Is there any hope for Simmons' bat?

[Second Base]

I think I would have preferred the Angels trade Newcomb and Aybar for Javier Baez instead of Andrelton Simmons. Baez would've fit this team's needs a lot better than Simmonsvand is cheaper.

[OregonLAA]

Yuck. No.

[Blarg]

I really hate the statement that the pitching staff has improved. Nothing has changed in the pitching staff. They are the same guys who will give up contact all the same but the difference will be fewer balls on the left side of the infield will find a hole. That isn't improving the pitchers, it is covering their asses.

 

So the pitchers will have at least one better defender behind them. Put a better glove than Freese on third and you have little a right handed pull hitter can do to squeeze a ball through. This would be a huge improvement over last season that relieves not just the pitchers from trying to be too perfect but the offense that doesn't have to make up for runs given away in extended innings where the infield can't make a play.

 

It would also lessen any need to replace Giavotella and allow him to work on his defensive skills. Kendrick was no whiz kid with the glove his first full year and didn't really have that great of range so I'm willing to let Johnny have the on the job training and take advantage of his bat in the lower half of the order. Strangely enough he hits really well out of the #9 hole so drop him there and let him be the guy that clears the bases or sets the table for the top of the order.

 

Which means left field needs to produce a leadoff hitter. That also means the Cespedes fantasy just went away, he is not a leadoff kind of guy. That really narrows the free agency pool to only a couple of candidates.

[Blarg]

I think I would have preferred the Angels trade Newcomb and Aybar for Javier Baez instead of Andrelton Simmons. Baez would've fit this team's needs a lot better than Simmonsvand is cheaper.

 

The Cubs were not going to let go of 22 year old Javier Baez and take Aybar in the return package.

[Inside Pitch]

I'm not saying he was bad defensively just not what he was his first eight years. He has become about an average SS, nothing wrong with that.

 

Aybar had a very odd year defensively, metrics wise.  he posted a career high in plays outside of his zone, but his UZR and other metrics were down.  It's very possible that Aybar was compensating for a well below average defensive player to his left and it impacted him personally even as he likely helped mask the defensive weakness at 2B.   The eye test showed some slippage, he's always had the propensity to flub a play from time to time -- so IMO it's hard to say that he was really any worse at converting the routine play into outs but at his age some erosion was expected.

 

I think Aybar just had an off season, but who knows -- maybe this ends up being one of those cases where a team moved a player a year too early than a year too late.   All I know is I will miss the guy.

[UndertheHalo]

I feel like Javier Baez is Cubbie Brandon Wood.  Steer clear at all costs.

[Second Base]

It isn't hard to imagine pitcher's performance improving across the board.

 

1. Chances are Bandy is stepping in as Perez's platoon mate.  Bandy is worlds better defensively than Iannetta was.  That's a significant improvement. 

2. Both Kubitza and Cowart are significantly better defenders than Freese, with Cowart being potentially elite there. 

3. Simmons. 

4. Chances are, we'll land Heyward, Upton, Cespedes or Gordon, in which case the Angels will be much better in LF than they were last year. 

5. The Angels have every reason to find a better 2B than Jonny Giavotella, and they won't have to look far.  Zobrist, Murphy, Kendrick can be signed, or they can swing a trade for a Prado-type.  Who knows, maybe Alex Yarbrough figures out whatever it was that plagued him in 2015. 

 

Pitching in a pitcher friendly park with a defense like that has to make some of these pitchers feel a little better about 2016.  Except Weaver.

[Brent Maguire]

So the Angels bought high and sold low. Yikes.

 

Aybar's D is very good. Why not just extend him and trade Newcomb and Ellis for a 3B/2B or LF?

Not true, at least if we're basing it on last year. -3 defensive runs saved and -7.1 UZR. At his age, it's reasonable to assume that's probably who he is going forward. That's not a knock on him; he's just getting older. 

[ABC]

not true, if....

 

lol

 

and lol at d metrics.

[Stradling]

not true, if....

lol

and lol at d metrics.

Ok tell me how the Aybar you tube video of highlights compare to the Simmons you tube video.

[ABC]

why

[Stradling]

Because if metrics don't mean anything then possibly the eye test will convince you.

[Troutstanding]

It was clear to me from watching the games that Aybar wasn't getting get a glove on some of the balls he would have in year's past. Eye test confirmed. 

[NrM]

The dodgers improved their defense by a great margin last year on paper.

Did it translate to the pitching though? I known it probably helped grienke.

No one else comes to mind though.

Edited November 14, 2015 by Poozy

[laagamer]

I love CF8 / QM debates. They're always better with popcorn and Kleenex for when you're laughing so bad you begin to tear up.

Edited November 14, 2015 by laagamer

[Troll Daddy]

I'm a lot more concern about Carlos Perez at the plate. You should be too.

[QuinlansMinion]

I love CF8 / QM debates. They're always better with popcorn and Kleenex for when you're laughing so bad you begin to tear up.

I dont recall ever debating with CF8.  Are you slow?

[tdawg87]

I'm a lot more concern about Carlos Perez at the plate. You should be too.

 

Well we aren't.

[QuinlansMinion]

I'm a lot more concern about Carlos Perez at the plate. You should be too.

Perez will be a solid MLB catcher.  I like the way he ended the season last year with a .377 ba in September.  Hes got a pretty decent arm and calls a good game.  I have no worries about the catcher position.  

[Hollyw00d]

BA is one of the least important stats to look at for a guy like simmons.

he rarely K's, and his career OBP is still .304

that's ****ing abysmal.

Its Jeff Mathis bad.

This guy better have a squat beautiful enough to have a display in The Louvre

[Hollyw00d]

Well, Steamer projects for him to have a 89 wRC+ next season, which is more than reasonable with his defense. If he bumps his wRC+ near 95-100, he's a near superstar.

That would be near his career high.

I think over the next 5 years, he'll average 70-75 wRC+

[Hollyw00d]

I really don't care what his obp was in 2013.

.

The angels have a job waiting for you in the "new" FO

[Hollyw00d]

and why would you want to extend Aybar when he's 33 yrs old?

Something tells me you haven't seen Simmons play much. To give you an idea, the Braves were insisting on either deGrom or Harvey from the Mets for him.

And the Mets laughed in their face and hung up the phone

[Hollyw00d]

I'll be honest ... I will go to about 15 more games next season just to watch Trout and Simmons.

I have a feeling attendance will be up next season.

People go to games to watch winning teams, not players.

[tdawg87]

Its Jeff Mathis bad.

This guy better have a squat beautiful enough to have a display in The Louvre

 

Jeff Mathis has a career .254 OBP.

 

Please continue the hyperbole. It's hilarious.

Edited November 14, 2015 by tdawg87