AngelsWin.com's 2014 Staff Picks!

[Chuck]

 

With the Los Angeles Angels season about to get underway, it’s time for the AngelsWin.com Board of Directors to give you our take on the Angels. Some of these answers were given before the announcement of the Mike Trout contract extension, which may have affected the answers.

 

Feel free to play along and share your answers to these questions. Just copy the questions into the thread and post your responses. If you disagree with some of ours, tell us why.

 

No matter what, let’s all enjoy the start of what promises to be a fun-filled and exciting season of Angels baseball!

 

What grade would you give the Angels this offseason?

Adam – A- (pre-Trout extension)

Brian – A- (in light of the Trout extension)

Bruce – B+ (pre-Trout extension)

Chuck – A (in light of the Trout extension)

Dave – A+ (in light of the Trout extension)

Geoff – B+ (pre-Trout extension)

Nick – B (pre-Trout extension)

 

Biggest question going into the season? 

Adam – Starting pitching depth

Brian – Do we have enough starting pitching?

Bruce – Pitching – Starting and relief.

Chuck – While I believe that we’re better 3-5 in the rotation and our bullpen is better with Joe Smith, until the results on the field can match my own expectations there are question marks coming off of last year’s performances.

Dave – Will the bullpen be able to hold leads and pull through when the starting pitching struggles or fails to go deep into games?

Geoff – Starting Pitching. It will always be my biggest concern until they show me it’s not.

Nick – Will Pujols or Hamilton bounce back?

 

Which Angels player or prospect will create a buzz out of the gate?

Adam – Kole Calhoun

Brian – Kole Calhoun

Bruce – Kole Calhoun

Chuck – Kole Calhoun

Dave – Mike Trout—with the extension in place, he already has created a buzz, otherwise it’s Kole Calhoun.

Geoff – Josh Hamilton. He’ll have a nice bounce back year.

Nick – MIKE TROUT

  

Who is your Angels’ 2014 sleeper?

Adam – Erick Aybar will be an All-Star.

Brian – Hector Santiago

Bruce – Chris Ianetta

Chuck – Ian Stewart

Dave – Erick Aybar

Geoff – Raul Ibanez. Methuselah is going to surprise a lot of folks.

Nick – Joe Smith

 

Which Angel player is most likely to disappoint in 2014?

Adam – C.J. Wilson

Brian – David Freese

Bruce – David Freese

Chuck – Raul Ibanez

Dave – Jered Weaver (the bar is higher for Weaver than for Freese and Ibanez, so there’s a greater chance for him to disappoint)

Geoff – Hank Conger. I pray I’m wrong, because I love me some Hank Conger. I just have a bad feeling.

Nick – David Freese

 

Which Angel player is your 2014 comeback player of the year pick?

Adam – Albert Pujols

Brian – Albert Pujols

Bruce – Josh Hamilton

Chuck – Mark Mulder. Wait . . . nevermind. Josh Hamilton

Dave – Josh Hamilton

Geoff – Josh Hamilton

Nick – Josh Hamilton

 

Which Angel starting pitcher will lead the team in strikeouts? 

Adam – Garrett Richards

Brian – Hector Santiago

Bruce – Jered Weaver

Chuck – Hector Santiago

Dave – C.J. Wilson

Geoff – C.J. Wilson

Nick – C.J. Wilson

 

Which Angel reliever pitches in the most games in 2014?

Adam – Dane De La Rosa

Brian – Joe Smith

Bruce – Joe Smith

Chuck – Joe Smith

Dave – Joe Smith

Geoff – Ernasty

Nick – Joe Smith

 

Which Angel player finishes with the highest batting average?

Adam – Mike Trout

Brian – MIKE TROUT!!

Bruce – Mike Trout

Chuck – Mike Trout

Dave – Mike Trout

Geoff – Mike Trout. Oops . . . sorry. I mean, MIKE TROUT!!!

Nick – MIKE TROUT

 

Which Angel player finishes with the most home runs?

Adam – Josh Hamilton

Brian – Albert Pujols

Bruce – Mike Trout

Chuck – Mike Trout

Dave – Josh Hamilton

Geoff – Josh Hamilton

Nick – Josh Hamilton

 

Which Angel player gets the most RBIs?

Adam – Albert Pujols

Brian – Albert Pujols or whoever hits behind Trout

Bruce – Josh Hamilton

Chuck – Albert Pujols

Dave – Albert Pujols

Geoff – Josh Hamilton

Nick – Josh Hamilton

 

Which Angel player steals the most bases? 

Adam – Mike Trout

Brian – Mike Trout

Bruce – Mike Trout

Chuck – Mike Trout

Dave – Mike Trout

Geoff – MIKE TROUT!!!

Nick – MIKE TROUT

 

Will Mike Trout win the MVP Award?

Adam – Yes

Brian – Yes

Bruce – Yes

Chuck – Yes

Dave – Yes

Geoff – Without question.

Nick – YES

 

Which Angels prospect will be named the Angels minor league player of the year?

Adam – C. J. Cron

Brian – Taylor Lindsey

Bruce – Matt Long

Chuck – C. J. Cron

Dave – Taylor Lindsey

Geoff – Matt Long

Nick – Taylor Lindsey

 

How many runs will the Angels score in 2014?

Adam – 804

Brian – 725

Bruce – 950

Chuck – 893

Dave – 820

Geoff – 901

Nick – 795

 

How many games will the Angels win in 2014?

Adam – 90

Brian – 91

Bruce – 90

Chuck – 93

Dave – 92

Geoff – 91

Nick – 93

 

What AL West team will be the toughest competition for the Angels in 2014 (Houston, Oakland, Seattle or Texas)? 

Adam – Oakland

Brian – Oakland

Bruce – Oakland

Chuck – Oakland

Dave – Oakland

Geoff – Texas

Nick – Texas

 

Which team in any league will give the Angels the most trouble?

Adam – Tampa Bay

Brian – Tampa Bay

Bruce – Houston

Chuck – Oakland

Dave – Tampa Bay

Geoff – St. Louis. Because that’s who we’ll face in the World Series.

Nick – Texas

 

Will the 2014 Angels make the playoffs?

Adam – Yes

Brian – Yes

Bruce – Yes

Chuck – Yes

Dave – Yes

Geoff – Yes

Nick – Of Course!

 

Your fearless prediction?

Adam – Hamilton and Pujols combine for 75 Homers and 225 RBIs

Brian – Hamilton will have a great comeback season, but not as good as Pujols.

Bruce – The Angels make the playoffs.

Chuck – Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have rebound type seasons.

Dave – The Angels make the playoffs and get past the first round.

Geoff – Erick Aybar ends the year batting .295 or better.

Nick – World Series Champs!

[nate]

Just for fun...

 

What grade would you give the Angels this offseason?

B+

 

Biggest question going into the season? 

Pitching overall

 

Which Angels player or prospect will create a buzz out of the gate?

Trout, he will build upon his already amazing ability

  

Who is your Angels’ 2014 sleeper?

Calhoun

 

Which Angel player is most likely to disappoint in 2014?

Weaver

 

Which Angel player is your 2014 comeback player of the year pick?

Hamilton

 

Which Angel starting pitcher will lead the team in strikeouts? 

Skaggs

 

Which Angel reliever pitches in the most games in 2014?

Joe Smith

 

Which Angel player finishes with the highest batting average?

Mike Trout

 

Which Angel player finishes with the most home runs?

Hamilton

 

Which Angel player gets the most RBIs?

Pujols

 

Which Angel player steals the most bases? 

Trout

 

Will Mike Trout win the MVP Award?

Yes

 

Which Angels prospect will be named the Angels minor league player of the year?

Matt Long

 

How many runs will the Angels score in 2014?

781

 

How many games will the Angels win in 2014?

91

 

What AL West team will be the toughest competition for the Angels in 2014 (Houston, Oakland, Seattle or Texas)? 

Texas

 

Which team in any league will give the Angels the most trouble?

Oakland

 

Will the 2014 Angels make the playoffs?

 Yes -- can't believe I am saying it but I think they win the div

 

Your fearless prediction?

Angels win the division on the back of Trout, Pujols and Hamilton

[OregonLAA]

Trout will go 40-40

[Spirit]

That Geoff guy nailed it.  I agree with his picks. 

[tomsred]

Just for fun...

 

What grade would you give the Angels this offseason?

B+

 

Biggest question going into the season? 

Starting Pitching

 

Which Angels player or prospect will create a buzz out of the gate?

Trout

  

Who is your Angels’ 2014 sleeper?

Iannetta

 

Which Angel player is most likely to disappoint in 2014?

Freeze

 

 

Which Angel player is your 2014 comeback player of the year pick?

Hamilton

 

Which Angel starting pitcher will lead the team in strikeouts? 

Wilson

 

Which Angel reliever pitches in the most games in 2014?

Smith

 

Which Angel player finishes with the highest batting average?

Trout

 

Which Angel player finishes with the most home runs?

Trout

 

Which Angel player gets the most RBIs?

Hamilton

 

Which Angel player steals the most bases? 

Trout

 

Will Mike Trout win the MVP Award?

Yes

 

Which Angels prospect will be named the Angels minor league player of the year?

Matt Long

 

How many runs will the Angels score in 2014?

802

 

How many games will the Angels win in 2014?

93

 

What AL West team will be the toughest competition for the Angels in 2014 (Houston, Oakland, Seattle or Texas)? 

Oakland

 

Which team in any league will give the Angels the most trouble?

Oakland

 

Will the 2014 Angels make the playoffs?

 Yes

 

Your fearless prediction?

Angels win the AL Pennant and play the Dodgers in the World Series

Edited March 31, 2014 by tomsred

[Brent Maguire]

Might as well do one too. 

 

What grade would you give the Angels this offseason?

B+

 

Biggest question going into the season? 

The innings we get from our 3-5 starters and their effectiveness. Also, the bullpen. 

 

Which Angels player or prospect will create a buzz out of the gate?

Trout. People know he's amazing. But he'll put up even more absurd numbers. 

  

Who is your Angels’ 2014 sleeper?

Calhoun

 

Which Angel player is most likely to disappoint in 2014?

Ibanez

 

Which Angel player is your 2014 comeback player of the year pick?

Pujols

 

Which Angel starting pitcher will lead the team in strikeouts? 

Wilson

 

Which Angel reliever pitches in the most games in 2014?

Joe Smith

 

Which Angel player finishes with the highest batting average?

Mike Trout

 

Which Angel player finishes with the most home runs?

Trout

 

Which Angel player gets the most RBIs?

Pujols

 

Which Angel player steals the most bases? 

Trout

 

Will Mike Trout win the MVP Award?

Yes

 

Which Angels prospect will be named the Angels minor league player of the year?

Taylor Lindsey

 

How many runs will the Angels score in 2014?

835

 

How many games will the Angels win in 2014?

89

 

What AL West team will be the toughest competition for the Angels in 2014 (Houston, Oakland, Seattle or Texas)? 

Houston. But really, Oakland. 

 

Which team in any league will give the Angels the most trouble?

Rangers

 

Will the 2014 Angels make the playoffs?

 Yes 

 

Your fearless prediction?

Mike Trout posts a .340/.450/.580 line and has an 11 WAR season. 

[Dave Saltzer]

Keep 'em coming. It's something fun to do today until the game starts. Besides, at the end of the season, it will be a great way to reflect on how well we were at forecasting the season.

[Glen]

Is it just me, or are some of the same people that were good with the Ibanez signing now predicting him to be the disappointment of the season?

[Chuck]

Is it just me, or are some of the same people that were good with the Ibanez signing now predicting him to be the disappointment of the season?

 

We're all still good with Ibanez. I know I am. 

 

But the question was asked, so I had to pick someone. 

[Hubs]

What grade would you give the Angels this offseason?

B

 

Biggest question going into the season? 

Pujols and Hamilton Hitting

 

Which Angels player or prospect will create a buzz out of the gate?

Hamilton

  

Who is your Angels’ 2014 sleeper?

Grant Green? If he gets called up soon, otherwise, Howie Kendrick. I think Kendrick will challenge for the team lead in batting average.

 

Which Angel player is most likely to disappoint in 2014?

JB Shuck. Just kidding, it's probably Ibanez.

 

Which Angel player is your 2014 comeback player of the year pick?

Hamilton

 

Which Angel starting pitcher will lead the team in strikeouts? 

Santiago

 

Which Angel reliever pitches in the most games in 2014?

Jepsen

 

Which Angel player finishes with the highest batting average?

Kendrick

 

Which Angel player finishes with the most home runs?

Hamilton

 

Which Angel player gets the most RBIs?

Pujols

 

Which Angel player steals the most bases? 

Trout

 

Will Mike Trout win the MVP Award?

Yes

 

Which Angels prospect will be named the Angels minor league player of the year?

Borenstein

 

How many runs will the Angels score in 2014?

891

 

How many games will the Angels win in 2014?

97

 

What AL West team will be the toughest competition for the Angels in 2014 (Houston, Oakland, Seattle or Texas)? 

Oakland

 

Which team in any league will give the Angels the most trouble?

Tampa Bay

 

Will the 2014 Angels make the playoffs?

 Yes

 

Your fearless prediction?

Angels #1 seed in playoffs. Boston misses the playoffs, as does Detroit. Angels, Rays, Indians, WC Orioles, A's.

[Chris]

Why can't I copy and paste this?  What am I doing wrong?  I tried highlight and Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V.  I also tried quote and Ctrl-V but nothing...