Rojas over Ward for 3B?

[Chuck]

Jose Rojas has some serious pop and bats left, and is considered the better defender at the hot corner of the two. Ward looks like he'll need some more seasoning in to work on his defense. Ward has already made 3 errors this spring.

So, why not give Rojas more of a look for the starting 3B job? He's also more versatile in that he can play 2B and 1B as well. Thoughts?

 

[Second Base]

Taylor Ward has a lot more thunder in that bat of his than Rojas does. So I wouldn't use that as the basis for Rojas over Ward. Nor would I quote ST stats.  Doing that led to a lot of embarrassing articles about Shohei Ohtani, and the national crow population suffered for it when it became the meal of choice for all the doubters once the season started.  Instead I'd just keep it simple.  Who is playing better right now? The answer is of course Rojas. But he won't play because the Angels are too busy pretending to compete with Cozart over at 3B batting .212 and getting injured every other week. 

But if this keeps up, yeah, go with Rojas. Definitely! I mean he is a local product with a knack for making meaningful contact, plays all out and is adequate defensively. Until someone with more upside actually makes good on some of it, Rojas should get a crack at it.

[Docwaukee]

Regardless of what Ward does, Rojas shouldn't be cast aside.  But he hasn't even proven he can hang in AAA yet.  His spring showing has been mostly against pitching similar to what he already mashed in AA last year.  So yeah, give him a shot.   But Ward's cred is more impressive to date.  

[Angelsjunky]

My gut feeling is that neither of these guys is ready to hit major league pitching, at least not yet. But both might be ready sometime this year, and both will probably get chances.

[Dtwncbad]

Ward has 2 walks and 14 strikeouts so far.

No amount of "thunder" in his bat can overcome that ratio.

[DMVol]

If they decide that Ward needs some more AAA time,  rather than Rojas, I think you would more likely see 2 of Fletcher, LaStella and Cozart (if he's healthy) at 2b/3b....

[floplag]

1 hour ago, DMVol said:

If they decide that Ward needs some more AAA time,  rather than Rojas, I think you would more likely see 2 of Fletcher, LaStella and Cozart (if he's healthy) at 2b/3b....

i think this was the plan all along, thats why they brought in LaStella.   The wildcard is Cozarts readiness.  Im not sure they have faith that Ward is ready even before Rojas had a good spring. 

[Inside Pitch]

11 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

Jose Rojas has some serious pop and bats left, and is considered the better defender at the hot corner of the two. Ward looks like he'll need some more seasoning in to work on his defense. Ward has already made 3 errors this spring.

So, why not give Rojas more of a look for the starting 3B job? He's also more versatile in that he can play 2B and 1B as well. Thoughts?

 

Rojas' opponent pitcher quality rates out to 5.5 -- so, High A.    https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAA/2019.shtml

Neither guy has seen any real MLB quality pitching yet so the numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt.

[floplag]

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

Rojas' opponent pitcher quality rates out to 5.5 -- so, High A.    https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAA/2019.shtml

Neither guy has seen any real MLB quality pitching yet so the numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt.

i wish i could find a gif of Lou Browns comment about Willie Mays Hayes power surge in major league 2 about the guy who will be tending bar in a couple weeks... 

[angelsnationtalk]

They should play the hot hand with this. Ward and Fletcher are having not so good springs and Rojas is. Ward has a small taste in MLB and to me that isn't much to justify. Specially when he hit .178 with the big club last year. Rojas can't be any worse so, in my mind, so therefore he's earned the spot for it. 

And it baffles me that Zack Cozart says he can be ready for Opening Day when he's only had 7ABs this spring and is dealing with an injury that has nothing to do with his shoulder. Let Cozart take his time and give Rojas a chance that so far he's earned. 

[totdprods]

I'm game. DFA Smith to make room on the 40-man, make Briceno the back-up. Hopefully Smith slips through waivers and goes to AAA, if not, I'm happy with Garneau and Kruger as depth.

Edited March 14, 2019 by totdprods

[Dtwncbad]

Every spring training stat needs a deeper look.

Sometimes a pitcher is working on one pitch and the hitter knows he is getting nothing but change ups.  So his home run on a change up he knows is coming is basically meaningless.

Sometimes a AAA hitter is facing a AA pitcher.  It doesn't matter if it happen in the "major league spring training" it is equally unimpressive.

It is possible to get something out of a spring a training stat but there are just too many variables behind the situation to rely on many if these stats.

[Chuck]

Jose Rojas gets the start today against a good young pitcher in Freddy Peralta. The same guy that struck out 15 Rockies last year in Colorado. 

Let's see how he does today. @Inside Pitch

Ward needs more time at 3B defensively IMO though and I'm not digging La Stella at all. Since Rojas can play 3B, 2B and 1B, I'd rather have him on the team than the lite-hitting La Stella. 

[Dtwncbad]

18 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Jose Rojas gets the start today against a good young pitcher in Freddy Peralta. The same guy that struck out 15 Rockies last year in Colorado. 

Let's see how he does today. @Inside Pitch

Ward needs more time at 3B defensively IMO though and I'm not digging La Stella at all. Since Rojas can play 3B, 2B and 1B, I'd rather have him on the team than the lite-hitting La Stella. 

May I consolidate some thoughts here?The Angels have no 3B.

[Chuck]

11 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

May I consolidate some thoughts here?The Angels have no 3B.

Rojas and Ward are 3B. Cozart is and he's supposed to be back soon, by opening day for sure. I'd like him to be our 2B and Rojas 3B. 

[Dtwncbad]

14 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Rojas and Ward are 3B. Cozart is and he's supposed to be back soon, by opening day for sure. I'd like him to be our 2B and Rojas 3B. 

Please honestly predict where the Angels 3B will rank in MLB in 2019.

Be honest.

I will predict 24th.

If I am close, then I am comfortable saying the Angels have no 3B.

[eligrba]

Angels should sign Machado.

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, Chuckster70 said:

Jose Rojas gets the start today against a good young pitcher in Freddy Peralta. The same guy that struck out 15 Rockies last year in Colorado. 

Let's see how he does today. @Inside Pitch

Ward needs more time at 3B defensively IMO though and I'm not digging La Stella at all. Since Rojas can play 3B, 2B and 1B, I'd rather have him on the team than the lite-hitting La Stella. 

He could go 5-5 and I'm not sure if changes anything.

I like the guy, like his story even more...  I'm just saying ST numbers have to be taken in the proper context....   There are a lot of variables a lot of situations that won't exist come opening day, both at the MLB level and in the minors.  Albert Pujols is lighting the world on fire this spring too....

Rojas' is a fun guy to root for, an Anaheim kid through and through.

Edited March 14, 2019 by Inside Pitch

[Dtwncbad]

5 minutes ago, eligrba said:

Angels should sign Machado.

Or Adrian Beltre.

(No! Too expensive! I would rather suck at 3B.)

[Angel Oracle]

I've got a sneaking hunch that Fletcher and Cozart will be the 3B and 2B starters, with Rengifo ready in AAA if someone goes on the DL.

LaStella has not played as a regular before at the MLB level, 360 PAs being his career high in his rookie season with the Braves in 2014 and never over 200 PAs since then.    

[Tyler]

Maitan 3B of the future. I like what I see with him.

[Dick Enberg]

4 minutes ago, Tyler said:

Maitan 3B of the future. I like what I see with him.

Looks like a slightly slimmer, left handed version of Vlad Jr.!

[AngelStew43]

I don't think you would like Rojas as a 2B.  He can handle the corners, though.  And he is good at making contact.  He is earning a long look.

[Jeff Fletcher]

Matt Long says hello. 

[Docwaukee]

26 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Matt Long says hello. 

and Jeff Baisley
and Lucho Jimenez
and Matt Brown
and Freddy Sandoval

but every once in awhile you get Robb Quinlan who was a useful and versatile guy that hit lefties well (.792 ops vs. lefties for his career).  

Guys like Rojas deserve at least a reasonable look.