Mike Trout on the Astros: “They cheated...I don’t agree with the punishment...I lost respect for some of those guys.”
“Going up to the plate knowing what’s coming...that would be a lot of fun.”
I’m still in shock. Just yesterday, Tyler Skaggs was talking about how badly he wanted to pitch at Dodger Stadium in an Angels uniform. One of the kindest, most straightforward people I’ve met in baseball. I’m devastated for his family and teammates.
One of the cooler things Mike Trout does every year: instead of having his Millville HS number retired, he comes back and gives it to the new captains every year.
Exclusive
@TheAthletic
: Shohei Ohtani will defer $68 million per year of his $70 million annual salary over the course of his 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, allowing the team to keep spending, according to a person briefed on the terms.
Mike Trout is now tied with Derek Jeter, his childhood idol, with 72.4 career bWAR.
It took Jeter 20 years to accumulate that bWAR. This is Trout’s ninth season.
I would crack a joke about trading Blake Snell with three years left on his deal, but this isn’t the first time this year the Rays have pulled the plug on him early
The story of Rich Hill’s “Dick Mountain” nickname:
It originated in Boston in 2011, when Brock Holt thought it would be funny to just call him “Dick” and “Mountain” for Rich and Hill. Soon, it became just “Dick Mountain.” Hill said he still gets regularly called Dick Mountain.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s meeting with the Dodgers yesterday at Dodger Stadium featured star power that included Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman….and Shohei Ohtani, sources tell me and
@Ken_Rosenthal
.
Story:
Corey Seager, a free agent, on if he would like to return to the Dodgers: “Absolutely. I grew up here, I've spent a lot of time here, I believe in what these guys do. I believe in how we go about it. Yeah, absolutely.”
Holy crap, the ball girl just leveled a fan running onto the field and sent them over the wall.
None of the security could catch up to him, but the ball girl laid him out.
Ballparks where Albert Pujols reached his milestones
100: Dodger Stadium
200: Busch Stadium II
300: Busch Stadium III
400: Nationals Park
500: Nationals Park
600: Angel Stadium
700: Dodger Stadium
Tyler Skaggs said after he met some of the Minnesota Vikings (his favorite NFL team) this summer that nothing compared to meeting Kobe Bryant. Now they’re both gone. Unbelievable.
Hansel Robles was messing with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s timing with perhaps the longest delivery ever for a 100 mph fastball.
Vladito wasn’t happy about it.
Mike Trout said he wasn’t sure how fans would receive the Astros in their first game in Anaheim with fans since the scandal. Then…
“A couple trash cans fell behind me."
I tried my best to put into words the person Tyler Skaggs was, and what this all means. I hope I did him at least some justice. This story is free and unlocked for all to read.
Phil Bickford, on being the man to allow 700: “At first, I was upset that I came up a homerun and then when the crowd reacted and seen all the smiles, it was a very special moment for MLB and Albert Pujols is one of the most amazing people I've ever met.”
Tribute at Orange Coast College to John Altobelli, who died along with his wife and daughter in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna this morning.
Shohei Ohtani's statement: "Dodger fans, thank you for welcoming me to your team. I can say 100 percent that you, the Dodger organization and I share the same goal – to bring World Series parades to the streets of Los Angeles.”
Shohei Ohtani’s impression of Brad Ausmus: “He’s a very good-looking guy.”
He paused, then added: “Of course, Mike Scioscia was very good-looking too.”
Noé Ramirez, Shohei Ohtani’s “best friend,” tries bullying him into playing Warzone.
“Mañana,” Ohtani said, one of three languages he spoke in the span of a minute.
Mookie Betts called Yoshinobu Yamamoto out of his media availability. He got the beer shower treatment.
Was he surprised? “I heard a rumor,” Yamamoto said after reemerging.
Is Shohei Ohtani worth it?
“It’ll pay for itself within six or seven years...He’s literally just a money factory. Even just on advertising alone. All the eyeballs from Japan. He’s like Michael Jordan to them. He’s like Taylor Swift.”
with
@SamBlum3
:
The Angels could roll out a lineup of:
Pederson RF
Trout CF
Rendon 3B
Ohtani DH
Upton LF
La Stella 1B
Simmons SS
Castro C
Fletcher 2B
That includes a bench of Brian Goodwin, Jo Adell, etc. They can bang.
Clayton Kershaw, on the recent spate of no-hitters: “Well it’s not good, I’ll tell you that.”
Said whatever MLB has done with the ball isn’t working and has “missed the mark so far.”
Was Shohei Ohtani surprised by the boos?
"Not surprised," Ohtani said via Will Ireton.
Why not surprised?
"Aside from how the fans may or may not think, I'm just very grateful for the teams that approached me and wanted to sign me...ultimately I could only choose one team."
Sources: As the Dodgers worked this week to finalize a trade to land Tyler Glasnow, they got an assist from their newest player, with Shohei Ohtani telling the right-hander he’d “hit some home runs for you.”
Story with
@Ken_Rosenthal
:
Popular topic of conversation at Angels camp: Mike Trout wants to buy a baby trout fish and bring it along on team flights and trips. Kole Calhoun and Albert Pujols say the fish wouldn’t survive. Brad Ausmus said you can “if it’s a service fish.” Hard-hitting conversation.