Good morning Angels fans! It is almost Halloween, so be safe out there and wear a spooky mask! I know many of your are upset about the World Series result, so have some links!
Angels News
Even the Athletic thinks the Angels are in play for Francisco Lindor. Come on I know Arte Moreno does this but…
In good news, I guess, MLB has asked executives around Baseball for their taken on Trout vs Betts, Trout clearly won. It is something.
David Fletcher is eligible for the Fielders Bible Award. Fan vote is taken into account, and will be announced Thursday.
World Series
With the Dodgers win, Los Angeles has now won a championship in two sports within the same year. Last time this happened was the Lakers and Angels in 2002 which counted for some reason.
The World Series MVP is Corey Seager. He won the NLCS MVP too. The 8th to win the LCS and WS MVP in the same postseason.
Justin Turner has COVID 19 and he found out in the middle of Game 6. How did that happen?! Apparently the test from the previous day was inconclusive so he had to retest. Still doesn’t explain how that was allowed to happen.
Rob Manfred got booed relentlessly after the game when presenting the piece of metal World Series Commissioner trophy. Wonder if he regrets having fans for the World Series.
Last year Manny Machado bet his contact that the Padres will win a World Series before the Dodgers. Yeah that aged like milk.
Around Baseball
George Springer looks to not want to stay in Houston anymore. Well no one else should sign him because he is a cheating cheater who cheats.
A’s will lay off staff again. This includes stadium employees. Ditto for the Astros.
New York Times looks into the popularity of baseball and finds some good news for once. If you are unable to read it, local broadcasting is what baseball is good at and the regional market.
Which is good because the national viewership for the World Series is lowest on record.
The vote for Steve Cohen to own the Mets is to happen on Friday. He will most likely get approval, and the Angels will slip down in the rankings of well ran teams once LOL Mets is no longer a thing.
Hinch vs LaRussa for White Sox Manager job. really pulling for LaRussa so that Arte Moreno can’t have him further ruining everything. Also because AJ Hinch should be banned from baseball.
Rob Manfred whines about how MLB is losing money. 8.3 Billion in debt. No one feels sorry for him or MLB owners but this may impact the next collective bargaining agreement.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-free-agency-full-list-of-147-players-on-the-market-including-jt-realmuto-and-george-springer/
We could do worse than re-acquiring GRich and Shoey. And Noodles.
I forget. Who was Noodles?
We all can hope that Arte learns from example, that is to hire the right people rather than friends. Cutting staff while there is limited income is understandable, but cutting front office down to only 43 when the job takes 63 is not smart. Hiring people based on what you will pay them is not the wisest either as you get what you pay for. The operation of a MLB franchise is costly, more costly than we fans can understand or comprehend, but we do know what the results of poor management from the top looks like, and it resembles the way the Angels are managed. If you cut scouting department where do you cut? Do the MLB Team advanced scouting team go, or the Prep Scouts go? or how about the college scouts, maybe the minor league scouts go. You get the picture, as all are needed and then some. Cut down front office on Organizational minor league teaching. How about cutting back on having team Blogs or more community events outside of the OC such as in Riverside or San Bernardino counties. Cut in Stadium staff and in Security costs? Without Top Notch Scouting you end up drafting you get what we have been receiving. So Maybe having the Dodgers in our backyard will be the Angels better decision making and help in ridding ourselves of those whose time has come to an end.
Lets do a little review, the Asstro cheaters have completed their 60 game suspension and are eligible to return to the dugout. We need a new GM, I guess that means Arte was waiting for someone from either the Dodgers or Rays to find their replacement. We will be needing a new ss or 2nd baseman depending upon your view of Fletchers ability at ss and your desire to spend big on Simbas replacement. Are we okay with Adell in rf? Do we trust Stassi behind the plate and we all know that we need pitching.
Angels need so much to improve that I think we will be connected to every available player for years to come. Lindor would be a nice pick up. I do not think that my fav, David Fletch, will hold up at short as well as at 2b. The deep throws he looks like his shoulder is going to pop out. Can we win the division with our catching platoon? Or can we win with our 2b choices? Is RF in good shape with Adell?. Is our starting pitching strong enough to win a division much less winning a WS? How much do we spend on a new Pen and who stays? So it’s yup on being connected to everyone out there.
I do not know what is with Angels fans with all this HATE against another SoCal team. It is fun to beat them when we play them for sure but what is with the grudge? They have outsmarted the Angels out of Rancho Earthquakes, and since 2013 built a better organization than us, have a strong fan base in the same marketplace. There is nothing blatant to be upset at that I see. I held it against O’Malley for charging Autrey so much to play in Dodger Stadium in the sixties, but that was business. There have been countless players who have played for both teams. Jealousy in unbecoming if that is the reason for the hate. Since 1961 the Dodgers have been the better team overall. I remember when in the late 70’s and early 80’s they were about equal and they were both leading their leagues in attendance and it was fun to compare the two. Different leagues is great, having a rivalry is fun and tipping a cap to them while not exactly fun is respectful at least. I am for one glad that the Dodgers won the WS after being cheated out of two. I would love to face them in a WS in ’22 or ’23 and come away winners, but I just can not hate them like get’s posted here by some. Congrad’s Dodgers, see in the Spring and knock you guys off.
I’ve had the rage in me ever since I had to burn my Garrett Anderson jersey.
I don’t begrudge GA playing 80 games out of 2000+ while hitting .181 for those people.
You were too GA to be begrudged.
I did not remember it being that bad, haha.
She was not too GA to give Garret a whole extra “T”
Among other things the players are dicks (Kershaw is a notable exception, and I suppose in some small way I feel good for him personally).
The Dodgers are arrogant and REALLY annoying. Muncy is a dick, Pederson is annoying etc. And don’t get me started on the fans!
I don’t know how you can claim to be an Angels fan and also like the Dodgers. It’s like living in Chicago ; you either root for the Cubs or the White Sox, but you don’t root for both.
This is the reality of geographical rivalries.
Joe Kelly is kind of fun. He made his point without actually hitting anybody.
So if I like both the Rams and the Chargers I am in a minority, ditto Lakers and Clippers. I do not see it the way you do, not even close and I am glad that I can root for all the teams that play in SoCal. I am an open minded person and can feel joy for all our teams when they win a championship. Now I have always been a fan of both the Dodgers and Angels since ’61 with a preference to the Halos as the underdog. I am still good friends with 2 retired Angels and 2 retired Dodgers and one who played for both. While you may find my action reprehensible, I find it enjoyable to be able to root for all SoCal teams when they win. Besides what does the Hate bring those in Chicago anyway. Dodger fans certainly carry a lot of hate against everyone and where has that got them? No it is not one or another as that seems shallow minded to me and a whole lot less enjoyable. With all that said I did not lose any sleep for the Dodgers when they did not win the WS in ’17 and ’18. But now I also am aware that they were cheated out of at least one if not two of those so that adds to why I am glad they won this year.
Idk if the current Dodger team is full of dicks. It’s certainly not as bad as the years they had Man Ram, Machado, Puig… But are totally agree, it’s the fans that make me never willing to give up my hate of the Dodgers. That and knowing the history between our two teams. Anyone claiming to be more than a casual fan of the Angel’s, which I think would include every single person who visits CtPG regularly, needs to read up on how the Dodgers treated the Angels like trash in the early days.
Pre interleague there was not much of a rivalry – except the final preseason games
Tommy Lasorda.
At least the Oakland A’s care more about being competitive in the Bay Area against the Giants than Arte does over here.
This is pertinent to why I’m an Angels fan.
As chronicled too many times, I was a Mets fan, trying to follow them from Hollywood, until Tom Seaver was traded. That’s the equivalent to us trading Mike Trout. The cord was severed.
I started paying more attention to both the Angels and the Dodgers. At that time the Angels had a lot of endearing scrappiness while the Dodgers had success.
I’m approaching my point now. I hazily recall an article in the LA TImes that quoted Garvey, among others, insulting the Angels and questioning why anyone would follow them.
That did it! What a jerk! When the choice was Garvey and his teammates or Downing et al it was clear where my affections would be and why I would not root for the Latrine denizens.
That was over 40 years ago and I believe attitudes haven’t changed that much. I’m now a little softer regarding the Dodgers. I’ll congratulate them and feel glad for my LA friends who root for them. That’s about it, though.
Hi Gramps. I can explain it quite simply. I used to live in northern LA area in the 80s. No problem donning Halo gear back then. Nobody paid any heed.
Fast forward to say the mid 2000s. Now that the Angels had some success – the Dodger fans took exception and became very confrontational with us Angel fans.
I would like you to do me a favor. When this Covid nonsense goes away – take a trip to Chavez Ravine to watch a ballgame wearing ALL RED and ALL ANGEL gear. Let’s see how you feel about the Dodgers after that little trip. Let’s not sit in the VIP sections either – hit the upper decks or the bleachers.
Further enhancing this little litmus experience …. I suggest you walk alone into dark areas of the parking lots …
Enjoy!
Well put Downing.
You and I have obviously had this experience, so we know. And you are correct in the fact that much of our ill will comes from the abuse we’ve experienced at the hands of a-hole Dodger fans. At least in my case that is true. I would assume it is true for you as well.
Time to dial up for next year. In addition to the plethora of middle infielders and pitchers already on the market, options are being declined left and right today.
More importantly, front office types from the Dodgers and Rays are free to interview and poach.
Arte, if you can’t beat them, bring them in. Then stay out of their way.
As expected, my FB feed is a sea of blue. Sigh.
Typical Doyer fan. Celebrates a World Series victory by lighting his car on fire.
https://twitter.com/MikeRogersTV/status/1321331072794157060
Rookie move, you can’t collect the insurance money when you do it around people. I mean, damn that’s crazy.
While I don’t know about “typical”, it certainly is very funny watching stupid at work.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Dumbass.
“Pulling Blake Snell” needs to become a euphemism alongside the likes of “screwing the pooch” and “letting the Dodgers win the World Series.”
Oh well. Let’s get pitching and dethrone them next year.
“Pulling Blake Snell” is something I’m going to work into my vocabulary. I yelled that out at the t.v. last night and my almost 5 yr old daughter asked me ” what does pulling Snell mean?”. I explained the manager was making a huge mistake, and it didn’t take long for that to be proven.
You’re right on, pulling a ” Blake Snell ” is going to work for me also.
“Josh’s work flow on the new campaign ad for Stallone 2024 was smooth as silk. He’d set easing on all his keyframes, added flashing to the chyron and even a darkly edgy light flare off scene…. then he pulled Snell and used Comic Sans for all of his text and hit publish.”
Analytics does it again
BTW Andrew Friedman should get credit for what? Like Julius Caesar going to the Mongols and Genghis Khan, The Dodgers were already good before he and Farhan Zaidi got there. If they were really good they’d come work for Arte.
So wierd about Turner. I think of the bizarre string of events that would have occurred if the Rays had won last night. Some type of Covid protocol would have kicked in and we probably would not have had a game 7 for a while while every player got tested? Maybe it was better to just get it over with.
Dodger fans are going to be tough to deal with – but the reality is they are the superior Organization by a country mile now. There was a time when the Angels could claim they were better – or at least on par – with the Dodgers. In fact Arte put up red billboards throughout LA implicitly arguing that LA fans should adopt the Angels. Now that is a silly argument.
Arte thought he could take over the LA market with big signings and winning a string of Division titles following the 2002 WS. The Dodgers accepted the challenge and won. The fact that there was a time (under Frank McCourt) that the Angels were considered a threat to Dodger superiority shows how far the Angels have fallen during this ‘decade of mismanagement’ which, to me, was kicked off by the firing of Eddie Bane.
Congratulations to the Dodgers who have made the Angels into a cautionary tale – a trivia answer to some future Mike Trout question. Arte – you have successful returned us to the 1970s which I remember well as a time of Dodger extreme and annoying superiority and Angel severe inferiority. This is on your watch.
Jered Weaver, Mike Trout and who?
4 yrs in a row of empty drafts in the 2000’s. The demise of the Angel’s farm system started on his watch.
Are you serious 2002? I rarely respond to your posts because they are so really over the top with regard to anger about a player who should have been drafted over another player. But I will respond to this one.
In 2009 alone, the Angels drafted Trout, Corbin, Skaggs, Grichuk and Richards. Those are 5 Major Leaguers in one draft – one arguably the GOAT. Shall I keep going backwards to prior drafts or is the point made? Also, during this timeframe the Angels always drafted late because they were consistently among the best teams in baseball. Bane was a huge loss.
Bane then went on to Boston and helped them win a title. Definitely a big loss.
Here….
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I’ve been saying that for a while to those that will listen, in my circle. This is exactly like the ’70s concerning our 2 local bb teams.
So just what is Justin Turner using for a brain, anyway? Manfred getting booed relentlessly was pretty entertaining. Lousy public speaker, too.
You know I really hate the Evil Blue Empire, but face it. They played very well last night, Betts was amazing on the basepaths, and they took advantage of Cash’s early hook. That’s a mistake that will hang around his neck for the rest of his career, I think.
I get the feeling that Manfred is not very intelligent.
He most likely rose to this powerful position through a combination of having important friends and good luck.
One per month…fuck the dodgers!
I’ll second that. Fuck [Oct] the Brooklyn Landgrabbers of Chavez Ravine!
Fuck (Oct) the Doyers!
Just when you think 2020 can’t get any worse, that team goes out and wins the WS.
Here, here!
Brooklyn Robins. Bridegrooms and all those other 5 names they were called. “California’s real team never transplanted” hahahahhaha forgot that one too gramps. Their ignorant fans claim they were the original LA team and that they “never changed their name” hahahahahhahahahahahhabababa
Switching teams won’t wash the stink off of you, Georgie.
I very much enjoyed Manfred getting booed.
Dodger fans are going to be insufferable now. They can steal our one argument against them, and they’ve got two MVPs…yaay.
They just showed you up, Arte, what are you gonna do about it? You wanna piece of LA, start acting like it. Dodgers, Lakers…that’s LA. They do it right.
Until then, you’re just Jerry Jones. And you’re even building your own monument to show it. Don’t let Mike Trout become Jason Witten.
There is a reason everyone jokes the Clippers and Chargers should play in the OC.
Still waiting for more evidence before coming to my final decision, but honestly my initial feeling is that I would rather root for Springer than Turner right now. Same with anyone else from the ’17 Houston team.
Just totally different levels of things that bother me.
I’m firmly in the camp of “they both suck, and I want neither”
Knowingly risking peoples health is definitely worse than cheating in a game.
Same which sucks because I’d previously like the Fullerton kid, even if he looked like a ginger caveman. That was inexcusable last night. If he’d come around my wife and 3 year old son last night like he did to so many other families, I’d be livid.
He kissed his wife on the field!
So either they are just assuming she is positive as well, and if that’s the case, why the actual f*ck was she there? And if they don’t think she’s positive, then he exposed his wife to coronavirus. If I knowingly exposed my wife to coronavirus, she would leave me.
Hmmm, he got the virus between waking up that morning and the 6th inning? I do think she (his wife) and a lot of others on the Dodgers and fan base in Dallas watching the game have all been exposed to the same source as Turner was. So his wife will now come down with the virus and it is because he kissed her after the game? Do I think he was a little selfless, yes, but with just winning the World Series I give him a pass. The biggest career objective in his profession while not feeling sick is wrong to expose others to, but you can understand why he lost his emotions.
You excuse him for endangering the life of his wife and others because he wanted to celebrate?
You’re as big of a fool as he is.
He will probably blame it on the barbecue they had over the weekend. Let’s face it. These guys were supposed to be in a bubble and he must have gone out and did something stupid.
His first test was inconclusive. They redid the test.
Completely agree. The moment you know you’re positive no kissing anybody.
And, side note, I’ve been wrapped up in my own life for quite a while. You used the term “wife” are some congratulations in order?
Absolutely, just a dick move.
Yes! Just a few weeks ago actually, we got engaged back before the dark times and we were really sick of COVID deciding our relationship status so we had a small ceremony, and it was wonderful and beautiful. Thanks for asking, Jeff 🙂
Congratulations !!!!
Thanks 😊
Congratulations!!
Groups of people…all dressed up, happy, sharing the same space without a care in the world.
No worries of the bouquet knocking a mask askew. What a perfect reception!
Thank you, ‘71!
Congrats, Mia!
We appreciate it, DG!
Mazel Tov!
Thanks!
Yep. Definitely a dick move by Turner. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised cause he plays on a team with arrogant dicks like Max Muncy.
The logic in this argument is…a little suspicious.
Maybe so, but “birds of a feather flock together” is also an apt saying in this context, even if the joining is accidental.
I had turned my TV off in rage. If I had known about the Manfred booing I might have stuck around.
Ugh.
https://imgur.com/oPiZvPe
What a douchey move by Turner for sure.
I mean, on one hand I get it, might be the only time in his life he gets to experience that, and on the other I see 250k fellow citizens dead, and all the shit i’ve missed out on this year and can only call it a serious dick move.
It’s selfish, narcissistic and a sign of his lack of character. It’s kind of like once you have cheated, you are a cheater. That genie does not go back in the bottle. Once you have chosen your own selfish desire to celebrate during a pandemic while knowingly and recklessly ignoring the safety of others, you are a selfish prick. No coming back from that.
💯
Maybe he thinks steroids prevent covid?
Imgur?
You just can’t get away.
To me Arte is not Jerry Jones because the Angels are certainly not the Cowboys. The latter enjoys popularity throughout the Nation. The former is a regional sports team which had made some progress but never got out of the Dodgers’ considerable shadow. So from a brand/marketing standpoint, the organizations cannot be compared.
10 years ago Arte had a chance to truly compete in this marketplace. Then came the Decade of Incompetence for the Angels which corresponded with the sale of the Dodgers by McCourt and the new ownership who has invested in Organization and restored Dodger baseball to its former dominance.
The Angels are more like a small regional soccer club who has a great player while the Cowboys and Dodgers are Manchester United.
Owner that likes to spend big ✅
Owner that likes to meddle in FO matters ✅
Building a massive statement stadium complex ✅
Wasting generational talent✅
Sticking by personnel when a decline is obvious ✅
Wasting drafts✅
Nothing to show for any of it ✅
Agree with those similarities. Just pointing out that the Angeks cannot be compared to the Cowboys in terms of Market size or fan base.
I like the checkmarks. They make the point very effectively.
Compared to Jerry Jones, there’s some similarities 🙂
The Angels are Tottenham. I just thought of the comp and am going to spend some time fleshing it out, but I think it’s true.
Best thing about a rise in Covid causing heightened restrictions come the Fall….. Doyer fans all have to stay indoors and tell themselves how awesome they are because they watched some guys they have nothing to do with FINALLY beat a team with 1/3 their payroll for a world title no one watched.
Sad Trombone.
As much as I want to blame the Rays and their manager, the Braves had a 3-1 series lead and couldn’t finish it
That hook was awful though. I hate that managers don’t trust their players anymore. Pulling a Cy Young caliber pitcher in the 6th, immediately after giving up only his 2nd hit of the game, at 74 pitches, with the next three batters all 0-2 with 2Ks, in an Uber important WS game 6. Can’t defend it….
The plan is here. The plan says 75 pitches. I don’t care if he’s throwing a no-no*! THE PLAN SAYS 75 PITCHES!!!!!
*yes, I know it wasn’t a no-no, it was a 2-hit shutout at that pint/
But wait…. we love analytics…. we want analytics…. everyone else is so stoopid because I speak analytics…. hurrah for analytics! Right? Or wait. Do we just like some analytics? The ones that win, but not the ones that just win other times? Someone who thinks they are smart please tell me what to think. I just like huge dudes who mash dingerz. Pete Incaviglia was duh bomb.
I can understand the hook a bit. Mookie had seen Snell twice that night and more than anybody else on the Dodgers. Third crack at the kid as the go ahead run is tough.
But bringing in Anderson was inexcusable. Mookie crushes hard throwing righties and Anderson had been garbage all playoffs.
I still say playing the hot hand, which was Snell last night, has to take precedent over the data at times. And the data also shows Mookie sucked vs. lefties this year.
Agree. Snell is your ace. He is the best pitcher on the Rays. You leave him in as long as you can. That is best for game 6, and sets you up for the best in game 7.
74 pitches with one on? No way. Let the players play. I can’t see Snell trusting Cash again after this.
Jo Adell for Snell/Honeywell/Renfroe who says no
The Rays FO.
Two (really) bad decisions compounded. Dodger pitching deserves some credit.
Not only that; but Betts has extreme reverse splits. He struggles massively against LH pitching. AND Snell had dominated him in that series.
Cash really screwed up on that one.
Betts has no splits in his career. It’s likely that whatever stats accumulated in a 60-game season are extremely fluky when compared with career numbers.
To be more specific, his splits are recently. He hasn’t homered off a left handed pitcher in something like his last 130-160 AB’s (am going off memory, but am pretty sure it is over 100 AB’s).
That qualifies as reverse splits, lol.
In any case, it should play a role in a decision like the one Cash made.
Actually I think it is like 186 AB’s.