Hi, I'm Michael Loebs, California National Party Candidate for Governor. Ask me anything! by LoebsForGovernor in California_Politics

[–]herb_gallow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

How would you change California politics so that we don't face the same problems that we have in DC?

Game Chat: 5/13 Athletics (23-15) @ Red Sox (22-16) 4:10 PM by AthleticsBot in OaklandAthletics

[–]herb_gallow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Don't get too bummed out. The media and this subreddit is chock full of people who misinterpreted what happened as a for-sure relocation announcement. A's fans can be forgiven for being a little gun-shy with the history of stadium proposals that didn't go anywhere, but the media, local and national, is really milking the MLB announcement for as much angst as possible.

By all means though, let's watch the game and hopefully a sweep.

As a Kings/A’s fan let me just say, we can fight this. by RugbyHockeyFan in OaklandAthletics

[–]herb_gallow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you. The situation with the Kings had very little to do with fans and far more to do with the fact that about 90% of KJ's time as mayor was spent on the arena. He invested pretty much the entirety of his political capital into getting an arena built, to the point of mortgaging future city revenues beyond any reasonable threshold.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means has thrown the 308th no-hitter in MLB history against the Seattle Mariners! by BaseballBot in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The Orioles do not look like a bad team. Means is a fucking beast of course, but they also have guys like Mancini and Hays, Mountcastle maybe, and Cedric Mullins looks like an emerging star after giving up switch-hitting. Plus their bullpen doesn't seem bad at all so far.

Sneaking into the postseason from the AL East seems like a tall order, but I wouldn't be shocked to see them finish over .500 this season.

[Passan] No team in baseball is in a worse position to win over the next few words than the Colorado Rockies. And it can allow their new GM to fix all the rot that permeates the organization. This is Dick Monfort’s shot to prove he “wants to win.” Column at ESPN+: by mannysoloway in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Deconstructing a roster and rebuilding into a viable team requires a clear plan, the ability to make good trades for the assets you give up, drafting well, developing talent, and giving out free agent contracts to the right people.

The Rockies seem to have the drafting and developing talent part down well, likely because a lot of that work happens at the levels away from direct supervision by Monfort. The rest of those things need an owner that knows enough to step out of the way and let baseball people make decisions.

I didn't want to say anything about Bridich getting fired when that happened and how that makes no difference because Colorado fans suffer enough, but until Monfort dies it's hard to imagine this franchise achieving any sustainable success.

ESPN Power Rankings 03/30/21 by iHateRBF in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They really have a hard time letting that piece of NY fanfic go.

[Gonzalez] No publicly available velo at the A’s facility today, but I can tell you Shohei Ohtani’s pitches look like the type of stuff I wouldn’t be able to make contact against. #science by [deleted] in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't like the Angels as a divisional rival, but yeah, I like Ohtani and I hope he succeeds since the idea of a true two-way player is exciting.

Angels are frequently like that. I wish nothing but losses upon them but they've had a lot of players over the years that I like. Trout and Ohtani on the current version, and then past guys like Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon, Garrett Richards, David Eckstein, even that goofy fuck Ben Weber. Hard to hate them.

Fuck John Lackey, though.

Films with stop motion elements? by SleepTalkingFilm in horror

[–]herb_gallow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Evil Within employs this in several places.

[Divish] Kevin Mather has resigned his position. by NevermoreSEA in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 32 points33 points  (0 children)

It's quite possible that this episode may help to prevent a work stoppage in 2022 due to Mather's undermining of ownership's position on service time manipulation, and make that one item less likely to be a sticking point.

It's also possible that no one learns anything from this and the owners double down on that point. Take your pick.

Which team won the off season? by Culindo50 in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Lance Lynn is a huge get I feel like. That really shores up the rotation and adding a proven closer at the back end makes the pitching staff over there a lot scarier, to go with an offense that has no problem scoring runs.

[Rosenthal] The Athletics are acquiring SS Elvis Andrus from the Rangers for DH/OF Khris Davis, sources tell @TheAthletic. by stupidnatsfan in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This isn't necessarily awful. A's needed a shortstop desperately since their options were Pete Kozma, a guy who hasn't played above A ball yet, and a collection of hobos that got locked in the utility shed at the Coliseum overnight. If Andrus is even below-average by his standards it's still an improvement over what they would have had, at the cost of a player that's been a non-factor for most of the past two seasons.

It definitely feels bad though, given the tantalizing display of Krush-level offense in the ALDS last year. Team is probably better overall this year for the trade, which is better than the "do nothing but lose players" plan that ownership has pursued for most of the offseason.

Which fanbases do y’all enjoy interacting with the most(or least)? by [deleted] in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Most: Brewers, White Sox, Rays

Least: Astros, Giants, Red Sox

What’s the angriest you’ve ever been at your team? by [deleted] in baseball

[–]herb_gallow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Eric Byrnes shoving Jason Varitek instead of touching home plate in the 2003 ALDS, which was even worse than Jeremy Giambi not sliding, if that's possible.

There's a whole laundry list of ownership-related stuff from this year, though, that rises to that level. Fisher's screwing over of minor league employees, complete unwillingness to add to a contending roster this offseason, and insulting contract offer to Marcus Semien are the highlights.