As the local beat writer for the Angels, Jeff Fletcher has the most access to the team. He’s great follow on Twitter @JeffFletcherOCR and we link his work often here in the links section.
Jeff is also the author of Sho-Time, a great book on Shohei Ohtani’s incredible MVP season of 2021. His inside look at the franchise and that season allow him to provide a perspective even the most ardent Angels and Ohtani fans haven’t seen.
He joined me again today to discuss Arte Moreno’s sale and then no sale of the franchise, give predictions for 2023, and of course Shohei Ohtani.
I really hope you enjoy the interview. Please leave comments and questions below, and give Jeff a follow.
Thanks Jeff
Thanks Jeff good stuff
Great interview Jeff. I love the way you slyly get Fletch to answer the Shohei re-signing question without actually asking it .
Fletch is an old school baseball writer where he focuses primarily on the facts without always the hot somewhat controversial take. I think in some ways it makes him a better reporter by getting more information since players and front office personnel have more a tendency to talk to him candidly or even off the record since theres a non confrontational relationship.
I relate to what Jeff is saying. I’ve been preaching farm system focus consistently. Also I think he is very honest and realistic.
But I thought he was just a shill for Arte.
He doesn’t seem that way at all. Where does that come from?
People have taken Jeff’s lack of critical commentary as a tacit endorsement of Arte’s actions.
Really he’s a reporter in the old school sense.
So Arte doubled general admission parking to $20? Must need the $$
Well done…My vote is we get one of these every month. Reasonable to say this is one of the most interesting teams in professional sports to cover and be a fan of. My gut feeling is we finally get rewarded for all the shit from the last decade plus and at least reach the postseason.
I will do more interviews this season. I promise.
I worked insane hours in 20 and 21 and was mentally fried last year.
I agree that the schedule short falls of the past were not playing all of the American League teams in the other divisions more often. As for playing the National League teams every year I don’t agree with. Having two leagues is unique to MLB, playing a few of the other leagues team is OK, but playing them all in a H/A format quite frankly stinks, imho.
I think MLB is taking a cue from the NBA here. The NBA has West and East divisions. You play the teams in your division four times and the teams in the other divisions twice.
Now we have the AL and NL where we play 4 series against our division and basically 2 against everyone else.
I think you’re right. 10 years down the line, I expect the leagues and divisions will be completely realigned by region plus 2 expansion franchises.
Since expanded wild cards mean “rankings” within the league matter all I care about is that the Blue Jays and White Sox and Mariners play basically the same teams we do… a close as we can get.
Thank you, very interesting.
glad you liked it.
Nice interview. Thanks for taking the time to do it and post it on the site.
Glad you enjoyed it.