TurboFan

Easy Turbo.

How about a forth scenario? I know many here think that if the Angels fail to make the playoffs, we lose Ohtani to free agency. I don’t think that is a foregone conclusion. Hear me out. While that might be a logical and correct conclusion for most any shining star, I don’t think Ohtani is just any shining star. He is probably not motivated by top dollar like many we have seen. More than top dollar he wants to play out his career with a team that will partner with him to achieve his true motivation - to be known as the greatest player to ever play the game. The Angels have bent over backwards to be that partner to the point he calls almost all of his own shots on how he is used. I suspect he appreciates that. He knows that some teams will not be so accommodating. Sure the objective of the display of all-in moves made in the last week are for the objective of making the playoffs now, but I suspect that possibly even more than that it is to retain Ohtani in any case, and also demonstrate to Trout that the Angels are dead serious about getting him deep into the postseason as Arte has promised Trout he would try his best to do. So I believe (perhaps a minority opinion) that Ohtani will possibly extend even if the Angels miss the playoffs, as long as Ohtani is impressed by the management’s effort and believes next year will be better (player health being better). I think the Angels should offer Ohtani a high annual salary deal with an opt-out option for him each and every year. In other words, we went all-in balls to the wall in 2023, and we commit to it again in 2024, etc. and if we don’t keep our promise, we won’t hold you here if you would rather leave.  The Angels must say “if we go down, we are going down fighting for all our worth.” Whether they succeed or fail at making playoffs, in this scenario with Ohtani and Trout, the Angels cannot afford to approach it in reserved fashion. And they are not thus far.

I doubt he would ever publicly say that, but it's easy to assume that is likely a goal of his.  He is a once-in-a-generation (or lifetime?) talent that you just never see in this game.  It is hard enough to be one of the few who can be a good MLB hitter, but one who can be both a star hitter AND a star pitcher?  It just never happens.  And so given that, it's fairly easy to assume that he would want to be remembered as one of the greatest ever.

That’s why it’s important for Moreno to re-sign Giolito, Moore, and Lopez at least, to show Ohtani they are serious about winning.

It has always seemed a little odd to me that a lot feel that Ohtani's decision will come down to whether or not we make the playoffs.  
Why?  What if we barley make the playoffs and get blown out - does that change the calculus?
I think "Angels make the playoffs in 2023" isn't as important to Ohtani as "how well positioned is this team to keep competing year in and year out, so that I can have as many chances to win as possible," and "who can help me develop my talent the most to create the most impressive legacy as possible?"
So I think if the Angels show they will do whatever it takes to win, and the FO shows to Ohtani it has a strong strategy for developing talent and cobbling together a winner, he will stay.  
One other point to note - when Ohtani first came here, and he played really poorly in spring training, the club could have easily optioned him for a few weeks to figure things out and service-manipulated him.  They didn't, and so he will be a free agent this year instead of next year.  Maybe that will mean something to him, maybe it won't, but I am sure he does remember that.

How about a forth scenario? I know many here think that if the Angels fail to make the playoffs, we lose Ohtani to free agency. I don’t think that is a foregone conclusion. Hear me out. While that might be a logical and correct conclusion for most any shining star, I don’t think Ohtani is just any shining star. He is probably not motivated by top dollar like many we have seen. More than top dollar he wants to play out his career with a team that will partner with him to achieve his true motivation - to be known as the greatest player to ever play the game. The Angels have bent over backwards to be that partner to the point he calls almost all of his own shots on how he is used. I suspect he appreciates that. He knows that some teams will not be so accommodating. Sure the objective of the display of all-in moves made in the last week are for the objective of making the playoffs now, but I suspect that possibly even more than that it is to retain Ohtani in any case, and also demonstrate to Trout that the Angels are dead serious about getting him deep into the postseason as Arte has promised Trout he would try his best to do. So I believe (perhaps a minority opinion) that Ohtani will possibly extend even if the Angels miss the playoffs, as long as Ohtani is impressed by the management’s effort and believes next year will be better (player health being better). I think the Angels should offer Ohtani a high annual salary deal with an opt-out option for him each and every year. In other words, we went all-in balls to the wall in 2023, and we commit to it again in 2024, etc. and if we don’t keep our promise, we won’t hold you here if you would rather leave.  The Angels must say “if we go down, we are going down fighting for all our worth.” Whether they succeed or fail at making playoffs, in this scenario with Ohtani and Trout, the Angels cannot afford to approach it in reserved fashion. And they are not thus far.

How about a forth scenario? I know many here think that if the Angels fail to make the playoffs, we lose Ohtani to free agency. I don’t think that is a foregone conclusion. Hear me out. While that might be a logical and correct conclusion for most any shining star, I don’t think Ohtani is just any shining star. He is probably not motivated by top dollar like many we have seen. More than top dollar he wants to play out his career with a team that will partner with him to achieve his true motivation - to be known as the greatest player to ever play the game. The Angels have bent over backwards to be that partner to the point he calls almost all of his own shots on how he is used. I suspect he appreciates that. He knows that some teams will not be so accommodating. Sure the objective of the display of all-in moves made in the last week are for the objective of making the playoffs now, but I suspect that possibly even more than that it is to retain Ohtani in any case, and also demonstrate to Trout that the Angels are dead serious about getting him deep into the postseason as Arte has promised Trout he would try his best to do. So I believe (perhaps a minority opinion) that Ohtani will possibly extend even if the Angels miss the playoffs, as long as Ohtani is impressed by the management’s effort and believes next year will be better (player health being better). I think the Angels should offer Ohtani a high annual salary deal with an opt-out option for him each and every year. In other words, we went all-in balls to the wall in 2023, and we commit to it again in 2024, etc. and if we don’t keep our promise, we won’t hold you here if you would rather leave.  The Angels must say “if we go down, we are going down fighting for all our worth.” Whether they succeed or fail at making playoffs, in this scenario with Ohtani and Trout, the Angels cannot afford to approach it in reserved fashion. And they are not thus far.

You do know Ward is out for season? You want Cabbage in CF? Only time will tell if it works out. What I do know last 7 season have not worked out.

How about a forth scenario? I know many here think that if the Angels fail to make the playoffs, we lose Ohtani to free agency. I don’t think that is a foregone conclusion. Hear me out. While that might be a logical and correct conclusion for most any shining star, I don’t think Ohtani is just any shining star. He is probably not motivated by top dollar like many we have seen. More than top dollar he wants to play out his career with a team that will partner with him to achieve his true motivation - to be known as the greatest player to ever play the game. The Angels have bent over backwards to be that partner to the point he calls almost all of his own shots on how he is used. I suspect he appreciates that. He knows that some teams will not be so accommodating. Sure the objective of the display of all-in moves made in the last week are for the objective of making the playoffs now, but I suspect that possibly even more than that it is to retain Ohtani in any case, and also demonstrate to Trout that the Angels are dead serious about getting him deep into the postseason as Arte has promised Trout he would try his best to do. So I believe (perhaps a minority opinion) that Ohtani will possibly extend even if the Angels miss the playoffs, as long as Ohtani is impressed by the management’s effort and believes next year will be better (player health being better). I think the Angels should offer Ohtani a high annual salary deal with an opt-out option for him each and every year. In other words, we went all-in balls to the wall in 2023, and we commit to it again in 2024, etc. and if we don’t keep our promise, we won’t hold you here if you would rather leave.  The Angels must say “if we go down, we are going down fighting for all our worth.” Whether they succeed or fail at making playoffs, in this scenario with Ohtani and Trout, the Angels cannot afford to approach it in reserved fashion. And they are not thus far.

If you haven't noticed, most of the fucking team is on the IL. 
Fuck it, they have the pitching to try and win tight games like today and Grichuk and Cron raise the floor with veterans that know how to play instead of a bunch of 4A guys that can't. This team went from one of the youngest to now veteran. That should hold the fort for a while waiting for Trout, Drury, Neto, O'Hoppe and (I hate to mention his name) Rendon to return.  

How do you know who will extend or not extend?  No one is talking contracts and 2024 this time of the year who are on contending teams.  If all these players focused on 2024 and beyond now then the performance will tank entirely.  If they can't contend they should be performing at their personal best so they can be considered for spots in 2024.
As long as Arte owns this team, he will never tear down a team and rebuild over a number of years.  With his actions and words he has always said he will try to improve the team every year, and get into contention every year.  Large market teams have the ability of taking that approach, but that doesn't mean they will contend every year.  It's probably been a poor strategy for the Angels because the money was mis-spent on too many busted players, and too little was spent on organizational development including drafting, scouting and young player development.   

If we are to make a serious run at the last playoff spot, we gonna need all our injured players back very soon.

Couldn't do that with the bases loaded Cabbage?

If we are to make a serious run at the last playoff spot, we gonna need all our injured players back very soon.

Detroit made us look like we are really good. Toronto not cooperating.

We aren't a playoff team with FN Cabbage at 1B and Velaz at SS

Interviewing a player during live action? Dumb.
Putting the game in a small box so you can show another box of the guy standing there? Worse.
Putting a wide border AROUND the small live action box to make it even smaller? Fucking stupid.
 

NHK announced at 7:00 a.m. in the headline news that Ohtani had pitched a shutout for the first time in his MLB career and hit two home runs in the next game.

Is Loup like good now or something?

It’s a reverse buttercup! 

Not funny. Stupid.

This aged poorly

I don’t blame Phil.  He asked Canning. Canning tried. Nevin hates the bullpen as much as we do. 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what Nevin could have been thinking.