Justin

Wait... seriously?

I sent my dad a text and asked if he remembered the game. He said yes, it was with Indian Guides. Although he didn't remember the year, I'm almost positive that would have been the '87 season. And then I spent an hour reading about Indian Guides. I had forgotten that once upon a time I went out in public wearing a headband with a feather in it.

I don't remember. That sounds familiar, though. Here is a set on eBay for $2.99. I'm pretty sure my first game was after '86, but maybe they were still selling the '86 set a year or two later? Because I think I had the '86 set. But who knows.

I just assumed that was a BS thing the Angels threw in the contract to make it seem like they wanted him more than St. Louis and it's not actually going to happen. Like when a woman says "I'll make it up to you later" even though you know damn well there won't be a later. (Actually, that probably never happens to you, TORS.)

Is there any chance they do can do a 10-year anniversary of this in 2031, just like they do with a championship team? Bring out all the key people who made it happen while we give each one a standing ovation?

The season ain't over yet. Thank God AJ didn't write this.

If Vlad had continued the blistering start to September and the Jays had taken a Wild Card spot (or especially the Division), I not only would have had no problem with him winning, I probably would have been in favor of it. Just like his dad back in '04. But he's been awful the last 7 days, merely good the last 14 days, and it doesn't look like the Jays will be in the postseason. So I think Ohtani will win. That being said, I don't really care. I wish I could get more excited about Ohtani's season and MVP award, but for the fourth time in 8 seasons the Angels will have an MVP... and we all know what their record is and how many postseason games they have won.

Still not too bad compared to what was written about Simba one year ago.

I was hoping the actual translation would be something like "I want to win but Trout and Rendon are pussies who can't stay healthy." It wouldn't be great for the organization but it would be a fun day on AW.

This narrative never fails to make me smile.

This is an organization that refused to trade a closer having a great season who is going to be a free agent in a few weeks. What do you suppose the odds are that it will trade the Biggest Story in Baseball?

I suspect you are right. It seems bizarre that the Forest Service would do that, but there are many things in this world that I do not understand.

That's basically the answer to everything for the last month (or more). I love AO but it can't be healthy to be getting so worked up this September.

Thank you for the condolences. By any chance do you remember WHY they had cards with Smokey? Did every team, or was there some association with the Angels?

Advising a three-time MVP on his offseason training routine is just about the most AW thing ever.

Seattle is trying to prevent Ohtani from winning MVP to protect Ichiro's legacy*. *I just made that up

I collected when I was a kid (late 80s and early 90s). Four years ago my parents retired and sold their house in SoCal; all of the cards were in storage in a shed there and they were either thrown or given away. My parents had asked me if I wanted to keep them but I just didn't have the time or the energy. (My brother was dying of leukemia at the time, I was in the process of donating my stem cells to him, and revisiting childhood memories was very low on my list of priorities.) I do not regret letting my parents get rid of all my cards, but I do wish I had looked at my old collection one last time, just for the sake of nostalgia. At my first live game, sometime in the late 80s, my dad bought me a pack of cards of Angels players with Smokey The Bear on them. Would those have been in there? I remember thinking that card with Mickey Hatcher (where he has a giant glove) was so funny that I bought about 10 of them. Did those survive the last 30 years?

If nothing else, it's fun read aloud and say "Wong Junk."

Pounds?

Those four plus Fowler are about $135 million. Total bWAR: 0.3 Trout put up 1.8 bWAR in his 36 games. Everyone else ranges from Zero (Rendon) down to -0.7 (which Pujols somehow managed to accomplish in only 24 games). (Disclosure: I am terrible with numbers.)

Yes, I believe it is. I have not watched a complete game in over two months except for the Padres game when Snell was perfect for several innings. (Which I kept watching just in case it turned out to be a perfect game - for the Angels opponent.) I spend far more time reading AW than watching the team. There have been more frustrating years for me (1999, 2012, 2018) but never a year in which I have cared less about Angels baseball.

It will be angry and irrational and people will say some stupid shit. So... same as normal.

Don't go down the rabbit hole of analyzing Maddon's statements.

So that's what Maddon meant. Maybe he was a genius all along.

I was at that point several months ago. Now, I just don't care.