Who would you place on the Angels Mount Rushmore of stupendous individual seasons? Shohei Ohtani made the list. One of the things he did well in 2021 is dial up the heat in two strike counts. Meanwhile, I wonder if I should do a Mount Rushmore of stupidity article.
The brinksmanship continues. MLB apparently said they are going to postpone some regular season games. Here comes the economic pain that is supposed to get people serious about the negotiations.
In news I’m sure everybody has been waiting for, Edubray Ramos signed with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League.
Bunting Contest? What’s bunting, Precious?
I think the acronym would have been funnier if they just called it the “Fans Union.“
Long time Seattle Mariners Spanish language broadcaster Julio Cruz passed away at the age of 67. He was a nice guy, although apparently reading comprehension was not his strong suit.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Not resigning Zack and not drafting Shane.
Pretty stupid, incompetent and CHEAP!!!
Greinke wanted way to much money. He was very up front that it was all about the Benjamins.
Yes, as opposed to Anthony Rendon, Josh Hamilton, and Justin Upton, who were all very low cost one yr deals like we always do for SP’s.
 😫  😠 😟  👎  👈 ……..Good Gawd!!!
I’m done for today……
Not drafting Shane Beiber, who was drafted in the 4th round, was cheap? Everyone passed on him multiple times – what kind of time machine do you think Arte is supposed to have?
don’t worry. This guy complains about ever guy the angels didn’t draft or sign that happened to turn out good. Bryan Reynolds was the latest one I think
I think Bieber was born in the Anaheim Stadium parking lot and our scouts still missed him. 💩  💩  💩 
Ohhhhhhh Oh Ohhhh…. Tootytwo!
Well, here’s the latest MLBPA proposal for a draft lottery. It’s convoluted. Maybe that’s why a bear of only average intelligence like myself doesn’t understand how this is supposed to address competitive balance issues.
Yes. I understand how draft lotteries work. But when I look at this whole mess it seems like teams like the Brewers, Twins, Pirates, Reds, Indians, Royals and especially those damn pesky Rays and A’s who keep f***ing up and winning instead of letting big coastal teams into the post season, are all one or two bad drafts away from pretty much always sucking, never having money, and always picking 10th. I mean, is this supposed to motivate these teams to bid up the contract that Dallas Keuchel eventually signs?
I do however look forward to the day that LeBraun James’ son represents the Angels at the lottery after Arte does the right thing, gives up, sells the team to an ownership group made up primarily of Russian human traffickers and South East Asian organ dealers, fronted by a winner of color in Le Braun (owner of 6% of the team!) who “knows how to win” and “speaks to the COMMUNITY”, but still loses 90 a year because of budget. But at least LeBlonde will probably hire a POBO cause that move’s got zazz.
Also, this new draft will solve the problem where the Yankees and Red Sox never seem to have 20 of the top 30 prospects, which is bad for baseball…. and is also a major cause of global warming and dangerous infections.
So yeah, this is probably a good idea. Or you could skip all of this bullshit and make every dollar of Comp Balance money go to player payroll. Or hell, even 85%. what ever.
Loved the story about Julio and the gift certificate.
Rushmore of Stupidity: Jepsen throwing an intentional walk pitch to the backstop in extra innings and costing us the game. Was the Not Top 10 #1 play for a while.
Rushmore of Individual Seasons: Frankie setting the all time saves record.
The poll link is below and you can add that as an option.
Edit: That “Add Option” button doesn’t work so I went into the editorial regions and added this one for you.
Is it possible to be too slow even for a pace car?
https://twitter.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1496911630260588555
Maybe they’ll let him use his electric golf cart, the one for seniors.
[COMIC BOOK GUY VOICE]
Slowest. Lap. Ever.
Mount Rushmore- Nolan Ryan’s 1973 season with 388 strikeouts.
On the CBA negotiations- it’s funny to me every time I hear that the owners could just end the lockout and allow baseball camps to open. Why the heck would they do that from a leverage standpoint?! The owners’ leverage truly starts when games are not played and players are not earning money. The longer that goes – the bigger advantage to the owners.
If owners just ended the lockout, they would have to start paying players come the regular season. That would shift the leverage to the players who could collect their paychecks and be in no rush re a new CBA.
From a purely negotiations standpoint- unless the Union accepts the Owner’s offer, it is in the Owners’’ interest to have the season delayed putting the monetary screws to the players’ thumbs. That may not be best for the fans or baseball, but it is the best strategy to advance the owners’ economic interests. So why would we expect them to do anything else?
If the owners lift the lockout then the story every day will switch to “is today the day the players strike?”
You are dead on right. It won’t happen for all those reasons.
And even if it did, I wouldn’t renew my tickets under that scenario.
Jeff – I am giving up my 28 years of season tickets once the credited season I am owed (from 2020 and then 2021) is done.. I had thought that would be 2022 but now am not so sure. It is paid in full and they will not reimburse. So, I’ll use the credit and then say sayonara.
I’ll go to 6-10 games a year at some point when I am over my frustration with both the owners and the players. But my interest in making a season ticket investment in baseball is gone.
I’ve never done full season. Generally the 20 game flex plan. For a couple of years there I did the premium e vouchers.
My favorite games are Sunday afternoon and they are rarely full so I’ve been considering not renewing anyway. But with the vouchers I could take a couple nephews, get good seats, and save some $.
For the first time in a long time, I’m probably going without a ticket package this year. I’ll get face value or below at StubHub, maybe splurge for Opening Night or an LA game.
When I go, I tend to do the Sunday day games, because I can take the train and be sure I can get back to the Valley after the game.
But the owners are rich. Once you have enough money you’re supposed to do stupid shit to make me feel like I’m winning.
The Angels’ Mount Rushmore of Stupidity would have to include Premium, if only for The Throw.
The top of the mount Rushmore of Stupidity would have to be both the Hamilton signing, and the Vernone Wells trade.
Vinnie Pestano trade?
Two 8-7 pitchers.
Dumb & Dumber as a rock; Gene Mauchiavellian edition:
I never heard about the Moore cortisone shot….
sad story…..trAdition.
https://stowens.medium.com/unbalanced-5a4147f0b18d
There was also a great book about the 1986 post season called one pitch away. It spends a ton of time on that series including the players reactions to bringing Donnie Moore in and the game 5 meltdown. I highly recommend it if you enjoy reliving train wrecks.
https://www.abebooks.com/Pitch-Away-Players-Stories-1986-League/30953508637/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade50up-_-product_id=COM9780028608464NEW-_-keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrrKX0aWZ9gIVYA2tBh1MGwbjEAQYAyABEgIIOPD_BwE
tragic day
I’d have left Witt in.
we’re going to need a bigger mount
At least he had a good nickname (on the old site if nowhere else) that made him sound like a mafioso. Vinnie the Pest.
Ugggghhh.
There’s a lot of interesting stuff here. Maybe I will make a poll. Keep ’em coming.
This will be my first poll on this site. Hopefully it works.
The poll is here.
It’s on for a week. I allowed the ability for you guys to add more options if you want. One vote per user.
Nothing happens when I click new option. I want to add “no pinch runner for Morales”
Oh drat! I’ll see if I can fix it.
It lets me do it. Sorry guys. I checked the box for that which is why the button shows. Maybe I should add “WordPress Polls” as one of the options.
thanks! voted!
I voted for Buzzie, but no pinch runner for KMo is right up there.
Buzzie should get a bonus votes for other boneheaded comments and moves. In fact there is a tie in to the game 5 meltdown . Emil Bavasi’s insults and dissing of Don Baylor led to extra motivation for Groove to hit .346/.469/.577 in the 1986 ALCS including a 2 HR in the top of the ninth to set up the infamous pitching change and Hendu’s go ahead homer.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-06-sp-4422-story.html
Had to vote for something other than Premium. You guys mentioning these other cases — yeah, I have to agree: there’s a difference between short term brain farts and stupid decisions that hamstring the team for years.
This does bring up an interesting question: what is arguably stupider?
I don’t have an answer, I’m just curious to know what you guys think.
i like Arte. Comparitvely speaking, he’s way ahead of most owners and he spends on players.
but the problem is, Arte almost sweeps the podium for this Mt. Rushmore of Stupidity
The “two 8-7 pitchers” comment is tops.
Then the 1986 Game 5 could have it’s own Mt. Rushmore but i always hate to revisit the darkest day of my life.
So Buzzie gets the Golden Buttercup?
War breaking out, it’s 5 degrees outside, and no baseball in sight.
Dark days, folks.
actually it is 45 degrees with a high of 64 degrees today, and sunny.
We get it, you live in SoCal 😂
And I don’t ever, want to even think about having to shovel snow, just to be able to drive somewhere. 😬
It truly is awful.
It snowed in portland last night. It’s already melted so no shovel for me. Meanwhile….if the world blows up, how will the Angels play road games?
When the going gets tough, the tough turns pro.
War breaking out? MLB and the players have been fighting for years.
Ukraine, dude.
then it got much more darker when 1985 Game 5 was brought up.
I think you mean 1986. Unless you mean WS game 5 and you’re a Cards fan.