avejoe1

I believe this will be the first year that Mike Trout (born 8-7-91) is not the youngest on the Angels roster. Cam Bedrosian (born 10-2-91) is almost three (ok?) months younger. All others on the 40 man remain older that Trout. It is surprising how much Trout has accomplished despite being so young.

I am having trouble understanding why Scioscia keeps using pitchers like Bedrosian, Rasmus, and Frieri in key situations. I don't understand why these three relievers and Santiago are still even on the team for Scioscia to use after numerous terrible performances. I don't understand why R.J. Alvarez hasn't yet been brought up to replace at least one of the relievers.

I believe many newspapers have displayed an arrogance in editorials and coverage for a number of years. The Angels were regularly shorted on coverage and minimized by the L.A Times in favor of the Dodgers for many years. The Times also forgot that many of its readers were conservative and regularly sermonized as to how its readers should think. I simply stopped buying the times as it no longer covered what I was interested in. For me it had nothing to do with the internet or smartphones. The Times left me before I left it. The Times also kept its daily price artificially low in Orange County to try to destroy the Register. I believe the Times has no one to blame but themselves.

If Dickey Stephans Park in Arkansas continues to do serious damage to Angels hitting prospects, why do the Angels insist on renewing the minor league contract for that franchise year after year?

Wow what ever happened to all the happy talk? The Angels are now 4 games out after playing only 14 games (less than 9% of the season). I was the negative guy on this board and I thought it would take the Angels until the end of April to get 4 games out. At this rate, the team would be down 40+ games before by end of the season.

With the Angels often drafting players straight out of high school, that three years is more likely to become five or six years (see Cowart).

Weaver didn't lose last night's game. Scioscia did. It is early in the season and starting pitchers like Weaver should not be expected to go as many innings as later in the year. Of course, stubborn Scioscia was oblivious to Weaver tiring in the 6th inning and should have pulled him after that second walk. But no, Scioscia didn't care if Weaver was tired and left him in so Seattle could tie the game. My gosh, a lead against Hernandez was huge and should have been protected at all costs. But no, Scioscia didn't care if Weaver had tired. Then instead of pulling him at the end of the inning after great defense saved a run, Scioscia throws an obviously tired Weaver back out so Seattle could take the lead before bringing in the bullpen. I can't remember worse Manager decisions but then last year is a long time in the past. Also, the Angels seem to make two bad acquisitions every year. Two years ago it was Burnett and Madsen. Last year it was Hamilton and Blanton. This year is would appear to be Freese and the DH, Ibanez. It makes me sick ... p.s. Did the injury to Don Baylor remind you of another early injury in the past which seemed to jinx a season? (Mo Vaughn)

Ah, classy as usual ...

So Inside is that your last, last response to this topic?

Ten; I'm sorry but I haven't been on this thread for a while. I am not a scout etc. so my arguments are apparently too simple for the advanced metrics guys which leads to me being "full of sh t". The Dodgers have a star in Puig, an international signing that cost them only money. With his youth and abilities, he may soon become a superstar. The Rangers have a star in Yu Darvish, an international signing that cost them only money. The Angels bulked up with six or seven first round draft picks over a two year period and came out with a superstar in Mike Trout, a down the road possible starter in Taylor Lindsay and two good lefthanders, Corbin and Skaggs who were traded away (Skaggs having been reacquired). This is simplistic but illustrates a point. These other teams have draft picks and international signings that they keep and build upon. The Angels are lucky to have a few high draft picks but are hit and miss as to whether they pan out and, if they do, are often traded away... The Angels have not for a long time signed any good international players. The stream of good, young minor league talent is just not there on a regular basis for the Angels. Year after year, these other teams put layers of good, young players on their team, some from the draft and some from their international signings. The Angels don't have the layers of good, young players from the draft or from the international signings to bring up to the major league club. It is hard for me to see how this problem is to be rectified over the next four to five years without the Angels jumping in with both feet into the international market. Thank goodness Dipoto kept the 1st round pick for this coming June. I am no Dodgers fan so probably should not be arguing their side. They don't care how much money they have spent because they have gone from irrelevant to relevant. The Dodgers appear committed (Yankee like) to paying whatever they need to in the future to get better without regard to a budget. I would expect that to include keeping their good minor league players acquired through the draft and through international signings as well as continuing to sign good players from both sources. I would expect the Dodgers to remain on top of the NL West as a result. I really do not like the feeling that the Dodgers are going to be the focus of Southern California sports news for quite a while to come.

I have brought this up previously. The only answer I have received is that it takes time to develop relationships with players, coaches, etc. and the Angels are just starting to rebuilt those international relationships. It actually sounds like a big excuse for not having spent and not spending now the international money.

It seems stupid to compare Joe Blantons lifetime stats against these other pitchers when Blanton has clearly reached the rapidly descending, downward end of his career. I prefer using his last years sample for comparison: 131.2 innings Hits per 9 innings 13.6 Whip 1.61 ERA 6.04 Avg. against .317 Blanton no longer belongs in any discussion regarding the 3-4-5.

Reggie Bush and his parents did break the NCAA rules on impermissible benefits. USC football had no knowledge of those NCAA violations and was not involved in them. The NCAA's corrupt investigators and infractions committee members lied, lied, lied to assure the Trojan football team was punished and then utilized that opening to put draconian sanctions in place. If you had read anything on what the NCAA report said and what the recent ruling in the McNair case stated regarding the improper conduct by the NCAA in this matter, you would not be so glib in your comments.

I just remember Bill Walsh and Eddie DeBartolo and the 49er's beating the crap out of the Rams for a number of years in a row.

I believe this year will be an early golf outing. The Angels in 2013 finished 12.5 games back of Texas and 18 games back of the A's. That's not just 3rd place in the AL West but a distant 3rd place. This team has made some modest improvements on last years team. The acquisitions of David Freeze, Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago were good trades. But they were also trades in which the Angels had to give up value in order to get value losing Trumbo and Bourjos. In my opinion, the improvements are not enough to make up that 12.5 games back on Texas much less get into the conversation regarding the A's. One could argue Texas had a significantly better off season than did the Angels adding Fielder and Choo. This team should be congratulated for keeping the first round draft pick in the 2014 draft and actually signing a couple of international players. Other than that this looks to be another rather long disappointing season.

Inside, are you really telling me that Cron and Lindsay are major league ready after playing last year in AA? Do you think Morin is ready for major league hitters after pitching for 31 innings in AA and Alvarez is ready after 48 innings in high A? Isn't this stretching things a bit? Like a year or so? I did go and look up the top 100 prospect rankings and found, as you suggested, the Angels did not have one single prospect who made the cut. In the meantime, the Rangers showed: #39 C Jorge Alfaro #59 2B Rougned Odor #72 OF Michael Choice #76 SS Luis Sardinas #92 3B Joey Gallo So what should I predict for this coming season? The Rangers continuing to sign free agents, domestic and international. The Rangers continuing to train and bring up top prospects. Should I predict the Angels will remain in the running with them until say May 1st when the Rangers again suddenly shoot out way ahead and the season is effectively over? Please tell me there is one thing the Angels have done better than the Rangers this off season which would justify their moving ahead of the Rangers this coming season.

Bill Parcells once said, "You are what your record says you are". That record said the Angels were 3rd in the West, 18 games back of Oakland and 12.5 games back of Texas last year. This begs the questions then, Dude, of what have the Angels done in the past year and what will they do in following years to overcome this significant deficit? Forget Oakland as they are too far in the distance. As for Texas, they added in late 2012 OF Alex Rios and RP Joakim Soria. They have added 1b Fielder, OF's Choo and Choice, as well as C's Geovany Soto and J.P. Arencibia. They also get back injured players RP Neftali Felix and SP Matt Harrison. Quantity and Quality. The Angels acquired SP's Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs, and 3b David Freese in trades. They also signed OF/DH Raul Ibanez and RP Joe Smith. Are there any sure fire starters in that Angels list? The Angels had to give up Trumbo and Bourjos. I think the Rangers only traded Ian Kinsler. Who would you say had the better off season? Did the Angels do enough to overcame the 12.5 game deficit of 2013? I think it is obvious that Texas had a better off season. You have given me an exhaustive list of players from both teams from 2010 through 2013. As I do not care who was traded away for whom in the past, Corbin and Segura are not on my list. They might as well have been traded away for a bucket of balls as those trades do nothing for the Angels in 2014. I will summarize your list with players still contributing to the two teams as follows: Angels 2010 Mark Trumbo - traded this year for SP Tyler Skaggs and SP Hector Santiago Michael Kohn - iffy RP Hank Conger - backup catcher 2011 Mike Trout - a super star Garrett Richards - starting pitcher 2012 Kole Calhoun - starting outfielder? 2013 --- Rangers 2010 Alexi Ogando - starting pitcher (international?) Mitch Moreland -starting DH 2011 Leonys Martin - starting CF (international) 2012 Tanner Scheppers - starting pitcher Jurickson Profar - starting 2b (international) Martin Perez - starting pitcher (international?) 2013 Nick Tepesch - starting pitcher Yu Darvish - star starting pitcher (international) Even with Mike Trout on the Angels list, the Rangers list is better. Angels: One super star and two or three starters. Rangers: One star and seven starters. Why? The international signings. Even a blind man should be able to see this. Now look at the top 10 prospect lists according to MLB for the two teams. Rangers: #1 Jorge Alfaro, C (international) #2 Luis Sardinas, SS (international) #4 Roughns Odor, 2B (international) #6 Wilmer Fort, RP (international) #7 Ronald Guzman, 1B (international) #8 Jairo Beras, OF (international) Angels: #8 Ricardo Sanchez, LHP (international) Not enough? Let's look at BaseballAmerica's top 30 international signings list for 2013 (as of 8-15-2013): #6 Marcos Diplan, RHP Dominican Republic (Rangers) #7 Yeyson Yrizarri, SS Venezuela/Dom. Rep. (Rangers) #14 Jesus Lopez, SS Nicaragua (Athletics) #17 Carlos Hiciano, SS Dominican Republic (Athletics) #26 Michael Deleon, SS Dominican Republic (Rangers) #27 Ricardo Sanchez, LHP Venezuela (Angles) And there is that same Ricardo Sanchez shown above. None of the three Rangers international signings from 2013 can get into the Rangers top 10 even though they are rated higher than the Angels signing of Sanchez. So which team do you think will have a minor league player ready to step up to the ML club when there is a particular need? Yeah, the one with the deeper prospect list. I didn't even get to the top 100 prospect list for all of baseball. Tell me - how many Rangers are on that list? How many Angels? I am not trying to beat up on the Angels. It is a good thing they signed LHP Lianmy Galan. I am also not trying to nit pick over the international director/scouting problems which are past. I am saying the Rangers are consistently outsigning the Angels in international free agents where no draft picks have to be given up. As such, the Rangers minor league system is producing more major league ready young talent and it shows on the rosters. So you tell me, how are the Angels to make up the deficit in talent? How are the Angels to catch up if the other team is signing better talent and developing better talent? Tell me who is working harder to get better? The team in third place in the West, over 12 games behind second place?

You mean the Angels "dominated" as in past tense from FOUR YEAR AGO PLUS? Who cares about four or five years ago? I am talking about how these other teams bring up or acquire four and five decent to good players a year while the Angels are bringing up or acquiring two, sometimes three plus a bunch of fillers. When there is a need during the year, they pull from their minors while the Angels look for trades and to the waiver wire (see 2013 bullpen). You do that year after year and it is no mystery why the Rangers and A's and Dodgers are playing for their respective division championships and the Angels are left to look up for how long now? Oh, yeah for the past four years. And who are the Angels bringing up from the minors this year, whether drafted or signed internationally? Anyone? Who is in the pipe to be brought up next year when the openings inevitably come? Anyone? My point is a team cannot get better simply by signing major league free agents and making trades and giving away draft picks. It is swimming against the tide ...

As to my reference to "stars", I meant how simple it was for the Rangers to acquire Yu Darvish, the Dodgers to acquire Yasiel Puig and the A's to get Yoenis Cespedes. Young stars who will be good for a number of years. The Angels have to somehow come up with a number of first round draft picks, actually make one a good pick (Mike Trout) and then develop him over a number of years in the minors. After all that, there is nothing left to surround him with but aging past their prime former stars and whatever the Angels can find available from other teams. The Angels "competition" just go out and get their young stars with money and good scouting. So how are the Angels ever going to get ahead of these other teams? I am going to show my age but I remember being an avid Rams fan in the 80's when the San Francisco 49er's beat the Rams year after year. The 49er's seemed to make a trade every year so when the draft came up they had two first round picks when the Rams had one. The 49er's went out and signed two major free agents every year when the Rams sometimes signed one. The Rams tried year after year to rebuild while the 49er's continually reloaded. It was not surprising that the 49er's were playing for championships while the Rams were trying to achieve respectability. It came from different goals and management priorities. The 49er's excellence was planned while the Rams lack of excellence year after year seemed to be business as usual.

I again see no reason to go into some long history laden exercise in who was signed and became productive years ago but were traded away or are no longer of any worth. All of that no longer matters. I am making a point but not trying to be confrontational. Yu Darvish is the Rangers star that the Angels can only wish they had. He is a #1 pitcher and will remain so for years to come. All he cost was money and good scouting. This is the same kind of money (with of course a draft pick attached) that the Angels normally throw at past their prime former stars who get to L.A. and are no longer productive. Leonis Martin and Jurickson Profar are young Rangers starters who are on their way and will be productive for Texas for years to come. Plus Martin Perez and whoever is in their system from international signings two or more years ago, last year, and this year, etc. The point is Texas has been investing for many years in these types of prospects who are and will continue to pay big dividends. The Angels are trying to compete with the Rangers who are well out-of-the-gate and far down the track in these matters. It would appear that the Angels are still trying to make up their minds of whether to step onto the track. Who do the Angels have on the major league roster from international signings? Anyone remotely productive? Is there anyone from the international market signed by the Angels in the minors worth a damn right now?

I don't care about a history of 1996 through 2013 except for the fact that the Angels last real international signing was Kendrys Morales 7 or 8 years ago. I would like to see a team that is committed to a major move toward a top minor league system and much better prospects. I would like to see two top signings in the international top 10 each year to show someone gets that the cupboard is now bare. The Rangers seem to find these international players, sign them and they become stars. So do the Dodgers. But the Angels are content with signing #27. When is this crap going to end?

Wow, the Angels signed the #27 best international player available from July. It may be a step in the right direction and add to that Lianmy Galan but it sure isn't going to move the Angels farm system up in the MLB rankings very soon. The Angels always seem to be in the bottom third when it comes to prospects, minor leagers, etc.

This gets me. How can the Angels ever expect the minors to support the major league club when a first round pick like Kaleb Cowart, who has spent three full years in the minors, is expected to start out his fourth year in high A again? Taylor Lindsay and Cowart were the only prospects who were not total failures from that 2010 draft. When the 2010 draft took place, the Angels were in need of a 3rd baseman. Now four years later, the Angels still need a third baseman and it appears he is a good two to three years away. Geez... (Note: I forgot to include 8th round pick Kole Calhoun. My bad...)

It is THAT important to change the culture of the Angels. This team has had a bad habit of signing many older, past their prime major league free agents with draft pick compensation attached. As such, these "solutions" quickly become liabilities producing nothing, placing a drag on the roster and soaking up tens of millions every year. With so few top draft picks year after year, there is no one to step up and replace them from the minors. Then add to this a poor draft/scouting staff in the past and you get poor draft picks with the ones that are exercised. When there was a top pick, this team's tendency was to choose a high school player assuring many years in the minors even if the player picked was good. If by some miracle a few these picks actually turn out to have some ability after numerous years in the minors, these were normally traded away in another of the many misguided (ie. stupid) short-term solutions for the big league roster (Skaggs, Corbin, Segura). Add to that the refusal of the Angels to buy high side amateur draft players with big demands (when they were available a few years ago) because that actually cost money. Add to that refusal to sign high side international free agents for many years because that cost money as well. Add to that the total collapse of the Dominican team/international scouting due to fraud and incompetence. This is been a complete mess for a long time. It is about time it changed.

What then is the definition of a stupid organization? Would it be one that makes a FA signing like Gary Matthews Jr ( giving a 1st round pick to the Rangers) and then has to wait out years of that contract in order to rid itself of such a bad decision? What is the excuse later when the same team goes out and trades for a Vernon Wells, not only taking on more money in another long-term contract but also giving away a good player (Napoli) for nothing? As such, the Wells trade was not only bad but WORSE than the Matthews signing. This is irrefutable. It is the height of stupidity to make a bad decision (Matthews), think about it, analyze it, go though season after season regretting such a miserable mistake, and then go out and make an even bigger stupid mistake (Wells). What is unbelievable is the number of mistakes this organization makes. Every year it is another intended short term fix that results in nothing positive. Kazmir, Haren, Greinke, Pujols, Hamilton, Madsen, Burnett, Hansen, Blanton, ... When will this list be long enough before someone realizes this isn't the way to build a long-term winning team? I think the Angels have worked long and hard to make these FA acquisitions and trades. They have earned the term "STUPID" going about it with unyielding determination. The Angels have a right to now wear the term with pride. Please forgive any grammar or spelling errors.