Angels look disappointing, yet intriguing

[Second Base]

http://monkeywithahalo.com/uncategorized/angels-look-disappointing-yet-intriguing.html

 

A short article about what happens when a team stops spending money and has to rely on prospects. 

[Oz27]

When someone takes viagra and gets one of those day-long erections they talk about in those ads, they should just read this article because the fact we're in such a sad state that guys like Yarbrough, Choi and Bedrosian are what we are supposed to be excited or intrigued about now could kill any boner.

[Reveille1984]

No offense, but you should really get an editor or second pair of eyes to look these over before publishing.  Tons of minor spelling and grammar errors strewn throughout the article. 

 

But yeah, it's kind of sad when the solution to not sucking is "well, we have to just pray to whatever gods that might be listening that these mediocre, dime-a-dozen nobodies become above average regulars." The players in our farm system are about as intriguing as a piece of dry toast.

[Docwaukee]

Nice article Scotty.  Good synopsis of some of our young talent that needs to step up regardless of what people think.  There has to be some talent there.  Sometimes people are wrong.  Sometimes guys who end up good major league players had bad minor league seasons.  It's time to grow a chip and sack up.  

 

I was probably most disappointed with Yarbrough's season last year.  While I never expected him to be a star, I expected him to be a serviceable to average 2bman.  I also have hopes for Cowart and Bandy.  Especially the latter.  With defensive metrics being what they are and Bandy's power, I think he has a really good chance of being an above average major leaguer.  

 

My sleeper bullpen guy for this year is Eduard Santos.  He's gonna make an impact at the major league level.  He was dominant in the DWL for licey.  

 

I know you are not huge on Smith, but he could also be a guy that provides some back of the rotation help.  

 

As far as some other guys that I could see turning a corner and being of help in the next couple of years.

Deloach as a left specialist .

Chad Hinshaw as a 4th OFer

I'm also waiting for one of the Autins (wood and adams) to finally turn a corner and become a legit pen threat.  

What do you think about Mahle?  I heard he was ready and then he couldn't get it done in AAA

 

not much after that until you get to the low minors where we could have a couple guys break out.  At least I hope a couple do.  

I still think Houchins has a chance to put things together. 

 

Who are you picking for your breakouts?  Fletcher?  Abbott?  Jones?

[Inside Pitch]

 

Who are you picking for your breakouts?  Fletcher?  Abbott?  Jones?

 

I was high on Abbott going into last season, and I'm hoping he continues his development this year...   But the way things are going the Angels need for all three of those guys and Ward to all be hits..

 

Your Santos pick is a good one too....   I'm critical of the state of the farm system but there is no shortage of potential RP prospects in tow.

Edited December 18, 2015 by Inside Pitch

[Second Base]

Nice article Scotty.  Good synopsis of some of our young talent that needs to step up regardless of what people think.  There has to be some talent there.  Sometimes people are wrong.  Sometimes guys who end up good major league players had bad minor league seasons.  It's time to grow a chip and sack up.  

 

I was probably most disappointed with Yarbrough's season last year.  While I never expected him to be a star, I expected him to be a serviceable to average 2bman.  I also have hopes for Cowart and Bandy.  Especially the latter.  With defensive metrics being what they are and Bandy's power, I think he has a really good chance of being an above average major leaguer.  

 

My sleeper bullpen guy for this year is Eduard Santos.  He's gonna make an impact at the major league level.  He was dominant in the DWL for licey.  

 

I know you are not huge on Smith, but he could also be a guy that provides some back of the rotation help.  

 

As far as some other guys that I could see turning a corner and being of help in the next couple of years.

Deloach as a left specialist .

Chad Hinshaw as a 4th OFer

I'm also waiting for one of the Autins (wood and adams) to finally turn a corner and become a legit pen threat.  

What do you think about Mahle?  I heard he was ready and then he couldn't get it done in AAA

 

not much after that until you get to the low minors where we could have a couple guys break out.  At least I hope a couple do.  

I still think Houchins has a chance to put things together. 

 

Who are you picking for your breakouts?  Fletcher?  Abbott?  Jones?

 

Haven't put much thought into sleepers yet.   But, I think Taylor Ward puts up some very surprising numbers in the Cal League.  I think Brendon Sanger is going to turn into a starting major league OF.  Arakawa looks like a major leaguer to me so far, but as I've said before, I don't trust myself when it comes to scrappy young players. Fletcher is almost guaranteed to be a serviceable utility man.  He has the glove, patience and speed. Kyle McGowin will be a starting pitcher in the major leagues, as will Greyson Long and Joe Gatto.  I love Jahmai's athletic ability, but need to see him more.  I think Kubitza is going to be an above average starting 3B in the majors. 

[Angelsjunky]

Jahmai Jones is the player that has the most upside of any position player, in my opinion. We'll know more next year when he's at Burlington (I assume), but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a "mini-breakout" with a bigger breakout in 2017, when he establishes himself as a top 100 prospect in MLB.

 

Taylor Ward is also rather exciting. Let's see how he does in Inland Empire.

 

Brendon Sanger could be the next Kole Calhoun...in a best-case scenario.

[Troll Daddy]

Good stuff ... all this time I though the farm was barren.

[Second Base]

No offense, but you should really get an editor or second pair of eyes to look these over before publishing. Tons of minor spelling and grammar errors strewn throughout the article.

But yeah, it's kind of sad when the solution to not sucking is "well, we have to just pray to whatever gods that might be listening that these mediocre, dime-a-dozen nobodies become above average regulars." The players in our farm system are about as intriguing as a piece of dry toast.

It was a late night quick job, and I'm an English teacher and I can tell you right now, that article isn't perfect but I could find no more than 2 errors total. So it appears you're being a dick just to be a dick.

And you might consider it sad to rely on prospects, but personally, while it is disappointing, it's also exciting for me.

[Second Base]

Good stuff ... all this time I though the farm was barren.

It is pretty barren TD. I mean a half dozen major leaguers inside an entire minor league system is pretty bare bones. From my previous top prospect lists, 12-18 is average.

[totdprods]

Good write-up Scotty. That article summarizes why I feel it's a bit premature to abandon hope for '16-'17 and begin a rebuild. 

This is definitely one of the weaker teams on paper we've had recently (so far, a lot can change in the next month still) but we have enough youth, talent, and controllable years through 2020 that if things shake out right we will still be in the thick of it. 

 

As of now, we have 8 starting pitchers. We should be able to field a competitive rotation year-round with that. Even if we trade one. 

Our offense looks really shaky, but we were burdened with a lot of under performance last year.

If the relief corps takes a big step forward, and if the offense as a whole performs more to their averages or even slightly over performs, the team will be competitive. The bench already should be significantly better offensively. 

 

And we'll have more flexibility financially to work on fixes.

[Second Base]

Jahmai Jones is the player that has the most upside of any position player, in my opinion. We'll know more next year when he's at Burlington (I assume), but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a "mini-breakout" with a bigger breakout in 2017, when he establishes himself as a top 100 prospect in MLB.

Taylor Ward is also rather exciting. Let's see how he does in Inland Empire.

Brendon Sanger could be the next Kole Calhoun...in a best-case scenario.

I really like what Jones did in his first stint in professional ball. Most high schoolers aren't prepared to succeed immediately, and he really did in just about every facet of the game.

I kind of feel like the team wouldn't have been as elated as they were when Ward "fell" to them unless there was considerably more to him than pre-draft reports indicated. So far it looks like the Angels were right, but we'll see.

I think Sanger is even better than he showed. I watched him and thought for sure he'd just dominate in Rookie Ball. But he didn't, though he wasn't bad either. But in retrospect, Kole Calhoun wasn't great in Rookie Ball either.

[Stradling]

I would be ecstatic if the Angels could develop another Calhoun in the next two or three seasons. I don't know who Jahmai Jones projects out to, but hopefully it is an impact guy.

[Docwaukee]

I really like what Jones did in his first stint in professional ball. Most high schoolers aren't prepared to succeed immediately, and he really did in just about every facet of the game.

I kind of feel like the team wouldn't have been as elated as they were when Ward "fell" to them unless there was considerably more to him than pre-draft reports indicated. So far it looks like the Angels were right, but we'll see.

I think Sanger is even better than he showed. I watched him and thought for sure he'd just dominate in Rookie Ball. But he didn't, though he wasn't bad either. But in retrospect, Kole Calhoun wasn't great in Rookie Ball either.

do you think Sanger will get promoted to high A or A?  He numbers were very good at Orem.  He's got a nice swing.  Love his approach.  

[tomsred]

I would really like to see Kubitza turn into a great super utility guy, kind of like Zobrist.  If he could learn to play effectively as a corner outfielder, 3B and 2B, that would be terrific.  He just needs to hit around .275, not strike out a lot, and hit tons of line drives.  Somehow I think he can do it.

[Second Base]

I would really like to see Kubitza turn into a great super utility guy, kind of like Zobrist. If he could learn to play effectively as a corner outfielder, 3B and 2B, that would be terrific. He just needs to hit around .275, not strike out a lot, and hit tons of line drives. Somehow I think he can do it.

His main comp I use is Daniel Murphy. He can play an ok 2nd and 3rd and retains the majority if value in his bat. I think Kubitza will be a little better in the OBP department as well as defense at 3B. I haven't seen enough of him at 2B to say whether or he should be considered an option there, but I imagine not. I watched him play LF in AAA. It wasn't pretty, but he's athletic enough to make it work.

[Second Base]

do you think Sanger will get promoted to high A or A? He numbers were very good at Orem. He's got a nice swing. Love his approach.

Sanger almost has to be in the Cal League. I'm not sure how the organization could justify any other course of action. I LOVE his swing.

[Cdaniel]

I love reading you guys go back and forth talking about prospects all day. Keep it up guys and nice work Scotty.

[nate]

You have to have prospects in order to rely on them.

[Second Base]

I was high on Abbott going into last season, and I'm hoping he continues his development this year... But the way things are going the Angels need for all three of those guys and Ward to all be hits..

Your Santos pick is a good one too.... I'm critical of the state of the farm system but there is no shortage of potential RP prospects in tow.

Almost forgot, for you and DocHalo, Eduard Santos is no longer a pitcher in the Angels organization. Picked up by the A's as a minor league FA.

[Docwaukee]

Almost forgot, for you and DocHalo, Eduard Santos is no longer a pitcher in the Angels organization. Picked up by the A's as a minor league FA.

well that sucks.  I've got a feeling that the light has gone on for him.  oh well.  

[Second Base]

I watched him quite a bit in AA, I don't see much that should separate him from others in terms of scouting. His numbers are admittedly impressive.

Sort of like Deolis Guerra, the Angels Rule 5 pick. Outside of a very nice change up, I don't see what the big deal is, or even why we bothered picking him. We need RP depth but I'm just not sure what separates him.

[Docwaukee]

I watched him quite a bit in AA, I don't see much that should separate him from others in terms of scouting. His numbers are admittedly impressive.

Sort of like Deolis Guerra, the Angels Rule 5 pick. Outside of a very nice change up, I don't see what the big deal is, or even why we bothered picking him. We need RP depth but I'm just not sure what separates him.

I think it's a volume game with relievers.  Catching that guy who has a couple of seasons with a sub 3 era and misses bats.  Grabbing as many as you can to increase your odds.  Trying to find the Dane De La Rosa's of the game.  

[Angel Oracle]

Kubitza is still young enough at age 25 (July birthdate).

Even Zobrist didn't play much at the MLB level for awhile, not debuting until age 25 and not exceeding 200 PAs until age 27. 

Edited December 18, 2015 by Angel Oracle

[Second Base]

I think it's a volume game with relievers. Catching that guy who has a couple of seasons with a sub 3 era and misses bats. Grabbing as many as you can to increase your odds. Trying to find the Dane De La Rosa's of the game.

The volume part is true, but we gave up a very promising RP prospect in Geltz to get him. Geltz is growing into a VERY good major league reliever.