bucbrett

I dunno but the Dodgers really should stop wasting this once in a generation talent. It's a disgrace for them to waste his services by losing to the Padres. Hey this is now kind of fun 😄😄

Maybe Ippei needs a translator.

If this ends up getting Ohtani banned from baseball I think I'll nut through my roof. 
Also imagine Arte knew about it. 

I wish they would have included Orange in the relaunch.
i wish they would wear the creamsicle uniforms occasionally.
I wish they would wear the pewter pants all the time. 

Thank you all for observing 30 minutes of silence this morning in remembering Tyler Skaggs. 
It's crucial to take a minute or two away from Angels Baseball and life's craziness and focus on what's important.
If you were away during the 9-9:30am PST half hour I shut things down so that we could have some moments of silence on this forum.
For the day I have removed the header and footer ads and replaced the leaderboard ad with memorial picture of Tyler Skaggs.
 

I know some here arent fans, so maybe ill look like a weirdo stating this. But it feels "odd" to go through this without Sosh.
Say what you want about his lineups, matchups, whatever. But he was the one constant on this team for 20 years. He was an absolute rock with the Adenhart tragedy. Kind of wish he was around today as we go through this.

Words fail me right now. I watched MLB Network for almost two hours, listening in disbelief as condolences came in from the Commissioner's Office and individual players and organizations all over baseball. I thought that the Texas Rangers front office handled things with incredible sensitivity and class. Jon Daniels said that he "thought like a dad, not a GM" when the decision was made not to play tonight.

It’s hard to explain in words but I assume everyone on here feels like a family member was lost today. As much as we bag on our team, we do it out of love like we’re talking to our younger siblings. I’ve had tears in my eyes since the news broke. Some people might say “he’s not your family” or “you never knew him personally”, but in a way I did. We all did. Die hard Angels fans consider these players their family. We look up to them as kids and feel their emotions every night on the field. We lost a brother today. Things won’t feel the same for quite some time. At this point, baseball doesn’t matter. Tomorrow’s game doesn’t matter nor does fighting for the wild card. What matters right now is remembering Tyler for the person he was. This is way bigger than the game. We’ll miss you Tyler Skaggs. 

I remember watching Nick Adenhart pitch his last game.  The next morning, I hear the tragic news and I’m simply stunned.  Empty.
As I sit at work, I’m scrolling thru Mobile ESPN and this news pops up.  I feel exactly the same way as I heard about Adenhart.  It’s a gut punch to all of us and I’m sure we’re not alone.  All of baseball is feeling this

It's just a dumb game. We sit here and moan every time the opposing team hits a homerun, or call players names when they aren't doing well, but the sudden passing of Tyler Skaggs brings everything back to reality: This is a game. For entertainment. It is ultimately meaningless in the overall scheme of things. These are human beings just like you and I. They feel pain. They get sick. They die. This is a gut punching reminder of that fact.
I hate baseball right now. I don't even want to think about wins or losses or stats. I don't give a shit about Tyler Skaggs the MLB pitcher. I only care about Tyler Skaggs the person. I can't imagine what his friends and family are feeling right now. But my thoughts are with them.
Again, F*ck baseball.

Haven't posted here in years now but didn't know where else to turn. How crazily sad. Way too young, seemed like way too nice a guy as well.
This is absolutely fucked. RIP Tyler.

One of the many tributes popping up, I thought this one was really heartfelt
 
 
Trevor Bauer‏Verified account @BauerOutage FollowFollow @BauerOutage More We came up together. We won together. We laughed and celebrated together. Today, we all lose and mourn together. Your memory, your love for life, everything that made you, you, will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who knew you. Rest In Peace brother. We love you.

It's so hard to fathom.  I know how hard it is hitting me and my family, and we only met him a few times and had some brief conversations. I can't imagine how those closest to him feel right now.  Rest in Peace Tyler 

Hug your loved ones and never forget to tell them how much you love them. Live each day like it’s your last.
If you see someone struggling, reach out. Be there for them when they need you most. 
If you are struggling, please, reach out to someone, even if it is just a stranger on the internet. My inbox is always open. 
 
Tyler, this community, baseball, and your family will miss you terribly. Our Angels aren’t supposed to get their wings this young, and our prayers are with your new wife and your family. 
 
Say hi to Nick for us. 

Colin Cowherd is such a moron. Doesn't he realize that part of the reason Trout loves being an Angel is that he gets to have a lower profile? That he's a real person and realizes that "celebrity lifestyle" is superficial and soulless? 
I love the fact that "our" megastar is a real human being who doesn't have a massive ego or adore attention and just loves playing baseball. That's part of what makes him so special.
But hurray, the Phillies got their Bump Bailey. I'll take our Roy Hobbs.

Any grown man who takes pictures with his chin on his hand like that deserves a d*ck slap.

It feels to me like a lot of the factors that fans thought would play a role in Trout's decision, really didn't.
Here's how I perceive the narrative, and the actual reality of it. 
- "Mike Trout just wants to win, and the Angels aren't winning."  Half truth.  Yes, Trout wants to win, and yes the Angels haven't won yet.  But it isn't for lack of trying.  They spend money every year.  And the fact that Trout actually gets involved in the draft process and gives the Angels his own input on who he likes illustrates his own personal investment into winning.  He knows the culture, knows Arte, knows Billy and knows just how hard they're working to win now, AND in the future. 
- "Mike Trout is from the East Coast, and wants to be on the East Coast"  Another half truth.  Yes, he is from the East Coast, and yes, he's an Eagles fan and enjoys spending his Winters out there. But it's also clear that Mike enjoys Orange County during the season, and travels all over and enjoys the weather all over. 
- "Mike Trout is close with Bryce Harper and several players on the Yankees and Phillies.  That's where he will play."  The people perpetuating these narratives don't seem to know Trout at all.  He's the most likeable guy, maybe in all of baseball.  Him or Granderson probably.  Sure, he's friends with Harper, jokes around with Judge etc..But they don't see the connections he makes with the players in the Angels clubhouse.  Pujols, Calhoun, Ohtani, Skaggs, Heaney, Bedrosian....shoot, you can even see him hitting it off with David Fletcher.  
- "Mike Trout's personality fits the Philly narrative.  Hard working, passionate" - That also fits Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Queens....And yes, Mike Trout is both of those things, but I think what some people know about professional athletes and some people don't.  These guys by and large, hate to lose.  It doesn't matter if it's baseball, ping pong, pick up basketball games, random trivia games.  They are ultra-competitive, and Trout is no exception.  Inside the Angels clubhouse, it's full of these guys, probably every other clubhouse too.  Even when there's a language barrier, you see someone like Ohtani competing and trying to beat others at non-baseball activities.  The point is, you don't need to go to Philly to find those traits. 
I think at the end of the day, Trout is loyal, and is good at reading people.  He surrounds himself with an inner-circle that's been built over time.  He's genuine.  Arte Moreno is like that.  So was Scioscia.  Same with Upton, same with Pujols.  So is Eppler.  Trout stayed with the Angels because he's comfortable here, likes the people, wants to win and feels they're going to win a lot of games soon, and was offered an amount of money and years that would make this great arrangement a permanent one.  He didn't choose the Phillies or anywhere else because he hasn't established a nearly decade long rapport with them, and doesn't feel like being under their media microscope at all times.  He can keep the distractions at a distance in Anaheim.  

Ha, I am having a lot of "I told you so" feelings today

Trout realizing he'll be part of a better OF with Jo Adell than he would in Philly with Bryce Harper. Smart man

So... in response to the four years of idiocy we have suffered through here.  
"Suck it"

Put down your phone and waste time at work idiot !

After seven years of hearing from my Yankees and Phillies friends about how he was going to leave, combined with sports media's unrelenting desire for him to go east, this feels awesome.

After seven years of hearing from my Yankees and Phillies friends about how he was going to leave, combined with sports media's unrelenting desire for him to go east, this feels awesome.

After seven years of hearing from my Yankees and Phillies friends about how he was going to leave, combined with sports media's unrelenting desire for him to go east, this feels awesome.