Cdaniel

Patting yourself on the back Mike?

That's the best post and is honestly my favorite part about Spring Training on the minor league back fields.  Up close action, actually getting to sit and talk with the up and comers. Brandon Marsh is really cool to talk to and you're not the first person I've heard tell me that Maitan is a lot bigger than they thought.  

Ok, first post.  I just returned from Tempe with my family.  Our first spring training experience.  Thanks to all the info on here, we had a great time.  We spent Friday at the minor league fields and were fortunate enough to watch Skaggs pitch and Cozart & Upton hit.  It was a great atmosphere to watch them all up close and personal.  They all stayed after and signed multiple items.  Awesome.  My 11 y.o. son LOVED it.  I had printed off this list  so I could try to identify as many as I could.  It did help that over their lunch break I took pictures of the lineups hanging in the dugouts, haha.  I'm sure we missed/didn't recognize many of them but we did get autographs from Marsh (was awesome), Thaiss (at the big league camp, he was reluctant to sign - after three times he finally signed for my son.  I pumped him up and thanked him and then he was cool), Buttrey (super great), Jackson, Sandoval (was also pitching, watched him warm-up in the pen, and he was great after the game), Maitan (talked to him, shook his hand, was great with my son, he's a big dude!), Deveaux (funny, I asked him a question while he was signing and he stopped, looked at me, then started laughing saying he forgot how to spell his name), Soto (he's tiny), and Rojas. 
My son didn't really know these guys, but I geeked out pretty hard.  Being from MT, we don't get to see much of any pro sports so this was amazing.  We stood in line as players walked to and from practice before heading down to the minor league fields (Friday's game was sold out).  Met some Angelswin dudes (Hey Ryan!).  Many of the guys stopped to sign but the 'stars' took a cart and didn't 'walk the line'.  Bummer.  Ohtani walked by both times but didn't stop and sign.  Just smiled and waved.  Got some pretty up close pictures though.  Again, my son loved it.  I know what we all think of Cam B. as a player but, he was the best with my son.  Stopped - signed - talked to him - and came back to take pictures.  Just all-around great!  I wish him the best.  Bour is a GIANT of a man - super cool dude, too.  Hope he mashes. 
Kole stood right beside my son to talk to family during Thursday's hitting practice in the stadium.  Got some pics - but as he was leaving he wouldn't even look at my son and didn't sign for him.  He was the only one there too.  Kinda bummed out by that.  Never was in the right spot to get MR. ANGEL's autograph.  I didn't see Albert sign for anyone.  Never got close to Simba either.  
We ended up getting 3 baseballs, too.  One on Wednesday night, I caught a foul ball down the right field line.  I recorded the game on MLB and watched when we got home and we made the TV.  haha.  One at the minor league fields, a player threw it to my son.  And one on Saturday afternoon game, Perez threw it in the stands and it bounced of my hand into my wife's lap.  She wasn't even paying attention but was pretty excited when she got it.
All-in-all, it was a GREAT experience.  I thank the people on here that give great details on how to enjoy spring training.  I give a shout out to @Jeff Fletcher for his insight as well as tweeting about Skaggs, Cozart, and Upton being on the minor league fields.  Thanks @angelswin.com for being my go to place for #Angels info.  Just so you know, I have been lurking on this site since its inception.  I was on the other boards looking for Angels info when the migration happened.  I just followed it over.  I feel like I 'know' most of you.  I don't post because I don't have much to offer.  I just love reading what everyone thinks, the analytics are top notch, and the bantering makes me laugh.  Stradling may remember that I bought game tickets from him on the ticket exchange about 10 years ago to attend Angels v Yankees series for my 10 year anniversary.  
Anyway, long post but I thought I actually had something to share.  Love the Angels, love this site.  

So, you're saying that because they didn't do what the "they aren't doing/spending enough" crowd wanted them to do they had the financial room to sign the single most important free agent in the existence of the Angels franchise?   It's almost like they had a big picture view of things instead of focusing on the two years they knew they had him under control for...   
What a dumb plan...
Thank you for spending the entire winter (and years before that) sharing your insights and keeping us in the loop.  I've read a lot of baseball message boards since the advent of the internet and never seen a member of the media be as involved/frank with the fan base as you have been while interacting with us.  We say it a lot, it's probably old hat... but we greatly appreciate your insights and narrative busting.
Tell Billy and Arte thanks...   

I'm pretty sure that was Fletch's point 

What the hell kind of pour is that? I know you love giving head but come on.

@Jeff Fletcher on mlbnetworkradio with Morosi and Lidge who asked "Did this come as a surprise...?" Fletcher - "Not to anyone really paying attention."  Loved it.  Great job!

It's been 5 hours now help

It’s like a bomb hit SoCal, but instead of fiery death it exploded flowers and bunnies and good beer and aphrodisiac outward from its impact—everything just feels great in this moment. 
It’s like a WARhead, get it? WAR? Trout? Bomb? 
I’ll get my coat...
 

Decisions like this aren't going to make Mike Trout re-sign with us in 12 years....

Colin Cowherd is such a moron. Doesn't he realize that part of the reason Trout loves being an Angel is that he gets to have a lower profile? That he's a real person and realizes that "celebrity lifestyle" is superficial and soulless? 
I love the fact that "our" megastar is a real human being who doesn't have a massive ego or adore attention and just loves playing baseball. That's part of what makes him so special.
But hurray, the Phillies got their Bump Bailey. I'll take our Roy Hobbs.

Any grown man who takes pictures with his chin on his hand like that deserves a d*ck slap.

Well to be fair, he probably didnt negotiate, his agent did so... its all good

So... in response to the four years of idiocy we have suffered through here.  
"Suck it"

"Mikey...why??? We coulda been a contender!"

Put down your phone and waste time at work idiot !

Beat Lou to it

Here comes his sharp decline now

God damn it I could kiss Billy Eppler and Arte Moreno on their sweet lips this morning. Facking GREAT NEWS! I was literally cheering on the toilet as I was taking my morning dump.

In before Stradling tells you you're wrong.

A pitcher? Here I was assuming he was a catcher.

His spin rate on his fastball decreased but his milk production is off the charts. 

which is sad because he would make a wonderful mother