The Baseball Thread

Tigers’ Martinez injures knee, out much of 2012

"Tigers star Victor Martinez has injured his left knee and is likely to miss most of the 2012 season. The Tigers said Tuesday that the 33-year-old Martinez tore his left ACL last week during offseason conditioning. An MRI exam Monday in Lakeland, Fla., revealed the injury...."

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ajk7Vj0gm6TJaKV.XxTooN4RvLYF?slug=ap-tigers-martinezinjured

Hall to begin drug education program

The Baseball Hall of Fame is starting a drug education program for students and young adults -- in the same year
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa will appear on the ballot for the first time after careers tainted by
steroid accusations.

While adding PEDs to RBIs and ERAs among its interests, the Hall emphasized Wednesday that its new initiative
wasn't tied to the former stars up for election or the people who will choose them.

"It is not intended to cast a directive to voters about Hall of Fame-worthy candidates," shrine president Jeff Idelson
said.

Mark McGwire, 10th on the career home run list, has never come close to election after admitting he used steroids
and human growth hormone. Neither has Rafael Palmeiro, who topped 500 homers and 3,000 hits but was suspended
for a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds, a seven-time NL MVP, and Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, will appear on the ballot mailed
to voters around Thanksgiving. So will Sosa, who hit 609 home runs.

The Hall makes no attempt to influence members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America when they pick
the players for Cooperstown.

“What he added to the team was character. His approach to the game was contagious. It spread to the rest of us. He helped each of us understand what it took to win" ~ Darryl Strawberry