LA Angels Thursday News Crash- Season Opener

Dylan Bundy will start the season opener again this year.  The Angels 2021 season starts later today when they will face the White Sox at home.  Tune in at 7:10 PM Pacific time.  Due to an easing of the lockdown, more Angels tickets might be available, if it’s not already too late to snap them up.  If you wish to attend in person, there are a few new rules

Aaron Slegers got that last bullpen spot for the Angels, and apparently Cishek looked “crispy.”  Chris Rodriguez was so overwhelmed to make the team that he can’t remember most of what Joe Maddon said in that meeting.  The Angels grade out pretty well at center field, third base and designated hitter.  It’s all those other positions that have us on the edge of our seats.  It looks like somebody finally found a comp for Pujols on the base paths. Speaking of Albert Pujols, here is a discussion of some of the career milestones Albert Pujols might reach this year (along with discussions of some other players who may achieve milestones of their own). 

Links From Around Baseball

Umpire Angel Hernandez lost his discrimination lawsuit against Major League Baseball on a summary judgment motion.  Oops!  The Nationals are having COVID issues.  One player tested positive and five others are required to quarantine because they were contacts. 

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Jim Atkins
Super Member
2 years ago

We’re in Vegas celebrating vaccinations and spending our stimulus money. Yay Fletcher and go Halos!

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago

So happy to see baseball starting again, and with actual fans in the stands. And at 33% capacity, it will be a nostalgic experience, reminiscent of the Nineties.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  LanaBanana

pretty funny. something like that would catapult us into a 5 game losing steak. I’m sure the dodgers just homered the next AB.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago

why are they still doing the runner on 2b to start the 10th? f#$%^& you, Manfred! This is a 162 game season with professional baseball players, not t-ball.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago

Totally agree Eric. This is simply ridiculous.

LanaBanana
Super Member
2 years ago

Will we even be playing 9 inning games? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  LanaBanana

If the Angels win, will Joe Maddon take the team to Dairy Queen for a postgame soft serve cone?

LanaBanana
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Right? That’s an incentive 😂

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

I tuned into TOR v NYY just because I saw a runner was on 2nd with no outs in the 10th. Forgot the rule so it had the desired effect and made me watch.

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago

FLETCHER extension!!!

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago

Fletch extended!

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Yay !!!!!

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago

Unfortunately, I foresee another poor start to a season for the Halos. I think the White Sox will take three out of four and then we’ll split with the Astros.

After a disappointing 2-4 home stand we’ll already be talking about another poor April and looking forward to 2022.

bigviz
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Why so pessimistic?! Sheesh. Btw, you’re totally right on. I’d like to add a starter leaving a game with a “strain”.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

OR we’re gonna go 4-2 and you owe us all an apology for trying to kill the Opening Day buzz. Save the gloom for Day 2.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

As long as Trouty stay’s healthy we will win our division and go on to the WS.

Atlanta win National League East.

Cards win National League Central.

Dodgers win National West.

Wild Cards NY Mets, SD Padres.

Toronto Blue Jays win American League East.

White Sox win American League Central.

Angels win American League.

Wild Cards Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees,

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

No love for the Rays?

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago

World Series????

😂😂😂😂

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

So Grandpa – if your key is Trout and only Trout- are you expecting a 40 WAR season from him? 🤣

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago

Happy Opening Day!!!!

Should be a national holiday.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Almost makes me want to become a single issue voter.

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

It’s a single issue that would unite a fragmented electorate.

hockey_duckie
Member
2 years ago

Let’s start small. Let’s be over .500 after tonight! Go, Halos!

SzenMaster
Member
2 years ago

Ahh the feeling of optimism and excitement when a new season begins.. I am so pumped to watch some Angles baseball and I think that we can all agree that we should have an entertaining team.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

The journey to 100 regular season wins starts with the first victory. Let’s get it tonight!!

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

These 100 wins are achieved over how many seasons?

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

One but that includes post season wins

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Just pointing out you can’t get to 100 without 1 😃

Guest
2 years ago

Speaking of milestones, I’m excited to see Trout become the all-time Angel leader in a couple more categories this year. The first team list he conquered was for career home runs, overtaking Tim Salmon’s 299.

This year Trout should become the Angel team leader in intentional walks (Vlad is #1 with 112 free passes and Trout is just eight behind him with 104).

Trout should also be able this year to score the 81 runs it would take him to pass GA (1024) as the franchise leader in runs scored.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

Wonder how many tickets are left to buy for this series. Lots of pods of 4 or more that I’m sure aren’t bought up.
Good links today. So excited for the day and tonight!! Let’s go

Last edited 2 years ago by Angels2020Champs
Thunderbolt
Member
2 years ago

BOS/BAL rained out, NYM/WSH PPD due to COVID.

Matty V was supposed to be on the latter of those games for ESPN. Maybe he can call the Halos game now, lol. Happy Opening Day, folks. Win or lose, it’s so awesome to have baseball back.

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Thunderbolt

I would prefer to have guys who are actually at the stadium, but maybe he can make it back! I’ve just noticed that calling a game when you’re not actually there is not that great

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago

Hahahaha, Angel Hernandez was just basically told that he didn’t get to work the prime games and be a crew chief because he sucks at his job and has no situational leadership skills. 99% of baseball fans came to this same realization years ago. Now he can safely be weened out of MLB umpiring and into the minors, or better yet, the independent leagues.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

I’m pretty sure the contract with the umpire’s union will protect his job and prevent his demotion to the minors.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Yep. The union cares about seniority not performance.

And, really, is Hernandez much worse than CB Bucknor, Joe West, Doug Eddings, and the rest of the dinosaurs?

That union really needs to change or go.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Robo Umps, no need for Hernandez, West, Eddings, and Bucknor. They can enjoy their early forced retirement.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago

Got the day off, bought peanuts, m&ms, licorice and ice cream sandwiches. Gonna grill some burgers and hot dogs tonight. Having a few vaxxed friends coming over to watch the game…

Can’t be at the game, but got the next best thing! Let’s do this!

SzenMaster
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

This sounds amazing. Just charge your friends $8.50 a beer and it is like you’re at the game.

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  SzenMaster

Just reminded me of when one of my friends took out a lounge in the dorm, bought Mayweather-McGregor, and charged like $10 a head. Made a few hundred bucks that night.

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  SzenMaster

Don’t forget to get up from your seat every half-inning to get more food and drink. Make sure everyone has to stand up so you can get past them.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Carrying food back to your seats, trying not to trip on a step. Except replace the steps with dogs.

Last edited 2 years ago by Mia
Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  SzenMaster

Now I wanna put a “Parking $10” sign on the lawn.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Thats a bargain!

Last edited 2 years ago by Angels2020Champs
SzenMaster
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

this brings up memories of me parking across the street at Katella and thinking that lot I found was a steal at $15.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  SzenMaster

Stadium parking used to be $8 IIRC

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

I just paid $20.00 for the 16th. everything, including parking has to be paid via the Ballpark app. They forced me to download yet another app on my phone.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Parking at the Big A is $20 now? Geez.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

I always look for street parking south of Orangewood.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

Yeah, I used to have access to a parking lot on Rampart st. but the structural engineering firm moved out to Monrovia.

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

In the 1970s it was 75 cents. When Autry signed the first three free agents, it rose to $1.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

And we had to park uphill in the snow. Both ways!

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Git off much lawn!

bigviz
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  SzenMaster

Exactly. We used to park at Nationals bar and grill and walk to the stadium to save $8. Then walk back after the game and throw back a few there while having conversations like “ why did we sign Gary Gaetti so late in his career?”

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

That’s awesome. Enjoy.

I’m conveniently working from home today. Shocker, right?

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Will do!

That’s an absolute head scratcher!

Last edited 2 years ago by Mia
JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Love your combo; “peanuts, m&m’s licorice and ice cream sandwiches.”

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Great – Angel Hernandez pissed off at MLB should make him an even more effective umpire…..

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

Playing Baseball on a day like this is a beautiful sight as we all can hear Ernie Banks say let’s play two. have a fun time watching the Halo’s play and I’ll see you later.