UCLAngel

Fans, in general, tend to be so reactionary. Every piece of news is boom or bust. Some people need to realize that this is a process. Almost every nugget of info the public receives is released for a reason, often to swing leverage one way or another. Let the process play out before we jump to conclusions.

I doubt GMs do this very often. It's too easy for a player to cross check a GM's claims. Making false claims would kill credibility quickly. Now, if the disparaging comments are completely true and presented in a tasteful way, it's likely a different story.

Cliff Lee maybe? Tulo if he adds a few more good years? ARod will never get it but man did he have some incredible years.

I'm a youngin'. Edmonds, Salmon, Chili, Langston, Finley, and DiSarcina. GA a bit but his nonchalance drove me crazy, even as a kid.

I have no idea what Fletch said, but the 2013 tax calculations were released in the last few weeks. I believe the Yanks had to pay something like $30 million. I've read through the CBA and the calculation is definitely a year-end calculation. The commissioner releases the report on December 2 and the tax is calculated based on actual time played. Here's the language: If a Uniform Player’s Contract is assigned by any means to another Major League Club, the assignor Club shall be allocated Salary through the date of the assignment and Salary shall begin being allocated to the assignee Club on the following day, regardless of the Player’s reporting date.

It's actually an end-of-season calculation using AAV (as you pointed out) of each player's contract pro-rated for the amount time spent on each team. So if the Angels traded a player mid-year, the cap wouldn't be "dinged" for the player's entire salary, just that portion that the Angels actually paid.

This idea fails to understand that markets change. Darvish had significantly less leverage in his negotiations -- he was only able to negotiate with one team. Tanaka will be able to play suitors off each other. The new posting system moved leverage from the Japanese team to the Japanese player. It isn't a question of whether he will be as good as [insert pitcher name here], but a question of will he provide enough value. So much changes in the market year to year that you can't compare contract values across years. It just doesn't work. The market sets the value. Another player's contract from a different year, in completely different circumstances, does not set the value.

I think I'd rather they take a flyer on Jason Knapp. The kid who was involved in the Cliff Lee trade to the Phillies. He's trying to make a comeback, and he looked like something special before his injury in 2010.

If you could take one player and put him on the Angels, who would you take and why? Contract included. I think I'd take Machado and put him at SS. Hard position to fill, affordable and talented.

I don't think it's about money at all. I could be completely wrong, but I get the feeling that Arte, as a proud businessman, likes the thought of an efficiently running enterprise. In a lot of ways the Yankees have been the antithesis of that over the years, using their resources to overpay for wins. Granted, the Angels have done the same, but I don't think that changes Arte's perception of himself and his team. Just my opinion.

Take what people say publicly with a grain of salt. How much leverage would he have in a move if the whole world knew he was strongly motivated to get under the cap? There's always an ulterior motive.

Dude, I kinda like you. You wanna be the head of talent development for this billion dollar business?

Green/Romine until Lindsay is ready. It could be that the Angels wait until mid-season. It could be that Howie stays and another piece moves. But I do think a move someone to save some money. I get the feeling that Arte is loathe to cross the threshold. I don't think he wants to be viewed as a "Yankee-like" organization.

I fully expect them to make one of the following moves: Trade Howie for prospects Give away Blanton + $4-5 million. I'm not convinced that Arte will allow the team to go into the tax. I think they'll look to make a move at some point (could be during the season) to get them under the threshold.

Very excited to see what Zach does in the AFL. His swing is incredibly short and powerful...reminds me a bit of Barry Bonds' swing actually, despite the different stance and set up. Very cool to see him drive the ball the other way with such a quick swing. Wish him the best.

I thought Shane was criticized more for putting Grichuk on the Fallers list than for not putting him on the Risers list.

Thought this kid deserved a page. In 119 AB's across two levels he has 8 HR's, 32 RBI's, 35 R's, and a .381/.434/.746 slash line (not including today's game). While he was a college senior, he also had a serious uptick in power his senior year (hit 12 HR's after hitting 3, 3, and 4 the previous three years). He also stole 14 bases as a senior (high of 20 as a freshman). I've read elsewhere that Fish swings from his heels and, while I don't have time to watch full games, I've seen highlights of his a couple of his homers and he looks pretty balanced to me. Besides, a violent swing can work if he can still make contact. I like him. Anyone have more insight?

I hope this somewhat dispels the notion that the org hates Zach. Glad to see he'll get to keep playing in AZL.

Here's the thing, it seems like a lot of the "obnoxious" comments you've received haven't really been regarding your brother's potential or performance, they've been responses to your approach. I only speak for myself, but I prefer a lot of the Inland Empire guys to a lot of the Arkansas guys, Zach included. But when you have someone calling you closed minded, you tend to get defensive and push back. Sure, many on here will "rank" Zach behind other prospects. The Angels organization, in many ways, is a Good Ole Boys club. They tend to show loyalty to guys that have been in the system longer or have been around the league longer. That doesn't mean Zach won't get a chance, it just means that he might not get a chance as quickly. By constantly clamoring for a promotion and respect, it makes Zach appear entitled, which is about the worst thing you can be in baseball, a sport steeped in tradition. Here, I'll give you my own personal ranking of prospects up to Zach: 1) Sappington 2) Hunter Green 3) Rondon (I really like him) 4)Lindsey 5) Borenstein. That's it for me. I've never been as high on Cron. But the way you pine for him doesn't win over many fans. Your brother has had a great year. He deserves all the accolades he receives, and yeah, he has earned a call up that has been pushed back more than it probably should. He'll get his shot, though, and if he keeps producing he should take full advantage of it. Getting worked up over rankings should provide fodder for him. The best always look for every reason to fuel their fire. I used to love how Kobe knew every team that passed over him in the draft. Instead of looking for Zach to move to every other organization that DIDN'T draft him, Zach should be looking for every reason to prove himself in the one that did. I think you're attitude, as family, should be similar. Gratitude instead of entitlement is so much more refreshing. I'll continue to root for your bro. I hope he turns into an MLB All-Star for the Halos. And I hope he uses his displeasure to continue to improve and prove all the doubters wrong. But I'm still convinced that you could go about your support in a better way. Convince everyone to be believers, don't call them idiots because they're initially skeptical.

Man. You are a piece of work. In one breath, you call everyone on here closed minded. In the next, you claim you're opinion is above that of the collective intelligence of hundreds of major league scouts. Sure. Your blinding biased is intense that you're hard to take serious. In some ways, it's like a 3rd grader claiming "my Dad can beat up yours." You clearly have the ability to make reasoned arguments, but you are so emotional that your points are completely discounted. I'm sure you've "called around." hah. I actually laughed out loud. I'll bet you've got a few GMs on speed dial. See if the Angels can get Bundy or Zimmer for your brother. With your passion, I'm sure you can convince them that that's a fair trade. And I'm not sure I'd want you for a brother. I love my brothers and root for them, counsel them when they ask for advice, and expect them to put in the work to succeed. If I ever started going on public message boards berating anyone who didn't think they were the greatest thing since sliced bread, I'm sure they'd tell me to keep my mouth shut and let me prove myself. You should your brother do the same and quit arguing with a bunch of message board fans. The Angels org must truly hate your brother...good luck on trying to move him to the other orgs that were clearly climbing over each other to draft him...in the 20th round. The big boy world can be a tough place. I suggest you thicken that skin up.