Taylor Ward is hitting .390 in Salt Lake

[IheartLA]

Just now, Stradling said:

Fletcher very well could be the future, not sure why you have chosen to write him off already.  He will be a 2nd baseman, or at worst a utility guy.  

in today's MLB where half the qualified hitters hit over 20HRs it's kind of hard to see a guy with as little pop as Fletcher being a starting player for a playoff team. His OPS is below 700 and his stats in the minors before this year are scary. He's a good fielding Giavotella unless he can get his OBP near 350. He'll never be a guy that hits for over 400 SLG. He's organizational depth and a UTIL infielder.

Quote to live by in MLB for hitters:

“You can’t slug by hitting balls on the ground,” Turner said. “You have to get the ball in the air if you want to slug, and guys who slug stick around, and guys who don’t, don’t.”

[Stradling]

And Fletcher lead the minor leagues in extra base hits, lets give him more than 20 games before we decide what he is.  

[Second Base]

I'm guessing this team will be a lot more fun to watch in September when Ward, Fernandez, Thaiss, Fletcher and Blash all get regular playing time.

The only reason I include Blash is just because of the off chance he connects and hits it 500 feet. Even if it's foul.

[TroutAdell]

2 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

He was released for being a dude named Rene.

He “walked away”!!

[Angelsjunky]

I want to believe, but unfortunately I don’t. Not yet, anyway.

That said, I agree with the Dawg. Every prospect has a number of shitty major league at bats they have to get through before they adjust. Given that this year is basically done, and that Valbuena, Kinsler and Marte have no place in the lineup of 2019 and beyond, AND Pujols is injured...players like Ward, Fletcher, and Fernandez, and soon Thaiss, should be given those “adjustment are bats” so they have a better chance of contributing next year.

Even if the Angels sneak their way back into the wildcard hunt, some of these guys might be ready to outperform the Seasoned Veterans.

In other words, play the kids and let the clock be damned.

[GrittyVeterans]

The "not starting his clock" argument is nonsense when it comes to Ward.

[Docwaukee]

and he promptly GIDP and K's.  

the power of AW.  

[Docwaukee]

nice oppo single for an RBI.....and then with a guy on 3b, he tries to steal second with Walsh at the plate and gets thrown out easily.  

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, Dochalo said:

nice oppo single for an RBI.....and then with a guy on 3b, he tries to steal second with Walsh at the plate and gets thrown out easily.  

He's ready.

[Docwaukee]

Just now, tdawg87 said:

He's ready.

you're welcome.  

[Tank]

2 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

Speaking of catchers, what the hell happened to Rene Rivera??

Is he gone?

he went to bixby knolls for the weekend and melted from the heat. he's recovering quietly now.

[hangin n wangin]

4 hours ago, Dtwncbad said:

Ward is now an offensive force that can't catch??

What the F*ck?

That is some crazy shit.

I’m just as confused as you are. 

Praise Dipoto!!!

[Tank]

59 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I want to believe, but unfortunately I don’t. Not yet, anyway.

That said, I agree with the Dawg. Every prospect has a number of shitty major league at bats they have to get through before they adjust. Given that this year is basically done, and that Valbuena, Kinsler and Marte have no place in the lineup of 2019 and beyond, AND Pujols is injured...players like Ward, Fletcher, and Fernandez, and soon Thaiss, should be given those “adjustment are bats” so they have a better chance of contributing next year.

Even if the Angels sneak their way back into the wildcard hunt, some of these guys might be ready to outperform the Seasoned Veterans.

In other words, play the kids and let the clock be damned.

i agree. 

start playing for next year. do what you can this year (who knows what might happen), but i'd really like to see the kids come up now so that they can get their growing pains out of the way now and hit the ground running next year.

[IheartLA]

Call him up now

[Blarg]

Somebody needs to Nancy Kerrigan Valbuena over the All Star break. 

[Docwaukee]

12 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Somebody needs to Nancy Kerrigan Valbuena over the All Star break. 

give him Simmons teeth?    

[Angel Oracle]

Louie Juice = Castor Oil.

[Pujols4MVP]

A guy could hit .750/.900/.850 & Valbuena would still be starting over him.

[Angel Oracle]

8 hours ago, Blarg said:

Somebody needs to Nancy Kerrigan Valbuena over the All Star break. 

Steal his Louie Juice, and hold it for ransom.  Release him, and the Louie Juice is released.

[fan_since79]

11 hours ago, Tank said:

he went to bixby knolls for the weekend and melted from the heat. he's recovering quietly now.

He should have stayed indoors next to the A/C during peak hours of the day. Don't go out between noon and 4 pm and you can survive it.

[tdawg87]

Someone please take Sosh's caramel boytoy away

[Vlad27Trout27]

I just want us to see this line-up soon

Rf Calhoun

SS Simmons

Cf Trout

Lf Upton

1st Pujols

 Dh Ohtani

3rd Ward

C Maldo

2nd Fletcher 

[m0nkey]

I like Scott but when I read his post it reminded me of when bobby Abreu (I think) has a walkoff hit and he started a thread that said “that’s why you play the veterans! EOM”

[ten ocho recon scout]

21 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

I want to believe, but unfortunately I don’t. Not yet, anyway.

That said, I agree with the Dawg. Every prospect has a number of shitty major league at bats they have to get through before they adjust. Given that this year is basically done, and that Valbuena, Kinsler and Marte have no place in the lineup of 2019 and beyond, AND Pujols is injured...players like Ward, Fletcher, and Fernandez, and soon Thaiss, should be given those “adjustment are bats” so they have a better chance of contributing next year.

Even if the Angels sneak their way back into the wildcard hunt, some of these guys might be ready to outperform the Seasoned Veterans.

In other words, play the kids and let the clock be damned.

Exactly.

Adell is looking like he'll be a very good player. Its one thing to hold off on a guy like that. But guys like Ward arent really going to be organization centerpieces anyway. I dont know enough about him (other than he came out of nowhere this year), but i think best case scenario for him and guys like him is calhoun. Good years, bad years and in between.

If we call these guys up and have to pay them or lose them a year earlier....SIX years from now...i wont lose any sleep, nor will the org.

Again, different story with a guy like adell. Not so much a ward type.

[Scott34]

7 hours ago, m0nkey said:

I like Scott but when I read his post it reminded me of when bobby Abreu (I think) has a walkoff hit and he started a thread that said “that’s why you play the veterans! EOM”

lol that was hilarious