Pablo

There was more activity on this thread BEFORE the game started.

This.

....and are improved from that. The other 2 wins came against perhaps the best team in the AL

Assume there are 40 feet between infielders. Further, assume an infielder can react laterally 10 feet on a 50 mph ball, and only 5 feet on a 100 mph ball (because it travels through the infield much quicker). Therefore, on a ball hit 50 mph, there is a 20 ft wide area the infielders can't reach; but on a ball hit 100 mph there is a 30 ft wide area. That gives the ball a significantly better chance to get through the infield when hit hard as opposed to not. Exit velocity is very important, although as Jeff said, if you are sacrificing contact for exit velocity, it can quickly turn into a negative.

I find this statistic .....amazing? A quick comparison; the two years that Babe Ruth spent significant time as both a pitcher and a hitter (1918, 166 IP, 382 PA & 1919, 133 IP, 543 PA). During those two years, Babe had 234 hits, and allowed 273 hits. This kid......

Well, Kershaw has pitched well and is 0-2 on the season. Baseball is a funny game...

I wonder if the caliber of umpiring played into this. there were at least half a dozen pitches that clearly showed out of the strike zone but were called strikes; most of them killing potential rallies. Hate to rail at the umps, and I get that it all evens out over the course of a year, but honestly, after a few of those, you start to swing at balls because you have NO IDEA if it'll be called a strike.

Kinda wishing it was Carter hitting just then

As my dad used to say, you don't lose anything until you sell.

I am. No problem with Cozart at 2nd, it's the everyday Valbuena at 3rd I'll have problems with. And like TroutField said, these are the kinds of injuries that just linger on for months.

Angels with a better run differential than the WS champs as well.

AP & Maldy

That was AWESOME! Pujols doesn't even wait for the call - just walks away

Does tonights game help?

Well, that escalated quickly....

That's kind of what Tim Mead hinted at in his ST dugout talk.

Sooooo... even though it's an NL park, the Dogs are going to let the Halos use the DH, while they bat their pitcher. And that DH? Shohei. I'm sure this had nothing to do with the decision, right? Right??!??

Solid analysis.

Well, THAT was encouraging...

As is Bartolo! We can get the band together for a greatest hits tour! http://rotoworld.com/player/mlb/2363/bartolo-colon

Welcome! My family hails from Elgin (several generations); but I'm a first generation SoCal. My father was a die-hard Cubs fan, so when after coming to California in the 50's he soon adopted the Angels (something about 'loveable losers' gets under your skin). Sadly, he didn't live to see either team win a World Series. PS - Keep waiting

That's the last year of Pujols contract, right?

Fletcher!!!

Not sure who's written him off. Seems like the debate is what is best for Ohtani and his long-term development; not a question of whether he's got what it takes. I think that's obvious to anyone who's watched him pitch.

Minnesota has been fairly active on the FA market this offseason, especially late, picking up Lynn & Odorizzi - gotta think this is a pretty heavy blow to them. Other than Eric Aybar, not sure who they have who can step up. Any opportunities to exploit?