Thor’sLinks: To Oh, Or Not To Oh

Shohei Ohtani is not going to Salt Lake. Which would be fun for Halo fans specifically, and Baseball as a whole. So sayeth the rumor mill.

But then, maybe he IS going to Salt Lake, which is the response to be expected out of the formal outlets since the Angels don’t like to have their plans known further than 2 hours in advance. Did you actually read that link. In there is the usual absurdity that we have come to know all too well. I mean, really, who believes this line: “We have not laid out plans for anyone at this time.“ Gosh, does that mean the Angels are not settled at putting Mike Trout in centerfield??? Garrett Richards is not going to pitch? We have a new right fielder? Andrelton Simmons could be moved to 1B? Stop the presses!!!

No. They have a pretty good idea as to what they are going to do. Maybe there is that last 20% of variables to settle, and some of that will be ‘best guess based on information at hand with the ability to alter as time permits’. Ohtani is probably well within that 20%.

But this is why Halos Heaven exists. We are far from limited to happy-dappy press releases, booster-club jingoism, and information-neutered press speak. Those working within the LAA Front Office are not so free to be so transparent. Let them have their space.

Anyway, if the unofficial rumors are true then, sure, Ohtani will probably struggle quite a bit. We know that already. Hopefully the fans in attendance cut him some slack, at least for a few weeks. The rumored projection is that he opens as DH and then pitches Game 3. Now, hmmm, where have I read about the advantages of that plan before??..........

So have an edition off Move-Along-Nothing-To-See-Here-Spring-Training-Links:

A Little Bit of Angels News

How about hearing from Shohei Ohtani himself? That’s a nice change of pace...........Turns out that he, along with Trout, suck at basketball..........

Trout Porn. One very long ESPN piece from Sam Miller and David Schoenfield that is nothing but massive Trout Porn. Stay healthy Mike and stand back, Major League Baseball!...........More Trout. he is a quiet kid, and his leadership comes by way of example, not words. But when you are a giant talent of which other players can merely dream of emulating, you pretty much disembowel any protestation..........

As it turns out, Zack Cozart is very happy with his donkey. “They are like dogs. If they think of you like you are their family, they are the most affectionate, loving animals, just like dogs.”..........

The only reason that Andrelton Simmons is even this far down the Shortstop Power Rankings is because of the long ball. Then again, home runs are kind of a thing in Baseball.........

Everywhere In Baseball

It’s Ballpark Food Season! Every Spring as we run up to Opening Day, we enjoy an increasing level of ballpark food porn for the upcoming season. Today we get some belly stretching updates from Atlanta, And we also have a little mind-bender true/false puzzle from MLB. Hint: only 3 are fake.........

For free you can read Buster Olney tell us how Manny Machado and Aaron Judge are underrated. If you want to read how they are certainly not underrated, though, that will cost you. It’s all just fantasy league quibbling, anyway.........

Once again to Copa de la Diversion, with 33 teams joining in the fun with custom identities and logos. The Bees will become the Las Abejas for 4 games (abejas = bees, get it?)..........

Major League Baseball wants to sell holiday merch, and historical accuracy need not get in the way. Merch consumers are not going to care, even if they were to notice..........

We are finally free of Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan. So why would anybody be upset with the new Sunday Night Baseball broadcast crew? I, for one, would do my happy dance if it were my Aunt Minnie..........

The Oakland A’s took their tarps down a while ago. So the newest plan is to entice folks to sit way up high behind the 3B line by naming their own price, all proceeds going to charity...........

M*A*S*H Report: This is a real mess. pitching prospect breaks hand punching guy high on LSD, wins civil suit for loss of career, will probably never collect anyway. lawyers win all around..........Wade Miley of the Brewers goes down with a groin strain..........The Oakland A’s saw their #1 prospect, A.J. Puk get shut down with biceps soreness..........Daniel Murphy, still rehabbing from knee surgery, won’t be ready for Opening Day..........Tigers pitching prospects are dropping like flies..........Braves’ 3B Johan Camargo —> to the DL. Back and side strains..........And Mariners’ setup guy, David Phelps, off to Tommy John surgery for torn UCL...........DBack’s RF Steven Souza came up lame last night with an as-yet undiagnosed arm/shoulder injury..........And then there is a slew of bumps and bruises..........

Hot Stove

Alex Cobb outwaited the waiters. I now await the flurry of MSM observers who must be busy writing all their mea culpas at how franchises refuse to pay Cobb his due. Remember, Cobb was projected at 4 years for $48 million. So 4 years for about $60 million cannot be interpreted as MLB owners colluding to go cheap.........

The Duffle Bag

ESPN’s quiz should more properly be re-titled: “Which team has the most fans who read ESPN?”...........So MLB The Show ‘18 does not go past 99? There is not 111?..........The HoF is dropping Chief Wahoo..........Note to ballplayers everywhere: don’t use 4-syllable words in front of Jon Heyman..........Sports Illustrated is for sale. I got $20. Anybody want to kick in the missing sawbuck..........Fanrag sports might be right behind SI..........Here is your SoCal baseball rapid transit report for 2018..........Giancarlo Stanton is now free to admit that the Miami pachinko machine is gawd awful..........Houston is giving fans a free chance to visit the Astrodome one last time, before they freshen it up and open it as the Astrodome. yeah, I am confused, too..........