Dave Saltzer

This team definitely has that extra something that all World Series champions have - it is a spark, a feeling that they could win almost any game. I don't want to say "it feels like 2002," but this team definitely has a feeling that the teams of 2004-09 didn't have.

Yep. It's the fight and comeback in them, hence the 1986 feel.

He is a good kid and a good talent. Have you seen his numbers this year? He's got a microscopic 0.73 WHIP and a 1.80 ERA in 15.0 IP. He's dominating guys 2-4 years older than him. Really impressed. I cannot stress this enough: fans need to tune in and listen to the Owlz games this year. The talent coming through there the last 2 years is very exciting to see!

What should this year's team nickname be? Team Gatorade?

I do love how when I post something very positive about the team, well, they have to go out and lose. I think that's the second or third time it's happened this year.

I don't think we'll get Lee. If we do, it will totally be an Arte Moreno decision, in which case, I won't hold it against Dipoto. That's a LOT of money to take on long-term, and may hamper the team for several years. And it would still take several prospects and/or ML players. Probably not worth it in the end. 

I always love these posts. Great job as usual.

Here are some thoughts that I've had on the trade. This move was done because our best window to a WS is 2014-2015. Winning a WS in that time span (or even getting there) helps the organization across the board--including down to negotiations over a stadium lease. As I noted in my mid-season report card, the bullpen has been the weakest link on the team. Now it is a strength. We have that conveyor belt from the starters to a victory, and a chance to comeback if we are behind in a game. This season will come down to just a couple of games, particularly the head to head games versus Oakland. We can't let them have another walkoff on us--we needed to improve the pen.

As one of the few on here who has seen all of the guys play that we traded, yes, we overpaid a bit. Again, we had to do it. The competition for bullpen arms was fierce (every scout I've talked to has talked about it). We weren't the only ones bidding here. We needed to make the deal now rather than get into a bidding war and risk coming away with nothing. I like the deal, just don't love it.

Here's what we gave up:

Lindsey--really enjoyed getting to know him over the years. Very happy he came out to Spring Training Fanfest this year. Has a very solid bat and improving glove. Would be ML average defensively over time. While his bat's ceiling is higher than Yarbrough (the next highest 2B in the system), Yarbrough is more consistent. I think Lindsey gets a good break going to the Padres, and I hope to see him in the Majors within a year or so for their team.

Alvarez--good relief pitcher with plus potential. This is the one that I wish we didn't give up. We took back a reliever with a similar profile, so I don't like giving up one of our own to get back Gott. Unless there are more questions about his arm than I know, this is the piece that I think stung the most. Would have preferred to keep him and not get Gott, but, I can't change it. I haven't seen Gott to comment on how the two compare.

Rondon--He's been a contact machine for the organization. His defense is good, not great. He can make some incredible plays and really mess up some routine ones. It could be a function of being very young. Some question whether he will stick long term at SS. The power hasn't shown itself as much as I thought it would (considering the Cal League), but the potential is still there. Same with the speed. He needs to get better reads and jumps.

Morris--Putting together a good season. Needs to work on command and putting hitters away. Could be a back end of the rotation guy or could get moved to middle relief down the road.

So, here's some more food for thought on the trade. After the deal, here's my preliminary Top-10 Angels Prospects

1. Newcomb

2. Bedrosian

3. Yarbrough

4. Sanchez

5. Delgado

6. Green

7. Nate Smith

8. Gott

9. Cowart

10. Alcantara

That's a very rough sketch for the current Top-10. There are other names that I'm considering, but it gives everyone a flavor of what is still left on the farm. 

Great report!

And, by coincidence, I just got back from there with lots of interviews with players on the Owlz. I'm starting it off this week with Owlz manager Dave Stapleton, and will be publishing many more, one a day for the next few weeks. 

Here's a link to the interview with Stapleton.

http://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/orem-owlz-manager-dave-stapleton.html

So, what we're saying is that when it comes to the latest trade rumors, we've been down this street before?

I don't see how we are not an A+ team.

It's not like we have the 2nd best records in baseball or anything.

Simple. As the articl pointed out, there is room for improvement in the offense, particularly from Pujols and Hamilton, and there are more than trivial questions about the starting pitching and the bullpen. At the end of the year, this team easily could be an A+ team, but to date, it has only been a solid A team.

Good report, Dave.

I think the bullpen should get a C+ grade. Once Smith took on a larger role, Morin was promoted, Frieri was dumped for Grilli and Jepsen turned things around, the bullpen has been an A.

This is only a mid-season report card. It's not the final grade. The bullpen was an F for so much of the season (costing us the best record in baseball) that the recent changes were just enough to lift it up to a D. Given more time like this, the grade can rise, but grades are based on performance to date.

I am surprised that there hasn't been more debate about my mid-season rookie of the year pick. I could see strong arguments for Cron or Morin as well as Shoemaker.

I hope we get the last of our Newcombers signed and in the fold.

Great news! Let's wish him well.

Austin Wood @AustinWood12 · 19h

After 11 months of rehab I'm officially off the DL. First start tomorrow. Going to miss my #RehabRow brothers!

Do we get credit for the headline since we came up with Troutstanding?

Good summary of the first half Christian.

Jerry should spend the ASB with his family. Taht guy puts in tremendously long hours for the team, and I think he's doing a good job. I hope he stays with the Angels for several more years.

It's a much more expedited process for signing, but the deadline hasn't past yet. They have until August 15th, I believe. The Angels have said that they don't plan on pitching him too much this year, so there's no rush. They are working towards an agreement. I hope, and think, that in the end he will sign.

What if less parity just resulted in more blowouts? That would hurt baseball more because people would turn off the game earlier and ratings would drop. Who wants to watch a 10 to 2 loss? I'd rather watch more close games, glued to my seat or in for t of the TV than more blowouts. I suspect more fans would as well. So, the concern about parity is a bit short sighted if you ask me.

As for pitchers and hitters slowing the game down, the umps need to clamp down on that and enforce the rules designed to prevent it.

In honor of Trout's two Gatorade showers, I thought I'd take a look back at something I wrote nearly 2 months ago. It's good to see how much the Gatorade shower has become an integral part of this team's identity.

The Gettysburg Address may be the finest speech ever given in American history, but that one from Lou Gehrig's is right up there. Straight from the heart, so true then, so true today. Powerful, eloquent and human.

Happy Fourth everyone. Like so many, I'm proud to be an American everyday, but especially today!

If you are going to the game tonight, be sure to stop by, visit Rob and get a copy of this book. You will thank me for the recommendation and thank him for writing such an excellent piece. 

This is why I am so happy to have Joe writing articles for our site. Great story, great writing, great job Joe!

Earlier in the season, I met a scout who was part of the package we traded to get Rod Carew. Later in the game, I ran into Rod Carew in the stadium (whom I already knew). What are the odds you'd talk with two people traded for each other within 2 innings of baseball?

I think I'm the most under appreciated member of AngelsWin, but we'll just have to agree to disagree on that point.

 

Thanks for all you do around here, David!  I love that when all the other media didn't want to ask questions during the Trout presser that we all heard, "David Saltzer from AngelsWin. com ... (followed by the question)."  Also at the Albert/CJ (or what it the Hamilton?) presser.  Great job! 

Thanks all for the compliments, but my money would be on Geoff, Bruce, Eric and Nick as being far more under-appreciated than me. Those guys do a lot of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, and I'm lucky to have their support. It takes everyone on AW to make this site truly a special place.

Lol. The pop up ad at the top of the screen is for a patent and Trademark legal group.

I want to be clear that I am not calling anyone racist. I'm not even saying the owner or the fans change the name. I'm just saying that the government does not have an interest in protecting racially offensive trademarks.