LA Angels Weekend News Crash: Progress and Disappointment

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.

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Rallymanatee
Trusted Member
2 years ago

“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.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Rallymanatee

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.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago

The Los Angeles Cardinals of Anaheim?

https://twitter.com/dgoold/status/1487181549732827137

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Guess he really didn’t need to turn in his wings.

YOUknowulovetheIE
Super Member
2 years ago

It definitely confused me, lol. I wasn’t sure if he left or joined the team

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

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.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

To bad we can’t bring in their competitive-balance pick

LanaBanana
Super Member
2 years ago

FYI for pals from that old site. Matt Welch is going to be on Real Time w/Bill Maher tonight.

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  LanaBanana

Only problem is you have to watch Bill Maher. 😂

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  LanaBanana

Where is my favorite resident li-BRO-tarian commentator? Miss seeing him around these parts.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Commander_Nate

Has anyone let him know that we all moved here?

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

I seem to remember that he checked in here just after the exodus.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

We’ll if 2002 can find us, I guess anybody can.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

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.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

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.

LanaBanana
Super Member
2 years ago

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.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  LanaBanana

You are correct……A Squatters den of 49er fans will be hosting.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Let’s send them all home unhappy!!

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

My human decency will prevent me from cheering for the Steelers or Baltimore…….Because, Browns.

And boo Bengals too.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

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?

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

…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.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

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?

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Personally I’m a fan of the Cleveland Bulldogs..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Bulldogs

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

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.