Anyone concerned about Ward?

[Lou]

I doubt Ward plays winter ball. 

[Vlad27Trout27]

I think he'll start in AAA next year and after that we shall see. Not everyone finds success on there first go around, Look at Trout and even this year, Kyle Tucker has struggled. 

[UndertheHalo]

56 minutes ago, Lou said:

I doubt Ward plays winter ball. 

They’ve announced that he will.  

Barring the Angels signing Machado, I want Ward starting at 3B next year and given a long, long rope.  There’s no one else behind him.  I don’t want the Angels to get older and sign some shitty past his prime veteran.  I think Cozart is best in the utility role.  He should cycle between 3B, 2B, and SS.   If he hits well enough then we can see about giving him 2B or 3B.  But if he’s going to hit .245 with a .675 OPS I don’t think that’s enough to not give Ward and Fletcher lots of opportunity. 

Edited September 17, 2018 by UndertheHalo

[Dtwncbad]

28 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

They’ve announced that he will.  

Barring the Angels signing Machado, I want Ward starting at 3B next year and given a long, long rope.  There’s no one else behind him.  I don’t want the Angels to get older and sign some shitty past his prime veteran.  I think Cozart is best in the utility role.  He should cycle between 3B, 2B, and SS.   If he hits well enough then we can see about giving him 2B or 3B.  But if he’s going to hit .245 with a .675 OPS I don’t think that’s enough to not give Ward and Fletcher lots of opportunity. 

What exactly has Ward ever done to suggest his upside is any better than the unacceptable production you describe for Cozart?

Which player is more likely to have a 775 OPS over 150 games?

If you answer Ward, please say why other than hope.

And which player is more likely to hit .190 an be lost?

[Blarg]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

I doubt Ward plays winter ball. 

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/15/angels-rookie-taylor-ward-will-head-to-winter-ball-to-refine-skills/

Scioscia said Ward’s decision to go is proof of his determination “to get better.”

[Blarg]

10 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

What exactly has Ward ever done to suggest his upside is any better than the unacceptable production you describe for Cozart?

Which player is more likely to have a 775 OPS over 150 games?

If you answer Ward, please say why other than hope.

And which player is more likely to hit .190 an be lost?

Lighten up Francis. 

[Lou]

I stand by my statement 

[Blarg]

An I agree is a month away. 

[Angelsjunky]

32 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

They’ve announced that he will.  

Barring the Angels signing Machado, I want Ward starting at 3B next year and given a long, long rope.  There’s no one else behind him.  I don’t want the Angels to get older and sign some shitty past his prime veteran.  I think Cozart is best in the utility role.  He should cycle between 3B, 2B, and SS.   If he hits well enough then we can see about giving him 2B or 3B.  But if he’s going to hit .245 with a .675 OPS I don’t think that’s enough to not give Ward and Fletcher lots of opportunity. 

Next year's infield will be very interesting to watch, with numerous possible configurations. The only certainty, really, is that Andrelton Simmons will be the everyday shortstop. The other three positions are all big question marks and will likely end the year differently than they began. As I see it:

1B: Pujols gets the nod on Opening Day, but the unspoken assumption is that he'll be phased out, with Fernandez, Walsh and Thaiss getting chances. Fernandez probably starts the yeare in the Valbuena/Marte role as back-up 1B/3B.

2B: Fletcher is the leading candidate for the starting job, but he'll need to hit at least as well as he has this year, which is mediocre but passable. He needs to prove that he's more David Eckstein than Johnny Giavotella. If he falters then Luis Rengifo is waiting in the wings.

SS: Simba!

3B: Cozart probably gets the job at first, but if he doesn't hit then he could move to super utility (or traded) and Ward is called up. Fernandez might also get some consideration.

My hope is that Rengifo kills it in AAA, forcing a promotion. But he'll play at least a couple months in Salt Lake and could end up being traded (unfortunately), especially if Jahmai Jones takes a step forward in AA.

[Chuck]

Taylor Ward ended up putting together a 20/20 season between AA, AAA and the big leagues.. Now he's headed to Winter Ball to continue to improve his skills. 

Color me excited. 

[Jeff Fletcher]

58 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Taylor Ward ended up putting together a 20/20 season between AA, AAA and the big leagues.. Now he's headed to Winter Ball to continue to improve his skills. 

Color me excited. 

He’s not going to winterball. That was a misunderstanding, apparently.

[tomsred]

26 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

He’s not going to winterball. That was a misunderstanding, apparently.

Color Chuck not excited, LOL.

The Angels will have to go with what they have in the infield.  They need a veteran, experienced catcher, and a durable experienced starter.  That's about the extent of what they can afford.  They also need a fully recovered Pujols, at least until Ohtani can return to hitting duties.  Fletch may very well be right about Ausmus, and by the way I wouldn't mind prying Roenicke away from Boston as a possible candidate as well.  It was smart of Boston to put him behind an inexperienced manager as a bench coach.  Even at 61 he has plenty going for him.

[totdprods]

Who would have thought Ward would end up with 40 games played?
He obviously is still a little green at 3B so there was a few defensive miscues, but overall, he looked capable. 

His power actually was surprising:
4.1% HR% vs. league average of 3% 
6.1% XBH% vs. 7.9% league average
I wasn't so sure it'd translate to the bigs, but he very well could be a 15-20 HR guy as a baseline.
BAbip at .214 suggests he was a tad unlucky. 
First 20 games, he had a BAbip of .273
Second 20 games, it dropped to .150

He wasn't lost at the plate:
6.1% BB% vs. 8.5% league average
3.93 pitches per plate appearance, vs. 3.90 league average
In fact, he probably should've been swinging more:
Strikes looking was 35.9% vs. league average 26.4% 
Strikeouts looking was 40% vs. league average of 23.1%
This at least is encouraging in that his 31% K% wasn't because he was overmatched and swinging through everything - could be MLB pitchers just attacked him and he was a little too patient. 

It'll be real interesting to see what happens with him. 
Since he's now on the 40, MLB-tested, and equipped with options, being that I'm a big fan of layering depth, I'd personally ticket him for AAA, let him continue to get everyday ABs, perhaps pick up some innings at 1B, LF, maybe even 2B, and use him as injury insurance or as we would have used Cowart/Marte previously. 

But if we do treat 2019 as a youth transition year, then I do hope he gets a chance in ST to compete against Rengifo, Fletcher, and Fernandez for the last everyday IF spot, with Cozart filling the other. 

...and I still could see him being prime trade bait. He didn't fall flat in his first MLB experience, he's coming off an insane year in the minors that drove his value to a peak, we need pitching, and he could be expendable. Either Cozart sticks at 3B, or the Angels move Fletcher, Rengifo, or Fernandez there. Jones could force the issue at 2B late next year too. 

[Blarg]

Fletcher will be on the starting roster next season. He will most likely be the starting 2nd baseman with Cozart at third. The open positions are platoon at 1st base and infield backup. 

Jones got his swan song MLB cup of coffee. He is already 28 and no longer a prospect, I doubt we see him on the 25 man ever again. 

That leaves Fernandez, Rengifo and Cowart. Kaleb showed no ability to hit a baseball and I just don't think the next manager is going to waste a bench spot on a defensive specialist. So now we are down to two candidates. 

[totdprods]

8 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Fletcher will be on the starting roster next season. He will most likely be the starting 2nd baseman with Cozart at third. The open positions are platoon at 1st base and infield backup. 

Jones got his swan song MLB cup of coffee. He is already 28 and no longer a prospect, I doubt we see him on the 25 man ever again. 

That leaves Fernandez, Rengifo and Cowart. Kaleb showed no ability to hit a baseball and I just don't think the next manager is going to waste a bench spot on a defensive specialist. So now we are down to two candidates. 

Are you talking about Sherman? I'm talking about Jahmai.

Kaleb's a goner, unless he replaces Marte as the out-of-options guy they hang onto longer than they should, and I only see that happening if they replace the other IF bench bat with someone who can really hit and play every most IF positions. 

Depending on other moves this offseason, I think I'd like to see them roll the dice on a 1-yr deal with a vet 2B/3B and keep Fletcher as the MLB UT IF. 

[Blarg]

Yes, Sherman, mixed up Jones and Johnson but Jahmai is no where close to ready.

[totdprods]

1 hour ago, Blarg said:

Yes, Sherman, mixed up Jones and Johnson but Jahmai is no where close to ready.

I could see Jones doing next year what Ward did this year. They've been on a similar path. 

If Jones explodes in AA next season, gets bumped to AAA after 40 games and continues to rake, we could see him enter 2B discussion later next year, especially if we're struggling.

[m0nkey]

On 9/16/2018 at 5:25 PM, Lou said:

I doubt Ward plays winter ball. 

 

On 9/16/2018 at 6:55 PM, Blarg said:

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/15/angels-rookie-taylor-ward-will-head-to-winter-ball-to-refine-skills/

Scioscia said Ward’s decision to go is proof of his determination “to get better.”

 

On 9/16/2018 at 6:56 PM, Lou said:

I stand by my statement 

 

On 9/16/2018 at 6:57 PM, Blarg said:

An I agree is a month away. 

I agree.