eaterfan

So what does everyone think of the new coaching hire?

I'm waiting to see how he fills out the staff, but I like it. He was my 1B choice with Daboll being 1A.

I'm a little nervous they should have gone with an offensive play caller so Herbert wouldn't need to be constantly going through OCs if they are successful, but since Staley was a college QB I think he has a pretty good grasp of offensive concepts. A best case scenario is a Belichick type who can work with his QB to explain what defenses are going to do to him and how to beat it. 

I think the two other knocks on him by most of the media are:

1) He' doesn't have enough experience and maybe in a year or two he should get his chance. But the Chargers won't have a head coach opening in a year or two so if they think he's the guy then they had to get him now.

2) He had Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. He can't win without top talent. On the Chargers he'll have 2 of the top guys in Joey Bosa and Derwin James. If they get used properly they will be in that league. It's when the media was questioning if Phil Jackson could win with the Lakers because he could only with with MJ and Pippen. Well, he had Shaq and Kobe. He had the top talent to win. So will Staley. 

I think he's innovative and from what everyone says, is a great communicator and very detail oriented. Hopefully this is the coach to take the Chargers over the top. 

1 minute ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

We spent our Cole money on Rendon, these are the types of moves we have to make to win now. Too many of us are still living in fantasy land.

And to win in the future! It's a 1 year deal. It doesn't tie us to a bad contract for half a decade.

Just now, AngelsLakersFan said:

Angel fans want Garret Cole still.

I was just about to edit my post to say that moves that aren't for Bauer or Cole can still be good (and are actually necessary).

What are we doing in this thread?

This is a good signing. It's cheap, it's short term, and it makes the Angels better. Hopefully the Angels do more, but this is a good move. Why is everyone trying to make this complicated? If he stinks or gets hurt then we can try to find someone else next year. If he works out, then it's awesome.

On 1/12/2021 at 7:16 AM, Angels 1961 said:

He's been around baseball his whole life. He interviewed for Angel GM job. It's not like he's going from broad cast booth to become a brain surgeon. 

This and it's AA. He's not making personnel decisions. It's a great place to learn and he seems like a pretty smart guy.

Honestly, I want guys who throw 95+ to have control of the ball. I think it's good for player safety to not have the ball slipping out of pitcher's hands. And yes, this is something everyone does. 

Lynn had one thing going for him as a coach, the players played hard for him because he was a good leader. He's lost the team and they have quit on him. He needs to be let go.

I think I like this move. It's all about the playoffs and I think I prefer Gasol against Jokic than Howard. Harrell is also a nice addition for the regular season and I think will be nice when the Lakers play smaller teams.

I just started watching The Crown. Everyone I know loves it, but I can't get into it. The stakes seem so low. Like it's just deciding which of their many houses they are going to live in and if she's going to keep her husband's last name. The general theme of the show seems to be "it's harder to be a rich, ceremonial figure head than you'd think! People are often upset with you but in the end nothing matters because you're super rich and can't get fired."

On 11/17/2020 at 1:26 PM, Duren, Duren said:

The Baines inclusion is a reminder of how lobbying and favoritism can sway voters. Also playing in major markets and being media friendly.  In this day and age this happens less because of universal access to online, video and advanced metric resources. But it still happens. 

In fact it happened far more in the past. When you walk through Cooperstown and read the plaques, you wonder about a fair number of inclusions. Even from the dead ball era. "Tinker to Evers to Chance" was a popular poem that probably helped enshrine these ancient Cub infielders. 

I hate the inclusion standards being diluted but sometimes there are genuine factors that go beyond statistics. Reputation amongst peers for instance, and clutch performance under pressure. Not everything can be quantified, so there will always be legitimate arguments 

One of the most intriguing disputes was over Roger Maris, who got typecast as a one year wonder despite a very good all around career, including two MVP seasons and multiple championships. And a great reputation amongst his peers. Press hostility also had a negative effect on his reputation. 

If it took Larry Walker and Tim Raines so long to finally get in then it make a you think that Hunter probably will disappear from the ballot in a year or two. Very good, steady player, but tough standards to meet.

 

But Harold Baines was voted in by the Veteran's Committee and the the writers. 

I know he's in the Hall of Fame, but I don't really think the point of this discussion is whether or not Torii Hunter will get in via the Veteran's Committee. I think we're mainly talking about whether or not Hunter will and should get into the HoF via normal means. Pointing out guys who lowered the standard enough that Hunter could get into the Hall that way doesn't seem really relevant. Any pretty good player could get in that way and there's not really much to add to it because it's subject to the whims of a relatively small group of voters who haven't really had much of a consistent criteria. 

Yeah, Baines got in, but there have been at least 3 guys who played more recently in Lofton, Edmonds, and Jones who were all better and didn't. Lofton and Edmonds fell off the ballot after one year. 

Is there a serious argument one can make that Torii Hunter should be in the HOF when Andruw Jones should not be? 

12 hours ago, Lou said:

Whoa, slow down there, guys. I didn't bump this thread so you could go all nerdy.

I am happy with the turn this thread took. There's nothing I love more than reading about other people's fantasy teams on the internet. It's really what keeps me going.

On 10/14/2020 at 10:59 AM, eaterfan said:

Is LaRussa a good scout? I honestly have no idea if he's a good talent evaluator. He certainly traded away a lot of superior talent for inferior talent in his time in AZ.

But to answer the bolded part:

LaRussa has shown through his actions as GM and his comments about moves, that he clearly lacks an understanding of today's game and the markets. He is backwards thinking (and possibly out to prove that his way still works). That combined with Arte's admiration for the old school approach and good ole boys makes LaRussa's presence a constant threat to yield more power and influence in the organization. That part isn't his fault, but Arte isn't going anywhere. 

I don't know Tony or the steps he has taken to get help. I couldn't find anything about it on the internet, but part of apologizing is doing the work to rectify the situation as best you can and making changes. Tony has not done that publicly, I'm not sure he needs to as a person, but for the Angels to hire him after Nick Adenhart I would like to know that he went to treatment, helped out with MADD, or did something that shows he realizes the gravity of his actions. There were plenty of people on this message board who in 2009 were rightly pissed about how unseriously DUI is taken, and TLR was driving so drunk he was passed out behind the wheel at a stoplight. I don't think it's a big factor here, but it means something to me. I'm not saying he should never work, or not even never work for the Angels, it's just I don't like that the team never acknowledged it.

Looks like he got another DUI this year. 

Hopefully he gets the help he needs, but there was 0 reason to have him in this organization.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30288007/chicago-white-sox-manager-tony-la-russa-charged-dui-stemming-february-arrest-court-docs-show?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true

12 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

Didn’t that also happen to the Giants against the Eagles in 1978, where Eagles DB Herman Edwards scooped up a Pisarcik fumble and scored?

Chevy me if I'm wrong, but the Giants weren't in victory formation. I thought today one was boneheaded because they should have been in victory formation but chose to go with a straight running play.

I am rarely surprised by the Chargers blowing a lead, but I have to admit, this one got me. 

As a Chargers fan, I don't watch to see whether they will win or lose, it's to see how they will lose. The third quarter of this game was definitely the most confident I have been in the Chargers winning and then they got me. I'm not even mad, just impressed.

Certainly a weird hire. It's interesting because TLR is best known for constant pitching changes in the way Maddon was known for shifts, MS is known for his and run and the contact play. Pitchers now have to pitch to 3 batters or finish the inning.

14 minutes ago, T.G. said:

So the Dodgers are an average team?

Yes. That's definitely what he said. You totally comprehended that one correctly.

Or maybe he was saying the average team adds 4-6 and even a tremendous team, like the Dodgers, added 4 pitchers, to give context to the situation.

On 10/12/2020 at 11:46 PM, Second Base said:

I honestly don't understand the hate for LaRussa. As long as his influence on the game is limited to his extensive network of connections he's made over a long career, as well as offering his scouting advice, I think you're good. He's been around a long time and has obviously seen a lot. There's some wisdom to be gained by having him around.

Just as long as he isn't making the hires and isn't the GM, or involved in analytics, LaRussa is a valuable commodity. He has his place in the game. Maybe in the dugout, maybe as an advisor.

Is LaRussa a good scout? I honestly have no idea if he's a good talent evaluator. He certainly traded away a lot of superior talent for inferior talent in his time in AZ.

But to answer the bolded part:

LaRussa has shown through his actions as GM and his comments about moves, that he clearly lacks an understanding of today's game and the markets. He is backwards thinking (and possibly out to prove that his way still works). That combined with Arte's admiration for the old school approach and good ole boys makes LaRussa's presence a constant threat to yield more power and influence in the organization. That part isn't his fault, but Arte isn't going anywhere. 

I don't know Tony or the steps he has taken to get help. I couldn't find anything about it on the internet, but part of apologizing is doing the work to rectify the situation as best you can and making changes. Tony has not done that publicly, I'm not sure he needs to as a person, but for the Angels to hire him after Nick Adenhart I would like to know that he went to treatment, helped out with MADD, or did something that shows he realizes the gravity of his actions. There were plenty of people on this message board who in 2009 were rightly pissed about how unseriously DUI is taken, and TLR was driving so drunk he was passed out behind the wheel at a stoplight. I don't think it's a big factor here, but it means something to me. I'm not saying he should never work, or not even never work for the Angels, it's just I don't like that the team never acknowledged it.

7 hours ago, HaloMilliVanilli said:

Would've liked winning that one, especially against Brees.  Herbert looks fantastic behind a poor, patchwork O-line.  We aren't doing shit considering all the injuries we've sustained and training a rookie QB.  Take the lumps and the higher draft picks and please, please, please focus on offensive line during the 2021 draft.

This is how I feel. This team isn't making the playoffs this year. I'd like them to lose every game by 3 points and then draft Sewell in the 1st. That won't happen. They will Angels it up and go on a nice win streak to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs by a game and end up with like the 12th pick. 

I think Sewell is a complete stud. Best OL prospect since Pace or Ogdon?

3 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

the yankees had the highest payroll in baseball from 1999 through when Steinbrenner died in 2010 by almost 50% above the next closest.  Granted there was no CBT and associated penalties.  

their front office basically had zero restrictions on making the team better under his reign.  

If Arte wants to expand payroll to that level then he can do whatever the F he wants.  

I have not idea what 'likes to be part of the process' means, but my guess is that Carpino is actually down playing the level with which Arte is involved.  

This comment actually makes me appreciate what Eppler was able to do even more than I did before.  

Also, didn't Steinbrenner basically take a step back from making personnel moves in the 90s? 

When I think of meddling Steinbrenner I think of the 70s and 80s.

Just now, rafibomb said:

At this point I have no other choice but to be optimistic that although Carpino said that, they are both aware of the problem will change under the next GM and he just doesn't want to admit Arte is in the wrong.

I always say the first step towards fixing the problem is not admitting what the problem is.

I think we might be going a little overboard...

Trout is Trout, but everyone else has real questions. Five weeks ago Upton was "toast" and everyone on the board wanted to cut him. Ward has had one good month in MLB. I'm not ready to declare either Marsh or Adell MLB ready. At the moment we have one sure thing a, a guy who could fall off a cliff, and 4 guys who maybe don't ever make it as regulars. 

Yeah, that's a really negative view of things. But, we're a long way off from close to the best outfield depth in baseball.

12 minutes ago, rafibomb said:

Since being traded to the Reds Brian Goodwin is hitting .152 in 46 at-bats with 19 strikeouts.

I think our outfielders have hit better over that span.

5 minutes ago, ScottT said:

Wonder if his former teammates agree.

12 of the 85 scholarship players on the team disagreed, 63 agreed, while 9 others had no definitive opinion. No data is available for walk-ons.

9 minutes ago, Kevinb said:

If people have a problem with what Dipoto did and what Simmons did just now then I don't know what to say. They're the same thing. Simmons calling it quits on the Angels with 5 games left is the just a bad look. Good luck in the off season Simmons, I hope the Angels don't try and re sign you and I hope you get all the money you are looking for. I am not a fan of this at all, I am not a fan of players quitting on their team. I bet there are multiple people inside that locker room who feel the exact same as I. 

Not at all close to the same thing. The Angels are playing meaningless games and Simmons faces the risk of injuring himself and costing himself millions of dollars. Dipoto didn't face any of those risks. This is like Christain McCaffrey skipping the Sun Bowl. Big Whoop!