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LA Angels Monday News Crash: Underdogs & Upsets

March 13, 2023

Mexico defeated the United States 11-5 yesterday in the World Baseball Classic. Ay Dios mio!

Team Italy advances to round two of the World Baseball Classic led by Matt Harvey of all people. Pool A finished in a five way tie but Cuba and Italy won via tiebreaker. Team Israel beat Nicaragua yesterday. Next up for them are Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. In college baseball, umpires can be suspended. The Diamondbacks just gave Corbin Carroll an 8 year $111 Million extension.

Starling Marte is the latest player to get beaned, by Elvin Rodriguez this time. Ronald Guzman seems to have blown his arm out (same link). The Mets may also lose Bryce Montes de Oca to an arm injury. Orioles minor leaguer Luis Andres Ortiz Soriano passed away of cancer at the age of 20. Craig Stammen tore a capsule and suffered a strained sub scapula at the age of 39. He probably won’t pitch again.

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The Mets placed Zach Greene on outright waivers. The Athletics released Ernie Clement.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Super Member

Twebur

8 days ago

Bauer big in Japan.

https://sports.yahoo.com/trevor-bauer-agrees-to-deal-with-yokohama-baystars-after-release-by-dodgers-172703204.html

Super Member

FungoAle

8 days ago

Reply to Twebur

Wow. Surprised an MLB team did not swoop him up as we are the land of “second chances. They have a lot of kinks in Japan so maybe not that surprising.

Last edited 8 days ago by FungoAle

Super Member

Twebur

8 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

All kink aside. He’d go to the German Baseball League if they had one.

Legend

Eric_in_Portland

7 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

as the NFL showed with Colin Kaepernick. His problem, though, was he did nothing egregious.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

7 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

Since all teams passed, it sounds like his MLB career has been cancelled.
He went from HoF, to Japan, and to admit I’m a little surprised they picked him up.

Super Member

steelgolf

7 days ago

Reply to Twebur

Wonder if he can keep himself in check and not get into trouble for a whole year over there.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

7 days ago

Reply to steelgolf

I’ve never lived there, but I’ve known a lot of Japanese folks fairly closely. Honestly, I’m fairly sure what he got into trouble for here would get a shoulder shrug there once those “YES! Let’s meet up again!” texts came out. If it even got that far once it was shown to be a consensual interaction.

I could be totally wrong, but my impression has been they’d just consider it kink and none of their business and move on.

Super Member

steelgolf

7 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

I’m more worried about him tweeting or having a “lager lout” episode., and getting in trouble for that kind of stuff.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

7 days ago

Reply to steelgolf

Oh yeah. He’ll likely produce at least 5 Cringe WAR. Especially if he does fairly well. He won’t know how to STFU and he’ll have to say stupid things.

Trusted Member

tommyshalo

7 days ago

Reply to Twebur

Not happy he is coming to a team that plays a few blocks away from my house, but at least it’s far better than seeing him in a Asstro uniform.

His sexual allegations will probably be overlooked, but his douche manner and social media stance… not so much.

Legend

Cowboy26

8 days ago

Curious how Mark DeRosa got the USA managerial job. Was there no-one else available?

Also it seems as if the job was built for Mike Scioscia. Reagins is the GM. Mikey is the captain while Sosh only involvement in higher level baseball is the Team USA manager in 2021. Did they offer him the job and he surprisingly declined?

After watching Jim Leyland manage the USA squad to almost perfection in 2017, I really think there is a need for a veteran established manager. De Rosa has already mishandled the bullpen on multiple occasions (even Ken Rosenthal was critical of him last night) and there only victory was against a Great Britain team that might rival the ChiComs for the most inept (without the threat of political imprisonment of course) Despite what the pundits think that you can’t just roll the baseballs out there and sit back when you have a super team. When you have a quick tournament and little time to bond, there really is a need for someone who has been there before.

Super Member

GrandpaBaseball

8 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

How he got the job as manager, he interviewed with tony Regans for 31/2 hours and he was hired. They got along just fine and was the first choice to manage.

How many Olympics has the USA won in Basketball? Like Baseball we have the best players in the world and we don’t win them all. Dom, Jpn, Kor all have very good teams. but I have my fingers crossed that when the end comes that the USA will prevail.

Legend

Cowboy26

8 days ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

Well considering that Reagins never had to hire a manager in his time as GM I guess it’s not surprising that he botched this hire.

USA’s pitching was already suspect but Good luck getting to the finals with someone who is clueless on how to manage the bullpen.

BTW The answer to your question on Olympic (mens) Basketball gold medals is a record 16. No other country its remotely close to us.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

8 days ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

I’m actually kind of happy that so many other national teams are as good/better than ours. I want to win, but this way, if we win, it’s not a sixth grader dominating dodgeball Vs a bunch of eight year olds. It also means baseball is growing around the world and won’t be dominated by old white men in the distant future. It plus also means that we will get more international players from Asia and, maybe way down the line, from Europe. One of my favorite things about the NBA is how Eastern Europe, of all places, has turned out so many great players. If baseball became similar with hotbeds in far flung places I think it would be great. It could mean that, someday, we see a lot more international ownership too.

Mexico didn’t kick our ass because of De Rosa. They kicked our ass because they are legitimately good.

Member

Halos_in_DE

8 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

exactly about Mexico beating the US. I mean the US only scored five runs with this lineup?

And only six against the Great Britain?

Super Member

FungoAle

8 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

^THIS^ Agree with all points.

We would have been in worse shape if Derosa failed to reach out to Coack K. Just saying…

Super Member

RexFregosi

8 days ago

Sandy was simply outstanding last night. it really takes all the sting out of the US loss.

DR is on in the next hour and I bet they’re grumpy like MEX was. Poor Nicaragua.

Trusted Member

halofansince1978

8 days ago

Reply to RexFregosi

That curve he got Trout with was vairy nice!!

Super Member

FungoAle

8 days ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Thinking Nicaragua might be a bit peeved too after losing to Israel.

Canada is no pushover and USA loses tonight, we’ll see Mike this week in Tempe. Playing with Brett Phillips has got to be more fun that Arenado, Goldy and Betts.

Legend

Cowboy26

8 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

You’re assuming Brett Phillips can actually play…

Super Member

FungoAle

8 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Yes, he can. I’ve seen him swing and make great friction with the air.

Super Member

RexFregosi

8 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Mike is worried Phillips is going to take his everyday CF job – that’s why he wants to be back in camp for good asap.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

8 days ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Ohtani, Anderson, Sandy, Detmers, Canning andddd….. TUCKY DDEEEEE! They all look pretty solid thus far. I think Suarez will suss out too. He’s not walking guys, he’s just not sharp in the zone. This is an over all good looking picture.