2011 vs. 2015

[Inside Pitch]

Just out of curiosity...  What situation would you rather walk into?

 

Jerry Dipoto took over a 2nd place team with a 138 million payroll (4th highest) coming off an 86 win season with a 102 OPS+ and a 106 ERA+ in a four team division.   Roster wise, 6 of the 9 everyday players were 28 or younger.  3 of the 5 SPs were 28 or younger (entering their age 29 seasons in Jerry's first year).  He inherited a farm system with Mike Trout, Calhoun, Grichuk, Richards, Chatwood, Jean Segura, CJ Cron, and assorted filler.    The offense had 0 pending FAs...  The pitching staff Piniero and Rodney, neither of them were considered worth keeping at the time.

 

Billy Eppler is taking over a 3rd place team with a 150 million dollar payroll (7th highest), coming off an 87 win season with a 97 OPS+  and a 96 ERA+ in a five team division.  Roster wise, 4 of the 9 everyday players are 27 or younger.   3 of the 5 SPs are 27 or younger (Next season will be their age 28 season).  He's inheriting a farm system that has Sean Newcomb, Chris Ellis, Kaleb Cowart, Kyle Kubitza, and assorted filler.  The offense has 3 pending FAs, Freese, Joyce, Ianetta, of which only Freese is worth possibly bringing back.  The pitching staff has none.

 

The average age of both teams is similar, the 2015 team has more pitching upside than the 2011 team, the 2011 team had a lot more offensive upside.  Both teams have a version of Mike Trout so, it comes down to all the other moving parts and how to move forward.

Edited October 5, 2015 by Inside Pitch

[ten ocho recon scout]

Both teams are also looking at a strong texas team the next year, as well as a young team (houston vs oakland) in the way as well.

Hopefully eppler gets a checkbook similar to dipoto in the early going

[laagamer]

I'd rather quit and get hired to run the Cardinals FO

[DMVol]

Probably 2011 because there was less committed to long term deals.....you still had Wells, Weaver had just signed his new deal (I think).....We'll never know the full story behind the Pujols, CJ and Hamilton deals but they took away a lot of flexibility in the last 2 offseasons....and, unless Arte changes the narrative, I suspect will, at least to some extent, handcuff Eppler this offseason....

Edited October 5, 2015 by DMVol

[Inside Pitch]

Probably 2011 because there was less committed to long term deals.....you still had Wells, Weaver had just signed his new deal (I think).....We'll never know the full story behind the Pujols, CJ and Hamilton deals but they took away a lot of flexibility in the last 2 offseasons....and, unless Arte changes the narrative, I suspect will, at least to some extent, handcuff Eppler this offseason....

 

The two teams really aren't all that different -- their assets are just in different places.   I tend to go 11 too for the same reason, but maybe 15 is better because there is the hope that Arte has learned a lesson...   A lot of contracts coming off the books the next couple of years.  Our best hope is that the farm system again surprises given the relative lack of depth there....

Edited October 5, 2015 by Inside Pitch

[Make Angels Great Again]

Go to 2011.

 

Then sign Iwakuma, Greinke, Uehara and Puig 

[Docwaukee]

knowing Dipoto's immediate future is important to include in this dialog I think even though it kinda wrecks depicting one scenario vs. the other.  

 

On the surface, I'd much rather have Dipoto's yet what we know happens to the team immediately after he arrives with the starting pitching falling apart and zero farm help makes me favor Eppler's situation.  

[Hubs]

The Angels are a better team now than after 2011. A few additions and they're a playoff team. They're younger.