Angels News
Kendrys Morales’ 13 year career has come to an end with his official announcement of his retirement.
The Angels deal with the Dodgers to nab Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling was in jeopardy. And then it died. For real. The Twins have pulled out of the trade due to health issues with Brusdar Graterol. The Athletic ($$) has a story on this huge mess. Justin Turner also weighed in on this kerfuffle. At least Ross Stripling was happy…no one knows who to blame yet! But I’m sure we’ll find someone to be annoyed at eventually…
Jered Weaver visited one of his Alma Maters over the weekend.
Happy belated birthday to The Skipper. One year old – and another year wiser?
Around the Horn
Major League Baseball (read: Rob Manfred) and Minor League Baseball are continuing their battle over the possible elimination of 42 MiLB teams. The “Dream” league is dead and the battle is far from over.
Carlos Delgado does not like being associated with operation “code-break“. Charlie Morton also regrets “not doing more” to stop the cheating. So far some former Astros have expressed regret. How about the current players? Anyone??
Apparently the Red Sox are not as good at cheating as the Astros are.
Trade News
The Tampa Bay Rays grabbed another limp dick prospect from the Padres. In return, the Padres bullpen got even more lethal.
https://twitter.com/YamadaSANSPO/status/1226983801668145152
Still having problems embedding a tweet. Sigh.
Hmm. . . I wonder why my above post is awaiting moderation?
Copy the url from the twitter page, and then paste it into the comment box
https://twitter.com/FabianArdaya/status/1227064155762352129
Hey, that works! Thanks again!
AJ, the official initials of Douche, hit the monitors on the ovations that they failed the team when they needed unfair advantage.
eyespy, it’s funny that when you said “AJ”, despite the context I immediately thought of Pierzynski.
Rob Manfred is trending on Twitter. He needs to go, the juiced balls in the regular season but not the playoffs? for real? The cheating Astros stealing several seasons of every fans time and attention span, the fraud, the attack on the minor league culture, to hell with Manfred, he’s failed to protect the integrity of the game, he needs to resign.
Agree. He’s been terrible. How many ways has he actually made baseball better??
He is definitely on the continued path of making it worsy.
@steelgolf at least he is getting better at something. 😂
I somewhat sympathize with him because most baseball fans want nothing changed but then industry consensus is it *needs* to change to stop the bleeding they have with younger audiences. This is one of those things where they’re acting like the NBA: creating products that work really well on TV or streaming / have to be watched live / could trend or go viral on social media & generate buzz.
Its radical only because it’s baseball. When the NBA floated eliminating conferences from the postseason seeding, nobody seemed to care really because the disparity is a real problem (sorta like how tanking is in baseball)
It’s still baseball, but best of three with the lesser teams. Most likely if there is an upset in the first round, they will get slaughtered in the next, with a lack of depth down in the 5-6-7 seeds.
They should just shorten the regular season by 20-25 games, maybe just get rid of the inter-league games, and contract that shit team in Houston then move around some teams to make it all even in each league.
That way they can have best of five series, and all post season teams get some home games. The game are played for the fans, right???
I red a book, many moons ago, and can’t remember the name, but they have every team play their games in one city(Pittsburgh?), stadium was empty, and everyone watched from home. DO IT MANBEARFRED, DO IT!
Don’t worry. If the Yankees get bounced in any round there will be more tinkering until they win a WS and the MLB offices can be filled with the thunder of 70 simultaneous high fives. If the Yankees are the one seed and lose we will have to fix the problem of all that down time that caused them to lose. If they are the two seed and lose then the two seed will have to choose who the opposing team starts in game one. If the Yankees ever manage to be the 8th worst team in the AL then we either need to expand the play offs again or abolish the AL and just call it Yankees Vs Red Sox plus some teams with both teams always making the play offs along with the Globetrotters and the Washington Generals, COBRA and the Toronto Blue Jays always left out.
I’m going to write him and give him suggestions, all based on that Bugs bunny gif
oh no, MLB is going to announce post season tweaks they want to make, adding a team from each league into the playoffs and 1 st round playoff teams choosing who they want to play, and having a big show about it, I guess like pro wrestlers calling out another wrestler? Manfred may need a psychological evaluation.
ManBearFred is the only guy who can make Selig look like he was a good Commish.
All pro-sports are going to become more like wrestling, WWF etc. It was no accident that “the Rock” was doing the lead-in on the Super Bowl this year. Lots more wrestling commericals on tv etc. Actually, the NFL describes itself as “entertainment” presumably specifically because “entertainment” makes no claim to presenting a fair, balanced, and ultimately legitimate sports contest. Not sure I want to going deeply into this bag, but suffice to say that I think your comment is prescient steelfgolf.
But I will add that I think the MLB expanded playoffs and proposed opportunity for the better teams to choose their Wild Card opponent is simply a way to eliminate the inherent injustice of the two best teams in a League playing in the same division and thus one getting totally screwed. Seeding and mathups can be a little unfair. Perhaps that will counteract the imbalances. I do agree with you however that the big tv show etc is a bit much.
I came around on the “Choosing your opponent” thing. It adds a ton of drama to that series by the “chosen” team being disrespected so hard they have a grudge and motivating chip on their shoulder. Shifts a TON of pressure to the favorite to beat THEIR choice.
Its insane…but super compelling.
Very good point about the chosen team being disrespected. I had that same thought a while back when this first came up for discussion. I don’t think that is exaggerated. It is a fact. The “choser” is going to take the team they feel that is easier to beat. That does add the “we’ll show you” factor for the disrespected team.
Yeah. The play-in game is somewhat controversial too but that is generally insanely good baseball and TV. Baseball has been criticized for years for not keeping up with the youth etc. but people should give them credit on things like the revamped HR Derby and Wild Card game being extremely watchable baseball TV products.
This is about revenue generation. They want TV shows they can sell to the networks so owner make more money. Players will come around when they hear in CBA negotiations how this will increase revenues that flow their way.
I actually have mixed feelings about the play-in game. While I do agree that it makes for very compelling viewing and is incredibly exciting with so much riding on every pitch, on the other hand, it is kind of unfair to a team that struggles for 162 games just to get there, and then with one bad half-inning your whole season can go down the drain. That has happened to Oakland several times now. Not that I feel bad for the A’s, I don’t. But I think the fans of the team/s who lose the play in game are in a very real way cheated out of the playoffs.
The players hate the play in game. I don’t think you even have to bribe them with moar revernoons to get them onside for this. I just don’t see how the WS will be over by mid-December now.
They could not schedule a series until the previous series is completed. That would likely shorten the postseason at least enough to compensate for the longer first round. It seems to me that this has been done in the past.
Howie, with all due respect, if I want “compelling”, I’ll watch The Mandalorian. There are too many possible perverse incentives in allowing a team to choose its opponent. I’d only go for this if the players chose the opponent by secret ballot, and maybe not even then.
I tell you what. I am really going to enjoy the first time the Yankees choose the A’s or Rays and get punched in their big huge 4 X The Payroll mouths for it. That team that gets chosen is gonna come out playing PISSED OFF.
I found it interesting that Minnesota didn’t trade directly with Boston the second time around and waited for Boston and the Dodgers to work a trade and then traded directly with the Dodgers to complete the trade.
The Astros trying to pull a fast one with the “Codebreaker” scheme. They only did it when a man was on second base, please, and that runner on second always seemed to be BUZZlightyear.
The buzzer scheme is so easy to implement, it’s comical. I’m assuming games in 2020 are going to take even longer with all the adjustments pitchers and catchers are going to need to make.
I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach reading about this non-trade. Hey, this is a chance to practice embedding a tweet. I have no confidence it’ll work…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQb9zhNVAAEPQ9I?format=jpg&name=900×900
bah! Just gives the link. Oh well. Anyway, Billy’s statement on the thing.
One of those components that requires satisfaction is Arte’s arbitrary timeline
Yeah, if that’s really all it was I just don’t get it.
Duh Doyers won’t complete the deal to shed an outfielder and pitcher until they have completed the deal to gain an outfielder and pitcher. The trade got held up by the team that had that OF and P, but obviously Duh Doyers will still go get those players. There wasn’t some other Angels trade proposal with a time clock ticking. So why get temperamental? Especially when I assume that Eppler, La Russa, Maddon etc all already approved the idea of the trade, why swim back up that stream purely because you’re pissed off? I get it if the Dodgers changed the deal after the delay, that would piss me off too, but just the delay, especially when it’s not the Doyers holding things up? If that’s Arte’s only reason that was a bad move.
Not that it makes a difference but reading between the lines of Eppler’s statement it sure sounds like they’re implying the Dodgers are the reason news of this trade leaked to the press by them informing players like Joc and Pages before it was truly executed.
Not trying to give Arte any leniency here but my most generous interpretation of this statement is some of his anger/impatience with the delay was because the Dodgers allowed word to get out and add public/media scrutiny to the Angels side of it that should have–in his opinion–never been public knowledge at that stage.
Moreno likes his staff tight lipped so I wouldn’t doubt it. This was just a whole mess.
My reading between the lines is that billy stopped himself before he could sound bitter about arte calling it off.
Although it isn’t the way Arte does his business, the news was positive about the trade for the Angels. Also, the bigger trade on the MLB market was between the Dodgers and Red Sox b/c Betts was on the move. Most of the MLB was more focused on that trade than the secondary trade with the Angels. The only reason there was a trade with the Angels was because the Dodgers were acquiring Betts. We were technically hidden in plain sight still, especially with the trade being held up by the BoSox.
Anyhow, with lots of versions out there, the one I chose was Arte getting upset and reneging on the deal. Eppler talked some sense into Arte and tried to get revive the deal the the Dodgers. Dodgers got wind it was Arte’s impatience and decided they didn’t have to revive the trade because it became “unnecessary”. Unnecessary to trade with the Angels, but still needs to shed two MLB players from their roster still.
Welp. Players shed
@Eric_in_Portland
how’d you do that?
Like so
And last … “Post comment”
Forgot to mention step 1… Download the image to my phone …
I deleted from the ? to the end (?format=jpg&name=900×900) then added .jpg to the end of the string, and viola, image is posted.
eyespy, thanks for walking us through that.
I knew there had to be a way to get them pesky twitter images posted while mooching all their bandwidth
OOPS, I forgot also to thank DowningDude.
A surfboard and five buckets of chum,
perfect time to ride the trade waves!
Has Moreno ever seen Diggstown?
How large is the print on his playing cards
and are they facing the right direction?
So far this off season, the Angels have spent over a quarter billion dollars and traded 6 prospects (one a first rounder in a salary dump) yet we still needed two spare parts from the Dodgers to step into starting roles.
And they screwed that up.
Arte micromanaging again
Here to sabotage a winning formula.
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1226864038325387264
And there we have it folks. Arte is the one who pulled the deal all because he got his feelings hurt and ended up fucking his own team in the end. Once again Arte is his worst enemy. He never fucking learns.
Jebus. When will Arturo learn.
Apparently never.
Never
And what exactly did he accomplish by doing this? Who did he show was boss? This is a joke like a little boy taking his ball and going home and nobody is hurt by it but himself.
All this time people wringing their hands over Scioscia. It has been Arte All Along.
Add Arte Moreno up there to James Dolan and Jerry Jones as the current worst owners in sports
As I mentioned in a previous post. 2020 & 2002. What do they have in common besides 2’s & 0’s. Joe Maddon and a team that we all expect to hit the crap out of the ball and score runs. Both teams had average pitching too! As for them Padres Jessica, their games should be a bit more entertaining this year. Such a great ball park and maybe, just maybe, a team that wins. San Diego is a great city. I love living down here. Angels/Padres WS 2020 ~ Let Us Pray ~
The Trade that did not go down, started to unwind when Boston got cold feet claiming Graterol was not fit to be a starter after medical exam. Really what took place was a huge New England backlash as management was perceived as bring home enough for it’s top player so excuse number one. Boston’s new GM did not want to start out being the G.O.A.T. at bad deals and could not find another pitcher on Twins roster that was suitable. Dodgers seeing that Mookie was not going to receive a new zip code and had told the Angels that the trade of Joc Pederson was predicated of the finalizing of the Boston deal just simply pulled out of the trade. The Angels GM doing some “Playhouse 90” (acting) like we got screw made the narrative to his boss that that was what happened. The blame is really going to be on Boston not doing either proper scouting or the backlash was to much to deal with. The Dodgers will continue to find a suitable trade for Verdugo and the Angels and their fans are left wondering what if. Mookie will still get his free agency, but Boston gets nada. Dodgers hold on to a disgruntled outfielder for awhile and a happy pitcher who would rather play out of the pen than be a #3 starter and the Halos hold on the a spare infielder who feels unwanted. Nobody but the Boston management is happy as Mookie was going to a much better team but now has to sell that he never wanted to leave. What a crapola of a mess and hurt feelings.
Why have we not extended Simba yet? What does the team know that we don’t? Or are they just playing the wait and see game? Just sign him now for 5 @ 12 or 13 and be done with it. The only upgrade is Lindor and you will have to give up Adell and Marsh for that deal and still need another OF’er.
Good morning everybody, it was a snowy night and l will now breve the elements and get down to shoveling the white stuff, about 6 inches along with a berm. l still enjoy doing this even as l get older, but tomorrow it will be a dirty mess and by Satursay mostly gone.
Betting that Blue got greedy.
If we didn’t give up too much.
That would be a good thing.
Still couple days before S/T.
Gets really serious…we’ll see.
Is this a PowerPoint slide comment? Looks like you are following the 7×7 rule…
Just my style of writing.
I do the same everywhere.
Here, e-mail, car guy blogs.
Cant tell you how it got started.
Kind of like postmodern Haiku.
@DaveinSA his transitions weren’t in full effect. Definitely not PPTX quality
I thought it was some kind of poetry format, like Haiku or something and was reading it in my mind like it was a poem. It works!
Nothing special…just Phil being Phil. 😎
After following the Angels minor league system for these many years, it is easy to see why MiLB contraction is so appealing. Regardless of any salaries paid to players, filling rosters and hiring coaching staffs still takes a substantial amount of non-pecuniary resources. That is a lot of time wasted on players that have no chance of playing for the big club. It makes sense to not dilute coaching and instruction.
That is, I think, a short sighted way of thinking about those resources. Maybe Arte or the current crop of MLB owners do think this way, but building the sport in all parts of the country, through the minor leagues, means increasing the chances that athletes will emerge as baseball players. Without young people playing baseball, without the incentive of moving up, seeing people play near them, it is hard to see the sport continuing. Baseball, of all sports, needs the minor leagues. It is a really small investment, to be honest, compared to how much money is thrown at current players. And coaches need to be developed too.
I think you could achieve both goals by dissolving not the small town affiliate in Alabama but places like Inland Empire/Rancho that are right next to their big league team. I get it would make rehab assignments annoying for pro’s but too many teams and job openings does dilute the talent pool.
It wont happen until its a crisis but contracting 2 MLB teams would go a long way to solving problems like tanking by making quality talent easier to come by.
Your idea of contracting teams that are close to MLB cities is a good best bad case idea. I am more worried about teams in places like Nebraska and Tennessee getting dissolved than I am about Cal Ripken’s bankrupt team 40 minutes from Camden Yards.
Thus far, the only thing I am glad for is that most of the “traditional” MiLB teams are higher up the food chain and less threatened…. Memphis, Birmingham, Columbus, Nashville, Charlotte, Scranton. But I am a little shocked they want to cut the Jackson Generals and Chattanooga Lookouts. I really do hope they come up with a way to keep fans engaged in places more far flung, but I also understand why places like Danville, VA and Lancaster, CA may lose their teams. Thing is, no one goes to their games. So, while I wish there was MiLB baseball everywhere, I also can’t completely buy into the idea that it’s an integral part of growing the sport. I’ve been to a big pile of MiLB games all over the country and most of them had very small crowds.
I think, in a place that has actual demand for baseball, plus standing venues already there, they will find a way to meet that demand in those cities, even if a bigger independent league is what develops.
Thanks for the vocab word.
When we cut Blanton a few years back, we ate 8 million dollars of salary for that one season. We ate 65 million of Josh Hamiltons contract too. The economics of minor league baseball are a tiny tiny fraction of the overall pie, but the necessity for young cost controlled talent is worth teams tanking for years at the cost of fans attendance, etc., so it seems like quality minor league instruction and a larger pool of minor league talent is worth it, as well as all the fans and people who connected with the sport in those communities the teams operate.
I grew up going to minor league games. So did Turk’s. Those were the players we saw as kids, the players the better baseball players in the area looked up to. Also, guys like Victor starting by calling minor league games. Lots of front office types cut their teeth there. The minors cultivate fans and talent, both on and off the field, for a very small investment by owners.
Even those small crowds are creating life-long fans from those moments while Major League guys pass through on the way up, or to rehab. And that is really important.
I got to briefly meet Tim Salmon when he was rehabbing in Rancho Cucamonga or maybe Lake Elsinore when I was a kid, told him that I bought the same batting gloves as him. Dude was total class act, made me feel like the most important kid in the world.
A couple years later, he’s rehabbing down in Rancho again, my dad takes me to go see him play again. M’fer remembered the batting gloves thing and asked if I still had the Franklins. Kind of locked me in as an Angel fan. I don’t get that moment without minor league baseball and the Angels don’t get all the money I’ve spent and time that’s committed to baseball.
Interesting its been total silence from the Angels. Dodgers cant complete the Mookie trade until they get down to 40 players. Joc and Strip would have taken care of it so they’re either finding a new partner real quick or we’re still quietly negotiating.
They better get something done.
+1 … Hopefully we were Joc-e-ing for position
or we are just Stripling Our Way Through College
The Dodgers May turn Graterol into Kenleys replacement.
I think the Dodgers are better off this way. They now have a guy who can go a couple of innings throwing 98-100 out of their bullpen and they hung on to their pitching prospects.
They will make him a successful starter to troll the Sux
Need someone to bug all those Twitter writers who kept insisting this trade will happen. That they were so sure even though they never even knew the prospects. Assumptions took over the whole bunch and it sucks.