Inside Pitch

Fall of 95 right before the playoffs... I was up there in time to see their local papers run primers prior to the playoffs -- they were actually posting the rules to the game.... stuff like, 3 strikes is an out, 4 balls is a walk... I can't imagine any other city where the local media felt the need to actually print out a baseball 101 for the fans. But everything you said about them in 2001 was also true in 95. Every M's player ever is refered to with a Y after their name as if that somehow makes them more relatable. And be it the 12th man or Kings Court.. they ALWAYS seem to find a way to immerse themselves into the equation as if they were partially responsible for the team's success. It's really kind of funny.

Fair enough, I misinterpreted what you were saying then.. But, I hold no hate for the team itself. I root against it because their fans are louts. I think Kershaw is amazing, I think the work their front office did when they first got there is again amazing and I respect their history. No clue how soon after him going to Anaheim you were there, but the last time I went was a good year into his tenure in Anaheim and I'm guessing the rancor had cooled off. Or maybe they just liked that I agreed with them that he was a POS...

Umm.. Nope. You have it backwards -- it's a transference of hate for their fans that makes me dislike the team... Obviously that's not true of all of them, I've met some cool Dodger fans over the years.... But as a whole they are some of the most annoying "fans" I've ever encountered. Growing up an Angels fan they couldn't freaking stop flapping their gums and talking shit (without provocation), for no other reason other than I was an Angels fan. They didn't know how to win graciously then, and they certainly haven't taken note of the fact they haven't won a WS in 30 years now. The best thing I can say about them is that at least they are consistently ill mannered twats, so nothing they do ever surprises me. I respect their history and they have had some truly great players wear the blue but their fan base can go pound sand. Ditto Dodger fan apologists. I've been in Yankee Stadium and Fenway wearing Angels red and never dealt with the garbage or hostility I have in Dodger Stadium. Side note.. despite the amount of smack Ranger fans talk on the internet, they are easily some of the coolest most easygoing people ever in their home park. I've been to about 30-40 games there over the years and never had a bad experience or been met with any hostility. It's always been a fun time.

This is greatness

Dodgers, Red Sox, Mariners and Rangers. Football - Pats and Skins. Basketball - Fat Antonio, Celtics, Knicks. Every collegiate sport -- USC. Hockey -- San Jose I also root against Tiger Woods mostly because when he was good the coverage of him was nauseating -- when he lost it wasn't THIS GUY WON, it was Tiger comes up short.. Just always chapped me.

You're right, no team is absolutely barren..... but no team is as barren as the Ms are currently.

I said as much.... My point was that none of the actual players he's traded away at the deadline held enough value to significantly help turn their farm system around. The real damage has already been done. He's gone full Dipoto.

Wicket plays well enough as a 6th inning guy or in blowouts... Let's hope they find a legit guy for the 9th and that the new guys pan out. The other to are DFA material for all i care

The singular usage was aces.....

The trading away all that international money isn't ideal but he really hasn't hurt them any in dealing the prospects he has.... Surprised he didn't get a SP.

So..... Wonder what the Rays lineup will look like tonight....

That's pretty much it... You look at the players moved for RPers. Nothing really compelling. The flip side, if the two guys they did acquire pan out then they are a free agent closer away from a solid pen.

Remember Bavasi went on record as not wanting to be remembered as the guy that traded Finley? After his dad's "two .500 pitchers" comment it was kind of easy to understand why.... But the rough part was that something in Fin's contract stipulated the Angels couldn't get compensation if he left as a FA so yeah... They got zilch!

That was actually one of the few times I lost my shit over something trivial. I wasn't as annoyed with the return as much of the timing of the trade. Regardless, it was a stupid position on my part.

MLB network guys railing away at the mention of the zero tolerance comment... Just such a stupid thing to say.

It's already starting... Sports Illustraded https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/30/astros-roberto-osuna-trade-statement-domestic-violence-allegation Yahoo/NBC Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/jeff-luhnow-statement-roberto-osuna-223107420.html CBSSporstline (with Jeff Passan tweet) https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-trade-deadline-how-will-the-roberto-osuna-addition-play-in-the-astros-clubhouse-it-could-be-complicated/ Honestly -- save for the addition of the ZERO-tolerance comment, the Astros comments are easy enough to swallow. They were going to catch shit regardless but, why even bring attention to having a Zero tolerance policy if you're going to make it clear the team will weasel out of it...

Yep.... Basically they traded for two guys who right now are what Hernandez might be in two years.... Youd like to still have Hernandez and the upside he could still stick as a SP, but again, the two new guys are closer to delivering and can be tested out sooner. As far as Montgomery goes... Same age as Lund, one level behind him, probably has better pop but less speed. With Hermosillo and others around he was a redundant piece. Personally just glad they got something from the only team that seemingly had a need for him.

Or MS... I do love lasagna.....

MS.... Stupid phone autocorrect.... Also the "him" in question is also MS.

So info from the media call... Buttrey, 2 option years after this.... touches 100, big I upside and improved control. Jerez, lefty, can also touch triple digts, options for next year.... They haven't decided if they are going to aaa or mlb as of tonight. Eppler and ME considering playing Fletcher at 2B .... Will talk to him more

Here you go... http://statcorner.com/team/533/2018/Pawtucket Red Sox. Park index data for Pawtucket. You can look up the players and see how they compare to the league. Check out their GB rates.. High K, near elite GB rates aren't a bad combo to have

We don't know these guys arent MLB pichers. We know Paredes as Morris arent.

Failed starters always have warts.... These aren't top end prospects, but there is value.... Potentially. The walk rates could be better but you're talking about guys with k/w rates of 4.57, and 2.79, so that lessens the issue a bit. Also, it's worth pointing out that the Angels under Nagy have had some success turning high walk guys around.

If the 1.8 mil made the difference between getting one of these guys or both then it was money well spent. Kinsler was a sunk cost.

They got the sort of assets they are sorely lacking and a combined 12 years of control. I've often gone on record that one of the glaring weaknesses of the system is the lack of failed starters successfully transitioning into RP... That's exactly what they have added in exchange for an expiring contract. It's not sexy but it's got a really great chance to provide near instant value.