The greatest baseball player on the planet speaks softly but carries a big stick. With two simple words he brought smiles to Angels and baseball fans everywhere. The Man is back.
Real baseball is back today. Ahh, Opening Day is finally upon us. Just as giddy as fans are the execs at Fox, who are expecting a tsunami of advertising dollars heading their way. In short, ratings will be up, the world will be watching baseball, and the sport has a shot to add new fans.
Also coming back are bat boys and bat girls. Player input is said to be behind the decision. I’ll take any sign of working together prior to another round of CBA talks.
Not going anywhere is Mookie Betts. The Dodgers forked over $365 million to make him the second best center fielder in the southern California market. Amazing how he was open to an extension the moment he got out of Fenway, right?
Betts is an exciting young player, no doubt. But that 2018 season’s 8.7 WAR stands out considerably. Makes you wonder what was going on in Boston in 2018 that might have aided that standout season….
Fangraphs does their usual outstanding job of breaking down Betts game and contract.
But enough about our logo stealing neighbors to the north. This is an Angels site and the Angels took the field at home last night for the first time since last September 29th. Wow.
The official site is doing their best to capture preseason optimism and predicts a playoff spot.
Of course a decent chunk of that optimism involves new slugger Anthony Rendon, who confirmed he will miss Opening Day.
From around baseball:
Daniel Bard, once the closer heir apparent to uber asshole Jonathon Papelbon, has been battling a serious case of the yips. He looks to be on his way to the Rockies.
What is really rocky? Plans for Toronto Blue Jays home games. Pittsburgh will not be home for the Jays, leaving them still in search of a place to play.
The best suggestion I’ve seen is Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford. A gorgeous minor league park that is located near all of their AL East opponents, inside the US of A, and won’t be used this year. Hartford’s Mayor has extended an invitaion.
Some people like to watch the world burn. Others like to see cheaters get fastballs to the ribs. Hat tip to losangel for finding a site that tracks when the Astros hitters get what they have coming.
Be safe, be happy, and let’s enjoy Opening Day.
Sorry I haven’t been on the last two gamethreads. I’ve been spending quality time with our new kitten, and kittens and keyboards do not go together well. Especially not this kitten.
Well, kittens think that they go well with keyboards. The result may not be so good for you…. 😎
Ask Navin Johnson what he thinks about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bGVT4-1DBU
Watch him be good….
https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-harvey-deal-with-royals
This whole season might feel like exhibitions.
Rally Thong at the ready!
Opening Day roster is here!
Hoby Milner and Jacob Barnes make the team. Ward, Thaiss, Marsh hang on. Sandoval makes rotation over Barria. https://twitter.com/angels/status/1286341064236900354?s=21
I don’t understand what happened to Barria. I saw him pitch twice for the Inland Empire 66ers, and his control was pinpoint. The catcher never had to move his mitt. It was a beautiful thing to watch.
Here’s another example of the “duality of man” theory posited by the Matthew Modine character in Full Metal Jacket: I do not think MLB should be playing this year, but I will be excited to watch the games.
I’ve been absolutely buried the last few weeks. Has there been a Dylan Bundy sighting at Summer Camp? When will Teheran likely be ready to go?
I heard on the pregame (Roger Lodge – 😡 ) probably the second time through the rotation
That’s for Teheran
Has any reporting been done on what the return protocol for Trout will be? I know the NBA has a 4-day quarantine after returning if the player that leaves their bubble keeps getting tested daily and remains negative while they’re outside.
I don’t believe I’ve seen what the MLB’s plan for players returning to play is, especially since the team’s are isolated at all. Definitely could have missed it, but feel like that’d be a good question for a beat writer to ask about.
With Baby Trout due in a few days and Rendon nursing an injury, we might not see a lineup with Rendon and Trout together until the season is 20% over. Desperately hope that isn’t the case, but definitely not ideal.
I don’t know what it is. Will look into it for future links if an answer isn’t posted here later today.
Fabian Ardaya tweeted the answer, I guess MLB has no quarantine procedure. So, as long as he tests negative, he can come directly back.
Is there even a bubble for the MLB? Don’t the players go home like seasons past?
Yeah, they’re just free to roam basically.
That’s what, to me, makes the MLB and NFL much more of wild cards than the NBA or NHL seasons to be completed.
I don’t think it would even be possible to do bubbles with the sheer number of NFL players and personnel needed. Baseball would probably have the same issue.
Baseball’s issue is that many prominent players (Kershaw comes to mind) said they would not stay in a bubble for months at a time. I’d imagine Trout would be out in that scenario, too. Anybody with a baby at home or on the way.
Football would need to rent out entire hotels then basically lock guys in at night.
I can understand the NBA needing the bubble. The entire game there is a lot of extended physical contact between players. It makes sense as the only way to move forward.
In baseball, yes, there is some contact, but nothing like the NBA. I will say I was a little surprised to see players high fiving in the dugout. I can’t say I really blame them but I can really see one person getting infected and bringing down a whole clubhouse. I hope it doesn’t happen, but that would really derail the entire season.
As per Eppler he will be tested daily so no quarantine will be necessary
Listened to Mark and Terry last night driving up to Amboy Crater to see the comet- they were on MLB on SiriusXM. Nice to hear familiar voices. Discovered that I could probably manage the rest of my life without hearing Roger Lodge, though. On to Opening Day!
Holy crap – Opening Day is here!!
I wonder what kind of Opening Day festivities teams have planned. Are we still doing the fly overs and having the giant American flags on the field?
She rocks the mask better than Madden does!
It’s a great day =)
Indeed! New TSwift!
The broadcast of these games is not too bad. Definitely miss the fans a bit, but it’s kind of nice to just focus on baseball. Takes away a lot of distractions.
I hope that the first asstro to come to the plate tomorrow gets plunked right in the back. I’m ok if it happens to that team all 60 games.
I’m hoping other teams feel the same way about Max Stassi and plunk him once in every game he plays in all season long. Imagine the OBP he could put up.
If he gets a HBP in 25% of his plate appearances, I can see him putting up an OBP of nearly .280 ha ha.
I’m not sure I can refer to him as the secret police any more…. 🙁
Because of the geographical groupings we don’t get to throw at Marisnick this year. More’s the pity.