LA Angels Weekend News Crash: Guilty

The biggest news in Angels land came from a federal courthouse in Texas yesterday. Eric Kay is guilty on two felony counts relating to the death of Tyler Skaggs. He now heads to sentencing in June and faces at least 20 years in federal prison.

The case moved quickly and had a myriad of developments, all of them bad for all involved. John Henry did a great summation in the links Wednesday.

His title that day was fittingly “Opiod Crisis.” America as a whole is facing this crisis and baseball is not insulated from it. Just how prevalent is opiate abuse in baseball? That’s a legitimate question. And one we probably won’t like hearing the answer.

After confessing to providing pills to Skaggs, Matt Harvey faces a possible MLB suspension. Given his play and attitude, this should amount to nothing.

For their part, the Angels released a statement saying they were saddened by the testimony and that Skaggs addiction was “hidden away.”

I’m trying really hard not to let these links be another bout of baseball induced depression but that is hard. We should be enjoying Rex Fregosi’s great pictures of guys stretching and playing catch. We should be looking forward to games in a few days. Some of us should have travel plans for Tempe.

Alas, the MLB owners and MLBPA did exchange some things yesterday and the key negotiators did stick around to talk off to the side. Reports are that little progress was made.

There is some conflicting information on the next step. ESPN says the next round of talks are slated for next Thursday. However, SI is saying the two camps will talk Monday.

According to that SI article, a deal by February 28th would still allow the season to start on time. That would be a 28 day Spring Training then Opening Day. Hopefully this creates a sense of urgency. Hopefully.

The owners do have the ability to lift the lockout and let camps begin. They won’t because then the players could strike at any moment, giving them the upper hand in negotiation.

Personally, I’m not renewing any ticket plan until a new CBA is in place. I’d be a fool to plunk down cash on games that may or may not happen.

Let’s end these links on a happier note.

Most of us loved watching Torii Hunter play. He’s now taken his passion for playing and great smile to the business world.

When baseball does start, one of the most intriguing names on the board is Seiya Suzuki. FanGraphs tries to project how he’ll be in MLB. I think he’s going to be really good.

Here’s every out of Weave’s no hitter; a game I can brag I attended. Look at that great pay at third by Mark Trumbo.

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2pints
Trusted Member
2 years ago

How funny, just last week I found my ticket to weaver’s no hitter (Humblebrag: I was searching for my Kobe 81 point game stub). I was sitting in CF so didn’t know Torii caught the final out until the crowd roared. That was an unexpected great night.

Brent
Super Member
2 years ago

It’s a shame that no hitter video is such crap quality.

I remember watching that at my Battery’s offices in S Korea waiting to be released from work for the day. Such an exciting game.

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago

From espn.com:

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association intend to hold multiple bargaining sessions — perhaps every day — as early as Monday, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Some urgency?

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

Maybe they should all stay at the same hotel. Have a broadcast booth in the lobby and call the negotiations, “The Spring Meetings”

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

Advertising on uniforms? That tells us the newer rich guys buying clubs do not understand MLB traditions. They even support Manfuck as Commish. That fool has negotiation experience and we have 2 sides so far apart that could wave to each other and still be blind. Adding rules that fans do not care for. I side with no one side in the lockout, but the Owners are ruining the game. For them it’s just a money grab.

At the Big A there is ads all over the place, so much so you don’t even notice some of it. On seat backs, now that’s impressive, in game commercials on TV, that’s just wrong.

Autry and the O’Malley’s where businessmen in addition to being fans of the game. Today it takes a 4 person commissioned staff to keep selling advertising. Bet Arty does not cut back here.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago

We don’t need MLB to watch Angel baseball…..Once the season starts we pick a game from “the youtubes” post it here, start it at 7PM and run a game thread. It will give the young whipper snappers a history lesson and introduce them to the Pep Boys, Many, Mo and Jack My comment on this game….why do we always give up early runs to the A’ss and Lob’sters for us, all in the first, things haven’t changed.

Off to K-Mart, need new reading glasses…….with the ‘Brian Downing’ frames.

04-18-1983 Angels at A’s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVMjZL89U3E

SC_Halo
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

NICE!!!! looks like an entire football field behind home plate. 😂

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

from AZ, the only i way i can watch the LA Kings is ESPN+

the NHL went away from using MLB.TV’s platform which was better, but now that’s the only game for hockey streaming. Hey but now i get to read Buster talk about the Yankees too.

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

God, Please get one for the Angels! My only option is to pay $85 a month to stream ATT for games!

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Mikeal1st

Yeah, ATT or Spectrum. That’s like, do you want the electric or gas chair.

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I watch every year. The only bad part is the….ting! Aluminum bats, argh.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

Nostalgic Moment: Marshall brings up memories and my first thought was that Baseball does indeed provide memories. My favorite was always from the time I was playing catch in the back yard with my dad. My first game to a “real” ballpark was going to a AAA game with 2 of my friends and my dad explaining to us the game while we stuffed popcorn in out waiting mouths and washing it down with soda pop. My last game with dad was in 2012 at the Big A. He was 85 and still walking straight and we enjoyed 3 generations of a great time.

While I did not see Weave’s no hitter in person, I did see one by the Express. My dad took us Boys and my cousin to the Coliseum and to Wrigley Field (He took all of the family to opening day in 1961.) in the early ’60’s. I have seen Willie Stargell hit the first two balls out of Dodgers Stadium. We went many times to see the Angels at Chavez Ravine as him loved Ken McBride and George Brunet. We went as a large group to see Mickey Mantle’s last game at Angel Stadium. My dad never missed one game of mime ever from T Ball thru College.

There is many more memories but I love to read about your memories just as much. You folks during the lockout should post yours as the rest of us would like to read them.

Thanx for reading this.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago

Great memories – my first game at the Big A, Mantle hit a HR off Brunet

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Mine was at Chavez in 1962 or 63…I was 6 or 7.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

And it took 15, 16 years to become a Fan?

bigviz
Member
2 years ago

Great to read of your memories with your dad. It reminds me how I became a fan and how close I could have been a Dodger fan. My dad was a Dodger fan and sometime in the late 70s wanted to take us to our first game at Dodger Stadium. After a long day of work at Water and Power in downtown LA, he decided the drive was too far from West Covina, so down the 57 fwy we went instead. Starting lineups were announced and who other than Nolan Ryan is pitching. My dad tells me we came to the right game, “Nolan Ryan is pitching!”. I was hooked and the rest is history.

30 something years later, here I am passing on the Halos to my kids, ANGELina and Nolan.

If my dad wasn’t so tired that day, i would have been drinking my coffee this morning out of my Dodger mug wearing my Dodger hoodie.

Thank God.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  bigviz

My dad HATED the Chavez Ravine parking lot – so from Glendora we drove down the 57 in the late 1960s before it was a freeway

that determined my fate lol

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

The parking lot at the Latrine STILL sucks.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

I hear you can take a good Piss there though.

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

My fate was determined by my Mom, who was an Angel fan when we still lived up in San Jose (we moved here in August 1964). It was only natural that I should become an Angel fan too. Of course, once they moved to Anaheim I didn’t get to see many games in person until I could drive, but Mom did make a point of taking me to a game every season. My Dad? He was a passionate and informed football fan who took me to Rams games. So I got the best of both worlds.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  rspencer

Roman Gabriel era?

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

Definitely. Gabriel, and Jack Snow, Merlin Olson, et al.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  rspencer

The good old days.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago

Just drove by Tempe Diablo to at least get a picture of the 2022 signage -a bit shocked to see nothing prepped at all. Just old 2021 stuff. This place isn’t anticipating anything

Nada

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Where’s the new Thor sign?

Locked out

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

They must be in the know. On the other hand, the Angels have instructed them to have everything in the ready and not to tip off anyone or anything.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

usually at this time of year, there’s a bunch of food, merchandise and beverages being moved into the stadium but no activity at all there right now. (The fields look great at least).

I shouldn’t say NOTHING has been readied at all in Tempe – there is one update i noted that shows signs of some one expecting the 2022 Angels. Next to the What-A-Burger across the street, there’s a new cannabis dispensary which might come in handy for our squad since Eric Kay is no longer around.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Officially postponed at least until March 5.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

comment image

Brent
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Likely because they can’t use any players image during the lockout.

Marshallx89
Member
2 years ago

Great memory going to Jered Weaver’s no hitter. I remember the excitement building with every out and definitely a little nervous on that last out.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago

Nice photo for the links, but who is that player? I don’t seem to recognize him.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I sure hope he bounces back and stays healthy for the remainder of his contract.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

The verdict and testimony were very interesting and damaging for the Organization. I’m sure Arte has considered cleaning house since that would be a natural reaction. I wonder if his civil legal team is advising against it out of concern anyone who is fired might break ranks.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

The best way for Moreno to clean house is to sell!

SC_Halo
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

i’ve always been an Arte fan but you are right, this has to be the time now.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  SC_Halo

Arte has meddled into ay to many things and situations since taking over. Almost every Free Agent signing that went south was his after Gary Matthews Jr. Hates to pay for pitching. 6 losing seasons in a row. Not filling out the front office properly. Feeding junk food to the minor league kids. Not assisting in lodging for the minor league kids. Losing Rancho to the Doyers and moving to San Bernardino. Hiring only first year GM’s. Either not having enough front office people or just poor vetting and bringing in a pitching coach with a checkered past. Having lousy upper management that is worthless in helping the organization move to a winning culture. Looking Shady in the stadium fiasco. I do believe he always did what he thought was mostly right and did not know about Skaggs being a drug user. After 20 years it’s time to go away with his Billions. And the Los Angeles Angels, really? I don’t think so.

SC_Halo
Trusted Member
2 years ago

You make valid points, no denying that. I just thought it was great (and often overlooked) having an owner of Mexican decent who had the resources to maintain what was built before he arrived. But he did/does meddle way too much and now we have the dark clouds of scandal all over the Big A.

But for the record, i have NO problem with being the Los Angeles Angeles as that is our name since the beginning. That’s just me though, i know it’s a polarizing topic.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  SC_Halo

It’s only polarizing if you get hung up on stupid shit. You never hear anyone complaining about the Hackensack Jets or the North Englewood Football Commanders… the San Jose 49ers…. the St Pete Rays….

When you look at the legal gymnastics needed for Kronke to build SoFi, do you really want/think the Angels will build in LA? No? Do you honestly expect any major sports franchise to call themselves by the piss ant suburb their stadium is located in? No. It’s just not that big a deal. The Smyrna Braves seem happy enough, and LA’s just not a place where we can murder a few Mexicans and bulldoze the rest out of an area to build near downtown any more.

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Yup.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

Santa Clara 49ers

rspencer
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Please don’t bring up the city name argument again. . .

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I don’t think he’s going away. Unless the chances of building a stadium + yuppie shit completely goes away. Then it’s just as likely the team goes away, via new owners or Arte moving them.

The Los San Antonio Angels of Antonio…. I’ll root for that.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Agree……..Agree………Agree!!!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

Derp derpy doooo it’s tootytwo!
comment image

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Baseball is not drug free. To believe this is isolated to the Angels organization is naïve. More embarrassment than damaging. in 1985 a big cocaine scandal was uncovered involving some players on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the case of the Pirates, it was their mascot that was involved channeling drugs vs a lumpy communications director. The Pirates name was dragged through the mud but the shit was prevalent throughout the league. Tim “Rock” Raines, Keith Hernandez, Milner, Vida Blue…and other big names. Players and mascot were suspended, lots of names spilled. The players and their distributors were held responsible along with the mascot.

For the record, only Chuck Tanner took the fall that season after losing 104 game. Our version of Big Brain Brad who was blown out after a miserable second half.

People want massive actions here because of the hatred aimed at Arte, Kuhl and Carpino as the team has sucked but bottom line, Skaggs did it to himself. Unless, it can be proven, Carpino, Eppler or Ausmus filled up the dugout double-bubble bucket with opioids Rusty Hardin ambulance lawsuit can suck-it.

Last edited 2 years ago by FungoAle
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

But, drugs are bad, I don’t look stupid complaining about them, thus Arte must sell team right?

Actually, at this point I wish he would sell the team. I want to watch this site “enjoy” being owned by some Saudi prince’s holding company as they quibble and count every dollar like actual cheap owners who actually don’t care about winning and actually only care about profitability.

We can get some sweet CCP level revisionism going where no era has been as golden as the one following the glorious revolution’s ouster of Mike Scioscia and the eventual downfall of the cheap and evil white supremacist Arturo Moreno. Hopes for credibility will be desperately pinned on facts like “Arte went 11 years without a post season appearance but OMNI Corp has only gone 9.” and “Our farm system is ranked 19th now!”

2002heaven
Trusted Member
2 years ago

comment image
That’s too damm high fools!!! Do you think I wanna burn my money? 💪  💪  👈 

2002heaven
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

1986 WC New York Mets……..maybe the most notorious championship team in any sport ever!

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago

Putting politics aside, when Keith Olbermann talks baseball, I listen. This is an interesting thread.

https://twitter.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1494406727965593608

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Indeed…put his politics aside!!!

But the guy does know baseball.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago

Except for knowing who the worst person in sports is. (Hint: it isn’t who he said it was in 2015)

Designerguy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

If memory serves it was some member of the clergy. Was it Rabbi Tuckman?

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Last edited 2 years ago by Designerguy
red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

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gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Designerguy

If you give me a time machine back to 2008 I take what Olberman says seriously

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

I was at the weaver no hitter too! Incredible to watch and thanks for the positivity Jeff!

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago

Wait… I thought Trumbo couldn’t play 3B?

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago

That Carpino statement is extremely weak and hollow. PR/Legal posturing pretending to be sincere disappointment.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Agreed. Everything is being drafted by a PR team since the civil lawyers are licking their chops with this verdict. The Skaggs legal train is now speeding towards Moneyville, Arteville and Rancho Cuuuuucamonga.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Notice the ‘hidden away’ verbiage. It’s another way of the organization saying we didn’t know and are not liable’. Nothing but lawyer speak in there.

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Who do you think knew?

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Everybody!!! The alcoholic addict is the last one to know.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Nobody knew of Darryl Strawberry, Steve Howe, Lamar Odom, Amy Winehouse, or Chris Farley’s problems.

Last edited 2 years ago by 2002heaven
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

People knew. You just couldn’t sue them for knowing back then.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I think it’s fair to presume that there was some level of knowledge within the organizations highest levels if this was as big of a problem as it seems. I mean, they were using in the dugout. That said, I have no idea who knew or did not know. Mead’s mentorship of Kay and sudden stepping down from the HOF is worth noting.

My comment was more from the standpoint that the press release was clearly written by lawyers and the word ‘hidden’ was carefully chosen.

Last edited 2 years ago by Fansince1971
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

All I know is this. I know of at least 4 guys doing a fair amount of drugs connected to my work now. There isn’t squat I can do about it unless their performance falls off. And that’s landscape/construction/admin work. Arte and his shills can KNOW all we want, even if they set out to prove it they can get their asses sued half to death, and doing something without proof? Nope.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

It’s pretty bad if players are getting high in the “drugout.” It doesn’t sound very hidden away to me.

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Neither was mid-80’s cocaine usage, players leaving the stadium during games to get the good, sniffling, bloody nostrils, players reaching into the back pocket during the game to get a “blast”…I blame it on the people who were doing it. It’s a choice, not a team mantra.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I agree re personal responsibility but unless you are a juror on the civil trial, that opinion is personal and not necessarily controlling. Negligence can include what the Organization should have know as well as Negligent Supervision and Negligent Entrustment and Negligent Hiring. So there are many avenues for negligence here even if upper management did not have actual knowledge. If they were using in the dugout there is a legal argument that could lead to liability that upper management, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

I still think the team’s gonna settle. The Skaggs either look really stupid, really after money, or both. The FO don’t want any more names added to the legend and don’t want to look heartless. The Skaggs case relies heavily on “you should have acted on rumors, or broken the law and fired Kay.” which isn’t gonna fly.

Sounds like something 5M could fix.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

Probably more like $20m but I agree. Now that Kay was convicted of supplying the drugs that killed Skaggs under the much more difficult criminal standard (beyond a reasonable doubt) the civil standard (preponderance of the evidence) is a walk in the park. That will likely result in a willingness to settle the civil suit.

bradllee424
Trusted Member
2 years ago

There was nothing in the trial that showed the Angels were negligent. I thought there was supposed to be text messages from Kay to Mead in which Kay told Mead about Skaggs drug addiction? All this is from the Skaggs family is getting a windfall over Tyler’s death. Really sad how low things have gotten in this country.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  bradllee424

Well if Kay was an Angel employee and was in the course and scope of that employment when he gave Skaggs the drugs, the Org would be liable via a doctrine called Respondeat Superior (aka vicarious liability). Employers are liable for their employees acts within the course and scope.

For obvious reasons, the Angels Org is saying Kay was not in the course and scope of his employment when he provided the drugs to Skaggs. But a jury would determine that issue and it certainly isnt a slam dunk since Kay was on a road trip in his official capacity with the team.

Even if Kay was not in the course and scope of his employment, there are other theories of liability where the Angels could be directly liable such as negligent hiring (of Kay), negligent supervision (off Kay), negligent entrustment (of Kay).

And then, finally, the Angels could be found negligent if the jury finds they knew or should have known of Skaggs drug usage and that they did not respond with due and reasonable care.

Even if a jury were to find Skaggs partially responsible too, the jurors would be asked to apportion liability – ie what % to Skaggs, what % to the Angels. That percentage of fault to Skaggs would reduce but not eliminate a money verdict.

In short, there are a lot of ways the Angels could be found civilly liable here and the standard for civil liability is considerably lower than criminal liability. For these reasons, I expect the case will settle and I would guess in the $20m-$30m range.

Last edited 2 years ago by Fansince1971
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Is the Civil Case in Texas or California? Sadly, that actually makes a world of difference when it comes to a person being liable for what they do to themselves.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

I believe California

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

It would make a difference but maybe not how you are anticipating.

California is a pure comparative negligence state so a Plaintiff can recover even if they are primarily at fault. So, for example, if a Plaintiff is found 80% responsible, they can still recover 20% of the damages. So if the verdict is $10 million and Plaintiff is 80% responsible- in California they recover $2 million.

Texas is a modified comparative negligence jurisdiction. So if plaintiff is 51% liable or more, they recover nothing. So in the above example, there would be zero recovery.

Texas would therefore be a BETTER jurisdiction for the Angels since Tyler could clearly be found at least 50% responsible. In Texas that would mean zero recovery. In California the family could still recover for any percentage of liability on the Angels.

I believe this is why the action was filed in California. I believe the Angels tried to move the civil case (unsuccessfully) to Texas. As would be understandable given that Texas would be a more favorable jurisdiction for for the defense.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Yeah. That’s what I figured. I’d like the plaintiff to receive nothing. In fact, I’d like some money. The decedent made plenty of money while not being very good and doing drugs. I was emotionally harmed by watching that for several years. I would like some money.

bradllee424
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I get what you are saying. But in one word this is called greed. It is what has killed this country. Sadly I don’t think many people realize how bad things are right now. They won’t wake up until the very last minute.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  bradllee424

Greed is not going away. It’s been here a long time and it will continue to motivate and dictate behavior (unfortunately).

Greed, anger, resentment and jealousy unfortunately are more common in life than love, kindness and awareness.

bradllee424
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Sad, but true.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  bradllee424

You know what a person who complains about greed is right? A greedy person who sucks at making money.

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Curious, would make it better? One of the Angel employees died from using drugs from another Angel employee. Maybe, “we are fully responsible and could have prevented this from happening”.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

The second half of the statement all read defensive like its planting seeds for the basis of their civil defense (people hide things, the drug policy didn’t exist, MLB can get these guys help…lots of things that suggest that everyone BUT the Angels has responsibility for preventing these sorts of things).

It should have ended after stating it was difficult to hear without needing to tell us this thing all the players knew about was “hidden away”. All they needed to do was have a message that sounded human. The defensive language felt guilty.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

That kind of depends on how badly you want the person making the statement to be guilty. In their current situation I don’t think the Angels, or myself for that matter, would put out ANYTHING that wasn’t put through the lawyers first. I bet lunch orders are typed up by a paralegal at this point, as well they should be, lawsuits pretty much run our world now. If they’d come out with some blubbery and human I’d just think they were stupid.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago

Maybe. But Arte likes to go out of his way to call the Angels a family organization, it’s all about relationships/bonds with the players etc. An organization that actually believes that would maybe consider less ham fisted ways to respond to the breaking news of one of their family members being found guilty of supplying pills that killed their other family member.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Assuming it is true that Arte says that, he probably means the same thing every other company does when they say that — they want their employees to be extremely loyal and obey their overbearing parents without question in exchange for wages that are just enough to meet basic necessities with a modicum of leisure funds.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Carpino should be working somewhere in Las Vegas. He reminds of a “Casino” movie character.

Last edited 2 years ago by 2002heaven
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

Nah. Too stupid. Too nuttless. Carpino should work for a cut rate insurance company…. or be a landlord in Dayton.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

Good morning, the weekend is upon us as the Winter Olympics are coming to an end. The next sporting excitement on tap will be College Basketball Conference Playoffs followed by March Madness. Can’t wait.

Stating the obvious but the quicker the Owners and players come to the table first and to their collective senses second the quicker they avoid Armagedón. Self-destruction is not pretty when fueled by greed.

My two cents worth, expanded playoffs really should not happen, but will because of money that everyone will take in. Making more team eligible after 162 games and watching a Wild Card team win the World Series is not really must-see stuff. Diluting the season with an NBA type of ending is just not what Baseball is all apart.

Not paying kids for Spring Training is just flat out cheapness.

With the fact that Pitchers can’t hit, except for a few, adding the National League DH is a no brainer.

In all honesty can you name all 32 NFL teams and place them in their proper division? Try the same in NBA and NHL. Too many teams in too many divisions lose a lot of fans attention. imho.

Have a great day and weekend.

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Only place pitchers still hit is the National League.

All of baseball from Tee Ball up now uses the DH.

MLB Network had a segment on this just this week.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago

Not in Little League, pitchers hit in Little League all the way through The Majors.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Ditto Pony League from Shetland to Colt.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago

I’m a traditionalist through and through and I like the universal DH. The time has come.

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago

Apparently you all need to talk to the network about this.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Wait, pitchers don’t hit in high school? I doubt that, pitchers are often among the better hitters on a team.

Guest
2 years ago

Jeff Conine was the star pitcher on my high school’s baseball team when I was a sophomore, and he was indeed one of the better hitters on that team

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to 

Yeah, at least back when I played most of the pitchers were also bigger/better hitters than a lot of guys. Hell, it’s why they’d stash me out in right field when I wasn’t on the mound. I’d throw a few innings, then shuffle my way out to RF and spend two innings praying no one hit it to me. And when I played all game in the OF…. it was pretty awful, but I also hit well so it was generally worth it to the coach to hide me out there and hope for the best. I think most HS teams still do that, but we didn’t have a DH then.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago

I remember when an AL and NL team won the pennant and played in the World Series. That was cool.

Marcotor
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

And the “Fall Classic” was over by the 2nd week of October. Sneaking an “all-transistor” radio into class to listen to the games.

Now, get off my lawn!

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Now it’s little league, everybody gets to participate. And I’ve updated to Astroturf.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago

I keep trying to be sympathetic to the owners but not paying the kids is just flat out greedy and sick.