Things to be Excited About (Optimism Only)

[Angelsjunky]

While I try to be as balanced as possible and don't consider myself a "nutswinger," given the dark times I think a gloom-and-doom-free thread to discuss things we're excited about (Angels-wise) would be a good thing. Feel free to bitch and whine....elsewhere.

I'll start. I'm really excited about the possibility of seeing a Adell-Trout-Marsh outfield sometime in 2020. We've been talking about this ever since Adell was drafted a couple years ago, but we might actually see it at some point next season.

There are many other things I could list, but want to give others a chance. 

[tdawg87]

Mike Trout

[kevinb]

Trout for the entirety of his career

[Amazing Larry]

Ohtani’s back on the mound next year! New manager, possibly Gerritt Cole and another arm or two. This will be a good year I promise you miserable bastards!

[Jay]

Trout can't leave.

 

[eligrba]

My rash is clearing up!!!

[Amazing Larry]

2 minutes ago, eligrba said:

My rash is clearing up!!!

[Docwaukee]

I think Arte is gonna step up and get us Cole and another one of the top pitchers as well as a solid catcher this off season.  Even though the end of the year left most with a really bad taste, I think this team is better than everyone thinks.  Two arms throwing 180+ innings is going to make an unbelievable difference and we'll see us making a legit run at a playoff spot.  

I also think Houston's pitching staff is gonna fall back to earth next year and they're gonna win somewhere in the low 90's giving us an outside shot at the division title.  It's not likely, but we'll be in the mix.  

I also agree with others about the Adell, Trout, Marsh OF.  That's gonna be a lot of fun.  

Lastly, I am more bullish on our young pitching than most.  I think a new look from some different coaches is going to have a major impact.  They're gonna all contribute in a really good way and everyone will be pleasantly surprised.  

Oh, and as a bonus, I think La Stella's offense this year was legit and he's gonna do it again.  

[Angelsjunky]

^We're in general agreement, Doc. As you know, I think this team--as is--has a true talent level around .500. Adding two good starters and upgrading at C gets us another 10ish wins, plus or minus a few depending upon who they get. 

I think La Stella is legit, although am expecting something more like .280/.340/.470. 

As for the young pitching, at the very least I think Canning plays a full season at last year's level, which makes him another Heaney. But he'll eventually be better than that. I expect Barria to bounce back a bit, and Suarez to improve (although probably pitch mostly in AAA and the bullpen). Sandoval is the one that I think will surprise.

Ohtani is a wildcard. I think we've all pretty much subconsciously written him off, forgetting that he's only pitched 10 games in the majors. In about half of those games he looked like an ace. If he is healthy in 2020 and gives the team 20-25 starts and 100-140 IP, it will be huge.

Back to the OP, I'm looking forward to seeing how Rengifo develops. He has a dynamic quality that reminds me a bit of a young Damion Easley. Easley disappointed as an Angel but was a really good player for the Tigers for a few years.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Whereas im not expecting adell and marsh next year, or even to be good from kickoff, Im definitely anxious for that era to start. Trout will have the benefit of aging next to a supposed witch in CF, and a strong RF when he moves to LF at some point. And the 3 should make a pretty decent core offensively. 

If we figure out how to pitch, this team is going to turn a corner faster than some here want to believe.

[tdawg87]

Imagine replacing Harvey with Cole and Cahill with Ohtani, then replacing Stratton with Odorizzi for good measure. 

It's like waking up one day and having a 6 pack and a 10 inch dick and throwing your fat gf to the curb.

Edited October 13, 2019 by tdawg87

[Adam]

The dodgers postseason performance

[Lou]

my Bruins didn't lose today!

 

 

 

 

we had a bye. 

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, Adam said:

The dodgers postseason performance

I'm still celebrating. 

[cysomeawfulpitcher]

26 minutes ago, Lou said:

I'm still celebrating. 

Ditto Chokeland In the WC game.

 

And we’re not Baltimore, Detroit, Miami, etc..

[Troll Daddy]

I’m excited for next season watching Angel baseball ️ No doubt there will be plenty of new faces. 

[Second Base]

1. The Angels are going to make the playoffs in 2020.

2. People don't even realize just how good Shohei Ohtani is on the mound yet. We saw him for two months, his first two in the major leagues, pitching through elbow and blister issues. The most common comp for Ohtani coming over was Justin Verlander, as in the best pitcher in the AL Justin Verlander. That's how good Ohtani is going to be. People don't realize the Angels are adding the best starting pitcher in 2020, at age 25.

3. The Angels are also going to land Stephen Strasburg, the second best starting pitcher in the free agent market.

4. People also don't realize just how good Griffin Canning is. He was one of the best young starters in baseball before his mentor Skaggs died, before White started tinkering with him, and before injuries. The Angels played it safe and shut him down but he's healthy and is legitimately going to be a mid rotation starter with the right tutelage.

5. The Angels are going to add a veteran to be their Captain among pitchers, Cole Hamels. He's been there, not only as a youngster breaking in (like Canning), like a 20 something emerging as a dominant force (like Ohtani), as a lefty reinventing himself after injury or degradation of arsenal (like Heaney), and in the playoffs (like the Angels). That's been an issue that hasn't been discussed much is the fact that since Weaver left, the Angels haven't had that veteran to lead their pitchers. Hamels will lb that guy and shore up the back end of the rotation with quality innings.

6. The Angels simply lacked any sort of identity under Ausmus. They're going to hire Joe Maddon and you won't need to wonder who these guys are anymore. They'll step into who they're supposed to be because now they have someone to steward that.

7. People also don't realize just how good Adell and Marsh are. The power, the speed, the defense, the passion, the youthful energy and love of the game....putting those two in each side of Trout is going to be the best outfield in Angels history, and it starts at some point in 2020, probably by the all-star break. I thought it might take longer but the way they're developing, you just can't hold them down much longer.

8. Luis Rengifo. I know weird thing to get excited about, a utility infielder that didn't have impressive numbers. Keep in mind, he was 21/22, and his true skills haven't transferred yet, but they're going to start next year. This is a kids that should be one of the better defenders out at 2B that can hit 10-15 HR's, get on base at a better than .350 clip, steal 20+ bags a year and bat from both sides of the plate. The ideal leadoff hitter.

9. Mike Trout has had to do all this on his own for a few years now. It's hard to stay motivated when your team is constantly losing and hurt and you never have any good young kids coming up. We'll see Mike Trout reach another level again, one no one has ever seen before, because the Angels will be winning, and they'll have this excited supporting cast, a manner that knows how to lead and has the energy to do it, and a buzz among the fans and organization that brighter days have arrived and brighter days are ahead.

10. The minor league system will take another big step forward. Jose Soriano and Chris Rodriguez are going to open some eyes. Jordyn Adams is going to breakout and into the top 50 prospects. The system will graduate Adell and Marsh a year after graduating Canning and Rengifo, which came a year after graduating Fletcher and Ohtani, and intermixed with all of these has been guys like Matt Thaiss and Jaime Barria. The minor league system has been rebuilt and now Eppler will have the necessary depth to start trading from. Kochanowicz will impress really on. Will Wilson and Jahmai Jones are going to bring about some interesting debates. I'm pretty sure the Angels are going to draft a collegiate pitcher in the mold of Canning. Some of our international prospects will advance. 

It's all headed in the right direction.

[Angelsjunky]

1 hour ago, Second Base said:

....putting those two in each side of Trout

[Second Base]

8 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

[Angel Oracle]

15 hours ago, Dochalo said:

I think Arte is gonna step up and get us Cole and another one of the top pitchers as well as a solid catcher this off season.  Even though the end of the year left most with a really bad taste, I think this team is better than everyone thinks.  Two arms throwing 180+ innings is going to make an unbelievable difference and we'll see us making a legit run at a playoff spot.  

I also think Houston's pitching staff is gonna fall back to earth next year and they're gonna win somewhere in the low 90's giving us an outside shot at the division title.  It's not likely, but we'll be in the mix.  

I also agree with others about the Adell, Trout, Marsh OF.  That's gonna be a lot of fun.  

Lastly, I am more bullish on our young pitching than most.  I think a new look from some different coaches is going to have a major impact.  They're gonna all contribute in a really good way and everyone will be pleasantly surprised.  

Oh, and as a bonus, I think La Stella's offense this year was legit and he's gonna do it again.  

This times a lot

[T.G.]

Scioscia's return as manager!

[Warfarin]

I think we definitely have the nucleus to be a good team.  Given the advancements that our farm has made in the last few years, I do feel Arte will push more chips to the center and make a few big moves to acquire SP.

Eppler will sign Cole (7/225), Ryu (3/60), and Grandal (3/50) to contracts, which will help us remedy our greatest weaknesses.  We are essentially replacing Harvey with Cole, Cahill with Ryu, and Lucroy with Grandal.  Those 3 upgrades will net us an extra 10-13 wins, which will put us firmly in WC contention.  

 

[eligrba]

9 minutes ago, True Grich said:

Scioscia's return as manager!

[tdawg87]

10 hours ago, Second Base said:

1. The Angels are going to make the playoffs in 2020.

2. People don't even realize just how good Shohei Ohtani is on the mound yet. We saw him for two months, his first two in the major leagues, pitching through elbow and blister issues. The most common comp for Ohtani coming over was Justin Verlander, as in the best pitcher in the AL Justin Verlander. That's how good Ohtani is going to be. People don't realize the Angels are adding the best starting pitcher in 2020, at age 25.

3. The Angels are also going to land Stephen Strasburg, the second best starting pitcher in the free agent market.

4. People also don't realize just how good Griffin Canning is. He was one of the best young starters in baseball before his mentor Skaggs died, before White started tinkering with him, and before injuries. The Angels played it safe and shut him down but he's healthy and is legitimately going to be a mid rotation starter with the right tutelage.

5. The Angels are going to add a veteran to be their Captain among pitchers, Cole Hamels. He's been there, not only as a youngster breaking in (like Canning), like a 20 something emerging as a dominant force (like Ohtani), as a lefty reinventing himself after injury or degradation of arsenal (like Heaney), and in the playoffs (like the Angels). That's been an issue that hasn't been discussed much is the fact that since Weaver left, the Angels haven't had that veteran to lead their pitchers. Hamels will lb that guy and shore up the back end of the rotation with quality innings.

6. The Angels simply lacked any sort of identity under Ausmus. They're going to hire Joe Maddon and you won't need to wonder who these guys are anymore. They'll step into who they're supposed to be because now they have someone to steward that.

7. People also don't realize just how good Adell and Marsh are. The power, the speed, the defense, the passion, the youthful energy and love of the game....putting those two in each side of Trout is going to be the best outfield in Angels history, and it starts at some point in 2020, probably by the all-star break. I thought it might take longer but the way they're developing, you just can't hold them down much longer.

8. Luis Rengifo. I know weird thing to get excited about, a utility infielder that didn't have impressive numbers. Keep in mind, he was 21/22, and his true skills haven't transferred yet, but they're going to start next year. This is a kids that should be one of the better defenders out at 2B that can hit 10-15 HR's, get on base at a better than .350 clip, steal 20+ bags a year and bat from both sides of the plate. The ideal leadoff hitter.

9. Mike Trout has had to do all this on his own for a few years now. It's hard to stay motivated when your team is constantly losing and hurt and you never have any good young kids coming up. We'll see Mike Trout reach another level again, one no one has ever seen before, because the Angels will be winning, and they'll have this excited supporting cast, a manner that knows how to lead and has the energy to do it, and a buzz among the fans and organization that brighter days have arrived and brighter days are ahead.

10. The minor league system will take another big step forward. Jose Soriano and Chris Rodriguez are going to open some eyes. Jordyn Adams is going to breakout and into the top 50 prospects. The system will graduate Adell and Marsh a year after graduating Canning and Rengifo, which came a year after graduating Fletcher and Ohtani, and intermixed with all of these has been guys like Matt Thaiss and Jaime Barria. The minor league system has been rebuilt and now Eppler will have the necessary depth to start trading from. Kochanowicz will impress really on. Will Wilson and Jahmai Jones are going to bring about some interesting debates. I'm pretty sure the Angels are going to draft a collegiate pitcher in the mold of Canning. Some of our international prospects will advance. 

It's all headed in the right direction.

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said: