Turd Ferguson

We swapped out a closer with 1 pitch, straight 98, for another closer with 1 pitch, straight 94. At this point, Frieri is a situational righty, which is a long way from a closer.

Sweep under the rug? I'm not sure how you can say any of this has been swept under the rug. These reports have been out there for weeks and the suspensions are significant. Meanwhile, the NFL has had 15 guys suspended already in 2013 for PEDs. Name one. I'm a lot less offended by what MLB has done to clean up its game then I am with the media's incessant scrutinization of any whisper of MLB PED use while turning a blind eye the use of PEDs in its bellcow the NFL.

I don't think you can punish the team directly. I think any PED suspension should carry with it a postseason ban though. It doesn't make sense that a guy like Cruz can serve his susepnsion during the regular season and then come back to contribute in the postseason.

The Green Bay Packers.

If it got little traction because Pit was unwilling to part with pitching then fine. If it was because the team has no interest in trading Trumbo period, then that would be a little disappointing.

Trade Trumbo for SP and re-sign Kendrys.

Sign me up for Taillon. Do they happen to need a 2b and/or SS as well because I hear we might have one available.

Do we know Trumbo isn't being dangled? I don't think much happens today; I could see an August move with Vargas.

Considering what we gave up to get Callaspo, I don't mind this move at all. The defensive scouting reports worry me a bit but you can't argue with the bat. I think Callaspo was a bit underrated by this board but Green is the young, high upside type of player that we need to start restocking the system with.

Wasn't Hawpe DFA'd? Hawpe and we will take all of Kennedy's salary?

We could sign the Archangel Gabriel and he'd probably go 0-4 with 3Ks.

We traded a closer with 1 pitch, 98 and straight, for a closer with 1 pitch, 95 and straight.

If the Angels eat the "after-life" portion of the contract, maybe we oculd trade the "during-life" portion of it?

When it comes to these trades, with a farm system as bad as ours, I just think you need to acquire talent period and not worry about positional needs. I would much rather see us acquire a raw 19 year old with high upside, even if it is an OF or 1b, then a 26 year old MR with apparently a very low ceiling. Of course, that theory is tied to a confidence that the organization could actually develop a raw 19 year old and I'm not sure at this point I have that confidence.

I wasn't really all that upset about this when I heard about it, and still am not "upset" per se, but after seeing what the Astros got for Veras, I do have to question the return a bit. Take it as you will, but both FanGraphs and Law had articles with the exact same conclusion--Braves got Downs for nothing. The gist of both articles was that the Angels could have, and should have, received a "lotto ticket" type guy--young A baller with upside. Our obvious need is pitching, but it seems that with many of these trades we are shoehorning ourselves into focusing on positions rather than talent.

Tough crowd, not sure what many were expecting for a 38 year old reliever 2 month from free agency.

Like Jerome as a player, love him as a person, but can we please agree (without deleting anymore posts) that he is best suited as a reliever?

If Hanson was hitting 94 last night, we should trade him now.

Can anyone elighten me on what, exactly, is the philosophy/approach of this team right now? It seems to me that there is a vast philosophical schism between Manager and GM in roster composition and approach to the game. One of them has to go, this ain't working.

Unless there is something that hasn't been made public yet, I just don't see how they can suspend players, some up to 100 games, based on the testimony of one man. It would set an awfully dangerous precedent. In my opinion, this smacks of a witch hunt but MLB to bust some guys that may have slid by in the past. Will be interesting to see how the appeals process plays out.

I think it's pretty clear that the only prescription for all our troubles right now is more Cowgill.

Finally! GRIT!

Let's just push all the chips in, sign Marmol and Valverde, and party like its 2009.

I never understood the backlash against Arte. The guy is spending money to try to improve the team. Though in hindsight it hasn't worked out, I can think of much worse characteristics of an owner.

If Trumbo were to be traded, I'm not sure his value would be much higher than it is right now. I think he is what he is at this point, which is definitely valuable, but definitely does not make him untouchable.