REDneck

2 minutes ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Mickey dying is still the saddest part of the whole series. Maybe of any movie.

 

Id quote Rocky here when Mickey dies, but I dont think any of it was an actual word.

Lol..Yeah Balboa wasn't the most articulate guy.

Funny fact and maybe u know this already.

Stallone still has and keeps as pets the turtles from Rocky.

9 minutes ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Ha! Shoes what you know

 

 

 

Drago was Rocky 4

 

 

 

Fubny enough, earlier in this thread i was gonna mention rocky 3. Rocky got soft from money.... Clubber Lange stayed hungry because he was broke

You're right and that's my bad!!

I should of known better bc Rocky 3 is my favorite after the original.

That whole running on the beach thing and finally winning!

Great outing kid...you 'll get one!

8 minutes ago, Kotchman said:

Yes when we win the division , Sizlin and dancing girls for everyone 

2025..sounds good to me

Can he?

20 minutes ago, Angels Fan Forever said:

You don't get it do you? Read the article. Read the Athletic article on the Mets pitching academy.

The only thing this is about is competitive balance. Our competition is doing things to help develop their players that Arte won't do. Let's hope Minasian has the juice to change the losing culture Arte has created.

Why would u assume I don't get it?

I understand the bigger picture, but I would like our GM to address the immediate needs of the team that matters right now before he delves into this mess

5 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

No one is telling Arte anything.

Keep deflecting from the fact that this organization could be run better. Tell me it's being run well. Do it.

14 minutes ago, NrM said:

Yeah I mean it's different when you are a professional athlete. It's tough to keep on top of your diet and fitness when your living situation is less than ideal. 

When you lived that way, how much did you care about your health? Did you workout? Did you cook your meals and eat clean? 

The organization should do everything possible to optimize the potential talent with these guys.

But to what degree??

I mean do they have to be treated like Drago in Rocky 3...

Scientists..nutrionists.psychologists.etc

I mean where does it end?

Do u want to pay $500 dollars for a shitty seat to go and see a game.

I lived off top ramen and pork and beans at points in my early 20's and was strong as a ox.

8 hours ago, yk9001 said:

https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2021-07-23/angels-minor-leaguers-housing-advocacy-group

Angels general manager Perry Minasian released a statement Friday afternoon vowing to address the situation.

“What is being reported is unacceptable, and we will look into it and address it,” Minasian said.

Perry assemble a good bullpen and then turn your attention and energy towards the abject poverty in our minor league system..maybe in the off season?

Thanks!

2 minutes ago, Lou said:

Thank you.

 Wasn't your post...u didn't win this time.

Try again next time!

Lol.

14 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

It's not just the Angels it's pretty much baseball history.  People have always been ignorant of what these guys go through to get to where they are, it's even worse for the kids from Latin America.  People have just always glossed over it or don't realize that players have no other options while under team control, they can't just up and take their act elsewhere, their only options are quit and move on or make it work.

Look no further than what teams are doing with draft bonuses even now.  You have guys being drafted and then being signed for 1k because of team control.  Meanwhile they'd be able to shop themselves to the highest bidder had they not been drafted.  It's kind of twisted but while everyone will focus their ire on owners it's not like the players at the highest level are free of blame.  They all went through it, they also have never done anything to make it better for those guys -- it's just always been viewed as part of the gig, the price you pay to make millions later.

It's good to see that a lot of the forward thinking teams have changed how the do business, it's crazy that a team known for penny pinching like Cleveland is among those willing to spend more but it makes the most sense -- they are investing in their future by trying to maximize their chances, it's really annoying to see the Angels failing here.

The easiest route would be to establish minimum living standards across baseball.  Something like that might actually serve to level the playing field to a degree, but it's unlikely it happens without outside pressure.  This is particularly true after MLB's takeover of minor league baseball.

This was a pretty good piece on the subject https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28702734/mlb-raising-minimum-salary-minor-leaguers-2021

Great post as usual!

18 hours ago, NrM said:

Shane Kelso -- who spent part of the 2021 season with the Low-A Inland Empire 66ers, another Angels affiliate, before retiring due to the living conditions for players -- said four teammates bunked in a camper van in a trailer park while others lived out of cars.
"It's gotten to the point now where there are guys who are in a serious mental health crisis because of how stressful money is here,"

 

Fuck Arte Moreno. All my homies hate Arte Moreno.

This is interesting...it's not that I have sympathy because I lived the same way or worse from time to time when I was young.

And had a blast!!

But it does sound detrimental to a individual that you want to develop.

38 minutes ago, totdprods said:

It isn’t. And there’s also a spectrum across teams, across leagues, as to what is provided. 

And there is a spectrum for what can be improved. There can be a difference between paying dues and being in conditions that wind up being counterproductive.

Can things be exaggerated? Sure. Can they ask for more than they really need? Sure. But that’s part of negotiating. 

I feel in most of these examples it’s less about orgs being negligent and more likely they’ve become unaware at how the gap has grown between ‘paying due’ poor and borderline negligent poor, and that’s being highlighted and exposed more often now.

This is a classic example of where a little can go a long, long way and any team should find a way to improve *any* part of these conditions as it will only be a win in terms of PR, player comfort, competitive advantage, etc.

I agree that anything that is counterproductive to the development of these organizational investments and assets is probably not wise.

Hate to make these guys sound like objects , but that's exactly what they are to the organization.

That's just life man.

It just all sounds kinda soft to me...Im sure these guys are not living in abject poverty.

If they don't like it I will trade with them.

12 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

When they're traveling, the organization pays for hotels. When they're at home, it's up to the players to find and pay for their own housing.

Ok.

Makes sense and a difference.

Still doesn't sound any worse than college and in many ways better!

These are young guys chasing a dream for the most part..I know there are some older guys still in MILB still hanging onto to hope.

I'm sure they're doing just fine and if it doesn't end up working out for them then they go and sell cars.

But I bet they had a blast chasing their dream.

Come on guys this isn't abject poverty like a lot of the world lives in.

5 minutes ago, totdprods said:

This isn’t true, and that’s why it’s an issue. 

I think - no, I pretty much know -  that there’s a huge discrepancy in what people think MILBers are asking for and what they currently have. 

Conditions can be improved across almost all orgs without 1) breaking the bank or 2) ‘spoiling’ ballplayers into a level of comfort or where the return on an MLB orgs investment aren’t worth it

What's not true?

I may have been mistaken thinking their housing is taken care of???

Is it?

Still not a lot of sympathy, these are young guys chasing a dream with a potential huge payoff...pay the dues man.

If it doesn't work out for you then move on.

If I had the opportunity to chase the dream of becoming a professional MLB player, I would be happy sleeping in the dugout and eating leftover hotdogs.

I might even rake the field after games.

On the flip side off the coin if there is any veracity to this dudes story than there is a issue.

I really don't see anything egregious here though.

I'm sure basic housing is being provided, they're being paid a modest income, per diem, and Im sure have a lot of other perks....gyms,gear,etc.

A lot of them have received substantial signing bonuses to chase a dream that could pay off BIG in more ways than one.

With that said its not good optics for Arte and this organization and could have future repercussions regarding signability.

4 hours ago, Stradling said:

This is stupid. So he can’t complain about the conditions his team mates live under because he got $4 million?

It was a off the cuff remark buddy...Relax!

.

This may have already been mentioned, but if I hear Bachman complain about living conditions and nutritional needs not being met after just signing for close to 4 million..Im going to lose my shit!

Yes, I realize they all dont receive that large of a bonus.

Beer isn't even cheap anymore is it?

What is this guy doing for this organization?

7 hours ago, jsnpritchett said:

"Lovegrove said he witnessed the bodies of teammates break down because of the lack of healthy food options available, with many defaulting to fast food like McDonald's or Taco Bell.

"They were not receiving enough nutrition to maintain muscle mass," Lovegrove said. "We had guys lose 5 pounds in two weeks."

Lovegrove said that the living conditions for minor leaguers show that Angels owner Arte Moreno "really doesn't give a s--- about the winning side" of running a baseball team because of its failure to develop the next generation of baseball players.

"It's frustrating when you're sitting in the pen and you're hearing guys just harp about how bad the ownership is and how bad the organization is because you don't want guys to be somewhere that they are unhappy," Lovegrove said. "Is Moreno completely out of touch with the reality of what it's like to be a player? Probably. I don't see that really changing because I don't know that he really does care about the quality of the organization so much as the amount of money it produces."

Moreno did not respond to ESPN after request for comment."

Oh lord...not good

Chief Wahoo, the drums and Wild thing were the best things about that franchise.

Mayfield jacked one..

Guy like that will remember that for the rest of his life....Good memory, and the lead!

Why as fans do we all see the importance of a good pen but the recent GMs of this team fail to assemble a decent one??

 Bad luck....BS

Volatility...BS

Incompetence???

Amazing how we all as fans can see the importance of a good pen, but year after year this teams GM fails to address it

Whether it's by lack of good judgement.. bad luck or just incompetence.

Its unacceptable!!

How bout we get a few good starters...trade for that Rockies guy...or equivalent.

(Adell..Canning..good prospect not Marsh)

This is where Arte needs to spend if he wants to win.

Sign 2 of three Scherzer..Gausman ...Stroman

Extend Cobb.

Rotation...2 FAs..trade...Ohtani..Cobb..Sandoval

Extend Iglesias...

Dont spend money in the BP with the exception of Iglesias and one other bonafide reliever

..Use our youngsters in the BP...who.have had some success there.

Iglesias...addition..C rod..Suarez..Barria..Bachmann ? 

Arte is going to have to spend if he wants to win...bottom line!!

A lot of talent in that BP without spending a ass load of money. 

Its do or die IMO in the next couple years...You're never gonna have the elite talent u have right now again..

Trout,Ohtani, Rendon,Fletcher

.

No one is catching Joe