Hoops McCann

Let's hope he doesnt take any pitching advice from Salas.

I dont want to disappoint anyone, but the answer will not be Freese.

Hitting Freese in the clean-up spot is not going to turn out well for David or the team.  He needs to be in the 5-hole.

Trout and Pujols.

Trout

2-5...2B, single

Freese

0-4

I love Trout, he's a fantastic talent, but you really believe his last two years were better than AP's years of:

1.  2008 (OPS+ 192)

2.  2006 (178)

3.  2009 (189)

4.  2003 (187)

 

Dont get me wrong, the guy is in the class of AP in his prime, but not necessarily better.  Sorry, I'm not buying that.  They are close, but not better.

My guess is hoops is referring not to us being frustrated with Albert but rather how shitty this board can be towards him when he is playing poorly. They question his age, they question his loyalty, they question if he was on PEDs and they question his motives. It all reeks of us bieing being little kids throwing temper tantrums.

Well said and quite correct, Stradling.  Thanks

My guess is hoops is referring not to us being frustrated with Albert but rather how shitty this board can be towards him when he is playing poorly. They question his age, they question his loyalty, they question if he was on PEDs and they question his motives. It all reeks of us bieing being little kids throwing temper tantrums.

Well said and quite correct, Stradling.  Thanks

This, unlike your post above, is great. I'm sure you realize that Angels fans have cautious optimism towards Pujols given what he has done in his time here. We all appreciate what he did for the Cardinals and so desperately want him to return to 80% of what he was in his prime but are justifiably worried that he has 8 years left on his contract and has been a pretty big disappointment so far. 

 

While I can appreciate your second post, your first post mocking/questioning why Angels fans are so "bi-polar" about Albert is odd. There is a lot of talk about Pujols on this site, the majority of which is pretty negative, but I think that is understandable, even though I don't necessarily agree with it. We too saw one of the greatest hitters of all time playing for the Cardinals, and then he came here and his numbers have drastically declined. I love Pujols, and actually think he will have a good year, but I too am cautiously optimistic about that.

HH,

I certainly didnt intend to mock any of the fans here.  I read this site daily and know how much the posters here love the team and the game and can certainly sympathize with their frustration. 

I understand what a disappointment he has been as I've been as disappointed as anyone.  I follow this guy religiously, he's my favorite player of all-time, I've met him numerous times (and he's always been nothing but gracious).  I want him to succeed and I want the Angels to succeed. 

I chose to try to be more positive than negative, but again, I understand the issues and it really is an issue of expectation management.  I always hope and expect the best from #5.

Trout will never put up the gaudy offensive numbers pujols did hoops. Trout isnt a traditional 'slugger', and albert peaked in a different era. Pujols put up juiced numbers in a juiced era. Not at all pointing fingers, just that guys playing now cant match them. (Look how much better pitching is).

The reason I disagree that pujols was better is because trouts a true 5 tool guy. So whereas pujols is pretty hard to beat (for anyone) batwise, he was also a 1B. If trout was playing 1B with his bat, he would be a very good hitter but probably not as celebrated because he wouldnt have the rep with his glove. (And trout is a true basestealer).

But to back YOT's topic, agreed. Both those home runs were bombs. Im not expecting that to be the staus quo, but ill be more than happy getting the 2012 pujols back. Give me that, and trout breaking out of his current funk, and our lineup can tread water for a bit until hamilton comes back (or someone else catches fire).

That a fair and valid point and one I can not find much to disagree with; however, Pujols played 3B, then the outfield and later 1B.  He may not have the speed of Trout or play the premium position of CF, but he was an excellent defensive player in all positions.  Never had the speed of Trout, but was considered one of the better base runners in the game.  I think those aspects are often overlooked when you see the gaudy numbers he put up year after year.

Please beat the Pond Scum.

He deserved praise for today's game and for the past 2+ games, but there's been times during the first week and an number of times over the previous two seasons where he deserved criticism.

While true, my comment was more on the bi-polar nature of people's feeling regarding AP.  Please remember that I'm an AP apologist.  He is the greatest player I ever had a chance to see and I am certain I wont get a chance to see anyone better than him in his prime.

I know people here think Trout is the best and he is currently the best player in the game.  But, AP in his prime was better, in my opinion.  He isnt the same player as he was, but during the years with the Cardinals, the guy was hands down the best player in the game and will go out as one of the ten best players of all-time.

Mike Trout may top that, but it wont be easy and I hope for all Angels fans sake that he does top it.

I think the team can handle an injury to an offensive guy like Josh. What I don't think the team can handle is an injury to a starting pitcher or bullpen guy. Then we'll be #$%&@#

I would agree.  Given how poorly the pitching has been in the early going, I think there are even a few very critical pitchers that would represent an equally critical loss.  Losing Josh is a massive blow, but the offense should still be able to perform.  The pitching is a bigger concern, in my opinion.

I hope for everyone's sanity on this forum that Salas is never brought in with the game tied or a lead.  He's awful, well, awful is being polite.

So, he reminds you of the Jim Thome in nothing but the stance.  So, essentially, he's the human windmill.

So, the first few games he was the ever present Albert-tross, now it's kudos. 

Pretty much this site in a nutshell.

As a person who is mainly a Cardinals fan, but does support the Angels, I'm a little surprised by the fatalistic outlook of most on the board.

Is it a big blow...certainly.  No arguing otherwise.  However, it is a baseball team and there are other people who can contribute and pick up the slack, but from reading this, it seems like people think the team is doomed.

At least give it more than 10 games before capitulating.  It's a long season and lots of things, both expected and unexpected happen.  As the great Yogi Berra was fond of saying, "You never know".  Remember, "Baseball is 90 percent mental; the other half is physical."

I understand how he feels, but he certainly didnt handle it in a diplomatic fashion.  Something about it being a long trip and its impact on the team, but he's happy that the Aussies get to see MLB.  Something a tad diplomatic would have made this a non-story, but Grienke has absolutely no awareness of things like this.

Bailey, while being a good pitcher, isnt worth $100M.  He just isnt.

From St. Louis newspaper:

performance of two starting pitchers over the past two seasons, 2012 and 2013:

Pitcher A

Age: turns 28 in May.

Innings: 417

Fielding independent ERA: 3.69

Strikeout rate: 21.3 percent

Walk rate: 6.2 percent

Quality starts: 41

Fangraphs wins above replacement: 6.2

Pitcher B

Age: turns 27 in May.

Innings: 370.2

Fielding independent ERA: 3.45

Strikeout rate: 23.8 percent

Walk rate: 8.8 percent

Quality starts: 35

Fangraphs wins above replacement: 6.0

Congratulations, Lance Lynn.

If Homer Bailey is going to get a six-year deal worth $100 million, that's very good news for Lynn.

Lynn (Pitcher has a similar profile to Bailey (Pitcher A).

Lynn is even better in some ways, including strikeout rate and adjusted ERA. And they are virtually even in WAR.

Johan may be worth a shot, but also depends on how much he's asking.  Again, little downside if the money is right, but the chances of him working out are fairly slim.  That arm looks to be shot.

Blandoggle?

They say the team is bigger than any one individual and in baseball especially, that's always been true. But Mike Trout breaks every mold ever conceived and quite frankly is the best reason to watch the Angels. Without him, at best they are a .500 team....AT BEST.

Another Mike Trout may not come along for another 50+ years and the chances of him being an Angels are somewhere around 2%. You pay Mike Trout what he asks for and you don't bother making a counter offer.

I don't care if we sign him for 6/180 and it only buys out 2 years of free agency and he still hits the market at age 28. It doesn't matter, that's how singularly Important this player is. I don't care if he asks for 20/600, you do it.

totally and completely disagree with this.

Is he a great player...absolutely he is.  Does he have the chance to be one of the greatest of all-time...absolutely.  But, not coming along for another 50+ years, that seems a tad like hyperbole.  Same thing was said about Albert Pujols as well and as you can see, the whole is and should be greater than the sum of the parts.

You can justify it how ever you like, but the Angels management must be rationale when it comes to this.  I certainly think they need to re-sign him as a priority, but not as you put it "it doesnt matter".

It does matter.  It always has and always will.

Do you guys really think Mulder will be servicable?  I'm not buying it.  He's been out of the game for quite some time and now he's found a "new arm slot" after playing catch.  Good luck with that, but I wouldnt assume he'll make the team.

Blanton is awful and I understand everyone's trepidation with him getting starts as those are valid concerns.  I'd imagine Skaggs will get every chance to win the job and imagine how awful he will have to be to lose the 5 spot to Blanton.

The pitching staff (both starters and the pen) just isnt good enough to win the division let alone a play-off series.  In order for the team to be in the mix then, the offense will have to make up for the pedestrian pitching, which is a possibility.  However, this assumes that Pujols and Hamilton (and Freese to some extent) need to have solid years.  Not spectacular, but very solid.

Sure, it is possible and the team is in the mix, but I have a feeling that the achilles heel will be the pitching and it will be the root cause should the Angels not be playing in October.

I bet that Milwaukee will finish with a better record than the Reds this season.  In fact, I think they may finish with a better record than the Pirates and have an outside shot at the NL Wild-card.

Of course, there is no way they will win the NL Central with the Cardinals ruling the roost:)

Albert running?  That's a good one.

trust me when I say the one thing you will NOT want to see is Salas' fast ball.