It's New! It's Improved! It's the Official Annual Off-Topic Baseball Thread!!

[JugglingReferee]

Just saw on SC that Zambrano tossed the PU.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Just saw on SC that Zambrano tossed the PU.

Great, does that mean I'm going to receive a few Ts this year from players?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Great, does that mean I'm going to receive a few Ts this year from players?

Only if you stink the joint up.

[Nevadaref]

By T.J. Quinn
ESPN.com

A Lakeland, Fla., steroid bust brought national interest Wednesday as federal law enforcement officials and Major League Baseball investigators turned their attention to the case.

Richard Thomas of Lakeland, arrested Tuesday with his wife Sandra on 21 state charges of importing and possessing steroids and other controlled drugs, told police that he had provided drugs to numerous professional athletes, although he hasn't named them, Polk Co. Sheriff Grady Judd said.

"We asked him if he'd sold to major professional athletes, and his quote was, 'You name the sport, we've sold to them,'" Grady said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "He didn't name specifics, but he said he had dealt with [players for] the Washington Nationals and the Capitals."

However, two sources indicated that the steroids seized at the Thomas house aren't the variety typically used by athletes who are subject to regular drug testing. The steroids itemized in the arrest affidavits generally stay in the system for a relatively long period of time.

The raid was a joint effort between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, after ICE officials in Philadelphia told Judd's department that a steroid shipment was expected at the Thomas' home.

Judd said MLB officials called his office Wednesday morning and offered their cooperation, but his office said they had not heard from the NHL or other leagues.

Judd said a cooperative Thomas proudly admitted that he was "the biggest steroid dealer in central Florida," and had received steroids from all over the world.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa said no federal charges have been filed, but a law enforcement source said either that office or the U.S. Attorney's office in Philadelphia is expected take over the investigation.

Sandra Thomas was released on $215,000 bond on Wednesday afternoon, while Richard Thomas remained in jail. An employee at Rico Bail Bonds in Lakeland said that Sandra Thomas quickly left the county jail after being released to avoid a crush of reporters and had not yet been to their office to fill out her required paperwork. Messages left at the Thomas' home had not been returned as of Wednesday evening.

A spokeswoman for Judd's office said ICE and sheriff's office detectives were combing through the Thomas' records and were compiling information that could include the names of any athletes to whom they might have provided steroids.

"The Washington Capitals have no knowledge of any aspect of this allegation," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. "Capitals players were subjected to no-notice testing three times in each of the past two seasons pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and there was no indication of any improper conduct or wrongdoing. Even though there are no specifics provided in the story and we have no reason, at this point, to believe the allegations are true, the National Hockey League takes all matters of this nature very seriously and will conduct a prompt investigation."

Judd said that investigators were expecting to find a small shipment when they raided the Thomas' home, but that detectives called him Tuesday night to say this was no ordinary bust.

"They said you need to come down here tonight," Grady said. "I went down there and there was every kind of steroid you could imagine."

Judd said he was stopped by a fellow member of the Rotary Club during lunch Wednesday, who told him that he had purchased steroids from Thomas 10 years earlier while in high school.

T. J. Quinn is an investigative reporter for ESPN. He can be reached at [email protected]. Mike Fish, an investigative reporter for ESPN.com, and Pierre LeBrun, who covers hockey for ESPN.com, also contributed to this report.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Only if you stink the joint up.

Well that part's a given....

[SlickStick25896]

new here but love the red sox, let them win

[dblref]

Originally Posted by SlickStick25896

new here but love the red sox, let them win

Not last night as the Yankees won 13-6. Hope Smoltz pitches again tonight.

[grunewar]

Was at the game today as they won their 8th in a row!

They're actually fun to watch these days. A good, young team with a really up and coming top of the lineup. Hope they can stick together and give the team time to grow!

Only 19K+ in the stadium though. Disappointing, even on a hot, sticky, DC day.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Was at the game today as they won their 8th in a row!

They're actually fun to watch these days. A good, young team with a really up and coming top of the lineup. Hope they can stick together and give the team time to grow!

Only 19K+ in the stadium though. Disappointing, even on a hot, sticky, DC day.

19K huh, in the canyons of empty seats at Oakland that would be a new country , that many people only happen a couple of times a year in Oakland.

Went to Giants/ Dodgers last night and almost a full house. I saw a little green in the upstair limited view seats.

I forgot what the baseball experience was suppose to be about for me, being an A's fan of late. . Last night was great-rivalry,pennant races, full house, fans into it ,till Dodgers put up a 4 spot .

GO NATS I need Dunn to keep swinging baby , my fantasy team is riding his back hard these last couple of weeks. Swing Adam Swing.

[grunewar]

And for a "bargain basement price."

World Series here we come.......

Strasburg, Nationals agree to record-setting $15M contract - USATODAY.com

[grunewar]

Second time in MLB history, and the first time since 1927, a game ended this way!

What is even more bizarre (to me anyhow) is that both runners were on base because of an error and a "charitable hit" - both plays also going to Bruntlett! IOW - neither runner would have been on base if he had made clean plays on the previous balls hit to him. Crazy!

Unassisted triple play ends Phils' win over Mets - MLB - Yahoo! Sports