Revad

I’d do a buy low on Chatwood salary dump if the Cubs would take $4-5 million of the 2019 salary.  It’s only two years with $12.5 in ‘19 and $13 in $20.  Still has that upside so I think it’s worth the gamble.

I think he’s done a terrific job and hope Eppler is extended but gave an 8 because of lack of playoffs.  This offseason will be telling, he needs to be really good and lucky.  

I think he’s done a terrific job and hope Eppler is extended but gave an 8 because of lack of playoffs.  This offseason will be telling, he needs to be really good and lucky.  

The fact that he can play 1b is one I hadn’t considered and makes a big difference.  On the other hand, could we extend all three of Trout, Simmons and Realmuto in 2020?  

The fact that he can play 1b is one I hadn’t considered and makes a big difference.  On the other hand, could we extend all three of Trout, Simmons and Realmuto in 2020?  

I first met Mike Scioscia next to a dishwasher.  
 
Well, not one dishwasher, but many dishwashers.  I lived at 313 Verdugo Way, A house that would later be bought by Huel Howser’s cameraman Louie.  I pray he treated my room better than I did in my teenage years.
 
I love(d) baseball. Kids love a lot of things, I loved baseball.  You couldn’t get a game by me.  I remember sitting in the outfield of the old Angels stadium, pre Disneyfication, asking Jose Conseco how he “loved the women of Anaheim”.  Had I known then what I know now, I would have asked him how greenies and other injectables feel (or selling out), but that is the best I could come up with at 10.  
 
Where we sat, one could hear the crack of the bat and watch the on field proceedings at different intervals.  It taught me the difference between speed of light and sound.  In my head, Conseco was still flirting with my Aunt Mary Jo; I knew it and I hated it.
 
I decided to marry my wife of 12 years at an Angel’s game.  Well, on the way to one.  The Angels and the Oakland A’s were going into the last series of the season tied for the American League West Division lead.  Whomever won 2 out of 3 games would go to the playoffs, Jose Guillen be damned!  Vladimir Guerrero decided to put the team on his back and win an MVP award.  I never liked the under handed throw from right field at a million miles an hour, nor the box full of his progeny, but I guess everyone else did.  Actually, I loved the guy, he could not have been a nicer human being and the fact that his madre cooked every day for the team, that stole my heart too.
 
Standing next to a dishwasher Mike Scioscia signed a poster for me.  He was crouched, in a suit, wearing a catcher’s mit on the poster.  He had a Howard’s credit card in his glove. I had no idea how often I would listen to horrible commercials connected to this later in my life.  He asked me my name politely, I gave it to him, and he signed his name.  As I walked away I realized he had not signed my name anywhere, he was just being polite. This would become a character trait over his 19 years of managing that I would come to appreciate.  He was full of unnecessary polite gratitude and minimal involvement of anything not important.   I suppose Polonius would call it brevity.  
 
I will avoid my story about Lenny Dykstra, Tommy Lasorda and the carwash.  The poster of Mike Scioscia was (is) framed.  I wasn’t a Dodger’s fan, I was an Angels fan!  Also, I’d never read Fahrenheit 451, but Ray Bardbury lived nearby my house and I’d met him and gotten an autographed copy. Meeting Mike was much more than that. He smiled at me, I think he knew I loved baseball.  I’m sure I shared a few insights about his play and his future career, I knew it all, and he smiled at me.  He was kind, I will always remember that.  On the south side of the Howard’s store with his ass halfway on the 10 freeway, he smiled at me, signed a poster, and moved onto his next victim of kindness.
A few years later, Joe Madden was finishing out Terry Collin’s 1999 season.  I had lived through all of it.  Randy Johnson killing our year in 1995.  I watched that game, poor Langston.  I look a bit like Jim Abbot, but I always loved Joyner.  Side note, I think the wonder dog singled in the 6thto break up a nono.  Check out Rex Hudler’s book Splinters.  
 
My parents now had a lovely home in Rancho Cucamonga.  The Angels were in the playoffs, charging toward the world series.  I was 20.  I had no idea how spoiled I was about to be.  Bill Stoneman and Mike Scioscia had masterminded a team that ended up being a subplot for a movie with Brad Pitt (and kicked Oakland’s ass!).  Check out the winning streak(s) that Oakland and the Angels went on that year.  Hard to win 20 plus games and not gain any ground (suck it Oakland).  David Eckstein, two kidneys in tow, using three fingers behind the ball.  Darin Erstad (I am not fortunate enough to have a boy, but his name would be Darin if he existed) snarling all over the field, willing his way to victory.  Scott Spezio with whatever he had going on.  I watched at my parent’s house.  I celebrated, I was emotional, I cried.  
 
I bought a bottle opener that played Rory Marcus’ call of the final out.  I still have it, it will never be thrown away even thrown it doesn’t work.  
 
My first picture with Mike I was 27.  My daughter Sophie (almost Torii by the way, that was a real coin flip and I’m not joking) was 6 months old, 180 days, 4300 hours, shoot  I'm from the IE not OC, she was half a year old.  Anyway she was new.  At the time, in Tempe Arizona, the players and coaches had not figured out a better way of getting into the stadium than through the crowd.  Mike had a system, don’t stop moving your feet.  Small steps are fine, you’re not being rude, but no stopping.  It was obvious, I’d watched it for a few days. Then we had our shot.  Slow Wednesday, he walked in with a smile, and we got a photo.  My wife is not in the shot because he looked at her before smiling and said “take the photo now”.  It was pre selfie.  We kind of looked related given the dimples and facial structure.  
 
I am turning 36 on Saturday and 29 of those years have involved Mike Scioscia.  I wish I could thank him personally.  I hope some day I get the opportunity.  The man made me cry today.  He cried today (I don’t care if Dino was ringing the phone to bail him out). I wish he could be sent off to his next job in a better way, but I am ready for bed now.  I will miss him, but I am not short on gratitude for his role in my life, even if he doesn’t know anything about it.
 
 

he's 15? 

Don’t look now but if Cozart and Fletcher are starting at 2nd and 3rd next year then Cowart could be the utility, even pitch on occasion.  He can play all the infield positions and corner outfield.  Could happen.

Did you just call me a cuckold?

Rengifo is #3 in the article below by Jason Martinez from MLBTrade Rumors (and Roster Resource), a nice complement.  Added bonus see #20!  I know we have the prospect thread which I recommend highly but this made me feel good.  Wonder where Adell would be ranked?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/09/top-minor-league-performers-in-2018.html

Straight from the Runaway Bride's mouth. 

Couple of interesting games tonight:  MIL @ Cubs and ARI @ COL.  I think the Doggies are going to make the playoffs but there’s still a chance they fail so I’ll root for the Rockies.

Donaldson will likely take a one year pillow contract to rebuild value if he’s healthy.  If he is I’m sure Eppler will check it out.

Donaldson will likely take a one year pillow contract to rebuild value if he’s healthy.  If he is I’m sure Eppler will check it out.

Ward should learn 1b and corner outfield, think someone may have mentioned that he has enough learning 3b this year but definitely for next.  Maybe at least start next year in AAA to work on defense.  

Ward should learn 1b and corner outfield, think someone may have mentioned that he has enough learning 3b this year but definitely for next.  Maybe at least start next year in AAA to work on defense.  

I think Donaldson on a one plus option and maybe Grandal for offense, a good 4th OF might also be added.  Then just trade for a durable Starter and they’re in the mix.

Confusing to me but relevant in that a player may choose to bounce a throw:  https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/the-physics-and-timing-of-the-outfield-bounce-throw/

Confusing to me but relevant in that a player may choose to bounce a throw:  https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/the-physics-and-timing-of-the-outfield-bounce-throw/

Reminder that Reagins gave up a combined 14 years of control of Corbin AND Skaggs for a 29 year old Dan Haren
I even liked Haren but Good God that’s awful
thats the type of deal that really set us back. We were fortunate enough to get Skaggs back but watching Corbin turn into a good pitcher somewhere else for an extended period of time now burns

It's his heart. What's the rush?

At least 50% injured at any given time and over/across time 100%.

But does he identify as a 25 year old?

Sure - but the way I see it, we have 3 ways of getting pitching: 1. we can develop it from within (Barria will be this next year, and hopefully Canning will as well); 2. we can trade for it (Eppler may be able to pull this off, and has shown a propensity for doing this well; but its a process with a lot of moving parts, and its very hard for fans to really predict or even reasonably speculate about trades - and to get a front of the rotation starter, we will have to pay in prospects); 3. we can sign a FA (IMO this is the most clear path that fans can talk about - its not so hard to predict likely sums of money it will take to get it done, and we can just evaluate the player in a vacuum). In that category, Corbin is the one who stands out. It seems to me like Keuchel and Kershaw have similar injury concerns. Morton/Cahill may be interesting options, though neither of them are all that exciting - IMO they both profile as more mid rotation arms.
Kinda one of those situations where its easy to say we need a front of the rotation starter, but a lot harder to actually even find one that makes sense. Most are either going to be on good teams who aren't going to give them up, or are free agents with real question marks.

not true.
i also enjoy new socks and apple fritters.