mike_hllywa

How many runs will the Angels score in the series: 13

1st Tiebreaker - How many runs will the Angels allow in the series: 6

2nd Tiebreaker - How many runs will Mike Trout score in the series: 2

3rd Tiebreaker - How any hits will Mike Trout have in the series: 4

I like none of this Scott, unless we're loaded with arms now and in the future as a result. Even then, I think we're much weaker offensively with Green/Romine/Lucho in the lineup.

Right, I'd be banking on those 2 bringing back 2-3 high upside arms.  That's the only way I'd do it.  The offensive hit would be augmented by the increase in runs saved, which is where the team was awful last year.

@Scott34 and @Chuck

And, it is not as if the offense was dire last year. 

Offensive rankins via Fangraphs

WAR - 7th (God bless Mike Trout)

wRC+ tied for third

wOBA - fourth

SLG% - sixth

OBP - tied for fourth

Green hit .280/.336/.384 with the Angels last year. There's almost no pop to speak of in his bat, but it's not like he is walking up to the plate and standing backwards while holding the bat by the barrel. 

Dinger are sexy. Players who hit dingers are sexy. Therefore, Mark Trumbo is sexy. You know what else he is? Incredibly streaky. I'm floored with his climbing walk-rate, but I cringe at the idea that an 0-4 game can turn into an 2-30 stretch. 

If he goes, does it hurt the offense? Yeah, it does. But it's not like the team becomes anemic offensively without him. 

No "The Sandlot?" No "Jackie Robinson Story?" But Mr. 3000 gets a nod? I demand that we be shown the credentials of whoever made this list. 

And Bull Durham is numero uno. Now and forever. 

We have no viable option as s leadoff hitter other than Trout. Keep him at the top.

Gotta ask... Seeing you're talking openly about it and all... Why? Why on earth does somebody get nasty with a public figure on Twitter? I am serious asking this. What sense of satisfaction do you get saying rude things to people that you would never say to them in person? I'm not trying to be snide, I would like to hear from you on this.

Because, as writers, I feel we should hold them accountable for what they write, tweet, say. It's not just because it's "the internet," and I'm not a pious douchebag as was stated. I'm just as candid with my own boss when he says someting stupid. I also follow them because, for better or worse, they do get inside information that none of us are privy to. When it comes to getting information, they are there and I will respond with a serious question. When they say something that I think is stupid, I'll call them on it. 

I can't STAND Jon Heyman. Detest him, even. I follow him on twitter for the same reason that I follow Jon Morosi, just so I can be rude and obnoxious to them. With that being said, that tweet, won the internet today. I applaud you Mr. Heyman. Well played. 

It will be so quiet, you can hear a fan drop.

Standing ovation.

Hey there Mike...I follow you on the Twitter! Great seeing you here!

The fact that your photo here is the same as your Twitter avater, makes it very convenient in knowing that it's you.

Anyone got a list of veteran backups still on the FA market? I know Treanor is out there, but he sucks.

Treanor is it. 

Scioscia would have benched Mike Piazza.

Scioscia lost his job to Piazza. Probably explaining (at least a little bit) why he is the way he is with the team's backstops. 

Langston can look as lesbian as he wants, so long as he keeps a microphone out of Jose Mota's hand. 

I'm looking for the "We Hate Mike Butcher" thread? Am I in the right place?

I see Howie being Howie. I've seen nothing to suggest any kind of "breakout." And to be honest, you could say he already HAD a breakout season in 2011. He's a second tier catcher (borderline top shelf), and that's cool with me.

Awwwwwwww, that's cute. Maybe Vernon will do his best to pass on pranks like "hot foot" while trying to avoid getting splinters in his hind quarters. 

40-50 with the Angels, no question.  Conger is 25 and you should probably find out what he can do with a decent amount of major league playing time.  I like his chances of doing better than the other backup candidates.

If he didn't have "Major League Regular" upside, I'd be all for it. As a backup off the bench, he provides lefty pop which this team seriously lacks. But if his future IS behind the plate, then this last option year needs to be burned so his defense can catch up with his game calling abilities. Thanks to the arm injuries, he's only caught a total of 340 games in the minors, barely three seasons worth of what most backstops will provide, and that's over a seven year period. 

If he becomes the sole backup option with the Angels, he's a bust and so be it. But why not see if the team can drain any sort of trade value they can out of him if he starts to show the consistency that he is supposedly showing while on the practice field?

I'm new-ish to the board. I've posted here and there, but not to the extent that some of you gristled vets have. My name is Mike (duh), I blog and podcast for LA Angels Insider, I live in parts unknown (AKA Central PA), and I have the same affliction as the rest of you (For eight months out of the year I breathe baseball). Hopefully I stop lurking  and post more, but if I'm not here you can find me on Twitter at @mike_hllywa. 

Let's get snarky. 

orrrrr.....

Top of the First... Angels Mike Trout hits a solo home run...Callaspo singles....Pujols hits a 2-run HR...Hamilton hits a solo HR....Trumbo hits a solo HR

*Drops Mic*

How many more options does Conger have, can't be too many.

This year is his last option year, so the team is in a precarious situation with regards to Conger. But there were always questions as to whether or not he would remain behind the plate. He and the Angels are running out of time.

Backing up Iannetta at catcher is different though. Iannetta won't play more than 110-120 games at most so that leaves a good deal of games for Conger.

But would you rather have Hank playing 40-50 games with the big club, or playing 120-130 in AAA where he can develop the consistency that he seems to be lacking. Or at least work on memorizing Victoria Secret's catalog's so he doesn't nearly take off Weaver's head again. 

The problem I have with Conger being a back up, is the same problem I have with Romine being the utility infielder. Back up positions, in my opinion, should be reserved for journeymen veterans. They shouldn't play much who are extremely strong defensively. It does no good for the development of a player to sit on the bench in the bigs when he could be getting his reps in AAA.