The_Outrunner

One of the greatest nights in my life was being at the Big A for the halos 02 WS win.   
My love for baseball has waned considerably over the years.  I was once such a die hard Angel fan.  Watching the Cubs win the WS ended one of those great baseball stories - yeah yeah tip of hat to Joe Maddon and team for getting it done - the "would they ever win again" story.
I always felt differently after the Red Sox finally broke their curse.  It wasn't fun not being able to yell 1918 at them, especially after the second title in our lifetimes.  
I know records are meant to be broken, and legends fade.  Lou Gehrig's record fell.  Aaron's record fell.  Rose became the hit king.  
I suppose I'm mourning my childhood, which each day grows more distant.  Going to the Big A in the 70s and 80s as a kid and loving every pitch was my life.  I'd go to 40+ games a season with my dad.   This season I didn't watch one Angels game on tv and went to one.  It's quite sad as I spent my teens and 20s hoping for a son to share my passion of baseball for.  After having two girls, I finally have a five year old boy, but I don't have an interest in the game or sharing it with him.  
The one game he and I went to this year, we arrived in the second inning and left in the seventh. 
I read Historical books about old baseball days and stadiums and past legends. I love that part of baseball.  Sadly I didn't evolve with the game.
Growing up my aunt from Chicago sent me two things for Xmas and my birthday every year - something Jesus related and something Cubs related.  Them losing every year was a thing to me.  
Now that's gone. 
But it isn't so much about the Cubs win as it is my loss.  
I'm probably the only one on some foolish rant in the world right now, but there's no better place for that rant than AW.com
Amen for baseball!
 
 
 

Terrible arm, I think we can do much better.  

We should sign Trumbo this offseason. 

I guess I'm in the minority as someone that likes this trade. Nolasco and Santiago aren't really that much different. Both give up a lot of home runs. Santiago gives up less hits, but walks more, so both are going to have a similar WHIP. Since Santiago has been in the major leagues Nolasco has had a high WAR in every single season, including this one. The Twins are paying Nolasco this season (while we are still paying for Santiago) and giving us 4M next season to cover the cost difference. Then we have the ability to pick up Nolasco for an additional season longer than Santiago is under contract for. It also evens out our rotation. If we keep Santiago we are heading into 2017 with 3 lefties in our rotation (Santiago, Skaggs, and Smith)
2016
Player A: IP 124 FIP 4.29 K/9 6.7 BB/9 2.1 WHIP 1.35 HR/9 1.3  WAR 1.5 (Nolasco)
Player B: IP 120 FIP 5.03 K/9 8.0 BB/9 4.3 WHIP 1.33 HR/9 1.5 WAR 0.5 (Santiago)
 
On top of basically swapping Santiago for a right handed version of himself we also acquire a guy we all would have been ecstatic to acquire a year ago for Santiago. Meyer's has had success in the upper minors, while still unproven at the big league level the potential is definitely there. Even if he can't stick in the rotation past 2017, we really wouldn't need him there (Richards, Heaney, Skaggs, Shoemaker, Tropeano, Smith), he looks like a guy that could have success at the back end of a bullpen. Look at Wade Davis, he put up a 5+ ERA in 2013 at 27 years old as a starter. While not having much success before that. In his age 28 season and since he has been one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. Pomeranz struggled in his first 3 seasons in the big leagues, he was younger and pitching in Coors, but he was a top pick that took a while to develop, and a move to the bullpen, to figure things out. Andrew Miller is another guy.
 
I'm not saying that Meyers is going to be the next Wade Davis, Drew Pomeranz, or Andrew Miller but he definitely has the potential. While there is risk in Meyer's reaching his potential, there isn't much risk in this trade as Santiago to Nolasco is a lateral move. We can only gain, while we can't really lose. Even if Meyer's amounts to nothing and Nolasco gets worse it will still lead toward making the Angels better as it will give us a better draft pick.

This trade is awful! Our front office is like a choose your own adventure.... They choose the page where you die 

This trade is awful! Our front office is like a choose your own adventure.... They choose the page where you die 

This trade is awful! Our front office is like a choose your own adventure.... They choose the page where you die 

This trade is awful! Our front office is like a choose your own adventure.... They choose the page where you die 

Los Angeles ls Angels of Moreno Valley formerly of Anaheim 

duh. 

Perfect, are they toolsy?

Don't worry, I'm sure Garrett Richards and his doctors will give your opinion on the subject the consideration it is due.

In a corresponding move, the Angels have signed Ji-Woman Choi.

I don't want to beat a dead horse by talking about whether or not we should trade Trout, but so far I have heard only 3 alternatives...
1. Trade Trout
2. Build around Trout
3. Trade everyone not named Trout.

Yet, with #3, everyone mentions trading Street, Smith, Escobar and how they won't bring much back (and its true). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't heard anyone mention that we SHOULD trade Simmons and Calhoun as well. I've seen people say that the Angels won't do it, but why not?

Toying with the idea, it seems like both players is exactly what the team needs, cost-controlled players throughout Trout's years with us. Calhoun becomes a FA after 2019 and Simmons after 2020. Calhoun will cost anywhere from 18 mil to 24 mil for '16-'19. Simmons will cost 53 mil for 16-20.
Obviously this is extremely cheap for the value you get for these two players, but lets not ignore that we're looking at 70 mil nonetheless (still its a bargain).
Calhoun and Simmons can both bring great value back due to how cheap they are relative to their skill. Just like we think they are too controlled and valuable not to trade other teams have to think they are to good & cheap/controlled to pass up. Trade them both for two packages of prospects, particularly high-upside position players. 

Well, here is a proposal... 

Flip Simmons to the White Sox  for close to MLB ready position prospects ( 1 or 2 high upside)
Flip Calhoun to Cleveland for (same as Sox)
Trade all of the previously mentioned, Street, Smith, Escobar, Santiago, Soto, etc. for mid tier prospects.
Bring up Cowart, Kubitza, Marte, Ortega, Hinshaw and give them a chance at consistent playing time
Hold on to Skaggs and Tropeano. 
Start TJ process on Heaney ASAP.
Pinch every single penny until 2018.

The goal of this plan is build a winner from 2018-2020 and past that. By this time:
-The acquired prospects will be more polished and (hopefully) making an impact.
-We will also have lots to spend in what will probably go down as the most talented FA class ever. I'm not a fan of big FA signings, but sign me up if we could pair Trout with a prime Machado/Arenado.
- 3 years worth of high draft picks
- We will have Richards and Heaney back with a year removed from surgery. Plus Skaggs and Tropeano.
- Maybe one of Cowart -Hinshaw player list surprises with more playing time and can be a contributor by this time


I guess some may say its throwing in the towel, but I really refuse to settle for mediocrity. Go big or go home. Suffer now for a chance at something special in a couple years down. 

With the way things have been going, its more likely he left the game with dehydration and cramping. 
In 4 days, they'll announce he also needs TJ.

Like everyone else has said we have nothing to acquire anyone, but If we can get some offensive add ons i'm all for it! Think about the games Trop has pitched, having someone else in the lineup to add some pop we could have a few more wins!

I can see us signing Kyle Loshe and Tim Lincecum

I can see us signing Kyle Loshe and Tim Lincecum

You have to admit that "dehydration" is a comically stupid misdirection given the severity of the injury. It's like Arte talking about difficult economics from the yacht parade.

I can see us signing Kyle Loshe and Tim Lincecum

Arte is probably searching groupon right now for 2-1 deals with Dr. Andrews.

I also feel terrible for Mike trout 
another waisted year for that man in this org 

Season saved!

I bet we get the memo that he's available after he's signed with an MLB club.