maestro

@BadDog
Maitan actually hasn't been soft since that first season with the Braves when he added like 30 pounds of fat.  Once he arrived with the Angels, he was more solid.  Not in impeccable shape this time last year, but decent enough.  He'd lost most of the fat he put on, but was still considerably heavier than when he was 16. 
This year in camp, it's been documented by a few different sources that Maitan is looking big, but in much of a muscular way.  He's a big, strong 19 year old playing in full season ball.  But personally, I'm not convinced his struggles at the plate were caused by the weight gain in the first place.  Part of it was, because obviously he needed to learn how to handle his different body type.  But I think most of it was actually just Maitan facing tougher competition.  Before these kids get signed, they work themselves to the bone year round for four years.  Their BP sessions are inevitably what most of the scouts attend, as well as the private workouts.  As long as these kids have the body type and are hitting the ball 400 feet at age 16, they're going to get signed.  Maitan had reached this level by 14 so obviously there was a lot of hype. 
But there's a big difference between doing it in BP and doing it in the game.  The Braves gave Maitan enough rope to hang himself with, so to speak.  His work ethic tanked because he'd never actually been challenged before and now he had all the money he could need.  And when it came time to play baseball, the guys that he was playing against were so much better than anything he'd ever experienced.  And that's why he failed.  Long swing, unprepared for advanced competition, different body type.
The Angels got him and as we've seen, they've gone about basically dismantling everything that screwed him up from his childhood and his time with the Braves.  Remaking his swing, putting him on a nutrition and workout regimen, changing his position.  I don't know if it will all work out, but he's in great shape, at least we can say that.  And his swing looks better than it did before.  Results?  We'll see. 

Shohei Ohtani. It was so incredible when he broke into the league as MLB's first two-way player in like 100 years.

All from the 1977 team; it was a frustrating season, after being picked to win the Western Division following the signings of Baylor, Rudi, and Grich.
Of course, only Baylor of the three made it through the season without losing half of the games due to injury.   The crowds booed him unfairly because he struggled some, although still hitting 25 HRs and driving in 75.   Then he switched from #12 to #25 after the 1977 season (Bonds trade freeing #25), and the rest is history. 
The only two true bright spots for me in person that year were seeing a near no-hitter by Ryan against the expansion M's (CG, only Bob Stinson's 3rd inning double prevented it) to open the home schedule, and watching Mark "the Bird" Fidrych pitch a CG for the Tigers in June at the Big A.   Fidrych was still in the midst of his phenomenon era.  
That year did see two straight shutouts by Tanana and Ryan at the new Kingdome to open the 1977 season.   Little did those at the time know how mediocre the 1977 season would become. They finished with a 74-88 record, with two no-hitters thrown against them (Eckersley and Blyleven). 

How are Vladdy and Salmon forgotten haha
Kendrys morales was such a beast before breaking his leg on a walk off grand slam 
Kelvim Escobar was nasty when he was healthy-great splitter. I seem to recall one season (perhaps 2006)where he had the worst run support of any starter in the league and lost more games than he won, despite having a mid 3’s era and solid numbers across the board 

How are Vladdy and Salmon forgotten haha
Kendrys morales was such a beast before breaking his leg on a walk off grand slam 
Kelvim Escobar was nasty when he was healthy-great splitter. I seem to recall one season (perhaps 2006)where he had the worst run support of any starter in the league and lost more games than he won, despite having a mid 3’s era and solid numbers across the board 

How are Vladdy and Salmon forgotten haha
Kendrys morales was such a beast before breaking his leg on a walk off grand slam 
Kelvim Escobar was nasty when he was healthy-great splitter. I seem to recall one season (perhaps 2006)where he had the worst run support of any starter in the league and lost more games than he won, despite having a mid 3’s era and solid numbers across the board 

How are Vladdy and Salmon forgotten haha
Kendrys morales was such a beast before breaking his leg on a walk off grand slam 
Kelvim Escobar was nasty when he was healthy-great splitter. I seem to recall one season (perhaps 2006)where he had the worst run support of any starter in the league and lost more games than he won, despite having a mid 3’s era and solid numbers across the board 

Maybe Hank Heaney is available? Although he may be trying to fix Barkley’s swing still or sad Tiger didn’t offer him a popsicle 

do we lose a draft pick if we sign him?

do we lose a draft pick if we sign him?

He may not be the most popular former Angels GM around these parts (although, compared to Dipoto, he's Billy Eppler), but let's not forget to give him credit for being the GM when the Angels drafted Trout.
Thanks, Tony!

May 13, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrates after scoring off a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
If the rumors are true, and at this point they appear to be so, Mike Trout has agreed in principal to a deal that will make him an Angel for life.
Wow.
What a way to turn around the offseason. Prior to today, I would have given the Angels a “B-” for their efforts during the offseason, but all that changed today. This deal changes all that because the biggest potential issue for the next two years has been settled. Mike Trout will be here for another 12 years.
If the proposed numbers hold true, Mike Trout will sign the largest sports contract in history. And well he should. No other player in the history of the game has been as good and productive as Mike Trout at a similar age.
If I could start a baseball team with any single current player in baseball, by far my first choice would be Mike Trout. Not only is he an incredible talent on the field, he is a an incredible asset off the field. His interactions with fans are not forced or reluctant. He genuinely engages with fans before the games. His love for baseball and enthusiasm to play is infectious. He reminds people of all that is good and right in sports, He is humble and honest. He lets his actions speak for themselves and doesn’t seek the limelight. He brings us back to a time when we played baseball and demonstrates our love for the game.
When Mike Trout signs this contract, he will do the one last thing that separated him from the pantheon of baseball greats: he will create a specific time and place for his legacy. Just as Cobb, DiMaggio, Koufax, Ruth, Williams, etc. are all associated with one team and one time, Trout will be forever remember for the time he played and the Angels. Fifty years from now, whether they are Angels fans or not, baseball fans will tell their grandchildren how they saw Mike Trout play for the Angels, just as our grandparents told us about seeing their greats play.
In 2014, When Mike Trout signed his first contract extension, I asked him at the press conference what it meant to him that an entire generation of Angels fans would grow up seeing him play. I compared it to Trout’s hero Derek Jeter, a lifelong Yankee. With this contract extension, multiple generations of Angels fans will grow up seeing him play. And like his hero, it will all be for one team. That’s something special.
But, even more special, is that Angels fans will get to see him evolve. When Mike Trout first broke into the Major Leagues, Torii Hunter took him under his wings and helped show him the ropes. After Torii left, Albert Pujols helped to mentor him.
But, in an interesting story written by Bob Nightengale for USA Today, Mike Trout watched video of the Angels’ top prospect Jo Adell, and even gave Adell his phone number to help him. Mike Trout made an integral part of the Angels’ presentation to Shohei Ohtani by calling and speaking with him, and has since done a lot to help Shohei adapt to life playing baseball in America. That’s the evolution of Mike Trout–from a rookie to a face of a franchise to a mentor to his teammates. This is the Mike Trout team. This is the Mike Trout era.
After the Angels won the World Series in 2002, my favorite moment was seeing Tim Salmon–Mr. Angel–hoist the trophy. Knowing that there were several points where Tim could have left for more money to play for other teams, watching him hold that trophy was magical. Everyone could see that his loyalty and dedication to the team had been rewarded, and the fans loved him for it.
When Mike Trout hoists the World Series trophy–which he will do as an Angel–it will be something even more magical. Just as Salmon was rewarded and loved, so will Trout be. We, the fans, know how much he did (and will do) to earn that moment, and we will thank him for it. There will be a bonding between us and him that will forever connect us in that moment.
An Angel for life. Not many players can say that. But that’s what Trout chose to be, and we are so lucky that he did.
View the full article

So happy! This is a great deal! Puts less strain on having to compete this year and let's us naturally work our way into our true competitive window in 2020.
 
Trout/Ohtani/Adell/Simmons core is so promising and what a bunch of easy guys to root for. So pumped! Go Angels!

If trout went to the doyers he quickly becomes my least favorite player. It means he doesn’t care about being close to home and just doesn’t want to play with us and also f*ck the dodgers. If he goes to any other team then still f**k the dodgers 

meh, I prefer gazing at the 57 freeway

That would be a close play and would take a perfect throw from the left fielder.

Not allowed to discuss whether or not I am. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
But i am. 
 
 
 
 
 
Alegedly. 

So The Simpsons was renewed for 2 more seasons. Which is great because it's two more years of guaranteed work for me and all of us (in animation, most artist contracts only last about 8-9 months and then you're looking for work again.) And so anyways, I read on a fan forum for the show called No Homers periodically just to see if they ever comment on our animation (and they compliment it sometimes which is nice), and I was just thinking how hilarious it is that these "fans" shit on the quality of the show, week after week, begging for it to be cancelled. And yet they tune in and watch it live every week just so they can shit on it more lol. And when news of the show renewal came out, they are pissed!! Like f**k you guys man haha!
It's just funny because they can literally just not watch and maybe they'd get their wish and the show they hate so much will be cancelled because of low viewership (it's one of the top rated shows still). But then they'd have nothing to bitch about anymore.
But then as I think this, I remember I bitch on sports forums about players and whatnot lmao. So I can't say shit

What is wrong with you?

I still see him as a two way superstar in the long run, making some 27 starts/162 innings a season (sub 3.50 ERA) and 4-5 DH starts/week (.850+ OPS).
 

I've been an Angels fan for 20 years. Ohtani's 2nd start against Oakland is the most dominant performance I've ever seen from a Halo. If he can give you 20 starts a year without screwing up his swing, you run with it. Plus, the Angels have talented outfield prospects coming out of their ears.

that's what made the 2002 WS even better. dodger fans didn't know who to pull for. either way, they were screwed 

I'll always root for any other team in the Doyers division unless it's 2002.

This is a high quality post, holy shit