wopphil

Yes, one and done. And the lower efficacy isn’t necessarily true. The vaccines were tested in different time periods, under some different circumstances. Had they been tested head to head, the efficacy rates would have been different. But in any event, all vaccines were equally effective in preventing hospitalization and death, which is really all we should care about.

I got my vaccination yesterday. Went to the Anaheim Convention Center. The process was incredibly well organized and fast. I have never been so excited to get a shot. I got to pick Moderna or JJ. I went with JJ. I felt pretty good yesterday but it hit me overnight. Hopefully some Advil and coffee will make me feel somewhat normal again.

Has anyone here tried to get a vaccine as part of the group 1b? A co-worker of mine (39 years old) got one in Los Angeles yesterday. They didn’t ask for any documentation, just ID. Another friend got an appointment at Soka for Thursday. I got an appointment for the Anaheim convention center this Friday. The friend who got the shot says some sites check documentation to verify eligibility, while others do not. My question is whether anyone has gotten a shot in Orange County the last week or two and can provide info on the process. Are they checking documents are not? It would seem way too chaotic to do so, given how many people are now eligible and the challenge distinguishing between what constitutes acceptable proof and what doesn’t.

Lots of great ideas Strad, but no way on the automatic free agency after age 26. Maybe 28, but nothing before that. They should increase the league minimum salary, but since the union prioritizes free agency dollars above everything else they won’t have much motivation to do this. I also think they should go right into arbitration after one full season played. No reason why they can’t do five years of arb rather than three. And the first year arb salary doesn’t have to be huge dollars - but the difference between a salary of $550,000 and a salary of $750,000 is huge for a guy who may only play a few seasons and needs to maximize his earnings. Let the arb process start almost immediately so the younger players can get more of what they should be entitled to receive. And definitely expand the playoffs.

I just bought a set of Sunny Health loadable dumbbells. They are nice, and reasonably priced ($80 for the pair). Of course you need weights, as well, and those will probably run you $2 a pound for something rubber coated.

At first there was no secret. Newbie gains. It went up quickly. But then I stalled out. I was stuck at about 195 for 4 reps from September through December. I think the problem was too much cardio. At the end of December I cut cardio and went to a strict lifting only routine. I do chest only on day one, shoulders and biceps day two, then triceps and back on day three (I don’t lift more than two or three days in a row). About 10-12 sets per muscle group each lifting session. And I go heavy. My weights went up quickly after that. I added a rep to my 195 set each week for the first few weeks, then bumped up the weights to 205 /215/225 for my sets. In two months I went from 195 for four reps, to 215 for five reps. Keep going as heavy as you can and destroy your chest each workout. For me, that would be like 5 sets of barbell bench, then four sets of dumbbell bench, then 50 push ups (which takes about five sets).

Does anyone think he could make the squad out of camp? I would say it’s highly doubtful for so many reasons - lack of games played recently, age, service time considerations - but what if he just dominates this spring and it is obvious he can help the team now?

Bump. How you guys doing with post New Years diet and exercise? I am the strongest I have been in 20 years. Suit jacket is noticeable tighter than it was 6 months ago, and I have put on about 20 pounds since June of last year (much of which is good weight). I have added about 70 pounds to my bench since June. Now I need to trim down and keep the muscle I have gained. Gonna change up the diet and exercise in a week or two, with the hope of slowing dropping weight for about three months (a pound a week or so).

Rodriguez looked incredible. I am guessing you could put him into the big league rotation today and he would hold his own. But his delivery looks exhausting, high effort. I assume he is an injury risk going forward.

Same. I am bullish on Upton.

It’s just a matter of time before he is joined by our 2, 3, 5, and 6.

But we don’t need Odorizzi. All our starters will stay healthy all year.

I still don’t get the hate for Fowler. Did anyone watch Adell play last year? If Fowler can merely manage a line of .230/.320/.380, he will be a huge upgrade over Adell. And if he plays well enough to justify keeping Adell in the minors until late June or so, I believe the team will effectively control Adell through 2027 (making the $2 mil paid to Fowler a good investment if Adell turns into the star we all hope for).

The Angels need Odorizzi. Not just for this year, but to fill one of the many rotation holes for 2022 as well.

I don’t either, but I think it is safe to say he secured his contract through false pretenses (his false claims as to his age and/or his prior PED use), and has refused to do the honorable thing of stepping away from said fraudulently induced contract when it became apparent, five years ago, that he no longer has the skills to be playing professional baseball. When viewed this way, he becomes less likable.

So on the service time issue, what is the alternative? Let the player decide when he is ready? Let his agent decide it? I have little sympathy for the players. This is the system they wanted. They value free agency over everything - to the detriment of the young players and the ones who never make it to free agency. There are so many ways all sides can be creative and can fix this “problem” and out more money in the young players’ pockets, but it will never happen as long as the union values free agency dollars over everything else.

What is the team paying Cobb, $5 mil? I think if he pitches 130 innings with a 4.50 ERA, he will have been well worth the cost.

I wonder how close Odorizzi’s eventual deal will be to Walker’s deal. If you can get Odorizzi anywhere near 3/30, you almost have to do it.

I have been torn on the question of Odorizzi vs. Rosenthal. A lockdown reliever - if that is what Rosenthal actually is - would probably be better for the team than another 3/4 type starter. Then again, if you are getting the 2019 version of Odorizzi, it would be a huge addition to the rotation and would fill a hole for 2022. At your proposed numbers, I’d probably go with Odorizzi.

Damn, good memory.

I was at a freeway series game when someone on the Dodgers hit a foul ball out of Angel stadium. If I recall correctly, it was a curve ball that he was way, way out in front of. He pulled it, and it went out of the stadium on the third base side.

Don’t have the roster spots for that many moves. I’d prefer to see one more guaranteed, legit arm brought in (Rosenthal).

This. One more good pitcher - whether that’s Odorizzi or Rosenthal - would make for a deep pitching staff and good overall offseason. Not a staff with a lot of upside, but one with a high floor.

I can’t think of many players with less trade value than Bumgarner. Maybe Miguel Cabrera. Stanton. Chris Sale. Bumgarner is clearly top 10.

There is. But these people weren’t constructively terminated. They just want to sue.