Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia issued a statement concerning the canceled GM Meetings. Basically they say [paraphrasing] “We are cleaning everything up and doing some contact tracing.”
MLB is talking about shaving a couple of seconds off the pitch clock when runners are on base.
Coaches and Managers
Andrew Bailey is probably going to be the Red Sox new pitching coach. The Brewers are adding Rickie Weeks to their coaching staff and making Pat Murphy their Manager.
Waiver Claims and DFAs
The Padres claimed Logan Gillaspie off waivers from the Red Sox. The Royals designated Logan Porter and Josh Staumont for assignment. The Guardians designated Cal Quantrill for assignment. The Rays designated both Calvin Faucher and Cooper Criswell for assignment. Mike Ford got DFAd by the Mariners.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/shohei-ohtani-free-agency-rumors-team-meetings-to-be-kept-secret-in-bidding-war-for-two-way-superstar/amp/
Well this explains the silence from bidders surrounding Ohtani’s free agency.
Congratulations to Shohei Ohtani! Wow!
I noticed that Shohei’s hair was about the longest I have seen. Do you think the Angels had a stylist that all active players were allowed to use? And since Sho’s contract with Angels expired, he has no stylist? I don’t know if his mom would approve the disheveled look. Well, he used puppy to distract views attention. Wonder if that was Ippei’s idea.
Nikkan Sports reported that press conference by BBWWA via telephone was abruptly cancelled. BBWWA apologized for the cancellation and mentioned that it was not Shohei’s fault. I am wondering if it has anything to do with the hair.
Arte is obviously too goddamn cheap to pay for his haircut.
Frank mcCourt wasn’t. In fact Frank McCourt got his haircut every day.
Shohei made a measily (From various stories) $60-70M last year, so if he can’t afford a haircut, well……..something’s wrong in Ohtaniville.
Yep – I’m sure $30 million is not enough for a haircut
Various reports last year said he made even more that his salary in endorsement deals.
Today Shohei joins only Mike Trout and Ernie Banks with this dubious honor. Can you guess what it is?
Ernie Banks is famous for being a great player and never playing in a Workd Series. I think I’m pretty close there. Ernie must have multiple MVP awards
Two MVPs for Banks – both after losing Cubs seasons. Prior to Trout and Ohtani, Banks was the only winner of multiple MVPs on losing teams.
Well if Leo Durocher wasn’t on the take with the mob, Ernie probably would have fulfilled his wish
It will be interesting where he lands. But he is NOT the “Greatest of All Time” based on 3 years at full strength in MLB. What is this obsession to put a GOAT tag on an active player?
How soon the halo faithful forget, it wasn’t that long ago Mike Trout was the GREATEST EVAAH!!!! And look what happened.
I hate to say this because ‘roids but Barry Bonds is pretty close to the GOAT. As far as hitters go, some order of Cobb, Ruth, Williams, Musial, Aaron, Bonds. Too bad (and I mean really too bad) about pre-1947 baseball.
Imagine also if they were able to play together in full strength for all 6 years….
Imagine still missing the playoffs all 6 years
Shohei is an elite pitcher AND an elite hitter.
If he’s not the GOAT, I’m not sure who is lol. Also, I have no issues classifying several players as GOATs.
He is certainly without peer, and the best player in MLB.
But “of all time”? Based on really, three years of play?
Ok
Joe Charbonneau is one of the greatest, based on his first year in the majors.
possible rule change that I hate
“pitchers being forced to work from the stretch with a runner on base”
Really!? How about the require the pitcher to throw a strike within the first two pitches? OMG. I do understand the pitch/batter clock.
In my day batters stepped out every d@mn pitch and adjusted each batting glove (Velcro fetish), tapped their cleats, adjusted their grip while looking at the bat, picked unseen micro objects off of bat, adjusted/checked/took of and replaced their helmet (Maybe wiped sweat off and put back on said helmet), checked their cup, spat twice, tapped the ground, adjusted jersey, usually near shoulders, tucked in obligatory tacky gold necklace, pretended to look at a base coach a couple of times, often stepping back out and repeating the order, in a three minute plate appearance as they did this repeatedly whether or not pitcher comes set.
Proof of how tough the AL West was, and will be, for the coming years:
All top 5 AL MVP finishers are from the AL West. Only the A’s did not have a Top 5 finalist.
Glad to see my man Luis Rengifo get the recognition he deserves !!!!
Shohei has been linked….to the earth via gravity.
Source?
Newton.
And Einstein, though he also gives some credit to the curvature of space-time.
Some scribe wrote that the odds are with the Cubs in signing Shohei, good enough distance for me, with West Coast team I’ll have water in my eyes too often.
I ignore all of those. They’re just filling space
BTW, I think Shohei was CYA Winner in ’22.
ShoGOAT GOATani
I am extremely grateful for everything Sho gave us in his time as an Angel. It would surely be incredible if he decides to stay in Anaheim, but if not, no worries.
Only love for the greatest athlete of all time.
❤️❤️❤️😇😇😇
To young to remember “Bo”. Shohei is without a doubt the greatest Baseball Player of the 21 century without a doubt. I sure will miss him being a Halo 😭 . I hope his next team will be in the NL though and he wins the MVP there as a DH.
To take it a step further — please Shohei, go anywhere but to an AL West team. Literally anywhere else.
Angels or Dodgers plzz
AMEN Brother!
Here here!!
Just about everyone writing articles about what each team needs, or their team needs starts out with the need to acquire more pitching. Manfraud loves the idea of making millions of dollars more for the current owners who have decided to pay him 60+ million this year. How do you make billionaires richer – expansion silly 😉 . There are going to be owners offering in the 500-million-dollar range (Yes, maybe even more) for Shohei the pitcher/DH, a guy down in San Diego maybe CY but averages 5.2 innings a start, say what! That’s all; folks. The money will be flying after what Texas signed and won with after the ink dried.
The days of CG’s or 250+ innings are gone. With not much FA pitching out there, our guys Sandy-Detmers-Anderson-Canning are looking good now-hey 😃 . If I was Perry I would never sign Tim Anderson to play 2b, broken record coming so cover your eyes 🙀 play the guy PTP doesn’t like-Brad didn’t like-The Zen Master didn’t care for, play the guy that makes 5 mil per at 2b and take your chances. He does have a great glove and is smart out on the diamond. Trade the guy with the .10 cent head for a relief pitcher.
So far Washington is saying the right things and shows Buck said the wrongs things like let’s play the kids, Arte said “ 😵 WHAT!”, that won’t be 3 million thru the gates”!!! Without Sho 3 million seems mighty unlikely to me, what say you?
MVP! MVP! MVP!
Any doubt? Nope not here either. 🏆 🎉
Not a goddamn one!
😄
come on, come on. How long does it take to say “Shohei Ohtani”?
This IMO is the biggest story in baseball right now . I’m not sure how anyMLB team can ignore the implications. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/diamond-sports-group-could-drop-guardians-rangers-broadcasts.html
it was a big deal last year too and nothing happened
Meh. I assume it’d be handled the same way it was with the Padres last year.
What makes the Angels great?
Overall Statistics
LAA Offense Value (rank) LAA Defense Value (rank)
Win % – All 0.451 (#24)
Runs/Game 4.56 (#15)
Opp Win % – Close 0.513 (#18)
Run Differential -90.0 (#23)
Batting Statistics
LAA Offense Value (rank) LAA Defense Value (rank)
Batting Avg 0.245 (#18)
Opp Runs/Game5.12 (#24)
Hits/Game 8.31 (#18)
Home Runs/Game 1.43 (#5)
Opp Hits/Game 8.60 (#22)
RBIs/Game 4.37 (#14)
Opp Walks/Game 3.93 (#28)
Strikeouts/Game 9.41 (#27)
RLISP/Game 3.46 (#15)
Batting Ratios Statistics
LAA Offense Value (rank) LAA Defense Value (rank)
Slugging % 0.426 (#7)
On Base % 0.317 (#18)
Opp On Base % 0.337 (#25)
BABIP 0.295 (#16)
Opp BABIP 0.303 (#23)
Home Run % 3.8% (#4)
Strikeout % 24.8% (#26)
Walk % 8.4% (#19)
Opp Walk % 10.1% (#28)
Pitching Statistics
LAA Offense Value (rank) LAA Defense Value (rank)
Earned Run Average 4.64 (#23)
Opp Earned Run Average 4.30 (#15)
Earned Runs Against/Gm 4.56 (#23)
Opp Earned Runs Against/Gm 4.25 (#15)
WHIP 1.418 (#26)
Outs Pitcher/Game 26.51 (#21)
Hits/9 8.76 (#23)
Home Runs/9 1.31 (#24)
Opp Home Runs/9 1.44 (#5)
Walks/9 4.00 (#28)
Strikeouts/Walk 2.27 (#25)
Fielding Statistics
LAA Offense Value (rank) LAA Defense Value (rank)
Double Plays/Game 0.77 (#20)
Errors/Game 0.59 (#23)
https://youtu.be/fJh9t9h6Wn0?si=cKzghZ-cIApkj4hG
I think I’ll stick to Dumb and Dumber . Thanks.
I was going to say that they were psycho hose beast. Would have been shorter.
Dingers baby!
“…the Halos have signed 20-year-old lefty Mexican reliever Jesús “Chuyito” Martinez.” From Halos Today
Oh HELL…….I dunno!?
Maybe a good signing, maybe not…..
At least the Angels are actually looking outside the borders again. Other than Shohei it’s been pretty bleak.
They should take a peek at the Italian pro league, there are some legit ball players there. A couple are in the MiLBs.
I wish MLB would allow sign & trade contracts. That way we could trade Schanuel, a ML pitcher and….a unicorn for Pete Alonso on a decent length contract. Yeah I know, more chance of the unicorn appearing that Alonso wearing an Angel uniform, but I can dream…..
Of course, the Yankees and Dodgers would massacre this like the Lakers used to do, sooooo loooooong ago…..
He’s a FA next year, just wait and you can pay for him then
I know, that’s why the sign & trade, that way you don’t rent at high expense.
But then we wouldn’t get our Comp Pick.
That’s only if they have never received a QO before and they have to be on the roster for the full season.
For clarification, see your response to P12 below.
Just what we need – overpaying for another position player on the decline. In other words, The Angel Way! #trAdition
LOL @ “…decline”
of all the players, Alonso is not the one. Homers are great, but no thanks. Id much rather have Schanuel over the next 6 years for cheap than pay alonso $150-200 mil over the next 6
So far, only two power threats in the Halos line-up and one’s name is Rendon, so yeah, why would we want Alonso over Schanuel……really?
Anthony Rendone has 22 HRs since 2020.
That’s not a power threat.
That was facetiously stated.
We really have no idea who that Rendon guy is who plays during ST.
I would 10000% rather have Schanuel over Alonso for the net 6 years. You can use that money to get power somewhere else. Alonso is a one trick poney. It’s a great trick, but there’s more than just homers (he also has a very punchable face).
btw, Moniak’s numbers over a full season was 30 homers, O’hoppe was 40+, Drury was mid 30’s
Well, you get what you don’t pay for.
MLB Network reports that the Doyers are interested in acquiring Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. They are going to pay for Sho, Yamamoto, and Snell? I don’t think so; those 3 will cost at least $100 million per year. I think Yamamoto will be bid between the MFYankees and Mets, so it will be at least $30 to 35 million AV x 5-7 years. For Angels sake, I hope that Minasian does not go after Snell though I like him.
One of the reason that Padres struggled is that Snell and a few of their other starters were rarely still in the game in the 6th. It’s a common problem with many MLB teams including the Angels but when your #1 starter can’t give you 7 innings it’s an issue. Whoever steps up to pay him will likely regret it.
What MLB starters average 7 innings a start?
He averaged just over 5 1/2 innings (5.63) and they were a great 5 1/2 innings but still needs to be on the right team with a deep bullpen IMO. Anaheim is neither of those.
So what MLB pitchers averaged over 6 innings?
I think you’ll find this is an ongoing problem so it would be incumbent on the Angels to get their shit together on their bullpen . This will be difficult to o with our current status of the farm system.
Considering their poor draft record dating back to 2010 and the lack of attention on the international market ( although I think both of these areas are improving) the only way to fix this right away is to get lucky with FAs or dumpster dives.
Yeah, if you look at the numbers Snell gets about 2 or 3 fewer outs than other leading starters. I couldn’t say if that’s a problem or not
I hope the Dodgers sign as many high salary guys as possible. They always try to do that two years over the limit, but not three. They won’t be able to do that with $100M+ going to three guys.
In addition, I hope MLB grows a pair and adds stiffening penalties for years 4 plus for going over the “Salary cap.” My idea: 4th year over (Mets in a couple of years) you lose your first round draft choice and receive no QO rights/remuneration going forward until under cap. 5th year over, lose 1st & 2nd round pick, 6th year lose first three rounds of picks and international monies. 7th even worse. AND if one gap year when you dip below (e.g. Dodgers) for one season, a second year within two seasons of 1st is considered a second year over limit.
The Mets will show that they don’t care about the current penalties, which penalties level out at year three, as they lose nothing but a billionaire’s fun money.
Last time I checked, Shohei Ohtani has not made his decision. So, I am still an avid participant of CtPG.
Well, both AL and NL MVPs will be announced today. No doubt that Shohei and Ronald Acuna Jr will win respectively. Only question is whether it will be unanimous. If Shohei does it again, it will be the first time anyone ever done it more than once. Got a feeling one vote will go to Seager just to be obnoxious.
we are in dynasty mode for MVP’s
So, you’re saying when/if Shohei signs elsewhere, you won’t haunt this site any more?
😉
Washington also said that he doesn’t foresee any issues in working with the front office. It’s well established that all major league teams now have analytics groups that provide daily guidance for how to run the team.
Although Washington definitively said “I am writing the lineup, I can tell you that right now,” he said he would welcome input from the front office.
“We’re not going to have an antagonistic relationship,” Washington said. “I believe in conversations. I have no problem with any information that they bring down to us. And if I do have a problem with it, we’re gonna close the door and we’re gonna talk about it. We’re not going to have an antagonistic relationship. I guarantee you that.”
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/11/15/new-manager-ron-washington-promises-angels-focus-will-be-to-run-the-west-down/
Wash also talked about meeting Arte coming off of the airplane into town and how he has already developed a direct relationship with him. Since we already know that Arte will routinely usurp the team’s organizational chart, this is bad news for PTP.
Wash is no dummy, he knows who butters his bread.
Perry has also done a darn good job becoming a yes man to King Arturo.
I would expect him to say nothing less.
Phil Nevin: ““You’d be crazy not to want this job and want to keep this job,” Nevin said. “It’s a dream scenario for me if I’m able to return. I’m not trying to lobby — saying I’ve done a good job or anything like that. There’s thousands of people that would love to be in my position right now, and I understand that. I’m not ever taking that for granted.”
Joe Maddon: “How cool is this?” Maddon said to begin his opening statement, which lasted nearly 18 minutes. “I tossed and turned last night thinking about all this stuff. It’s very emotional. To be back here and see your name up here is pretty special. Maddon made it clear he believes there’s an “Angels Way,” and that his goal is to bring it back to a club that hasn’t won a postseason game since 2009 and has made the postseason just once over the last decade.”I want us to reestablish our own identity here. I want us to play the Angels game,” Maddon said. “This is about excellence over a period of time. This isn’t just about being good for a brief window and then moving it along. The only way to get that done: you have to establish your culture, you have to establish a methodology — ‘This is how we do things here.’ That’s what I’m gonna be all about.”
You aren’t wrong. I can’t prove there is a difference between the 3 press conferences without going thru quote-by-quote and I don’t care enough to do that lol.
It will be proven on the field. Nonetheless, the energy is different with Wash. You can take that to the bank and deposit it 😛.
Ah yes, it is amazing how quickly the champagne and caviar turns into piss water and poop.
This team is sub-500 and a manager is not gonna fix it. I’m not getting sucked into another 92-win prediction. I’m still paying off beers over that one.
He fixed the SS Minnow, aka the Texas Rangers.
None of them said Arte is leaving.
It’s a bit spooky how spot on Maddon was with his read on the organization. Did he have the wrong vision or just a lack of support?
I was originally super excited to get him back because there was an identity and sound methodology to the organization prior to Arte’s tenure. Disney mostly sucked in that they tried to make going to the stadium into a theme park experience. I think they were at least smart enough to let baseball people run prospect development.
I was excited too. But unfortunately Maddon was no longer the ball of energy he was during his previous 25+ years of Angel Coaching days.
As old as Washington is he still seems to have something left in the tank. I thought the most important thing he had to say yesterday ( I am paraphrasing) was that with the way prospects are rushed to the majors nowadays ( all teams do this not just our dumb ass ball club) Alot more instruction is needed at the major league level. Our last 3 managers were not going to provide that.
I’ve been watching a lot interviews and Wash seems to be a super positive hard working guy who still sweats it out on a daily basis. I think you may be right on Maddon as he seems to need to be regarded/validated as the smartest guy in the room and did things for effect rather than a real purpose.
Flash from MLBTR- no rebuild, we’re spending to fill holes and compete in ’24. What is Arte’s problem with a teardown and rebuild?
🫣
“Real men don’t teardown and rebuild”. Arte has small hands and is doing everything possible to appear strong and virile within the boys club of MLB ownership.
“It’s not in our DNA”