If we are going to buy...

[Hubs]

Is today the makeup game in Wrigley? Winning that, then doing well in this home stand against Oakland, Seattle and the Dogs will determine a lot for me. The offense is clicking right now, and with Upton due back soon...Harvey is likely back after his 10 day IL stint to pitch against Seattle on Friday or Saturday. Heaney gets the other one, and then Cahill goes again on Sunday? Cahill goes today with Canning, Pena, and Skaggs slotted against the A's. I think Suarez can be back for the series in Tampa, if Cahill continues to struggle and Harvey doesn't come back strong. We'd have Canning in the series against the Dodgers and then probably Pena in the other.

But potentially, Keuchel could be ready for Tampa as well. This month's and the week before the All Star Break schedule is actually really an easy one. Tough games against the Cubs, Dodgers, Rays, and Houston (10), in the next 33 games. They face winnable series against teams like Cincinnati, St. Louis, Oakland, Texas (16 games) and then terrible teams like Seattle and Toronto (7). Getting to 6-10 games over .500 in this stretch would be ideal.

Going 5-5 against the tough teams, 10-6 against the mediocre ones, and 5-2 against the terrible ones would make the Angels 20-13 in this stretch which means going into the break at 49-43, 6 games over on pace for 86 wins. By doing slightly better, 6-4, 11-5, and 6-1, respectively, they'd be at 23-10, and head into the break at 52-40, which is on pace for a 92 win season.

We'll know what kind of second half they'll be looking (buyers or sellers) at at the break. If they don't do well and end up say 17-16, They'd be at .500 at 46-46.

 

This stretch is going to tell us a lot.

[Hubs]

And yes, they should be looking at returns from Upton, Simmons, JC Ramirez, and Key Middelton at or near the All-Star Break, so they can set themselves up nicely for the second half with a nice stretch here.

[Claude]

Just now, Hubs said:

And yes, they should be looking at returns from Upton, Simmons, JC Ramirez, and Key Middelton at or near the All-Star Break, so they can set themselves up nicely for the second half with a nice stretch here.

Nobody is going to take Upton’s contract and I’m not sure you can trade injured players. 

[TroutField]

3 minutes ago, Calzone 2 said:

Nobody is going to take Upton’s contract and I’m not sure you can trade injured players. 

I think he meant returns from injury. 

[Claude]

2 minutes ago, TroutField said:

I think he meant returns from injury. 

Oh I thought he meant what they could get in return for those players. I’m pretty sure that Simmons won’t be back before the All Star break. 

[Angel Oracle]

17 hours ago, Dochalo said:

Don't spend prospects.  Go get Keuchel.  

He keeps us in the mix for the 2nd WC but we don't lose other assets.  

We get JC, Key, and Upton back soon.  Simmons in August probably.  

The main reason for either good or bad stretches is all about the rotation.  Heaney, Skaggs, Canning, Pena, Suarez, Keuchel isn't great, but it's solid.  

Agreed, as long as it's a short term deal (either overpaying for the remainder of 2019, or signing him to a deal through 2020).

[Claude]

2 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Agreed, as long as it's a short term deal (either overpaying for the remainder of 2019, or signing him to a deal through 2020).

1. He isn’t necessarily young.
2. In the age of strikeouts, he’s more of a “pitch to contact” arm.
3. And in the simultaneous age of velocity, his fastball sits below 90 mph.

That’s what they’re saying about Keuchel on MLB trade rumors. 

[Angel Oracle]

5 minutes ago, Calzone 2 said:

1. He isn’t necessarily young.
2. In the age of strikeouts, he’s more of a “pitch to contact” arm.
3. And in the simultaneous age of velocity, his fastball sits below 90 mph.

That’s what they’re saying about Keuchel on MLB trade rumors. 

Agreed, and thus why I wouldn't sign him to pitch beyond 2020 here.     

And I'm ONLY in agreement with bringing him in on a shorter deal because of the utter failures of Harvey and Cahill. 

Is it possible for Keuchel to have a slight uptick in velocity and movement on pitches this season, since his innings pitched will be limited in 2019?

[jordan]

Now with Marsh hurt, I'd definitely say, go get Keuchel for a 1 1/2 yr deal if possible.  Marsh would be trade bait for a Stroman or Sanchez. 

[Hubs]

Yes, I meant return from Injury.

You have to look at this club and say, where could they be better? Are there available options that are attainable in that area?

And honestly, the biggest most easy answer is starting pitching.