warm stove October 2018 (do not post during games)

worst team name, worst uniforms, worst playing surface

they were expectin' to grow flowers in the desert
and they can't look or breathe or see the sun in wintertime

Sam Fuld and Rocco Baldelli have made strong impressions on the #BlueJays in their managerial search, sources tell The Athletic. No apparent front-runner; other, unidentified candidates are believed to be just as strongly in the mix.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 16, 2018

where to?

Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey said the decision to opt out was not meant to influence voters. She said the lease required the team to opt out no later than Tuesday or wait until 2028 for another chance to do so.

“It’s today, or 10 years from now,” Garvey said. “There’s no option in between.”

Garvey would not say whether remaining in Anaheim was the Angels’ first choice.

“We’ll sit down with the new mayor and city council,” she said. “We also are going to look at all our options.”

The Angels ended negotiations with Anaheim in 2014. They explored options for new ballparks in Los Angeles, Carson and Irvine, but prioritized Tustin because of its proximity to the current stadium and fan base.

The sides are believed to have focused on a stadium that would have seated about 37,000 and cost about $700 million. Tustin officials have said they will not provide taxpayer funding for stadium construction.

Garvey said the Angels understand they are unlikely to find a city in Southern California willing to pay for a new ballpark.

“We understand the realities of California,” she said. “There is a significant investment involved either way.”

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2801210-angels-location-up-in-air-after-team-opts-out-of-stadium-lease-in-anaheim

http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la-sp-angels-anaheim-lease-20181016-story.html

They explored options for new ballparks in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Angels of Los Angeles California.

BREAKING: Derek Jeter gets his wish: The Marlins home-run sculpture is outta there. https://t.co/eZBBaZ0QGT pic.twitter.com/qSWaZX6Fa2

— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) October 16, 2018

Angels should get a waterfront stadium in Long Beach, why not

Jeter is a monster

I just started typing the words “I got” and my phone’s suggestions for the next word we’re “to,” “for,” and “DFAd.” This is not a joke. It’s just happened that many times.

— Ty Kelly (@tykelly11) October 18, 2018

new managers

Brad Ausmus, Angels

david Bell, Reds

Bet Ausmus is ready to roll with the inflexible bullpen inning assignments.

The Mets have known for 119 days they will need a GM. The Mets still, apparently, do not know what kind of GM they want: https://t.co/guajSCB9rx pic.twitter.com/vxnL5TtvNn

— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) October 23, 2018

Rocco Baldelli will be named #Twins manager, source confirms @LaVelleNeal and @JonHeyman reports. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 25, 2018

blue jays reportedly hire durham bulls legend/rays bench coach charlie montoyo

this is a nice piece on him, and managing in triple-a, from a few years ago: https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2012/08/20/field-notes

former expo!

his entire big league career consisted of four games with montreal in 1993 -- he went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI (.400/.400/.600)

nice! quit while you're on top of your game, imo

hello, the blue jays' new manager is Charlio Montoyo. he is a father of 2. prepare to die.

Charlie

Down to two. It is Chaim Bloom and it is Brodie Van Wagenen and my goodness they could not be more different:https://t.co/8ySOpthNpF

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 26, 2018

According to FAN radio here, the biggest factor in the Montoyo hiring was that he's Spanish-speaking; second was his ability to work with young players. Obviously, and understandably, Vlad Jr. guided the hiring.

no idea how astute he is with analytics or handling bullpens, although spending four seasons with the rays surely helps

but on a personal level, everyone who's ever played for him or interviewed him or otherwise dealt with him seems to absolutely love the guy. and unlike aaron boone or rocco b, he has extensive experience at actually managing. whether he succeeds or not no doubt depends on the players he's given, but i think it's a great hire and that he will be quite popular in toronto

good canadian kid, tries hard, loves the game

The Rangers will give Stubby Clapp an in-person interview. Clapp has had big success in cardinals minors and is currently managing in the Arizona fall league.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 26, 2018

MLB is filled with more trained and really smart executive candidates than at any time in history -- and the idea that the Mets would hire for GM someone w/o experience running any part of a ball team makes absolutely no sense. The disaster potential is staggering & unnecessary.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 26, 2018

Wilponzi

the idea that the Mets would hire for GM someone w/o experience running any part of a ball team makes absolutely no sense.
i generally think this is true, but there is the Jeff Luhnow experience as a counterpoint

luhnow at least spent eight years in the cardinals' front office (and pretty much ran their scouting?)

excited that the mets are hiring tim tebow's agent tho

he has to quit tho

still a disaster

He must be making way more money as an agent than he would as a GM, assuming he really does "cut ties" with his agency better taking the job.

i would be pretty uncomfortable if i were one of his soon-to-be-former clients

Still, if Van Wagenen becomes the Mets' next GM, he will face significant scrutiny, given the number of Mets players he represents. Van Wagenen is privy to classified medical information that he could theoretically use against his clients in contract negotiations. In July, he said publicly that the Mets should either sign deGrom to a long-term contract extension or trade him, though nothing ever came of that ultimatum. Now, any negotiations with deGrom would present an inherent conflict of interest.

xpost correction: Before taking the job ...