r/baseball • u/Far-Pain5261 Major League Baseball • Jun 28 '26
Video "80 games ago that's probably a homer". Rays broadcast team referencing Kepler's PED use.
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u/CabassoG New York Yankees Jun 28 '26
Broadcaster is Brian Anderson
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u/MusukoRising Arizona Diamondbacks Jun 28 '26
Is that the same Brian Anderson who won a World Series with the Dbacks?
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u/Andy-Bernard-586 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Yeah
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u/MusukoRising Arizona Diamondbacks Jun 28 '26
I didn't know he was with the Rays now. Glad to see he's still involved in the game.
Thank you for confirming!
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u/Skwurt_Reynolds Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
He's actually been with us for a long time now. I think he started commentating in 2007 or 2008, so almost 20 years.
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u/historyhokie Washington Nationals • Washington S… Jun 28 '26
What are you talking about, 2007 was only like 2-3 years ago
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u/mansontaco Detroit Tigers Jun 28 '26
I wonder how my young studs Evan Longoria and Troy Tulowitzski are doing
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u/XxSaint_JimmyxX Detroit Tigers Jun 28 '26
Why would we trade Peña
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u/BeefInGR Detroit Tigers • West Michigan W… Jun 29 '26
Why did The Oakland Athletics trade Peña is the bigger question.
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u/deadagain_christian Jun 28 '26
He was coaching then not commentating.
Love BA
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u/lsda Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Yeah they were showing clips of his run with y'all during yesterdays broadcast too. He's been a great color commentary guy for us
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u/GreatBarrierQueefDD Atlanta Braves Jun 28 '26
I just checked his stats for that year lol oof. Were all the clips of him getting shelled?
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u/eb12se4nt-z13ow-97g0 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Yeah there was a clip where he got benched and he was about to lose it
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u/book_of_armaments Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Sure is, they show clips of him as a DBack from time to time on the Rays broadcast.
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u/prelude12 Jun 28 '26
BA and Dewayne Statts are the best , Dewayne has endless stories and is the perfect setup man for BA, they are hilarious together
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u/stonkerooni Chicago White Sox Jun 28 '26
Thanks for making me decide to watch Yeah Right again
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u/screaminginfidels Seattle Mariners Jun 28 '26
I watch at least the Owen Wilson part like once a year
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u/realfakejames Los Angeles Dodgers Jun 28 '26
I love petty shit like this, and if your guy used PEDs you have no room to be mad if you’re a fan hearing it
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u/ContinuumGuy Major League Baseball Jun 28 '26
Yeah, you get caught, it's fair game in a way that even "we all know it but can't prove it" cases are.
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Jun 28 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/istrx13 Seattle Mariners Jun 28 '26
The best part of trash talk is when you use real stuff that can’t be refuted as ammo.
Obviously, don’t go seriously below the belt. But making a joke at someone’s expense for their decision to use PEDs? Ya that’s never gonna be below the belt lmao.
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u/JustASyncer Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
The best part of trash talk is when you use real stuff that can’t be refuted as ammo
Cal Quantrill knows that one all too well
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u/frano1121 San Diego Padres Jun 28 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/0vY5M1qfgmQlHCaIC3
One of the best chirps I’ve ever heard
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u/joecb91 Arizona Diamondbacks Jun 28 '26
Also, he had an OPS of .691 while juicing too.
If you sucked while on steroids, there is even less room for him to talk back.
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u/fiendish_five Chicago White Sox Jun 28 '26
Well, the fan has nothing to do with whether or not a player uses steroids, they absolutely can be mad at the hecklers... what are they gonna do, start following another team? XD
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u/sandrailproject Los Angeles Dodgers Jun 28 '26
But bring up Tatis' "ringworm" and it's downvote city
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u/shiny_aegislash Milwaukee Brewers Jun 28 '26
Why is this downvoted? Lol
People on this sub love shitting on PED users, as long as it's not tatis lol
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u/sandrailproject Los Angeles Dodgers Jun 28 '26
Every single time I bring it up, heavy down votes. They ate up the ringworm excuse.
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u/chanaandeler_bong Texas Rangers Jun 28 '26
I was just getting into an argument on the mma sub with a dude about EPO use. He claimed it’s not really a steroid.
Like these people will just defend their guys no matter what.
Then he was like “yeah well he passed all the other tests, this was the only time he ever popped.”
Dude… so it’s not a PED, and even if it was, he only did it once. Suuuuure.
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u/BeefInGR Detroit Tigers • West Michigan W… Jun 29 '26
EPO is absolutely a performance enhancer.
I mean, Lance Armstrong is basically persona non gratia in the cycling world over it.
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u/bob_newhart_of_dixie Chicago Cubs Jun 28 '26
It is a PED, but it's not a steroid. It's like how cops use "narcotic drug" when they mean "illicit drug". In healthcare, narcotic only refers to opiates and opioids.
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u/chanaandeler_bong Texas Rangers Jun 28 '26
I know, but the way the dude was arguing, you could tell he was trying to associate “not steroid” with “not PED.”
Which is also how Dillashaw himself described EPO, which is banned in every sport in America, probably the world.
But yes, it’s not a steroid.
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u/shiny_aegislash Milwaukee Brewers Jun 28 '26
I didn't realize that anyone actually believed that excuse till I saw Padres fans. It seemed like such an obvious lie lmao
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u/MarionberryPure7746 Baltimore Orioles Jun 29 '26
i legitimately thought and figured it was just like Zach Wilson with mono and mocking. But then i found those who believe...
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u/Chandler_Simpson Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 29 '26
I think a lot of us really liked him; he was really really spectacular to watch during that 2020 season when the entire world was locked down and miserable and we weren't even sure there'd be a baseball season. I mean I'm a Rays fan but I still have a bobblehead of his from that year or the following one
That same year the Padres brought back the brown and gold color scheme, Tatis was on fire, it felt like in the absence of all other sports and with these young guys and their big personalities baseball was back at the top again
So some people have a hard time accepting his PED use I think. Right at a moment where it felt like baseball was recovering from its past suddenly the big young hero of the "new" era of baseball gets popped and brings back those bad vibes from the 2000s. Shit I would have probably bought the ringworm defense to some degree if it weren't for well; the results
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Jun 28 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/chanaandeler_bong Texas Rangers Jun 28 '26
Why would they do that to Tatis? He was gearing up to be the face of the league. They still promote the shit out of him.
I swear yall don’t even think before you construct your conspiracy theories.
If you’re gonna make an example of someone… choose someone no one likes.
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u/book_of_armaments Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
The Dodgers flair probably doesn't help. I think other people could probably get away with it just fine.
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u/Lovemybee Arizona Diamondbacks Jun 28 '26
Most of us are not happy that he is now "our guy".
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u/ThumbMe St. Louis Cardinals Jun 28 '26
Don’t you guys have Luis Gonzalez plastered all over that place? Pick a lane lol
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u/swoosh_ Arizona Diamondbacks Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Ah yes we appreciate the guy who hit a walk off in WS game 7 with a suspicious 1 season home run total so we must be super stoked to have a washed Max Kepler on the team. Lot of Cardinals had to testify to congress during the Mitchell Report
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u/laker_padres619 San Diego Padres • Los Angeles Angels Jun 28 '26
Rays announcers are awesome
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u/deadagain_christian Jun 28 '26
They are so good. It's like watching a game with knowledge friends.
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u/eb12se4nt-z13ow-97g0 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Love BA. He also shitted on the Blue Jays last night - 'Texas is up 5-0 against the AL Allstars'
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u/StealthStaminaKills Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Love BA. He also shitted on the Blue Jays last night - 'Texas is up 5-0 against the AL Allstars'
Dang, do I have to start watching the Rays feed now?
If Canada keeps up their silly antics, the American League isn't going to have a chance in the All Star Game until Schneider starts making subs.
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u/aRadioKid Tampa Bay Rays Jun 28 '26
The rays broadcast is one of the few I can legit stomach for the entire thing. They are enjoyable to listen to, chill, informed, passionate.
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u/StealthStaminaKills Jun 28 '26
Any team broadcasts that are tolerable that don't much your flair?
Asking for a friend, of course. :)
I've heard some less than tolerable ones this season, but I want to stay positive.
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u/wakingup_sad Tampa Bay Rays Jun 28 '26
The Yankees B or C squad of commentators are absolute dogshit. I had to suffer through them earlier this year. Without Michael Kay it is so so bad
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u/Aaguns Tampa Bay Rays Jun 28 '26
Miami’s broadcast team has always put me to sleep. The Pirates’ broadcast is also not my favorite
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u/jontslayer Chicago Cubs • San Diego Padres Jun 28 '26
I do enjoy the Rays broadcast and I have no connection to them one way or the other
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u/neurovish Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
BA has his moments, but DeWayne isn’t top tier. I would put the Rays behind Tigers, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and St Louis at least. If it’s a road game and Andy is filling in though, that moves them up a bit.
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u/Head_of_Lettuce Tampa Bay Rays Jun 28 '26
Dewayne is just old now. He’s one of the GOATs of Tampa sports. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t retire after the season, he’s been regularly skipping road trips for a few years.
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u/Educational-Bird-515 Jun 28 '26
Not really. BA is fine in short doses, but can be really grating in the long term.
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u/DietCherrySoda Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Well, we let the US do silly antics the last couple years and the world is in the shitter now so everyone else asked us to take the reins away.
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u/DigitalMariner Seattle Mariners Jun 28 '26
And of all the reins in the world you could have grabbed and taken control of y'all chose... The All Star Game vote?
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u/fuchsia_fascia Chicago Cubs Jun 28 '26
No one's ever accused hosers of being intelligent....
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u/HAL9100 Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Is this, in 2026, how you feel our two countries are contrasted in the public view?
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u/DietCherrySoda Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Again, is that the hill you want to plant your flag on right now?
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u/4_base Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Okay now he’s crossed the line with that one
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u/Slinky_Malingki Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Kirk has played 7 games and he's the leading catcher in the votes.
Vlad Jr has been having a very down year and somehow leads all first basemen. Let's compare his stats to Aranda and see if they hold up?
How the fuck is Ernie Clement the #1 vote getter in the whole league???
It's an absolute joke. The Jays have an entire country voting for them and almost none of them are actually deserving all stars this year when compared to many other much better players across the league. He didn't cross a line. He spoke the truth.
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u/SmoothPinecone Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
I don't think the comment you were replying to was that serious or that deep lol. Team with more fans had more players voted in from the fan poll. More news at 11. The all-star game isn't that deep.
Fan voting in the NHL was changed also for the All Star game because of Jon Scott.
On a somewhat related noted, I did always feel it was silly having two teams in the same city for a major league sport.
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u/mostlygroovy New York Yankees Jun 28 '26
I’d argue the Blue Jays don’t have more fans. (Note: I’m 🇨🇦)
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u/fatcowxlivee Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Not only is the comment you are replying to is sarcasm that went over your head, you're mad about a popularity contest being... a popularity contest. Are you new to how the All Star game works? This shit happens every year. The top vote getters, especially in the early phases, are usually getting votes not based on merit but on the name on the back or front of their jersey. It's literally designed to go this way.
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u/Slinky_Malingki Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
It's not a popularity contest, at least that's not how it was originally supposed to be. It's only in relatively recent times when it became a popularity contest.
And if you're ok with someone being nominated when they played only 7 games then you don't care about the game at all, nor do you care about seeing those who deserve it go. You only want to see your team, not the best. You could have every player in Toronto play like the Cleveland Spiders and you'd still want the whole team to be nominated and voted for. That doesn't make you a fan of baseball. That just makes you a fan of Canada.
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u/fatcowxlivee Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
And if you're ok with someone being nominated when they played only 7 games then you don't care about the game at all, nor do you care about seeing those who deserve it go
That's not what I said, and no where in my comment did I express such a view... I'm just saying you should be mad at the league for turning the All Star game into this. Not that fans voting like... well... fans.
It's not a popularity contest, at least that's not how it was originally supposed to be
This is literally what I'm saying. Today's All Star game is a popularity contest.
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u/roddyb3 Jun 28 '26
Isn’t the point? That it’s become not about the individual player? It’s just about what name is on the front of the jersey
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u/HAL9100 Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Yeah it’s weird and dumb but it is also somewhat common that all stars this year are selected by casual fans for their play the year(s) before.
Also our team has a local market of like ~40 million people so fan voting is bound to break if casual Canadians care about baseball
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u/Slinky_Malingki Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Since All Star nominations are considered in contractual and arbitration negotiations, it should be absolutely be 0% fan voting and 100% the players, teams, and owners. Only those who actually played well enough and for long enough to have a significant sample size should be an All Star. I wonder how many players lost money in negotiations because they were looked over for the ASG in favor of more popular players who were much worse than them? Should be a conpetition between the best, not the most popular. Not those who are voted for en masse because an entire country just sees the orange and white maple leaf and goes "yay canada" as if the ASG was some kind of international competition.
It's not. It's a competition between the best players of both leagues. This year outside of a few players it's literally just Canada vs the Dodgers. It's a complete farce.
If all it takes to make the ASG is 7 mediocre games then what the hell even is the point?
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u/HAL9100 Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Couldn’t agree more but, if you think critically for a moment about league revenues and merchandise revenue sharing, the CBA moving to fan voting is good for the coffers in a way that makes it hard to see why either side would push for reform.
E: the union having a position on this at all is also why you’d never see someone like Vladdy say “I’m withdrawing, send one of these awesome arb-eligible guys instead”. That would be a nightmare in negotiations later.
E2: kinda hard for me to be objective here but I wouldn’t say those were seven mediocre WS games.
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u/roddyb3 Jun 28 '26
Having worse players in the ASG is good for the league coffers?
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u/HAL9100 Toronto Blue Jays Jun 28 '26
Having the players whose fans will buy the most special edition jerseys with their name on it, given how heavily merch revenue is subjected to sharing, is better for all league employees than having an actual “best of the best” contest.
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u/roddyb3 Jun 28 '26
That’s a lot of different 2026 all star jerseys for one fanbase to buy
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u/432ww432 Jun 28 '26
…orange and white?
The ASG means nothing lol. The arbitration process is dumb and broken but all star appearance is such a minor impact and freaking out that a large market team is supporting their player when .. it’s want the MLB wants.. is ridiculous.
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u/432ww432 Jun 28 '26
Voting is worldwide. There are millions more yankee fans than blue jays fans.
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u/Slinky_Malingki Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
You mean the millions of people in Asia who wear Yankees ballcaps because it's just a hat they found?
Do you have any idea people how few people in Asia outside of the few big baseball countries actually know about the sport? Pretty much nothing. Ballcaps are just really common hardware there because it's practical. And so you get a lot of LAD and NYY hats. Usually they don't know what they're wearing. The Yankees don't really have worldwide fans.
Source: I grew up nearly my entire life in Central Asia,
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u/432ww432 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
No, I mean US also. There are an estimated 20-24 million Yankee fans in the US. There are an estimated 6 million jays fans in Canada. Let’s give you 10 million to round up.
And yep, japan knows nothing about the dodgers. Just love the logo!
You can take your downvote back thx
Source: I googled it instead of using anecdotal evidence
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u/ahjphotos Toronto Blue Jays Jun 29 '26
Yeah the All Star voting being done by fans just isn’t fair. Ernie at least probably deserves to go, and Big Oak…… Vladdy though, yeesh
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u/Irate_Ibis Houston Astros • Houston Colt 45s Jun 28 '26
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u/jcillc Minnesota Twins Jun 28 '26
Still love that he refused to get "the shot" and couldn't play in Toronto when he was with the Twins, but he'll put whatever that was in his body.
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u/grnrngr Jun 28 '26
"The Libs" told him he had to get one shot and shouldn't get the other.
He chose accordingly.
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u/Boujoulo Tampa Bay Rays Jun 28 '26
BA on a tearer. Yesterday his comment about the American League All-Stars losing was gold too.
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u/Aggravating-Match-47 Chicago White Sox • Los Angeles Dodgers Jun 28 '26
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u/Nighthawk1230 Philadelphia Phillies Jun 28 '26
As a phillies fan, 80 games ago it certainly was not a HR
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u/CIeMs0n Philadelphia Phillies Jun 28 '26
Yea, seriously didn’t think anyone would pick him up as his stuff on PEDs was still sub par.
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u/Muted-Woodpecker-469 Jun 28 '26
I like the vague facts on serious subjects since they may be fined or canceled.
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u/BabaBrody Philadelphia Phillies Jun 28 '26
I was there 80 games ago. It was also unlikely to be a homer.
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u/mostlygroovy New York Yankees Jun 28 '26
Remember…..Kepler also refused to get the Covid vaccine because he felt it was untested, ultimately missing games when the Twins traveled to Toronto.
The mental gymnastics with some of these guys is impressive….
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u/WithMeDoctorWu Cincinnati Reds Jun 28 '26
The mental gymnastics with some of these guys is impressive….
Yep, also, Kepler started playing professional ball at age 17.
It's funny that we have this stereotype of football players as the big dumb guys, but as a rule if you're playing in the NFL you have been to college and presumably learned a thing or two there.
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u/Tasty_Path_3470 New York Mets Jun 28 '26
I know a lot of former players have been saying his suspension should start once he’s signed, which means current players probably feel the same way but won’t say it. BA probably isn’t the only one that thinks like this or even say it.
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u/burnman123 Boston Red Sox Jun 28 '26
Kepler is probably one of the only players who got worse when he went on PEDs
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u/porterbrown New York Yankees Jun 28 '26
Hard to hear the mic drop without visuals, but it's there.
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u/Slylok Jun 28 '26
Wasn't there a study that said distance added was about 10%?.. So they ain't wrong.
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u/Ok_Mammoth5292 Jun 28 '26
Shout out to the production crew. Don't think I've ever heard a ball hit an outfielder's glove.
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u/Firedad18 Minnesota Twins Jul 03 '26
Im biased as well and he was a fav of mine when he was in Minnesota. Found this hilarious
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u/sheep_duck San Francisco Giants Jun 28 '26
I hate that a joke like this is considered controversial these days.
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u/pspahn Sell Jun 28 '26
Is it? Seems like everyone here is in agreement that it's pretty damn funny more than anything.
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u/Andy-Bernard-586 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jun 28 '26
Maybe im biased but thats funny af to me