GalericX

The same as these restaurants that want to make you pay to eat their food. 

I don't dislike Scioscia and think he's more good than bad, but it is time. 

I didn't read all of the other responses but I would allow teams to trade draft picks (and the ability to mix draft picks with player trades if desired) including future picks.

In another thread, Jeff Fletcher stated: "The root of the Angels' problems is they ignored the farm system from about 2010-2015".
While that may seem obvious to some, I found it interesting how quickly a team that had what was considered a top 10 (at least) farm system a decade ago could see it all disappear.
So, what happened prior to 2010? 
In 2009, we had one of the greatest 1st rounds you could want.  With back-to-back picks in the 1st round (thanks to KRod and Teixeira signing with a couple of NY teams), Angels selected Randal Grichuk (8.1 WAR) and Mike Trout (62 WAR), which was followed by supplemental 1st round picks of Tyler Skaggs (2.8 WAR) and Garrett Richards (7.4 WAR).  On top of that embarrassment of riches, they drafted Patrick Corbin (11 WAR) in the 2nd round.   They essentially nailed of 5 of their first 6 picks if you go by the idea that you are drafting with the hope of selecting future MLB starters one day.  At this point, while Tony Reagins was entering his 2nd year as General Manager, Eddie Bane was running the drafts and, wow, it couldn't have worked out better.
2010: After 2009, though, things changed.  Per some peeps here, the 2010 draft, which would have been directed by Eddie Bane, was usurped by Tony Reagins, and the draft philosophy changed.  This was significant because the Angels, like 2009, had 5 picks in the 1st round and, with another strong draft, could essentially cement the foundation of their farm for the next 2-3 years.  However, what happened was anything but a success.  The Angels selected Kaleb Cowart (-0.4 WAR), Cam Bedrosian (0.5 WAR), and three guys that never made it to the majors in Chevy Clarke, Taylor Lindsey, and Ryan Bolden.  Clarke ended up in the Independent league and is currently a teammate of 53 year old Rafael Palmeiro on the Cleburne Railroaders, Lindsey was traded for Huston Street and his last season was 2016, and Ryan Bolden was tragically killed soon after retiring.  On a positive note, in the 8th round, they selected future starting right fielder Kole Calhoun
Possible alternatives that could have been drafted: Mike Foltynewicz (2.5 WAR), Christian Yelich (22.2 WAR), Aaron Sanchez (9.3 WAR), Noah Syndergaard (11.6 WAR), Taijuan Walker (6.0 WAR), Nick Castellanos (2.9 WAR)
2011: After the 2010 draft, Eddie Bane left the organization and, in contrast of the previous two seasons, the Angels only had 1 pick in the first two rounds due to losing their 2nd round pick with the Scott Downs (0.4 WAR in three seasons with the Angels) signing.  Their loan pick?  C.J. Cron (4.2 WAR) at the 17th overall.  The only other notable pick from that draft was Mike Clevinger (6.5 WAR) in the 4th round.  Fun fact: Clevinger was traded in the summer of 2014 by then GM Jerry Dipoto for 29 year old reliever, Vinne Pestano.  Clevinger is currently a fixture in the Indians rotation, while Vinnie lasted one more season in the MLB
Possible alternatives: Tyler Anderson (8.1 WAR), Kolten Wong (9.7 WAR), Jackie Bradley Jr (12.3 WAR), Michael Fulmer (9.9 WAR), Trevor Story (9.3 WAR), Blake Snell (6.1 WAR).  
2012: So, yeah, 2012 happened..this was Dipoto's first season as GM of the Angels and he and Arte decided to go balls-deep into Free Agency signing by signing Albert Pujols (yeah, I know) and CJ Wilson, meaning they did not have a draft pick until the 3rd round.  In that round they selected R.J. Alvarez (-0.6 WAR) whose only contribution to the Angels turned out to be being included in a trade for Huston Street.
Possible alternatives from the first three rounds: Michael Wacha (7.4 WAR), Marcus Stroman (10.6 WAR), Zach Eflin (1.6 WAR), Jose Berrios (3.3 WAR), Daniel Robertson (3.3 WAR), Stephen Piscotty (5.3 WAR), Mitch Haniger (6.3 WAR), Joey Gallo (4.0 WAR), Lance McCullers (5.6 WAR), Alex Wood (11.7 WAR), Edwon Diaz (4.4 WAR).
2013: Like a moth to a flame, Free Agents beckoned Dipoto again and we signed stable genious Josh Hamilton to a 5 year deal that in no way sucked.   As a result, the Angels didn't have a pick until the 2nd round but, oh, what a pick it was: Hunter Green.  Green, a 17 year old southpaw, pitched a total of 8 G (7 GS) for the Angels' rookie level team in AZ walking more than a struck out, soon after retiring due to vague injuries and general disinterest.  Other notable Angels names from that draft: Kenyan Middleton in the 3rd round and Michael Hermosillo  in the 28th round.
Possible alternatives: Aaron Judge (12.8 WAR), Sean Manaea (7.4 WAR), Corey Knebel (4.1 WAR)
2014: This draft, Dipoto actually had a draft pick to work with and it is hard to argue with his choice: Sean Newcomb (2.8 WAR).  Some other names from that draft you might recognize: Joey Gatto, Jake Jewell, Bo Way, Zack Houchins.
Possible alternative: Matt Chapman (9.3 WAR)
2015: Fresh off a 98 win season, and first round playoff sweep, things appeared to stable and ascending in Anaheim...little did we know that we'd be just months away from a Jerry Dipoto bitch-fit which would include a power-play ultimatum, a swift middle-finger from Arte, Scioscia and the players, and Jerry taking his ball and going home.  Prior to that, though,  there was the draft.  Due to the success of the previous season, the Angels picked late and with fist-pumping resound selected catching prospect Taylor Ward.  It was hard to determine what elicited more confusion: how early in the draft he was selected, given his initial projection, or the enthusiasm in the Angels reacted to his selection.  However, despite a less than dominant start, Ward may well still be an impact pick as, since he was moved to 3B this season, he's put up .345 .453 .973 OPS in AA/AAA with a seemingly solid command of the strike zone, some newfound speed as a result of moving from the catching position, and uptick in power.  Additionally, top 100 prospect Jahmai Jones was selected in the 2nd round and current 25 man roster infielder David Fletcher (0.9 WAR) was selected in the 4th round.  Well, at least he left us something to remember him by...
Possible alternatives: Mike Soroka, Scott Kingery, Andrew Suarez
Additionally, during his tenor, Dipoto completed these transactions:
 - Tyler Chatwood (8.7 WAR after leaving Angels) for Chris Ianetta (6.2 WAR with Angels)
 - Jean Segura (16.4 WAR) for Zack Greinke (1.5 WAR with the Angels)
 - Ervin Santana (14.1 WAR since leaving Angels) for Brandon Sisk 
 - Jordan Walden for Tommy Hansen
 - Kendrys Morales for Jason Vargas 
 - Randall Grichuk and Peter Bourjos for David Freese and Fernando Salas
 - Mark Trumbo for Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago
 - Ernesto Frieri for Jason Grilli
 - Traded a lot of Rondon's for Huston Street
 - Howie Kendrick for Andrew Heaney
 - Kevin Jepsen for Matt Joyce
 (credit to "gotbeer" transaction thread : 
So, yeah, many years with missed picks, lack of picks, and trading of previously picked talent will leave you barren.
 -    

Next Friday I will be going to the Dodger-Astros game at Dodger Stadium.  This will be the first time going there for a game since Bonds was going for 754.  It is a work thing, where a handful of us will be guests in the Coca Cola Suite.  What I found out yesterday is Coke wanted to do something special for us, so they set it up that we will be on the field for batting practice.  I am sure this will be a cool experience that will be some what tempered because it is at Dodger Stadium instead of Angel Stadium, but still a pretty cool thing.  Just thought I would share this little humble brag.  

May just be that what some people here see as excuses, people with greater access view as legitimate reasons.  Living outside of the Angels market, I hear more opinions on how it's amazing the team has not buckled over completely in light of their injuries than I do criticism of management or the front office. 

What the... 3 of you?! thats awesome.

What the... 3 of you?! thats awesome.

I just fell into it back when I was in school in the late 90's. Started playing in a local competition after I saw a flyer and picked the Angels somewhere along the way. Probably shouldn't mention I'm also a Seahawks fan as well, but at least I know I'm not he only one

I thought I was the only halos fan in Melbourne! 
I started watching 3 years ago, now I watch every game at work.

I'm an Aussie in Sydney have played my whole life and started following the angels in the 90s
 
 

You ever see someone shit their pants as they wheeze down the first base line?

AO handles media relations .  

I posted this in another thread, but I think it deserves its own.
Personally, I think Trout is having a GREAT time. 
He's married to a beautiful wife. Has a beautiful home (and dog) overlooking the ocean. He makes some serious coin doing what he loves since a child. He gets to play with a future Hall of Famer and an international sensation. He gets to play under a Hall of Fame manager. He gets to play with current and former All-Stars in sunny So. Cal. 
He does this all with a smile day in, day out. 
Some of you guys need to chill on the Mike Trout is sad and poor Mike Shit. 

Fixed 

Fire mike scioscia and the GM. We need Fresh & Young New Blood running the show. Mike is washed up and the GM is know jerry depoto. Mike year after year goes  with this garbage bullpen and our GM can't figure a way to pick out Talent. Why did we keep this Bullpen at the beginning of the season and we didn't get upgrades take a look at what Jerry dipoto is spending on his bullpen. I'm starting to wonder if Artie really wants to win. 

Guess it was a low flow cycle.
 
 

Fueled by the annoyance of last night's loss, I was on a mission to point out Eppler's and Co.'s failure in regard to acquiring several under performing players over the last couple of off season.  In particular, the most recent.  What I found was an important reminder which is to consider the starting point and the body of work since.  
The halos had come off the 2011 season with a winning record yet they had clearly lost faith in Tony Reagins to the point that most speculated him as a mere figurehead with Scioscia and Arte involved in quite a bit of the duties normally taken on by a general manager.  The truth or accuracy of which is only relevant to the point that it led to the hiring of Jerry Dipoto.   But the stage was set for having an atypical dynamic between owner, gm and manager.  Jerry said all the right things and looked good doing so.  But behind the scenes it was a much different story.  He was very aggressive in his approach of gearing all resources toward the major league club.  While the lack of harmony in the front office wasn't all his fault, his method was like gas on an already smoldering fire.   Which is ironic considering that he burned the Angels farm system to the ground as well.  So when all the fires got out of control, he grabbed his flame thrower and walked right out the front door mid season and 30 days before the trade deadline leaving the halos to finish 31-37 and 1 gb of the WC as well as 3 gb of the division.  
On Oct 4th, 2015, the halos hired Billy Eppler.  I feel like Arte was the 'bad deal' direct tv guy and Eppler was the guy answering the door.  
'Can I interest you in being the GM of the mediocre Los Angeles Angels?'    No
'Ok, Ok.  You want me to sweeten the deal?  That sweetener is a broken front office dynamic and you can't bring in your own manager.'   That's a bad deal. 
'Oh, we got a haggler.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm gonna give you the worst farm system in baseball with an international signing lockout and zero payroll flexibility to work with.'   That's not a good thing man!  Do you see that everything you are saying is worse than before?  
'What I see is someone that wants to play hardball.  Ok.  Batter up.  I'll give you a broken down former superstar that makes $25mil per year that has to bat in the middle of the lineup, an ace who throws a fastball 84 mph, an offense that finished 21st in baseball last year, a terrible bullpen, and in less than 6 months, pretty much every pitcher worth anything on the roster will be injured and out for over a year. Oh, and the team has the remain competitive.  But that's my final offer. '
'Shut the door in my face trick huh?  We have Mike Trout!'  
And the door opens back up.  'Fine.  I'll take the job'.  
Let's all be very honest.  This franchise was circling the drain less than two and a half years ago.  
Here is what Keith Law said shortly before the start of the 2016 season:
I've been doing these rankings for eight years now, and this is by far the worst system I've ever seen. They traded their top two prospects in the Andrelton Simmons deal and had no one remotely close to top-100 status. They need a big draft this year to start to restock the system or we're going to start talking about whether it's time to trade Mike Trout.
So that's how his mission started.  
His first order of business was to hold hands and sing Kumbaya with Scioscia.  
Next, he traded for Simmons.  A controversial deal from both sides.  But he's become one of the top 10 most valuable players in baseball.  
Then the entire pitching staff fell apart.  Richards out.  Heaney out.  Trop out.  Skaggs couldn't come back.  CJ Wilson done.  Huston Street done.  Rafael Ortega led the team in LF at bats.  Giavotella at 2b.  Made some small moves like grabbing the serviceable Yunel Escobar and Jefry Marte.  Claimed JC Ramirez.  Got Nolasco and Meyer at the trade deadline.  But importantly, had a very good draft.  
At the start of year two, still hampered by payroll restrictions (189mil in 2016, 176mil in 2017), he grabbed Blake Parker off waivers.  Shortly after, he got Cam Maybin for Victor Alcantara.  Signed Jesse Chavez, Traded for Martin Maldonado, Signed Ben Revere, Traded for Espinosa, Signed Bud Norris and Yusmeiro Petit.  Grabbed Luis Valbuena.  So lots of minor move again.  Almost all for expiring players due to a lack of payroll.  Again, another good draft with Adell and Canning as well as a leap back on to the international scene with Deveaux and Knowles.  Got some good mileage out of Bridwell.  Got some time out of David Hernandez and turned him into minor league depth piece.  Grabbed Noe Ramirez mid year.  Then, of course, shored up LF for the first time in a long time.  
Before and in year 3 he locked up Upton, grabbed Ohtani, Cozart and Kinsler.   Got Rengifo for Cron.  Signed JMF and Rivera.  Let a lot of pen arms get away due to understandable inflation.  Got some additional intl prospects in Maitan, Soto and a few others.  Had what many consider to be another good draft.  And that's where we stand.  At 37-30 in 3rd place and five games back in mid June.  
This exercise was important for me and I hope it was helpful to you as well.  We are currently a solid major league team with a real chance to make the playoffs.  We have a farm system now at least in the top half of the league and many of those players are actually do well in the upper levels on the verge of actually providing help at the major league level.  Should I repeat that?   Yes, Calhoun and Cozart have sucked.  We've sustained some injuries again and the pen is more than shaky.  We need Simmons back.  It would be great to get Ohtani back back as well but I won't hold my breath.  A pen arm or two is a must.  A few other things could stand to go right as well.  
But jog your memory back to mid 2015 through early 2016.  Did you ever imagine this team would be a playoff contender with a good and improving farm system and be on the actual upswing as a franchise by 2018?  Not everything Eppler and company does is going to be perfect.  But to date, Billy  and the Halo IMF have done the impossible.  
 
 
 

Okay, these are not exact quotes, as I couldn't record the call. These are paraphrasing. Don't hold me to exact wordings. It was really difficult to get it all, as it was translated into English and Japanese.
Eppler said it was a grade 2. He was asked because there is a range of grade 2 strains. He said I'd a grade 2 strain. "That's all I can say."
Ohtani came out of the game with the blister. As the blister was getting drained, and the game adrenaline was wearing off, he said his elbow was feeling stiff. The Angels decided to get an image right away.
Asked about his level of concern, Eppler said any time that any player is unable to perform, I am concerned. This is a tough thing for me, a tough thing for the club.
Asked about Ohtani having a PRP injection within the last year, what do the doctors say about this meaning Ohtani needs TJ surgery. The doctors did not bring up any impact of the previous PRP injectio and did not discuss it in terms of needing TJ surgery.
Asked about how the types of pitches affects the arm/elbow and how 1 in 4 pitches that Ohtani throws is a split finger pitch, Eppler said that there is a lot of variability in that thought process. Ohtani has not been found to be significantly differently in that, but that was mostly due to a lack of sample size. Angels will take that in stride with Ohtani as he returns. There is a lot of discussion out there on this issue.
Eppler was asked when Ohtani first felt the discomfort before or after going to Minnesota. Eppler said Ohtani didn't go to Minnesota and that he first reported it after the game on Wednesday.
Will the Angels go to a 5-man rotation now? Eppler said they will take it day by day.
Will Ohtani have to undergo TJ surgery? Eppler said the Angels are hopeful that he can avoid that and that he can be treated with the biologic prescribed.
Will the PRP work? You've seen what he [Ohtani] has done on the mound here after a PRP injection.
Could Shohei continue to hit with this injury? If he was only a DH for all of his life, possibly. But that's not him or how the Angels utilize him. Any small tweak in a swing could slightly increase the risk to him, so the Angels aren't going that way. 
Will Ohtani throw during the next 3 weeks prior to be reevaluated? He will not be throwing in the next 3 weeks.
Has Eppler spoken with Ohtani since the injury? He has spoken with Ippei (sorry if I mispelled that) with Ohtani in the room.
How is Eppler/the Angels responding to this news? Every player is unique. He tries to stay as neutral as possible and realize every player is unique (as far as recovery from injury).
How is Ohtani's demeanor after the injury? Ohtani is an elite level player and elite level players want to compete. When elite level players get pulled out of the competition, they go through a range of emotions.
Did Ohtani say that he felt stiff any time prior to Wednesday? Wednesday was when the Angels first learned of it.
 
Again, not exact quotes, but, trying to get everyone some information out there. 

One of his best managed games IMO. His double steal call created the only run of the game. Then he had the balls to let Heaney go over 110 pitches.

Is it all Eppler, or is Arte telling him to go cheap on relief pitching?
Eppler strikes me as being too bright for that on his own.

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
Over the past two years, the Angels organization has taken a giant step forward in terms of its prospect rankings. One of the many players leading to this improvement is Jo Adell, who is considered by most, including AngelsWin.com, to be the top prospect in the Angels organization.
Drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 draft (10th overall), Adell has moved rapidly through the Angels organization, and recently was promoted to High-A ball with the Inland Empire 66ers. It’s easy to see why: he hits for power and average, is one of the fastest runners in the organization, has a powerful arm, and fields well.
What stood out most when interviewing him was how mature Adell is. With all the accolades that have been heaped upon him, he seems to be taking it all in stride. Like his teammate Jahmai Jones, it’s easy to see how Adell will become a fan favorite not only for his on-the-field performances, but for how approachable he will be off the field.
Below are the first three at-bats by Jo Adell on May 27, 2018. Unfortunately, it was tough day for the 66ers as the team was no-hit for 8 2/3rds innings. In his last at-bat, which was not recorded, with two outs and Jones on via a walk, Adell delivered a 2-run opposite field homerun to breakup the no-hitter and shutout in one blow.
With the way that Adell has been improving, and with how aggressively the Angels have been promoting their prospects, Angels fans should definitely make the drive out to San Bernadino soon to see Adell and others, and have a chance to meet him before he arrives in Anaheim. You’ll be glad you did.
Click below to watch our interview with Jo Adell.

 

How? Odor is a dirty player. He's a bitch.