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Post by achilles on Feb 14, 2021 14:44:03 GMT
Well, it's that time of year again, yeah, spring training starts next Saturday, so I thought I'd review the offseason moves made in MLB BTW, since sports have been a bit thin on the ground, (damn, I started watching World's Strongest Man competitions out of sports withdrawl), I thought this thread could serve for ALL pro sports, or even amateur college stuff.
Back to baseball, the word is....Dodgers. Hands down they won the post-season by signing Bauer, the best available pitcher and reigning Cy Young winner. As he put it, he wants a ring. Today, the resigned Justin Turner for a 2 year deal IIRC for about $24 million per. They lost Joc Pederson, but they tried that last year, (that trade didn't take). But they gained arguably the best pitcher in the game. To add to a line-up filled with great pitchers.
Another winner was the Mets....er...maybe, if that Gamestop thing didn't ruin their new owner. And they didn't get their top choice, Bauer. Dodger and Angels at least will have about 25,000 in the stands for Spring training games. Those horrible extra innings rules are still there, (and the 7 inning double header games), but the DH thing is still up in the air. For those who wonder how to watch, I can recommend MLB network or their site. This gives you a broad choice of games...almost any of them on a given day, bar the blacked out ones, which usually are your home teams. For those...you need to sign up to their own cable service. For example the Dodgers use Spectrum as their outlet, and IIRC, the Angels have Fox Sports West. I have neither, so I'm kind of screwed with respect to watching my own local teams, though the Dodgers usually have a set number of games, around ten or so a season, the broadcast on a local channel.
The Braves...didn't move backward, but they didn't have any major moves forward either. They resigned Ozuna as they should, and have some new pitchers coming on line this season who have been highly touted on the minor league scene. We'll see. Freeman BTW is a free agent....NEXT year IIRC. Expect the Braves to open their checkbook for him.
The Padres really went to town on good offseason moves. In fact, until the Dodgers signed Bauer, I thought the Padres might challenge them in the West. Now, assuming Dodger manager Dave Roberts doesn't do his usual and ruin his pitchers by overusing them in the season...they're as close to a lock for the series as I've seen in a while.
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Post by achilles on Feb 15, 2021 15:30:10 GMT
So they ran the Daytona 500...sort of. It did not go well, evidently, with a huge fiery multi-car crash, heavy rain and lightning delays. And moving to football, Tom Brady is getting flack for his greatest pass ever, a long shovel pass of the Lombardi Trophy over open water in Tampa to Gronk IIRC in another boat. Personally, I just think that's that one that cements his GOAT status. 
You'd have to be the GOAT and know it to even try that. And while I don't personally like him, favoring Montana for that role in the past, I have to give it to him; and I think he's settled the question as to whether is was him or Belichek. It was him.
Meanwhile, a local story that doesn't bode well for the Dodgers---a female sports reporter is claiming that several unnamed players harassed her in sundry ways, such as sending her inappropriate pics, asking her to their hotel room for an interview, and something else I don't recall. No response from the Dodgers as of yet. The reporter hasn't AFAIK further elaborated. I hope she's mistaken, but I wouldn't unfortunately be surprised if she wasn't.
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Post by achilles on Feb 18, 2021 12:43:18 GMT
The Padres locked up Tatis, Jr. for the next 14 years at $340 million. Which is more per year than his dad made in his entire career. A bit of a risk there, but I can see why they did it. They guy's too good and too exciting to let go after they developed him in their farm system. I should also mention that a few days ago, the Angels signed Ohtani to I think a two year extension at about $4 million per. Yeah, that sounds like a typical Angels move. The guy's been TJed, and only pitched like 1 inning last season and got rocked doing it. And as a DH, he's way below the Mendoza line last years, and lost all his power. The only thing about that signing that could make it more of an Angel's move is if they'd locked him up for ten years at $25 million per. Or waited until he was 47 and then doing that.
That said, Ohtani is popular, and the Angels will want to put butts in seats....oh, wait. Okay, I really can't understand this one.
BTW, the Tatis thing----was an incredible deal for him. He's played the fewest games in MLB history to get that kind of a contract, (third largest in MLB history after Trout and Mookie), it has a no-trade clause, a $10 million signing bonus, and the money is not deferred, and it's guaranteed.
Also: Happy spring training day! Yes, today, pitchers and catchers report. First game is next Saturday.
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Post by achilles on Feb 18, 2021 23:48:16 GMT
Serena Williams lost in straight sets to Naomi Osaka, then cried after in the presser and left. I don't think she has anything to cry about, given her near all time records. She's not the GOAT in women's tennis, (that remains Margaret Court, who has one more Grand Slam win), but second all time is enough for anyone, I should think. And time conquers every athlete, even her. So, while I'm sure it's upsetting for an ultra competitive pro athlete, she has nothing to be ashamed of. But she might start thinking about transitioning to coaching or whatever she wants to do after her career is over. It obviously isn't yet, but it's knocking on the door.
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Post by achilles on Feb 19, 2021 23:20:23 GMT
A sad story out of the NFL a few days ago.
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Post by achilles on Feb 21, 2021 15:11:44 GMT
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Post by achilles on Feb 22, 2021 14:39:55 GMT
Today, MLB full roster workouts begin. MLB is also deadening the ball this year to the delight of pitchers after a home run glut.
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Post by achilles on Feb 23, 2021 23:15:00 GMT
Golf legend Tiger Woods had a serious car accident this morning. It was a one car crash in an area known for accidents in the greater Los Angeles area. He is reported to be in serious condition with serious injuries to both legs. He was transported to a local trauma center and is reported to be in surgery. There was no evidence of impairment, and he was reported to be conscious by paramedics.
He had to be pried out of the wreck, using a pry bar and an axe, but not a Jaws of Life as first reported. Compound fractures to both legs were mentioned. He was not able to sit up at the scene.
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Post by GLX on Apr 21, 2021 3:25:56 GMT
Angels vs Astros to be live on YouTube, Thursday night.
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Post by achilles on Apr 21, 2021 16:18:53 GMT
Angels vs Astros to be live on YouTube, Thursday night. Thanks, I live almost within walking distance of Angel Stadium....but I can only see them on TV in ST. I will give it a watch. |
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Post by achilles on Apr 25, 2021 15:47:40 GMT
A few things. First, Tattis Jr. is a great player to be sure, but he's only been in the majors for a brief time, and he is NOT Trevor Bauer. Second, he's going to get thrown at for doing stuff like that. Sounds like Bauer won't throw at him for that....in fact, I find Bauer's reaction to the whole thing to be hilarious. That man is strange! I don't know one guy in a thousand who wouldn't be more than a bit pissed off by what Tattis did...and they'd all be wrong. Bauer is right.
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Post by GLX on Sept 27, 2021 21:49:34 GMT
I might've typed this at another time, but I'm glad that the MLB YouTube games were around. Didn't keep up for a full game due to time issues, but it's been a nice option during the summer. The one feature that I found compelling in recent weeks was the ability to toggle the audio track. Haven't had the need to switch from the main broadcast feed, but I find it cool that it can be switched to a team specific call.
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