LA Angels Wednesday News Crash: Balk Rules

Good morning Angels fans, got candy yesterday? Have some links.

Angels News

The Angels bats weren’t so good last year, taking way too many strike 3’s down the middle. Hopefully that doesn’t happen as much this year.

Phil Nevin won’t have bad players clogging up the lineup, for what all that is worth. You play to win the game.

The 6th SP this season seems to be a swingman. It makes sense if Ohtani will start every 6th day instead of every 6th game.

New Angels SP Tyler Anderson has a pitching habit that may explain how he improved last year. If the Dodgers told him to do that, he should keep doing it.

Around Baseball

The biggest news has been MLB rule changes with the most uncertain one being more enforcement of the Balk rule. As the image above shows, explaining what a balk is can be difficult, which will ultimately anger fans if it is indeed called much more this season.

One of THE most hated rules, however is the fact that the Manfred runner in extras is now here to stay. We now have enough data to see the effect it has had on the game.

Another rule change that got some people angry are the base sizes changing. This should be good for safety and base stealing, not good for kids stealing them at Angel Stadium.

AMERICAN BASES

Negro League data is now available at Fangraphs. I wonder how angry the comment section there will get…

Mike Clevinger, who is under investigation for domestic abuse, will be allowed at White Sox camp. Bauer will not be happy about that.

Now you can watch out of market MiLB games on MLB.TV. Price increase of 10 dollars, however.

Wacha is now a Padre. The last FA that anyone cared about is now off the table.

And the new walls for Toronto are nearly complete. Looks like the seats will be closer to the walls now.

Sneak peek at the ST. Patrick’s Day hats since that is the next holliday up that people care about.

Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!

58 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

no pictures today, no flash card. but the workout scene was located in the same place as last year so just not very good access. its the minor clubhouse the club – west of Diablo, and the MLB roster works out on the lower two fields to the west of it, that are off-limits to public/press.

today was cold but sunny. over half the fans there were Japanese fans, maybe 50-100 overall. a lot of minor league players were working on the upper two fields with plenty of access. that was new. and pretty cool to see. the upper fields were literally covered with minor league teams. i haven’t seen that in mid February. they apparently are staying at the stadium for now.

as cool as it was, didn’t watch – because MLB was was on the lower two fields – you can see pitchers working out and doing long toss best – everything else is distant. i saw O’Hoppe in full gear catching some pitcher i couldnt see. lot more Japanese media this year – they didn’t travel here much at all last year. i saw the scribes standing there with them not much better access than the public in the morning but i guess Trouty did and press conference later – i didn’t see him, but i saw Shohei and I saw Arte, Nevin, Phil all out, and Stoneman too always. And i saw the pitchers working out. I will get some pictures tomorrow. i need to find a roster of invitees.

it was a good day. I saw all 9 starters. I saw relievers. and i wish i had the time also to watch the minor leaguers too because they’re on the upper fields with better viewing access.

true, i’m kind of grumpy they have not renewed the P/DH yet for $500B and that access and viewing isn’t as fun as when you had a lot closer viewing access and see Scioscia running an infield, but it make sense for the Angels to run camp like this and work got in the way at 11am.

but like it said, it was a good day. cant complain. except no flash card.

nonetheless, they’ll win 100 games. i go the first day because i’m also go to the last day win they win the world series. alpha and omega. can’t wait for it to unfold. and the weather will just get warmer from here.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Why do I feel a sense of deja vu reading this?

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago

The vast majority of baseball fans appreciate the Negro Leagues and realize those guys got a raw deal.

Yes there will be an occasional comment that sucks, but the overwhelming response to the recent Negro Leauge love has been overwhelmingly positive.

The fact researchers have spent countless hours accumulating and go through box scores from 100 year old newspapers is pretty inspiring.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yeah. I’m not sure why there’d be a problem. I mean sure, the current feelz need to try to make the Negro Leagues close to the same level of competition as the MLB at the time is a little weak, but it’s no big deal and it’s the only thing I can think of to get hung up on. Otherwise it’s all just more cool baseball stuff. I’d think most people would enjoy that. If not, it’s also really easy to ignore it. So who’s being hurt here?

2002heaven
Super Member
1 year ago

We’ll make the post season when MLB copies the NBA’s playoff format……MAYBE!!

2002heaven
Super Member
1 year ago

comment image
The good old days……top rated farm system, pitchers who could throw over 65mph without giving up 3 run bombs. Then the Philly eagles fan in CF and OhtaniSan and then all of a sudden winning didn’t matter anymore

Last edited 1 year ago by 2002heaven
Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  2002heaven

this is a good move, having TWO guests give you the thumbs up.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Yeah but what mom wouldn’t be proud of her son’s work even if its just a bunch of psychotic ramblings?

Marcotor
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Or Physiotic and “Hud” constant Yankee knob-slobbing.

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Marcotor

Thought that was mostly Phyzzz. Hud was too busy being goofy.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Ok, now we have a chance at finishing 3rd.

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Because of course he is.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Twebur

I think this has less to do with how injury prone De Grom was before he signed or how huge a desperation contract the Rangers gave him and more to do with how Arte just won’t invest what it takes to build a championshit club around Mike Trout.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Not getting injured and playing in 150+ games would help.

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

He hasn’t played more than 140 since 2016.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Exactly. How has the team done during that time? 😎

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

How has the team done since his draft year?

#TheCurseofTheGOAT 🐐

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

It’s OK to pass on 4 years of Michael Wacha. The way most of you guys weep and mouth breath over crappy back end starters you’d have mummified yourselves by the time the contract is over.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago

But we’d get more production out of Wacha than Pujols.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Is it too late to get our draft pick back?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Most likely, yes. But we’d get to sit through a bunch more gushing about how the Machine is now #7 all time for singles between the 3B and SS. Celebrate everyone! Is Albert! 20th all time in cups of Gatorade consumed! Libe dat baby oop!

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago

You’d get more production out of my ass than Pujols.

My ass produces methane, which is a component of rocket fuel.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Gotta love the Angels St Patty hats.

Intern sends Teams Group Message – “Hey guys, what do we want to do for ST hats this year? Those city connect hats sold well. Maybe we should throw a new logo mod on there? We’ll get a green version for St Patricks too. Give the people something new to buy?”

Angels FO – “No. Send out the same .EPS file to New Era. You know, the same bullshit energy drink logo from 1995 we’ve always used? We are just like the A’s and Red Sox and Yankees… we stick with the classics. Besides, we’d have to pay someone who knows how to AdAI a few hundred bucks to change that thing….”

steelgolf
Legend
1 year ago

According to my 13 yr old son, the St. Patrick’s Day hats are ugly and the flat bill looks stupid.

max
Trusted Member
max
1 year ago
Reply to  steelgolf

agree esp on flat bill

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago

mlb.com has a clip of Trout’s take on the season that’s worth a listen. I don’t know how deeply he believes that the team is greatly improved but he says he likes the depth. He, like us, feels that if the team doesn’t win Shohei’s gone.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Fascinating that Trout would say that about Sho. That is remarkably honest. But I think it confirms the obvious – if the team doesn’t make the playoffs, Sho will find a new Shome.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Let’s trade him then.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Not gonna bite other than to say you know how I feel about that issue.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Didn’t you just take a nibble?

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

A nibble is a bite. I’d say I gummed it.

TrojanBoiler
Trusted Member
1 year ago

4 years, 24M for Wacha sounds really cheap to me. I get that last year was kind of an outlier for him but still.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

I have no idea how Fulmer felt about joining the Angels but I thought this should have been totally doable on our end. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/cubs-sign-michael-fulmer.html

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

It’s doable, accept I don’t think anyone will join the Angels willingly because of all the evil and cheapness and night before game sex. If an organization isn’t “real” can it even be joined?

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
1 year ago

So much good stuff in these links! Wonder if they will use the old smaller bases for “Steal 3rd” or if they will raise the age a year. Some of those kids struggled with the previous base.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Not sure it matters . With some questionable timekeeping, I don’t think any kid has lost that promotion since 2007.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Whenever I have to sit through that cutesy BS I hope the kid falls over. Not like he gets hurt, just biffs it.

See. I have always wondered what it was like when Joshua kept the sun from going down in the book of Exodus so the Israelites could defeat their enemies in battle. What ever the guy handling the countdown timer does when the kid stealing 3rd flops to the ground will be as close as I can come to experiencing that.

The ten seconds that lasted a minute. Listening to the crowd try to count it down as it drags… like a Dilla beat…. gold.

Last edited 1 year ago by gitchogritchoffmypettis
Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

We coddle our kids so much these days. Back in my day they shot flaming arrows at us as we ran down the baseline.

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

Bring this back!

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Easiest way to sell out every night. It’s a no brainer!

Jim Atkins
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

Yeah, and it was uphill both ways. In the snow. Chased by polar bears!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Mia

Man. I’d pay the price of a ticket just to skip the game and shoot arrows at some kids.

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago

I’d pay more

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

These rule changes are unnecessary and are creating way too much “process” in what at it’s core is a “game”. Baseball is becoming Facebook or Twitter: a great idea that becomes hated.

Please stop fecking up what has been America’s last remaining great professional sport.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Sports change. I’m not that worried. I’d be more tense about it if the rules committee was all owners and MLB office guys, but it’s not.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
1 year ago

I have no issue with any of it I guess because as a watcher of other sports, rule changes are not taboo in any other league. And those sports (NBA, NFL) have higher viewership than MLB so “last remaining great professional sport” is an eye of the beholder type thing.

The games I’ve enjoyed the most recently have been ones that moved fast and had pace. Remember Silseth’s first start? Where he worked fast and mowed people down and the game was like 2 hours long? Amazing!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Exactly. One man’s “last remaining great professional sport” is another five men’s sport that won’t have hardly any fans less than 65 years old in a couple decades.

Yall remember back when track and field events drew thousands and thousands of people all over the world? It did. If Cricket can change so that it’s actually watchable so can baseball. Or baseball can become Lacrosse.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

It is time to change the distance of the pitcher’s mound from 60.5 feet back to 61.5 feet. Why? Because pitchers have evolved to throw 100 mph. It is common for every team to have four or five “Flame Throwers on every team. Decreasing strikeouts and putting a ball in play will score more runs. Move the mound back.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I think it’s worth a try. I saw a good break down of this on YouTube a while back…..

Bob_K
Member
1 year ago

I agree. More balls in play means more excitement.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago

Definitely.

Hitters now have about the same reaction time as guys did 30 years ago. The only way to bring that back is to move the mound back one foot.

It would’ve been the easiest way to increase balls in play. One change instead of the half dozen or so they did.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Manfraud and his “Improving the Game” by making permanent the free runner in extras. Bad idea. Catchers have vastly improved the way set up and deliver the ball to where the base runner is headed. Instead of increasing the size of the bag, should be teaching how to read the pitcher to increase leads. Things go in cycles, currently it’s on the side of the pitcher and catcher, soon it will return to the runner even without the extra 6 inches for help. I could be wrong though, I predicted that hitting the other way against the “shift” was going to be the reason that the shift would be eliminated. How did that work out? Players would not adjust. “Ghost Runner” could have been made to show up in the 13th inning so normal baseball could have been played.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Good morning to you all, currently 9 degrees in Big Bear. Gotta take the dog out for morning business, brutal. 

steelgolf
Legend
1 year ago

Hey GPB, I think you forgot the number in front of the 9.

Jim Atkins
Super Member
1 year ago

Just took the trash out here in Twentynine Palms and it was 39. We had a dust storm yesterday coupled with some drizzle, so my newly washed car looks like a barn find on one of those shows with Pickers (Nose or American?) on cable.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

50 F here in Tempe at 11am, workouts have started at Diablo.