I have season seats in Centerfield. I take these binoculars to every game. They are for planet watching, so they are good for spotting things. Little things. Sharp line drive foul ball hits a fan in the skull - I can lip read the guy waving for the usher. Drunk in a stand starts a fight, I can watch the staggering swings make impact.
So I watched the action across the field, above the diamond club, over at Arte's suite tonight. I watch a little bit of what is going on over there during every game. He holds his wife's hand when they eat if they are alone at the beginning of the game. He has guests who are usually consumed with the spectacle of the diamond from the front row vantage point as he chats with various Angels personnel in the spacious digs behind that VIP set of seats.
Tonight was a bit different up there relative to what I have seen in any game before, and since it is July, near the trade deadline, I thought I would share with you what I saw. Assistant GM Ken Forsch and Arte were off to the side of the owner's box for a few innings up to the end of the game. It is rare for Forsch to be in Arte's box, ever. The conversation between the two was ongoing and animated, hand gestures of explication throughout. It was friendly, upbeat, but appeared intensive.
Next to Arte's box is a small viewing area with two rows of seats where the front office watches every game. Tony Reagins now occupies Bill Stoneman's laptopped chair in the far right of the 2nd row. Ken Forsch usually sits in front of him. Reagins did not seem to be enjoying the game (and neither was anyone but the smattering of Cleveland fans, which is what led to my deep study of "Casa Moreno" in the first place). TR had his head in his hands as if he had a migraine, or perhaps, the weight of the future of the franchise on his shoulders ... if I may speculate a little here... Forsch and Arte talking... animated in July... Reagins looking weary beyond tonight's game... okay, now YOU speculate...
0 recs | 76 comments
Whew
For a second there I thought you were going to say that you brought these binocs:
to the game, and I was going to ask you how you managed to carry the weight of a Figgins or an Eckstein to the game with you every night. (Really, I took those pictures in the lower view seats. He must have had a REALLY great view that night).
Interesting observations and commentary. Will this finally be the July that they pull the trigger on a trade (a meaningful one, I mean).
lightupthehalo - July 22, 2008
your binoculars
I’m sure that the Strike Force - err, the front office - were in deep conversation about the tightness of their jerseys - err, the status of the roster - throughout the late innings. What I don’t know is, why didn’t Mrs. Halofan slap you across the face? Hahahaa, just kidding…
yeswecan - July 22, 2008
GMJ will be gone by the trade deadline
And Arte’s going to eat alot, both at the Diamond Club buffet AND in the pocketbook…
yeswecan - July 22, 2008
If it looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders,
then it’s not Matthews they’re trading. That would be an easy decision that would cause Reagins to appear buoyant, enlightened, and jubilant. Unless they were discussing voiding his contract, which might be a PR nightmare.
Rally Manatee - July 22, 2008
Bill Stoneman, Tony Reagins -- separated at birth?
No way in hell is ANYBODY going ANYWHERE.
scareduck - July 22, 2008
I think it has more to do with the trade demands than the man who is the GM.
Kendrick, Santana, and a top prospect? By and large teams are asking us for things that rape the MLB roster.
hauldog - July 22, 2008
He's already swung a major trade
and has only not pulled the trigger on rumored trades where we would have been absolutely hosed…so I would hesitate to compare him to Stoneman.
Caseys Kiss of Death - July 22, 2008
Stoneman swung several offseason trades.
And only refused rumored trades where we would get hosed. They still look pretty similar to me.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
My point
is more that he’s been doing the job for what? 9 months now? You can argue they look similar now in the same way that you could argue that Benny Agbayani looks pretty similar to Babe Ruth through the first 70 at-bats of his career.
Could he turn out to be like Stoneman? Absolutely. But he’s been through precisely zero trade deadlines and one winter meeting. I’d give it more time before drawing any parallels…I’m not saying one way or the other.
Caseys Kiss of Death - July 22, 2008
Point.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
Sounds like TR has a bad case of the fourteen hour days.
Having to take all those trade talk calls from various general managers and player’s agents has got to make you nauseous at some point.
44FAN - July 22, 2008
Apres GA, we need a dependable LH power bat to round out the line-up.
Other than Teixeira, who’s there?
wumbug - July 22, 2008
Barry Bonds
Carl Johnson - July 22, 2008
Yeah........I forgot about him........
That would give Reagins heartburn.
wumbug - July 22, 2008
Two words that explain why we won't sign bonds.
Jose Guillen
red floyd - July 22, 2008
4 words why we'll regret it.
first round playoff exit
Northwest - July 22, 2008
I'd rather exit first round
than have people talk about the 2008 Angels as “the team Bonds carried to the World Series” for the rest of eternity. No thanks.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
i'd still rather win a world series.
regardless of the cost.
Northwest - July 22, 2008
Some things aren't worth it.
That’s one of them. And since we’ll win the series anyway as long as we play Rivera, it’s both repulsive AND unnecessary.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
To say that Rivera is the key to our World Series fortunes
is a bit of a stretch even for you, Zu
highlandhalo - July 22, 2008
To say that we will auto-fail without a blockbuster deadline trade or adding bonds
is stretching just as much. I’m just going the other way.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
I certainly am not in favour of adding Bonds
Nor am I sure we need a blockbuster deal. And I like Juan Rivera (like him a lot, and hope he gets GMJs ABs the rest of the way), I’m just saying it’s a bit of a stretch to say we’ll win the series anyway as long as we play Rivera.
The guy’s good, but but I’m not sure he’s that good.
highlandhalo - July 23, 2008
Again
I realize the absurdity of the statement. It was intended as a response to another absurd statement.
Zu Long - July 23, 2008
This wouldn't help by July 31
But there has been speculation that, in the off-season, the Brewers may be willing to trade Prince Fielder, since he’s coming up on his arbitration years and seems unwilling to sign a long-term deal with them (thank you Scott Boras). If they hadn’t traded LaPorta in the CC Sabathia deal, it’d be even more likely they’d be willing to move him. If they were willing to trade, it would cost young, cheap talent, and certainly a starter. Brewers’ needs for 2009, sans Prince, would be 1B, starting pitching, bullpen, CF. Probably Casey + Santana/Saunders + Willits + a prospect or something like that. Though if GMJ would waive his NTC, and Arte would eat most of the contract, they also might be willing to take a good defensive/weak switch-hitting OF as one of the throw-ins.
Brew Angel - July 22, 2008
you are undervaluing young, All-star SP
no way Saunders/Santana would be included in that package. SP, especially cheap SP that is of all star level, is soooo valued in MLB. Both these guys are established now. It would take alot for another team to get either of them in a deal with the Angels. These are top of the roatation type foundation guys.
Casey isn’t exactly chopped liver either.
Four Ts - July 22, 2008
I don't think he's undervaluing at all...
Let’s toss in Lackey, Arredondo and Shields along with ervin and saunders … Maybe if we throw in Figgy we might get Fielder.
Green and Adenhardt will do a fine job covering the mound.
melvintoast - July 22, 2008
i'll pass
that kid is straight up fat. he can hit, but he’s slow. not really sure about his defense there either.
b0rd3rline - July 22, 2008
is he FAT?
hauldog - July 22, 2008
He's a vegetarian now
maybe some of the weight will come off, though.
His defense make Chuck Knoblauch look like Ozzie Smith, however.
Caseys Kiss of Death - July 22, 2008
Perhaps Reagins was being tormented
by the field presence of Gary Matthews Jr and his multi-million dollar contract.
TheTypingFiend - July 22, 2008
this was my first thought!
K3YEROUT - July 22, 2008
Definately GMJ being traded
And the reason Reagins looked like that was because he was regretting including his first born child in GMJ’s deal.
tbone_cutter - July 22, 2008
Those are some badass binocs
Me, I’ve got a little pair of Eagle Optics 10×12’s we got for backyard bird watching, and from our section 526 seats in the thin air, it’s plenty good enough.
scareduck - July 22, 2008
How do you see through the moths?
red floyd - July 22, 2008
Let's hope it was Arte giving the front office shit for him having to eat GMJ's contract when we release him today.
Please let it be true, please, please, please…
snowhor - July 22, 2008
nobody is taking GMJ right now
bad contract, NTC, bad performance and possible injury.
The offseason is where we might be able to trade him. Doesn’t his NTC go limited after this year or is it after year 3?
Four Ts - July 22, 2008
Three year NTC
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
If Scioscia sits GMJr long enough,
he’ll waive the NTC before the end of year #3.
wumbug - July 22, 2008
We can only hope.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
I like to think Arte was saying that he doesn't care the cost...
We need to find that bat. And simultaneously lower beer prices while forever banning the Ruby’s commercial.
BruinHalo - July 22, 2008
That awful, forced smile at the end
by the girl in front makes me think she was on meth or something.
scareduck - July 22, 2008
The food's just not THAT great...
and saying it twice in a jingle doesn’t make it so.
It’s like they ran out of lines and thought “eh… just repeat the first one again…”
BruinHalo - July 22, 2008
Do you know a lot of girls on meth Duck?
highlandhalo - July 22, 2008
Exactly zero
But I have a mental picture.
scareduck - July 24, 2008
Rev...
I also think it was something along the lines of…
They wanted Santana, Kendrick and Adenhart for HOLLIDAY??
? WTF?????
hk47 - July 22, 2008
Then of course
there’s this Executive Suite.
scareduck - July 22, 2008
...what happens in long beach stays in long beach…
Rev Halofan - July 22, 2008
Wow...
I’m so happy my volume was turned up all the way.
I suppose that’s what I get for clicking the link.
BruinHalo - July 22, 2008
Bringin my brass knuckles next I come to meet you duck
My boss was NOT amused. My boss being mrs highlandhalo.
highlandhalo - July 22, 2008
Sorry 'bout that
I should have added NSFW.
scareduck - July 24, 2008
You're an ASSHOLE
what else is new though…........ My company has super strick internet monitoring policy and now Im probably going here shit or get in trouble because of your perverted fuckin ass. Ban me if you want rev for using an f-bomb again but that shit is uncalled for.
AlohaHalofan - July 22, 2008
Oh come on .... Wal-Mart isn't that strict!
PieceOfAase - July 22, 2008
I'm sure you sending the word ASSHOLE through the carefully monitored proxy
won’t make an impact, though.
infant - July 22, 2008
Actually it wont.......and hasnt before.
However, people have been fired from the company I work for for viewing adult websites though. Do you honestly believe there is no difference there? Dont answer that though, I dont care what what you think is acceptable and it doesnt matter anyway.
AlohaHalofan - July 22, 2008
SORRY ABOUT ALL THAT
FOLKS – we all should really make the effort to label things that are NOT SAFE FOR WORK as such – just write in NSFW near your link, this is really basic internet etiquette…
Rev Halofan - July 22, 2008
Just kidding Aloha
Didn’t mean to offend you.
In general though, I think companies should be more concerned with what people POST (and send through the proxy) then with what they view.
I mean, come on, everybody has a crappy banner for some casino or xxx website popping up out of nowhere, even with todays browsers, even on a Mac.
I hate the internet police policies that some companies have.
Rene
infant - July 23, 2008
I'll never trust your links again.
I actually screamed out loud when I saw that. My poor innocent white Macbook is tainted slightly brown now.
Rally Manatee - July 22, 2008
What's wrong with something being "slightly brown?"
;)
Downing Rules - July 22, 2008
Oh SNAP!
PieceOfAase - July 22, 2008
if rumors are to be believed
then he was shaking his head at the stupidity of the Braves, who apparently want Quinlan and Wood for Teixeira. :P
but seriously… i wonder what was going on… hmmmm…..
howiestheman - July 22, 2008
I think they were discussing
exactly what festivities should occur on FRIDAY since it’s my BIRTHDAY!
yes, reminders will happen daily until Friday, then it will start again next year!
ladybug - July 22, 2008
What the hell is she on about?
I missed the whole point of that post. :)
highlandhalo - July 22, 2008
yup, keep it up.....sauce? what sauce?
ladybug - July 22, 2008
25th b-day?
nice! congrats ladybug!
SCHalo - July 22, 2008
Happy
32. Year of the dragon, right?
Rev Halofan - July 22, 2008
What they should be talking about:
Firing Matthews and suing him for misrepresenting himself in contract negotiations through use of banned substances.
I’m serious.
SurfCity - July 22, 2008
amen!
Downing Rules - July 22, 2008
I thought that would happen last off season.
Good thing they kept his sorry ass around for this season, huh? Major contributions.
Rally Manatee - July 22, 2008
I'd also like to sue The Devil for collusion with GMJ in the acquisition
of his soul in the year 2006. Stoneman also lacked the mental capacity to enter into agreements; namely, GMJs. Hence, this $10 million/year contract is VOIDABLE at our discretion.
PieceOfAase - July 22, 2008
The reports I read about the meetings with GMJr
included Scioscia along with Stoneman.
We usually don’t second guess Scioscia…...everyone was duped.
wumbug - July 22, 2008
Soth was probably drunk on Chianti
Stoneman was … well … Stoneman.
PieceOfAase - July 22, 2008
Nahhh....
Soth probably was in a hurry to get to Howards
red floyd - July 23, 2008
Wouldn't you be stressed
if it was the time of the year that you were expected by millions of people to improve your product’s glaring flaw?
PhiSlamma - July 22, 2008
Especially if the solution was already present
but being ignored for reasons that can only be called bizarre.
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
I agree
They should give me a shot at the bigs.
Rally Manatee - July 22, 2008
I just don't understand why they won't
That monkey had his time but he’s in the decline phase of his career now. We need someone with heft to get the juices going in the late innings. :-P
Zu Long - July 22, 2008
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