If we're changing how we're keeping score then lets add alcohol. Player A drinks in the clubhouse after the game, drives home tipsy, kills a family of 4 and himself.

 

How far do you want to take this?

 

We're talking about damaging the game - not damaging the individual.

 

A players death affects fans just as much as gambling does.

 

 

While gambling is a sin steroids is far worse and your example was an extreme one.

A players death affects fans just as much as gambling does.

 

 

While gambling is a sin steroids is far worse and your example was an extreme one.

 

You misunderstood my point.

 

When I say "effects fans" I mean in the area of integrity. If I believe there are shenanigans going on and the result of the game is being swayed by gambling, I'm no longer a customer.

 

As to your point about my example being "extreme" you are overlooking the obvious.

 

Regardless if I bet ON my team or AGAINST my team, if I'm often wrong I owe someone a lot of money. In order to save my rear end from expulsion from the game and from public embarrassment AND now to pay off my huge debts to some people who might not take it well that I can't pay, I now have one option.

 

You get that, right?

You misunderstood my point.

 

When I say "effects fans" I mean in the area of integrity.

 

You get that, right?

 

Bending the rules (using PEDs) shows integrity but having enough faith in your team to bet on them does not???

 

And last time I checked gamblers were not the only ones that have lied about an injury when the game was on the line.

Bending the rules (using PEDs) shows integrity but having enough faith in your team to bet on them does not???

 

 

Your level of faith is not the issue.

You misunderstood my point.

 

When I say "effects fans" I mean in the area of integrity. If I believe there are shenanigans going on and the result of the game is being swayed by gambling, I'm no longer a customer.

As to your point about my example being "extreme" you are overlooking the obvious.

 

Regardless if I bet ON my team or AGAINST my team, if I'm often wrong I owe someone a lot of money. In order to save my rear end from expulsion from the game and from public embarrassment AND now to pay off my huge debts to some people who might not take it well that I can't pay, I now have one option.

 

You get that, right?

 

So, the fact that everybody in the world looks at MLB now with a jaded eye, especially in terms of records and their fracture, isn't "shenanigans" and doesn't "effect fans" and adversely affects the game's "integrity?" :idunno:

Which "sin" has garnered the more harsh penalties from MLB?

Gambling. Not even close, IMHO.

I don't see how this is even an argument. If you're caught betting on baseball you are banned for life. How can you argue that using PED's is a greater baseball sin?

I don't see how this is even an argument. If you're caught betting on baseball you are banned for life. How can you argue that using PED's is a greater baseball sin?

 

Exactly!:notworthy:

This might not be a universal truth, but in most venues the punishment fits the crime.

I believe Pete Rose has everything to do with people voting that using PED's is a greater baseball sin than gambling.

I believe Pete Rose has everything to do with people voting that using PED's is a greater baseball sin than gambling.

 

 

I'd qualify that by saying "people from the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area".

So, the fact that everybody in the world looks at MLB now with a jaded eye, especially in terms of records and their fracture, isn't "shenanigans" and doesn't "effect fans" and adversely affects the game's "integrity?" :idunno:

 

I believe, JS, that if you took a poll that more people would be upset if they KNEW someone was betting on games than those that would be if they KNEW that Manny or Big Papi was taking HGH.

 

Heck, we KNOW of players doing it yet it hasn't affected anything to this point. We yawn at it.

 

That wouldn't happen if a betting scandal hit.

When you've got money on the line you make bad choices even in the name of trying to win. Lets say you're hurt but you believe you're better than Plan B so you lie about your injury just so you can get in the game not with the #1 priority being your team winning but , rather, YOU winning. Instead, your injury hurts your team and you lose.

 

Every teammate and fan is hurt by this.

 

Lesser of two evils for me.

 

Players playing through pain for (at least what they believe at be) the good of the team happens every day. Sometimes they are right to do so , sometimes it's a mistake and they (and their team) would have been better served to let the backup play.

 

Explain to me how a player with an injury who elects to play because he genuinely thinks he's better than his backup is hurting the game. I don't follow your comment that their #1 priority is to play for themselves to win and not their team. If they've bet on their team to win, then it's the same thing.

 

I'm certainly not condoning betting on the game, but there is indeed a big difference in betting on your team to lose and betting on them to win.

Players playing through pain for (at least what they believe at be) the good of the team happens every day. Sometimes they are right to do so , sometimes it's a mistake and they (and their team) would have been better served to let the backup play.

 

Explain to me how a player with an injury who elects to play because he genuinely thinks he's better than his backup is hurting the game. I don't follow your comment that their #1 priority is to play for themselves to win and not their team. If they've bet on their team to win, then it's the same thing.

 

I'm certainly not condoning betting on the game, but there is indeed a big difference in betting on your team to lose and betting on them to win.[/QUOTE]

 

I don't think the gulf is as wide as some folks believe. The only case in which I would somewhat agree is the case of the person (manager?) who ALWAYS bets on his team to win. 162 times in a season.