Duren, Duren

Idiotic mechanical management. Greinke had more left in the tank and had kept his composure. One bad pitch and a walk weren't catastrophic. The game was tied, and at least give him one more batter. I guess the eye test doesn't count anymore. Just go robotically to the 'book' and mismanage your bullpen. And why have Cole warm up if you don't use him if you think the situation is so critical?

What a pay season by Howie. Talk about making his hits count! Mr. Clutch.

Great pitching duel for the first half of the game. Nice to see Greinke reach back for one of his craftiest, coolist performance. Don't forget about inner diamond defense. If Greinke messed up on any of those balls hit to him the innings may have played out differently. And if the second RBI hit was handled better (it was a tough chance) maybe they don't score. Oops,,, one mistake and the game gets more complicated. Now the bullpens take over. Even the 'best' ball/strike ump has missed some key pitches.

Verlander and Kershaw really will have their great careers tarnished by post season results. Some of it bad luck, but over time and many opportunities they haven't risen to the occasion

Grienke can really add an exclamation point to his career with a win tomorrow. A possible HOF player, now old and sliding into decline. Does he have it in him for the game of his career? And possibly add to his chances for a final substantial contract? Tune in tomorrow and see.

Might as well keep Strasburg in for the ninth. It's his last game, so why waste an inning with someone else? And complete games are a relic of the past, so add that to the list.

Looks like the road team jinx will continue. Has it ever happened in all seven games? In any sport?

One of the least appreciated skills. Inner diamond defense. So many plays come down to microseconds.

Really strange. You have a 3 run lead with 3 innings to go, your ace nearing a hundred pitches. And Martinez loses focus on managing to vent frustration?

It would have been a much more dramatic story line had it stayed a one run game. Weird that Martinez blew his mind after they extend the lead. You gotta stay cool under these circumstances.

Looks like Tendon made that comment moot! Bring on a game seven!

If Houston comes back and wins, this call will become part of baseball lore.

Pretty tight play, either way can be justified. How would a robo-ump interpret that play?

I was at the game that was rained out a couple of years ago. Insane ankle deep flooding in the corridors. Obviously that was a rare thing, but it illustrated some of the infrastructure and aging issues. As things go, it isn't a bad ballpark (see Olympic Stadium in Montreal for a cold, concrete monstrosity), but should be upgraded and made a bit more fan friendly. I'd also like a little more historical reference. Perhaps a small museum type section. The murals are nice, but some of the only actual artifacts are the items being sold. Multiple thousands of dollars for signed Trout, Pujols, Ohtani things mostly. The store also should be bigger with more selections. Location wise it's easy to drive to, but on the ground it's pretty isolated. Obviously not in a downtown type area but possibly more development can be built around it in the future. The Hockey arena across the street also has the same problem. Too bad it is a busy highway separating the two. In Seattle the baseball and football stadiums are also close to each other, but within a self contained area with plenty of amenities and places around them. Starting from scratch could be daunting, with all sorts of logistical complications. Unless a great opportunity presents itself it makes more sense to upgrade. I doubt one of those retro refit styles that Baltimore popularized a few decades ago would fit the team or it's history. But a nod to past tradition would be nice. And I would get away from those quaint straw hats the ushers wear. It isn't the 1913 county fair!

Good story. I'm relatively new here and didn't know the history and evolution of the site. I prefer keeping sports forums away from social media embedding. The hockey and football forums I use were also fairly benign, though they both recently migrated to Tapatalk. Which I do not like. Especially since I was on those Forums for over twenty years. All the permutations they went through were more user friendly and less intrusive. I don't mind explicit ads, because they are necessary for financial purposes and can easily be scrolled past. But it is damned creepy the way Facebook spies and personalizes the advertising. I only use it to keep casually in contact with distant friends and family. I never used Twitter, though sometimes follow links. But to get back to this site, it's very enjoyable to see all the in depth reflections about Angels history past and present . I had almost given up on finding a solid forum with consistent intelligence and insight going beyond what happens in the next game. That stuff is great too, but especially in the off season it's fun to reflect on the history of the franchise and how the present measures up to the past.

Not vintage Cole. Good, but not razor sharp. If he has a poor game 5 I wonder if it takes a little of his mystique down? And his ultimate contract? Doubtful it has a big influence, but at the expected price range you never know.

It wouldn't be 2019 baseball if almost all scoring didn't come from the homerun ball. I actually found Maldonado's bunt more strategically clever and interesting. And great defensive plays really were the reason the game stayed close. But both teams are deep, versatile and clutch. Tough competition at the top of the league for the foreseeable future. Intriguing series coming up. Big showcase for Cole in particular. Maybe if Houston wins they lose some of their hunger and don't become aggressive with their budget.

It will be essential to have starters go further. I believe the Angels were last or close to worst in that category. That means smarter sequencing and better control. Getting ahead in the count without serving up fastballs over the middle of the plate was a starting staff weakness. A pitching coach can work on technique, mechanics and mindset. Then it's up to the pitcher to execute. A reality check about Cole in the middle of this article. Sobering observations about how the Astros, Yankees and Dodgers can make him fit in their budgets. Lots of competition out there. It would be unusual to see the Angels with both the highest paid player and highest paid pitcher on long term contracts at the same time. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27848798/what-learned-far-mlb-playoffs-come-next

What about Russ Martin as a partial solution as catcher. Platoon, regular for certain pitchers, even possibly depth at third/first? Also very experienced, poised and a great team presence. He still is a good athlete, has some pop, and is smart and experienced. Already in L.A. It wouldn't be a geographical move for him. I believe he was on a one year contract and is a free agent. Obviously not a long term answer, but not bad for at least a one or two year addition.

Presumably his coaches get named next. Should show some insight into his thinking. He basically had a clean slate to fill in who he wants. Considering the needs and issues, I am curious how he goes about dealing with the pitching. Who he brings in as pitching coach and bullpen coach. Trusted associates or new people? Will he endorse a patient, teaching philosophy or be more demanding of his pitching coach? Clearly no one can create talent when it isn't there, but by fine tuning and adjustments to mechanics it may be possible to get better results from returning veterans. And obviously more established talent will bolster the starters. Also they need a philosophy that differs from last year. Starters have to have their mindset adjusted to expect to pitch longer. Better sequencing and control should be emphasized. More first pitch strikes, more use of the edges of the strike zone. In game, the catcher factors in too. I hope for an upgrade here too.

Three years is the right number. Enough time to put his stamp on the team and have them legitimately in the playoff mix. But that means a no nonsense approach. He won't be around when new draftees and young prospects are ready to graduate to the big leagues. So trades and free agents are the quickest way to upgrade the roster. As well as coachng the best out of the current nucleus. You would think that he sees this as his final managerial job. Possibly it goes longer if everything clicks, but he probably would want to retire after this contract. It would be tremendous motivation to complete the career circle, riding out successfully where he began. Regarding assistants, he probably has a large pool to draw from. Lots of trust and success in Tampa and Chicago, and a glowing reputation in baseball. I would totally trust his judgment. I do wonder though if he is giving thought to his successor? And maybe will bring in someone he sees having upside for that job when he retires. A good idea in theory, allowing for a smoother transition.

I wonder how Trout would have factored all this in if it happened a year ago before his new contract? Trust and loyalty to the Angels organization was a motivating part of his decision. It's bad enough that the Angels are always looked to as a negative for his career recognition. Unfortunately, this isn't just a one player issue, but wider spread If Kay's claims are substantiated. If the inquiries, investigations, etc. are prolonged, it will keep the franchise from reaching closure during the managerial search. Free agents also will have to assess whether they want to pick the Angels if money term are similar elsewhere. Eventually everything will be revealed and the team heals and moves on. But the next few months are critical in preparing for next season and beyond. And that doesn't even factor in any criminal implications or punitive actions by MLB.

The way Cole pitches, you wonder how long his arm holds out. Or is able to sustain his velocity over time. A real workhorse. It's a real risk thinking long term contract at record breaking prices. You have examples like Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale or Bob Feller, and other power pitchers who kept up the quality and durability for years throughout history, but It is a small percentage overall. Right now Cole has a fantastic rhythm in his outings. Real distinctive variations in his four pitches. A high 90s heater, 10 - 12 MPH difference between slider and fastball, a wicked sharp breaking curve and a useful changeup. Plus excellent control and sequencing. At the top of his game. But, can he sustain close to this standard? And if so, for how long? Look at Kershaw, who has seen his velocity drop every year and has had to revamp his approach in his early thirties. We have seen the Angels burned many times with mega money long term contracts that don't deliver expected results. If the Angels were a year or two away from being a championship threat then going all in at any cost would be a reasonable gamble. But if Cole's in decline (or injury affected) say in three or four years when the Angels hopefully are contending then It may possibly be another Pujols kind of situation. Not likely that dramatic , barring catastrophic injury or decline, but not the value for money they will be paying. Cole's peak years are now and the near future. Beyond that it's a risk. His best bet for winning and justifying his salary is right now, when he's at his best and will be supported by with an already loaded team.

If they really want to reduce home runs (yeah...sure...) it would be simple. Stop giving the pitcher a new baseball almost every at bat! Usually multiple times per hitter. Every damned time a ball touches the ground, or even is just very low or fouled off, they toss it and throw out a new ball. Traditionally, the art of pitching was sly and crafty. Small scuff marks were exploited to do tricks with the ball. Pitchers spent lots of time rubbing up the ball and looking for imperfections to use their nails on. Not even bringing up the 'foreign substance' tricks. Pitchers today get a new ball constantly, even though often it"s at their own request or from their catcher. They haven't been schooled in the art of deception. Doctoring bats (George Brett anyone?) has been going on forever. Same with the balls. Even gloves. Let it go both ways unless something ridiculous crossed a line (Gaylord Perry?). Each batter and pitcher should be able to maximize the tools of their trade. And raise the mound if you want to really give the pitcher more of a chance.

Rex Hudler was quite a character. I remember when on the Expos he'd end most interviews with 'thanks buddy.' I don't know much about his broadcasting career, but he seems like someone you'd want on your side.