EDinTUSTIN

Sure write about how terrible the team is.  This isn’t that.  This isn’t the 60’s where players had no choice in the matter.  He made a decision.  It turned out to be a bad decision if he chose it to win championships. What he did get was $400 million. Guess what? As far as production goes, it wasn’t a great decision for the Angels to give them that money either, as much as it pains me to say that. He’s been hurt AND the Angels have sucked, it isn’t either or, it’s both. They chose each other. 

It’s pathetic.  I love Mike Trout.  He’s my favorite player ever. To act like he’s owed anything is juvenile. He and many other players traded their freedom for dollars. 

My Manager! 
 

Yep. It just hasn't worked for him consistently yet. 

Tickets are a buck on stubhub for the game today. Outside noise wont be a factor for you today, sir. 

i'm in favor of most anything that will make him effective.
if in includes throwing dirty looks at his teammates when they make a mistake while he's throwing meatballs or walking hitters, then his anger is misdirected and someone should call him out about it in the clubhouse.

He doesn’t have to give a shit, of course. Probably better that he doesn’t.
 
But the difference in angry Jered Weaver and angry Sandoval, is that Weave established himself as an ace first. Sandoval has yet to do that, so it makes him look like a kid throwing a tantrum.

Sure:
It's May 1, and 4 of the 13 position player spots are currently occupied by Pillar, Tucker, Adrianza, and Calhoun--which means at least one of them will be starting every night (since one of Thaiss/O'Hoppe will always be on the bench). That's embarrassing for any team, even one going through a soft rebuild. Zero excuse for having such awful depth. 

How about some PostMadonnas? And what would PreMadonnas be? Marilyn Monroe? 

You hit the nail on the head. I am fed up with his lackadaisical attitude and flippant excuses. Never in a million years would you have heard such nonsense from the likes of a Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Troy Percival, or Rollie Fingers. They were pissed off if they gave up one run and still got the save. They made sure the hitters who got a hit off them got some high-and-tight chin music next time around. You never heard such ludicrous and self-serving claptrap coming from them. Estevez is weak willed and apparently of a snowflake persona. He needs to be shipped out with a "Do not return" tag.

There's a hundred things to look at here, but I just can't stand Estevez. He's been bad since the All Star Break, but he acts like he's a dominant closer. His quotes are just outlandish. I actually went back and looked at some Rockies ones from blown saves. It's always, "Look, Ok, it happens. Guys get lucky. Tomorrow's a new day. I am full of confidence." 
He has no confidence. I watched this guy end our season on a grand slam last year to a guy that is currently struggling in AAA. Quote? "It's tough, but we got a lot more games." And still, it's always excuses. The Rays blown save? "It's unfortunate we lost on a weak grounder." Giants? "Honestly I feel good. Felt really good." 
Tonight? Castellanos "Cheated fastball...he's really strong...and unfortunately it went out." Rojas, he of the 3 career HR? "It happens...hopefully next time I'll go out with the same mentality." 
The arrogance and ignorance just bugs me. You have an ERA over 7.00. As a closer. Have some pride and acknowledge letting Anderson, Rengifo, and your entire team down. 
 

I know. Me too. lol I want to see him play in the big dance as well.

I know what you are saying, Lhalo. I think well of your opinions, but I have to be somewhat nuanced with my response. The Angels were, for the most part, winners when he first came up, all the way to 2015, with two losing seasons, 2010, 2013 sprinkled in. I agree with you on a lot of posts and opinions, and while I understand the sentiment here and wish Trout had gotten to experience team success, I have somewhat soured a bit on that sentiment for these reasons: first, let's go all the way back to 2014 and his only postseason appearance. The Angels finished that season with the best record in baseball, earning home field advantage throughout the AL-side of the postseason. In three games, with a much better supporting cast that season than now, what did Trout do? He went 1 for 13 with that one hit being a bases empty homerun. He was absolutely a nonfactor in that series. A team's superstar(s) are expected to shine in those situations, that is why they get paid the big bucks -- yes, that was before his mega-deal, but he was still very well paid back then. Perhaps if he played better -- yes, the rest of his team failed, too -- in the lone postseason series -- with no win -- he may have had a great postseason experience. Second, he has become injury prone to the tune of being on the injured list for large swaths over the course of the last three to four seasons. Third, he is not particularly a clutch hitter in make-or-break, game-on-the-line situations. Fourth, no team is going to take on his huge contract with his lack of postseason experience and success, but especially because he is injury prone now. The playoff-caliber teams probably do not need him; they already have stars, which is why they are playoff caliber. Yes, maybe Philly -- perhaps -- due to sentimentality, but even they may not be willing to be saddled with said contract. Fifth, a player of Trout's stature and talent will command from the Angels a big haul in talented, blue-chip prospects and a good major league player or two. No team, certainly not a playoff-caliber one, is going to roll the dice on their future for that contract, particularly in light of said injury history.  If the Angels wanted to maximize his trade potential and value, that deal had to be sprung by 2019. That ship has sailed. Mike Trout will finish his career as an Angel, which I am happy to say. And yes, hopefully he does get the chance to play in postseason again. He is going to have to be a leader and carry this team more than he has in a long time in order for that to happen. Again, I wish he did get the chance to play in postseason, and in a World Series. But he does share some of blame and responsibility for his team's lack of success since 2014. That is the burden of being a superstar. Those accolades, along with the huge salary, comes with a whole lot of expectations. Fair or unfair, that is just the way it is.

This is what “rebuilding” looks like when your farm is trash. 

What trades could we make to model ourselves after this team?
https://youtu.be/QEfSF00S9xU?feature=shared

Well, he will fit right in, then.

HA HA HA
Fireworks delayed due to technical difficulties 
 
You can't make this stuff up..

Hicks is a better pitcher than a position player and hitter. Of course, he sucks as a pitcher, but just saying...

He is 33, Strad. Really, that is not old at all. While none of us can know what ails him, I would venture to say a lack of personal conditioning, not properly stretching and keeping himself limber, and poor nutrition could be contributing factors. This is only my hypothesis, and I have no data to corroborate my hypothesis, but even though 33-years-of-age is not particularly young for a pro athlete, it is not old. He should be towards the tail part of his prime now. It is not as if he has a lot of mileage on his body over these past four seasons. The fact is that the Angels can't rely upon him to be available to contribute. It is unfortunate, but that money being paid to him just may have allowed the Angels to be able -- or willing -- to resign Ohtani had Rendon not been under contract. Maybe that is merely conjecture; I don't know. But it is time to cut bait.

Absolutely we should. How many times has he failed this season in this type of situation? There are three that I can think of right off the bat -- haha, something he should do, hit the @#*@& ball right off the bat and drive in some runs more times than not in this type of situation. 😬

Absolutely we should. How many times has he failed this season in this type of situation? There are three that I can think of right off the bat -- haha, something he should do, hit the @#*@& ball right off the bat and drive in some runs more times than not in this type of situation. 😬

Time for him to retire.

It is hard to determine the 'why' of his proneness to injuries, particularly leg injuries. In this technological day and age, it is difficult to hide one's age and date of birth. To me, it seems like he probably does not keep himself properly stretched and is not a fan of conditioning and working out and eating nutritional food. After all, that would take time outside of his working hours and is not part of his job. Remember, it is just a job for Anthony Rendon, so if he's not 'on the clock,' he's not working out and stretching and keeping himself conditioned.