Junkballer

Any major decision about permanently taking pitching off the table will likely need his assent because of agreements made in initial negotiations and I don't see that happening this season or next. He is going to continue to try to get back to being a starter and we will be along for the ride. Too much upside to throw in the towel this early.

Maddux wasn't a power pitcher though. If I recall correctly, in his best years his fastball was in the high 80s. He was all about control. Ohtani needs his fastball velocity to set up his splitter, slider and curve.

Fixed

When hockey went to the shootout, hard core fans almost universally disliked it and casual fans (the majority) liked it. After time, many who disliked have become neutral or even embraced it and the shootout is far more of an inorganic mechanism than the free runner. Over time, the free runner will seem less of a spectacle. It does have some qualities in that it creates instant tension and favors small ball. If anything it gives small ball too much of a platform. One successful bunt and a long fly ball gives you a guaranteed run. I prefer giving teams a 4th out vs. 3, or, starting a man on 1st, but do tend to agree with needing to do something curtail extra innings.

Well, Pujols said he doesn't like to DH, so, "Sorry AP, we made new plans based on your own feedback; one day at 1b, two days of rest".

I agree to all this, except, not by Joe Kelly. He wasn't even a Dodger when they played the Astros in 2017, he was on the Red Sox and possibly knew that they were cheating as well. He looks like a two faced b*tch trying to ingratiate himself with teammates and "buying in" to a history he was no part of.

Ohtani at 1st/OF is as likely as Pujols at SS.

Oh Tani

With expanded playoffs and especially after a single game, I can't agree. They have to be playoff-minded until mathematically eliminated.

I don't really care for bye rounds. The playoffs should be difficult, taxing and cause teams to play their best under a compressed time frame to stress their adaptability, depth and ability to rise to the moment. Playoffs is about performing when it counts, not who "should" advance. A top seed getting to play an inverse seed and home field advantage (minimal as that may be) seems like reward enough. Not saying that I like this particular playoff scenario, I prefer all 7-game series, but the removal of a bye round advantage sits well with me.

He also took a figurative knee on the mound. I applaud the consistency.

The sound guy totally dropped the ball. No booing from the home "crowd" when Canning made two consecutive pick off throws.

31

Had Sling, which was fantastic at 35/mo. but I'm not willing to go back to $100+/mo to watch sports. I don't know the real numbers but just from experience of those in my circle, a LOT of people have cut the cord. I don't see how cable/sat companies are going to be able to provide the type of income that MLB has become accustomed to. They are going to have to work something out to make local team viewing more affordable or face an eventual steep decline in revenue.

He needs to add a few plates to the deadlift bar.

We would raise funds to erect a statue just to topple it.

Can't help wondering if this is a set up for another Crime Dog lament.

Not sure how much worse it can get than TJ Simers.

While this is not bad news, his usage will have to be managed/restricted more than any potential starter they have. Using an opener for him may be one of several ways to evaluate and utilize our relief corps at the same time keeping him in a tight pitch count until his elbow proves capable of the prolonged intermittent stress of regular starts. From what I recall though, Maddon doesn't like using an opener, or better said, he doesn't like imposing an opener on an established starter who doesn't want one.

43,000 cutouts of this face:

Resurrecting a pre-COVID thread.... PECOTA predicting the Angels getting the 2nd WC Trout/Rendon back to back The delayed start of the season allowing for Ohtani and (possibly) Canning to be healthy enough to get starts right from the get-go, Replacing Harvey/Cahill with workhorse performances out of Bundy/Teheran Simba in a short season contract year. The short season and expanded rosters somewhat plays to the Angels pitching staff despite not overflowing with top end starters, especially if Maddon and Calloway can optimize use of the depth of the staff to dampen the injury wildfires of the past. Also, Eppler may not be in the hot seat, but that chair isn't cool and comfy either. Looking forward to a deal to give the rotation a real 1/2 punch towards trade deadline. Go Angels, Eff COVID and the Dogs!

He always kept his apron clean though.

One of the things this article is not accounting for is that hockey already had the longstanding tradition of allowing a tie or OT loss (OTL) to account for a playoff standing point, thereby acknowledging that there is value to ending the regulation period even up. Wins were 2 points, ties and OTLs are one point. Even going to the shootout the NHL still acknowledges the lesser value of the shootout win by utilizing Regulation/Overtime Wins (ROW) in the playoff standings. If two teams in the conference/division are tied in points, the one with the higher ROW is counted as ahead of the team that has equal points but more of them through shootout. The way MLB is doing this is winner-take-all without any playoff standing considerations. The question is, is there any comparison of the man on 2nd to a shootout? While it is a loose comparison, I do think that it would be better to devalue the EI win in cases of playoff standing ties.

Oh sh*t, I'm collateral damage for sure.