#NerdsUnite: Play on playa! (Breaking down the world of sports so you don't have to!)
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Derek - I met him when I was professor for a day at CSUF. Really rad dude, and he wants to come on board to help explain to us nerdy folk the wild world of sports. Smart dude, and knows his shizzy shiznat. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT DEREK!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @DerekJ_AllDay
Hello again everyone! As we are in the midst of finals week for most schools I want to again wish you good luck and good grades! If you aren’t already on break then it is a week away, stay positive! Many things have been going on recently in the sports world, such as Chris Paul being traded to the Lakers, and then the commissioner vetoing the trade and not allowing it to go through. Many asked… why? The answer is that other NBA owners bitched and moaned to the commissioner because the Lakers were going to be too good. The commissioner replied by rewarding their childish behavior. On most days, like 99% of the time, I would be writing about that NBA deal…but not today. Today is a bit about baseball free agency/trades, but it’s mostly about me, my team the Angels, and the King…Albert Pujols.
I have been an Angel’s baseball fan since 1999 when I was 9 years old. We were a mediocre team with some promise at the time, but I joined their fan base because I am a loyalist and I will always stick with my local teams. In 2002 I, along with all Angel’s fans, was rewarded with a World Series victory. Nobody expected us to do much that year, and shockingly enough we proved all of them wrong by winning the championship. That was easily the most exciting moment in Angel’s history because it is their only World Series victory. The Angels have now rewarded their fans with something else…
Last Thursday, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (yes, that’s their full name) announced that they signed Albert Pujols, or King Albert, to a 10 year 254 million dollar contract. King Albert has been a Cardinal for the past 11 years and has literally put up Hall of Fame numbers. I will attempt to not bore you with the details of his stats, but he is arguably the best player in the history of baseball, and is absolutely the best player currently in baseball.
Also, on Thursday, the Angels signed a pitcher named CJ Wilson. He is also a great player and is going to help us on our way to the World Series!
Baseball is very interesting because of how important free agents are to the game. Every player has a contract, and while they are signed to a contract they play for a certain team for the amount of years and money that they signed for. Once that contract is over, they have the right to become a free agent, where they will be able to take offers from all of the major league teams and accept which ever offer they would like. Albert Pujols was a free agent before he signed with the Angels. This makes the league very interesting as a whole because even legends like King Albert, could end up changing teams when you don’t really expect them to.
This is not to be confused with trades, which is when a team exchanges players/money/draft picks to another team for players/money/draft picks. For example, the Angels trade Jigglypuff to the Dodgers for Charizard (horrible trade I know), and take on the contracts of those players. These are very emotional times for baseball fans, as the players they have grown to love could leave your team at any time whether it is via trade or free agency.
Anyways back to Pujols, and how happy I am! Ever since I have been a fan the Angels have never been the big spenders of the market. Years come and go, and the big free agent prize player never ends up signing with the Angels…until now! Prior to the signing of King Albert the Angels were contenders for the playoffs, but were not even close to favorites. Now that we have signed King Albert and CJ, media outlets are anointing us as 1 of the 2 favorites to go to the World Series! 4,000 fans showed up to the press conference to introduce Albert and CJ, and every sports media outlet in the country was covering it.
In other words, NOW WE GOT SWAG!
For all you Angel’s fans out there that have been through a lot of both the thick and the thin, we stand UNITED! For the fans of the other teams, sorry, better luck next time. This is our league now baby! Haha
If you ever had interest in baseball, now is the time to jump into fan-hood. The league is going crazy with activity, and so many teams are showing up to be serious contenders. The time of the Yankees or Red Sox ruling the league is over, and parody has begun.
It doesn’t matter which team you pick to cheer for, but what does matter is that you commit to that team and your allegiances never change!
For all sports discussions, especially baseball, tweet me @DerekJ_AllDay. Also, tweet CJ Wilson himself @str8edgeracer or King Albert @PujolsFive (Although Albert isn’t very active). I can’t wait to talk with you!