Junkballer

33 minutes ago, Tank said:

get a bull mastif and a pekinese and you should be good to go.

It really is the size of the fight in the dog.  I have a pug and when my Rhodesian Ridgeback was still alive, she would bully him.  Other than with the pug, the RR was a badass.  What made it so funny is that if you've seen the underbite of the tiny pug's jaws, there is no way it can do any damage.

Bachman making his debut after a few months will definitely make the BP interesting.  Here's to hoping for a K-Rod type rookie season.

13 hours ago, Lou said:

I'm ok with Chip staying and Azz leaving. The defense was the problem. The offense led the conference in scoring, which was evident by scoring 62 points against southern cal. 

Being that Chip is the de facto OC, with DTR & Charbonnet returning, the offense should remain good.  Get a competent DC and remaining position coaches and 2022 looks promising.

Hopefully he'll grow into it.  Long on personality, short on baseball knowledge.

Moto GP at Mugello (near Florence).  The Catalunya (Barcelona) track as well.  I doubt there is a motorsport event with a greater party atmosphere.  Only regret is that I couldn't see Mugello before Valentino Rossi retired.  Not that he's my favorite rider but he was a true legend and had an incredible worldwide fanbase that the Spaniards envied.

Also, would love to see the Derby, and US hockey vs Sweden or Russia in the Winter Games.  I don't know if I'd be disappointed seeing it live or not but I've always enjoyed the biathlon.  Seeing guys cross country ski, then have to calm their heart rate down in order to do precision rifle shooting connects with me.

I would still follow the Angels, probably to a lesser degree, although I too was really pissed at Frontiere for the way she and Shaw purposefully penny pinched payroll and orchestrated their departure to St. Louis, and so I stopped following them.  What may be the difference is that my hate for the Dodgers and other MLB rivals is much stronger than my dislike for any rival NFL team ever was.  Thinking back, my NFL fandom never really had that us vs them mindset.  I rooted for my team but never really hated their rivals.  Not so with the Angels.  I suppose being an Angel fan living among a preponderance of Dodger fans, hearing their snark and condescension over a good portion of my lifetime, has moved me closer to the Angels and stoked the fames of rival hate.  

That being said, there is no doubt a move outside of SoCal would diminish my interest, but I will never be disinterested in following them.

46 minutes ago, FromJapan said:

 

I was expecting something more along the lines of..

@FromJapan

What is the Japanese media/social media coverage of Ohtani like now in the offseason?  Any coverage regarding his training?  Thanks.

Free

11 hours ago, Wisconsin27 said:

Nothing personal here for you or Dawg.  My concern is this.  If we aren't willing to overspend in FA for a top of rotation starter and our mindset is we don't want to trade the potential of a young potential ace to acquire a proven one, then why do we also complain the FO/Arte aren't acquiring one during Mike's prime years?  

What is the solution?

 

Your posts have been well-stated and capture the feelings of a lot of fans so I don't direct this at you but as general food for thought.

At what point do we let go the sins of the former FO's past and give this one some leeway in moving towards a sustainable plan for long term success?  Yes, the Trout/Ohtani window is 2 years and they should definitely try to round out the team to make them plausible playoff this off-season, however, that doesn't necessarily mean stacking the rotation nor does it mean if they don't that they've blown that window. 

They clearly need another #3 pitcher to push Sandoval/Suarez back in the order, however, a TOR at this juncture is a want, not a need.  The prospects they have that may be coveted by other teams is a short list and none of those pitchers are at the apex of their prospect value.  The reason fans are clamoring for pitching is exactly because of the past failures to draft and develop pitching, so it seems to be contradictory to fault them now for not being willing to go down that road.

There will be a time for them to trade pitching prospects but I would say that time is not now, at least not for their Detmers' and Bachmans'.  There are other, greater, team needs that a Castillo just won't overshadow and they will be in a much better position to go "all-in" at the trade deadline or next offseason when their primary pitching prospects will be more highly valued and those below will have had a window within which to be properly evaluated.  If it weren't for the theoretical Trout/Ohtani window and fan's collective disgust at the underperformance of the past, we would be looking at a methodical, prospect-cultivating FO culture in a much better light.

29 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Ala-freaking-bama. They were down 10-7 the last I saw and now makes Georgia look like the 4th seed. 

I wouldn't mind seeing that matchup again, this time with JT Daniels.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10266845/Remains-11-dinosaurs-uncovered-Italy.html

Guidosauruses 

49 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

My secret wish: Trout resurges, having his best year sincGe 2018. Ohtani repeats 2021, but with small improvements: higher BA, fewer SO, more IP. Rendon is healthy and quietly puts up a near-MVP caliber season, though no one notices because he plays with Trout and Ohtani.

2022 Stats (hopeful):

Trout: .300/.441/.642, 47 HR, 9.7 WAR 

Ohtani: .281/.390/.618, 47 HR | 2.90 ERA in 150 IP, 9.0 WAR

Rendon: .290/.402/.507, 26 HR, 6.0 WAR

One can dream...

As long as we're wishing:

Walsh brings his OPS v LHPs to .700 while remaining stable v RHPs

Upton can stay healthy, avoid the massive streak/slump cycle and approach the low .800s OPS

Fletch channels the 2019 version of himself and posts a 3 WAR

Which Rendon will we see?  The one who averaged 6.6 fwar over 2017-19 or the Steamer projection of 4.3 in 2022?

5 hours ago, ThisismineScios said:

I don't think Arte gives ultimatums, but I think he gives restrictions on certain guys. For big name guys (Boras guys in particular), there is major leeway. But for guys like Gausman, Stroman, Ray, Gray, it's most likely only _____ years or no more than _____ AAV. He'll open up the checkbook for the right guy, but I think he's much more controlling than most owners when it comes to contract length/amounts for pitchers. 

The Iglesias deal for me was interesting. A reliever, a 4-year deal, and a lot of money. Doesn't exactly fit the narrative, so I don't think we can say it's any one thing in particular. 

I agree to a large extent but instead of saying "the right guy" I think it should be said "a guy that fits his old school standards".  I doubt he cares much about advanced metrics and still categorizes player as they did in the '70s.  Fireballer, soft-tossing control guy, closer.  He understands closer, hence Iglesias.  He understands hard throwers, hence the pursuit of Max and Ray.  Stroman left him with a softy because although the years were right, he didn't fit in with Arte's idea of how an "ace" should throw.

37 minutes ago, True Grich said:

Bob Gibson would still dominate. Hank Aaron would still mash.

I wonder how great Bob Gibson would be in today's game.  His fastball sat between 88-91 although it is said he could top out at 95.  He wouldn't have the benefit of the mound and  it's questionable if he would be as intimidating with his inside game and chin music.  He would be very good I think but not the Bob Gibson as remembered.  Koufax on the other hand...

5 hours ago, True Grich said:

 

Not sure any Christmas skit can top Dick in a Box, but this one's not bad.