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The Anaheim Angels, currently in last place in the American League West and sporting the worst team ERA in baseball, have acquired relief pitcher Hunter Strickland from the Tampa Bay Rays, it was announced today.
Because we all enjoy hating and laughing at the Angels, this move is one we should appreciate. If the name Hunter Strickland sounds familiar, it’s because he’s become known for being an angry redass. Strickland achieved notoriety for hitting Bryce Harper with a pitch in May, 2017, which prompted a bench-clearing brawl and earned Strickland a suspension. He apparently was exacting revenge for Harper homering off of Strickland twice in the 2014 NLDS, one of which splashed down in McCovey Cove — this was the first time Harper had faced Strickland since that incident. A year later, Strickland spent a couple of months on the injured list after getting mad and punching a door, resulting in a broken hand. He obviously didn’t listen to what Crash Davis told Nuke LaLoosh about punching.