Tipsheet: Angels will force Pujols to compete for 2019 at-bats

[HaloNArizona]

My son and I were discussing AP at lunch today and he asked why someone would continue to put himself through off season surgeries only to continue to struggle.  He was wondering at what point does AP decide enough is enough.

[HaloNArizona]

1 minute ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

I think if Pujols started hitting below .200 it wouldn't be his decision to make.

I am hoping his reduce playing team (if Ausmus is to be believed) will help him make a decision.

I am hoping Ausmus channels his in inner Dave Roberts, and let's AP play on limited basis.  The doggies were paying him $21.5 million to be a role player

[Troll Daddy]

I guessing that’s always been the case for Pujols ... AP will have to earn his AB’s just like Justin Bour. AP has really never been challenged for AB’s as a Angel imo. 

I like the up coming competition ! I suspect that Ohtani will lose some AB’s against LH pitching. 

[Hubs]

4 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

+1

39 years old with no doubt the knees and feet of someone in their early/mid 40s = likely scenario, to best benefit the team while still showing enough respect to Pujols in starting him about 80-90 games tops.

I seriously believe he's two years older than what his birth certificate says. Meaning he's about to turn 41.

 

[Hubs]

2 hours ago, eligrba said:

Bullshit.  Bour will be the one fighting for at bats.  Frankly, they both should be further down the depth charts.

 

Pujols-2018  WAR 0.5  BA .245  HR 19 RBI 64 OBP .289  SLG .411 OPS .700 GS 117

Bour-2018  WAR 0.6  BA .227  HR 20  RBI 59 OBP .341  SLG .404 OPS .746 GS 111

Pujols 2017 WAR -1.8 BA .241 HR 23 RBI 101 OBP .286 SLG .386 OPS .672 GS 149

Bour's 2017 WAR 2.3 BA .289 HR 25 RBI 83 OBP .366 SLG 536 OPS .902 GS 108

 

Pujols 2016 WAR 1.3  BA .268 HR 31 RBI 119 OBP .323 SLG .457 GS 152

Bour 2016 WAR 1.3 BA .264 HR 15 RBI 51 OBP .264 .349 SLG .475 OPS .824 GS 81

 

Three Year Average = BOUR is better hitter.

[BackUpTheTruck]

53 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

I guessing that’s always been the case for Pujols ... AP will have to earn his AB’s just like Justin Bour. AP has really never been challenged for AB’s as a Angel imo. 

I like the up coming competition ! I suspect that Ohtani will lose some AB’s against LH pitching. 

To who?

[Troll Daddy]

1 minute ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

To who?

I’ll let you figure that out 

[BackUpTheTruck]

Maybe we should platoon Mike Trout as well, he struggles against right handed pitching . . .

[ten ocho recon scout]

18 hours ago, Fish Oil said:

I once asked Tank if I could be him just for a day and he got mad. Told me to go away.

Hes not into fish or meat.

[Hubs]

None of these three actually have a significant history of hitting lefties well over the previous few seasons. Ohtani did the best in a small sample in September.

Pujols hits them the best in his career. But struggled in 2017 and 2018.

Bour did fine in 2017, struggled in 2018.

This will not be a straight platoon of any measure. There are 314 starts between DH and 1B. Bour will get 100-108. Pujols wil get 108 and Ohtani will get 100.

[Dtwncbad]

1 hour ago, Hubs said:

I seriously believe he's two years older than what his birth certificate says. Meaning he's about to turn 41.

 

At this point does this really even matter when 39 is plenty old enough to suck?

I mean it's not like we suddenly figure out why a "27 year old" seemed old when we discover they are 12 years older.

39 is old.  41 is old.  Doesnt matter.

[Lou]

30 minutes ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

Maybe we should platoon Mike Trout as well, he struggles against right handed pitching . . .

[Troll Daddy]

40 minutes ago, Hubs said:

None of these three actually have a significant history of hitting lefties well over the previous few seasons. Ohtani did the best in a small sample in September.

Pujols hits them the best in his career. But struggled in 2017 and 2018.

Bour did fine in 2017, struggled in 2018.

This will not be a straight platoon of any measure. There are 314 starts between DH and 1B. Bour will get 100-108. Pujols wil get 108 and Ohtani will get 100.

I think you go into the season with a clean slate.  Their stats last season or past seasons are meaningless. Bour should have the advantage being younger and in better health. AP usually does well under pressure. Ohtani coming off TJ surgery is a little bit of a question mark. 

I’ll be rooting for all three to have great success next season. 

[Hubs]

1 hour ago, Dtwncbad said:

At this point does this really even matter when 39 is plenty old enough to suck?

I mean it's not like we suddenly figure out why a "27 year old" seemed old when we discover they are 12 years older.

39 is old.  41 is old.  Doesnt matter.

Ya, I'm older than him by about three months (if he's 39).

There was an article on the Angels voiding his contract, if they found out he lied about his age. The fact that in his first year here, he was so much better than in every other season makes a lot more sense if he was 34 then instead of 32.

 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

6 hours ago, eligrba said:

Bullshit.  Bour will be the one fighting for at bats.  Frankly, they both should be further down the depth charts.

 

Pujols-2018  WAR 0.5  BA .245  HR 19 RBI 64 OPB .289  SLG .411 OPS .700

Bour-2018  WAR 0.6  BA .227  HR 20  RBI 59 OPB .341  SLG .404 OPS .746

Bour vs RHP .242/.356/.463/.819 - 18 HR - 47 RBI - 298 AB needs to platoon

[Tank]

On 12/14/2018 at 1:06 PM, HaloNArizona said:

My son and I were discussing AP at lunch today and he asked why someone would continue to put himself through off season surgeries only to continue to struggle.  He was wondering at what point does AP decide enough is enough.

we're all wondering the same thing.

[jsnpritchett]

On 12/14/2018 at 1:06 PM, HaloNArizona said:

My son and I were discussing AP at lunch today and he asked why someone would continue to put himself through off season surgeries only to continue to struggle.  He was wondering at what point does AP decide enough is enough.

When the last payment on his contract is deposited.