i legit hate this ASG Trout narrative...

[John Taylor]

I've honestly felt that this season we were a pretty good team with the pieces to be a great team once our young guys start to mature. Life decided to royally F*ck with this team this year, and yet we are still close to .500.

Think about it:

 

Our best pitcher is still rehabbing from TJ, he also happens to be our second best hitter and didn't start hitting until into the season

Our starting LF stubbed his toe and was out for a few months.

Our starting SS rolled his ankle and was out but for for much less than anticipated.

Our 4th Outfielder who was also having a pretty good season is on the IL with a wrist contusion.

Both our starting and backup catchers are on the IL.

Our second  2019 All Star hit a foul ball and broke his shin.

Our team leader in wins and strikeouts died during the season.

 

Looking at all of the above crap our team has had to go through this season, the fact we are one game below .500 is actually a pretty damn positive sign, I mean the team went 3-3 after one of our players died for christ sake, when something like could have spiraled the team into a losing streak that would have been completely understandable, especially with 2 of the starting pitchers being particularly close to Skaggs.

Anyone who complains about this team this year and says that Eppler didn't do his damn best to put the best team on the field has obviously not been paying attention, the rotation was setup to be pretty solid for years to come with Ohtani, Skaggs, Canning, Suarez, and Heaney making for what was going to be a damn fine rotation with Skaggs being our bulldog until he passed away.

I'm happy with the team that Eppler put together around Trout, but nobody can account for the real life stuff that happens during the season. I still believe this team can make the playoffs as a wild card, Canning will only get better as he makes more starts, baby Bartolo looks like he should develop into a solid hand, Fletcher is everything we have needed in an "Eckstein" type player but I think he is a better hitter and fielder than Eckstein. We're one really good run away from competing for a WC spot this year.

 

Edited July 9, 2019 by John Taylor

[Claude]

12 minutes ago, John Taylor said:

I've honestly felt that this season we were a pretty good team with the pieces to be a great team once our young guys start to mature. Life decided to royally F*ck with this team this year, and yet we are still close to .500.

Think about it:

 

Our best pitcher is still rehabbing from TJ, he also happens to be our second best hitter and didn't start hitting until into the season

Our starting LF stubbed his toe and was out for a few months.

Our starting SS rolled his ankle and was out but for for much less than anticipated.

Our 4th Outfielder who was also having a pretty good season is on the IL with a wrist contusion.

Both our starting and backup catchers are on the IL.

Our second  2019 All Star hit a foul ball and broke his shin.

Our team leader in wins and strikeouts died during the season.

 

Looking at all of the above crap our team has had to go through this season, the fact we are one game below .500 is actually a pretty damn positive sign, I mean the team went 3-3 after one of our players died for christ sake, when something like could have spiraled the team into a losing streak that would have been completely understandable, especially with 2 of the starting pitchers being particularly close to Skaggs.

Anyone who complains about this team this year and says that Eppler didn't do his damn best to put the best team on the field has obviously not been paying attention, the rotation was setup to be pretty solid for years to come with Ohtani, Skaggs, Canning, Suarez, and Heaney making for what was going to be a damn fine rotation with Skaggs being our bulldog until he passed away.

I'm happy with the team that Eppler put together around Trout, but nobody can account for the real life stuff that happens during the season. I still believe this team can make the playoffs as a wild card, Canning will only get better as he makes more starts, baby Bartolo looks like he should develop into a solid hand, Fletcher is everything we have needed in an "Eckstein" type player but I think he is a better hitter and fielder than Eckstein. We're one really good run away from competing for a WC spot this year.

 

Great post

[Taylor]

Quote

i legit hate this ASG Trout narrative...

Then why are you perpetuating it?

[Stradling]

33 minutes ago, Calzone 2 said:

 

 

If he can’t pitch then he will be the most prolific DH in MLB history. 

Strad, if he has another arm injury then he certainly shouldn’t be playing any position that requires him to throw the ball hard. 

do I really need to explain the difference between pitching 95 MPH 90-100 times a game and throwing the ball around the infield or throwing the ball in from left field 5 times a game?  please say no.

[mulwin444]

The best way to ensure long term competitiveness of a team is to have a solid minor league system,which Eppler has been building since he came on in 2016.  He's done it through drafts, international signings and trading vets for developing players.  Along with that, he's been rebuilding the major league roster year to year.  The reason most people haven't felt that 90+ loss sting is Arte/Eppler have been spending money to make an attempt to be competitive as opposed to utter tank jobs like the Astros a few years ago or the Orioles right now.  While other franchises blew up their roster, Eppler has been strategic:

- traded Sean Newcomb for Andrelton Simmons: Newcomb is operating out of the Braves BP while Simmons has put up a 18.5 WAR in 3 1/3 seasons.

 - traded Yunel Escobar for Trevor Gott: Didn't turn out to be huge but Escobar put up a 1.8 WAR with us while Gott has done nothing.

 - traded Jett Bandy for Martin Maldonado: Maldonado was a solid contributor while here and netted us a solid SP prospect while Bandy is in the minor right now.

 - traded Hector Santiago for Alex Meyer and Ricky Nolasco: Alex performed when healthy while Nolasco had one good 1/2 and 1 mediocre season.  Santiago hasn't really done anything.

 - traded Grayson Long for Justin Upton: Upton has put up near 5 WAR in about a season's worth of games while Long hasn't pitched since 2017.

 - traded Ian Kinsler to the Red Sox for Ty Buttrey and Williams Jerez: Kinsler is being mediocre right now in SD while Buttrey is our future closer; Jerez was traded for Stratton and neither have really done/did anything

 - traded C.J. Cron for Luis Rengifo: trading a man without a position who underperformed for an impact prospect making a solid impact on the team a year alter.

 Instead of signing costly BP pieces to multi-year contracts he claiming guys off waivers, signing to minor league contracts or trading for cash guys like like Robles, Cole, Pena, J.C. Ramirez, Blake Parker, Noe Ramirez, Parker Bridwell, etc

If he makes a mistake in trades, he traded nothing anything...if he makes a mistake in FA, they are  short-term mistakes that didn't cost a draft pick.

 

 

[Stradling]

3 minutes ago, mulwin444 said:

The best way to ensure long term competitiveness of a team is to have a solid minor league system,which Eppler has been building since he came on in 2016.  He's done it through drafts, international signings and trading vets for developing players.  Along with that, he's been rebuilding the major league roster year to year.  The reason most people haven't felt that 90+ loss sting is Arte/Eppler have been spending money to make an attempt to be competitive as opposed to utter tank jobs like the Astros a few years ago or the Orioles right now.  While other franchises blew up their roster, Eppler has been strategic:

- traded Sean Newcomb for Andrelton Simmons: Newcomb is operating out of the Braves BP while Simmons has put up a 18.5 WAR in 3 1/3 seasons.

 - traded Yunel Escobar for Trevor Gott: Didn't turn out to be huge but Escobar put up a 1.8 WAR with us while Gott has done nothing.

 - traded Jett Bandy for Martin Maldonado: Maldonado was a solid contributor while here and netted us a solid SP prospect while Bandy is in the minor right now.

 - traded Hector Santiago for Alex Meyer and Ricky Nolasco: Alex performed when healthy while Nolasco had one good 1/2 and 1 mediocre season.  Santiago hasn't really done anything.

 - traded Grayson Long for Justin Upton: Upton has put up near 5 WAR in about a season's worth of games while Long hasn't pitched since 2017.

 - traded Ian Kinsler to the Red Sox for Ty Buttrey and Williams Jerez: Kinsler is being mediocre right now in SD while Buttrey is our future closer; Jerez was traded for Stratton and neither have really done/did anything

 - traded C.J. Cron for Luis Rengifo: trading a man without a position who underperformed for an impact prospect making a solid impact on the team a year alter.

 Instead of signing costly BP pieces to multi-year contracts he claiming guys off waivers, signing to minor league contracts or trading for cash guys like like Robles, Cole, Pena, J.C. Ramirez, Blake Parker, Noe Ramirez, Parker Bridwell, etc

If he makes a mistake in trades, he traded nothing anything...if he makes a mistake in FA, they are  short-term mistakes that didn't cost a draft pick.

 

 

That’s about as good of a break down as you will see. 

[Blarg]

2 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Claude, you ever been slapped on the ass so hard you had to sit on a donut for a week?

What day is it, Tuesday? Then, yes, every 7 days.

[Blarg]

2 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

We need Cole and a trade for a #1 starter.

Fixed for a more successful outcome.

[Blarg]

1 hour ago, Calzone 2 said:

 

If he can’t pitch then he will be the most prolific DH in MLB history. 

Strad, if he has another arm injury then he certainly shouldn’t be playing any position that requires him to throw the ball hard. 

If he can't pitch then the Angels will convert him to a 1st baseman. 

[mulwin444]

9 minutes ago, cvdog said:

All I know is this organization knew long before the May draft they needed pitching desperately. And what do they do with their first 2 picks, the go SS? Until Arte & Eppler make better decisions improving this teams pitching, it won't matter how many Trouts we have.  Eppler's FA pitchers have been a disgrace. 

17 of his first 20 picks are pitchers...28 out of 40 picks total.

I think he's aware...

[Lou]

[Docwaukee]

If they were going to 'do more' financially at any point in the recent past it should have been from 2012 to 2015.   From that point, no amount of spending was going to help this team content for division titles.  In fact, they were so decimated at that point that they were circling the drain and the future was 10 years of darkness.  The mlb roster had .500 talent at best and the farm system was the worst in baseball and perhaps even in baseball history.  

to be where they are is pretty impressive relative to where they could be especially considering that they're now 3-4 players away from getting to the next level of contention while still having a solid farm system.  Regardless of the financial commitment, you have to get players that perform.  

Boston goes nowhere if Sale and Martinez are mediocre.  Houston does nothing if Verlander isn't lights out or even a guy like Reddick isn't good.  Or Lester and Lackey and Zobrist for the Cubs.  Or Morales and Volquez for the Royals.  And so on and so forth.  Those don't even count the players that they got a little lucky with.  All of those teams have in common that they've built a strong core of players and their higher priced investments worked out for at least part of their contracts.  

Going forward, it's about making the right choices.  Not just spending money.  

[stormngt]

19 minutes ago, cvdog said:

All I know is this organization knew long before the May draft they needed pitching desperately. And what do they do with their first 2 picks, the go SS? Until Arte & Eppler make better decisions improving this teams pitching, it won't matter how many Trouts we have.  Eppler's FA pitchers have been a disgrace. 

Had we drafted starting pitching it would be 3-5 years before we see them on the mlb roster. How dies that solve our problem this year or next year?

[Docwaukee]

21 minutes ago, cvdog said:

All I know is this organization knew long before the May draft they needed pitching desperately. And what do they do with their first 2 picks, the go SS? Until Arte & Eppler make better decisions improving this teams pitching, it won't matter how many Trouts we have.  Eppler's FA pitchers have been a disgrace. 

the two are unrelated for the year 2019.  

[Blarg]

7 minutes ago, cvdog said:

All I know is this organization knew long before the May draft they needed pitching desperately. And what do they do with their first 2 picks, the go SS? Until Arte & Eppler make better decisions improving this teams pitching, it won't matter how many Trouts we have.  Eppler's FA pitchers have been a disgrace. 

Maybe you were not up on the Draft this season. It was position player heavy and pitching weak. What they could have drafted for pitching would probably end up as bullpen help. You can pick up bullpen pitchers every year though waivers instead of using draft picks.

Last season the Angels chose 27 pitchers of their 40 picks including picking 11 pitchers in a row starting in the 3rd round. The two players picked in the first and second round were Jordyn Adams and Jeremiah Jackson, two highly touted prospects. 

This season they picked 14 pitchers in a row following the 1st and 2nd pick in the draft. In total 28 pitchers selected. They picked shortstops because they are usually the Alfa dogs of the diamond, the best athletes with quickest reflexes and range that can be converted to any other position. Trout was a shortstop in High School and that worked out pretty well.

You never draft for need in the first two rounds, you pick the best possible player for whatever your metrics say they will be successful in the ascension to the majors. If that coincides with need, great. If not you are wasting your pick on a guy less likely to be of value whether that be a catcher, pitcher, infielder or outfielder. 

[Blarg]

In 2017 the Angels picked Griffith Canning in the 2nd round, earlier than he was slotted because of arm issues coming out of college. The first round pick was Jo Adell, the 4th best prospect in MLB two years later. I think they won the draft that year.

[tdawg87]

27 minutes ago, mulwin444 said:

17 of his first 20 picks are pitchers...28 out of 40 picks total.

I think he's aware...

[tdawg87]

17 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Maybe you were not up on the Draft this season. It was position player heavy and pitching weak. What they could have drafted for pitching would probably end up as bullpen help. You can pick up bullpen pitchers every year though waivers instead of using draft picks.

Last season the Angels chose 27 pitchers of their 40 picks including picking 11 pitchers in a row starting in the 3rd round. The two players picked in the first and second round were Jordyn Adams and Jeremiah Jackson, two highly touted prospects. 

This season they picked 14 pitchers in a row following the 1st and 2nd pick in the draft. In total 28 pitchers selected. They picked shortstops because they are usually the Alfa dogs of the diamond, the best athletes with quickest reflexes and range that can be converted to any other position. Trout was a shortstop in High School and that worked out pretty well.

You never draft for need in the first two rounds, you pick the best possible player for whatever your metrics say they will be successful in the ascension to the majors. If that coincides with need, great. If not you are wasting your pick on a guy less likely to be of value whether that be a catcher, pitcher, infielder or outfielder. 

[nate]

who cares about narratives.

[Lou]

11 minutes ago, nate said:

who cares about narratives.

narrators 

[Lou]

[Taylor]

4 minutes ago, Lou said:

narrators 

There are too many narrators these days.

[Lou]

1 minute ago, Taylor said:

There are too many narrators these days.

Morgan Freeman agrees

[Slegnaac]

3 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Claude, you ever been slapped on the ass so hard you had to sit on a donut for a week?

Jelly, cream or lemon filled?

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, Slegnaac said:

Jelly, cream or lemon filled?

Yes.