markb

Can't imagine Scioscia would even consider pulling Jerome from the rotation at this point unless he hits a really rough patch.

After tonight, on the season he's got a 2.53 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 46.1 IP.  That's not just good, it's exceptional.  

I highly doubt he keeps this pace, but he's really stepped up and earned himself a spot for now.  

EDIT:  I just noticed looking up his stats that Blanton's BAA is .369.   LOL

Enright can have peace of mind knowing he was the better of the two pitchers so far.  

It's weird to me that people still insist Trumbo is so overvalued, and act like he's some scrub that's had a few lucky streaks.  Dating back to the beginning of last season, his OPS by month:

Mar/April:  .916

May: 1.077

June: .899

July: .864

Aug: .550

Sept/Oct: .554

Mar/April: .862

May: 1.250 (small sample size obv)

Considering he suffered from a dislocated rib at the end of July last year, it seems more reasonable to assume he's more the hitter we've seen the majority of this past season+, and less the one that coincidentally dropped off after suffering an injury that may have bothered him more than he admitted.  

Aside from all that, Trumbo is just a really likable player.  He has a great work ethic, has been moved all around the field position-wise with no complaint, and has continuously worked at improving his biggest weakness as a hitter.  If every player on this team had the same mentality as Trumbo, they'd probably suck a lot less than they do now.  

It's hard to imagine being more disappointed by this team than I am now, but it'd probably happen if they traded Trumbo away.  

 He's made some fine catches sure, but I don't recall anything near the catches Trout has made.

How soon we forget.  

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14006691&c_id=mlb

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15248029&c_id=mlb

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17876227&c_id=mlb

and the play that Trout doesn't make:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17220611&c_id=mlb

Bourjos makes a lot of spectacular plays look pedestrian because he reads the ball so early and takes good routes to the ball.  Notice in a lot of his highlight catches that his route is straight as an arrow.  Trout makes more adjustments and changes of direction when he's tracking the ball, but gets away with it with his ridiculous speed.  And of course the difference in their arms is extremely noticeable.  

Trout is probably the 2nd best defensive CF in baseball, he just happens to be on the same team as the 1st.  

Or have Trout bat before Hamilton. Trout gets on base, Hamilton will see more fast balls and less breaking balls.

To expand on this:

Trout

Hamilton

Pujols

Trumbo

- Trout back to leadoff where he belongs

- No better way to see more fastballs than Trout on base and Pujols behind him (assuming Pujols stops sucking)

- Trumbo stays at cleanup where he's more than earned his keep

I'm sure this 1-4 has been suggested more than once here, but it's odd that Scioscia has yet to try it.  It gets him Trout/Hamilton/Pujols bunched together like he wanted without awkwardly slotting someone who is no better than the 5th best hitter on this team into the leadoff role.  

Hey guys, another long time lurker.   Was always worried if I started posting that it'd become a giant timesink, but given the Angels performance of late, finding company in misery beats taking up a drinking habit.