LA Angels Links. Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
LA Angels Links
Dylan Bundy pitched a complete game victory and did so convincingly. Joe Maddon believes everything will even out for Jo Adell. He just needs some reps to know which ball is for Trout and which ball is his. On that note, Jo Adell was given a “routine day off” on Thursday. No. Wait a second. Now it’s “tightness in a quad.” Julio Teheran was a little jittery facing his first batter of the season, but he got it under control. Experience can help. When he gets stretched out a little better, he can be a good number three to go with Heaney and Bundy. Notwithstanding that I reported yesterday that Shohei Ohtani won’t be pitching any more this season, he does wish to be a two way player going forward.
Roster Reduction Thursday has come and gone and this link contains the 28 Angels survivors. His WHIP was nothing to write home about, but at least Cam Bedrosian kept opponents from scoring too much. There is no word yet when he will be back, but it has to be at least seven or eight more days. Which big budget long term roster would you rather be saddled with? Surprisingly, at the time of this writing the Angels are polling middle of the pack. The light can be seen at the end of the tunnel concerning the Pujols contract. Upton is fading into the sunset as well. If we could just shore up the bullpen we might have something to work with.
Links From Around Baseball
MLB and the MLBPA agreed on some new safety rules and players or staff who violate the rules could face a season long suspension. I like the “no talking and eating at the same time” rule. Chew with your mouth closed please. Meanwhile, Max Scherzer exited his start early with a hamstring injury. This shortened Summer Camp training strategy is playing hell with pitchers. Kole Calhoun hit a two run inside the park home run. It’s nice having a guy in front of you who can run. He also walked off against the Astros Thursday night. Doing some amazing work! Christian Yelich also hit an inside the parker.
Welcome to Sounds of the Game, featuring Phil Nevin and Angel Hernandez. The story is in this link. An NSFW link is inside the story that leads to what Phil Nevin actually said to get ejected. Mike Ward also shared some choice words with the home audience. The rest of the Yankees, of course, wish there was some way they could get Angel Hernandez ejected.
The Blue Jays brought in a reliever who was not on their roster…
Oakland A’s bench coach Ryan Christenson was caught on camera making what appeared to be a Nazi salute. Upon being corrected, he quickly did it again. We will see what unfolds today.
Tonight’s lineup card.
No Adell. Upton batting 8th.
a nice interview with Jo over at mlb.com. It’s on the front page.
OT: Olympian gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky swam the entire length of a pool with a bottle of milk on her head, without spilling it. This is incredible.
https://sports.yahoo.com/katie-ledecky-swims-with-glass-of-milk-on-her-head-and-doesnt-spill-a-drop-in-unbelievable-video-190955058.html
Only 1 lap? I guess she couldn’t handle a flip turn.
Here’s a fun Trout birthday article:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29588244/happy-birthday-mike-trout-29-stories-mlb-best-player-turns-29
This is so beautiful.
Well l took care of the original plans, the framing and over saw the electrical. worked on mud and tape and did the texture and today was sent home early as it is roofing day, go home (name), leave it to the professionals. Lots of laughs, but l sure do dread roofing now in the heat. Volunteer work is mostly fun, but some of what came easy years ago, well it is not easy now. So with that said maybe for the sake of the team it just might be time to adious Albert and JUp. Bob Hope sang “Thanks for the memories” and that seems appropriate now.JUp looked very slow with the bat last night, at least to me anyways.
Happy Birthday Mike Trout
Okay, storytime:
I saw Max Stassi at a grocery store in Los Angeles yesterday. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with, like, fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
Max Stassi is the cure for COVID
🙁
He may be hot now, but like water finding its own level so will Max’s batting. l did not care for him before and certainly care about his being on the team even less now. A player of his statue is lucky he was recognized at all. Sorry that happened to you, but thanx for sharing.
It’s a popular copypasta, this didn’t actually happen. =)
I want it to be true,I believe it to be true. Max Stassi for COVID cure 2020 and beyond.
Was this a dream?
You should be careful. There are gullible people that might believe this story, hook, line and sinker.
Mr Setty – I represent Max Stassi and demand an immediate retraction of this defamatory statement. It has tarnished Mr Stassi’s reputation irreparably particularly in the eyes of people over 40 who have no clue what copypasta is. You are also on notice that Mr. Stassi preserves all rights to recover monetary damages against you.
Just to be clear in case there are those who think this is real, I don’t actually represent Max Stassi.
Rahul, that was Josh Hamilton. Cokeheads always need to replenish their sugar levels.
Thought I was on reddit for a moment.
Happy Birthday to the 🐐!!!
So is Marsh now being groomed as Alberts replacement (as per Fletcher article)
He won’t stay at 1B. They are probably trying to figure out how to get him big league ABs this year. No minor league games hurt development since you don’t have real game play.
Either way, I would be happy with him replacing Albert
Extremely disappointed by the A’s coach and the org’s official response. The first time, okay, I get it, but why the second time??
They happened about 2 seconds apart and with the same player, and with a chuckle and the coach pointing to himself between them, almost like he realized what his first gesture looked like and was mocking it the second go round.Maybe I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt but it looks like he’s ready for high fives, remembers to do an elbow, then laughs at himself and reenacts his gaffe. Or he’s actually dumb enough to break out a Nazi salute for the first time in his career.
https://twitter.com/laaabaseball/status/1291536810233851906?s=20
I agree, but that’s not the kind of gesture one does for shits and giggles, unless it’s part of one’s regular usage already. The way he mocked it felt almost an instinctual gesture.
It might not be the type of gesture one should do for shits and giggles, but there certainly are people that would make that gesture as a joke but who would never use it as a serious gesture.
I’ll say no more lest we delve too close to politics.
It’s in bad taste, always, that is all
When done intentionally, yes.
I don’t think the first one was intentional. The second was laughing at the first like “ha ha, I just did this.”
Definitely not something to do lightly but an immediate laughing reaction/recreation of something unintentionally stupid is something I’ve done many a time.
I agree.
Interesting observation:
Mike Trout’s walk rate has plummeted from 18%-20% the past few years to 7.3% this season.
Anthony Rendon’s walk rate has skyrocketed from ~10% his entire career to 25.6% this season.
It’s almost like pitchers are less willing to walk someone when there is a good hitter in the lineup behind them.
Inconclusive sample size. Something to keep an eye on, but it’s too early to make that conclusion from what, 9 games of each?
I’m on it boss
True, at this point it is nothing more than an interesting observation, but nonetheless interesting.
I missed the game yesterday, but we caught it last night and all l can say is Bundy was impressive. Fletch was Fletcher and it was good to see LaStella come through. Renny is back to questionable fielding, but with Simba out we have only Fletch and he can’t play everywhere. Not seeing the Bullpoop squad was refreshing. Because of my volunteer work I will miss a few innings tonite, but l sure hope to see some more awesome Angels Baseball. Everyone have a great day.
Hi, I’m Commander_Nate. You might remember me from various shitposts in the years BC (Before Corona). I’m here to conduct some research for science. If you all could respond accordingly that would be great.
RESEARCH QUESTION: Who’s your favorite non-Trout player on the Angels so far in 2020?
Thank you for your participation and contribution to science. It’s nice to see you all again!
Um… REPLY W/O EMOJI OR PIC for David “The Cap” Fletcher?
I thought we all knew Fletcher was Trout’s runningmate as Vice Fave?
Man, that other balloty thing in November is gonna be rough.
Fletch of course. But i do like Goodwin too.
I’m the original Fletch fan and l’m not changing my vote, David Fletcher.
Because he proved his haters wrong (and proved me right!) 😎
Read to the replies to the Mariners’ score post too, you know, for science.
🦕
One vote for Albert
A salute to the Commander from DC.
Why would Homer need secret police? He has Bart.