When healthy

[Stradling]

What should our 25 man roster be? This is very tough because even if we DFA the guys we want to DFA there are tough decisions to be made. So I'll start and I am doing this off the top of my head and it won't be perfect.

1b- Albert

2nd- Howie

3rd- Freese

SS- Aybar

C- Ianetta

LF- Hamiliton

CF- Trout

RF- Calhoun

DH- Cron

Bench- McDonald

Bench-Cowgill

Bench- Conger

Bench-Green

Bench-Navaro

SP-Weaver

SP-Wilson

SP-Richards

SP-Skaggs

SP-Shoemaker

RP- Freiri

RP- Smith

RP- Kohn

RP-Santiago

RP-Morin

RP-Alvarez

So if my math is correct that is 25 people right there. But what are the chances any team, not just the Angels who a lot of you will say they won't ever do this, would release this many players when the team is actually playing well. The release list looks like this: Ibanez, Stewart, Jepsen and Salas. So roughly 20% of your team gone. Also this requires Jimenez to be sent back down. I know we say that team chemistry could be over rated and something that is cured by winning, but that is a lot of your team that would be gone. Like I said I did this off the top of my head so if I am missing something obvious let me know. But I think the way I see it is we would still have a couple of extra outfielders, a couple of extra infielders and we would have six guys in the pen.

[Chuck]

Ibanez is not going anywhere soon.

[rageous]

Cowgill should get the nod over Cron for dh and 4th outfielder playing time in my opinion.

He has earned it.

[Glen]

Ibanez is not going anywhere soon.

It's gonna suck when Cron gets sent down and Ibanez stays on the team. I guess he's better off getting regular ABs though.

[Stradling]

Ibanez is not going anywhere soon.

If that is the case then Chuck who do you send down? Cron or Navaro?

[Stradling]

Cowgill should get the nod over Cron for dh and 4th outfielder playing time in my opinion.

He has earned it.

I don't have a problem with that. I do like the idea of the Angels working the three outfielders and Pujols at the DH position along with Cowgill.

[moccasin]

Navarro will be sent down 100% because he's a lefty and we already have Cal and Ham.

I wish Cron or Iannetta could learn to play third base.

[Broad Street]

Why is Ianetta starting over Conger?

[Stradling]

Why is Ianetta starting over Conger?

Platoon. Nice contribution KM.

[CanadianHalo]

Never thought I'd say this but I want Cowgill in the lineup. He's becoming patient at the plate and has great speed. Ideally I like to see him as full time lead off hitter. Even when Calhoun comes back.

Edited May 15, 2014 by CanadianHalo

[Second Base]

If I absolutely had it my way....

 

Lineup (9):RF Calhoun CF Trout DH Pujols RF Hamilton 2B Kendrick 1B Cron 3B Freese C Conger SS Aybar

Bench (4): Cowgill, Iannetta, Green, McDonald

Rotation (5): Richards, Wilson, Weaver, Skaggs, Shoemaker

Bullpen (7): Frieri, Smith, Morin, Kohn, Alvarez, Bedrosian, Santiago

 

Ianneta and Conger platoon, Cowgill's the late inning defensive sub in the OF and pinch runner, Green receives consistent starts at DH, 2B, SS and 3B and McDonals is the late inning defensive replacement for Freese, backup infielder and clubhouse leader.

 

The rotation is set up by having the best pitchers go first.  Garrett Richards is our best pitcher.  As for the bullpen, it really doesn't matter how you line them up.  Every last one of those guys can close and Santiago is our lefty specialist. 

[arch stanton]

Maybe I'm nitpicking but I gotta say I'm amazed that a knowledgeable baseball person wants Cron at 1B over Pujols. Albert is so obviously superior in the field.

[wopphil]

If I absolutely had it my way....

Lineup (9):RF Calhoun CF Trout DH Pujols RF Hamilton 2B Kendrick 1B Cron 3B Freese C Conger SS Aybar

Bench (4): Cowgill, Iannetta, Green, McDonald

Rotation (5): Richards, Wilson, Weaver, Skaggs, Shoemaker

Bullpen (7): Frieri, Smith, Morin, Kohn, Alvarez, Bedrosian, Santiago

Ianneta and Conger platoon, Cowgill's the late inning defensive sub in the OF and pinch runner, Green receives consistent starts at DH, 2B, SS and 3B and McDonals is the late inning defensive replacement for Freese, backup infielder and clubhouse leader.

The rotation is set up by having the best pitchers go first. Garrett Richards is our best pitcher. As for the bullpen, it really doesn't matter how you line them up. Every last one of those guys can close and Santiago is our lefty specialist.

This is close to what I would do too.

[Chuck]

If I absolutely had it my way....

Lineup (9):RF Calhoun CF Trout DH Pujols RF Hamilton 2B Kendrick 1B Cron 3B Freese C Conger SS Aybar

Bench (4): Cowgill, Iannetta, Green, McDonald

Rotation (5): Richards, Wilson, Weaver, Skaggs, Shoemaker

Bullpen (7): Frieri, Smith, Morin, Kohn, Alvarez, Bedrosian, Santiago

Ianneta and Conger platoon, Cowgill's the late inning defensive sub in the OF and pinch runner, Green receives consistent starts at DH, 2B, SS and 3B and McDonals is the late inning defensive replacement for Freese, backup infielder and clubhouse leader.

The rotation is set up by having the best pitchers go first. Garrett Richards is our best pitcher. As for the bullpen, it really doesn't matter how you line them up. Every last one of those guys can close and Santiago is our lefty specialist.

I agree with everything except for Cron at 1B over Pujols.

Pujols is the best I've seen at 1B defensively a long time.

[Sherlock31]

Never thought I'd say this but I want Cowgill in the lineup. He's becoming patient at the plate and has great speed. Ideally I like to see him as full time lead off hitter. Even when Calhoun comes back.

Too bad that he's RHB and there are too many RHB in the lineup already.

[Second Base]

I agree with everything except for Cron at 1B over Pujols.

Pujols is the best I've seen at 1B defensively a long time.

 

Well let's not get caught up on Cron at 1B over Pujols.  Albert is clearly a superior defensive 1B, anyone can see that.  That position assignment had more to do with what I saw today, which was Albert struggling around the bases.  Even at completely healthy it seems that base running may take it's toll on him.  

[DW711]

Judging by every team in the league..you need to plan for a 30 man roster..maybe even more than that.

[Erstad Grit]

Ibanez off the bench to PH is a great option

[EDinTUSTIN]

Ibanez as a coach is a better option. At this point of his career he should not be taking AB's away from Cron. I do like Cowgill and what he has brought, but I would not start him at the expense of Cron.

[tomsred]

It's fun to conjecture on the top 25 players in the organization, but reality is that it will take between 45-50 contributing players to win a championship this season (that number has been the norm for players used for at least the last 10 years).  To date the organization has used 37 different players.  It is almost a sure bet before this season ends we will see at least 8 more different players than have played already.  There will be more injuries, hopefully none that are debilitating to front line starters.  There is also the possibility of a trade or trades.  Someone will probably miss a few games because of other personal reasons.  There are a number of players who will probably get sent down, not because they are in the top 25, but because they can go down to AAA without being claimed by another team.

 

A good part of the reason that we are winning lately is because of players who were not on the original 25 man roster when the season began, and that is what makes the current success exciting and encouraging for me.

 

So who is left that we haven't seen up here yet?  Certainly Alvarez, Bedrosian, and Bedrock.  Then there is Lindsay and Cowart, possibly.  Then there are at least 3-5 more who are not even in the organization currently, who none of us even have a clue who they are.

Edited May 15, 2014 by tomsred

[ten ocho recon scout]

In terms of cowgill, I have no clue how sustainable his obp is (obviously not this good, but hope he can at min stay above .340-350), but I like him.

Not suggesting he plays over calhoun, but I like the face he can play every outfield spot (and 2B I think?), and that in the outfield hes been very good. Defense doesnt get its due too often when we rate guys.

[tomsred]

In terms of cowgill, I have no clue how sustainable his obp is (obviously not this good, but hope he can at min stay above .340-350), but I like him.

Not suggesting he plays over calhoun, but I like the face he can play every outfield spot (and 2B I think?), and that in the outfield hes been very good. Defense doesnt get its due too often when we rate guys.

 

I agree, he's certainly been impressive so far.  For a guy claimed off the scrap heap, he's a rare jewel for the first 60 days of the season.

[HeavenlyHalos]

It's fun to conjecture on the top 25 players in the organization, but reality is that it will take between 45-50 contributing players to win a championship this season (that number has been the norm for players used for at least the last 10 years).  To date the organization has used 37 different players.  It is almost a sure bet before this season ends we will see at least 8 more different players than have played already.  There will be more injuries, hopefully none that are debilitating to front line starters.  There is also the possibility of a trade or trades.  Someone will probably miss a few games because of other personal reasons.  There are a number of players who will probably get sent down, not because they are in the top 25, but because they can go down to AAA without being claimed by another team.

 

A good part of the reason that we are winning lately is because of players who were not on the original 25 man roster when the season began, and that is what makes the current success exciting and encouraging for me.

 

So who is left that we haven't seen up here yet?  Certainly Alvarez, Bedrosian, and Bedrock.  Then there is Lindsay and Cowart, possibly.  Then there are at least 3-5 more who are not even in the organization currently, who none of us even have a clue who they are.

 

Ummm, this is the same person, the latter being his nickname.

[dimitrig]

This team had no business signing Ibanez.

[arch stanton]

Probably doesn't play second, because he throws left handed. I have no idea why he bats right only, but I'll take the results right now.

I'm fairly certain there have been others, but cannot specifically remember a player who threw left and batted right. I can't even think of a lefty that was a switch hitter.

Rickey Henderson