MPohleece

Good post by TG. And I know he and most here have perspective that this is just entertainment, and that players' decisions are not an entire reflection of who they are and will be.
Yes, we wanted a story book ending, culminating with a ring for Mike and Shohei, but that had about as much chance as flopping quads with this regime anyway. My first reaction from the news was, "Oh..." I'd say Angels have a better chance of becoming competitive faster without $500M+ Shohei.
As for him going to the dogs, wasn't there some article a while back saying playing for the blue was his dream while growing up? It was almost a foregone conclusion. Even if the dogs had offered much less than the others, he would've gone up the 5 anyway.
I'll still be rooting for him to do well except against us. Hope we get a nasty lefty to make him look stupid each AB.
 

Good post by TG. And I know he and most here have perspective that this is just entertainment, and that players' decisions are not an entire reflection of who they are and will be.
Yes, we wanted a story book ending, culminating with a ring for Mike and Shohei, but that had about as much chance as flopping quads with this regime anyway. My first reaction from the news was, "Oh..." I'd say Angels have a better chance of becoming competitive faster without $500M+ Shohei.
As for him going to the dogs, wasn't there some article a while back saying playing for the blue was his dream while growing up? It was almost a foregone conclusion. Even if the dogs had offered much less than the others, he would've gone up the 5 anyway.
I'll still be rooting for him to do well except against us. Hope we get a nasty lefty to make him look stupid each AB.
 

Good post by TG. And I know he and most here have perspective that this is just entertainment, and that players' decisions are not an entire reflection of who they are and will be.
Yes, we wanted a story book ending, culminating with a ring for Mike and Shohei, but that had about as much chance as flopping quads with this regime anyway. My first reaction from the news was, "Oh..." I'd say Angels have a better chance of becoming competitive faster without $500M+ Shohei.
As for him going to the dogs, wasn't there some article a while back saying playing for the blue was his dream while growing up? It was almost a foregone conclusion. Even if the dogs had offered much less than the others, he would've gone up the 5 anyway.
I'll still be rooting for him to do well except against us. Hope we get a nasty lefty to make him look stupid each AB.
 

Death by a 1000 singles. Taxes the opponent a whole lot more. I don’t dig the long ball no more. 

Death by a 1000 singles. Taxes the opponent a whole lot more. I don’t dig the long ball no more. 

Death by a 1000 singles. Taxes the opponent a whole lot more. I don’t dig the long ball no more. 

Death by a 1000 singles. Taxes the opponent a whole lot more. I don’t dig the long ball no more. 

Yep, we’re on our way to top 3. Thanks JSP. 

Look, the season's been over since early Aug, but last Wed with Trout goin' for broke and back on the IL, and of course, Shohei's injury, that was a huge moment for the Angels, and some may say, for baseball at large.
Who knows for sure Shohei's reasons for continuing to play: prolly he just loves to play so much; as a paid athlete, he feels some obligation to play if he can play; he wants to fulfill the potentials of this season, test himself; he wants to inspire his teammates; he feels he's got enough bucks, so not that worried about a huge contract...? Perhaps, one or all the above.
Regardless, his continuing to play has been getting some attention and deserves continued attention and thought.
I don't think it's off-base to say.
It's obviously less risky to not play at all, and just try to cash in as much free agency bucks as possible. Most pro athletes would.
After a likely career-changing injury, a typical reaction would be to retreat from play; not playing in the 2nd of a back-to-back and still having the focus to contribute with a double. He's either really easygoing to a fault or has crazy mental fortitude--both can be true at the same time.
These moments don't come by very often. One can hope that Trout and Shohei have created a galvanizing moment to really build enduring betterment to this team moving forward. So finish the season the right way. Don't slip on daily prep and focus during the game (like that throw to 2nd on x2 steal today). Basically, don't cheat the damn game and play 
for the fans and also for each other (wink wink Sandy when mates make errors).
Shohei's speech at the WBC was good, that whole bit about while the US has renowned players, you can't overcome them while revering them... Maybe another speech and moment is in order before the Phil's series start. It don't need to be Valvanoesque, fuck perfect English, just say something. 

Look, the season's been over since early Aug, but last Wed with Trout goin' for broke and back on the IL, and of course, Shohei's injury, that was a huge moment for the Angels, and some may say, for baseball at large.
Who knows for sure Shohei's reasons for continuing to play: prolly he just loves to play so much; as a paid athlete, he feels some obligation to play if he can play; he wants to fulfill the potentials of this season, test himself; he wants to inspire his teammates; he feels he's got enough bucks, so not that worried about a huge contract...? Perhaps, one or all the above.
Regardless, his continuing to play has been getting some attention and deserves continued attention and thought.
I don't think it's off-base to say.
It's obviously less risky to not play at all, and just try to cash in as much free agency bucks as possible. Most pro athletes would.
After a likely career-changing injury, a typical reaction would be to retreat from play; not playing in the 2nd of a back-to-back and still having the focus to contribute with a double. He's either really easygoing to a fault or has crazy mental fortitude--both can be true at the same time.
These moments don't come by very often. One can hope that Trout and Shohei have created a galvanizing moment to really build enduring betterment to this team moving forward. So finish the season the right way. Don't slip on daily prep and focus during the game (like that throw to 2nd on x2 steal today). Basically, don't cheat the damn game and play 
for the fans and also for each other (wink wink Sandy when mates make errors).
Shohei's speech at the WBC was good, that whole bit about while the US has renowned players, you can't overcome them while revering them... Maybe another speech and moment is in order before the Phil's series start. It don't need to be Valvanoesque, fuck perfect English, just say something. 

Look, the season's been over since early Aug, but last Wed with Trout goin' for broke and back on the IL, and of course, Shohei's injury, that was a huge moment for the Angels, and some may say, for baseball at large.
Who knows for sure Shohei's reasons for continuing to play: prolly he just loves to play so much; as a paid athlete, he feels some obligation to play if he can play; he wants to fulfill the potentials of this season, test himself; he wants to inspire his teammates; he feels he's got enough bucks, so not that worried about a huge contract...? Perhaps, one or all the above.
Regardless, his continuing to play has been getting some attention and deserves continued attention and thought.
I don't think it's off-base to say.
It's obviously less risky to not play at all, and just try to cash in as much free agency bucks as possible. Most pro athletes would.
After a likely career-changing injury, a typical reaction would be to retreat from play; not playing in the 2nd of a back-to-back and still having the focus to contribute with a double. He's either really easygoing to a fault or has crazy mental fortitude--both can be true at the same time.
These moments don't come by very often. One can hope that Trout and Shohei have created a galvanizing moment to really build enduring betterment to this team moving forward. So finish the season the right way. Don't slip on daily prep and focus during the game (like that throw to 2nd on x2 steal today). Basically, don't cheat the damn game and play 
for the fans and also for each other (wink wink Sandy when mates make errors).
Shohei's speech at the WBC was good, that whole bit about while the US has renowned players, you can't overcome them while revering them... Maybe another speech and moment is in order before the Phil's series start. It don't need to be Valvanoesque, fuck perfect English, just say something. 

Unless we get a new owner who’s willing to spend like crazy, I think it may be for the best to not get Shohei.
Locking up so much $ on one player, with higher risk of injury from the 2-way,  and leaving little left to sign others, not worth it. Let some rich owner take that huge risk. Angels might as well spread the risk by signing a good pitcher and a batter for similar $. 
If the goal is to increase chances of winning, investing long-term high dollars on two-way players may not be a good biz decision in general.

Unless we get a new owner who’s willing to spend like crazy, I think it may be for the best to not get Shohei.
Locking up so much $ on one player, with higher risk of injury from the 2-way,  and leaving little left to sign others, not worth it. Let some rich owner take that huge risk. Angels might as well spread the risk by signing a good pitcher and a batter for similar $. 
If the goal is to increase chances of winning, investing long-term high dollars on two-way players may not be a good biz decision in general.

Unless we get a new owner who’s willing to spend like crazy, I think it may be for the best to not get Shohei.
Locking up so much $ on one player, with higher risk of injury from the 2-way,  and leaving little left to sign others, not worth it. Let some rich owner take that huge risk. Angels might as well spread the risk by signing a good pitcher and a batter for similar $. 
If the goal is to increase chances of winning, investing long-term high dollars on two-way players may not be a good biz decision in general.

Unless we get a new owner who’s willing to spend like crazy, I think it may be for the best to not get Shohei.
Locking up so much $ on one player, with higher risk of injury from the 2-way,  and leaving little left to sign others, not worth it. Let some rich owner take that huge risk. Angels might as well spread the risk by signing a good pitcher and a batter for similar $. 
If the goal is to increase chances of winning, investing long-term high dollars on two-way players may not be a good biz decision in general.

Unless we get a new owner who’s willing to spend like crazy, I think it may be for the best to not get Shohei.
Locking up so much $ on one player, with higher risk of injury from the 2-way,  and leaving little left to sign others, not worth it. Let some rich owner take that huge risk. Angels might as well spread the risk by signing a good pitcher and a batter for similar $. 
If the goal is to increase chances of winning, investing long-term high dollars on two-way players may not be a good biz decision in general.

Lou, I’ve enjoyed your posts. No matter your condition, your spirit lives on. Wishing you the best. 

Soto under team control 2 more years after this season

Duffy will lead the team in hits and average. Missed a few games, but I haven’t seen him have a bad at-bat so far. Like them gritty A’s batters in recent years—works counts, grinds down the pitchers.

Stretch him out before the season starts?
58M/4yr for a potential quality starter, not a bad deal if he’s willing to do it again. We can always change course mid season. 
We’re whiffing on stable SP, so at this point, find more plus arms for the BP. Loup has closer stuff.

Stretch him out before the season starts?
58M/4yr for a potential quality starter, not a bad deal if he’s willing to do it again. We can always change course mid season. 
We’re whiffing on stable SP, so at this point, find more plus arms for the BP. Loup has closer stuff.

Stretch him out before the season starts?
58M/4yr for a potential quality starter, not a bad deal if he’s willing to do it again. We can always change course mid season. 
We’re whiffing on stable SP, so at this point, find more plus arms for the BP. Loup has closer stuff.

Stretch him out before the season starts?
58M/4yr for a potential quality starter, not a bad deal if he’s willing to do it again. We can always change course mid season. 
We’re whiffing on stable SP, so at this point, find more plus arms for the BP. Loup has closer stuff.

Stretch him out before the season starts?
58M/4yr for a potential quality starter, not a bad deal if he’s willing to do it again. We can always change course mid season. 
We’re whiffing on stable SP, so at this point, find more plus arms for the BP. Loup has closer stuff.

According to Japanese new sites, Sho was training as usual the day the MVP announcement came, slipped on a simple collarless shirt and sport coat to do the quick TV interviews. No celebration that night, went to sleep early because he had an early morning training as usual. We'll see if the diligent training translates to production again next year. Predictions at year end?
Pitcher: 14 wins, close to 150 IP, WHIP a touch below 1, ERA in the high 2s.
Hitter: between 9 and 1K OPS, at least .600 SLG, 40 & 100 rbi, 30 SB, bat close to .300. Hope he cuts down his SO to near 100.
Guessing Trout hitting behind him most of the time.