We need to find players who can get it done...

[QuinlansMinion]

In the postseason.  You look at a guy like Nelson Cruz.  He is only making 8 million, plays DH but he routinely outperforms guys that are getting paid way more than him when the postseason begins.  These are the types of signings that we have been immune to over the years.  Guys who dont always have the best reputation, but still have the talent.  We have always stayed away from those types of players over the years, instead we end up with Pujols on a ridiculous deal, and Hamilton.  Cruz was looking for a team last year, who knows maybe he hits one or two of those home runs with us (or at least a double), and that could have been the difference in our cleanup spot (where Howie went 0fer). 

 

Some guys just know how to focus when it counts, have good grind out at bats and put the barrel on the ball more often than not.  But just cant withstand the grind to do it every day for 162 games.  Im not sure if there are any Cruz type players out there this offseason that would take similar deals.  I always wished we would have gotten Barry Bonds or Manny Ramirez back in the days, guys who just knew how to get it done.  And now Cruz is on that list.  

 

I like what Calhoun does offensively.  He can definitely be that legitimate postseason player as soon as next year.  Trout can also become that dominant postseason force.  Cron looked ridiculous all series in his at bats, absolutely zero plate discipline.  Kendrick was once again horrible, he has proven he isnt the postseason player we need.  I dont know who we can pick up this offseason that fits the mold of a solid postseason performer but the philosophy of this orginization has to change if the Angels are ever going to accomplish anything more than a division title.

[Blarg]

[QuinlansMinion]

DH

[Blarg]

Already served a suspension for steroids.

[Angel Oracle]

So, you would prefer then yet another $100 million plus contract for someone who can't do it in October?

Don't we have waaay enough of those already?

[QuinlansMinion]

Already served a suspension for steroids.

 

Thank you for helping prove my point.  You cant not sign a player you think can help you win a championship just because of an off the field issue.  Thats why we always end up with the nice guys who get paid the most but perform the least when its October.  The Angels front office seems to think just like you.  Maybe its the Orange County effect.

[Chuck]

So if we had Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter, JD Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Max Scherzer, David Price you'd rather want Aoki, Cain, Hosmer, Butler, Vargas and Moustakas instead?

The playoffs are a crapshoot. The Angels ran into a buzzsaw, period.

[Angel Oracle]

Nope, give us the ones though who don't immediately become decent only at best after coming here.

With the history of the ones who have come here, can you blame some in here for being leery of the next signings?

Edited October 6, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[Chuck]

Nope, give us the ones though who don't immediately become decent only at best after coming here.

With the history of the ones who have come here, can you blame some in here for being leery of the next signings?

So you want a bunch of guys who are mediocre opposed to good to very good?

Again, the playoffs are a crapshoot and the Angels ran into a buzzaw. They were beating the O's with the way they pitched, played D, ran the bases and had timely hits, HRs.

[QuinlansMinion]

So if we had Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter, JD Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Max Scherzer, David Price you'd rather want Aoki, Cain, Hosmer, Butler, Vargas and Moustakas instead?

The playoffs are a crapshoot. The Angels ran into a buzzsaw, period.

Its not a crap shoot.  The same players repeatedly choke every postseason.  Kendrick has had several chance to prove himself, he always craps the bed every time we make it.  CJ and Hamilton have always been useless in October, but we signed them anyway and look what happened.  

 

You can try to call it a crap shoot as much as you want, but how many times do we have to get eliminated before people start realizing you dont just luck yourself to a championship.  Theres a reason the Cardinals and Giants have won.  The Red Sox won last year because they had a roster full of postseason performers.  Saying its a crap shoot is just a cop out for a team that always dominates the regular season but cant get it done when it matters.  

[arch stanton]

Cruz has one talent and that one lonely talent would be largely wasted here. The only free agent who came here and shined was Vlad but what are the chances of getting a HoF talent in his prime?

[Glen]

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

[wopphil]

I'd love to see the team trade for a guy like a Lorenzo Cain or Adam Eaton. Someone with great defense, speed, and who plays with intensity. Put him in left and move Hamilton to DH.

[Redondo]

I'd love to see the team trade for a guy like a Lorenzo Cain or Adam Eaton. Someone with great defense, speed, and who plays with intensity. Put him in left and move Hamilton to DH another team.

 

FTFY

[Stradling]

Steroid suspensions are now considered an "off the field issue"?

[eligrba]

This conversation helped in creating a desire to sign Pujols or Fielder.

 

Perhaps a different approach?

[Glen]

Steroid suspensions are now considered an "off the field issue"?

 

 

Technically, yes. Nobody does steroids on the field.

[Palomar]

So only postseason statistics should be looked at when acquiring or signing a player? You do have to GET to the postseason.

[acro2008]

So if we had Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter, JD Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Max Scherzer, David Price you'd rather want Aoki, Cain, Hosmer, Butler, Vargas and Moustakas instead?

The playoffs are a crapshoot. The Angels ran into a buzzsaw, period.

 

The playoffs certainly have their element of uncontrollable circumstances.  However, IMO, KC was nothing close to a buzzsaw.  Neither Vargas or Sheilds had their good stuff and the Royals happened to sweep the number 1 ranked  Halos while batitng .198 for the series and striking out 1 more time than the Angels in the series.  Ventura pitched very well but Shoemaker matched him with slightly better numbers.  The Angels absolutely stunk  with men on base continuing to allow their nuts to be sucked up into their body cavity.  We were what?  2 for 30 with men on over 3 games?    

 

The mental prep of the games and series, such as using momentum when it's afforded you, hitting in bunches and knowing it's not as much what happens to you but how you react to it, are ignored when calling the post season a crapshoot. I also think club chemistry is amplified in the playoffs.   I understand things happen beyond a teams control but if the playoffs are a crapshoot, then would think  since 2002 the Angels are playing with dice that are loaded to fail.  

[19HALO71]

I'll take the lineup that won 98 games and take my chances. I'm pretty sure those circus catches and great assists had something to do with the Royals winning. we got beat, get over it!!

[Angel Oracle]

So only postseason statistics should be looked at when acquiring or signing a player? You do have to GET to the postseason.

For all of the big money players we have signed/traded for the past several years, how many have even been close to performing to their salary in season? 

Even Pujols, despite the top 5 AL standing in rbis, BARELY surpassed an .800 OPS.    That is NOT what $240 million should get you! 

[vlad27]

Technically, yes. Nobody does steroids on the field.

I'll bet Arod did - there weren't cameras on him 24/7 Ill bet he injected himself during s pitching change or something

[DoubleOffTheWall]

lol Cruz is a horrible example. You invited the feedback you are getting.

 

I understand your general premise though - this team needs some players with attitude and who know how to win.

Hamilton and CJ are not that. 

 

All the other playoff games were so intense, the teams looked SO into it, and every moment was to die for. 

 

This series was sleepy and boring. 

[Thomas]

Hell without steroids to artificially extend careers by the time players have a proven playoff pedigree and hit free agency they are most likely already on the decline. 

[sneaky_flute]

Nelson Cruz had an injured quad and never should have been on the field to begin with. That's why it's a poor example.

 

Anyway, there's no magic formula for winning a playoff series. Baseball is a game of inches and there are far more variables at play. Skill is the determining factor over the course of an entire season, but not necessarily so during the postseason. That's why it's kind of silly to place so much emphasis on a playoff series. It's not like the NFL or NBA where you get to see the better team emerge victorious (usually) after the ultimate showdown. 

 

Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, two players who aren't very good, provided most offense for the Royals. That's how unpredictable the game is. Just think of the playoffs as a regular series with a different atmosphere.