It is now the start of May, the one-month point of a regular season that still has yet to begin. While there is no firm return date in sight for baseball, there still has been some progress.
For example, since the postponement of spring training I’ve binged the following:
- “Narcos: Mexico” (Season 2)
- “Love Is Blind”
- “Tiger King”
- “High Fidelity”
- “Gentefied”
- “Living With Yourself”
- “Better Call Saul” (Season 4; awaiting Season 5 on Netflix)
- “Sunderland ‘Til I Die” (Season 2)
- “Sex Education”
- “Atypical”
- “Money Heist” (Seasons 1-3)
- “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner”
- “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Season 10)
- “Brooklyn Nine Nine” (Season 7)
- “Insecure” (Season 1)
I’ve also been watching in-progress series such as “The Last Dance,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and MTV’s “The Challenge.” This is not strictly TV, but Jon Bois’ YouTube documentary on the history of the Seattle Mariners has been compelling viewing. My viewing choices contain multitudes.
Of course, the progress on the “actual baseball” front is equal parts ongoing and stagnant. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.
Let’s get to them.
Will the AAA, AA, and A leagues continue to pay their newly drafted players?
Are season ticket holders for Angels and Dodgers, getting refunds for the games not being played?
Did you go to Newport Beach last weekend???— Bob Gandara (@chingasdomingez) April 30, 2020
As it stands right now, minor leaguers will continue to be paid a stipend through May 31. What happens beyond that could depend on if there’s a season at all. Multiple reports this week indicated that there has not been a cancellation of the minor-league season, but I’d imagine that minor-league baseball will not take its traditional form in 2020.
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When it comes to tickets, the Angels — to my knowledge — have not changed their policy since spring training. Individuals can call, and the Angels will handle requests on a case-by-case basis since no games technically have been canceled yet.
I did not go to Newport Beach. I’ve been quarantined in Arizona with family and have remained at home other than getting essentials.
Any lingering free angents signed during this pandemic? What’s the rehab pitching status of Shohei? And what’s your spirit animal and why?
— T Cee (@IzThisYours) April 30, 2020
No major-league free agents have formally signed since the shutdown. A roster freeze went into effect shortly after the MLB-MLBPA agreement, so no transactions can be made, period.
As far as Shohei Ohtani’s rehab goes, Angels general manager Billy Eppler told MLB Network this week that Ohtani is throwing bullpens twice a week. If all were normal, he would begin facing hitters in May. Whether he will depends on how they can manage the social-distancing guidelines. If it’s a shortened season, it’s possible to imagine him being ready to be a two-way player from the outset.
I asked my mother and sister, with whom I am quarantined, what they believe my spirit animal is. They said dolphin, though I’m not sure why. Given my erratic sleep schedule during this time, I feel myself relating to cats.
Do you think the Angels make it out of the West division if MLB realigns for this year? I think we could be top 3 after the Dodgers and Astros.
— Matthew Blutinger (@Halodux) April 29, 2020
This potential idea was first floated by USA Today, putting the Angels in a 10-team division with the Dodgers, Giants, A’s, Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rangers, Astros and Mariners. Essentially, it’s the American League West and National League West smashed together.
If I had to power rank how I viewed each team going into a 2020 season, I’d probably go somewhere like: Dodgers, Astros, Diamondbacks (I really like their depth), A’s, Angels, Padres, Rangers, Rockies, Giants and Mariners.
Not sure how the playoff structure would pan out, but I think that 3-to-5 group is pretty close in terms of roster talent.
Are David Fletcher and David Eckstein the same person?
— Noah Daigle (@noahdaigle22) April 29, 2020
The two were fused together out of pure grit and bat-to-ball ability. According to Out Of The Park Baseball, it’s not as close of a matchup as you might think!
Best places to eat around the stadium
— I got 3$ (@A_A_BOI) April 30, 2020
I’ve always found the food options at Angel Stadium to be underwhelming, in part because they don’t take from a lot of the good local spots in the area. The rotisserie chicken spot is pretty solid overall, though.
On the whole, there aren’t many parks I’ve visited that have particularly notable concession items. My personal favorite might be the crab sandwich at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. I miss the LoLo’s Chicken and Waffles at Chase Field, though I do try to visit their Phoenix-area locations during spring training.
2 questions
1. any tips for becoming a journalist
2. will it be easier or harder for the angels to make the playoffs with the 3 division plan
— PaperBagSports (@PaperBag_Sports) April 29, 2020
I answered the second question above, but the biggest advice for journalism I can give is: 1) read as much as you can and 2) try to practice writing as often as you can. The biggest thing that helps me when I’m stuck on a story is going back and reading pieces from some of my favorite writers, and writing often at a young age really helped me as I tried to find my voice.
Other than that, so much of this job is your ability to communicate with others.
over/under 2.5 Arizona State players taken in first two rounds, 8.5 taken in entire MLB Draft
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) April 29, 2020
I wouldn’t be surprised to see two Sun Devils in the first round (consensus No. 1 Spencer Torkelson and Alika Williams). Gage Workman has a nice stroke from both sides of the plate, so I’ll have him sneaking into the first two rounds.
But with a potentially shortened draft, I could see Arizona State falling below that 8.5 number.
What are you watching on Netflix right now?
Where would you rank the Angel's uniform set among the league? I really like the white and grays, but the reds can use a revamp, and it doesn't exactly help that they have started to be used more often.
— David Mora (@david_mora10) April 30, 2020
I think the Angels’ overall uniform set is kind of bland, to be honest. There is far too much red throughout the park and in the uniforms. One easy way to appease me is to put the 70s throwbacks in the regular rotation of uniforms.
As far as what I’m watching right now, I’m heavily invested in this season of “The Challenge” (Bear feels like he was engineered in a reality television lab), and I just finished the first season of “Insecure” on HBO. I’m also in the middle of “Money Heist” on Netflix with my family. After that, I’ll probably start my maiden voyage watching either “The Sopranos” or “The Wire.”
Favorite quarantine snack
— Chase Kelln (@kelln_chase) April 29, 2020
My “healthy” quarantine snack has been banana chips. I usually have some with me at home and during the season. I’ll even go find a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods on the road and buy some. I may have bought a party-sized bag when we were in Minnesota last year.
As far as my guilty pleasure snack, I’m a sucker for Oatmeal Creme Pies. Even dating back to my soccer-playing days, I’d bring a box with me on trips. I may even be eating one as I write this.
Which Angel has the cutest pet?
— Jeffrey Tan (@htennis98) April 30, 2020
This is tough. They are all good pets. Molly Knight highlighted all the good dogs (and cats) two weeks ago.
Andrelton Simmons’ dog, Luna, doesn’t get enough publicity. Mike and Jessica Trout’s new dog, Josie, is adorable. But the biggest star of all has to be Juno Trout. While Juno and Josie now share an Instagram account, the 8,000-plus followers (for context, that’s more than twice the number of Instagram followers as Trout’s manager, Joe Maddon) have largely followed due to Juno’s presence on their feeds.
Find someone who looks at you like Mike Trout looks at Juno devouring a puppacino.
View this post on Instagram
Thanks for all the long walks, puppachinos & endless kisses, Dad! Happy Father’s Day 💙🐶🐾
A post shared by Juno + Josie Trout (@junojosietrout) on
(Photo of Mike Trout and Max Muncy: Harry How / Getty Images)
Fabian Ardaya is a staff writer covering the Los Angeles Dodgers for The Athletic. He previously spent three seasons covering the crosstown Los Angeles Angels for The Athletic. He graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in May 2017 after growing up in a Phoenix-area suburb. Follow Fabian on Twitter @FabianArdaya
