LAA Road Tripper

C'mon. So the "media" can cap a story and nobody can know the truth. That's what you're going to go with? That wasn't possible a couple of thousand years ago, wasn't true 50 years ago and now, in the age of social media, CNN, MSNBC, Fox and others that BTW all compete with each other , is less true now than ever in history.

Not the point. Do governments lie? Are people corrupt? Sure, to the core. And that's what most conspiracy theorists home in on, motives. But the problem with most conspiracies is that for them to be pulled off usually lots of people need to be involved. Take 9/11. What do we know? Two planes hit the buildings. Then they fell down. To some, it doesn't seem feasible. But what's a more plausible alternative? A devious plan? I'm sure some would want to orchestrate something. But how many hundreds or thousands of people would need to be in on it? And have access? Etc., etc. And that is where it all breaks down. Because the one thing you can count on is when lots of people are involved some crack. Maybe on their deathbed, maybe a change of heart along the line but the universal truth is people love to talk.

With this roster I really thought this was a losing team. Not enough talent. Maybe I'm spoiled but last year's 98 win, best-record-in-baseball team never felt real to me evidenced by the first round sweep but probably even more so by the pedestrian record they had against good teams. IIRC they were sub-.500 or close to it versus winning teams. What they excelled at in '14 was beating the teams they were supposed to beat. They were absolutely masterful at that. If they hadn't coasted the last week they would have won 101 or 102 games. But the litmus test for a legitimately quality team is beating the good clubs. After all, that's all you see when you make the playoffs. That same pattern was exhibited this year through July - beat the bad teams until the wheels came off last month. Put me down in the camp of getting a tad bit more than I expected record-wise with a caveat of taking an unexpected pathway to get there. 54-40 was completely unexpected but so was 11-26.

Really, I don't get why this is a surprise. This team, as it's currently constituted, is...not...good. Plain and simple. This is Mike Trout and the 24 dwarves and lately Mike Trout has just made it number 25. Here's what surprises me and is a testament to MLB having an overall subpar year: The Los Angeles Angels are still, somehow two games over .500. Let THAT sink in. I know they're better than the last month but in their entirety, if we spin it back from April on, I see this roster as a 70 to 75 win team.

That was the inning. I see Verlander capping this off.

That would require the "hit" part.

For Boston, Oakland or Texas. Iannetta oughta be happy. This is all set up for him.

Nice Aybar. 3 times. Don't let Rodon throw ball 4.

This is your best question yet. I guess if one were to cheat they'd start with the 1949 Yankee roster but I'm guessing the correct answer is someone who played for 2 or more teams like the early 70s A's or so.

Yogi Berra

Reggie Sanders

Ahh! Too late. Well, Jason I'll always be thankful for the free ticket to the Sunday game a few years back where I caught the foul ball in your seat. Felt bad and good about that at the same time.

Bill Sharman

Watching MLB Network. Weird to see Wilmer Flores still playing for the Mets an hour after the rest of the world knows he's a Brewer. Dude had to know, too, didn't he?

Hey, some of those cavemen could throw really fast. Sure, their body hair and hunchbacks got in the way but....

I'm sure the asterisk comment is hyperbole or at least I hope it is. Of course eras are different. There were fewer teams on one hand but then no minorities playing on the other in MLB in the 1920's. But a pretty good rule of thumb if you want to take a crack at it is to compare players to their contemporaries. For example, if you individually out homer every other team in the league like Ruth did in 1927, that's an excellent measuring stick of greatness.

I would. ARod only recently demonstrated that that discipline. Two years ago I doubt anyone would have banked on him doing what seems pretty obvious to everyone else, though.

I've never really been an ARod fan and you very well may be right. I've just been floored by his turnaround this year. I would have bet a significant amount of money that the Yankees would have either released him, he would have been a shell of himself or he would have done something stupid again to plaster his name in a negative way in every headline. None of those things happened.

My view is that ARod "might" get in sooner than the others. After doing everything wrong, he's done everything right in his rehabilitation tour. Mainly shut his mouth and produce.

Concur. It serves MLB well to float the idea of Monterey and Mexico City much the same way London works for the NFL but there are too many financial and logistical reasons why it won't happen. My guess is if expansion happens - and I don't see it happening soon - it would be in Montreal and Portland. 32 is a nice round number that, again, works well for football and could do so as well for baseball. It would eliminate the necessity of having an inter-league series every day, too, which is another benefit as I see it.

Thanks Scott. I was too lazy to research the actual event but it underscores the magnitude of a pretty big loophole. No matter which way you slice it there could a bad outcome. I'd like to think that MLB has considered it and put in some safeguards for this kind of possibility but my guess is they haven't. Maybe Jeff Fletcher could chime in here.

Under this example, sure he would if the outcome was the tying run.

Oh, I need a lot of things. A four day break just scratches the surface. 😄

Since we have a few days until the next Angel game, I thought that I’d throw out this subject for discussion. First, let me state that I’m generally in favor of replay. I appreciate the concept of “getting the call right.” I do miss somewhat, however, the finality of a call even when it’s wrong. Plus, there have been a number of calls I’ve seen this year upheld or overturned that, to me, we're really mind boggling. That said, a call is often contingent upon a previous call. This is where replay has the potential to break down. The following scenario was inspired by a similar situation in Oakland in the middle of last season. Here it goes: Game 7 at Busch Stadium. Bottom of the ninth inning. Angels 2, Cardinals 1 and the bases are loaded with one out. Jhonny Peralta hits a quick, one-hopper to Albert Pujols who is playing about 10 feet off the bag, not holding on Kolten Wong at first. As Albert catches the ball, he thinks the quickest route to a double play is to tag Wong as he runs by and then run to first base to complete the double play clinching the Angels’ second championship. However, the first base umpire calls Wong safe, Albert missed the tag. At this point, knowing the force is still in order, Pujols throws home to get an easy out and set up a bases-loaded, two-out situation which still favors the Angels. But wait. Mike Matheny challenges the play contending that Pujols actually DID tag Wong thereby making the force out at home null and the run scores. Replay upholds Matheny’s contention and the game is tied. The next batter flies out but St. Louis wins it in the 10th. I could probably imagine an even more painful picture but my point is there are many gaps in the replay system. Unlikely as it may be, the above scenario would be MLB’s nightmare. Discuss.

Albert Pujols was a great baseball player.