JAHV

Me coming back after missing the top of the 5th inning

You really suck at this. 

Good. I'll be in Florida quite a bit this year. This is a little better for Angels fans in CT and ET. 
Hey @Dollar Bill I upgraded your account to Premium so you don't have to deal with the ads. 
Thank you for all your insightful posts and written material for the LA Times over the past 12 or so years. 

I was really fortunate to get Joe Maddon on my podcast yesterday to talk about Angels baseball and the growth of the game here in the UK.
But amongst what I found to be a really interesting conversation (although some of you may not) - he confirmed that the Angels are still looking to add 1-2 more starting pitchers and that he believes there a lot of good players still out there (which suggests the free agent market) and also confirms again the desire to go with the six man rotation.
He really hyped up Brandon Marsh as someone we should see this year and also loves Reid Detmers

Can listen below if interested but thought I’d pick out the key parts.
He also confirmed just how much he loves the angels, even when he was with other teams he always wanted us to do well, I think we are lucky to have him back here.
https://anchor.fm/laangelsuk/episodes/LAAngelsUK-Meets-Joe-Maddon-epkb21

The problem with this statement is that Chuck's response was not to simply a differing opinion but to an unfounded accusation. It was the imputation of sexism where literally no demonstrable sexism was stated. Differing opinions fine...uncharitable unfounded accusations are lame and a real part of the problem with our cultural discourse.

The problem with this statement is that Chuck's response was not to simply a differing opinion but to an unfounded accusation. It was the imputation of sexism where literally no demonstrable sexism was stated. Differing opinions fine...uncharitable unfounded accusations are lame and a real part of the problem with our cultural discourse.

I think you meant to tag Arte Moreno. 

Bye Feliciano!

Dude is just so sick and so clutch. And this is just from the postseason. So stoked to finally have a third baseman again. 
 

Dude is just so sick and so clutch. And this is just from the postseason. So stoked to finally have a third baseman again. 
 

Dude is just so sick and so clutch. And this is just from the postseason. So stoked to finally have a third baseman again. 
 

Bowden’s argument is like someone saying, “I passed a Dairy Queen but didn’t stop because I wanted a burger,” and Bowden saying, “Don’t you know Dairy Queen has burgers?”

The Angels started the season 1-6, scoring 17 runs, and allowing 31. 
However, their season 'turned around' on April 5th with their second win of the year, and since then, they have:
Posted a record of 20-18, despite an awful 2-10 stretch in the middle. Scored 205 runs (5.3 runs per game) and allowed 191 (5 runs per game) The Starting Nine have posted a collective .274/.352/.490/.842 (!!!) slash (average 2019 AL slash is .247/.321/.425/.746) C : Lucroy: .269/.339/.481/.820 1B: Bour: .184/.279/.368/.647 2B: La Stella: .318/.402/.636/1.037 3B: Fletcher: .301/.345/.444/.789 SS: Simmons: .319/.343/.456/.800 LF: Goodwin: .298/.370/.479/.849 CF: Trout: .295/.463/.682/1.045 RF: Calhoun: .240/.329/.481/.809 DH: Pujols: .244/.299/.480/.779
  As we all know, the rotation has been the issue - 6.08 ERA - excluding Canning and 'openers': Skaggs: 7 GS, 5.15 ERA, averaging 5 IP/GS Cahill: 7 GS, 8.16 ERA, averaging 4.2 IP/GS Harvey: 7 GS, 5.60 ERA, averaging 5 IP/GS Pena: 7 G/3 GS, 2.83 ERA, averaging 5 IP/GS Stratton: 6 G/4 GS, 8.64 ERA Really, no other data is needed to get the point across at how terrible they've been.
  The bulk of the pen has continued to pitch well despite heavy use: Buttrey: 20.2 IP, 0.87 ERA, 4 BB, 26 K, 0 HR, .211 BAA Bedrosian: 18 IP, 2.50 ERA, 10 BB, 18 K, 1 HR, .185 BAA Ramirez: 17.2 IP, 3.57 ERA, 7 BB, 20 K, 4 HR, .215 BAA Bard: 17.1 IP, 2.60 ERA, 5 BB, 20 K, 4 HR, .219 BAA Robles: 17.1 IP, 3.12 ERA, 4 BB, 18 K, 1 HR, .177 BAA Garcia: 13 IP, 2.08 ERA, 11 BB, 8 K, 0 HR, .159 BAA Allen: 12 IP, 6.00 ERA, 13 BB, 15 K, 4 HR, .245 BAA Anderson: 11 IP, 4.09 ERA, 4 BB, 20 K, 1 HR, .200 BAA Collectively, that group has... a 3.10 ERA and .201 BAA (6.7 H9)  In 127 IP, 58 BB (4.1 per 9), 145 K (10.3), and 15 HR (1.1 HR9) This post isn't really intended to 'defend' the Angels, or even draw any real conclusions - sample size is still small - this is 25% of the season right here - but I was surprised to see just how good the starting nine have been offensively. 
It is also encouraging that they've been able to post a winning record with a starting rotation that bad and in spite of losing 10 of 12 in the middle of it all. 

Bour has already been cast off, replaced with Ohtani, and Stratton replaced with Canning, which should be drastic improvements. 

Pirates received how much?

I was on a business trip to Philly of all places and woke up to the news! The day before I had been getting grief from colleagues in Philly who were telling me it was just a matter of time before Trout was gone. As you can imagine I was glowing the rest of the week and gently rubbing it in their faces.

I was on a business trip to Philly of all places and woke up to the news! The day before I had been getting grief from colleagues in Philly who were telling me it was just a matter of time before Trout was gone. As you can imagine I was glowing the rest of the week and gently rubbing it in their faces.

"They are again fielding offers, when there are offers, that are identical from team to team to team."
The identical offers comes from identical data that says any one particular player is only worth x for y year(s). Teams no longer look in awe of Boras' 60 page dossier on a mid tier player skewing his value by misleading data. They now know exactly what is worth market value and what is just smoke and mirrors. 
Players holding out just means holding their dicks because it doesn't favor a GM to get Pujol'ed by a long term contract for short term production. Passing on any top tier free agent isn't going to ruin the franchise. Investing in the wrong one will. 
It's not collusion when it's based on facts. You either want to play and make more money than any other job your skills provide or sit out the season. Pretty simple.
 

Not sure about moose. I for one don't want to see a decrease in the doubles production for 2019.

They help you win now, if you aren’t winning now but they are performing you’ll receive more at the deadline for them than you’ll give up to get them.   Also the team hasn’t given up on trying to win.  

Melancon is owed $28 million through 2020, Watson $3.5 million in 2019 ($2.5 million player option for 2020), and Smith likely around $3.5 million as well in 2019. 
That's $21 million added right there for 2019.   Trading Calhoun to the Giants would free up $10.5 million in 2019 ($1 million buyout for 2020).
At least it beats taking on $62 million of Longoria's contract.
Melancon was hurt for part of 2017 and 2018.   His WHIP was sub 1.00 and ERA sub 2.00 from 2013 through 2016, but fell off while in S.F.
As for replacing Calhoun, maybe they are thinking of platooning Hermosillo and a cheap signing in RF, until Adell is ready?   Hermosillo (small sample size) did have .333/.400/.611/1.011 in 18 September at bats for the Halos.  
That would be a solid bullpen upgrade in experience, granted Melancon hasn't been good since 2016.   Then sign Lowrie or Moose? 

Whoa!  If so, would be interested in who Eppler has in mind for RF. Adell to start the year?

This sort of took over the Hot Stove thread, but good to bring it up here. 
Both are perfect targets IMO, and fit Eppler’s mold. 
I loved the idea @Dochalo (?) posted about the Angels taking Melancon’s contract as a way to get Watson and/or Smith a bit cheaper. 
That aside, the Giants system is relatively poor, so the Angels might be able to pull off a trade offering 2-3, maybe 4 prospects for both, provided they were from our lower-ranks. A quantity over quality type deal. The Giants are likely holding out trying to get a Top 10 guy, but I doubt Billy bites, and that’s why it’s yet to happen. 
As ST nears, with plenty of relievers still on the market, SF might grow more flexible, especially if they’re trying to trim some dollars.