A full week of games. Isn’t it great. Some were even televised!
I’m not going to dwell on the Bally’s situation, but MLB has added staff to its local broadcasting department and could take over broadcasts for 17 teams including the Angels.
17? Yes. Bally’s/Diamond isn’t the only player exiting the sports broadcasting market. Warner Bros. and Discovery Sports networks are considering bk and put the Mariners, Astros, Pirates and Rockies on notice.
And while I might not dwell on it a second week in a row, make no mistake this is the biggest story in baseball right now, likely affecting every part of the game and changing the economics substantially.
The good news is fans shouldn’t lose access to games n 2023 and MLB is being proactive to make sure we can still tune in and watch a little baseball between beer and Viagra commercials.
Not only did we get to watch baseball from Phoenix, a real life Angel chatted with me after playing in a game. Make sure to catch the Trey Cabbage interview from Monday. This is the second time Trey has joined me and his last interview was also fun.
Need to catch up on all the Angels off season moves? MLBTR published their offseason review of the Angels yesterday. Looks like the notable additions are a lot better than the departures to me. What grade would you give the Angels off season?
I went B. I love the depth the Swiss Army Team creates but the lack of a true shortstop on a team trying to contend is glaring. No way to get an A when you leave such a critical hole on the squad.
MLBTR also hosted a live chat on the Halos.
The names and numbers on the field this time next week will be quite a bit different as a host of Angels will play in the World Baseball Classic for their home countries.
Once the Classic wraps up it will nearly be Opening Day and the Angels Opening Day roster is starting to shape up. I think the sixth starter spot is truly up for grabs and might not even exist if Barria or somebody else can be a long reliever who starts as needed.
Barria looked pretty bad in his first outing, but the rest of the rotation hit the ground running.
Reid Detmers looked good in his first game. Patrick Sandoval looked good in his first outing.
And of course all eyes were on Shohei Ohtani.
You all know my two sporting loves in life are the Angels and boxing, so I had to put this in.
And there’s a new guy in the rotation, Tyler Anderson. He’ll make his Angels debut today.
One guy I think might make a good long reliever/spot starter is Chase Silseth. Guy has filthy stuff and has added a new pitch. I’m not saying he should be the guy on Day One, but come July he could be that guy.
From around the league:
The biggest story this week was Gavin Lux tearing his ACL. Already down Trea Turner at short and Bellinger’s great glove in center, the Dodgers don’t appear to be as lock solid as they’ve been in the past. Here are four ways they can fill the hole left by Lux.
The Padres are always a little lower key than the Dodgers. Joe Musgrove managed to break his toe and will be out for a while.
Injuries on playoff contenders tighten what are already expected to be close races. Musgrove in SD and Glasnow in TB could make a difference in who makes it to October.
Minor league pay has been an issue for some time. Recently the minor league players unionized and are working out a collectively bargained contract. In the meantime, Florida is trying to apply minimum wage laws to the ballplayers and MLB is pushing back.
While I almost always immediately side with players, this is such a non-traditional work environment that I can see pitfalls in applying normal laws. However, until collective bargaining results in a deal, the minimum standard needs to be applied IMO.
Statcast has changed the game more than we realize, particularly pitch selection. Spin is in, velo is taking a backseat, and how that changes at bats. There’s your longform reading for the week and it is very much worth a read.
But wait, there’s more.
What happens when a usually cash strapped team starts spending like drunken sailors? We’re about to find out in San Diego where the Padres are spending big in a small-ish market.
That’s right, two long form reading pieces for the price of one this week. If you’re a free reader, thanks for the love. But if you can click on the Patreon button below and help fund the site even more love. There are a lot of things we’d love to do to improve the site but they take money.
Have a great weekend and link what I missed. We’ve gone from not enough news to too much news in the course of a week.
Reliever Tepid Tepera began incorporating the “sweeper,” a hybrid of a curveball and a slider, in September with positive results…..sure.
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/03/03/angels-ryan-tepera-believes-new-pitch-will-be-a-huge-weapon
When Horse-Face used it, wasn’t it called a “Slurve”?
The latest from Buster Olney who predicts Dodgers or Mets for Ohtani:
“It was said in January that Ohtani could receive $500 million total if he hits the open market. That number has since risen to $600 million. The belief is that the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player could essentially sign a 10-year deal that pays him $25 million per season as a pitcher, $25 million per campaign as a hitter, and an extra $10 million per year for his worldwide marketability.”
I would rank the odds of him remaining an Angel at less than 5%.
Olneys also the guy who said Judge wouldn’t re-sign with the Yankees, Trout was headed to the east coast and Rizzo to the Red Sox?
I’d give the Angels 50% chance. They have the cash & Perry seems to have a plan to keep improving the organization that will allow the team to compete year after year.
Olney is more often right than he is wrong. Yes his predictions can be outlandish but I don’t think he is that far from reality. Maybe it’s 10 years and $550 million.
One word on the “50% chance” and the idea that the Angels have the money to commit $120 million to 3 players:
Poppycock.
So this season, the Angels are paying 3 players $106 Million, but the idea of paying those same 3 players over 120 million a season is now Poppy Cock?
Right.
1 year at $30 million is way different than committing $500+ million over 10 years. Taking all fan based emotions out of it, it’s highly, highly unlikely in my opinion.
It seems you are much more emotional about this than you want to believe. An emotionless analysis of this issue would certainly involve case history.
So here’s some case history: The Largest contract in MLB history still belongs to Mike Trout. Arte Moreno is the owner that offered that Contract to him 4 years ago. Why would he not be willing to do that again for another iconic player?
Because it would be two of the largest of all time. All of that money commitment to one guy who has been budgetary conscious for years. I just don’t see it happening objectively.
Even though Arte’s paying 3 players $106 million this year.
Right Again.
That’s kind of a convenient argument. The deals with Trout and Rendon were already in place. The $30m offered for 1 year to Ohtani was to avoid arbitration.
It’s one thing to pay $106 million to 3 players for one season. It’s another thing entirely to commit $120+ million for numerous seasons.
To avoid an oh-yeah! Yeah! school-lot type discussion, suffice it to say I disagree with you that there is a reasonable chance Ohtani will play for the Angels in 2024. It would require:
1. The Angels to make a deep run in the playoffs this season which I see as unlikely; and
2. Arte being willing to commit $500-$600 million to one player from Ohtani’s age 30 to age 40 seasons. I see that as unlikely as well.
Unlikely + unlikely = very unlikely
Just my opinion.
Convenient argument? You mean Because it doesn’t fit with your narrative?
Arte has demonstrated time and time again that hes willing to pay stupid money for players Deep into their thirties despite what all of the projection models clearly predict. So requirement no 2. is Extremely likely. You are clearly delusional to not recognize this fact .
Item no 1 is not so likely. But out of Ohtani’s 6 seasons with this club, 2023, by far offers the best chance for the Angels to attain this success. Certainly if you have been an Angel fan 53 years this should be apparent to you. I like our chances of making the playoffs this year but time will tell.
You know ’71, The more you argue your point the more eerily you sound like all the experts that were predicting what team would sign Ohtani out of Japan in December of 2017. Or the same experts that claimed he needed to be sent to minor leagues because he obviously couldn’t hit major league pitching or get major league hitters after watching spring training. Or the same know it alls that scoffed at the idea of Ohtani hitting the day before he pitches but certainly never in the same game hes on the bump. Just keep that continual unbroken expert analysis on Ohtani’s next move coming, because I’m laughing my ass off.
I disagree that this team is any more likely to make the playoffs than the prior 5. It’s the same narrative- if they stay healthy…..Also if the AA arms are actually good. And if the starting pitching doesn’t regress. Add in if Ward is for real etc.
With Spring optimism- sure I can get on the playoff narrative.
But with the realities of 53 years of Angels baseball and particularly the last 15 years (other than 2014) I’m not convinced this bullpen is any good or that anyone will stay healthy for the season.
It will be wait and see. But I honestly hope you’re right on all of these issues.
Trout IS the example of why signing Ohtani to a contract that is 40% bigger is stupid. I love Trout. I wanted to sign Trout. We spent years before his extension doing math and reassuring ourselves that we could pull this Trout thing off. “all we have to do is…. Arte has the monies to…. it pays for itself by….”
Well. It’s been four years. How do yall think it’s been going?
And contracts like that are logarithmic in their impact. One guy at $40m per season hurts but can be overcome. 2 at that price is 10 times worse. 3 at an average of $40m per season is 100x worse unless, possibly, you have (as you point out) a coked up owner who doesn’t care about spending like a drunken sailor.
Despite what the Cowboy said, I am completely dispassionate on this issue. It’s just business sense and numbers. It makes no logical long term sense for the Angels (with 2 bloated contracts already) to sign Ohtani to a 10 year deal at that price point.
But what if Arte becomes the unicorn owner we thought we were getting if he sold? Plus ultra also PTP, who many have declared is a stupid tool for years now, will suddenly become a genius who develops ten pitchers and six position players all of whom make league min.
Can’t you see? All we need is for everything so many of the screeching bitches on this site have been saying for years to totally flip flop and this Ohtani contract will work out great.
Arte is a 3 headed unicorn. At first There was champion of the little guy big spender Arte who ruled Angeldom from 2004 to 2009.
Then there was Cheap Ass except for Big Splash Arte whose reign of terror over the Angels has lasted now for 12 seasons .
But Lastly , arising out of the ashes is the “New found love of the game/Lets win one in my last days” Arte that has brought the payroll to new record heights while finally caring the farm system.
The Good The bad & The Ugly. And as an Angel fan theres been alot of ugly. But Im Not sure there has ever been an owner just like him or there ever will be again. It will be interesting to see what the final chapter will bring.
Pretty good. He’s won an MVP, was top 10 in 2 other years. Trout & his contract have not been the problem. Lack of depth has been the issue.
In my opinion the blame for the depth issue goes to prior GMs for having extreme draft strategies (all toolsy/all college) and poor development plans. Perry seems to be the 1st GM since Stoneman to have communicated a plan for the whole organization that Arte bought into.
I think it’s important to note that the Trout negotiations and signing took place before he hit free agency. Arte’s history in free agency is he has a maximum he won’t go over. I think the Dodgers or Mets or both are likely to offer Ohtani more than Arte is willing.
I am certain that Arte would have preferred trying to negotiate with Ohtani before he hit free agency and while the Angels have sole negotiating rights. But it does not appear that will happen.
Dude now youre living in the past. That was the old Adrian Beltre/ Carl Crawford-I’ll show you Scott Boras-take it or leave it Arte. When Arte really wants something its the Top of the Market bidding against yourself Arte who overpaid for both Rendon and Pujols. Why would that stop him on Ohtani?
I don’t remember it that way at all. Look – I don’t want to go around in circles. Nothing you or I say is going to change what is going to happen. What is to be is to be. We can all have differing opinions. Now it’s wait and see.
The future is ours to see?
Thanks Doris.
People are so drunk on Shohei’s admitted greatness that they want to try and walk the Oregon Trail in high heals cause they NEED the shiny thing. Can’t let the shiny thing leave. No no no. They other teams, they wants our precious….
That is 100% correct. It’s just having it that matters – not whether it slowly eats away at the team and ultimately hurts it.
Poppycock based on what? Arte has the money, it’s a matter of him choosing to spend it.
Past spending doesn’t necessarily predict the future spending especially now that the tax threshold doesn’t seem to be a deterant to more markets/owners.
I am willing to give you 10-1 odds against the Angels retaining Ohtani. How much do you want to bet? I’m serious- I will be happy to make that wager with you.
The reality is, I would love to see Otani sign and stay in Anaheim. I just think the odds of it are so low that I would give you, for real, 10 to 1 odds.
Keep your odds. I don’t waste money on arbitrary BS like will Ohtani sign or whether it’s heads or tail at the SuperBowl.
Well if you’re saying it’s 50/50 and I’m offering 10-1, seems like it wouldn’t be an arbitrary bet. If Vegas offered 10-1 on the Superbowl coin flip, I’d bet as much as I could.
Good for you. I don’t bet money when human decisions are involved. People are frustratingly unpredictable when you have expectations and something riding on them without their knowledge.
He’s saying he thinks it’s 90/10 instead of 50/50. He’s giving odds, just like you did.
I get that. The betting question felt like a diversion to answering why the Angels signing Ohtani was “poppycock”.
I was trying to understand 71s reasoning for the 5-10% number before I assumed he was repeating Heyman who sourced his quote to the famous anonymous mlb executives
Nope – would never rely on Heyman. It’s my honest opinion because several unlikely things have to happen for Ohtani to stay. I tend towards being a realist- not an optimist. I just don’t see this team as a likely playoff team – and that is requirement #1 for Ohtani to stay.
I think there’s like a 25% chance of the team making the playoffs.
I think there is a 20% chance Arte will outbid the Mets and Dodgers. Also – Ohtani and Eppler have a history that brought him to the Angels.
Combining those factors, I see the chances of Ohtani being in Anaheim in 2024 at 5%-10%.
Thanks for breaking it out. I don’t agree with some of your points but I understand the argument behind them.
You think Heyman’s inside source is Arson Judge?
You want any of that action?
Sure, where are we going to escrow the $11 million?
I’ll put my $1,000,000 in right after you put your $10,000,000 in.
Which escrow company do you prefer?
Me. I am escrow. You can both totally trust me. DO IT!
Just Let Me know when you get 71’s deposit. I’ll be right there.
I’m so hyped for this! I’ve got my bank vault, which is NOT in an undisclosed foreign country where neither of you can find me, all ready to stash that cash.
I don’t care if it’s 50% likely we can beg Ohtani to take 600M from Arte to be a DH in six years. It’s a crap idea. The teams we say we want to be like won’t add that contract to Trout’s (I don’t actually worry as much about Rendon, he’s gone sooner).
Does anyone around here ever want to be able to pay for pitching again? Or are you all gonna be bitching about needing “one more ace” when we keep finishing third/second in 2026-27? Are you gonna want to keep Sandoval? Ward? No?
A 60M a year player. Are you actually saying “Sure, we can do that.”? What exactly do you think PTP is building, a cloning program? Has Arte bought the head of Ted Williams?
Sure, if Arte decides he wants to go all Cohen, the Angels could do it.
It’s obvious we have no clue what Arte will do based on the if I was GM articles. The rules assumed there would be no increase in spending yet they seem to be 30 million over that expected budget with reports they are willing to add payroll.
Perrys building a minor league system to produce players.
2 of the 4 affiliates made the playoff despite the teams being on average younger than their competition.The Zips Prospects projections has the Angels with 5 players in the top 100 & an additional 4 when expanded to top 200. The 9 players ranked them 7th overall. Only teams ahead of them that are not in perpetual rebuild mode are the Dodgers & Guardians.
Billionaires are weird so I guess there’s a chance he owns it.
^^^^This^^^^ is the best explanation of the unexplainable
I just love you for having looked up Zips Prospects rather than just talking out your ass. Anything beyond that’s just bonus.
Gaaawwwdddd… yeah, DO NOT sign the guy to that contract. What ever reason anyone can come up with for why a 600M contract for one player, a pitcher for that matter, is a good idea… you’re reaching hard. If you have hated the last ten years of Angels baseball and your solution is “DO MORE OF IT BUT DO IT REAL HARD!” you’re foolish. Add in the cost of any time missed to injury on either side of the ball. Add in the fact that this is a guy who will be 29 (same age as Rendon) when he signs. Oh, and he’s a pitcher. Pitchers in their 30s never get hurt or start to suck. I can think of two of them, thus it will most likely be the case with Ohtani right?
This is a gamble we are just plain not in a position to take.
I have trouble believing Freidman is actually stupid enough to try to poop that contract out. Arte was stupid for not trading him last year so we could enjoy those awesome August/September games with him. 500M was too big. If he’s looking for 600M trade him to who ever is coked up enough to want him now.
Let’s say Ohtani stops “effectively” pitching at age 34-35 but continues to hit, wouldn’t he shift to being a position player?
The team would still be getting a MVP/Allstars production on their investment & according to all the “experts”, he’ll be an even better hitter because he’s only focusing one thing.
They probably would try to shift Ohtani to OF or something.
Trouble being, will we need that or will he be a fifth wheel?
It’s just my lylin eyes talking here, but honestly I am far from sure Ohtani can be a position player. As an ex-pitcher myself who had to play OF to remain a hitter, it’s a really rough switch. People like to default to the incredibly stupid “Ohtani. Can do anything!” thinking, but honestly, other than swinging a bat and throwing pitches has anyone around here actually watched the guy move around? “Cat like” is just about the opposite impression he gives me.
Either way, a 60M a year DH/Crap OF with a 130 OPS+ isn’t great when you can get Hunter Renfroe for 11M. And that’s what we seem to be saying we’re all fine with Ohtani being at age 36.
Great links, Jeff!
Big fan of Silseth. Said it before his MLB debut last year, he’ll bring more value that the Angels selections of ahead of him in the 2021 draft.
I know I can’t wait for his second non dumpster fire ML appearance.
Is that you, Tucker?
Tucker? Nah man this is Griff.
Griff?
I am the defending champ in an AL only fantasy league. Somebody had the nerve to offer me Rengifo and Oswaldo Perez for Jose Altuve. Needless to say I will be keeping Rengifo far from my roster.
Hard to compare the Padres with the Angels other than they both have two high priced players on their teams. Both will be bidding for the same third along with Mets, Yankees, Giants, Mariners, and Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani looking for a 10 year 500 million contract for openers.
But what if you (as owner) had a great pitcher on your team, is he worth 25 million dollars a year, well certainly he is. Now do the same math for your DH and you see 50 million dollars is not a big deal unless…..unless you have two 37-million-dollar contracts out there. That is more than 124 million dollars for three players. Shohei is special indeed, no one has done what he has done and done top notch. So as an owner do you go over the “Cap” and build a solid team?
Well now , what happens when the new impenetrable Pitchcom system gets hacked?
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35771348/maeda-throws-2-scoreless-innings-rays-hearing-calls
Hey, if you aint cheatin’ you aint tryin’
I guess TB will need to pipe in some crowd noise.
Jo Adell…
Outlook not so good
– Magic 8 ball
https://www.mlb.com/news/wandy-peralta-has-20-second-strikeout-for-yankees
That looked like a pretty good strategy. The hitter was lost.
That’s what my Magic 8 ball said when I asked it about email clients!
Pretty much an A lineup today…Blue can suck it.
“Not a true shortstop. Not a true shortstop. Not a true shortstop.” Maybe if you say it enough times, Ozzie Smith will reach through a mirror and give you a handie. The stats say Fletcher saves us runs vis-a-vis the average major league shortstop. I’m more concerned with his OBP and the like.
I Faintly remember hearing that same mantra being said about David Eckstein. The naysayers In Anaheim and St Louie sure were right about him.
I am the who is always a fan of Fletcher, I jumped on his Band Wagon a long time ago, but he is better suited to playing 2B. His Baseball instincts are off the chart good, which is why he is great on defense, but his body and arm are not SS, they are 2B. Listen, why was he placed at 2B anyway? His fielding at 2B is off the charts great.
As far as his bat goes, it will return to his normal which we saw in ’18, ’19 and 2020 and I have no qualms about his hitting.
That’s clever with Ozzie-mirror-handy, 4th grade stuff, very good, shows you’ve said it enough. Disagree with me and that’s fine but leave the playground antics to yourself.
Eckstein wasn’t a SS by body and arm either, but got the job done for a World Series champ. I would like a top level SS too, but if we can’t have one, I’m just fine with Fletch.
Two World Series championships for Eck. He won one with the Cardinals too.
Including a World Series MVP trophy.
I’ll gladly eat my crow if Fletcher and Urshela combine for a solid year at shortstop. And I do think Urshela gets some looks.
Friday was Gios second start at Short but no reports so far on how he’s looked . When does the gang all leave for the WBC ?
Adding – Squid defensive closer in the 8th. Helping to protect all of those 3 run leads that we’ll have because we’re awesome!
This is a point a lot of people seem to be missing. When you have a CF who hits like a “true shortstop”, you can have a SS who hits like a CF.
I’m not worried about the SS supposed issue. The team has numerous guys that can play there. You can sell the no SS better in LA now with the Dodgers.
Let’s just hope all of the main guys make it to the season healthy and continue on after that. The WBC is annoying when it comes to worrying about injuries. But it’s like the MLB All-Star game or other events meant to showcase the sport. Hopefully everyone stays healthy. I don’t understand why fans think the WBC means anything. The real MLB players are all out of form and not even quite ready for the season. It’s the guys that played or prepared all winter who will likely be the difference for teams. The results mean nothing.
Hopefully the Angels will find a good way to start the season. Please not Davidson as number 6 starter.
Most here will disagree with this but I believe Trout and Fletcher should not be anywhere but with the team this Spring. Trout has only X number of games in him in a season and he owes the team as many as he can play, especially without taking a chance of being injured even slightly. Mike is not a tough guy to play through injuries as witnessed in April of 2021 when he asked Maddon for two games off to rest. His game does not include flying through the air to catch a ball, he doesn’t advance on Stolen Bases anymore. We all know when he plays a full season that August and September are hard for him to put up numbers.
Fletcher is not a true SS. Yes, he can make the plays there, but his body and his play are better suited to play 2B. I have been posting this for a couple of years and sure enough a season long injury popped up. Fletcher when healthy has led the team in hits 3x, run scored 1x, doubles 3x, BA 1x. He also is a great glove at 2B. But the team sought to pencil him in at SS and therefore choose poorly by not bringing in a SS, in a year of SS’s in Free Agency.
All teams go through injuries, but none like the Angels in the last 10 years. Yes I feel different than most of you, I’m aware of that. but the most valuable players on a team are the guys who make the line up every day and say, “Put me in coach I’m ready to play”.
I agree. I don’t really care about the WBC. It’s just more ways for this snakebit Angels team and it’s players to be snakebit. I can just see it now – Team USA v Team Japan in the finals and Trout makes an aggressive slide into home with Ohtani covering the plate and both are injured and miss the season. What fun!
As an Angel fan who has suffered through injury plagued seasons, the WBC is not fun nor exciting. It’s nerve wracking. I really don’t care who wins and just want the Angel players to emerge unscathed.
Don’t worry . The DR will knock out the USA before the final..
🤞🏻
I love the WBC. Largely because I love tournaments in which guys represent their country.
Yes the injury risk is a little higher than in a regular Spring game, but most of the guys playing in the WBC got to camps a little early.
But I think the increased game intensity can provide benefits.
I like tournaments involving players who are not on the team I support. College tournaments for example.
Speaking of that, is the timing of the WBC a bit questionable with March Madness going on?
The first round misses March Madness. It does go against conference tournaments, though.
Pro tip: Book Spring Training trips for conference tourney time. That way after a day at the ballpark you can watch the good basketball in the evenings.
If you go during the first week of March Madness, you end up missing most of the basketball.
I agree with you about the volume of games for both. My main hope is that we can smartly use all this new found depth to stave off problems. We’ll see…
Also, Fletch is my guy too. I’ve been right there with you since you started singing his praises. But I have to admit, my fandom is mostly rooted in being a fellow LMU Lion. That said, I will be ecstatic when we can finally use Fletch as a super ute, because it will mean that we have better hitting SS & 2B options.
Good morning my friends. From the frozen tundra of Southern California and Big Bear Valley. It is going to take some time to return to normal simply because of snow, a lot of it too. I’ve been told that I will purchase a Brand New One no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. Wow and I thought I ruled the roost. 😆
Stay safe, stay dry, and stay you 😀
Oop’s, One last share, got myself some great info yesterday, In September the family expands one more seat at the Thanksgiving table, as a little baby girl is on the way. YaHoo Mountain dew. 😀
Congratulations GPB!!!!
Also, what is the “new one” that you WILL be purchasing?
A snowblower. He has referenced it in prior posts.
My research has shown that Honda makes a good one, but still researching.
Congrats on the baby girl!
Congratulations on the new member of your family!
Am I the only person who thought he had been told he would be purchasing a new baby girl?