Rob Neyer

  (12:01 PM)

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening (to our friends in Asia). If you must inquire about Mr. Alex, please spell "steroid" correctly (the i comes *after* the o, kids).

Dave (NYC)

Is it really possible that Bobby Abreu signs for 1 yr/$4m? Isn't he at least as good as Burrell?

Rob Neyer

  (12:02 PM)

I'm pretty sure that he is, Dave. But in the current climate, almost anything is possible.

Trent (Hibbing, Mn) [via mobile]

I am not a huge baseball fan. But I really want the other 103 names to come out. What are the odds of this happening? Also, the HOF is a museum. AROD Bonds Rose everyone should all be in. Their statues should talk about what they did wrong and when.

Rob Neyer

  (12:03 PM)

I like it, Trent. Do you think Bonds and Rose would participate in the recordings?

Evan (Washington, DC)

Does someone really owe Jose Canseco an apology?

Rob Neyer

  (12:04 PM)

I never hassled Canseco for the names he mentioned. I hassled him because his books were so poorly written.

Frank(Reading, PA)

When does all this steroid nonsense end? From everyone I talk to, we're all sick of it and understand it happened and want to move on. Yet the media goes off the deep end everytime another name comes out.

Rob Neyer

  (12:06 PM)

Let me guess, Frank ... You haven't enjoyed your 40th birthday yet? I've noticed a generational difference in the reaction to stories like this one. Me? I read Ball Four in 1982, and haven't thought ballplayers were angels since.

Mike Chicago

No question, just want to say your blog summed up my feelings on A-Rod to a tee. Who really thinks he doesn't know what he put in his body?

Rob Neyer

  (12:07 PM)

I was at a dinner party last night, and a quite reasonable woman made the counter-argument, that a guy like A-Rod, so pampered, might have just done whatever his personal trainer/supplier told him to do, and didn't ask any questions. I don't think that's *likely*. But I suppose it's possible.

Steve (Lowell, MA)

Rob, can we now officially rename the Steroid Era, the "Loosey-Goosey Era"? This would please me greatly.

Rob Neyer

  (12:09 PM)

Steve, I love it. Last year I resolved to keep track of stuff like this, and then I completely dropped the ball. But this one's going into my journal today, and I promise that I'll try to keep it going. Thanks!

Michael (Seattle)

What happens if it comes out that Cal Ripken used PED's. How will all the HOF voters live with themselves?

Rob Neyer

  (12:11 PM)

That doesn't strike me as likely. But if it did, I'm afraid that we might lose half the electorate to immediate MCI's.

David Fairborn, OH

You know though, if anyone should be angry, it should be the Yankees. They obviously paid for falsly advertised goods. I mean yeah, he's still elite, but he wasn't what they thought he was.

Rob Neyer

  (12:12 PM)

I don't think that's true, David. Given typical aging patterns, A-Rod's numbers are right in line with what the Yankees should have expected, muscle juice or no muscle juice.

edge - arizona

nice win over steve phillips in the budget battle. what are your thoughts on that first round?

Rob Neyer

  (12:14 PM)

I just want to thank James Shields for pitching the game of his life for me . . . Seriously, as much as I tried to not care -- it's just a crap shoot, after all -- it did feel good, winning, if only because I went into the tournament as such a huge underdog.

Matt (Boston, MA)

Hey Rob, I find it strange you were considered an underdog in this battle of the budgets. Even a cursory glance at your roster showed a potent balance of offense, defense and pitching. This looks like a case of run prevention and positional value being overlooked. Also I must say it doesn't speak well of Kevin Towers to rank your draft fourth, although I'm probably reading too deeply into that one.

Rob Neyer

  (12:15 PM)

That's kind of you, Matt, but it wasn't just Kevin Towers; you, the good readers, ranked me a distant fourth in the poll. Which might have been perfectly appropriate, but I still haven't noticed anyone who's figured out what I was trying to do in the draft (which doesn't mean what I was doing actually worked).

Dennis(Buffalo, NY)

With the recent news of Alex Rodriguez being 1 of the 104 players that took steroids back in 2003, Would you like to know the other names?

Rob Neyer

  (12:17 PM)

I would. But then, I've always been a big fan of information. It's not the information's fault that we often don't know what to do with it. But yeah, in this case, let's have a good look.

Andy (Farmington, MI)

You brought it up, so now you must tell us: What exactly were you trying to do in the draft?

Rob Neyer

  (12:19 PM)

Too soon. If I'm able to sneak past Buster's Olney's tomorrow, I might reveal my secrets. Though I'm actually hoping someone will figure it out before then. It might be you!

John (Watertown, SD)

What were you trying to do in the draft? Other than draft a ton (21) AL players hoping that the translated numbers would make them better relative to their NL brethren?

Rob Neyer

  (12:23 PM)

dingdingdingdingdingding! Congrats, John: As far as I know, you're the first to notice. Cole Hamels is a lot better than Zack Greinke, right? Actually, not so much. When you account for the DH *and* the AL's clear superiority, Greinke's actually pretty close to Hamels. And I was hoping the sim would take that into account. That's not my only secret, but it's probably the biggest. The other is that I did my best to consider defense. Well played, sir.

Matt (St. Louis)

You went up the middle, took the best catcher, second basemen, and center fielder. Then you filled out from there with plus defenders and pitchers who throw strikes. No?

Rob Neyer

  (12:24 PM)

Yeah, that was the other thing. I thought strikeouts would play well, because they're so projectable (as opposed to hits and ERA).

Dan (Bristol, CT)

Hey, Rob. I live literally down the street from ESPN headquarters and was wondering - what are the odds that if i was to just kinda wander around outside that i could land a part in one of those wacky Sportscenter commercials?

Rob Neyer

  (12:25 PM)

Is your last name Majerle? or Johnson? (Oops. Wrong decade.)

James (NYC)

The one thing I noticed early on in your draft is that you built your strength up the middle: McCann, Pedroia, Sizemore. An old-school approach with the best young players. I was depressed however that you (and no one for that matter) didn't draft Russ Coltrane Martin.

Rob Neyer

  (12:26 PM)

I know, but I did draft Brian Parker Miles McCann.

Rob (DC)

Do you actually think Grienke is close to Hamels in ability, or are you saying their numbers are close?

Rob Neyer

  (12:26 PM)

Ability. I'm saying if you put Greinke in the National League his numbers would be close to Hamels'.

Brian (NYC)

Hey Rob...why do you think the cheaters of this era are so demonized while the cheaters of previous eras are still looked at through the rosie "when it was a game" glasses? One may be more dangerous than another but isn't cheating still cheating? Is it because most sports writers have a hard time ripping their childhood idols who might have been cheaters?

Rob Neyer

  (12:28 PM)

As I mentioned (briefly) in my blog this morning, I'm still waiting for my colleagues -- here at ESPN and elsewhere -- to explain why the heroes of the 1970s get a free pass on the amphetamines they gobbled like so many SweetTarts.

Chris (wayne, nj)

Is it safe to say you won't be picking the Yankees to win the AL East this year? After all, they are the weakest team up the middle in baseball.

Rob Neyer

  (12:29 PM)

No, I suspect that I will be picking them. They've got their flaws, but they've had flaws before and won 95-100 games.

Sean (NJ)

You realize that by saying Hammels is not as good as he appears, you just made 60000 heads in the greater philadelphia area explode and they are probably writing to you cussing you out as I type this....

Rob Neyer

  (12:31 PM)

That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that Greinke is better than he appears. (Well, okay: I suppose I'm saying the other thing, too. Sorry, Brother Lovers...)

Lance (NYC)

Sorry if I missed this - but what's your take on Ollie Perez at $12Mpa for 3yrs?

Rob Neyer

  (12:32 PM)

I think Perez has been a $12 million pitcher just once in his career, so it strikes me as risky to think he'll now be a $12 million in three straight seasons. But the Mets had to spend their money somewhere, I guess.

JC (Boston)

When do you do your team-by-team W-L projections? Is it too early?

Rob Neyer

  (12:33 PM)

Way too early. I won't have what I need until the middle of March, at the earliest.

Mike(Chicago)

Looking at BPs forecast, the AL outside the east isn't exactly filled with juggernauts. Is the AL really all better than the NL, or is the concentration of power in the AL East the entire difference? I mean is the AL central better than than the NL East? I have no idea how to test this.

Rob Neyer

  (12:34 PM)

Mike, look at the Royals' record in interleague games over the last three or four years. And they're not alone.

Brian (NYC)

The simulation gave Felix Hernandez a HR in the first series. Really? I know he has hit an HR in his career, but doesn't that make the sim seem rather unlikely?

Rob Neyer

  (12:37 PM)

Look, I won a Strat-O-Matic game once because Bob Walk homered twice. Crazy **** happens in baseball. Just watch a full Sunday slate sometime.

Paul (Hanover, NH)

What of the Phils moves? First the unproductive Ibanez/Burrell "swap," then needlessly locking up Ryan Howard for $17MM/year for three years in a real soft market. These moves seem to show a sloppy read of valuation and the current weak market. You agree?

Rob Neyer

  (12:38 PM)

In a way the Phillies are victims of their own success. Which isn't the worst problem in the world. But a team on the hook for a lot of money to Ibanez and Moyer over the next two years may have some issues.

glenn (Netcong, NJ)

Brian...you weren't there for his Granny against the Mets? He could pull an Ankiel if his pitching forsaked him...that was a legit blast

Rob Neyer

  (12:39 PM)

Wow, I completely forgot about that, Glenn. Which is inexcusable since I was actually at Shea that evening.

Kevin (NYC)

How are the rest of MLB players not calling for the heads of Fehr and Orza at this point?

Rob Neyer

  (12:40 PM)

Leaving aside the current mess, it does seem to me that the union might benefit from leadership that's a bit less, shall we say, calcified.

jim (santa cruz)

didn't you mention your AL over NL strategy in a chat last week?

Rob Neyer

  (12:41 PM)

Maybe. But last week was loosy-goosy and I was both young and stupid. So I really can't be held accountable for anything I might have written then.

Dale Sams (Tulsa)

Any opinion on Tom Hicks Casablanca shout-out? "I'm shocked! Shocked steroids were being used!"

Rob Neyer

  (12:45 PM)

Hicks *does* bear a passing resemblance to Claude Rains, now that you mention it...

steve (anaheim)

Never heard yourt take on the Pie for Olson deal. Can Pie's bat handle LF?

Rob Neyer

  (12:46 PM)

Probably not, but he's worth a look and the O's should catch a lot of fly balls and line drives (not to mention flyners).

Amilcar in Dunedin FL

Ok Rob. I guess to expand on the Ollie Perez question from before considering age, ability, and the length of the contract wasn't it a pretty good deal. Unless your doubting his stuff which if you could expand on that I would be very much appreciative?

Rob Neyer

  (12:46 PM)

I'm doubting his consistency. Yes, he's young enough to improve. But it's not all that *likely*.

Hannah (Bozeman, MT)

Help settle an argument w/ my husband. How early would you break it to a young child who's a crazy baseball fan that baseball players aren't angels? Is four yrs old too young? Is seven too old?

Rob Neyer

  (12:49 PM)

Trust me, you don't want my advice about child-raising. But since you asked ... I would say that the lesson about baseball players should come at exactly the same time you teach the same lesson about aunts and uncles and neighbors and policemen and presidents.

Brandon ( Spokane, WA)

Is there any pressure on Bud Selig to do something about the 103 remaining names on the list?

Rob Neyer

  (12:50 PM)

It's out of Selig's hands. Primarily it's up to a judge, and secondarily to the Players Association (though I'll be shocked if they agree to release the names).

Scott (Bethesda, MD)

Sanctimony overdose. Do I like the fact that A-Rod et al. did 'roids? No, but what is really making me sick is the phony sanctimony from sportswriters and others who believe that these guys violated some kind of sacred trust. The truth is that athletes have "cheated" since ancient times and that they continue to do so. All of you who are calling for A-Rod's head (the NYDN is particularly over-the-top) need to get your heads out of your tushies and get a little perspective.

Rob Neyer

  (12:53 PM)

Scott, decorum prevents me from endorsing the specifics of your modest proposal.

Mike(chicago)

Assuming he's not one of the 103, isn't in going to be really unfair when your bbwaa brethren lump Sammy Sosa in with a bunch of guys with positive tests just because he looks guilty?

Rob Neyer

  (12:53 PM)

Well, that, and also he sounded pretty guilty on Capitol Hill. But his story's not been written yet; let's see what happens in a few years.

Daniel (West Haven, CT)

Gun to the head - Who wins the Battle of the Budget championship and in how many games?

Rob Neyer

  (12:55 PM)

Buster's Olneys beat Steinbrothers' Bombers in six games. With A-Rod choking big time (again).

Pulaski (Vermont)

Baseball attendance this year...up, flat, or down? I spend most of my days thinking about the macro economy and things are going to be brutal this year. I anticipate a lot of financially struggling teams to be dumping contracts earlier in the year this season. Have you talked w/ owners about their expectations for the economy and what that means for their teams?

Rob Neyer

  (12:57 PM)

I haven't, but I believe attendance will be down significantly, at least 10 percent and perhaps closer to 15. That said, TV ratings may well jump as we all search for cheap entertainment. Baseball's going to be fine in the long run.

Brian Brooklyn [via mobile]

Arod "choking"?...welcome to the bbwaa rob neyer

Rob Neyer

  (12:58 PM)

Thanks. That felt good, finally getting that out.

Mike (LA)

How would you improve the baseball viewing experience (on TV)? More views from behind home plate (from the batter's perspective)? Better analysis (explanations of pitcher's thoughts and what they're trying to do) Any thoughts?

Rob Neyer

  (12:59 PM)

Maybe this is just the geezer in me, but before I started adding stuff, I would subtract. Beginning with the reporter in the stands, which just might be the worst thing in the history of broadcasting.

Meg (Broomall, PA)

Who deserves the title "Most Feared (Blogger) Of His Era"...you or Keith Law. Bummed he wasn't part of the Budget Battle.

Rob Neyer

  (1:02 PM)

I think everybody figured it wouldn't be a fair fight if Keith were included. I gotta run, friends. The blog never sleeps, you know. Until next time don't forget: "What you do is insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."