kevinb

9 minutes ago, Stradling said:

It’s funny because part of the reason Kevin created this thread is I was arguing with him that Simmons deserves the benefit of the doubt on this one, that it could be family related.  He basically said I was the only one that felt that way. So I guess my secrets out, I have 30 (currently) different accounts.  

People don’t agree that it could be family related people don’t care that he opted out and/or they’re ok with it. Create another poll with do you think he opted out for family reasons and I’ll bet it’ll you and 1-2 other people. Most people get exactly why he opted out. Youre clearly the only one I’ve seen argue it’s because someone in his family is sick or some made up thing that no ones substantiated the claim in the media or through the team. 
 

Also I created the poll cause I wanted to see if people agreed with his decision or not. I like polls and wanted to see where people stood. If I was trying to disprove your theory I would have asked the question I posed to you above. Not everything is about you. 

6 hours ago, TooCool said:

I can see it now... whenever things go back to "normal" and Simba is with another team. There will be idiot Halo fans booing his return.

I won’t boo his return  I find that childish but I also won’t cheer it. The guy was here a couple years. 

2 minutes ago, Tank said:

Wow, okay, eeyore.

Totally tank. I don't think you've actually seen a Winnie the Pooh episode in a while so I am not sure you know who Eeyore is. Where am I saying woo is me? I am simply stating facts. It's not a good look no matter how you slice it. Hope it works out for him in free agency and with his next time. I don't like quitting on your teammates. I wouldn't like it if someone quit in the 3rd period in hockey and just left the game and I don't like it leaving the team with 5 games left to play. You can disagree. But no where am I wishing Simmons ill will and no where am I feeling sorry for him or myself. 

3 minutes ago, eligrba said:

That's what Custer thought.

Did he play for the Yankees?

22 minutes ago, Stradling said:

My guess is he would care if he was immature or if he wanted to make someone a villain without knowing the facts. 

Strad you honestly crack me up. When did I call him a villain or make him out to be a villain. I said it is what it is. It's selfish but that's what he wants to do. So be it. I think it's quitting on his team. He is thinking about his future and about free agency. You are the only one that thinks something is going on with his family. No one in the organization knew anything before he called it quits on the season. I'll gladly take my lashing if something turns out that he walked away because of a family emergency. But I think you will eat crow way before I eat crow on this one. You an have a different perspective and a different take that's fine. But don't put words in my mouth when I didn't say anything that you have accused me of saying. 

41 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

Lol.  Why should anyone give a shit.  Anyone who is actually bothered by this is brain damaged.  

At what point would you have been bothered by it? 10 games? 15 games? 20? Do you care if they show up at all? 

1 minute ago, Don said:

That’s a bit of a leap there. I obviously wouldn’t be ok with that. But in this weird season, with the injuries he’s had, and heading into FA, I’d have no problem with Simmons taking the last few games off IF we were mathematically eliminated. Doing it before we’re eliminated though is pretty unprofessional (assuming there’s not some other personal/family issue).

Well technically we aren't officially eliminated yet. 

2 minutes ago, Pancake Bear said:

Yes. I’d be disappointed, but I’d understand it. It’s a business. 

And on the other question that’s going around, I’d be shocked at this point to see him in an Angels uniform again at this point. Was already a narrow possibility, but now it seems basically certain he’s gone. Definitely going to miss him. 

I guess I don’t understand that thinking. At what point would you be ticked off that someone quit on his team? Or their fans? We get mad all day long that this or that person sucks. But at least they’re still trying.  They’re not good anymore but they’re going out there every day trying to be good. Quitting to me is inexcusable. It’s 5 games left. I understand it in the fact the offseason will be here shortly, but I don’t in the fact at the end of the day these are your teammates you don’t just walk out on them. Not a great look. 

3 minutes ago, RendZone said:

If you quit on Arte, chances are you’re not coming back. 

I’d put unlimited amount of money on Simmons not being back in an Angels uniform next year. 

Are you ok with Simmons leaving the team with 5 games left to play? 

5 minutes ago, Stradling said:

So the manager didn’t see it coming but you think he threw a temper tantrum and quit.  Got it.  Or, you know it could be a family issue.  

Where did I say temper tantrum? I said he quit on his team. There’s 5 games left he’s over it and quit. Doesn’t want to play for the Angels anymore or doesn’t want to play while risking injury before free agency. It makes perfect sense. Youre the only one who sees it as well he quit cause someone in his family was sick and he’s doing the unselfish thing. This is selfish. He quit. It’s fine it is what it is. But you can’t just ignore the facts. No one even knew. It’s not a good look I’m sorry. The family issue that it is, is that he doesn’t want to risk losing millions by getting injured before free agency. So in that terms yes it is a family issue. 

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Of course you focus on that.  How bout the part where it is best for his family.  

Everyone else sees the exact same thing as I do. But you see something different. Come on man it’s not that hard to read between the lines. Even the manager didn’t see this coming. 

3 minutes ago, Pancake Bear said:

I think this is it. I’m bummed, but people saying he’s quitting on the team: C’mon. Let’s be real. 

He’s doing what’s best for his family. As he should. Why play a handful of almost certainly meaningful games that could potentially cost his family millions? He isn’t a sure thing to get a big dollar contract; if anything, he’s already in a tough spot. If he gets injured? That’s basically it. No one should be upset with him over this.

Like it or not he is quitting on the team. Not finishing the year, and as you said meaningless games that could cost his family millions. It's quitting you can not like the term but that is exactly what that is. 

The rest of the team is still lacing up and playing. Would you be ok if Trout did the same thing last year before the Angels were eliminated from making the playoffs? How about once the Angels were eliminated would you be ok with it? 

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Yep talking about the future. Looks like it's all about free agency to me. 

2 minutes ago, Stradling said:

You have no idea if that is true or not.  You don’t know if his family is dealing with something or not.  So no, it is not all folks.  

Read the press release. 

Just now, Don said:

Unless there’s something going on that we don’t know about, this looks pretty bad. I wouldn’t have a problem with it at all if we were officially eliminated. 

So in game 120-130 if the Angels were eliminated you’d be ok with the entire major league team just opting out of the season? 

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

And whether or not Simmons was going to come back next year is still up in the air, unless of course Simmons doesn’t want to come back.  Even if Eppler gave him the impression he wasn’t coming back, there is a real possibility Eppler won’t be back, which would mean it would come down to his successor.  My guess is this is a family issue or he was simply still playing with pain and it didn’t make sense to do so anymore.  

This is nothing less nothing more than a selfish move. It wasn’t about his teammates at all it was about him and free agency. That’s it and that’s all folks. Good luck to him and his future team. 

13 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

Not at all close to the same thing. The Angels are playing meaningless games and Simmons faces the risk of injuring himself and costing himself millions of dollars. Dipoto didn't face any of those risks. This is like Christain McCaffrey skipping the Sun Bowl. Big Whoop!

It would be like Christian Mc leaving week 14 when the panthers are 2 games out of the playoffs. The sun bowl is meaningless. This is still meaningful regular season games. Defend him all you want. But Simmons is a quitter plain and simple. Walked out on his teammates during the regular season. Complete chicken shit thing to do. 

If people have a problem with what Dipoto did and what Simmons did just now then I don't know what to say. They're the same thing. Simmons calling it quits on the Angels with 5 games left is the just a bad look. Good luck in the off season Simmons, I hope the Angels don't try and re sign you and I hope you get all the money you are looking for. I am not a fan of this at all, I am not a fan of players quitting on their team. I bet there are multiple people inside that locker room who feel the exact same as I. 

Ou position players are good enough. Even if Simmons is gone. The depth is fine in the outfield infield and at the catcher position. 

1 hour ago, failos said:

He’s not bringing the fans to the stadium

To be fair no one's bringing fans to the stadium this season. 

22 minutes ago, Stradling said:

That isn’t a good case in point.  We all know that Hamilton flamed out and went the drug route.  Albert was a bigger than life name, he may not have been on par with Tiger or Kobe, but he was just beneath them.  Hamilton was a redemption story that had 60 Minute segments about.  My point is people think Arte wants marketable guys, and Rendon isn’t that.  He is a talent brought in to win games.

You honestly can't be serious! Albert right below Tiger? Tiger was probably the most popular athlete in the world. He literally by himself created the Nike Golf world. Please tell me even the shoe brand that Pujols endorses? I couldn't tell you who sponsors Albert. Tiger had EA Nike and every other major brand company. Albert is a household name in baseball circles. I bet if you said Albert Pujols to random stranger on the street they wouldn't know who he was. Tiger not only is probably the greatest golfer or at the very least top two greatest golfers in the history of the sport, but he had one of the craziest controversies surrounding him with the sex addict, pills, TMZ thing. Albert has probably never been the most popular baseball player in the MLB. Even in his prime. 

Agree, I don't think Arte just wants marketable guys. He wants to win. I liken Arte to Jerry Jones. It's his team, he wants the final say and he thinks he knows what's best. For better or worse. 

1 minute ago, Stradling said:

Not outside of the baseball community.  

I doubt many people knew who Josh Hamilton was outside of baseball either. Pujols maybe a little more but I doubt even he is that well known outside of baseball. Case in point, when was the last article we've seen about Hamilton since he left baseball? I don't even know if the guys alive, and I am a follower of baseball. Arte is the guy who is signing the big contracts Eppler/Dipoto did the other signings. Arte clearly wanted Pujols, Hamilton and Rendon especially after Arte couldn't sign Cole. 

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

You bring in star power to put new fans into seats.  He’s done that twice, Albert and Hamilton.  

Rendon isn't a star?

“The Angels do not employ a president of baseball operations. At the start of this year, according to team media guides, the Angels employed 43 baseball operations staffers, the Dodgers 62.”
 

I thought the above was a key part of the article. I don’t understand how the Angels do not have a president of baseball operations. I don’t also get how the Angels have 43 staffers 19 less than the Dodgers. There’s a reason the Dodgers have been who they have been of late. Mimic them it’s obviously working. I’d be curious how many staffers is average around the league and if the Angels are above or below that number.