Lazorko Saves

Nonsense. You implied that a dirt-poor kid in DR shouldn't even accept a few hundred bucks worth of team gear, let alone thousands of dollars worth of free training via the academy system. You were clearly unaware that it's MLB sanctioned, and done by all 30 teams as a compromise between your beloved purity of free agency and the economic reality of youth baseball in the DR. I tried to politely inform you, and your response was to tell me I was too stupid to understand sarcasm. You fired the first shot. I stopped being polite after that.

Do you even know how the academy system works in the DR? Do you even know how incredibly poor most of these kids in the DR are, and would otherwise have absolutely no access to organized baseball without the academies? Do you even know MLB is working on implementing an international draft in the next year or so that will change the signing process completely? I got news for you, the MLB money flowing in to support youth baseball in the DR will continue after the draft is implemented. And that's unambiguously good, not some shady underhandedness. Places like the DR need financial help for amateur baseball and it's great that MLB provides a lot of that. Go ahead and worship at that highest bidder altar, there are more important practical needs than telling every 13 year old player in Latin countries they have to stay on those dirt lots until you're 16, because Scott Boras isn't interested in you until then.

You forgot to add the "Yeah, that's the ticket" at the end. We both know you were implying something was shady. Nice try, Lovitz.

Reality: Baseball is hard. Prospects bust all the time. For all 30 teams. More will fail than succeed. But we must try. AW Forum: No, stop signing prospects completely. Never try to develop another prospect. Forever. Just fold up the franchise. Go home. Life sucks and then you die.

He's only eligible to sign for the first time in the upcoming July 2 signing period. It's based on age. He's already been committed to the Angels for some time already, as is standard practice for a lot of players in non-draft-eligible Latin countries. He's almost certainly been training with the Angels Dominican Academy already for a long time. You will notice almost all the high end players signing in the upcoming period from Latin America are already attached to MLB teams via their academies. You'll see photos with them in affiliate gear long before they sign. Players make commitments as early as age 13 or 14, but aren't eligible to sign until 16. Since there's no school based organized baseball in a place like the DR, a 13/14 year old can benefit by taking the free training at an MLB team academy. There might be underhand stuff going on in the DR, but getting team gear isn't. That's quite common.

BA has him 12th on their International list this year. Denzer Guzman Dominican Republic SS Notes: Born: Feb. 8, 2004. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 178. Report: Last year the Angels' top international signing was Arol Vera, a physical, switch-hitting shortstop from Venezuela. Their top target in 2020 is Guzman, another physical, offensive-oriented shortstop with a bonus expected to be around $2 million. Guzman makes a lot of contact against live pitching with a loose, easy swing, with the bat speed and physical projection to grow into considerable power as well. His strong arm should play on the left side of the infield, though his defense might fit better at third base.

Chris Cron (yes, CJ and Kevin's dad). Guy absolutely raked in AA and AAA. Never really was given a shot in the majors (27 PA total). Kyle Abbott. Yes, the Angels took lefthanders named Abbott in the first round in consecutive years (Jim in 1988, Kyle in 1989). Was looking forward to an Abbott & Abbott 1-2 punch in the rotation. And then there's the entire 1986 first round for the Angels. Five of the top 28 picks, but all after 16. Unfortunately, it was a draft that only had about 12 good first round talents. Roberto Hernandez (16th overall) had a good career. Just not for the Angels. Same with Lee Stevens (22nd overall) and Mike Fetters (27th). Terry Carr (25th) and Daryl Green (28th) were busts. Best thing about that was seeing all 5 land on the Salem's roster in the Northwest League in the summer of 1986, which was my local team. It didn't translate to wins, but it was fun watching all that talent.

We can see overall numbers in Europe via their excess mortality monitoring system: http://euromomo.eu/ Even in the breakdown by country, we see Italy is seeing excess mortality merely on par with the 2016-17 flu season. Spain is still below the peak of both 16-17 and 17-18 flu seasons. Most other European countries are well down compare to prior flu season peaks. Even among 65+ age group all of Europe has lower excess mortality than all three immediate prior flu seasons. Don't get angry at me, it's just numbers.

Ya'll missed that 2015 empty stadium Orioles game? It was weird, but also good. The one great thing about it, is you get to hear pretty much everything said or yelled on the field or from the top of the dugout. You'll hear everything like you're sitting behind the backstop at a high school game.

Ya'll just not putting enough salt on the INO fries. Seriously, just put more than you think you want. Then they'll taste like you think fries should taste.

I misread the title and thought it meant 2020 "Season In Review". Which could be written now, anyway. Very short article, of course.

OK, I'll play along... Yankees already getting no value out of that Gerrit Cole contract right now. Maybe they'll start shopping him around. Maybe they'd be willing to eat some money on that deal, since Cole has given them somewhere around 0.0 WAR so far.

This is going to result in a really odd MLB Draft this year. Scouting staffs having to make their rankings based on very limited viewings. Increased risk of draft-eligible college juniors not signing to return to college for a full (repeated) junior year. The "cheap sign" college seniors will be non-existent this year. On the other hand, it could be marginally easier to sign away some high school players from a college commit. HS grads going in next spring as freshmen trying to make a roster will be up against a 5 year age group of players for likely the same number of roster spots. Also sets up the 2021 Draft to be one of the deepest drafts ever.

Imagine how far Trout would have hit that golf ball if he used his leg not-a-leg kick.

Ugh, I see he's still got that mild case of the Chuck Knoblauch yips on that throw across to Albert in the 1st.

Salmon had great hair. GA had no sweat glands. These are the only two factors that really matter.

Pfft, it was Garret who had no respect for Jack Howell... And Tim Salmon had no respect for Kirk McCaskill.

Okay, I'm beginning to get excited with what Mickey Callaway is doing here. A lot of our pitchers have looked quite improved already. Jacob Barnes looked sharp. Good stuff and good command in that one inning. I'm hoping we found another dumpster dive gem there.

As an Angels fan, I don't know what these words strung together in this particular order means.

You misspelled Bartolo.

Yes, that should be the case there. Up here in Oregon, mlb.tv blacks out the Angels games when they play the Mariners (both home or away), because I am in the Root Sports NW market. I can watch the game on mlb.tv after the game is over, but it's usually at least two hours or more after the end of the game before it's available.

Hopefully Billy went for the "get 5 elbow MRIs for the price of 4" punch card like you get at the car wash.

Jered Weaver would like to know what you mean by "productive".

Ugh. But now I'm beginning to warm up to the idea that Billy's plan of "F it, we'll just outscore everyone 10-8 every night" was the right one. Please no "Rendon gets elbow discomfort" jokes, tho.

Who? Does what?