Exclusive! MCM: Nick Wagner

Monday, Monday! And we got another man for you babes to drool over.

Meet this week’s MCM: Nick Wagner!

Here’s another guy that’s just straight up athletic. This 6’3, 210 lb. hunk was drafted out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays. Wagner then had a change of plans heading to Oregon to play as a punter for the football team. When he realized how little the team actually punts, he went back to baseball.

He transferred to Dominguez Hills where he spent most of his time batting, with an occasional pitching appearance. Lucky him, because Angels scout Dan Cox liked what he saw when he watched Wagner on the mound and invited him to a private tryout.

He hit 95mph. No big deal.

Could he do it again? Sure, why not.

He hit it again at a tryout at Angel Stadium just before the draft.

Needless to say, the Angels spent a 44th-round draft pick and sent him to the Arizona Rookie League, where he proceeded to strike out 32 batters in 191/3 innings.

Wagner spent this past fall working on his pitching in instructional league, however the Angels invited him to spring training in the early group, before the reporting day for the rest of the minor leaguers.

We love a man with plenty to say and boy did we get that from Mr. Wagner this week! Check out all the elaborate responses Wagner had for all our questions! He even hand-wrote them all out for us in his notebook! From the his crush on a childhood fave to admitting to being a total softy (awww), this is a MCM you don’t want to miss out on reading!

MCM: Nick Wagner!

 

Thanks for being TCD’s MCM this week Nicky boy! We’ll be rooting for ya!

Until Next Time,

 

 

Mike Napoli aka The Fireman

Mike Napoli is hot. I know that. You know that. Everyone knows that. There is no doubt about it. (Oh, you meant on a hot streak? Not physically striking? Oops. Whatever.) Either way, the first baseman for the Boston Red Sox is doing something right. He even made Bleacher Report’s “MLB Team of the Week”. Like hi, are you single?

If you follow baseball at all, you are well aware of how AWFUL his OPS really was: .533. We’re talking one of the worst hitters in the league. Like okay, even I could do better than that. And I haven’t hit a ball since my dad stuck me in front of a tennis ball machine in the back yard with a helmet and a bat and told me to hit as many as I could, as far as I could! I was maybe 12, by the way. *Hair flip*

But then something changed. First, he watched film and realized he was making several mechanical errors at the plate. And second, a 9-year-old signed his bat. No really, a 9-year-old signed his bat. And the best part is that is where he has attributed some of his successes ever since (can I bring you home to meet my mom now, or…). Now obviously just switching a few minor things around with the way you bat isn’t going to change everything, but obviously having a 9-year-old sign your bat will (duh). But in all seriousness, with a combination of his batting corrections, the faith (and signature) of a 9-year-old, and his hot momentum, Napoli is going off (and up, and not just on Tuesdays, people). Currently, Napoli’s OPS has been raised up to 1.080 over the course of the last few games.

Maybe this correlates with this year being his 9-year anniversary since his MLB debut? Maybe? Probably not.

When batters are on a hot streak the way Napoli is, pitchers want to avoid them at all costs. No one wants to face the hot guy, well, except for me. I want to face the hot guy. (Wait, you still mean on a hot streak? Dang!) Still, when a batter is on fire and absolutely killing the game, you want to stay far away from them like the game depends on it, because, well, it does.

So here’s to hoping this hot streak continues!

And Mike, if you see this (and your hot streak has ended, or maybe it hasn’t…but you’re still hot), call me. 😉

– Alexa

Guess Who’s Back.. Back Again.. Hammy’s Back! Tell Your Friends.

As we all know, Josh Hamilton has had his fair share of ups and downs. Perhaps that’s all over now. But who really knows. I guess we’ll just have to watch and see.

Brief recap: In February of this year, Hamilton suffered from a shoulder injury while with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Unfortunately, this injury then led to his relapse into his drug addiction which has been a battle for him in the past. He did report the relapse directly to the MLB, but the Angels still made an executive decision to trade him to  (dah, dahh, dahh) the Texas Rangers.

Right back to where he started.

It should be safe to say that Josh is home sweet home.

Before his first game back in Globe Life Park, he did play with the Rangers in three away games but was a bit rusty. Hamilton’s first at-bat in Globe Life Park was welcoming and heart-warming. The fans gave him a standing ovation.

 

According to USA Today, Hamilton said, “It’ll be a game I’ll remember forever.”

So, in return, Hamilton gave his fans something to cheer even more about: a double past right field.

But he had plenty more up his sleeve. The next day, Josh was listed in the Texas Rangers lineup against the Boston Red Sox once again. Hamilton hit TWO home runs that game.

It looks like Hamilton was ready to run home sweet home rather than walk. Quite the analogy huh? The Rangers ended that game with a win, 7-4.

Hamilton was not listed in the lineup for the series finale against the Red Sox, but with a tie game in the bottom of the ninth guess who gets brought in as a pinch hitter? Oh yeah. Hamilton. While at-bat, Hamilton drilled the third pitch for a walk-off double to win the game.

Talk about a welcome back that might as well be scripted for a movie.

Five of Hamilton’s six hits have come at “home” at Globe Life Park and if that doesn’t show a comfort level for Hamilton, I don’t know what would.

Clearly Hamilton is showing everyone, including his loyal Texas fan folk that he’s back & he’s ready.

And most importantly, Hamilton is showing Texas that their minimum investment is definitely paying off thus far.

– Hailey

Just Because, Mike Trout

Well of course we all love Mike Trout-not only is he extremely hot, but there is no doubt he is the Angels’ All-Star and MLB’s favorite rookie to the sport!

Trout has earned the respect among his peers and among Angel’s fans because he’s batting, oh you know, .297/.386/.543 for a 163 OPS. Not too shabby.

Trout is constantly in control of the game, whether it’s running the bases (like his feet are actually on fire) or blasting the ball to the ends of the stadium. Plus did you see his steal to third against the Red Sox?! It doesn’t get much more impressive than that.

Even Bryce Harper loves the kid. According to the Washington Post, Harper said Trout is “the best player in baseball, and I don’t think anybody can argue with that.”

And I’d like to see someone try and argue that!

But seriously, what do I love better than watching that cute face on Subway commercials? Seeing a 23-year-old make a name for not only himself in the majors, but also making a name for the sport.

Oh, and I guess enjoying my beer and brat while watching the kid at an Angels game pretty much tops the list.

– Taylor