Would GMJ get any job if he were a free agent? - Sam Miller - OCRegister.com
Gary Matthews, Jr. wants to be traded. Barring that, he’d like to be released "to go somewhere to play for an organization that believes in my ability to play every day. " I’m assuming he doesn’t mean the Fullerton Flyers, but an actual Major League team. But if he were actually a free agent right now, how sure should he be that he’d even get a Major League contract offer?
Where does production come from? - The Hardball Times
There are a lot of ways to build a winning ballclub. The method behind the Angels' success doesn't get the same attention as some other techniques, but perhaps it should. They've won 89 or more games six consecutive seasons, including 97 and 100 the last two.
True Grich: You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Statistically, he’s been great (for the most part), but again, I hardly knew him. All I know of Vlad is what I’ve heard through broadcaster Jose Mota, who usually translates interviews for him. That’s it. You don’t see Vlad on Sports Center doing interviews. You don’t hear him on the radio with Jim Rome. We rarely even see a quote in the paper from him. It’s as if he doesn’t exist outside of the box score. All we get is what we see on the field. Now, I know that’s good enough for some fans, but it’s never been enough for me. Some of us want to feel connected to our players. Vlad could have had a love affair with Angel fans, but he never put forth the effort. I’ve seen him at Spring Training. I’ve seen him walk past fans without so much as a wave or even a smile. Nothing. I’ve seen him ignore the autograph requests of little kids wearing his jersey. And I’m not just talking about once or twice over six years. I’m talking about him consistently ignoring us; as in all of the time, year after year.
Owners really cheated on Dodgers fans -- latimes.com
And, really, as embarrassing as the McCourts have behaved toward each other, has it been any worse than watching violent fans roam Dodger Stadium while celebrated stoner Snoop Dogg promotes the team on the video board? By the time the McCourts started one divorce, another was already being finalized, between the team and the values that once made it so special.
October 30 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on October 30.
What do you think...is this real?
0 recs | 24 comments
I seem to recall
a quote from GA when a reporter asked him about being a quiet guy, and he basically said something to the effect that when most players open their mouths they end up saying something stupid. Which, with the exception of guys like Torii, is pretty much true. Vlad is not the first guy to ignore autograph seekers and I’ve always thought his silence kind of added to the mystique of Big Bad Vlad. The fans here love him for who he is. He owes us nothing.
dmhead - October 30, 2009
I agree with you.
It’s always the same canned speeches from 99% of the players. So i usually don’t even need to hear from them. If anything, hearing players has mostly lowered my opinion of guys. Because then I’m thinking, “Oh darn, he’s just like the rest of them.” Torii is truly different than most of the players. And as far as autographs, It’s the rare player that actually takes time out for the fans these days. And some of that has to do with how some idiot fans are and some of it has to do with the players just being out of touch with the common man/fan in general. It just ain’t like the old days.
Monkeyspanked - October 30, 2009
I feel sorry
for people that need a player to fill a void in their lives by acting a certain way, doing a certain thing.
I’m content with a a ballplayer producing and not acting like hasbro or guillen.
clover_black - October 30, 2009
At spring training earlier this year...
…I migrated over to the fenced area where fans try to get autographs from the players. I wrote about it and posted photos here. It’s hard to accurately describe the rude and obnoxious behavior of some fans (definitely a very small number…but they really grate on one’s nerves). That type of behavior may be a factor in not signing autographs.
sothball - October 30, 2009
Spring Training in tempe--
this probably isn’t the best place to ask, but I’m thinking of going to it next year..how does it work exactly? Do you have to get tickets through the Angels? Can you just show up? Is it worth it? Any advice would be great, thanks.
clover_black - October 30, 2009
We buy out tickets online form the Angels MLB site.
They usually are up for sale in early-mid January.
If you’re going on a weekday, you can probably just show up and get tickets. For a weekend game, I recommend buying in advance. It gets crowded. Some people just buy “lawn” seats (on LF outfield grass) and walk around the stadium during the game.
Is it worth it???? After 4 MONTHS of no baseball (besides DVD’s of 2002 World Series, highlights of previous years, etc.), after 4 MONTHS of not being able to watch a game, the opportunity to once again sit in the sun and enjoy a game and check out the talents of younger players, and check some of the sights in the stands is about as close to heaven as my mind can imagine. It’s springtime and as Yogi Berra might say, “Life is renewing itself, all over again.” To me, it’s priceless.
sothball - October 30, 2009
Thanks, lots of goodinfo!
clover_black - October 30, 2009
I attended a photo day 3-4 years ago.
Vlad took a lot more time than any other Angel to pose for photos, especially with young kids. He squatted down on many occasions to get down to the kid’s level. I imagine his knees and back were aching when he was done. Also, I don’t recall seeing him sign any autographs.
As a contrast, Lackey and Weaver stayed 30-40 feet away from the crowd, like they only were there because they were told they had to be there.
sothball - October 30, 2009
When he hit #400 in august
there he was, on TV, laughing and signing a guys “#400” sign above the dugout.
clover_black - October 30, 2009
I remember that so well
I thought that was nothing short of amazing.
He even said in the post game interview something to the effect of “My mom, brother and I were talking and we were trying to figure out if I needed one or two more home runs to reach 400.” He wasn’t even aware of how many more he needed. Think about it, he didn’t even bother to remember how many he needed to achieve a personal milestone. It’s not about him, it’s about the team. For that reason, as well as many others, I hope he’s back in 2010.
Teixeira Who? - October 30, 2009
Before Game 3 of the ALCS, Vlad was smiling and laughing with some of the fans out in right field.
Don’t know if he understood them or what, but he was hardly being the guy described in True Grich. And Bobby Abreu looked at a guy who kept yelling “Hey Bobby! 5/5 tonight?” and smiled and shook his head “no”. But that part’s unrelated.
AlanFalcon - October 30, 2009
I gotta admit, when Ervin did this it really scored some points with me...
K3YEROUT - October 30, 2009
I think he charges for autographs, but don't quote me.
opiejeanne - October 30, 2009
In 2005, he didn't for me.
This was back when they still let the “unwashed masses” down into the Promised Land for pre-game autographs.
Vladdy signed a ball for me. My nephew was thrilled with his birthday present.
red floyd - October 30, 2009
Didn't charge, that is.
red floyd - October 30, 2009
Sam Miller asks the perfect $10,000,000 question.
Take away GMJ’s contract, let him offer to play for the minimum allowed for his years of service. How many takers would there be? Who would use him as an everyday starter?
If that list is small, there may be no place for Reagins to send GMJ no matter how badly he may want to.
(P.S. – the video may be real, but what we don’t know is how many failures occured prior to the one success that is memorialized. For all we know, those two knuckleheads were out there all damned day trying to pull that off. Eventually, out of sheer random chance, one of those shots will fall into that basket, and that is the take you keep. We used to pull crazy-assed trick shots in the gym all the time, back in the day. Bored kids with a basketball, no supervision and enough time will eventually do something spectacular that will be long remembered. I know. I still got my superhuman moments in my memory banks.)
Stirrups - October 30, 2009
how about
THIS ONE?
howiestheman - October 30, 2009
I believe it
Especially when you watch the split screen shot.
halofan4life - October 30, 2009
Did'nt they do a show about Vlad in that series of half hour programs shown before some games on FSNWest?
Seems like I remember them on location in the Dominican showing Vlad’s hometown and him growing up. I remember ones on Figgins, Matthews, Lackey and Garland as well.
44FAN - October 30, 2009
Before the Bigs?
opiejeanne - October 30, 2009
Yes
and he’s a shy guy from an extremely rural and poor part of the Dominican. Not from San Pedro de Macoris where most Dominican players are from. Perhaps he also learned lessons from his brother Wilton that it’s better to just do your job and not say anything that can be interpreted in a negative light. Seems like the guy has done pretty well (HOFer) from very humble beginnings. If he is gone, I’ll miss him. His body is breaking down though. He used to be an absolute 5 tool freak.
Los Angeles de Inglewood - October 30, 2009
To Build On This
Guerrero is a nice, unassuming, completely unaffected by all the hoopla baseball player. However, he simply is not very intelligent and barely knows how to write. He’s very shy, and has no confidence in his ability to learn English, hence the fact he never speaks it. This will sound insulting, and it’s not meant to be, but if he’s just an incredibly talented baseball player, now on the decline, who has the education, background and sophistication of a child. Granted, he’s managed to make it through many baseball seasons playing in Montreal and here, but he’s always had handlers, i.e. his family with him. HIs faux pas in not remembering the count during the ALCS likely wasn’t that much of a fluke.
One reason he’s always had a strike zone of “nose to toes” is he’s never been able to learn how to really think through a count, i.e. consider what a pitcher would throw 2-1 or 2-2 or especially factor in how much different a pitcher will be with guys on base versus no one on and nobody out, etc. He just goes up and hacks. Now sometimes, and it was evident during these playoffs, later in the game someone will get in his ear, usually Aybar or Izturis.
Hudler told a story on the air this year that was very revealing. Hudler wanted Vlad to sign a ball for a police officer’s birthday and personalize it, “To Bill, Happy Birthday”, or whatever. Vlad asked Hudler to write it out for him first so Vlad could then copy it onto the ball. Hudler said Vlad got it right, but the handwriting looked liked a grade schooler’s. He told the story in an effort to show how accomodating Vlad could be, in spite of his lack of confidence in his social skills. This all came up during a conversation about players and autographs. Vlad is wary of big crowds coming his way to sign because someone will inevitably say or do something he thinks he won’t understand and he’ll feel embarrassed.
BeerCub - October 31, 2009
He better start practicing, then. He is gonna have to give a nice speech at his HOF induction.
Stirrups - October 31, 2009
Jose Mota will just translate for him
halofan4life - October 31, 2009
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