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Dave Saltzer

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Everything posted by Dave Saltzer

  1. You guys are really giving me every incentive to get better and be there next year. And I will be.
  2. Can we all go down to the courthoue to legally change Rendon's last name to El Vidrio (aka glass)?
  3. Ahem, I got the Minor leaguers to attend from all of the interviews that I had done with them. Calhoun was so nervous during the meal, but was an an incredible interview. It was the first time that he had really been treated like a star and never forgot it. Here are 2 stories: 1) When Arte showed up, I asked him if he wanted or needed anything. He asked me for a beer, so I went out and bought him a beer. I know that Arte's reputation had taken a hit over the years, but at the time, he could do no wrong. Buying the owner of the team a beer is something I will never forget. He appreciated it, and then started talking for about an hour. All the poor minor leaguers standing behind him, especially Matt Shoemaker with his beard, standing behind him the whole time and unable to sit or do anything because the owner of the team was talking was both painful and funny at the same time. And who can forget when Arte took a swkp at Percy's hat by saying "I used to shoot at things like that back in Vietnam". And it was his own team's promo! Later, after the dinner, Matt Shoemaker asked me to drop him off at a dinner that he was having with Mike Trout at a Japanese restaurant. So, my two friends, Mike and Kevin joined me driving him across town and getting to meet Mike Trout. Shoemaker was unbelievably chill and telling us all sorts of stories from camp, most of which I can't repeat, and just having fun with a really great guy. I felt so badly when he was hit in the head. He was definitely a favorite player, as was Calhoun. Oh, one more nonstory story. Hanging with Steve Geltz. If you know, you know.
  4. Obviously, it would all depend on the deal we sign him to in order to justify losing the draft pick. As I wrote before in the Hot Stove thread, I can see Arte, in his mind, saying that he wants at least a draft pick for losing Ohtani. And, I would still want to sign JD Martinez. But, one argument in favor of signing Snell (again to the right deal, not an opt out after year 1 or 2 at the very least) is that this year's class is considered a rather weak class, especially in terms of pitching. So, losing a end round pick may not be as bad as losing a 2nd round pick in 2025.
  5. Here's a thought: Arte held onto Shohei because he didn't want to be the owner who traded that level of talent away. Trading Shohei may have been the "right" baseball move, but certainly wasn't the "right" marketing/business move (although we can argue that if they traded Shohei away a year prior at the deadline). Because we got our payroll underneath the cap, we get an extra pick after the 2nd round for losing Shohei. And, since we were a bottom 10 record team, we can't lose our 1xt round pick if we sign a player with a QO, and instead would lose our 2nd round pick. By signing Snell, and forfeiting our 2nd round pick, we essentially (and especially in Arte's mind) will get nothing for Shohei. Snell alone isn't going to get us to the postseason, so, while one could argue that what we got for Shohei was the FA we signed, it's not going to move the needle that much for us. So, I can see why, in Arte's mind, he doesn't want to sign a player with a QO. On another note, I can also see Arte and Perry thinking that the RSN bankruptcy isn't truly resolved. Some teams may become more desperate to unload if there is another collapse. So, it might be wise to hold off a bit to see what happens and who becomes available. Personally, if we could sign Martinez and Montgomery to reasonable deals, I'd do it.I would like Montgomery to push Anderson into a long relief role at first. With young pitchers, we will have games where we will need him for that. Until he shows me more, I would like to see him get fewer innings, especially fewer critical innings. As for JD, I think he would add an interesting and valuable role to mentor our younger players and Mike Trout. Father time takes its toll on everyone. And yet, Martinez has managed to stay in great shape and put up solid numbers through his age 36 season. Try as he might, Trout will age and will need to adjust how he approaches the plate and his swing. Rather than having old man Rendon giving and showing the wrong way to g about his game, I would rather someone who continues to post great numbers to mentor Trout on how to continue to hit well as the body ages. Pujols did not show such an example, and more importantly isn't there to mentor Trout on this throughout the season. Adding JD to be an elder statesman and potential leader (assuming scouts say that he can fill that role) might be a good idea because of how young our team is overall. I think that, in part, that's what they wanted out of Washington--to mentor the young team into a future core. If Washington can keep Neto and Schanuel developing, and can turn Adell into a solidto above average regular, then he will have earned his contract.
  6. Please post all things that you want to post about Shohei Ohtani in this thread and ONLY in this thread. Whether it's news about him getting married, a picture of his dog, what he did in a game, or off the field. Let's just keep all things related to Shohei in one place so that it doesn't bleed into every other thread.
  7. Watching Rada and Dana, can anyone explain to me how neither of them are top 100 prospects?
  8. Chuck, Can you please bring some of the recording equipment to record the guest speaker and post it as a podcast for those of us who can't make it? I'll be there in spirit with all of you. While I'm doing a LOT better than where I was 2 weeks ago, I'm still a long ways away from making a ST trip. Thanks!
  9. Howdy all, I have to be honest with myself... There is no way that I can make it to ST this year. I couldn't even physically make it out there right now, let alone sit up fora game. Hopefully, someone can record some of the guest speaker for me. Thanks!
  10. Question: When do players with QOslose the draft penalty? Could Borass be willing to hold out to see if losing the draft pick compensation might net him a bigger market once they lose the draft pick loss?
  11. Okay, going to ask two questions here. 1) How the heck are we supposed to pronounce his first name? 2) How many announcers will just call him Lugo rather than risk mangling his first name?
  12. Daniel's really didn't do anything that a lot of other international directors did or were doing at the time (or so I've been told by many in the industey). Except, he got caught and MLB made an example of him. However, after that, we ignored the International Market, particularly the Latin market for a decade, setting our franchise back about 2 decades (once reputation is lost, and facilities go to hell, it's a lot harder to get top tiered Latin talent). I have always been very critical of the organization's lack of international presence and the organizations lack of scouting and player development. If I owned the Angels, I would immediately double or more the scouting budget, especially international scouting, and more than double the budget for player development. Having gotten to really see the insides of the different minor league teams, there are very specific things that I would do that would greatly enhance the overall organization, yield more from our drafts, and save the team lots of money over the long haul, as well as producing more Major League players.
  13. Absolutely! Not only are most of these players signing at 16-18, many of their deals have been worked out years in advance. So, you are truly projecting off of 13-15 year old players. You are talking middle school and high school players. That's a LOT of projection, not only in the physical side, but on the mental side. Think of yourself at 16 to 18, committing to baseball and weights 8-10 hours a day in an academy, moving to an entirely different country, with a different language, and how you would handle all the changes. Not only do scouts have to project the physical tools, but the mental tools as well. I have talked with many of them in Spanish, and they talk about being homesick, missing girlfriends, children, family, food, etc. Want to win a friend for life? Bring some good black beans, rice, plantains, etc for the Latin players. They will aprreciste it like you would appreciate an ice cold Coca Cola after living on a deserted isle for a few years.
  14. I remember that. Let's make a plan to meet up with the 66ers this summer and do more interviews.
  15. Another good piece! I know that I've been MIA for a while, but I've really been appreciating these articles. I need some positive things in my life right now, and thinking about the future of Angels Baseball is something I enjoy. Thank you.
  16. Not only does Alberto Rios have a great baseball name, he has a very project able frame for power and a great attitude. I would love to have a team filled with players like that who will do whatever it takes to win. we need a more winning attitude on our team and we need leaders who will push players to achieve more than we thought possible (Erstad comes to mind), and we need players who will do and execute whatever is necessary to win. I really hope that Rios makes it. It's nice to see good people succeed.
  17. Dave 3 please. Trying hard to make it. Gotta confirm with my doctors as they may be switching things up on me.
  18. We need to change the title of this thread from the hot stove to the cold pot brewed by Borass.... This offseason is slow.
  19. And parents who pimp out their kids have a special place in hell.... And deserve jail time too.
  20. When I saw him, he was sitting 96 to 98 consistently, and occasionally hit 99. I don't know if the scoreboard could show triple digits, but he was upper 90s.
  21. Not to be confused with the Official Hot Stove Thread (and at the rate this offseason is going, there will still be FA signings happening after the season begins), post all things MLB related here. I, for one, could care less about the Minor tinkering that they did to the pitch clock, and am still upset that they won't get rid of the stupid phantom runner.
  22. It's a new year, time for our system to shine. Guys like Rada, Dana, Rios, Paris, and Kent to take big steps forward and guys like Adell, Joyce, Schanuel, and Bachman to grow into their skills. Please post all things related to the Angels Minor Leagues in here. And Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Years everyone.
  23. Welcom aboard! If you want to grow your social media presence, why don't you write an article for the website with some of your unique thoughts? You can send an article to Chuck or me for editing and publishing.
  24. You are in fact, correct. He's not even halfway through his current contract, that takes him through his age 38 season. I see plenty of room to add an "extention" for a player going into his age 39 season. It wouldn't have anything to do with adding a lot more money for adding 2 years, deferring 97% and actually lowering the AAV of the contract. As for Juan Soto, his agent will argue that he is "special" too because he is so much younger than Ohtani that even though his isn't a 2-way player, that his deal is worth $550 million, especially with Ohtani level deferrals. All players and teams are "special" at the high end of the market. What the Dodgers and Ohtani did with these deferrals is a gross manipulation of the system. O sire jp[e that in the next CBA that the other owners clamp down on this and even recoup what the Dodgers have deferred to Ohtani.
  25. Tell that to Bryce Harper who already wants to renegotiate his contract and Juan Soto who turned down $440 million....
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