It’s Goofy Play Day! Behold Contender #1 for goofiest looking play of Goofy Play Day! As Pee Wee Herman would say, “I meant to do that!” Behold Contender #2. For Goofy Play Contender #3, on that last slow motion view he sure looked out to me. It was a pretty athletic slide, though. I’m not sure what the heck Semien was thinking on his way into third. Perhaps he even wins Goofy Play Day, although the competition is quite fierce. Check out this one! I guess it’s a 1-3 kick save.
Angels News and Opinion
The debate rages on about whether Albert Pujols is a greater hitter than Mike Trout. I guess this comes on the heels of him tying Willie Mays in Home Runs. We’ll see how the comparison holds up eight or ten years from now. Mike Trout continues to make adjustments, for example. Here is your chance to win a pair of signed Mike Trout cleats. This is only for Orange County residents who are 18 years of age or older.
Ex Angels News
Jonathan Lucroy has a new job with the Phillies. Andrew Romine is still knocking around in the minors. He is now with the Rangers organization. It’s nice to see these guys still trying. I think it’s only a matter of time before they end up in the KBO, though.
General Baseball News
Spring training 2021 will begin on February 27 and the regular season will start on April fools day. Now Trevor Bauer wants to have a one on one public discussion with Rob Manfred about changes being made to the game of baseball. I’d say pop some popcorn, but I am pretty sure Rob Manfred will studiously ignore this. Today’s bench clearing and smack talking drama features Yadier Molina and the Brewers. Cardinals manager Mike Schildt gets a one game suspension for his part in inciting the brouhaha. He served it in game two of Wednesday’s double header. For our negativity of the day, I present to you For our negativity of the day, I present to you “Every Team’s Most Boneheaded Decision in 2020”
Ummmm, I was under the impression that Adell was totally ready. What happened?
You know that Soth hates rookies, I’m sure that’s it….
l will be back later as l’ve got to go, but sometimes memories are a lot more fun than the present. Go Halos! Thanx for reading my long winded post, won’t ever do it again………ah, ha,ha,ha, col, (chuckling out loud, lol (lot’s of laughs)
Being as that l am and never have a “Albert” fan, l still would like to see Shohei a little more. Seeing a more Ward than Adell would work. Seeing Marsh for 3 or 4 games would work too. l was wrong this season about Sandoval coming through and l am still puzzled that with his stuff he can’t be more consistent. Maybe next year.
Have any of you tried watching the Dodgers on TV when the Halos have off? The announcers are really snooze material, with one being Orel Hershiser. Good gravy l am aware that Vinny can’t really be replaced as the “GOAT”, but these guys are the most boring duo’s ever to call games. They make Rojas and Gubbi look HOF material (and maybe they are). l believe that a one man booth like the days of the past be the new future, at least tried and explored for team’s games as opposed to regional or national games. BTW l think that Gubbi is the best “color” guy in al of baseball, period.
I never understood the fascination with Vin Scully as a television announcer. He always sounded like a radio guy to me, and the last few years his voice was so grating I had to mute the television.
l am the opposite, he even in his late eighties while not as sharp of voice possibly was just simply the best ever. He did countless hours of research and player interviews literally hours prior to the games and always had pages of information on player’s. their families, coaches and managers along with team’s current info.
Sidebar, as a youngster l would listen to Vinnie call the Dodgers and after my homework would wash up and run to bed to listen to Vinnie and when the seventh inning came around turn off the transistor radio when Jerry Doggett came on because Jerry would put me to sleep but no worries because my Dad would always come in and turn the radio off. In the morning l was reminded what a transistor battery cost. l seriously learned baseball from Vinny. Don Wells across town while decent could never hold my attention. l think it was in ’67 or ’68 that Dick Enberg showed up and l was in seventh heaven as he had also the UCLA Bruins on his schedule in both football and basketball. In 1962 my parents (thru Santa) bought me a clock radio with a one hour timer and the Transistor was used when l was outside or even at the games.
Earlier this year, maybe during spring training, Terry Smith was out of the radio booth for a few days and Jose Mota called a couple games all by himself, and he was terrific. He was very knowledgeable not only with the Angel players, but of the other team’s players as well, and he filled in his play-by-play with great stories about the players from both teams. His play-by-play was smooth and kept a great pace. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to him not just call the game but talk about the rich legacy the sport has.
Totally agree Grandpa. Scully was by far the best ever. And it is not even close.
He’s the best period. In ANY sport. I don’t think we.’ll see one like him again. Of course the rise of cable TV and the decline of radio DID impact him.
Though he was still the best on TV his true genius came through on radio as TV is not the best medium for his unique style of story-telling. The images tend to interfere and detract from the tableau Scully could paint.
And his timing was impeccable. It was uncanny how he could carve up, chisel and shape his narratives to fit the tight time slots of half-innings and wedge them in between the action. Very hard to do that well. But he did. And I never heard him falter.
Scully was part of the great Brooklyn Dodger broadcasting team with Red Barber…nearly 60 years ago!
Yep. Barber was his mentor.
He’s the best period. In ANY sport. What, no love for Chick Hearn or the late, great So Cal icon Dick Lane?
I do love Chick. I listened to Chick and watched him for many years. But I would put Scully ahead of him.
Chick is not far behind though. Chick was probably the most colorful play by play guy ever.
Dick Lane was a blast when he announced the LA Thunderbird games.
See my reply to Jack Frost above. Vin, Chick, and Bob Miller together.
Three of the greatest ever, together in one conversation…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMPnXfBJAyE
I think it is pretty clear from the comments that I’m the odd one out here. But I knew that before I posted. 😀
Scully definitely lost something off of the fastball his last few years, but his voice was still great. And I loved listening to him announce a game. His storytelling always weaved so well into the rhythm of the game.
Really? I like Joe Davis and think he’s a top-5 PBP in all of baseball.
And yes, hopefully 15-20 more years of Rojas gets him close to HOF status.
Joe Davis really is boring as is Orel, ZZZZZZZZZZZnaptime. It’s amazing how often we disagree and l love it. Their two voices are first of all way two similar. They are very monotone with very little emotion They have personalities of paint drying and l really would prefer Charlie Steiner do TV as l do not listen to the Dodgers up here as they are no longer carried on local radio. In joe Davis’ defense l will say he makes very few to none mistakes while on the air. Orel is knowledgeable but not near as much as Gubby. My only problem with our guys is that they sometimes forget that we are with them and they get into their world only. And say times Rojas will talk like he is better or smarter than Gubbi because he played pro ball.
This is really interesting, because I think Rojas carries the Angels tandem 😂
I respect all sorts of opinions, because broadcasters are honestly personal preference in my opinion.
The really good thing that Gubi does is that he can show us exactly what is wrong with a pitcher’s motion… FROM THE BOX! [note… this is NOT sarcasm].
I wonder if he would make a good pitching coach.
I have watched some of the Dodger games. The announcers sound like they are broadcasting a golf tournament.
“And now Ken Venturi will, in hushed tones, discuss the approach shot to this hole…”
Even in this 2020 Strange season we do as Angels fans have one great ray of sunshine in that Walsh has been more than a splendid surprise. Ward is also a little bit of a surprise with the stick and showing that with work he may just work out, maybe. Anfd finally l would like to point out that Mayers has certainly after a very rough start has settled in and does not allow inherited runners to score as he has passed that of to others now.
I was a Stassi detractor, but he is winning me over.
l am a little bit behind you there, it is hard for me to think of him as anything than a platoon player at best though.
Yahp. Max Stassi…. I did NOT see that coming at all.
Does this mean that Arte will retain his secret police?
You the CTPG regulars are very baseball savvy and very knowledgeable of the game. Yes l am aware that l come across at times as a very conservative Baseball Fan. And l am. l love being controversial at times (i.e. Albert and Griffey and Piazza and IRod being ‘Roid users.) but there are times to look at the future of the “Game” and be proactive ahead of time such as addressing next season. With Covid-19 most likely interrupting the schedule at the beginning of 2021 l would propose a few changes that compromise with what Manfred has come up with. Many fans like the extra innings rule with a runner on second to star extra innings l would propose that the original idea of starting the 12th inning with the runner on second playing “real baseball” for 2 innings before burning out the pitching staff, at least try it for one season. Second would be to make up games cancelled on the schedule with a double header play the first game at 9 innings and the second at 7 innings unless the second is played by the teams as a separate game in terms of emptying the stadium and then charging for the second game in which would be 9 innings. Third Would be to make pitchers making the next pitch within approx. 20 seconds instead of a batter stepping out and walking across the plate and fully around an Umpire while adjusting their gloves. Remove the rule on using the relief pitcher for 3 outs or starting an inning. And finally to concede that the game is not perfect just as in life, and there never be robo- umps and allow the human error factor to be recognized as part of the game. But l would insist that “Bad” umps be replaced after their second season.
I’d rather see tie games after 13 innings then gimmicks in the 12th. The double header idea is good. As long as the first game is 9 innings, I don’t mind a shortened second game as much. The rules already say pitchers have to pitch within 20 seconds when there is nobody on base. Just enforce that rule, and voila! Isn’t the relief pitcher rule 3 at-bats, not 3 outs? I think 3 batters, the end of an inning, or 1 earned run charged to the relief pitcher is a good rule.
Automatic replay should be implemented for force outs, tag calls, foul balls, etc… There’s no justification for missed calls when the technology is available to fix it. I also think balls and strikes should be fed to the umpire, but only when technology gets to the point it is accurate with virtually no delay in the call. Until robo umps are implemented, umps should have some kind of test they have to pass every few years for calling balls and strikes. If they don’t pass the test, they can’t be the behind-the-plate umpire.
Yes it is 3 batters, sorry ’bout that. Baseball is a game that used to respect traditions and maybe in some ways still does and l appreciate the fact that umpires do the best they can and really do not want to see technology to come into the game. With that said the Umpires Union needs to allow changes in testing of not just calls but on rules yearly and tenure only in first two seasons and after that if you cannot do the job properly the n say “Goodbye”.
so it’s come to this. The reality is so depressing that we’re looking the other way, checking out goofy plays. How could the ump call Kemp safe?
I didn’t have that much to work with yesterday, other than Bad News Bundy. He was covered in the postgame thread.
Edit: Best I can figure the ump was screened out because he was on the pitcher’s mound side of the play. It should have been obvious on replay, though.
He clearly missed the tag when you watch the camera angle from the dugout side. It only looks like he’s tagging him on the slow motion replay because Kemp’s body is blocking the view so you can’t see the gap.
Also, watch Fuentes. He clearly believes he missed the tag, which is reason enough for the umpire to call him safe.
The Halos have really gotten serious and getting to the playoffs is what has got Joe’s attention (as per Arte?) and with 12 games left and 2 1/2 games back the decision was made then and typical of the Angels “Wrong move again!”. Even should of the Angels gotten to the Playoffs Show, it would not have ended well. But now the draft will be at best just Ho-Hum. This team just keeps tripping all the way to first base.
Meh. Pitts, Washington, Baltimore, Texas, Arizona and the Red Sox are all as good or better at sucking than we are. We weren’t gonna pick top 3 no matter what most likely but we will still land somewhere in the top 10. With good scouting we can totally get a good arm. We will most certainly have good scouting too if Billy is let go. How can we not? Just look at how awesome things have been once we got rid of that horrible Soth. Billy is the last big boss promblem the Angels have and since anything is better than him we are totally going to shred the balls once he is replaced with anyone.
When ever we sign the Joe Maddon of GMs we will totally make the draft our bitch.
“Bonehead” moves of the 30 teams and two things stand out. One is the amount of teams that did nothing at the trade deadline. The second is the jetistson of Mookie and Price so cheap. Can you imagine what the Halos would look like with mookie in RF?.
l vote for #1 as the funniest and #3 as the most Angels like.
I vote for the article photo, with #1 as runner up.
Goofy play #1 wins.
Contender #1 for the win!
Because as Angels fans we love Spin Rate!