OC Register: Angels’ Albert Pujols moving well early in camp after a rehab-free winter

[Stradling]

Just now, failos said:

Is “moving well” the new “working on things” ?

No, I think it means he is moving well.  

[Jeremiah]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

No, I think it means he is moving well.  

Which is encouraging to read. We all know what kind of player Albert is at this point. I do think he has value, especially in the ways Maddon talked about in the story. The way he carries himself and prepares has hopefully rubbed off on his teammates, especially the younger players who are called up. There are ways he can still help. Whether we see value in that is more our problem than it is the team’s.

[failos]

Pujols moving well

[Docwaukee]

those Centrum Silver vitamins are doing the trick.  

[zenmaster]

2 minutes ago, Throwman91 said:

wtf is that thing

I’m going to go with pterodactyl

[Claude]

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, RendZone said:

AW mod dance party.

[Claude]

32 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

AW mod dance party.

Blarg says hi. 

jerk

[Duren, Duren]

A manager has to be ruthlessly pragmatic. Every player who makes the team has a role. The manager tries to put them in position to be able to perform as well as possible. 

He has to be encouraging and  yet realistic. 

Very smart to think of Albert positively and spread the word. No one takes what he says as a reference to Albert's speed. That's obvious. It's about flexibility, defensive agility, joint lithness, overall mobility.

And it's all relative to where he has been in recent years. Not absolute measures. I think it means that Albert will be improved and not favoring recent injuries. He will be a healthier forty year old than he was as a handicapped 35 - 39 year old. 

What that translates to is probably a slight upgrade at the plate and in the field when at first. Not a fountain of youth reversal, but a little better production. 

Maddon is really shrewd bringing this up now. It generates positive reinforcement and sets a higher bar for Albert. A message that if health isn't a detriment then more is expected. Delivered professionally and forward looking.

That's how you manage a long time great veteran with intense pride. Especially as a new manager dealing with a declining former great who still has a fairly important role on the team.

[tomsred]

2 hours ago, zenmaster said:

I’m going to go with pterodactyl

Paleontology is not your strong suit, give it up.

[Reveille1984]

Once you start talking about a guy's "joint litheness", I think it's time to hang 'em up.  Nobody improves at 40.

[yk9001]

8 hours ago, Duren, Duren said:

Maddon is really shrewd bringing this up now. It generates positive reinforcement and sets a higher bar for Albert.

Per the article, Maddon set the bar at "somewhat productive".

[Angel Oracle]

10 hours ago, Throwman91 said:

wtf is that thing

Sloth

[hangin n wangin]

20 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I don’t think running speed is what he’s talking about when he says moving well. I think he means flexibility and agility, ability to play defense and hit.

Which is also a lie.

[fan_since79]

Still laughing over the "somewhat productive" quote.

So, can we expect those choppers to third base to be harder hit now? 

The real suspense will be if he can get to 700 home runs before the end of next year. He's 44 away.

 

[Stradling]

16 minutes ago, Vladdylonglegs said:

It's refreshing to have a manager who calls things the way they are. Hopefully that translates into good strategic decisions not based on salary and career numbers.

Then you must be pumped that we are going to the playoffs and we will soon be a championship team.  Because Maddon calls things the way they are and he said those things as well.  

[fan_since79]

5 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Then you must be pumped that we are going to the playoffs and we will soon be a championship team.  Because Maddon calls things the way they are and he said those things as well.  

We're only a couple of front-line starters away from a nice playoff run.

And a better bullpen.

And a whole bunch of luck when it comes to injuries.

 

Okay...let me start over.

[Stradling]

5 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

We're only a couple of front-line starters away from a nice playoff run.

And a better bullpen.

And a whole bunch of luck when it comes to injuries.

 

Okay...let me start over.

Someone should tell that to the person who “calls things the way they are”. 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

We will know soon enough, the first time that he grounds out, by seeing whether or not he is in the frame by the time that the ball reaches the first baseman.

[totdprods]

Maybe Thaiss or Walsh can actually hit enough to force the issue. That’d be nice. 

Who was the last Angel “power” hitting prospect (aka not Fletcher) to produce? Cron? Calhoun?

[nate]

BSOL!

[Dtwncbad]

News out of Las Vegas:  In their early rehearsals for a racy, sexy song and dance show at the Luxor, it is widely reported that Bernadette Peters and Liza Minnelli are moving well.”

[Angels 1961]

Albert will make it 18 years with 90 rbi or more. A record nobody will ever beat.