Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

This will be Buehrle's 8th opening day start in Chicago, we love him here, and it would be hard to see him not start on opening day. Don't get me wrong, Peavy is an ace pitcher and would get the nod in most other starting 5 rotations.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Mac, Santana is pitching opening day right?

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

The Braves have made a splash in the international market with the signing of highly-regarded Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

He better be...who else are we gonna throw? :r :r 2-5 looks pretty shaky this year. Hopefully Maine is healthy and Perez gets his head out of his a$$. :D

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Major League Baseball plans to implement blood testing for human growth hormone in the Minor Leagues later this year, an official in baseball with direct knowledge of the matter told The New York Times for a story published on its Web site late Tuesday night. It's about damn time.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

I am surprised the Union is allowing that during a current contract.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

How much control does the Union have over that issue?

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

They have had lot's of control in the past. That is one of the reason it took so long to even get any steroid testing. The Union always refused to put it in the contracts. It was not until the Mitchell Report came out that the Union agreed to an addendum to the current contract.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Anyone know the current status of testing in the majors?

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Until a minor league player is put on the 40 man roster the union does not have any say in the testing. The minors had testing years before MLB did and the guidelines were more stringent.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Thats what I was wanting to know. Is there a separate union entity for the minors then?

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Negative, if they are not on the 40, they are directly controlled by the parent organization.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

Thanks, I never knew that.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

I have been trying to learn more about the business and minor league side of baseball the last couple of years. There are some convoluted rules.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

I was watching ESPN this afternoon and they said not to expect this on the MLB level until after the next contract. They are going to want to make sure that the 2 years of minor league testing has been proven to be effective. This is also going to cost MLB a ton of money to do.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

I am curious to see what all goes down in the next agreement. I think the Union will cave to most testing standards, but I am wondering if a salary cap is going to be back on the table. I hope so, I know owners are still making money hand over fist, but I would like to be able to still afford to got to games.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

I don't think you will see a salary cap without a salary minimum which the owners don't want.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

:r Tell that to the Dodgers and Indians owners.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

There is somewhat since the player minimum is 400K, but you probably hit the nail on the head with the team minimum. I just hope Albert doesn't bust the Cardinals bank. By which I mean I hope Dewitt is willing to forgo some personel profit for the team/city.

Re: *2010 MLB Thread*
 

I like what Felipe Lopez has done with the bat the last couple of years, but I don't know that I see the value in adding him with the Cards current roster.