The Wild Card round came and went in two days thanks to four sweeps. Of the 16 best of 3 series played over the years, the winner of game one has now won 14 of them with 13 of them being sweeps.
Honestly, I wish the NBA would do this in their first round. Not only would it add some excitement it would get those 1 vs. 8 series over a lot faster. I might actually watch it.
The National League features to interdivision series. The Arizona Diamondbacks will be my favorite team for a week as they take on the LA Dodgers. So if you have tickets to the Guns N Roses show at Chase Field next week, please note it has been postponed.
You know ownership has faith in a team when it schedules a concert during the early portion of the playoffs.
The Snakes series with the Brewers was by far the most entertaining of the Wild Card round. And how about the OC kid Evan Longoria turning back the clock and flashing some serious leather?
On the east coast the Phillies will take on the Braves in the series I’m sure will get all the prime time games. Checks the schedule, yes the east coast teams get all the best time slots. Which is cool because we don’t have to stay up until midnight to watch games out here on the Best Coast.
It has been a long time since a playoff win. Being in the crowd is amazing. Listen to this. The only time I’ve experienced anything like it was when Torii went deep against bahstun in 2009.
Meanwhile the network heads have to be crying in their beers over the American League playoffs. There’s nary a Yankee or Roid Sux game to be aired.
The upstart Baltimore Orioles will take on the Bruce Bochy led Texas Rangers starting tomorrow. I know I’m supposed to hate the Rangers but this group is led by Bochy (who I love) and is missing the outright douche factor Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and Ian Kinsler brought to the earlier clubs.
I’m rooting for Baltimore but would be just fine with Not Houston coming out of the AL. And, really, the talk of when Bochy gets into the Hall of Fame as a manager needs to be a lot louder.
Want to hear some more October energy? This is a great split screen of the Twins clinching a Wild Card series.
Folks, there will be an entire off season to dissect the Angels 2023 and debate about the future. Links get pretty slim around the end of the year. So I’ll keep the Angels related stuff pretty brief and go into the key storylines in much more depth after the playoffs wrap up.
There are two pieces of real news out of Anaheim. Phil Nevin won’t be back. And Perry Minsasian held a press conference in which he didn’t blame Phil but said somebody had to take the fall. Actually, Perry took the blame himself but also kept his job.
So for now let’s enjoy the baseball that is taking place and join the game threads here.
I can’t end this without sharing one baseball story. My son is playing Fall Ball and our game last Sunday was at Sea View in Huntington Beach. 4 to 6 year olds playing ball while the largest air show on the West Coast took place. At one point we were in the field and two military jets made a turn directly over our field and low enough you could practically jump up and touch one. I somehow heard a ping and saw a ball rolling out to the outfield. Everyone was looking up at the planes, coaches included. It was absolutely adorable and I’m not doing it justice here. A few seconds passed, the planes left, and it was game on after we located the ball.
Enjoy your weekend. Link what I missed. And join us in the game threads.
Just a nitpick: Longoria is from Downey and went to St John Bosco, both of which are on LAC side of the boundary.
LA Clippers’ side? Sorry to hear that.
Left of Arte and Carpino.
I should’ve checked. I just remembered Longoria always having a lot of family and friends at Angels games and though he was local.
Rotoworld reports —
The Angels have decided to cut ties with assistant general manager Alex Tamin.
The official announcement from the team specifically said that the two parties have “mutually agreed to part ways.” Tamin worked with Angels general manager Perry Minasian with the Braves and eventually followed him to the Angels in November of 2020 to serve as his second-in-command. The Angels have continued to disappoint, including a 73-89 record this past season. Minasian will presumably look to hire a replacement in the days to come while also conducting manager interviews.
It’s totally awesome that Minasian is responsible by his own word, but his solution is to fire those around him, while accepting “responsibility” but showing no accountability.
Like this guy had any authority or made any meaningful decisions.
Perry has learned his lessons from Arte very, very well.
True. It’s a paycheck at best.
Source?
Wasn’t it Tamln’s bullpen usage decoder ring that sent Maddon and Nevin to the rock pile? I think he had authority but it just sucked.
Yep. I think you’re right. he was a long time Salary Arbitration lawyer previously employed by the Doyers and Braves who took a crack at player development . If we dont get under the CBT its this guys miscalculations that will set us back.
Probably why Arte had him terminated (mutually of course)
Yeah, I feel Arte was involved with this. He just told Perry to pass the message.
Yes, yes, of course it’s mutual…Tamln wanted to spend more time with his family. 😀
Exactly……..the corn field like the little boy said in the The Twilight Zone!!!
Probably got sent away to the corn field like the evil little boy always did to anyone he didn’t like in The Twilight Zone.
So how did you escape?
Must’ve read The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.
We’ve seen this movie a million times across all team sports. Whatever. 90% of the people in his position would take the same path. GM jobs are finite, all the Arte stuff notwithstanding.
Perry seems to be good at throwing others out of the boat he and Arte are driving. Gees.
Yes, Philly is loud! I was in deep centerfield seats when the Phils finished off the Braves in game 6 in 1993. The loudest I have ever heard a crowd in my life. Cheering and nobody leaving until well after a car drove Schilling around the field as he waved to fans. Then a rush to the subway before the system shut down because it only ran to midnight daily back then.
My loudest was the entire 2002 playoffs, with the Thunderstix.
That was a loud stadium. Great memories!
Absolutely!! I was at Games 6 and 7 and I will never forget it as long as I live.
Everybody born after we won can now vote
We didn’t even have the iPhone back then… AOL dial-up internet. You had to leave the house if you wanted food from Burger King. Neto and O’hoppe, still in diapers. And we hadn’t yet discovered our great friend Arte.
“Someone born the year we won…”
You might want to rephrase that. Someone born this year is born after we won.
That is true but I specifically mean we won the title 21 years ago. The drinking age in Oregon is 21. Same in California? In a few weeks anyone born the day we beat San Fran will be able to drink…legally.
It’s been a long time, is what I’m saying
Did anyone save a bottle from then? It would be aged 21 more years
I just hope they won’t be able to collect Social Security before the next one.
Those were great days. KRod and the offense that would score as much as needed. Good times.
We had an entire bullpen that was lockdown if the starters could get us through five.
That’s cool.
I was appalled, but not surprised, by that article that said Halo alumni had/have to pay their own way to attend functions at the stadium. Wow…..just…..wow!
That was one of the worst things I’ve read about this team, taking our very best moment and somehow making it crappy. Classic Arturo!
Arte’s not cheap, just frugal…. 😄
I’m more amazed at fan reaction to this… aren’t ballplayers compensated pretty well during their careers? If they can’t afford it, then dayum.
Why should Papa Arte cover everything?
Do you go back at age 50 and ask your 70 year old Dad for $5 in gas money to come visit him?
$5 gets 1/2 a gallon. 😀
Yeah it’s just optics. You invite players to attend an event that is a draw for fans and don’t compensate them for travel. Arte made money from their appearance. I personally think it’s pretty lame.
What 1971 said, and I for one would like to see as many of the 2002 alumni as possible – some may be inhibited by travel expense, either not making star money or having lost/squandered what they had for various reasons. It’s not like Arte couldn’t afford it. When speakers for various events are offered stipends/travel to attend, I don’t think they are typically told they made too much money, they should bear the cost.
I don’t know about you but I didn’t get my high school to pay for my 30th anniversary reunion . Hell I even had to pay for my dinner
Yeah, but nobody wanted to see you.
haha! i’m sure everyone wanted to see 2002 Alum Mickey Callaway!!!! WHY DIDN”T CHEAP ARTE SPRING FOR HIZZ BAYUL FROM JAYUL??!”
If only I hadn’t blown out my arm in high school. I could now be demanding free air travel too.
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b9a9ffe4-984a-4a95-8026-3c0eef445372
Not everything. Just a celebration of a team they contributed to, and presumably he makes extra money from.
If they are summoned for Alumni events it are for the team and the fans.
BTW, most MLB players don’t get eight figure contracts.
We’re used to seeing Grich as he lives just down the 55 and is usually done golfing before pre-game.
Keep in mind the Angels also charge the performers of the national anthem for tickets. I believe they are the only team to do so.
To me that is even worse as DD said above the alumni players are almost all millionaires.
Phill Nevin has been dismissed. ALL Managers are hired to be fired. For every Walter Alston or Tommy Lasorda there are 1000’s of manager’s having a happy day when hired and a sad day when the run ends.
Daren Erstad or Gary Disarina would be two former Angels players who would be good additions to the managerial choices being considered. The next Manager is going to be on a short leash, but working with both young and older players is in their wheelhouse. I as an Angels fan would love to see another former Angels player take the helm once again and see more former coaches (If Qualified) take coaching positions.
For Dreamers Only. The two afford mentioned could be helped out by Grich, Anderson, Vladdy, Hunter, Eckstein, Figgins, Molina’s, Finley, Weaver, etc., as many could help in either Spring Training or during the season or both as full-time coaches.
Kinda like get the band back together yesterday…prepare to be vilified.
vilified or just be told it’s a stupid idea? or are those the same in this snowflake era?
Whatever snowflake feelings work for you DD.
hehehe. Thanks!
My belief is that the 2002 folks, while beloved, will not be effective at managing this ballclub.
You think they’ll be the second coming of Connie Mack.
Cool! As you were.
We can agree to disagree.
So wait, anyone who happens not to agree with you, and takes the time to say why is vilification? I think GA and Salmon could be valuable to the org as more than TV talking heads. Percival and Erstad (and the rest) aren’t even around the team (or MLB level baseball) much. THAT is vilifying you?
If so, speaking only for myself, please accept my sincere apologizes for any inconvenience I may have caused you.
Don’t forget your friend Mathis because
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/8e33eb34-f0ba-47d8-8778-676109c00955
……PREMIUM
So I will ask again, David Fletcher’s Grandpa: WHAT exactly would Darin Erstad bring, aside from fond memories from the halo faithful? Do you REALLY think he will scare Anthony Rendon into being a lovable, but injury-prone player? How about Mike Trout? Does Erstad have some magic juju that will make Mike less fragile? Or the pitching staff suddenly become Cy contenders – ALL of them?
Again, I don’t see where warm memories of a player equals winning. The team that won it all in 2002, couldn’t play .500 baseball the season before – or the season after.
I would LOVE to see them in ST as instructors, or working their way thru the org and EARNING the chance to sit in the hot seat. But High School, American Legion, Little League, and College baseball are not the pros, and unless they want to earn their stripes, it’s just a nice Lifetime movie of Disney-esque overachievers trying to catch lightning in a bottle one last time.
Like I said yesterday Tommy, Sparky, And Earl are dead. So is Dick Williams. And the days of players respecting the Manager who “lays down the law” are long gone. It’s not better or worse than the old days, it is just what the modern game is.
We need a manager now, who are you
pickingtricking to come here?Earl lives! Have a feeling you liked Earl Weaver? I don’t see you favoring the softness and caring managers of today with their fancy computers? Your not a true grit kinda guy? Or less grit?
Who do you want?
(If these F-bombs count against me, I’m using my credit, now August 2025.)
Lightly_Edited_Earl_Weaver.mp3 – Manager’s Corner (talk show) interview with Earl Weaver. (Warning! This is unedited. R rated language.)
Go easy on GPB. He has senior status here. If he likes Ersty, I like Ersty!
Free Corn Husker Grittyness!
if you are asking me, i don’t think it matters who manages. we need an entire organizational re-structuring possibly starting at the top. Clamoring for any manager is basically rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
It really doesn’t under the current circumstances.
And, if someone could sell Arte on the idea that the “2002 winners!” (and 2003 top 10 awful team) would be a viable marketing option to put butts in the seats, he might go for it.
i vote for ’78 to make that call to Moreno.
I love that Weaver “Manager’s show” outtake. But you really didn’t address WHY “Gritty, tough” Erstad is the answer, did you? Just cause GB wants it? Based on WHAT? I love me some GB, but wanting to relive the stunning beauty of the 2002 season it, is not enough for me to get the band back together.
See below, DD knows, probably makes little to no difference.
Gritty Esty, 2 Buck Sho, dude down in Panda Land (whoever that is), some other up and comer. I just know Phillip had run his course, his coin flipping % was 48.9% and we need a guy that’s at least 50%. And I’m assuming any left over from this years dugout is a “NO THANKS”. They know where the bodies are buried and hard to get that Angel stink off your hands. I’m good with with a change. High Grit fine, medium Grit fine, low grit? needs to have a least a little FIRE in belly.
Now YOU GO! Who’s your Guy (or Gal?) Grit free of course.
I don’t have one because I am not still bathing in the afterglow of a championship won 20 years ago. And again you avoid answering my question of HOW is “Fire and Grit” going to scare millionaires who will just show Mr. Fire a single finger and not care much as long as the checks keep getting cashed.
I agree Phil wasn’t the answer. But oh my all the YES! FIRE and GRIT comments about him as a player, now in the dugout when he stepped into the chair sure didn’t help him navigate a season and a half.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
The 1971 Baltimore Orioles with starting rotation of four 20 game winners?
Did the G&R show get moved to Paradise City?
Rescheduled for November rain.
But I heard that the grass is green there, and also that the girls are pretty.
West Coast teams not in East Coast preferred time slots.
Ian Kinsler was never a “douche” imho, he always played hard and was a smart player.
MLB investigating misuse of the IL, resting players who are not injured. Every team seems to use this tactic will be the final verdict and new rules will be forthwith.
Eppler future as a GM is done, he just doesn’t make the cut, but he did serve two heavy handed involved owners who it would seem to make the position very tough from the gate.
Kinsler’s only DB-ness was probably the “Get the F off of our field” incident. And I liked what he brought when he played here.
Kinsler and Lackey had a thing, and Kinsler also flipped off the fans in San Diego after hitting a home run…..and he was a Padre at the time.
Yeah, that got under my skin at the time.
Plus he looks like a Rat.
i would say he has a punchable face.
Rat Face was Ped-ROID-a.
I would guess that Eppler was turned in to the league by a disgruntled player who didn’t want to have a phantom injury.
I loved the meaningless hate for Pierzynski. Erstad does the same thing on a dropped strike, and instead of blaming everyone and everything but poor play, it’s “GRITTY ANGEL BASEBALL!!!!!” and not douchey at all.
This is the second time “somebody had to take the fall” and the second time it wasn’t Perry.
For all of his rash decisions, Arte has given Perry numerous second-chances…..
It may be that Arturo is happy to have Minasian in place as his Yes Man. Fans less charitable than me might call him his Stooge.
“Less Charitable”, funny Stuff.
From Fletcher
Here are the Angels arb projections from @mlbtraderumors
Obviously, not all of these guys are going to be tendered. (Canning, Rengifo, Ward, Sandoval are only sure things.) Those who are non-tendered will become FA’s, but the Angels could then re-sign them for less.
https://x.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1710329258567143475?s=20
Dump everyone else. And if Sandoval could join them all the better.
I would also tender Quijada. Hes only projected to be about 200K over league minimum and even though he’s coming off of TJS ( and probably cant pitch until June?) hes a valuable LH power arm with 2 more years of control after this. Thats a low risk no brainer move.
Check out the Asstros and Padres numbers, scary but worth it really.
Out of that entire list, the only one I really want back is Canning. I do see why we would bring back Sandoval and Ward, even Rengifo, and possibly even Walsh and Quijada. The rest are junk.
You realize that even if you don’t like Rengifo & Sandoval they have substantial trade value right?
It would be asinine to non tender either one. .
I agree. I just don’t want them on the roster next year.
Is Sosh available?
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Just kidding….
Scared the bejesus out of me with that one. He overstayed his welcome by six or seven years.
i made that joke about 20 seconds after the Nevin firing notice and was VILIFIED (OH THUH HARRAR!!!!!!) …
hahahahah
(it was just a little fun jabbing and for the record, I also was joking)
https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2023/10/02/la-angels-monday-news-crash-season-over/#comment-315031
But Sosh is the kind of Manager that would get you 5 or 6 wins more a season. We lost 5 or more each year since he was fired and have never recovered.
My opinion on Showalter….(Heavy sigh)….why not!
It’s like throwing shit onto a wall. Sooner or later something (someone) will stick (and actually produce a contending team).
That damn roulette wheel has to hit sooner or later, right?
2009, 2014 …………………………………………….2024? Then 2029?
Good times straight ahead!!!
Straight ahead? Oh no my brother, that road has blind curves and potholes.
Of course, I forgot about trAdition. This is why our outfielders run S, C, V, N, L, Z and frequently W and M routes when tracking fly balls. We are the curves and potholes organization.
electron orbitals?
That would be S, P, D, F.
Well, being a fan of mediocrity is genetic with me. My dad was a die-hard Cubs fan.
Based upon Bucky’s track record, he will probably out perform the Pythagorean projections in year one ( not sure how those are calc’d but Scioscia out performed those in this first 10 years) especially with a younger team.
So from that standpoint it will be nice having this team finish over 500 again. However, sooner or later the dreaded reality will set in with him. Lifetime his management record is still above .500 but here are his last seasons in each of his last 2 ML stops:
2018 Baltimore Orioles 47-115
2023 New York Mets 75-87
2023 New York Mets 75-87?
I’ll take it!
at $340 Million?
Doesn’t matter until Arte is gone.
Yeah, I would have to agree.
Because he is a vastly over-rated old man whom the press has decided is a flipping genius! He is not. His hissy fit attack on Joe Musgrove in last year’s Mets playoff debacle just because Joe was beating his ass was among the most embarrassing episodes I can recall.
You had me at “playoff debacle last year”.
Did someone say Playoffs?
Aaaahh, Buck Showalter, the next manager most posters on here will want to pilot this death ship, then turn around and claim they never wanted him here.
You know, like Maddon.
Exactly. Just like the Platypus’ prodigy Nevin. Which was after Maddon couldn’t fix the roster disaster and in-game strategic decision-making. Which was after Soth couldn’t fix the roster disaster and in-game strategic decision-making.
The 2023 Mets are no different than the 2023 Angels, and the latest smartest-baseball-exec-in-the-room determined Buck was not the guy that was going to right the Mets ship in 2024. So of course he’s the answer to fix the shit-show in Anaheim.
The 67 year old who couldn’t fix Eppler’s mess is not the answer to fixing Perry’s mess. Buck’s best days are in the rear view mirror.
Now, had Maddon got that haircut just a day earlier……..
😀
Right so last year when the Mets won 101 games that was just smoke in that rear view mirror?
It’s “what have you done for me lately” that matters most.
Losing the wild card series after winning 101 games didn’t help either.
I’ll admit it, I’ll take him over some first-timer that is just happy to be here….
And in the appropriate time, I’ll want him fired. I’ll see you in June 2024 with pitch fork, torch, cup of butter, and my Free Buck! sign.
Besides we need a Sho…..Arte loves a Sho.
I would love Buck. He’ll come in, fix some things, get fired or released or retire, the new manager will win and make the playoffs and get all the credit. Bring him!
Any big name manager will just muddy up the waters, with such bad internal politics in this organization…
Maybe that’s a good thing?
first question of off-season – what does Arte think about Buck?
I don’t mind Showalter at all. You’re right, would Arte sign off on another veteran manager getting the job? Maddon was a flop but Buck grinds,
Arte knows his way of operating is deficient and wants to limit his exposure to that fact. That’s why he wants the “first timers” and the “happy to have the job guy”. Soth was a King already there when he bought the team, and I’m not sure why/how hippie Joe got the job, and he wrote a book a bout it after his experience. I think Buck would be a good upgrade over Phillip. But, Showalter is too particular, has too much experience, would want more control than Arte would give him. I can’t see Arte hiring him, and letting Buck see how the Angels make their sausage…….its a trAditionAl recipe, boiled in a LOBster broth served on a heavily BUTTERED roll, severed by a robot “Shufflebot”, why waste money on a well trained staff.
Free Buck!
Free the new “SHO”!
I think Showalter would be fine on a short deal. But, didn’t he bristle at interference from upstairs in NY? It’s not a secret Arte had to intervene to get Perry to back off on Phil some after dictating the lineups, and who would be available.
him and PTP go way back and are BFFs so i hear – alignment with the FO is expected from the start.
it’s a feature, not a bug.
Nevin was Perry’s “son”. He wasn’t some dude off the street that lucked into the job. He was the chosen one until he wasn’t.
If the Platypus and Buck go “way back”, then why was Buck allegedly having to contact someone in the Angels front office to get an interview? You’d think they’d have each others phone numbers….
He definitely did and it is a possibility it would occur even though those two worked together is a different capacity.
But Arte loved Sosh so I would say He would sign off on this move.
Arte is a Yankees fan so any proximity and past experience with his favorite team will probably seal the deal for Buck.
I thought Crapino was the yankeebaiter?
He was the Jeterbator.
I never realized that Rev made a “headline” for his reaction to Carpino’s Jeter love.
https://nesn.com/2011/09/los-angeles-angels-infuriate-fan-by-honoring-derek-jeter-for-3000-hit/
comedy.
Rev. The man. The myth. The Legend.
Buck is a big splash name hire, so if Arte wants to “go for it,” it will be Buck. Under the radar, but nevertheless big splash name pick – Joe Girardi.
If Arte is not in the mood for big splash, he’ll let Perry hire some “up-and-coming” guy who is currently in the assistant ranks. No one that will excite this fanbase.
It will be a long off-season. Then there will be curiosity when players report for Spring training. As to fans thinking the team can compete, that might take until June. Assuming they are still in it then.
I hope all of the players improve and management plugs some holes.
Halo Power Baby!!!