GalericX

If you're gonna dream -- chase the best LH power hitter in MLB.  

Everyone knows how good Trout is, but when I stop and think about it, I realize I am watching one of the greatest players to ever to play the game on a daily basis. 
Simply incredible. 

Our top Los Angeles Angels prospect through 4/22/2018 goes to....
1. Jose Suarez, LHP (2.13 ERA, 12 2/3 IP, 27 K’s)
The southpaw was promoted to Double-A after just two starts in High-A ball after fanning 18 batters over just 9 combined innings. Suarez is now the youngest starting pitcher in Double-A, but that didn’t stop him from generating more whiffs as he fanned 9 over just 3 2/3 innings in his debut for the Mobile Bay Bears. He’s currently tied for second in the minors with 27 strikeouts. Equipped with a fastball sits at 91-93 MPH, that touches 95, Suarez best pitch is his plus plus change-up to go along with a good slider and curve that’s a work in progress. Coming off a big 2017 where he fanned 90 over 68 2/3 while posting a 3.28 ERA, we’re expecting big things from the lefty in ’18 and so far he’s off to a sizzling start.
2. Taylor Ward, 3B – AA (.392/.492/.559 with 2 HR, 2 SB)
The Angels saw enough in Ward’s approach at the plate and athleticism to move him from catcher to third base prior to his ’18 minor league campaign and so far he’s rewarded them with a strong start. Ward has 20 hits and 10 walks through his first 15 games, while posting a 1.061 OPS. He has committed 4 errors at the hot corner, but the Angels are encouraged by his play there early on.
3. Jose Miguel Fernandez, 2B – AAA (.371/.443/.548 with 2 HR, 5 2B)
Following up a solid 2017 campaign in the Dodgers organization which saw JMF slash .306/.367/.496 with 16 HR in just 93 games, the Cuban infielder is off to a hot start with the Salt Lake Bees and could be the first called up should an injury happen to either Kinsler or Cozart.
4. Justin Anderson, RHP – AAA (8 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 14 K’s)
The 25-year old showed a good moving mid-90s fastball and knock out breaking pitch in spring training, notching seven scoreless innings while fanning seven. He has yet to be scored upon in 2018 since and was rewarded with a promotion from Double-A to Triple-A. Anderson has punched out 14 batters across two levels in 8 2/3 relief innings. One to watch as a potential big league call-up this season for the Angels.
5. David Fletcher, SS/2B – AAA (.366/.400/.549 4 BB, 1 K)
Fletcher is second in the PCL in hits (26) and is following up yet another solid spring training camp with a great start to his first full season in Triple-A. If he keeps this up, there will be a pretty good battle between JMF and himself for the starting second base job after Kinsler’s contract is up this season.  Fletcher makes good contact and has a good idea at the plate. He has walked 4 times vs. just one strikeout.
6. Griffin Canning, RHP – AA (12 1/3 IP, 15 K, 2.19 ERA, .186 BAA)
Canning was the talk of the town in Arizona this past spring when scouts saw his fastball sit between 94-97 MPH as part of a solid 4-pitch mix. Like Suarez, it only took two starts in High-A ball before getting promoted to Double-A. Canning’s first start in AA didn’t fare as well as Suarez, but he was untouchable in his two starts with the 66ers. Canning didn’t allow a run over 8 2/3 innings, striking out 12. Check out how Canning grips the baseball for each of his pitches and much more in our interview with him a few weeks back. http://thesportsdaily.com/2018/04/04/angels-pitcher-griffin-canning-talks-with-angelswin-com-a1w1/
7. John Lamb, LHP – AAA (15 2/3, 16 K, 2.87 ERA, .190 BAA, 0.89 WHIP)
Whenever a starting pitcher in the PCL can limit the opposition to a .190 batting average, while sporting a shiny 2.87 ERA & 0.89 WHIP you take notice. Lamb a former top prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization appears fully healthy and has carried over a solid spring training performance into his first four starts with the Bees.
8. Zach Houchins, 3B – AAA (.370/.400/.543 with 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K)
Houchins got a late season call-up to Triple-A after clubbing 14 HR in Double-A and hit .500, including 3 triples & a double in just 4 contests. He showed a good 2/2 BB/K rate at the plate with Salt Lake and has carried that over through his 13 games in ’18, boasting a .943 OPS thus far. The reports on Houchins defense at third base have been really positive.
9. Brandon Marsh & Jo Adell, OF Low-A (Combined: 18 BB, 26 RBI)
Despite the cold weather that has postponed a handful of games early on in addition to the tough chilly conditions to play in, Marsh and Adell have shown really good plate discipline and have flashed 5-tool ability. Adell leads the Midwest League in RBI (15) and has shown great defense in CF and speed on the bases. The Angels top pick in '17 has an .850 OPS despite not being able to get into a rhythm due to game postponements & frigid weather. Adell has walked seven times and stolen 3 bags without being caught. Marsh boasts a .423 OBP, .923 OPS and has walked 11 times already. The reports have been great on Marsh defense in right field and his arm has been identified as one not to run on. Like Adell, Marsh has good speed and budding power. Both of these guys drove in 15 runs and each clubbed a grand slam in last Friday’s contest vs. Clinton.
10. Daniel Procopio, RHP – High-A (11 IP, 18 K, 0.82 ERA, .108 BAA)
Procopio has a fastball that runs a lot, a cutter and a curveball. His best pitch is his fastball as it runs up there in the mid 90’s and over powers some guys. The pitch he has been working on is his cutter and has seen improvement on this season is his cutter, which has a sharp break in on the hitters. Check out our interview with Procopio last year.
http://thesportsdaily.com/2017/06/15/q-a-with-angels-10th-round-pick-daniel-procopio/
Just missed the list…..
Hutton Moyer: (6 HR, 7 SB, .729 Slg Pct.). Michael Hermosillo: (3 HR, 4 SB, .378 OBP). Luis Rengifo: (11 SB, 13 BB, .384 OBP). Joe Gatto: (3.46 ERA, 13 IP, 20 K). Jose Rodriguez: (2.40 ERA, 15 IP, 14 K).
Keep an eye on edition: While these guys are either too old to be considered prospects or no longer qualify due to major league time, they’ve been killing it and could be considered for a future promotion this season.
Jabari Blash: (Leads the minors in HR with 8 & is second with 19 RBI to teammate Chris Carter (23) who leads all minor leaguers. Blash is boasting an insane 1.427 OPS, playing both RF & CF). Kaleb Cowart: (While he’s played just 3 games in AAA Cowart has 6 hits and 4 RBI, played SS in two of three games). Sherman Johnson: (while he’s played in just 5 games thus far due to a loaded roster, the utility infielder has boasted a .386 BA, with a crazy .1646 OPS. Johnson has clubbed 4 HR in just 18 at bats)
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People need to figure this out and get out to the ball park to watch Trout as often as possible. He's a once-in-a-generation player and unlike anyone we've ever seen before.  People should just appreciate him and just go out to a stadium and soak it all in.  If you keep looking for someone better - you're going to miss the best there ever was. 

A condition you get from your children or sometimes your wife.
 

Image by Larry Brown Sports
By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
As a fan, I like players who play with some humility. I don’t go for the big bat flips or showboating that some players display. In some instances, I can understand it, and appreciate when a player gets caught up in the moment and the drama, but on a general basis, I’m not a fan of players with major egos. It’s seems all too often players let their egos overshadow their accomplishments on the field.
So, as a fan, I’d like to point out how classy all of the players have been on the Angels, and in particular how classy Mike Trout and Albert Pujols have been, while Shohei Ohtani has been creating a media storm with #Sho-Time.
With a 7-3, the Angels are off to their best start to the season since 1987. They’ve done so as a team. While Shohei has pitched the Angels to two wins, lots of players have been contributing to the team to get all those wins. Baseball is a team sport, and it takes contributions from everyone to win a game. Players have done it on offense and defense. And they have done that all while adjusting to different roles and uses to allow Shohei to both pitch and hit. They’ve also done so with all the extra media presence, both national and international, to cover Shohei’s start to the season.
But two players really stand out as setting an exemplary level of humility when it comes to Ohtani: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. As a fan, I can’t be more impressed by them.
To say that Trout and Pujols are in rare company as players is a bit of an understatement. Yesterday, when Mike Trout scored his 700th run, he became just the 8th player in all of Major League Baseball to ever accomplish both feats by age 27 (among the others who have done so . . . Albert Pujols).
As for Pujols, with his hit yesterday, he is just 21 hits shy of hitting 3,000 in his career. Only 31 players in all of baseball have ever had 3,000 or more hits in their careers. But, only 3 of them have done so with 600 or more homeruns. When Pujols accomplishes that feat, he will truly be in rare company (Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Alex Rodriguez). Equally as impressive, with 1922 RBIs in his career, Pujols is likely this season to become just the 4th player in history to drive in more than 2,000 RBIs (Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Alex Rodriguez).
With all the historic accomplishments that Trout and Pujols are accomplishing, it is truly refreshing to see how they are reacting to all that Shohei is accomplishing and the buzz that he is generating. Yesterday, after breaking out of his mini-slump, and after scoring his 700th run, and hitting his 500th hit in Angel Stadium, he was asked about Shohei by Alex Curry. And, he didn’t use it as an opportunity to talk about himself–he praised the young Angels phenom.
And, as Pujols steadily climbs to his historic levels, he has not appeared fazed by all the press and focus being given to Ohtani. Rather than demand more attention, he appears happy to be playing his game and letting his accomplishments speak for themselves.
None of this is meant to take away what Shohei is accomplishing, or how he is handling himself. The maturity, poise, and humility that he is showing as a 23-year old is inspirational. And, the historic nature of his accomplishments are amazing! With 12 strikeouts yesterday, Shohei became just the third player ever to record double digit strikeouts and hit homeruns in three consecutive games (joining Ken Brett and Babe Ruth). And, he’s doing so under the microscope of all the press and with the hopes of two nations resting on his shoulders.
In many ways, the fact that Shohei chose the Angels for his Major League team is good for him (as well as for us the fans!). Playing with Trout and Pujols, the subject of so much press and scrutiny over the years, and at the same time achieving historic feats of their own, gives him some help dealing with all that is going on in his young career. To say that his start has been electric is an understatement. The atmosphere when he’s playing is more intense than when Vlad first came. The stadium is more charged than the height of Wallyworld. Which is why it would be easy to understand how some players could feel left out of the spotlight. And yet, they haven’t acted that way.
When I talk with my sons about what it takes to be a good person, I like to have role models with whom they can identify. With humility in short supply with many of today’s athletes and celebrities, especially in the age of social media, it’s good to see Trout, Pujols, and all the Angels show such good examples during this incredible period with Shohei Ohtani. Just one of the many reasons why these two are such class acts.
 
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It takes a bigger man to admit that he made a mistake.
But Passan isn’t that man.  He’s just trying to save face because he’s a dumbass.

Ohtani is something.
Please forget I even thought that a short stint at AA or AAA ball to start the season would be a way to ease him into MLB.....
geez.
he can't keep this up, I don't think -- but he's an MLB ballplayer for sure.

None of them.  We could get three younger players at $12M AAV each and be way ahead.

Or a fart that escapes from clenched buttocks at a dinner party.

Yeah but you support everything, including all 29 other teams. 

Main page: 
https://www.reddit.com/r/Mariners/
 
Some are less than pleased:
 
Top comments include:
My 6 year old: "Who is that guy, he's in the way. Make him go away."
Congrats mods, you have ruined Easter for a little girl.
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I can't be here.
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Well, at least I can call in sick to work tomorrow, because the sub makes me feel like vomiting.
FMT.
 
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Click the "PRAISE HIM" button to post fyi. 
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EDIT 2: 
"Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the new subreddit CSS, we have decided to keep the theme for the remainder of April! Or until Ryon Healy's first hit, whichever comes first."

Dipoto can climb a wall of dicks with no arms for what he did with the team’s international money. 

We were with NESN for a year. We've now joined forces with USA Today. Should be live on their website by early next week.

I'm quitting your fantasy league ....  you went too far...

Said Eppler growing up in SoCal witness the Angels wave of talent with Salmon and company ...  then again with all the international guys and the Stoneman wave...    Says the Angels during their golden age were known as a development powerhouse and that when he interviewed for the job he talked up the need to become that sort of a franchise again.  They talked about the quality of the top 5, and how it drops off after number 11 but that it's only year two.  He says that it's possible by year four we could be talking about a team on the verge of busting out....   Also mentions how in previous years the trades for Upton and Kinsler would have destroyed the farm system but there was so much talent in place now that they were able to move second tier guys and not hurt their overall prospect cache...
The even shorter version is......   ANGELS!!!!  F@#& YEAH!!!!!!

I didn't realize that Skaggs was being "hyped."  The most "hype" I have seen concerning Skaggs is that, if healthy, he will be in the starting rotation.
I agree with the other posters who believe he has a chance to be a solid contributor, but he will have to prove it.
 

I bump the other thread.

Yes... Surgery, plantar fasciitis, knee issues, etc. 
He said he went into this offseason finally healthy enough to train for the entire season. First time in a long time according to Albert.
How about take his word for it and check out the results, rather than be a pessimist? 

Agree 100%
There really is nothing about him that screams potential upside or real benefit.  When you have to ignore as many red flags as the team would have to do and look beyond the downsides like losing a pick and the money associated with it..  well, it's hard to see the good in signing someone like Arrieta

Players created this mess for themselves. They happily throw everything under the bus to get the most free agency dollars. Free agents have become too expensive compared to the alternatives. Increase minimum salaries dramatically, make players arbitration eligible after year 2, get rid of draft pick penalties, get rid of draft and international pool caps. Suddenly FAs aren't so relatively expensive. But the MLBPA was more than happy to ignore those issues for the past 15 years because the players effected by this either weren't FAs or weren't Union members yet.

The best player on the planet SHOULD be the highest-compensated one.

Ok, ill bite.
I avoid these topics on here as much as possible. Ive mentioned on here having MLB connections. If i ever said who and to what extent, no one would believe me (except chuck). One thing i have in common with these guys is that both what i do and what they do is routinely second guessed by the public...which by and large habe no idea what actually happens behind the scenes, nor do they habe any actual background in what we do. As such, as much as i like reading the smart things guys like @dochalo, @ettin etc say, i dont discuss that with them. Why? Its simple. As well addressed and intelligent as their posts are, they (no offense to doc, ettin and the rest, who i think are brilliant at analyzing baseball), they still are merely observers, with no background other than an amateurs opinion. Its why i wouldnt tell doc anything about medicine, or a woman how to handle her pregnancy.
So discussing my profession with anyone who doesnt have a rudimentary knowledge of what i do is best left alone, because it would take too long to explain week one of a 4th amendment class and the subsequent case law to every question. Much as when im having beers with someone we talk about on here, i dont tell him how he should approach his at bats.
 
 
The funny thing about this bullshit narrative of cops not wanting to turn in other cops is simple. You know who burns cops? Other cops. How did the whole rampart scandal unravel? Heres a hint, it didnt start with perez...the actual reality, contrary to popular myth, is that i dont want to lose my job or go to federal court...and my partners arent going to lead me there (and vice versa). So the idea we (as the majority) look the other way for some idiot, with the tradeoff being i lose my job, but hey...hes a brother. Bullshit.
Lumping all cops together is as retarded as lumping any other group. How much interaction do you believe different police agencies have with each other? Do you think there is some vast conspiracy where we all congregate and share our shady little deeds? Most cops, regardless of the movies, dont even hang out together after work...you think im gonna lose my job for people i dont even drink with?..
You mentioned in another post about accountability. Agreed. Next lets let BLM take some. Its 2017, almost 18, and were still saying the mike brown shooting was bad...fucking kidding me?
This problem will not be fixed until some things change. First and foremost, and as of yet ive never heard this discussed, the general population needs to become educated on what the law actually says about search and seizure, and use of force. The most overused term out there is "i know my rights". No, most people dont. 
 

At worst this guy is a pretty good number 5 starter next year. He throws strikes and has flashed the ability to miss bats. Just a great pickup by Eppler. 

The way balls fly out of the park when he pitches...  I'm starting to think he's part of some high tech tornado research.