nmh

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11065561/yoenis-cespedes-throw-los-angeles-angels-hailed-special
 
You won't believe what Mike said about that throw
 
Added Scioscia: "I mean that was a special play. You just tip your cap on that one."

I have a feeling if Albert were still playing in St. Louis, he would not be playing this poorly, nor be anywhere near as delusional. 
 
Tony La Russa seemed to be a father figure to him.  They even did things together during the offseason as friends.  Tony isn't afraid to speak his mind and I think something would have been said by now, whereas Mike Scioscia is terrified of telling players the truth, instead stringing them along and letting them believe age and/or declining skills are not a factor. 
 
Remember Steve Finley, Gary Matthews Jr, Bobby Abreu, Vernon Wells, Jeff Mathis, Casey Kotchman, Chris Bootcheck, Justin Speier, and Brandon Wood just to name a few?  They thought exactly the same way, and Scioscia and Co. did nothing to speak any reality into their heads.  All of these players pretty much self destructed because of it, not that they wouldn't have anyway, but the Angels did them no favors.   Albert Pujols is on the fast track to joining that list unless something is done to fix his head.  

It's fairly obvious at this point that Albert isn't very bright and is jealous when others outperform him. He clearly thinks he is a better base runner than he actually is.

This is one of a couple stories I have seen that includes info on not releasing the ball. Will try and find the others to post.

This is one of a couple stories I have seen that includes info on not releasing the ball. Will try and find the others to post.

This is one of a couple stories I have seen that includes info on not releasing the ball. Will try and find the others to post.

This is one of a couple stories I have seen that includes info on not releasing the ball. Will try and find the others to post.

"Angels exploring Irvine for dramatic effect"

Who is John Galt?

I have enjoyed watching baseball and the Halos more than any other sport over the years. I'm extremely frustrated with the poor baseball this team has been playing for the past few seasons. Tonight I turned the game on in the 5th and saw them down 4-1 and lost all interest in watching the rest (watching a show about gold on the History channel now). It really bothers me that I feel this way because the Angels have a player in Trout that is a once in a generation type player and I'm not watching because the rest of it ruins the experience. They may win the game tonight but my interest in watching any games at all is dwindling. Just thought I'd vent here since most here are Angel fans and MAY understand. Although some might think I'm just being a b***h.

Saunders sucks.
Still think Howie or Aybar will be dealt

Offer him both. Make that extra year worth $35-$40 with some of it in a bigger upfront bonus. Offer him 6 for $150 or $190 for 7 years. If he wants 6 years he negotiates it up to $155.
6 year extension (10 bonus + 1, 15 20 25 for arb years, 27, 28, 30) = 155 (angels view it as ~22/yr for 7 years)
7 year extension (15 bonus + 1, 15 20 25 for arb years, 27, 28, 30, 30) = 190 (angels view it as ~24/yr for 8 years). Or maybe make that additional 5 bonus as a buyout tied to an team option giving him his 6 year 160 deal or 35 for the last year going into free agency.
Either way, it is going to be viewed as a good thing for the angels all things considered.

If he gets 30 his ERA is going to be low 4. If he pitches like last season he will be cut.

The CBT takes only AAV into account. They divide signing bonuses up equally for the length of the contract, despite how they are actually paid out.
 
The CBT also accounts for payroll beyond the top 25 players, the 15 players not on the 25, but on the 40 man get counted for a specific salary depending on their experience, and also they use some of the $189 million for pension and benefits.

Who says it comes down to money? What if he wants to play for a winner?

Dodgers and Angels share Orange, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.  Angels could move to Downtown LA if they wanted.

Tip my cap to Michael Young. He put up 7 seasons above .300 and routinely was at or above 700 plate appearances. Knew to hang it up after his big contract ran out. Quality big leaguer each team wants to have.

i need to have lunch with tanaka like yesterday and get this ironed out. enough with the indecision, mate.

Arte is smarter than most of us. In case you haven't been following Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear Arizona, he and a partner have made hundreds of millions over the last decade. Look it up. I once thought he was so smart when he played Goodyear vs Tempe in spring training negotiations, but seeing Estrella unfold and his value of the Angels basically quadrupling over a decade, no wonder we sign Pujols and Hamilton. What is most interesting is the mandate not to exceed $189 million unless the assumption is he is willing to go above it in future years and delay the inevitable tax from setting in a little longer. 17.5% tax isn't that much considering all things. Arte is so much richer than when he bought the Angels and now he can profit from doing so on land near the stadium. There has got to be something going on within MLB to limit teams going over luxury cap.

Arte is smarter than most of us. In case you haven't been following Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear Arizona, he and a partner have made hundreds of millions over the last decade. Look it up. I once thought he was so smart when he played Goodyear vs Tempe in spring training negotiations, but seeing Estrella unfold and his value of the Angels basically quadrupling over a decade, no wonder we sign Pujols and Hamilton. What is most interesting is the mandate not to exceed $189 million unless the assumption is he is willing to go above it in future years and delay the inevitable tax from setting in a little longer. 17.5% tax isn't that much considering all things. Arte is so much richer than when he bought the Angels and now he can profit from doing so on land near the stadium. There has got to be something going on within MLB to limit teams going over luxury cap.

I just have a feeling that if this team is good enough to make the post season in the near future that one of Aybar or Hamilton is going to have a mental lapse of some sort in a crucial situation and really F us. Trade Aybar for another quality SP, free up his salary and sign Choo give Romine and his glove the job.

Yes Jim but I think it wouldn't be Garza. I'd bet on a high risk high reward type to compete with Skaggs for that spot, plus that's also a spot where you can slot Tanaka if they go that route.

The sad part is if the current Angels state of the union was made public, we wouldn't be much different. Between Reagins being way way over his head, giving Scoscia too much control and tenure, Arte being empowered by the drastic rise in club valuation, Dipoto making some choices which went bad quickly.

There's a decent chance the Angels, Kings and Clippers (David's 3 teams) will all be playing at home on the April 21st if the Clips get homecourt advantage in the first round.  Would be classy if those teams somehow acknowledge him on that day.  Still find it bizarre when I hear "Los Angeles Goal" during Kings games and its not David.