Junkballer

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.

328 315

A curtailed season makes it more likely that teams will finish close or identical in the final standings. Complex tie-breaker scenarios may ensue, even among division leaders. Should make for a gripping playoff race, coming down to the wire. Here's a 2019 article that breaks down some scenarios. https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-mlb-postseason-tiebreaker-scenarios

When narcissism and OCD collide.

I'm simulating being stoked!