Rhett Bollinger predicts the Angels will win the American League West. Shohei Ohtani hit and pitched in the same game on Monday against the Dodgers. He batted second in the order this time. It was not a good game. Dylan Bundy ranked reasonably well in this power ranking of the aces. At least he wasn’t in the cellar. The Angels picked up relievers Steve Cishek and Tony Watson. Is there a Joe Maddon effect? Will it make a difference? We’ll soon find out. Let’s hope the Angels will win some games.
Links From Around Baseball
It appears that teams are starting to get vaccinated against COVID-19, depending on where they are. MLB relaxed the COVID-19 guidelines for players, coaches, and staff who have been vaccinated. Jhoulys Chacin is now available. The Yankees released him at his request. Meanwhile, Felix Hernandez opted out of his contract with the Orioles. He’s injured. I’m not exactly sure what is going on here. The White Sox granted release to Jonathan Lucroy. The Reds selected the contract of Cam Bedrosian. He’ll make the opening day club. The Rangers designated Roughned Odor for assignment. The Rangers also lost their closer to Tommy John surgery.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
frankly rhett……i don’t give a damm!!!
Listening to the Baseball BBQ podcast from the Cespedes BBQ guys. Anyways, they gave Tatis Jr. the face of baseball stamp.
Blows my mind. If only Trout was just a *bit* more animated 🙄
Lemme know when he does it for a decade. Would it be different if Trout had been on a winning team all this time? Maybe.
Now i’m rambling…
I looked at the high-fiving image above and he is not smiling. Maybe if he put Vaseline on his front teeth like a Miss America contestant … Ummm, nah!
Bat flips are out. He already gets plunked too much as it is.
Seriously though, when the teams have scouted Tatis Jr thoroughly, it might not be fun & games any more. He might have to work really hard to make adjustments, just as Mike does.
That was a very good read about Maddon, republished from the L.A. Times.
2020 was such a waste ‘septing it gave us 60 games of relief from Covid Stay Home and taking our mind off closing a business down. We are slowly amping back up, but with me doing almost everything. At one month ahead of turning 69 I am still very thankful I have my heath but will willingly sans the bad back if I could.
Glad you’re persevering GB!
I’m so excited… a new season is about to begin! Even with limited fans in attendance, it feels like a bit more of a “normal” season than 2020 ever was. Halos may not have made a big splash in the pitching department but Cobb and Quintana are solid additions. If Ohtani does even half as well as we hope in 20-ish starts, that’s like adding an ace right there. Having a 6-man rotation modified helps with the flexibility over 162 games.
Can’t wait, Go Halos!!!
For 2020: I think “normal” set sail with the South Korean sex dolls incident.
The Angels actually have bullpen depth. Buttrey, Sandoval, Faria , Noe easily make this team in 2020 but will all be in AAA this year. Even with Pena hurt.
One of Slegers or Hoyt will also not make the cut.
Some guys will under perform, some will get hurt, but there’s a competent second wave behind them. We haven’t had that in a long time.
Yup, I totally agree with your assessment here. Here is hoping that we do not stay the coarse will guys who don’t have their delivery down pat as we certainly have depth. And it’s tRadiTion to have injuries.
All players of every sport should be vaccinated. And attending games should show their card that they have had their first vaccine at least, seems like a no brainer.
They shouldn’t be given priority for vaccinations. We already ignored grocery-store workers and day care providers for practically a year until they became eligible.
There are still essential workers who remain ineligible for the vaccine. Some of them (e.g. bank tellers) have been at work since day 1 of the shut down in positions where they are exposed to the public, others also have public exposure and returned to work shortly during the shut down (e.g. government services).
The vaccine eligibility decisions have been an arbitrary, irrational mess. Let’s not add preference for sports celebrities to the list of stupid decisions.
Agreed. Young athletes have an extremely minimal risk of serious infection. There are people with far worse health profiles and/or in far riskier social scenarios than professional athletes.
I’m enjoying my health and waiting for those who really need it to get their shots first. Athletes should do the same (although the NBA isn’t).
Griff should be given priority for a vaccination
I am very pleased with the moves to shore up the bullpen. If PTP was playing the waiting game he showed a mastery of it. Watson has consistently been one of the best RP in the game and we got him for a minimal contract. Cishek is more up and down, but is very good when he us up. Even bringing back Noe with a minor league contract is a great move as he has been a better than average (let alone better than Angels’ average) reliever the past few years. I don’t really know anything about the guy from Miami, but 2020 were pretty good.
This moves our chances of making the playoffs up.
Finally, congratulations to Jose Rojas. He proves hard work pays off.
Thanks for the links.
Glad that Odor is gone from Texas
He really stunk up that place.
He’ll head to the Asstros and hook up with Odorizzi.
The stench from Houston will be epic!!
Old x-Angels coming to an end, but now as retired millionaires they will enjoy golf even more.
CommNate’s 2021 Ohtani Predictions: Robbie Ray on the rubber; Paul Goldschmidt with the lumber.