OC Register: Angels’ Jo Adell faces his last chance to make the team

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. — This is a critical spring training for Jo Adell.

Again.

Adell, who was once one of the top prospects in baseball, has seen his stock slip over the past few years of struggles in the big leagues. It’s created the narrative that each new season was his chance to finally turn the corner.

Now, though, the added element is that Adell is finally out of options, which means the Angels won’t be able to send him to the minors. He is still 24 years old and talented enough that he would certainly be claimed if placed on waivers.

“The way the game goes, you’re gonna be where you’re supposed to be at the end of the day,” Adell said. “Right now it’s Angel red. I expect to go out and help the team, so that’s where I’m at.”

New Angels manager Ron Washington said his first look at Adell this spring has shown him a player ready to make changes, though. Washington said he believes Adell is more open to working with coaches than he had been in the past.

“He had been trying to take care of himself, instead of letting him try to take care of himself and us taking care of him too,” Washington said. “I think we got him to the point where he’s allowing us to be a part of what he’s trying to do, instead of trying to do it by himself.”

The Angels have two new hitting coaches, Johnny Washington and Tim Laker. Adell also spent a couple days over the winter working out with former All-Star Matt Holliday, who works for Scott Boras, Adell’s agent.

Adell said Holliday and the Angels’ hitting coaches have encouraged him to simplify the game.

“We’re getting back to the basics of really what it’s all about,” Adell said. “It’s just hitting. It’s about finding a good pitch. It’s the simplicity of it all. We can get caught up in the numbers, but at the end of the day, it’s simple. It’s approach.”

Adell’s approach in the past has seemingly been about power, with little concern for contact.

He has a career .214 average in 619 big-league plate appearances, with a 35% strikeout rate. He has hit 18 big-league homers.

Past hitting coaches have tried to get Adell to shorten his swing with two strikes, telling him he still has so much power that he will still be hitting the ball hard, and possibly still over the fence.

Ron Washington said he’d also like to see Adell use the whole field.

“It’s not just pounding the ball out the ballpark,” Washington said. “It’s about hitting the ball around the ballpark. The whole ballpark. We’re trying to get him in that frame of mind where he starts learning how to use the whole ballpark, because his power is his power. And you don’t need to use it in just one area. And that’s the type of thing we’ve been talking to him about. And as I see it, it’s sinking in.”

Mickey Moniak is also out of options. He and Adell join an outfield mix with Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Aaron Hicks. It’s possible that all five outfielders could be on the roster.

Trout and Ward are the top two outfielders. Moniak had a good year last year, and Hicks, who is a switch-hitter who does well against lefties, could be a good platoon complement to Moniak.

Where that leaves Adell remains to be seen.

At least he can be confident that he won’t be in the minors.

“I’m just looking forward to the consistency of just being out there,” Adell said. “Being able to play this on a full scale and get myself a full year and an opportunity to go and be on the field every day and in my same routine, same approach and just commit to that approach and see what happens.”

UNION HEAD VISITS

Tony Clark, head of the MLB Players Association, said it “piqued our interest” when the Angels placed seven players on waivers in August, which was a clear attempt to get under the luxury-tax threshold, but as of now they aren’t sure if it’s something that needs to be addressed.

“We’ll examine to what extent it’s a trend and then, come bargaining, if it’s something that we need to have a more tangible conversation about,” Clark said. “But at this point we’re taking notes.”

Clark spoke to reporters after he and other union officials held their annual meeting with the Angels, before Tuesday’s workout. The Angels were the fourth stop as Clark tours all 30 camps.

The Angels made moves that would have pushed them above the luxury-tax threshold just before the July trade deadline, but after the team fell out of the race in August, they reversed course. They allowed five players to go on waivers, and ended up finishing less than $30,000 below the $233 million threshold.

The Angels have consistently come up just short of the threshold, which is precisely the type of behavior the union wants to discourage. The union objects to a salary cap, and the Angels seem to have treated the luxury tax as a hard cap, even though it’s not.

“As we saw over the course of last year, more and more teams understand what it is,” Clark said. “It is a threshold and you have the option to make decisions that go past it. In this last round of bargaining, those thresholds increased. But historically, yes, the Angels have been right up to it and they haven’t haven’t made a decision to go over it in the last 20 years, give or take.”

Clark also said that there didn’t seem to a concern among Angels players that the team is using minor-league facilities for spring training for a fourth consecutive year.

“We haven’t heard complaints at this point,” Clark said. “Obviously from a health and safety standpoint, that’s first and foremost and we haven’t heard that. So we’ll we’ll see.”

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NOTES

Right-hander Victor Mederos will start for the Angels in their Cactus League opener against the Dodgers on Saturday. Washington said Mederos is ahead of the other starters because he was among the first pitchers to throw a live bullpen session. Two of the Angels’ projected rotation members – Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning – threw live batting practice Tuesday for the first time this spring. …

This year, the Angels have been keeping track of the count as pitchers have worked in live bullpens, as opposed to the more traditional approach of simply having the pitchers throw a fixed number of pitches to each hitter. Washington said it’s part of an effort to help pitchers learn how to more efficiently retire hitters. “The quicker you can get a batter out, you can get deeper in the ballgame,” Washington said. “The time of ‘five (innings) and dive’ or ‘4 2/3 and dive,’ we want to eliminate that.”

View the full article

[Halo in Chicago]

I really hope Hicks isn't taking significant AB's from Adell or Moniak. If we're going for it and Bellinger is taking their AB's - fine. If we're truly rebuilding, I'd like to see Adell and Moniak playing enough to see what we have in them. 

[jsnpritchett]

30 minutes ago, Halo in Chicago said:

I really hope Hicks isn't taking significant AB's from Adell or Moniak. If we're going for it and Bellinger is taking their AB's - fine. If we're truly rebuilding, I'd like to see Adell and Moniak playing enough to see what we have in them. 

I can't imagine Hicks will.  As I and a couple others have noted, he's effectively here on a minor league deal from a resource standpoint.  If he's terrible in spring training, they'll cut him. 

[Angels 1961]

4 hours ago, AngelsWin.com said:

TEMPE, Ariz. — This is a critical spring training for Jo Adell.

Again.

Adell, who was once one of the top prospects in baseball, has seen his stock slip over the past few years of struggles in the big leagues. It’s created the narrative that each new season was his chance to finally turn the corner.

Now, though, the added element is that Adell is finally out of options, which means the Angels won’t be able to send him to the minors. He is still 24 years old and talented enough that he would certainly be claimed if placed on waivers.

“The way the game goes, you’re gonna be where you’re supposed to be at the end of the day,” Adell said. “Right now it’s Angel red. I expect to go out and help the team, so that’s where I’m at.”

New Angels manager Ron Washington said his first look at Adell this spring has shown him a player ready to make changes, though. Washington said he believes Adell is more open to working with coaches than he had been in the past.

“He had been trying to take care of himself, instead of letting him try to take care of himself and us taking care of him too,” Washington said. “I think we got him to the point where he’s allowing us to be a part of what he’s trying to do, instead of trying to do it by himself.”

The Angels have two new hitting coaches, Johnny Washington and Tim Laker. Adell also spent a couple days over the winter working out with former All-Star Matt Holliday, who works for Scott Boras, Adell’s agent.

Adell said Holliday and the Angels’ hitting coaches have encouraged him to simplify the game.

“We’re getting back to the basics of really what it’s all about,” Adell said. “It’s just hitting. It’s about finding a good pitch. It’s the simplicity of it all. We can get caught up in the numbers, but at the end of the day, it’s simple. It’s approach.”

Adell’s approach in the past has seemingly been about power, with little concern for contact.

He has a career .214 average in 619 big-league plate appearances, with a 35% strikeout rate. He has hit 18 big-league homers.

Past hitting coaches have tried to get Adell to shorten his swing with two strikes, telling him he still has so much power that he will still be hitting the ball hard, and possibly still over the fence.

Ron Washington said he’d also like to see Adell use the whole field.

“It’s not just pounding the ball out the ballpark,” Washington said. “It’s about hitting the ball around the ballpark. The whole ballpark. We’re trying to get him in that frame of mind where he starts learning how to use the whole ballpark, because his power is his power. And you don’t need to use it in just one area. And that’s the type of thing we’ve been talking to him about. And as I see it, it’s sinking in.”

Mickey Moniak is also out of options. He and Adell join an outfield mix with Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Aaron Hicks. It’s possible that all five outfielders could be on the roster.

Trout and Ward are the top two outfielders. Moniak had a good year last year, and Hicks, who is a switch-hitter who does well against lefties, could be a good platoon complement to Moniak.

Where that leaves Adell remains to be seen.

At least he can be confident that he won’t be in the minors.

“I’m just looking forward to the consistency of just being out there,” Adell said. “Being able to play this on a full scale and get myself a full year and an opportunity to go and be on the field every day and in my same routine, same approach and just commit to that approach and see what happens.”

UNION HEAD VISITS

Tony Clark, head of the MLB Players Association, said it “piqued our interest” when the Angels placed seven players on waivers in August, which was a clear attempt to get under the luxury-tax threshold, but as of now they aren’t sure if it’s something that needs to be addressed.

“We’ll examine to what extent it’s a trend and then, come bargaining, if it’s something that we need to have a more tangible conversation about,” Clark said. “But at this point we’re taking notes.”

Clark spoke to reporters after he and other union officials held their annual meeting with the Angels, before Tuesday’s workout. The Angels were the fourth stop as Clark tours all 30 camps.

The Angels made moves that would have pushed them above the luxury-tax threshold just before the July trade deadline, but after the team fell out of the race in August, they reversed course. They allowed five players to go on waivers, and ended up finishing less than $30,000 below the $233 million threshold.

The Angels have consistently come up just short of the threshold, which is precisely the type of behavior the union wants to discourage. The union objects to a salary cap, and the Angels seem to have treated the luxury tax as a hard cap, even though it’s not.

“As we saw over the course of last year, more and more teams understand what it is,” Clark said. “It is a threshold and you have the option to make decisions that go past it. In this last round of bargaining, those thresholds increased. But historically, yes, the Angels have been right up to it and they haven’t haven’t made a decision to go over it in the last 20 years, give or take.”

Clark also said that there didn’t seem to a concern among Angels players that the team is using minor-league facilities for spring training for a fourth consecutive year.

“We haven’t heard complaints at this point,” Clark said. “Obviously from a health and safety standpoint, that’s first and foremost and we haven’t heard that. So we’ll we’ll see.”

Related Articles

• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels’ Anthony Rendon hoping to avoid more injuries in his ‘job’
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Mike Trout says he’s loyal to the Angels because he doesn’t want to ‘take the easy way out’
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels closer Carlos Estévez changed workout routine after bad finish in 2023
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels’ Taylor Ward passes a test on his way back from frightening injury
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels’ Patrick Sandoval learning to manage his emotions

NOTES

Right-hander Victor Mederos will start for the Angels in their Cactus League opener against the Dodgers on Saturday. Washington said Mederos is ahead of the other starters because he was among the first pitchers to throw a live bullpen session. Two of the Angels’ projected rotation members – Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning – threw live batting practice Tuesday for the first time this spring. …

This year, the Angels have been keeping track of the count as pitchers have worked in live bullpens, as opposed to the more traditional approach of simply having the pitchers throw a fixed number of pitches to each hitter. Washington said it’s part of an effort to help pitchers learn how to more efficiently retire hitters. “The quicker you can get a batter out, you can get deeper in the ballgame,” Washington said. “The time of ‘five (innings) and dive’ or ‘4 2/3 and dive,’ we want to eliminate that.”

View the full article

Adell is on the team or traded. 

[DMVol]

16 minutes ago, Angels 1961 said:

Adell is on the team or traded. 

No choice otherwise. He’d be claimed if they try to outright him.

[Rollinghard]

I hope Adel doesn't read that headline. Maybe, just maybe Washington and the new hitting coaches can help him figure out how to use his tools. Use the whole field. Contact and spray the ball around. How about setting a goal to hit 35 doubles? And not think about HRs.

[Angel Oracle]

4 hours ago, Rollinghard said:

I hope Adel doesn't read that headline. Maybe, just maybe Washington and the new hitting coaches can help him figure out how to use his tools. Use the whole field. Contact and spray the ball around. How about setting a goal to hit 35 doubles? And not think about HRs.

And could probably still hit 20-25 HRs if playing full time.

[Rollinghard]

Adel's sac fly to right field yesterday was awesome. You could tell by Wash's congrats that its something he has been working on. Letting the ball get deeper and going with the pitch and using the whole field. Good for him. Still an adventure on every flyball hit his way but at least he is looking better in the box.  

[Duren, Duren]

He's been very patient in most at bats this season. Quite a contrast to the past. And has put good wood on the ball quite often.

He has to maintain that discipline and not panic if he goes into a slump. He has the strength to drive pitches to all fields and shouldn't just try and over power the ball. Solid contact regularly will take care of itself. 

That's why he needs playing time. To build up a hitting routine and habits game after game. Even at DH for some lineups. 

I remember Tim Laker as an Expos catcher way back when. Nice to see him resurface with the Angels. 

[HeavenlyHalos]

He definitely needs to be starting 5 of 7 games or so. The Angels need to use this season to figure out if he is part of the future or not. 

[Taylor]

He put together a really good AB yesterday that resulted in a walk. It's just one AB, but it's indicative of how far he's come since a couple years ago.

[Taylor]

37 minutes ago, HeavenlyHalos said:

He definitely needs to be starting 7 of 7 games or so. The Angels need to use this season to figure out if he is part of the future or not. 

Fixed

[tdawg87]

It's the smallest sample size ever, but he just looks like a completely different player. I'm excited to see what he can do because if he can even reach 75% of his full potential, the AL West is fucked and I need to call my doctor.

[Slegnaac]

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said:

It's the smallest sample size ever, but he just looks like a completely different player. I'm excited to see what he can do because if he can even reach 75% of his full potential, the AL West is fucked and I need to call my doctor.

Could difference be that he knows the chances of being sent to AAA are probably 0.00?

[tdawg87]

9 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

Could difference be that he knows the chances of being sent to AAA are probably 0.00?

I mean he can't be sent there. It could be a motivating factor that it's now or never, at least with the Angels. 

[Taylor]

19 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

I mean he can't be sent there. It could be a motivating factor that it's now or never, at least with the Angels. 

It would be the most Angels move to DFA him and then watch him succeed with the Rangers or something.

[Junkballer]

When he was drafted there was talk about Adell's "makeup and maturity".  In hindsight, it seems like excitement over his potential, which was and is undisputable, projected those attributes on him.  Wash's comments are fairly telling.  Hoping for the team's sake that he puts it all together and earns large increases through his arb years.