Dave Saltzer

GREAT job Adrian! Keep these posts coming. It's always good to see what is happening down on the farm. It seems the Angels are aware of how popular this info is for fans, and gives daily updates during home games, and I'd like to think our coverage played a role in why they are doing that.

Tdawg! I think you should join our writing staff. I like the way you think and write. 

 

Plus your one submission (Operation Clean Peanut) was a success.

I absolutely second this. 

Cowgill is definitely making the most of his time right now. No doubt about that!

I started off on the OMB, ESPN and FutureAngels sites and formed a profile here very early on in 2004. I remember the GSC with Lee and all that drama, so I mostly lurked on here for a very long time. In 2007 (I think) Chuck posted that he was looking for more people to help with the site. I wanted some creativity in my life and offered to help with the writing. And, well, the rest just happened. Honestly, I still can't believe all the cool things that this site has done and how much it has grown.

Great way to start us off Adam. Glad you are one of the originals and one of the funniest on the board. Your stuff is perfect, and I always look forward to reading your stuff or listening to you on the podcasts.

Very good article. Apparently the young paduan Steinbrenner has learned the dark ways of buying championships . . . 

Very cool article !

Thanks for the kudos.

Am I the only one thinking that there are two pieces of good news in this article? First, Trout is happy her. If he were unhappy, he would not have signed any extension with us. The fact that he wanted to extend longer says he's happy. So, in a few years when people post that he'll go to the Yankees because he's an east coast guy, we know that's just BS.

Second, the fact that he wanted a full no trade clause in the contract says that he really wants to make So. Cal. his home. He's the one who gets security with that clause. So, I can see him fully settling in here, making it even more likely that he will extend in the future.

As for all the stuff about him not getting the largest contract, I say blah, blah, blah. Year per year he is the highest paid for and comparing a longer deal for more money isn't the same. Make the contracts equal in length and he got a great deal, as did th Angels.

Happy birthday to one of the classiest, nicest, and most professional people in the industry. Thank you for all you do for the fans, AngelsWin.com and the team.

I have season seat tix in the Diamond Club. My cost is $130 seat and the prepaid parking is $10.00. I've already sold a few games (Yankees, Boston, Dodgers, July 4th), but am looking to sell many weekday games (Mon-Thurs) and Sunday games. Please send a PM with any game that you are interested in. These are truly great seats on the aisle and behind home plate.

I have season seat tix in the Diamond Club. My cost is $130 seat and the prepaid parking is $10.00. I've already sold a few games (Yankees, Boston, Dodgers, July 4th), but am looking to sell many weekday games (Mon-Thurs) and Sunday games. Please send a PM with any game that you are interested in. These are truly great seats on the aisle and behind home plate.

I have season seat tix in the Diamond Club. My cost is $130 seat and the prepaid parking is $10.00. I've already sold a few games (Yankees, Boston, Dodgers, July 4th), but am looking to sell many weekday games (Mon-Thurs) and Sunday games. Please send a PM with any game that you are interested in. These are truly great seats on the aisle and behind home plate.

These are truly great seats. I want to sell them at my cost ($130 each) and will include the Diamond Club prepaid parking. I can meet you in the OC to deliver the actual tix. It should be a GREAT game. 

Eddie is awesome. It should be interesting. Some of his last picks for the organization, the 2010 class, are starting to make it to the show. Would love to get his take on those players, are rankings, and the changes the organization is making overall under Dipoto.

Definitely looking forward to this.

Thanks Geoff. It's a good message to have out there.

That's the thing.. Cron has better hand-eye coordination than Trumbo so I don't think we'll see such long slumps from CJ. A good lineup has a balance of on-base and power. The downside to Cron is his place on the field. He's not really a good defender, similar to Trumbo, so he can be easily replaced (production wise - on-base % - not making outs) if you are getting the power from other players. He'll likely rotate with Pujols, in the future, at 1B and DH. Just depends on the makeup you want the offense to have. We'll be a slugging, base to base type of team if the main guys can stay healthy. Much different than the Scioscia Angels we used to know.

When I interviewed Scioscia during Spring Training, I specifically asked him about Cron. He told me that Cron had made big strides forward in his defense this Spring, which is a good thing. That means he can alternate with Pujols at 1B to give him a day as the DH.

Overall, Cron is a legit 70 on the power scale, maybe a 75. While that is tremendous power, Trumbo rated as a true 80.

I do agree with a previous poster that the tradeoff is that with Cron, we won't see such slumps like we did with Trumbo. Fans will be pleased with what they get from him.

Thanks for always doing these GDTs!

As an aside, Zach Borenstein went 3-4 with 4 SB yesterday.  Seems like he isn't skipping a beat in AA so far. 

I saw the bit about the 4 SBs. Speed really wasn't a part of his game last year, but I'm glad to see his hammy isn't bothering him anymore. Every scout I've talked to is watching him this year to see how he does in AA. If he does well, then he will destroy all the doubts about him and will be seen as a much higher ceiling prospect. I'm hoping and betting he does.

My aunt gave me that poem for my high school graduation and I still have the card.

It's a good thing to read, know, and live. The only lines that I still disagree with are the ones about risking your fortune on a single game of pitch and toss. I don't think a man does that, especially if he has a family to support. But, I do agree with the next few lines that if you lose it all, you get right back up and start amassing a new fortune.

Another good get! You guys are on a roll with the podcasts! Good Job! 

I wish Jerome nothing but the best with his new team. Great guy and a class act!

Although Mike Butcher has not specifically been mentioned, I know that his name will come up in this thread.  I have also thought that he did not do much to develop the pitchers that he was coaching - that they did not improve much under Butcher.  However, looking at the 2013 Media Guide, I see that "since taking over as pitching coach in 2007, Butcher's starters lead the AL in wins (409) and shutouts (24), & rank second in innings pitched (5976.2), complete games (49) and are T2nd in ERA (4.07)...In that same span, Halos relievers lead the AL with 276 saves."  I realize that this data is a year old and may not represent a complete picture of Mike Butcher's value, however I believe coaches should be measured over a longer period of time and certainly not the last three games.  I do however think that the Angels might consider taking a fresh direction if Mike S cannot turn this thing around fairly soon even though he is under contract until the end of 2018. 

You have to give it a longer time. We've played all of 3 official games this season, or a whopping. 1.85% of the season. Can we please wait a month or two before completely panicking? 

I am not one that typically blames coaches for the failures of players on the field.. guys are either going to produce or not produce and typically the coaches aside from adjustments and such arent going ot have a giant affect on that.

 

However... there is one thing the coaches have a huge affect on, and that is the fact that they are the team leaders.  The players need to have faith in them to take them at their word, and that those adjustments will be positive.

 

I am deeply concerned that the players on our team have lost that faith in the coaching staff.  When you start to see the public comments, questions moves, and seeing far too many guys perform better after leaving, it make you wonder if the players have lost that confidence in the coaching staff or even if what those coaches are doing are a positive, or a negative.

 

At this point in time, i cant help but feels that is where we are as an organization.

 

I dont know who would be worth getting that would be any better at this point but continuously seeing guys with far too much talent not living up to it.. throwing money at that problem isnt going to fix it.

 

If this keeps up i dont see how Arte and the Front office are going to have mcuh choice but to consider coaching replacements on the pitching side and managerial side... though obviously i cant ding Baylor at this point as its too soon.

 

Thoughts?   i find this odd as im not one to typically point fingers at coaches or managers, but at this point with too many years of under performance and another fall on our face start, i have to admit im not happy and very concerned, perhaps its time for a change... though ive no idea who might be the choice for that change at the top or PC

I have to disagree. Having spoken with the players and the coaches, watching them interract, I do not see it.

This was a bad series. That's it. A bad series.

The Angels were what, 11 out of 12 for their final Spring Training games? So, stretching it out, they are what, 11 out of their last 15?

By the way, the Yankees are 0-2 against the Astros. Do you really think it's the end of the season for them?

What I don't get is why they added him to the 40 man over someone like Jerry Berg.

Wow! Just listened to this. Jose was an incredible interview. Great job to everyone on the Podcast. AngelsWin.com is really stepping it up this year with the podcasts this year.

Keep 'em coming. It's something fun to do today until the game starts. Besides, at the end of the season, it will be a great way to reflect on how well we were at forecasting the season.