How do you replace Ohtani’s production in 2024?

[Duren, Duren]

Interesting that Ohtani has been playing every game and we hardly ever see him not in the lineup. So it will be a hard reality check when he's not on the team. And maybe he decides to rest more at the end of this season if nothing is at stake. I guess it's really his choice if he wants to ease into free agency without risk of injury. 

For one thing, Trout will have to get back to better form and carry more of the load. Not sure if age degradation and proneness to injury will allow that. As well as playing in a lineup without Ohtani. 

If Adell had been healthy and shown he's capable he would be more of a known quantity. As it is, it's been how many years, and he's still a mystery. 

Rendon needs to play regularly and show a decent level of production. Not likely, but if he has any pride and professionalism he'll work like hell to salvage his reputation. Or retire if he's just burnt out and lost his motivation. 

Obviously there will be substantial changes for 2024. Not sure if Giolito deserves ace money. But he could use a strong finish to increase his sample size. He and/or other starting veterans will be needed to eat innings with decent competence. 

Another veteran proven bat is likely to be acquired. The money will be there so it's a matter of a smart trade and/or free agent signing. 

Better defense, more speed, less dependence on home runs have to compensate somewhat for Ohtani's loss. Despite him near the top in so many categories it hasn't translated into a winning team. He's done a superhuman job, but not a winning season even once with him. 

Ideally, a serious reset and revamped coaching staff. It's gotten stale with the status quo. Injuries and a patchwork roster are big factors, but maybe a new staff  can tweak things differently. And create an environment with more accountability. Perry deserves some more time and could focus on the dugout as well as the roster. 

Just a wild guess based on gut feeling. 

Next year the goal should be reaching .500. And building for the playoffs in two or three years. A new staff will need time to assess and mold the team. And there will be a lot of unknowns to deal with. 

 

[BTH]

16 hours ago, Duren, Duren said:

Better defense, more speed, less dependence on home runs have to compensate somewhat for Ohtani's loss.

A full season of O’Hoppe, Neto, and Trout would help the defense.

Not sure how they get faster, especially since Ohtani is their SB leader.

[ettin]

On 8/12/2023 at 11:49 AM, jsnpritchett said:

Sign Matt Chapman (3.5), Whit Merrifield (2.4 fWAR), and Kyle Gibson (2.3 fWAR).  Done!

(EDIT: Yes, I'm joking--but if Ohtani doesn't sign with the Angels, I unfortunately can see them trying something stupid like this...)

It's really simpler than that, just find 3 guys whose combined on-base percentage averages out to .409.

[Stradling]

14 hours ago, ettin said:

It's really simpler than that, just find 3 guys whose combined on-base percentage averages out to .409.

I think this is funny. No one else appreciates it, but I do. 

[Angels 1961]

15 hours ago, Trendon said:

A full season of O’Hoppe, Neto, and Trout would help the defense.

Not sure how they get faster, especially since Ohtani is their SB leader.

Brett Phillips

[Angels in 2030]

On 8/12/2023 at 12:39 PM, Second Base said:

You don't replace it. You do what you should've done in 2016, which is begin to tear down and rebuild.

You restructure the entire financial outlook of the organization by reallocating free agent funds into a strong minor league program complete with....

top scouts, coordinators, ballparks, amenities, technology, pitching labs, medical staff, Latin American influence and top draft picks. 

This ensures that the prospects you actually have on hand maximize their value and help the major league club as young controllable talent, and with the inevitable tanking of the major league club that takes place, higher draft picks results in better prospects and eventually better players and a better team. 

Mic drop -- single best post i've read here in ages.  

[floplag]

Queue bad Nolan Ryan takes or various scenes from Moneyball...
Short answer, you dont, you move on as best you can. 

[Angelsjunky]

On 8/12/2023 at 3:39 PM, Second Base said:

You don't replace it. You do what you should've done in 2016, which is begin to tear down and rebuild.

You restructure the entire financial outlook of the organization by reallocating free agent funds into a strong minor league program complete with....

top scouts, coordinators, ballparks, amenities, technology, pitching labs, medical staff, Latin American influence and top draft picks. 

This ensures that the prospects you actually have on hand maximize their value and help the major league club as young controllable talent, and with the inevitable tanking of the major league club that takes place, higher draft picks results in better prospects and eventually better players and a better team. 

You and I agree on this, but at some point we have to accept the fact that the chances of that happening are very slim - at least in the foreseeable future. The soonest I could see that happening is in a couple years, after Rendon departs and (presumably) there's only Trout left standing.

At this point, what I'm hoping for are smarter moves, and ones that are relatively cheap and/or have long-term value. And to be honest, we need better luck and/or savviness on Minasian's part. We need to strike gold with a move or two - we need a Bartee-for-Figgins trade (or three), or free agents that actually meet and exceed expected performance (e.g. Vlad, Torii).

 

[Chuck]

We answered this topic/question pretty easily on our podcast last night. 

 

[floplag]

6 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

We answered this topic/question pretty easily on our podcast last night. 

 

 

Havent had a chance to listen yet, care to quick summarize? 

[Stradling]

Is it really about replacing his production or improving the overall production of the team?  We can get 75% of Ohtani by signing Belinger and Giolito.  Then you need to have less than dog shit from the catching position, less than shit from 1st base, less than dog shit from middle relief and 5-6th starters, then you need to improve health, if that is a thing.  Without internal improvements it really doesn’t matter.  

[floplag]

14 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Is it really about replacing his production or improving the overall production of the team?  We can get 75% of Ohtani by signing Belinger and Giolito.  Then you need to have less than dog shit from the catching position, less than shit from 1st base, less than dog shit from middle relief and 5-6th starters, then you need to improve health, if that is a thing.  Without internal improvements it really doesn’t matter.  

For once we are dead on the same page. 
Replacing Ohtani without addressing other issues is an utter waste of time and a zero sum equation. 
I might look other than Belinger but conceptually, yeah.

[BTH]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

Is it really about replacing his production or improving the overall production of the team? 

They need to do both.

Just doing one, while lacking on the other leaves them in the same boat they’ve been in.

[Tank]

you sign two 8-7 pitchers.

 

/obligatory

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

58 minutes ago, Tank said:

you sign two 8-7 pitchers.

 

/obligatory

We don't want to go there..... A G A I N ....