Angels optioned RHP Al Alburquerque to Triple-A Salt Lake

[Chuck]

The Angels are expected to choose between Greg Mahle and Cam Bedrosian for the final bullpen spot. Alburquerque landed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Angels over the winter, but he'll serve as bullpen depth in the minors.

 

 

Source: Jeff Fletcher on Twitter

 

[bloodbrother]

Thought it was fine to take a flier on him as a reclamation project.....but he just sucked this spring

[Make Angels Great Again]

Mahle earned it.

[Chuck]

Thought it was fine to take a flier on him as a reclamation project.....but he just sucked this spring

 

 

Well he did strikeout 13 over 8 innings, walking just one. The problem is early on he gave up the majority of his runs and he gave up 12 hits in 8 inn. 

[Chuck]

If  you take Bedrock's first couple outings away he's one of the best relievers in camp. He has been untouchable of late.

 

18 K's over 10 2/3 innings is solid. 

[19HALO71]

Let's play ball!!

 

Go Halos!!!

[Chuck]

I'm pretty excited about our bullpen depth on this team. We have guys in AAA that can step up if we have a reliever go down. 

[ten ocho recon scout]

Isnt AAA alberquerque a dodger team?

[jgimondo]

Cant trust Bedrock.

[Second Base]

The Angels can go either way here. Scioscia has repeatedly expressed concern that they don't have anyone in the pen they can turn to that will shut down a left handed portion of a lineup. At the same time, he's also expressed concern that we don't have anyone that he could bring in when they absolutely need a strikeout, no "fire-breathers" as he's called them before.

Either way, we're in good shape. My money is on Mahle though.

[krAbs]

If  you take Bedrock's first couple outings away he's one of the best relievers in camp. He has been untouchable of late.

 

18 K's over 10 2/3 innings is solid. 

I don't know what to make of those numbers. My heart says that he has finally figured out how to translate his minor league success into the bigs. My head is saying that spring training is more similar to AAA than it is to the majors, and as soon as the regular season starts, he falls apart again. Bedrosian being solid would be HUGE for us, but its early to say anything yet.

[IEAngelsfan]

Cant trust Bedrock.

Yeah, you can't trust anyone who looks like an Ewok.  He's our version of fool's gold.

 

In all seriousness, when he pitches, he gives me the same uneasy feeling Jepsen did.

 

I hope he proves me wrong.

[wopphil]

Bedrosian has nothing left to learn in the minors. It is time for him to sink or swim at the bug level. If he can't hack it now, nothing will change later. Put him on the team and see if he has the balls to play at the high level.

[ukyah]

Bedrosian has nothing left to learn in the minors. It is time for him to sink or swim at the bug level. If he can't hack it now, nothing will change later. Put him on the team and see if he has the balls to play at the high level.

 

 

that's really not how it goes for relievers. they can vary from year to year and journeyman relievers can become studs. their use is so minimal that the learning curve can happen over a career.

[OregonLAA]

Is Alvarez a lock? And if so, why? He sucks

[totdprods]

huh? Alvarez is definitely a lock. He's good against lefties (.575 OPS against) and decent against righties (.690 OPS against), and can pitch multiple innings in a pinch. Great for extra innings. 

 

If Mahle develops into a lefty specialist, Alvarez and Rasmus give us a great longman combo in the bullpen, especially with any rotation woes and our propensity for one-run games/extra-innings.

Edited March 29, 2016 by totdprods

[laagamer]

Not surprised by this. Mahle's stuff is great. He seems ready. Plus Albercracky kidna sucks.

[Docwaukee]

Bedrosian is going to scare me no matter what he does.  I like Mahle but they've both earned it.  

[Stradling]

Alvarez was a slightly above average relief pitcher last year.

[Angel Oracle]

Let's hope Bedrock Jr. doesn't become the next Jepsen (not realizing full potential until age 29/30).

[totdprods]

Teams need guys like Alvarez, Rasmus, and Salas in the pen to keep from burning out the top three pen arms. You obviously can't run out those three every time it's a blowout, but also need decent arms for the times you're trailing by two late in the game against a rival team with a good pen.

The only weak spot with this pen is Smith's potential decline, Streey beginning to age, and the lack of a clear top 3rd arm. Maybe depth. All other roles are filled better than most teams.

[Chris]

Probably Bedrosian; fine with Mahle

 

Morin has looked good this Spring; hope he can take 7th inning and push Salas to 6th inning.

 

Like Alvarez/Rasmus for extra innings etc.