The Dumpster of LA Baseball

The Los Angeles Angels are a dumpster fire of a team and haven't been a contender in the last 12 years. Reports of minor league farm systems failing and many other things make it one of the worst teams in baseball. Not the absolute worst, but still filled with huge mediocrity. I'm willing to bet they didn't want the Feds involved. This is two years in the making since the passing of the team's pitcher, Tyler Skaggs. Skaggs passed away from a drug overdose in July of 2019. Prosecution is now trying to pin the death on ex-employee Eric Kay.

Supposedly and according to articles from sites like CBS 2 and KCAL 9, Kay was also handing out drugs to a handful of other players. I'm assuming Angel players and that handful are looking to testify in court if they haven't already. Kay was indicted last year and trying to get the trail in motion has had times of delay. One of the drugs that was allegedly supplied was oxycodone along with fentanyl. Oxycodone is legal and can be used as a prescription. I don't know what prices are for it, but not going the legal method is a very serious matter.

I'm no legal expert, but the testimonies of those players I think will land Kay in jail for a very long time. This is no slap on the wrist with it being a federal thing. You add in those guys and Skaggs' death, he's not seeing freedom for the rest of his life if found guilty. This is a slap in the face for the team, who got a no-hitter on Skaggs' birthday not too long after the passing. I'm sure there are other teams that do this sort of stuff and not just baseball. For baseball, they've had to deal with steroids for the last 15 plus years. With all sports, there have been big name players who got caught and suspended hugely.

Fentanyl is very, very lethal. I just heard of a story in my neck of the woods of it being laced into other drugs, killing a couple of people. There has to be a way to get this stuff off the streets as best as law enforcement can do. This is not going to look pretty on Kay. It's part of a huge black eye for Major League Baseball, the Angels, and Los Angeles. I hope Skaggs' death can be used as a lesson to keep kids from doing drugs. Staying clean is worth living a full life.

MLSB: Major League Spoiled Brats

I feel like we're not going to see a baseball season. Seems like any deal that is made from both sides of Major League Baseball and the Players Union, it's shot down. At this point, as a fan, this is getting really, really dumb and getting very ridiculous.

Specific issues come down to playing with specific salaries, draft picks, compensation. Many things. Owners know that the costs are going to hurt. A number of these players can forgo having their 10 plus million dollars a year salary to help curb the bleeding of not having fans. Hundreds of thousands are lost on not having people in the stands and ordering food from the stadium concessions. Taking a 25 percent cut is not going to hurt the players bottom line.

The latest deal proposal is for 76 games and ending the season in September. Potentially, there could be playoffs. How many teams, I'm not sure. Salaries are at 75 percent. It could be an expanded group for the postseason. I read something about a 50 game season, but that would seem too little, too late. The MLB needs something. Tony Clark needs to get the players to stop complaining about how much they are getting for this season. Other leagues are slowly returning and no season would result in a huge disaster for baseball.

This very much feels like a strike considering the last month or so. I would be more concerned about health than worrying about not making a full 20 million for the season. If there is nothing, you may not see MLB the way it used to be. Some teams could be in dire trouble financially. Minor league cuts have spread. You have to hope both sides get their thumbs out of their mouths. Because this is embarrassing. Get your act together MLB and the Players Union. Find some way to get a season underway. Nothing by July, the chance of a season gets even slimmer.

Minor League Downsize

I personally think Bud Selig ruined baseball, but what Rob Manfred plans to do will be even worse.

The last month and a half has seen a lot of displeasure towards Manfred. His ideas are to after the 2020 season, get rid of 42 minor league baseball teams from all over the country. It includes a ballpark in Florida named after the great Jackie Robinson. Both sides, him and Minor League Baseball, are at war. Manfred has criticized the complaints and may look to get rid of all of the minors. I don't think he would do that, but not the best choice of words.

Minor league players don't make a lot and from reading articles, pay raises are a concern. But is eliminating teams the option? No. Because you not only kill those teams, you kill a lot of futures. Some of the potential superstars may not have any other chance to make a name in the majors. A guy like Peter Alonso may not have gotten his opportunity if it wasn't for the minors the last couple of years prior to this year. Not only that, but you get rid of employees who work there and the numbers combined go into the thousands with the cut teams.

Towns can be affected. It is a source of revenue and losing a team could affect a bottom line and budget for said town. Major league teams suffer since not everyone has a huge payroll. Farm systems exist so some of the smaller teams can develop their guys and have them ready in a couple years. A team like the Marlins would not survive. But what also hurts are families. Not everyone is going to spend more than 500 dollars to go to a MLB game. A minor league game will set you back close to or around 100 for a family of four in terms of tickets, parking, and food, and that's not including a gift shop. Or locals that watch the games every day. You never know.

The MLB relies too much on crotchety old men to run the league. There has to be better options than cutting minor league teams. Manfred knows that, but doesn't want to admit it. If they want to fix their attendance issues, get teams to not price ridiculous ticket prices. The average person does not have funds to go to one of the big name teams' game. Advertise to kids and teenagers. Stop relying on 60 year olds who want their Viagra or Budweiser commercials. The NBA and NFL don't have issues catering to almost every demographic. Maybe MLB can learn a thing or two from them in terms of the game and social media.

Legacies: Derek Jeter

On Sunday night, the New York Yankees will retire the last single digit number in their uniform numbers. Even though this coincides with Mother's Day this year, it will also bring another thing. That is a new monument for its Monument Park in center field beyond the bleachers. This honor belongs to probably the best modern Yankee, Derek Jeter.

Jeter was a sixth overall pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At first, he struggled, but improved throughout the four years of working in the Yankees farm system. Though he would make his debut in the spring of 1995, he was only there for a couple handfuls of games. With an injury to Tony Fernandez before the 1996 season began, there wasn't much of a choice but for the first rounder to be the opening day starter. The worry was gone when Jeter hit a home run against the Cleveland Indians. Final numbers that year included a .314 average with 10 home runs and 78 runs batted in en route to a World Series championship.

Jeter's career is one of the great ones in a very controversial era. Although he and Yankee owner George Steinbrenner made fun of it years later in a Visa commercial, the biggest trouble he ever had was being one that wanted to enjoy the New York nightlife. With that anger from the owner himself, the focus on baseball was bigger and he built that on a number of all star appearances, 200 hit seasons, and making some of the biggest plays in baseball history. He followed the game the right way when others were using steroids, especially as his career took off when the 1998 home run race was becoming a heated one. A lot of people might forget the Yankees were one of the most dominant teams that year and got another World Series win.

There shouldn't be any doubt that Jeter will be in the Hall of Fame. The crowds will be very huge in Cooperstown come 2019 if he doesn't get snubbed. It will probably be big next year if his teammate, Mariano Rivera, gets in. These two, along with others like Andy Pettite, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, and a few others helped define a big era of baseball in the Bronx. Although Williams was the only one in the names mentioned that played when the Yankees got back to having winning seasons in 1993, they were part of the influx of young players and mixed with veterans like Wade Boggs, Jimmy Key, and Paul O'Neill, That's what started the late 90s dynasty, one that won't ever be replicated. Hell, I'm not sure if you can repeat now these days in baseball.

Years from now, a lot of people will be proud to see Jeter as the great model player who others should inspire to be today. A great baseball mind, he will stick to the sport he grew up playing in for over 30 years, especially as he looks to potentially own the Miami Marlins. A shining star that will still be bright, even after when he is gone from the world.

Major League Baseball: April 2017

With the end of April, there have been some interesting storylines for Major League Baseball. Certain teams most expect to get a postseason spot are struggling. Some divisions are shaping up to be a tough one. Let's take a look.

The American League East is one where pretty much everybody has a fair chance at the division and potentially a wildcard spot. For the Baltimore Orioles, they have put up good numbers despite pitching problems. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are getting runs while having some strong pitching, especially with good bullpens. At Tampa Bay, the Rays are okay. It's a matter of how both the batting and pitching will sustain a 162 game season. Really, the Toronto Blue Jays are a shocker for struggling so much this month. While this isn't a panic mode compared to other sports, if things don't go to a winning side in May, changes are going to happen.

In the AL Central, it's close with similar stuff like the East. The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians have picked up with some good pitching and decent power at the plate. Starting off strong was the Minnesota Twins, but they have fallen a little flat. Age is a factor for the Detroit Tigers, and the Kansas City Royals doesn't have much going for them. The death of Yordano Ventura doesn't help. I really can't say much on the West division. They are either hot or cold. The Houston Astros are at the top with some young players on the mound and at the plate. Power is not a problem for the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, and Seattle Mariners. Can they avoid slumps and can the pitching help carry them to a division title?

Getting into the National League, it's all a matter of what the Washington Nationals do. They look to be the East's top team and maybe of its league. They got power and great starters when healthy. The Philadelphia Phillies are a surprise, but I would wait until the end of May to see how this division looks. It is a surprise the New York Mets are in last place, but they could flick the switch to be a great team depending on the health of their pitchers. That can also be said for the Miami Marlins, but with their batting, specifically Giancarlo Stanton. Relying on a few 40 plus year old pitchers, I don't have much confidence in the Atlanta Braves.

It is tight in the NL Central with the Chicago Cubs leading the way, but barely. Can they avoid the championship hangover? Their batting and pitching is good, but it has to be better if they want to defend their title. As far as the other teams go, the Milwaukee Brewers is surprising with the run support. Like most of the AL West, can they avoid slumps? The pitching might be a problem if they can't get past other teams. Despite being in second place, pitching is also a concern if I'm the St. Louis Cardinals. If it can't carry them, it will be a long year. Not much can be said for the Cincinnati Reds. On any day, they can get the hits and runs while dominating fro the mound. Can it do that for the whole season?

San Francisco is the big storyline in the West. The Giants lost their main starter for a few months after a mediocre start to begin the season. With some good batters, someone has to step up for the starting pitching and the bullpen can't suffer another collapse. Fear is not a worry for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Having hot bats and surprisingly exceptional pitching has propelled these two to the top of the division. The Los Angeles Dodgers are not far away with the same kind of stuff, and they could be a first place team at the end of May. Anything can happen in this division. And the San Diego Padres are the same old, same old. They got power, but can't hit for anything and their pitching is pretty mediocre. It's another year of disappointment for the city.

Keep your eyes on the AL East and NL West. The teams could flip flop in divisional races as the year goes on. I would say the NL Central and East will see certain teams improve from where they are right now. And the West could come down to two teams at the end of September. For 2017, it will pack some big surprises.

Madison Bumgarner's Date with Dirt

For the last three years, the San Francisco Giants have had success with pitcher Madison Bumgarner leading the way for them. Even though he has been there since 2009 and has three World Series championships, he was never a lights out guy. He put up respectable numbers between 2010 and 2012, but it wasn't until 2013 where he started to pick up. Since then, his strikeout numbers have have gotten higher each year. The earned run average was below three each year. And his bat has a little pop with getting home runs. It has been a tough going for San Francisco to begin 2017, and this incident could mean they could be out of playoff contention even before they are eliminated.

Bumgarner, this past Thursday, was riding a dirt bike in Colorado as the Giants had an off day before facing the Rockies. He wound up in an accident that left him with bruised ribs and a sprained left shoulder, which is his throwing arm. This has serious implications as he could potentially be out until early to mid June. It could be longer. It could be shorter That depends on how he feels with throwing the ball. You're putting a lot of strength into throwing it and sending to the catcher at 90 to 100 miles per hour. It's like golf in a way. If your body is not healthy enough to hit a golf ball, you're going to have a very tough time playing 18 holes unless you fix the problem.

Right now, San Francisco is in the midst of a mediocre start, which is still part of their hangover last year when they struggled during the second half of the 2016 season. With a loss last night to Colorado, they are now 6 and 11. Their pitching staff can be good, but some of their guys tend to be streaky. Matt Cain and Jeff Samardzija are inconsistent at times. Matt Moore hasn't done much since his 2013 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays. Johnny Cueto can be good when he can play a full season. Their offense is far from putrid, but it could be better. Relief pitching could still be an issue.

Until there is a clear timetable of being out and coming back, Bumgarner's injury could be a reason that the Giants don't make it back into the playoffs. I know he's not the only factor, but he is a very important player that is needed at the right time. Case in point being the 2014 World Series and stopping the Royals in Game 7 as a reliever. It is early in the season and way too early to talk playoffs, but the NL West is looking different to begin this year. Colorado and the Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting at first and second in the division respectively. It will be a long road ahead to get past these guys, even if they struggle and give the Los Angeles Dodgers first place sometime this season.

Things could get better or worse. The length of time for Bumgarner's injury will make it either a very long season or one where expectations could be a bit higher unless San Francisco struggles more like they are right now.

A Powerful Judge

People will always be in awe of certain baseball players. In the case of batters, there are some that are amazed at the hits, defense and clutch performances. Pitchers have to outsmart their opponents and find ways to get them out. For the 2017 season, they will have that ultimate question. How do you stop New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge? If he hits a ball, how do you react?

The Yankees are in a bit of a retooling right now and this season will be a test to see how some of the veterans play with a slew of up and comers. So far, it has paid off in this very young year and Judge is one of the catalysts that helps them on to victory. Coming up in mid-August last year, he belted his first hit, a home run into center field at Yankee Stadium. After that, he struggled. His average was below .200, had 42 strikeouts in 84 at-bats. There was some power, but you would hope he would improve as gets accustomed to the league, especially with other young "Baby Bombers" like Tyler Austin, Gary Sanchez, and Greg Bird.

Whatever he worked on, Judge has become the guy that could get Yankee Stadium to sell out in regular season games and the playoffs if they play strong baseball. The home runs he has put up so far, (five already) a few of them have been absolute blasts. Prior to this latest game against Pittsburgh, he launched a deep one against the Chicago White Sox that was near the top of the bleacher rows in left center field. His size might help with his strength. This is the kind of guy that should be playing football or basketball at six foot seven and at about 280 pounds. 

His power should scare any pitcher (or fielder depending on where its hit in the infield) that has to face him. That was very evident from last week's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. With reliever Jumbo Diaz at the helm, Judge hit a pitch that almost hit Diaz in the head. The exit velocity was clocked in at 116 miles per hour for a single. There will be a lot of veteran aces that will figure things out and some of the youngsters who will study film on Judge. However, Judge could be an unstoppable force that could get Yankee Stadium rocking and be a face of the team since Derek Jeter and maybe Major League Baseball if puts up strong numbers for the next five years.

How he will fare in other stadiums for a full season will really determine his place for rookie of the year and his career. This could be the type of player who averages 30 to 40 home runs a year, but an issue being the strikeouts. It is his session that he can't adjourn. With other young players to lead the way, a World Series is not out of the question.