LAA Road Tripper

Understood but that wasn't my point. I should have clarified. I realize that the NFL thing is a completely different animal. The similarities are that they are both external issues that can create urgency. What is happening with the Chargers and Raiders in Carson would never have happened this quickly without Kroenke. Hopefully the Platinum Triangle deal might spur something on in Anaheim.

In all seriousness, I wonder if this might be what's needed to ignite real discussions between the city and the team much like Kroenke's move in Inglewood started to clear the logjam for the NFL's return.

Didn't jump hard enough on home plate. If you want to be like Morales, you gotta act like Morales.

Maybe you're right. Butera's a poor man's Mathis but the guess here is that if Iannetta's OBP was hovering around .375 then Drew is having a seat in the dugout and Perez would still be in SLC. At least for a little while longer.

Completely agree. I think the move is the right one but it's rare that a backup gets penalized rather than has the opportunity to take advantage of the starter's ineptitude.

Iannetta was playing so poorly that Butera got DFA'd. OK.

So far, based upon everything I've seen out of this team, I'm thrilled with 9 and 11. They could easily be 4-16 or something in that neighborhood. Hitting has been atrocious, starting pitching has been hit or miss, defense has been substandard. And it's been pretty boring on top of it all. Looking forward to a brighter looking May and beyond but right now there are troubling signs.

Funny that, although I usually take playoff losses pretty hard (and after a 16 year wait there was a sense that game was a missed opportunity), I remember being at the gym after it was over with a positive vibe. Can't explain it but I was really happy that feeling was validated.

Does seem a bit unnecessary, doesn't it? The Braves attribute it to lack of transportation options in their current location, the fact that the ballpark was designed originally for the Olympics rather than baseball and that the new location is more central to their fan base.

That might be. TBH I haven't examined the funding or parking. I was simply commenting on the plans of what's available around the ballpark.

Actually the smog was much worse in the mid 60s than it is today. When the skies are relatively clear, the mountain range does look good even from Anaheim. I'm with the majority here. I'd love to see Arte and Anaheim work something out to build a new ballpark in the current parking lot and then build up the area much the way I believe they were planning to before the economic downturn and more. The plans surrounding the new Braves ballpark is a nice template.

I agree that having a designated speedster for the playoffs is nice option and I'm also a Cowgill fan but I cannot concur that he made the right decision on that play in Game 2. It was a panic move. I understand why he ran since the offense was in a catatonic state but the CF's momentum was taking him to 3rd on the catch and it just looked bad from the outset. Also, if you watch the play again you'll see it wasn't a perfect throw. It was a little off target and still wasn't that close.

I was at today's game vs. KC and just more of the same from Efren. I really liked this guy last year and still feel the same. Such a sweet swing. Just line drive after line drive mostly up the middle and opposite field. I would love to see him get a minimum of 250-300 ABs this season.

Mine are all World Series Game 7s. 1960 - Mazeroski's HR wins it for the Pirates over the Yankees, the only Game 7 walk off HR ever. 1955 - Brooklyn's only championship. 1991 - Minnesota's 10 inning 1-0 win over Atlanta. 1924 - Washington's only WS win. 1971 - Pittsburgh's upset over Baltimore. I didn't mention 2002 because I was fortunate to be there (and Game 6, too.) I'll never forget my brother and I were absolutely stunned. I had Dave Henderson flashbacks (was there for that one, as well, right by the left field foul pole) as soon as Kenny Lofton swung with two outs with the tying runs on base and sent the ball to deep right center. It really seemed to me that he got more of it than he did but then Erstad waved his arms and that was that. I remember some guy bought a whole box of World Champion Angels hats and was giving them away and I just missed grabbing the last one. We stayed inside the ballpark until they told us to leave about an hour or so later. There's a landscape photograph of that moment right as the fireworks were exploding in the sky and the celebration was beginning that I have in my home office. Whoever took the picture must have been within an arms reach of me. Great memory.

Just to clarify all two-team markets, except for some strange reason the Bay Area, are overlapped territories. That means that theoretically the Cubs would have no power to stop the White Sox from building a new ballpark on the North Side, or the Mets from stopping a new Yankee Stadium in Queens, etc. and the Dodgers couldn't stop a new Angels stadium near LA Live. Now there may be other logistical, political or financial reasons why that wouldn't happen but MLB territorial restriction isn't one of them.

I remember this series as a kid. Early July, might have been going into the All Star Break but don't quote me on that. Actually, in Game 1 Nolan Ryan had a no-hitter going until Reggie Jackson broke it up with a single with one out in the 9th. I was at this game. I remember it was a little controversial because they charged CF Rick Miller with an error earlier in the game that could have easily been called a hit. Then in Game 2, Don Baylor hit a game-tying 3-run HR off the left field foul pole with 2 out in the 9th for the tie then Merv Rettenmund knocked in the game-winner in the 12th. That set up Grich on Sunday. I can still recall listening to the game by the pool. Two outs, down by a run, nobody on, a base hit and then Bobby went opposite field for the HR. Good times.

Can't say I agree on Josh Paul. I've always held him equally at fault. Yes, Eddings did a horrific job assuming rather than umpiring but Josh, dude? Just tag him and end any doubt. Never give a bad umpire the opportunity to make an unnecessary decision.

Willie Mays Aikens Larry Harlow - had the game-winning hit in Game 3 of the ALCS in 1979

Been to all 30 current ballparks. (Completed my dance card back in '12 at Target Field.) Honestly, unlike a generation ago there really aren't very many bad ballparks left. Oakland, maybe Tropicana Field, although they've done about as much as they can there. Other than that, most stadiums are pretty good. Here's my personal top 5: 1. Petco Park 2. Camden Yards 3. Safeco Field 4. AT&T Park 5. Target Field One more thing: Both Fenway and Wrigley are terrific environments and, though I'm a traditionalist at heart, the ballparks themselves are just old. But I'm glad both are still around and hope they are for a long time. No two teams in sports are more tied to their facilities than the Red Sox and Cubs.

I'm with Wopphil on Beltre. Man, seemed to me then and seems to me now that if you're ever going to overpay, that was the time. The black hole that existed at 3B from Glaus on just made that move imperative. And with Beltre living in Beverly Hills and open to the idea, the Angels needed to step up. Plus, the unwise decisions of the domino effect of that swing and miss could be taught as a college course.

Fair enough. However, there were a few references to squeezing Gordon home earlier in the thread. MBell, my apologies if I misunderstood your post.

The third out wouldn't happen at home, it would be at first. As m0nkey said, there were two outs. There is no such thing as a suicide squeeze with two outs since it's a simple throw to first to end the Series. In essence, the question is "Should Perez with his sub-Benjie Molina speed have tried to bunt for a base hit?" I'm guessing no.

I did. I did fall for it. Why would I not think through the entire picture and instead act on impulse? In retrospect I should have considered that Santa does in fact circle the world in a single night delivering toys. I believe I've learned a valuable lesson here. Thank you.

Put me down for the Easter Bunny. I mean, c'mon, he's a rabbit. Can someone start a new thread on this?

Mattingly just managed his last game for the Dodgers.