mpcincal

Watching the ALCS clincher now. It's been very enjoyable, but one thing I've realized is that watching these games against the Twins reminds me how annoying it is listening to Steve Lyons give his game commentary.

Watching the ALCS clincher now. It's been very enjoyable, but one thing I've realized is that watching these games against the Twins reminds me how annoying it is listening to Steve Lyons give his game commentary.

Yep, that was the turning point. Ironically, that day, a couple hours before the game started, I watched the KNBC newscast and Fred Roggin led off his sports report that sources told him Scioscia's job was definitely in jeopardy. We didn't hear any of those reports for the rest of the season.

I'm enjoying these watch-alongs with Ardaya. The latest is when Ryan almost no-hit the Yankees on national TV on July 13, 1979. Reggie Jackson broke it up with a single in the ninth, although there was a very questionable official scorer's ruling earlier that kept the no-hitter alive. It was also the opener to a very memorable (for us "old-timers") three-game sweep.
https://theathletic.com/1692179/2020/03/23/how-close-did-nolan-ryan-get-to-his-record-setting-fifth-no-hitter/
Some observations:
Keith Jackson on play-by-play. Though known for college football, I thought he was very good on baseball. Unfortunately, he always had Cosell constantly talking over him on the broadcast.
Oh, and Bob Uecker was in the booth also. With most knowing him for his self-deprecating humor and role as Harry Doyle in "Major League," most baseball fans today who don't get the Brewers broadcast don't realize that he has been a really good announcer.
That official scorer's ruling (in the eighth inning, I believe): Yankees' Jim Spencer hits a liner to center that CF Rick Miller can't get to. It went off his glove, but would have been a very difficult play to make. I was an 11-year-old biased Angel fan who really wanted to see the no-hitter, but even I was like "how could he call that an error?"
The night after this game, the Angels came back from a 6-0 deficit, with Don Baylor hitting a three-run homer in the ninth to force extras, and won 8-7 in the 10th. The Sunday game, which I actually attended, saw Bobby Grich drive in all five runs, including a walk-off two-run homer, in a 5-4 Angels win.
Thanks to Fabian for these articles. Some great strolls down memory lane.

The Yankees retired No. 8 for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey, so it has been done before.

I can see it now: Angels get Gonsolin, he struggles in the rotation early and they tell him he's going to Triple-A. Gonsolin replies "No, no, not the Bees! Not the Bees!"

I saw that on Twitter, but then I looked up the guy's account and there was no media affiliation listed and the photo was of a teen or twentysomething with his girlfriend, so I'm a little skeptical of that source.

David Fletcher at home hearing that: "Aw, man, I have to change my number again?"

I can see it now: Angels get Gonsolin, he struggles in the rotation early and they tell him he's going to Triple-A. Gonsolin replies "No, no, not the Bees! Not the Bees!"

I saw that on Twitter, but then I looked up the guy's account and there was no media affiliation listed and the photo was of a teen or twentysomething with his girlfriend, so I'm a little skeptical of that source.

I can see it now: Angels get Gonsolin, he struggles in the rotation early and they tell him he's going to Triple-A. Gonsolin replies "No, no, not the Bees! Not the Bees!"

I can see it now: Angels get Gonsolin, he struggles in the rotation early and they tell him he's going to Triple-A. Gonsolin replies "No, no, not the Bees! Not the Bees!"

I can see it now: Angels get Gonsolin, he struggles in the rotation early and they tell him he's going to Triple-A. Gonsolin replies "No, no, not the Bees! Not the Bees!"

Yeah, me too. I was starting to get worried as I kept reading the article. I'm glad my concern was unwarranted.
Thanks for keeping this site going Chuck. I don't actually post on here as much as I'd like to, but this is a regular stop on my daily online browsing. And I hope we have a whole lot of positive things to discuss over the coming year and years after.

So the story leaks that the Yankees offer seven years, $245M for Cole, and the next day Strasburg signs for the same amount with the Nationals. Boras seems to be masterfully manipulating things.

Speaking of Schwarber, this guy from Bleacher Report seems to think the Angels will trade for him, with the rationale being that the Angels "may see him as the perfect guy to slide into Kole Calhoun's vacated spot in their outfield."
Yeah, never mind that the Angels already have a couple guys (Goodwin and eventually Adell) to "slide" into that spot. Geez, can these guys do just a little bit of research on the team before making these trade proposals/predictions/whatever?
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2862609-predicting-the-2019-20-mlb-offseasons-biggest-blockbuster-trades#slide3

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27967256/long-broadcaster-former-mlb-player-ron-fairly-dies-81
As a player, he was known mainly for his time with the Dodgers and Expos (he was an All-Star with both the Expos and Blue Jays), he finished his career with the Angels in 1978, and then started his broadcast career with the club after that season.
 

I remember; but, then again, I'm in my early 50s.

It's been awhile since I've fully looked at the magazine, but I think SI is past the point of it being a source for current news, so to speak. I think they're on the path of Athlon or Street and Smith where they'll just put out season previews and narrowly themed issues. I think the NBA preview issue is indicative of that.

I remember; but, then again, I'm in my early 50s.

And, on the topic at hand: Strasburg is a pretty good guess as the Angels will be on him if they can't sign Cole. They definitely want Cole and will be willing to pay, but if the bidding gets out of hand, they can sign Strasburg for just a bit less with a higher quality second pitcher.
And I figure both of the free-agent picks from that list should be pitchers. I can't imagine the infield being much of a priority for the Halos this offseason.

It's been awhile since I've fully looked at the magazine, but I think SI is past the point of it being a source for current news, so to speak. I think they're on the path of Athlon or Street and Smith where they'll just put out season previews and narrowly themed issues. I think the NBA preview issue is indicative of that.

I remember; but, then again, I'm in my early 50s.

4) Apologize for Being Total Jerks*
*... but only if anyone was offended.

A friend of mine tweeted me the link to this story, and it was a good read. (No surprise, though, Scott Miller is one of the best baseball writers out there).
As with many of you on this board, my biggest takeaway is the reminder that Tavares was a complete moron. It's no coincidence the Angels' fortune immediately went on the upswing after he stepped down.
Of course, this story also reminds us of the Collins hiring. One story I remember reading (don't remember who wrote it) soon after the hiring was the Angels also interviewing Jim Leyland. Leyland had left the Pirates and was the most sought-after manager that offseason. The Angels scheduled an interview with him although everybody knew he would probably go to the Marlins, and if he didn't, he wasn't going to go to the West Coast. However, I guess the Angels had to show everyone they at least talked to him. In the story, it said that Leyland spent the whole interview singing the praises of Collins and telling management why they should hire him. So, we also apparently have Leyland to thank for that little period of Angels history.