MLB 2018 regular season thread

Not sure what's going on here, but it made me chuckle.

 

After the season, per Rosenthal:

Mike Scioscia to step down as Angels manager

 

That's really interesting, especially for a guy who was on his way to the Hall of Fame (yes really). Wonder if he asked about his future and if he stayed there would be a pay cut?

 

Angels started 13-3 and they're now 55-57. I figured this would happen when they fell below .500 a few weeks ago.
I've seen poor fundamentals -- strong fundamentals were staples for Scioscia-managed teams. Poor situational hitting. Despite the key players being right-handed hitters, they can't hit lefties. They're hitting .218 vs. lefties, 29th in baseball. They are using players who shouldn't even be in the majors -- Luis Valbuena, Jefry Marte, Caleb Cowart, Eric Young. Seems like every day they bring in a pitcher I've never heard of.
Yes, it's time for a new look. And I'm a Scioscia supporter.

 

That seems more of a GM problem than a manager problem

 

I didn't realize the Angels had been quite that mediocre under Scioscia. Only one division title, one 90-win season and no playoff series wins since 2009. He's only won two playoff series since the 2002 World Series, and won a total of one game in the four Division Series that they've lost. Lots of guys have been run out of jobs after accomplishing a lot more.

 

This halo fan is thrilled; the product on the field has been listless for years.

 

They can hire one of em and bring in Girardi.

 

Just goes to show how much a Championship can cover you for a long while.

Just look at the Capitals.



Oh, wait.

 

Poppycock?

 

Now, Bob Nightengale weighs in, saying Scioscia decided before spring training this season would be his last:

Mike Scioscia hoped he could quietly step away as Angels manager

I think Scioscia's denying this now because he didn't want the announcement made in the middle of the season. The Rosenthal and Nightengale stories just cite 'sources,' but considering who wrote them, I'd say they're legit.

Also of note is that the Angels called up the Salt Lake manager, Keith Johnson, to the ML coaching staff and sent Eric Chavez, who was working in the Angels' front office, to manage the Triple-A team for the rest of the season.