no), Helton (hell no), Soriano (ditto), Derrek Lee (ditto). Tex has 315 and is under a monster contract for 5 more years. he could do it, but he can't drop much below his current level of 39/year. If he can't turn around his miserable batting against RHP, he may soon become the short end of a 1B platoon. Beltre is older, has fewer career HR, and hits fewer per year than Tex. That said, his future looks brighter, and I'd give him a better chance, though it's still quite a longshot. After that, there's a bunch of guys in their mid to late 30's and 200 or more away. And Ryan Howard, who's 31 and 214 away. I'll take the under. Finally, Miguel Cabrerra, 28 years old, 277 career HR, good for 30+ every year. I like his chances.

So, Cabrera it is, with a chance of one of Chipper, Konerko, Tex, Beltre, and maybe Dunn.

3 teams have never had a 500 HR guy play for them. Who are the teams and who are their HR leaders?

So karlmangus is now an Orioles fan, right?

RDF. It's karlmagnus.

karlmangus is a highway in NH.

[27] Without looking it up. Colorado and Helton (Castilla maybe?; they're both in the 300s), Arizona and Luis Gonzalez, and Toronto and Delgado

Edit: Crap. Toronto had Frank Thomas. Oh well, I posted it.

RDF. It's karlmagnus.

karlmangus is a highway in NH.

Ok. Now I feel bad. I've been making jokes in my head about the guy with the wrong name for more than 5 years.

Sorry, karlmagnus!

[27] Without looking it up. Colorado and Helton (Castilla maybe?; they're both in the 300s), Arizona and Luis Gonzalez, and Toronto and Delgado

2 of the teams are correct, but the players aren't. To be clear, it's not the franchise HR leader I'm looking for, but the guy with the most career HR's who played for the team.

So Barry was persona non grata for the A's, but Manny is just fine.

In the A's defense, the clubhouse situation for the A's has got to be so morbid that Manny's presence would only elevate it to "annoying".

I don't think the Rockies have had one...Helton must be their HR leader, right? Or do you mean the player w/the most HR's total who ever played for them.

RDF. It's karlmagnus.

karlmangus is a highway in NH.

When I read this I didn't notice the change in spelling, so I thought that this was some bizarre reference to a half-remembered line from Howl (karlmagnus! I'm with you in Rockland, etc.), possibly as an oblique way of calling karlmagnus's Manny worship insane.

I'm really glad that there was a follow-up comment that made the typo clearer to me, otherwise I'd be completely puzzled for the rest of the day.

Edit: just to add baseball content to this, mlb trade rumors had the Jays as interested in Manny. Maybe John Farrell's pushing for it, but I hope it doesn't happen. He'd be perfect for the O's, though.

#27: Natspos?

I don't think the Rockies have had one...Helton must be their HR leader, right? Or do you mean the player w/the most HR's total who ever played for them.

I'm guessing the holder of the latter title is Andres Galarraga.

Upon investigation, he has 399 and my second guess, Dale Murphy has 398. Whoa!

No, wait, Helton's backup has 428.

3 teams have never had a 500 HR guy play for them. Who are the teams and who are their HR leaders?

Colorado and Giambi.

Arizona and...Matt Williams?

Then the Marlins with Delgado?

No, the Marlins, like most other teams, had Gary Sheffield.

Er, no Sheffield got to 500, so the Marlins are out.

...The Nationals/Expos? Leader is either Vlad or Dawson (can't remember where they ended up).

karlmangus is a highway in NH

If karlmagnus confuses you, try spelling the real name of route 112 without looking it up.

Need your jokedetector tuned up, c a.

I got the joke. Even laughed, since for some strange reason I think of the highway every time I see a karlmagnus post.

Today's program has been brought to you by the number 24.

ONE failed drug test, ah ah ah. TWO failed drug tests, ah ah ah.

Letting him in was your first mistake, Geren

glad to see I wasn't the only one to read it like that at first glance.