The good news is that both the MLBPA and MLB owners are now at the negotiating table. Offers and counter offers are going back and forth. Progress on a new deal is being made but the clock is ticking.
Who’d have thought that getting together and tossing ideas back and forth is what leads to a deal? Hmm….
Here’s a nice recap of the progress that has been made. I think we all pretty much like this. If you read between the lines you can see the progress not made: salary floor, anti tanking measures, luxury tax. I’ve long been of the opinion that once two sides decide to do something, the dollar component gets straightened out. We’ll see.
One group getting overlooked here is the charity network tied to Spring Training. The Angels work with the Tempe Diablos who do tremendous work in the area and other clubs have charity tie ins. I’ve talked to these folks year after year and the revenues generated do a ton of good in the Phoenix community. After two down years in a row, these groups really need some help.
Once the lockout is lifted, front offices will have a ton of work to do. How have AL teams addressed their biggest weaknesses so far?
Jeff Fletcher took on a mailbag. Is it time to extend Ohtani and what other moves are the Angels likely to make?
The bad news has been discussed a lot around here. Artificially Big Papi will get inducted into the Hall of Fame. This makes a mockery of the Hall and points out the hypocrisy of the voters. Cheat all you want, have a low WAR, but have a cute nickname.
Not getting in were vastly superior players with ties to PEDs. Even the non-juiced version of Bonds was better than Papi, but why have consistency and put the Steroid Era to rest with an All Steroid Class?
Now it is time to take a look at other names on the ballot and their chances of eventually getting the call.
After last week’s epic Bills vs. Chiefs game there has been a lot of talk about changing the NFL overtime rules to ensure each team receives a possession. Now, the Frontier League, a partner league of MLB, proposes to add a “sudden death” format to extra innings baseball games. This will make for some really fun managerial decisions.
I love it when a player shows some humor and humility. I also enjoyed watching Gordon Beckham in his short time here with the Angels. This is a great way to announce his retirement:
One last note. We witnessed incredible history last year. Shohei Ohtani did things we never thought possible. His year and legacy will be written about and discussed for as long as baseball is played.
Angels beat writer and great Twitter follow Jeff Fletcher has written a book on Shohei and will join me this afternoon for a Zoom chat. I’ll post the talk here later today. In the meantime, I’m pre-ordering this book and look forward to reading it.
WTF? its WTY
https://twitter.com/ithrow88/status/1487983530650918914
“The Steroid era” – Am I wrong, or aren’t players still juicing? I hear people referring to that era like it’s over and pretending like players stopped cheating. I mean, many players get suspended every year for testing positive. Maybe part of why Papi made it is because they’ve realized that if no one who used PEDs is allowed in the Hall, we won’t have hardly anyone in the Hall.
There will always be cheaters – but the ‘Era’ is when it was a more general practice that didn’t explicitly violate the rules of the game. At least, that is how I see it.
The Los Angeles Cardinals of Anaheim?
https://twitter.com/dgoold/status/1487181549732827137
Guess he really didn’t need to turn in his wings.
It definitely confused me, lol. I wasn’t sure if he left or joined the team
The color scheme is the same, so it is fitting I guess.
All kidding aside, I have said before, if you are going to imitate a franchise they are not a bad choice. The Cards consistently have good pitching and the history of building their rosters through the minor leagues is a halmark of the “Cardinals way.”
Bringing in all these guys from St. Louis is one of the few things this franchise has done well over the last couple of years.
To bad we can’t bring in their competitive-balance pick
FYI for pals from that old site. Matt Welch is going to be on Real Time w/Bill Maher tonight.
Only problem is you have to watch Bill Maher. 😂
Where is my favorite resident li-BRO-tarian commentator? Miss seeing him around these parts.
Has anyone let him know that we all moved here?
I seem to remember that he checked in here just after the exodus.
We’ll if 2002 can find us, I guess anybody can.
Hall of Fame voting was all over the place, but the younger and newer writers look at MLB and sports in general different than mostly older writers and fans look at the same.
The odd component of the voting was voting Ortiz in on not only first ballot but also the known Steroid use. Not all writers are from the New England area. Going to other Baseball sites and sports sites it was not a popular move to electing Ortiz to the HoF. It seems to have left an impression on me that less than 50% of Fans posting agree with the outcome. But it’s Ova. Nothing more to see, so now moving along.
Great SoCal weekend with the Rams hosting a Championship game. I can see not only a sellout but record SoCal TV ratings. Go Rams.
Have a fun Weekend everyone.
Mr. Fletcher, I hope your book sells out, what a subject matter you wrote about, very positive stuff. I will purchase a book.
I’m looking forward to watching the Rams game but I’m disappointed that Sofi Stadium caved from their original decision and the stadium will be flooded with 49er fans.
You are correct……A Squatters den of 49er fans will be hosting.
The SoFi decision wouldn’t change much. LA based people would’ve just bought and sold on StubHub. Plus there are tons of transplants who live here and would have purchased using their LA area addresses.
Let’s send them all home unhappy!!
I’m rooting for the winner of this game either way. I honestly prefer the Niners a bit (I like old school ground and pound football) but will gladly root for the Rams in the Super Bowl.
My Steelers fandom will prevent me from cheering the Bengals.
My human decency will prevent me from cheering Tyreke Hill.
My human decency will prevent me from cheering for the Steelers or Baltimore…….Because, Browns.
And boo Bengals too.
But aren’t the Bengals Paul Brown’s successor team to the original Browns who are now in Baltimore? So which Browns version do you get to root for exactly?
…or the Rams? They too came from Cleveland. Cleveland Rams, played there from 1936 to 1945.
What it come down to, Cleveland Ohio is the birthplace of Football, the Mecca, the motherland…..the home of football and the land of burning lakes.
Not sure if Cleveland or St Louis ( NFL Rams & Cardinals , MLB Browns, NBA Hawks, ABA Spirts) have had more transitory teams. But our nations capitol ranks right up there. there’s been 3 different Washington DC MLB teams but the only one to stick there had to come from Canada. Who knew?
Personally I’m a fan of the Cleveland Bulldogs..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Bulldogs
So credit to the Rams for allowing the local fan base to profit off of the reselling of this weekend’s game tickets to the Norcals. Cheap Arte would never allow that. He would want the money himself.