Good morning Angels fans, how are you today? Can you believe it is almost February? Anyway, have some links!
News
The 2022 MLB HOF results have been revealed. Ortiz is in on his first ballot. No one else made the 75%. Bonds, Clemons, Schilling, and Sosa amongst others are now off the ballot. FOR EV ER. Well, there is the Veteran Committee ballot which is rigged but who knows how that will go.
Jeff wrote about how this would be a travesty, which seems to be the popular opinion here at CtPG. Not in other places, however.
In other news, the players and owners are negotiating the CBA. Things have been progressing slowly, but still getting closer to a deal. Minimum salary for players will be increased, issue is how much. Owners want more penalties for the lux tax, players want fewer. However, there may be a max salary in some way if the minimum is increased.
When the CBA is finally hashed out, the Red Sox are favorites to sign Suzuki. Ugh, if I needed more bad news.
For the Pioneer League, they saw what the NFL did for their overtime rules and decided to copy that in the worse possible way for extra innings. How would making only 1 team hit make any sense at all?!
Advertising on uniforms? It is more likely than you think.
The Angels sign another player to an MiLB deal. Something!
Jeff Fletcher wrote an Ohtani book. Nice. Maybe I should get it.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!
I am pleased that Bonds, Clemens, Manny Rameriz, ARod, Vizquel and Sheffield and Sosa were not voted in. They should not be in. My habit with a guy I think “Cheated” is not to consider them for MLBHOF. Cheating is morally wrong in addition to just not playing any game in life fair. I do not believe that Rolen, Schilling, or Wagner used Steroids.
Bonds, Clemens, Rolen, Schilling, Man Ram, A Roid, Vizquel, Wagner… maybe Sheffield. They all belong in the Hall. My habit with a guy who I think used PEDs is to knock off about 15% of their WAR and then see if they are still HOFish. I don’t think Rolen, Schilling and Wagner even used PEDs.
I hope they elect Arnold Rothstein to the Hall next, as an Influence, like they do for the Rock and Roll HoF.
I’m going to laugh when Boston whiffs on Suzuki and he goes to either The Mariners or Padres. I think The Mariners will make a big push to sign him.
Wait. Ichiro is coming out of retirement to play for the Chowds? isn’t that dude even older than Albert Pujols?
trying to be a wise guy? No doubt (I didn’t read it) it’s Kurt Suzuki, our recent catcher. Not sure why those teams mentioned by steelgolf would be interested.
Some teams Seiya he is still a good player, and not that many catchers around.
Its comforting to know that there are 2 dipshit writers out there that think A.J. Pierzynski is Hall of Fame worthy.
Yeah, that one was the major headscratcher for me too. The man had a decent career, but I don’t think he’s even Hall of Very Good-worthy. Note I’m taking the high road and ignoring his advanced case of Metastatic Jackassery.
Is the retention threshold 5% or 7.5%? I can’t remember.
5%
Thanks. So Torii and Chupa stay on the ballot.
https://www.mlb.com/news/torii-hunter-bobby-abreu-returning-to-hall-of-fame-ballot
advertising is on pretty much every other jersey and sport now and i’m used to it.
Angel Stadium – it still doesn’t have a corporate spoonsor does it?
So maybe Arte like his brand and his brand only in places.
I do like that he kept the stadium name as-is but the stadium itself looks like a NASCAR car. They sell every inch of wall space to sponsors. I know most teams do but in comparison to Dodger stadium it does feel a bit much.
That Pioneer league tweet would have been hilarious on April 1.