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I didn’t get to watch the Ohtani presser yesterday. The screen was black and silent. maybe they didn’t have it, or maybe my corporate firewall wanted me to get back to work. So you have to tell me. I am of no help here.
I have watched some press conference footage, though, and my main takeaway is that Shohei looks really young. On the field he looks like a beast, but behind a mic he looks like a kid. Considering that I have 40+ years on him, I suppose that should not come as a surprise anymore.
What it does tell me, though, is that it whether Ohtani becomes a two-way star, or a one-way star, or just a nicely productive player, his baseball career is only just starting and his should be a name that we should hear for years to come.
Lots of bits and pieces will come pouring out of Tempe for now, but things will start to get real in just over a week when actual ST games kick off next Friday against the A’s. That will be our first real look. It’s now the next thing I cannot wait for.
Have some Way-Too-Excited-For-Spring-Training-Links:
A Little Bit of Angels News
Oh go ahead and drool. It’s Ohtani-mania and it’s all good guilty giggles fun..........And Ken Rosenthal tries to throw cold water on it all, downplaying the mania..........
Fantasy Alert! ESPN has chosen to side with CBS, as opposed to Yahoo!, and Shohei Ohtani will be available only as one player. In their leagues you can select him as a hitter, OR a pitcher, BUT NOT both............So here is how you rotisserie players can strategize on your Ohtani opportunities............
Shooey is on board with the Ohtani plans. But he confesses to the uncertainty of walking into the unknown.........And he gives the most joyful quote: “He’s phenomenal You see him throw a bullpen and how hard he throws, and then to see him effortlessly swing and see the ball jump off his bat is kind of crazy. It’s exciting.“ When MLB pros are saying stuff like that, this could be ridiculously great..........
Our peers up at Lookout Landing are still in deep regret mode over Ohtani. This is going to be so sweet.........
Don’t overlook Alex Meyer. He might not make it back in 2018, but he is rehabbing well and on schedule...........
I gotta admit that I am far less upset with the idea of Mike Scioscia now than I was two and three seasons ago. He still does some things that boggle my mind. But those have become far less frequent. And the work he did with the bullpen last year, and a skeleton of a starting 9, was particularly inspired. So he is back, and he probably ain’t going anywhere, and I am no longer bitching about it.........
Tim Lincecum’s showcase is going to be pretty popular.....And right there in the mix will be...again...the Angels..........
Angels social media maven having some sport with the Reds social media maven..........
Lest we forget, this team is still led by the G.O.A.T Mike Trout, who remains a class act..........
Everywhere In Baseball
The Player’s Union warned off MLB Front Offices to take their stinking junior assistants off of their practice fields. Those damn dirty apes. MLB ST Camp is members only. And to make the point, one team assistant was escorted out by security..........
Looking for easy pickings in the Vegas over/under prop bets this season? Then read this before heading out I-15..........
Ex-Arizona GM Dave Stewart has popped back up in Baseball. Now an instructor during ST for Oakland. That’s probably a much safer gig for him.........
The Diamondbacks are going to join the Rockies in the use of a humidor for their game balls this season. The hope is that it corrects for the extra-dry air of the desert and boosts offense. That ain’t going to help pace of play issues any..........
As cord-cutters migrate more to streaming, so too do the fees being charged for content..........
First freak accident injury report of the season right here. Travis Wood almost lost a finger messing with his crossbow..........
R.I.P Tito Francona..........
Hot Stove
This is great. Yahoo! puts up their All Over-Rated players team, and right there at 1B is none other than Eric Hosmer. Sure, Jose Bautista is another big name FA listed, but he is practically retired. Oh, and somebody voted Dee Gordon as overrated for a 2B. The same Gordon who won’t even be playing 2B, because he is now Jerry Dipoto’s savior as an experimental center fielder.............
Hector Santiago is officially still not an Angel. He is the guy we sent to Minnesota the year after being our All-Star (along with Alan Busenitz), so that we could land Alex Meyer and Ricky Nolasco. The White Sox signed Santiago to a minor league deal with an ST invite..........
The Yankees are still angling for a creative way to add Manny Machado. I feel like the MFY still see themselves as not-quite-top-tier-enough-yet. And that’s a fair position to be taking, regardless of what their fans think. The Astros bested them last year winning 9 out of 14 games head-to-head, and the Astros only got one year closer to their prime AND added more talent. The Angels improved dramatically and have joined the bottom end of the not-quite-elite tier, especially with the marquee power of TrOhtani and could start pushing the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are one bat away from challenging New York while the top end of the NL remains loaded. Having the games best pen and an Aaron Judge and adding a Giancarlo Stanton are great and all, but there is still room for improvement to be consistently in the conversation with the likes of the Astros/Cubs/Dodgers/Nats while staying ahead of the BoSux/Angels/Twins. So, no, I don’t see adding Machado as overkill.........
The Duffle Bag
It’s official. Houston has decided to rehab and restore the Astrodome..............So the Cubs signed Yu Darvish to play fullback?..........(From reddit)...your old-timey 2018 schedules...........Imagine if Jersey Mike’s did the obvious and signed Jersey Trout as their spokesperson. Then we would have a better spin when Adrian Gonzalez brags that he owns Jersey Mike..............