:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53099851/GettyImages-178119451.0.jpg)
Links:
A Little Bit of Angels News
In just a couple of days camp will open, so our newest MLB stringer Maria Guardado continues to catch up by giving you a recap of what Billy Eppler has done to patch up the roster. In short, she gives us the SparkNotes version of the last 4 months of HH, except without the invaluable opinions provided here...........Maria also reminds us that Mike Trout is only now just entering the early stages of his prime years.............
Speaking of Trout, uh...this...........
Alright, let's get this really clear. Back on January 27th eyespy alerted us to pay attention to something unusual happening with a guy who was supposedly about to host a February showcase and get one last go as an MLB pitcher. C.J. WIlson was going in deep with Porsche, envisioning himself pursuing a career racing cars. The next day, on January 28th, as part of the Rolex 24 at Daytona C.J. was heard in an radio interview saying that he was retiring. That interview was not picked up by the MSM, but the reddit entry of the person who heard it was linked to here on HH a few days after that, on January 31. Yesterday, on February 9th, the MSM finally got the clue. The kicker was a local TV interview given up in Fresno, to which Josh posted. But the guy who knew, the guy who got it right, the guy who scooped even C.J., was eyespy. Good call, brah!...........The part that has me mystified, I confess, is how it is that even a C.J. Wilson could convince a Brazilian supermodel (his wife, Lisalla Montenegro) to retire to Fresno, California. I mean, really, Fresno??..........
Rahul Setty lands for our attention some nice conversation time with Minor League Coordinator Jack Howell. My takeaway is that, yeah, our current MLB outfield is solid enough for he next few years that we don't have to rush our best prospect, young Jahmai Jones............
______________________________
Everywhere In Baseball
Remember when Andrelton Simmons was considered the greatest thing since sliced bread as Atlanta shortstop, and then we got his brilliance in an even more brilliant trade, and then there was the World Series and that whole Francisco Lindor thing, and now Simmons is only 7th? That's the price one pays for playing half his games with a 10PM start for the East Coast..........
Last weekend, we saw a very active and very energetic Atlanta Falcons team rush out onto a football field and kick the asses of the New England Patriots all over the field. It was a furious and humiliating ass kicking. In the end, all that expenditure of energy caught up with them, and they ran out of gas far too soon to hang on to all that they had accomplished. I bring this up ONLY because of the fast and furious franchise rebuilding going on up in Seattle. We have all been rather impressed at they are lapping the rest of MLB in making moves to rapidly upgrade their stock. But at some point, Jerry Dipoto is going to run out of gas. And we all know what happens then...........
We could soon be spared from any more of Jeffrey Loria. Marlins fans must be the most deliriously happy. Loria is going to make a killing on his way out, but maybe the purchasing group, apparently headed by a Charles Kushner, is doing us all a favor by spending whatever it takes to make Loria go away............
Here is a nice essay advocating that MLB franchises need to start thinking beyond the box of cheap internship labor as their farm pipeline for Front Office think tank talent. Getting more inspired in the recruiting and hiring process can be the next competitive edge among the copycat franchises of Major League Baseball..........
With all the chatter about radical rules changes, I had completely lost track of the Designated Hitter argument for the NL............
Speaking of radical rules changes, if MLB doesn't want extended games due to extra innings, why not embrace the simplest of solutions: ties?...........
______________________________
Trade Winds
Personally, I think I can come up with a far more simple reason than all this as to why Matt Wieters is still unemployed. It's because Billy Eppler already has Yunel Escobar. Escobar is not quite problematic enough to cast off. And he brings just enough offense to make himself very sticky. Take away Escobar and, yes, you have the team with the biggest need and the FA with the biggest addition at a critical position in the same market at the same time, and none of the other teams matter.........
The Duffle Bag
Baseball is so rich with history, and celebrating that can always be so cool............I never tire of linking to Sean Doolittle episodes............Huh. Guys getting pissed at being left OFF a WBC roster? That's always a treat...........The Dodgers are going to be selling off some of the kitchen silver............The final Josh Hamilton watch begins, already having been chipped away significantly by the recent signing of another ex-Halo, Mike Napoli (only 8 months of chain links left on the Hambone payroll anchor!)...........Pitcher helmets keep improving. But pitchers will keep resisting...........MLB will play a game at the US Naval Academy this year. Seems to me the teams should have been the Mariners versus the Pirates...........More food uniform fun in the minor leagues. A better use of brown that the Padres pull off, IMHO............
______________________________
Halo-Oppo-ly
What? You thought I was going to forget about Chance/Community Chest cards??
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7935557/05-CHANCE-EJECTED.0.png)
______________________________