California Cajun

He manages my team.

I like the idea of relievers pitching 2-3 innings. I blow a fuse when an effective pitcher is taken out for a matchup (e.g. lefty pitcher vs. lefty hitter) and the next guy gets lit up. Using too many pitchers comes back to bite you every 3-4 days with pitchers unavailable.

Managing two teams simultaneously and a 12-year-old umpire are the things that hit me between the eyes. After my dad died, my mom said he regretted not spending more time with me doing things like baseball. I didn't feel deprived. If he read your article he would have probably felt better. Sounds like the requirements and expectations of a little league manager are excessive. For kids it should be for fun and exercise. If there are players with serious major league potential, perhaps they can play in a league of their own where they can develop in a more businesslike manner.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Curtis The lead singer of Buttercup just died on March 27.

They play this at my college's baseball game and it's a huge hit. Everybody stands up, claps, and sings it.

Tweet by Bill Shakin of the Times: This just in: "Build Me Up Buttercup" is back for another year at Angel Stadium. "You let me down again." ------------ I liked the song but it has been run into the ground. Arte should go to YouTube in his private area with a Reese's and play it for himself.

Pitching.

I think we could field a pretty popular team of hitless Angels players. For instance, Bobby Knoop at 2b.

I don't like the WBC conflict with Spring Training. If I were to change anything, it would be that. Play the WBC some other time or not at all.

Shut up Mota!

I'd take Meyer and give him 2-3 starts to sink or swim as a starter because of his potential. If he sinks, send him to the minors and groom him to be a reliever. Meyer strikes me as someone with great tools and without confidence. The team that drafted him gave up. For that reason I'd fast track him and find out if he can be a major league pitcher. If not, invest in someone else.

I've just watched for the last 5 minutes and feel like I've got 5 innings of Mota. Wish we could do without a chatty analyst sucking all the air out of the booth. One thing Red Barber taught Vin Scully (before he became a microphone hog himself in his later years) was that fans like to hear crowd noise.

Frankly I don't like the distraction the WBC presents. Let them play during winter ball. The NL and AL are the highest level of baseball. Don't interrupt MLB preparation for the season.

He has apparently put his fears of the hit to the noggin to him and can accept a protective device in his cap. I think Shoe can get the job done this season.

I think pitching makes or breaks this season. I'd keep the players you mentioned to use as trading chips for pitchers as needs develop. It's just a guess but I think the Angels are shooting for 2018. For that reason I would hold off trading players for now unless there is an offer they can't refuse. At this point I'd hesitate parting with Ben Revere and Cameron Maybin especially. Let's let the season evolve for now. Escobar is a good hitting 3rd baseman if not defensively great. We need offense and average defense to support the pitching.

Hopefully he becomes a more offensive force. Even if he could hit .240 with moderate power. I'm still scratching my head over trading Jett Bandy. Seems like Scioscia expects every catcher to be like him.

May we all experience a similar detox from the Internet to prove we still can function without it.

I think they need to put him in the rotation to sink or swim. The longer he's held back, the more anxieties he will have. The team that drafted him has given up on him. We need a hard thrower. Let's find out if the pitching coach, the manager, and the teammates can help launch a successful career. Having a surprise season will really help our chances of being more than a one and done playoff team next year.

Frankly it doesn't surprise me that this happens. Hopefully bringing this issue to light will help bring an end to this.

85

1. He can't run well enough to hit .300.

That 1971 season was surreal. Alex Johnson going bananas and being suspended for the season in June; Tony Conigliaro losing his eyesight and retiring in June; Chico Ruiz keeping a gun in his locker for protection; a GM known as the Smiling Python; Lefty Phillips dying shortly after he was fired. That season set the Angels back 6-7 years. So much was expected of that team after a 3rd place finish in 1970. They had a slogan "New faces, going places." I have never seen anything like it. What a fiasco.

Honestly I think both of them are better than the people the Angels tried the last two years. An average season will be an upgrade.

I'm concerned. I think pitching depth makes or breaks the season.

I think giving the manager a 10 year contract is the root cause of fire Scioscia threads. Entering Year 9, he has won four postseason games, all in Year 1. It helps make him the status quo because he has more job security than anybody but the owner. A GM has quit because of him. The owner won't touch him. More money has been spent, yet he has less talent (or healthy talent). Fans are unhappy with the results.