eaterfan

I agree with you Cez except I think it's more Arte who doesn't want to rebuild. I think Dipoto knows this team has shown its potential and knows it's better to sell a year too early than a year too late.

Cez... I don't think the argument here is the money on Vargas so much as the money on the other pieces we need to improve. If we only resign Vargas and arbitration raises this team isn't winning the division. That means we need to bring in another Vargas type at a similar number. Maybe two. That is a lot of money. And even then it only extends our window a few years. Then what? We will have lost our first round pick signing another Vargas type. Our farm is weak so no one will be able to replace an aging or FA Aybar, Kendrick, Ianetta, Weaver, Wilson, Trumbo?

The problem with this is we likely would find ourselves in the same position next year except we've burned another year of Trout's career, Vargas has less trade value (one year older), and the prospects we would get in a trade this year are most likely better than any player we would get with a sandwich pick. Also if we are doing a full rebuild as I think we should then it delays that by a year and we run into similar problems with trading players like Howie and Bourjos. We waste more of Trout's career before help arrives and they bring less in a trade because they are a year older and have less time on their contracts.

In answer to your original question "Will the Angels be competitive next year?", it depends on your definition of competitive. I feel like they can be a decent team, top out at 85 wins. That doesn't make them competitive for a championship though. If we don't compete for a championship next year will we in the years after that without giving up a lot of major league talent (we have no minor league talent to give up) or significantly raising the payroll? We've seen how well that works with Wilson, Pujols, Hamilton, Madson, etc. If we aren't competing the next three years aren't we wasting the club control of Trout, Trumbo, Bourjos just the same as if we trade Vargas? You bring up that a player we get won't contribute for 1-3 years anyway. We still have 4 years of Trout and 10-11 years until he's past his prime. Extend Trout and then build to win in his prime window. Don't half way go for it either. Trade Trumbo, Aybar, Kendrick, Vargas, Bourjos, Frieri, Congor or Ianetta and Callaspo. Those guys should be able to bring in 10 top 100 prospects and some solid BP prospect type guys. Take high draft picks for a few years. Be ready to make a run at a world series in 4 years right before Trout will be ready to hit FA if he isn't already extended.

What difference does it make? Are we getting anything signing him to an extension, finishing 3rd the next three years then letting him walk for nothing? I think we could get a mid level top 100 prospect for him and a BP arm prospect.

A much better way of saying what I was trying to say. Where is this team going to improve next season? Even if everything broke right this season we aren't a good team. This isn't a young team that we should expect a lot of improvement from our current players. Bringing back these same guys seems like a bad way to win next season and won't help us get better 3-4 years down the line.

Assuming fair market value on a trade or an extension, I say trade him. This team isn't one or two pieces away and the farm system is decimated. We aren't winning the division in the near future with a team that nearly everyone (Trout and Bourjos excepted) is in their prime or past their prime. This team is going to get worse before it gets better. I think it's better to lower payroll and rebuild the farm quickly than to add more payroll trying to fight our way out of the quicksand and just burying ourselves deeper in it. Trade everyone you can not named Trout. Will be be the Pirates of the last 20 years for 2 or 3 years? Yes. But if we can get enough good AA or AAA players we could be the A's of the last two season by year 3 or 4.

I guess I'll have to get a wine fridge. Thanks.

Is anyone here into aging beers? I've never really done it before but I'm starting to now. I've read that temperature for most beers should be between about 50-60 degrees. How important is this? Most of the beers I have are pretty easily replaceable but I have a FW Parabala that I can't replace. Am I better off just drinking it now, leaving it in a cool room temp dark closet, or putting it in my real fridge? I really don't want to have to get a beer fridge. I fear that will lead to me spending way too much money on beer and a fridge. I know most of you are IPA fans and they are best fresh but if anyone has any insight that would be great.

I think the restaurant has to abide by the total line and not worry about the tip line. I know that my friend who works as a waitress once had someone add the tip wrong to get the total and she had to use the total line and not what the tip + amount to equal the total. I'd assume this happens regularly (especially with drunk patrons).

@Bruin247 is giving away a free subscription to twitter follower 1,000. They are like 4 away. It's not as good as scout but for free it's worth it if you are interested give them a follow and hope you're 1,000.

Only when trying to break up a no hitter.

The guy is doing fine on the watch boxes. He just needs to end his buy one box get one free diamond ring promotion.

Those hospital bills don't pay themselves. Do you know how many $10 watch boxes you have to sell to pay for one night in a hospital?

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=brad+pitt+%22what's+in+the+box%22&mid=FC11BD219B90C0F6B12BFC11BD219B90C0F6B12B&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1 What's in the box!?!?

Now we know why there's always money in the banana stand.

Is that Sam Adam's wheat beer with a bit of a citrus flavor? If so I used to enjoy that one.

I haven't heard of any of those schools. But seriously, what position is he? I assume he will be in contention for a starting OG position.

May have missed out on Kyle Allen but Vanderdoes released a statement saying he's a Bruin. 2015 is loaded with QBs out west. I know it would be nice to get KA but a DT like EV is rare in California. Plus KA can still change his mind. It's early in the process. I know it's more rare with QBs but it happens.

Most of our starting pitchers didn't come through the farm system. I'm also not sure how much of it is holding runners on and how much is having a slow delivery. I'd rather have the guys using their regular delivery if it means pitching better and increasing the chance of getting the batter out than speeding up his delivery to try to save a base.

Catching Hanson doesn't help. I swear any of the Molina brothers could steal off him.

Contrary to what many people believe players have some control over how often they walk. It's largely not that pitchers throw more strikes to certain guys and pitch around other players. Ianetta is patient and allows pitchers to walk him.

As a Jew I don't care about this at all. There is actual real antisemitism out there and I don't have it in me to care if a tea kettle looks Hitler. If you don't like the tea kettle then don't buy it. All this outrage over something dumb really takes attention away from real issues. I guess this is what happens with a 24 hour news cycle.

Went to Stone, Alesmith, Port/Lost Abbey and Alpine this weekend. Really enjoyed the Nelson from Alpine.

Disney stock at an all time high and ESPN was making a big profit.