brettac1

Well, judging from how he's operated as commish when it comes to funding stadiums, I imagine he'll push for public funding.

Please don't let it be Stephanie. It probably is, since every time the ratings go down, the strategy is "we need more McMahon!".

He gets paid $22 million a year. What an absolute joke.

He is a prospect, but he's closer to being able to help than all of those guys aside from possibly Peralta. It's especially dangerous to pencil in Jungmann and Bradley for rotation spots in 2013 or 2014 right now when they haven't even pitched in the minor leagues yet (aside from Bradley's 8 IP in the Fall League). Gamel has a long history of success at the minor league level that indicates he will be a good MLB player.

I think at time that average starting pitchers can be the most undervalued commodity in the market.

I think that's a good idea.

That's a pretty decent deal for a guy who is about average and typically is pretty durable.

Don't get me wrong, I love monster heels. Mark Henry has been hitting it out of the park for months. He's a big part of why Smackdown is usually the better show - his commentary last week on the main event was totally killer. However, after a while a monster heel typically becomes so badass that they become a crowd favorite, anyhow.

I know Alzado did, but I think it was a situation of a guy searching for a reason why he was suffering. Everything I have ever seen is that the science behind it wasn't correct. He died from a brain tumor. Obviously steroids contributed to the death of a lot of wrestlers, but it was usually due to heart-related problems that they caused. Hennig also officially died from a cocaine overdose, and recreational drugs were a HUGE problem for wrestlers of that era, as well. Certainly it is heartbreaking when I watch old wrestling and see a tag team match with all four guys being dead. I'm not denying that steroids cause some health problems when abused, which they were in the '80s before athletes started to team with doctors and understand how to use them correctly. What I am saying is that Alzado's case was used by the media and whatnot to create a stigma around them that wasn't correct. That's who that is! Loved Hennig going back to his tag team with Big Scott Hall. Speaking of a well-deserved HOF nod.... He's possibly my very favorite of all-time, aside from Ric Flair.

Throwing down handfuls of amphetamines is doctoring yourself up, right? As far as Alzado's death being due to steroids, that's media creation/myth.

It's a pretty bad sign for Punk that they throw him in the middle of the show because he's ratings death. Obviously, the Jericho thing is supposed to be mocking the fans, but I think it's going to backfire on the WWE because most of the fans don't know what's happening and Jericho really hasn't done anything to make anyone care. I'm cool with Broadus as long as he's a fun guy who also kills people in the ring. If he's Rikishi, it is weak.

Totally. He's finding his groove.

I agree with both of you guys that they should all go to AAA if not playing every day.

I think Pettitte is a case where steroids are the tipping point for a guy being left out.

The jump in votes that Bagwell got this year seems to point to him getting in next year or the one after.

Look at Michael Hunt from the JS as an example of the problem. He turned in a blank ballot this year.

Raines definitely belongs. That's another case of an '80s guy belonging in. I would love Edgar getting in, but it will be a while before this group of writers disappear and he goes in. I think Bagwell should be an absolute lock.

There should just be some big classes. Lots of great players left the game at the same time.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/a...ey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb Very well-deserved. Next up, Jeff Bagwell.

Definitely #1 on the all-time Schroeder cringe moments.

Yeah, that was how I read it as well.

From Haudricourt: I just spoke via telephone with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin about the workout Sunday that the team held for Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki in Phoenix. Melvin said he and his staff have not yet decided whether to pursue signing Aoki. "We're still in internal discussions," said Melvin, who was getting ready to return to Milwaukee. "We'll discuss it over the next few days to see if he's a fit for us." The Brewers won the right to negotiate with Aoki by posting a winning bid of $2.5 million with the Yakult Swallows, for whom he has played in Japan. The Brewers held an 11 a.m. workout at their Maryvale training facility to get their first in-person look at Aoki, who did fielding and throwing drills from center field, took batting practice and ran the bases. Melvin was accompanied by manager Ron Roenicke, coaches Jerry and Johnny Narron, director of pro scouting Zack Manasian and special assistant Dick Groch. Team principal owner Mark Attanasio also flew in from Los Angeles to monitor the proceedings. Melvin declined to get into Aoki's skills in particular other than to say, "It was a good workout. He's probably the kind of player you'd expect, coming from Japan." Aoki was accompanied by a trainer, translator and agent Nez Balelo, who is representing him. The Brewers have until 4 p.m. CST on Jan. 17 to sign Aoki. Otherwise, they will have their posting bid refunded and Aoki returns to Japan. Melvin said he and his staff would make a final decision later in the week as to whether to pursue signing Aoki. "We'll determine that in the next few days," he said. "We've got to make sure he's the right fit. We liked him. He has a good personality. It's just difficult to tell exactly how the Japanese performance will translate into play in the United States. "We'll do more analysis, discuss his skills and decide if we want to make a proposal." Melvin said there was no discussion as to what kind of offer the Brewers would make should they decide to try to sign Aoki. The player might want more than a one-year deal to leave Japan.

Burnitz should be in, too.

He cuts such a good promo, he should be allowed to do it. At the same time, I'm cool if he doesn't barge in on Ziggler here and lets them finish up. It would really help legitimize him to let him have the spotlight vs Punk through Rumble.

I think the rumor was that he wouldn't talk tomorrow night. He didn't when he came out at the house show last night, then apparently put Otunga in the Walls of Jericho.