Time flies during baseball season. Even one as painful as this one. We’re two weeks from the All Star Game which also means two weeks from the 2022 MLB Draft.
July also means Independence Day. I hope you celebrate the holiday with family and friends, take a moment to be thankful for our freedoms, and have as many fingers on Tuesday as you do today.
Please, please, don’t watch the horrible movie of the same name, though.
Shohei Ohtani provided a lot of fireworks in the month of June. On the mound his scoreless streak is 21 and 2/3rds innings. For the month of June, Ohtani’s posted a 1.52 ERA with 38 K’s in 29 and 2/3rds innings.
But wait, there’s more. At the plate, he slashed .298/.398/.574 with 6 home runs and 17 RBI.
Joe Starkey at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette does a great job here in explaining why the debate is over. Ohtani is clearly the greatest all around player of all time.
Our neighbors to the north are hosting the ASG this season and doing a great job providing multiple ways for fans to enjoy it. The schedule is packed and tickets will sell out for a lot of these so you might want to buy some now.
The Dodgers and Angels are combining forces to get our SoCal stars into the All Star Game and I like it. More exposure for Trout and Ohtani is a good thing.
Taking place during the All Star Break is the 2022 MLB Draft.
ESPN is going big in the draft business. Here is their current mock draft, version 2.0. In this scenario, if Jace Jung is on the board and Perry doesn’t take him I’d be pissed. Odd to say but we have a lot of pitching prospects but not one fast moving bat.
In case you missed version 1.0 here it is. In this case Perry leaves Arizona catcher Andrew Susac on the board. I’m not Turk’s Teeth here, but a stud catcher with a solid bat would be really, really hard for me to pass up.
And here’s their ranking of 150 prospects.
After you’re done crunching numbers and data remember this is about drama, intrigue, and promise. There are some really great storylines heading into this year’s draft.
Storylines from around baseball include a huge one in Freddie Freeman. His agent never told him about Atlanta’s final offer. One that would have kept Freeman in Atlanta. That’s huge on the field, yes, but we’re also talking about a guy uprooting his family. Bad, agent. Bad.
9 years after being the first overall pick, Mark Appel finally made his MLB debut this week.
And now to a little tradition of mine. My favorite scene from the movie. Just a perfect song to go along with a group of childhood friends playing baseball. Enjoy this clip, enjoy your weekend.
Here’s the fix/deflection, I give you the newest Halo, Jonathan Villar…
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/los-angeles-angels
This FRONT OFFICE cant’tttt GET ANYTHINNG RIGHT SINCE 2003…………YES THE EMPHASIS on 2003!!!!!
💩 💩 💩 💩 BYE!!!!!
Hey Toots. I’m glad I could help again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtNm9CgA6U
Our batting averages are actually better than Houston in the line ups for tonight.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/angels-vs-astros/2022/07/01/662748#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=662748
11 year old me wants to fight you for saying independence day was a bad movie.
June should be renamed Juntani
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1542890412289007616
Unintentional multilingual pun? Pure-tani!
And what did the Angels do with this otherworldly performance? Go 10-18
You so right. No more otherworldly performances!
It’s depressing they’re still this terrible
So true. You should probably turn to drugs to help deal with it.
But what would the y be WITHOUT the otherworldly performance?
Our drafting history in recent years shows that we take a player worth less in signing money so that we can save money at the top and that leads to questionable signings. We prior to Perry have also not done our own scouting and relied on others such as National publications to serve in rating players. This year is odd in that not one rates the players the same and even mock drafts are all different. One even has us drafting a pitcher who hasn’t pitched in a year and a half. Kind of like Thor. Going to be interesting. I have a feeling it’s going to be SS then pitching the rest of the way. I am really excited for this coming draft to see what we come away with. As far as making picks as to who I like, I like them all except for taking a chance on a TJS pitcher in the first round. Check out the mock drafts, they are fun to read, especially the 13th position.
I can’t agree with you on this one G Pa. I’m not so sure that the Angels have drafted high enough to target full slot can’t miss talent that would have made a difference if they had the opportunity the last 8+ years. I’m not saying it hasn’t been available to draft I’m saying that the Angels scouting department hasn’t been successful ( and possibly competent) enough to hit big on mid to late first round draft picks. ( The curse of the GOAT?) Since every team is subject to a total allotted draft pool which they cant exceed by 5% without being subjected to more draconian taxes and future draft penalties, the Angels have drafted strategically to allow them to draft better talent in later rounds. it does not appear that the Angels are saving the money because Arte is cheap ( which we all know he is) since they appear to spend the maximum amount available to them every draft without incurring substantial penalties (other than the tax from 0% to 5% over the threshold).
You can question the strategery, but consider the draft has now been limited to 20 rounds , I think this gives the Angels the best opportunity to draft more potential talent in later rounds instead of hope and praying that someone who signs for the minimum in later rounds actually turns into a serviceable player. Look at last years draft for example. The Angels were able to sign a number of later round draftees with over slot deals that has gone along way in restocking their barren minor league pitching depth while providing some potentially intriguing ( albeit lower ceiling) immediate MLB prospect talent.
Now I would be curious if the Angels carry this same draft strategy through to this year but I think it was the right call last year considering the recent state of their system.
Cowboy, you know Fan is short for fanatic right? So we can just make shit up because we’re loco for our LA Angels.
Hell, I’ve been making shit up for almost 50 years of my Angel fandom now.
How else could I have gotten through almost 5 decades of this roller coaster/ submarine ride?
So Space Mountain and the Submarine Ride at Disneyland?
And is it any coincidence we’re right down the street?
Yes and with the 32nd pick in the 2013 MLB Draft the New York Yankees select Aaron Judge OF Fresno State……….
Not by us 😣 😠 💩
So true. That player plays for another team.
Ummmm… source?
Orange Co teams will always suck
No grit, no fire in the belly………NO AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM HERE!!! SEE YAH AT MUTT LYNCH’S Catch some waves and a overpriced meal and a beverage.
Too many pricey European SUV’s in the Big A parking lot How about more Chevy’s, Fords, and Toyota’s?
😠 😠 😠
This is the most ridiculous comment I have read here. You really outdid yourself!
One of our bats is moving to the next level. .620 OPS, 223 AB, lot of K’s (of course) not many Walks, not much power 0 HR’s
June 29, 2022 OF Jordyn Adams assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas from Tri-City Dust Devils.
https://www.milb.com/player/jordyn-adams-677941?stats=gamelogs-r-hitting-mlb&year=2022
But he’s a real tool.
That maybe but his bat doesn’t seem to be much of one.
However, Last night was his debut for the Trash Pandas. He was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a strikeout. Not bad for his first game in AA.
Major disappointment. He has not progressed.
If we get Jung or Susac in the draft I will be stoked. BUT, just remember, the last time we had an offense even more sad than the current one, with Escobar as our best hitter, we NEEDED a college bat and drafted…. Matt Thaiss…. who was, on a pure hitting level, a better bat than either Susac or Jung.
Just sayin. If they don’t draft someone you’re excited about it’s not the end of the world. You probably shouldn’t be that invested unless it’s a top five pick, and even then you probably shouldn’t be that invested until they make it to AA.
I’m still excited for the draft…. let’s get some IF/C/P!
That Ohtani article pumped me up! It got me thinking more about the Ruth vs. Ohtani and I looked at some pitching stats.
Babe Ruth pitched in 163 games over his career. Ohtani has pitched in 48 so far. It is conceivable to think he will pitch in more games over his career than Ruth, even with being in a 6 man rotation and getting a lot fewer number of starts per year than Ruth did when he was pitching full time. If Ohtani averages 23 starts a year like he did last year, he’ll match Ruth in less than 6 seasons.
But innings pitched is another story, since Ruth played in an era where starters were expected to go all 9. Ruth threw 1221.1 innings, and Ohtani is at 257.2. Ohtani threw 130.1 innings last season. If we assume 130 innings is his average per season going forward (which is a big assumption), it’ll take Ohtani 9 more seasons to surpass Ruth in innings pitched.
Do you think Ohtani can both pitch and hit at this level for 9 more seasons? I sure hope so, but it’s pretty daunting.
What makes you think Andrew Susac is really a catcher?
We might wind up with a lineup full of people drafted as catchers?
I do find it amusing that Ward who was not only drafted as a catcher, but a glove first one, has evolved into at least a solid OF, while This, who was drafted mainly for his hit tools and wasn’t expected to catch as a pro is now a catcher. .
It would seem that there is plenty of choices to be available at the 13th pick as the SS crop is well stocked. One SS and then move on to pitching. But what the heck do I know about the draft and scouting. Hmm, about as much as the Angels have known in the last 10 years. 😦
Another shortstop prospect that are slow in developing ? I guess so. Jackson, Wilson, Paris and Vera could always use some more company.
All those “choices” are HS shortstops. So help 4 years away? A guy like Brooks Lee isn’t falling to us. So really our main SS option will be a guy like Zack Neto.
If anyone was bitchbroke over Will Wilson you won’t stop crying for a week if we draft Neto.
I think/hope we take Jung if he falls to us, Susac at C ooorrrrrr, dark secret move, having selected so much college pitching last year, maybe select a “possible ace” arm for the development class behind all those college guys.
I am scared of high school pitchers, but any sure thing college arm goes in the first 7 picks usually. I think a Dylan Lesko type guy may be worth a shot. It would have to be a guy they think really could be a #1 starter who can develop a year or two behind guys like Ky Bush.
Freeman got hosed in that he wanted to stay in a Braves uniform. To lessen the sting though, he has returned home and headed to the Playoffs once again. His agent is through being an agent for big named stars, as he is unethical at best and a crook at worst.
There maybe some Braves and AA spin on this as well. I’m sure Brave nation has not been too happy about this.
Well, unless the allegation isn’t true. It was Gottlieb, not Freeman that made this claim public, so I would categorize it as a rumor.
It doesn’t look like any of the big players that agent reps intend to leave him. Just an assumption here, but I know my first question for “agent Randy” or who ever I have would be “Hey, can you send me something that will show me you alerted Freeman to that offer the Braves made? I just want to be reassured.”
I am a very very low rent graphic designer and I file every email between myself and a client…. and that’s so I don’t have to squabble over a $100 4th revision. My guess is these agents do something similar.
On this day in history…
A frequent poster (who is not me, and shall remain nameless) commented on my FB post about an Angels win in 2014:
More in the recent but lengthening tradition of pitchers who suck with us finding pixie dust elsewhere.
At least we don’t have Bobby Bonilla Day……$1,193,248.20 every July 1st for 25 years.
The Halos did not lose last night!
Tonight’s game is on apple TV.
Guess it’s radio for me.
Again? Shit. I’ll find my entertainment elsewhere.
Is there a way to complain to Manfred about the Apple.TV deal? That even if (and that’s a BIG “if”, to my mind) they are attracting some viewers, they’re driving away many more.
Manfred isn’t going to listen to anyone. Tone deaf Manfred thinks he is the smartest man in the room.
RIP Skaggs.
Can you imagine this site if Trout left Anaheim for some other team and we found out his agent never communicated the Angels’ final offer which would have kept him here?
I wonder what recourse Freddy has. Probably not monetary damages for a ‘loss’ since he is making more money as a Dodger than he would have staying in Atlanta.
My guess is he will end up recovering any commission earned by the agent but that is about the extent of it.
Yeah. The more that comes out about it, the more I’m thinking Freeman misplayed his had.
Freddie threw out numbers he wanted. The Braves didn’t match them so his agent kept looking and the Braves made the move for Olsen.
I am surprised the Dodgers paid as much as they did, considering his market must’ve cratered.
Yes. Agreed.
The other side of the story is coming out now. The agency is asserting rights to sue for defamation/libel.
It’s an interesting story. At the end of the day, the Braves final offer was not that far from the net value of the Dodgers’ so there is likely more to the story than has become public. Your ‘overplaying’ theory could be correct.
The current narrative is that Atlanta made a 5-year $140 million offer that Freeman says he would have accepted over the Dodger offer. But that may be PR on Freeman’s part returning for the first time to Atlanta.
Say what you will about Boras, but I find it very hard to believe he’d pull that type of stunt on a client.
Assuming the allegation is true, Freeman’s could probably recover any liquidated damages provided in the contract or alternatively, he could likely rescind the agency contract and recover the commission.
If this is true it is likely the agent will lose his license. Which is why I doubt this was simply a “I can get 15% of an extra 23M if I just hide this offer from my client.”
It’s the same stupid shit I remember some folks saying where “maybe agents don’t share offers from Arte cause they don’t like him durr durr….” Agents pretty much HAVE TO make a client aware of formal offers, even if they are ridiculous. They still have to make them aware of it so that the players can say no.
There are some situations where the talent can direct the agent. Such as, in writing, directing the agent not to being him offers from the Red Sox, no matter how much money it is, because he hates Boston…. or to not bring him any offers under XXX million…. this is likely the type of situation Freeman’s camp got into.
Licensing issues would be separate, I was only commenting on what damages Freeman could pursue.
There are also factual possibilities where the agent’s behavior might not technically violate ethical rules but could still be potentially actionable by Freeman. For example, agents have to pass on formal offers, but if the Braves did something like asked “would Freeman be interested if we could make an offer of $x amount?”
That’s not a formal offer so the failure to pass it on wouldn’t result in the loss of a license, but Freeman would still have a right to be pissed and potentially a suit for breach of contract or breach of fiduciary duty.
His damages would have been a lot higher if he had signed with the Angels.
I’m OK with taking a pitcher again. Bachman is hurt, could end up a reliever etc.
We need guys everywhere obviously but I don’t think we’ll ever regret loading up on pitching. It’s an easy asset to convert into needs if we do by act of God develop a surplus of MLB-quality pitchers.
Yeah, I think this year Perry can truly take the best players available when he drafts.
Considering the complete lack of infield and catching talent anywhere near MLB level, that would sway me to like Jung and Susac in those drafts.
However, I’ve watched a couple dozen college games so I’m no expert.
Yah. In an area where there is almost no way to be certain of any good outcome, the best option is MOAR PIDGIN!