Cdaniel

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The next positive thing you say about a player will be the first. If you don't see the value of a top 8 second baseman then you're hatred for him as blinded you to logic.

I like playing with words too, so here it goes.
We have added to our coaching staff by adding character guys that have an Angels history, bringing back fan favorites in Baylor and Disar.
So far this offseason we have added to our number one need from last year by adding one of the top free agent relief pitchers to a three year deal, this should help not only this year but for the next few years. We also added a sleeper left handed specialist that will add much needed depth to our bullpen.
We have traded our fourth outfielder to get a league average third baseman, who had a down year last year, but adds more power to the position than we have had in about ten years.
We still have at least two valuable trade pieces left to go out and get those starter pitchers we desperately need.
We have done these moves already and the Winter Meetings haven't even started yet.
Way to go Dipoto!
That was fun.

I don't totally disagree, but here's another way of looking at it:
 
1) the FO decided not to fix a bad pitching staff by overspending on mediocrity. 
 
2) we exchanged our second or third best outfielder (out of four) to fill a giant defensive and offensive hole it 3rd base. 
 
3) We let a pitcher who gave us a few pretty good years go-- for an improved chance at having an ACTUAL solution to our pitching woes. 
 
That is admittedly the sunny view. But dude-- its Infamy day. Let's wait for the moves to be made before we judge the offseason (or, if you prefer, lets wait to see the "mistakes" become fully realized before criticizing them). 

definitely, definitely.

By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer - 
First a trivia question: Who is the missing 10th member from the following list of 2013 starting pitchers?


Perhaps the more important question is would you like to see the Angels acquire/sign the missing player based simply on the quality of the other names on that list?

Not convinced?

What if I also told you that the missing player gave up fewer home runs every 9 innings than Stephen Strasburg? Would that pique your interest?

No?

What if I also told you that the missing player walked fewer batters every 9 innings than Jose Fernandez? That should get you excited, right?

Still not there yet?

What if I also told you that the missing player has the highest groundball percentage out of that entire group? In fact out of all 139 pitchers that threw 100 innings or more last year, this pitcher has the 11th highest ground ball to fly ball ratio, making him a real groundball machine! That has to give you a warm-fuzzy right?

Give up?

The list above contains the names of the top 10 hardest thrown fastballs (vFA) by starting pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched in 2013 and the missing player is none other than our very own Garrett Richards!



Garrett’s fastball (vFA) velocity is pretty elite and when you combine it with his hard slider (vSL), change-up (vCH), and curveball (vCU), along with low home run and walk rates, you have the ingredients for a quality starting pitcher.

Now Richards is still young and making adjustments to Major League hitters so the expectations should be tempered with the realization that Garrett still has a lot to learn. Garrett’s learning arc would best be served by a spot in the back-end of the rotation where the pressure to be “the guy” is reduced and he can just focus on making his pitches on a consistent basis.

Although the Angels should still approach their off-season with the goal of acquiring a front-of-the-rotation starter, the front office has to be pleased with Garrett’s potential and progress that he made last season and what it could mean for the team’s success in 2014.

For Garrett to really triumph he will really have to learn to trust the movement in all of his secondary pitches. Richards’s slider has solid wipeout potential and if he can increase the use and quality of his curveball, which has excellent vertical drop, along with even a merely average change-up he will be a force to be reckoned with on the mound.

One final detail is that Garrett will have to find a way to get left-handed hitters out on a more consistent basis. Over his Major League career LHH’s have gotten under the ball (home runs) nearly twice as much as RHH’s. This is why it would be important for Garrett to improve the quality and use of his change-up as it could help mitigate left-handed hitters and the damage they do against him.

2014 will be Garrett’s year to really shine and show what he can do in a full season of starts for the Halo’s. I for one don’t think he will disappoint!

Los Angeles Angels Tickets

View the full article

Hmmmm. Someone posted a thread similar to this earlier in the week.
 
http://www.angelswin-forum.com/forums/topic/9128-diamondbacks-could-be-good-fit-for-trumbo/

Personally, I think the man has a burning desire to prove the doubters wrong and reward Arte for his faith in him. He's obviously not playing for the money at this point. I guess he was still on steroids in 2012 when he drove in 88 runs and hit 29 bombs in a 99 game stretch. The dude was playing on one foot last year and still hit .303 with RISP. I honestly don't understand why an Angels' fan would actually hope that any of the Angels' players performs anything other than at their best. I couldn't stand Reggie before he was here, or while he was here, but every time he came to the plate, I was hoping he was going to hit one 500 ft. As much as I hated the Wells deal, I hoped he would prove me wrong. As much as I was baffled by the Hamilton and Blanton signings, I hope they both come back this season and prove me wrong. As much as I hate the Fat Man and wish both he and Butcher were let go, I hope this team wins 100 games and he wins AL Manager of the Year. I don't see what enjoyment you get as an Angels' fan watching players underachieve just so you can say "I told you so."

in 2012 he put up 5 WAR in basically three months.
he can still hit be productive but he must be healthy. if he is really 100%, he will be elite again

Jeff Niemann's career numbers are pretty decent and he's only 30 years old. The question is whether his shoulder is okay after the surgery that ended his 2013 season.

Owens is a hard throwing lefty with a knockout breaking ball. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=596064
 
Barnes is a hard throwing righty (hits 96-99 MPH), secondary pitches are decent, struggles with control sometimes. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=598264
 
Ranaudo is probably their top prospect. Righty, best overall stuff. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=519168
 
Webster is a southpaw, throws hard, good curve/change. Got knocked around in Boston for his big league debut. Top prospect involved in the Crawford to LAD deal. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543903

I wouldn't be surprised if the Angels moved on Garza quickly to fill the #3 spot.  I can see them waiting on a trade or potential lower tier FA to see what develops.  I think it's imperative to make a move for either Garza/Tanaka (if posted) as quickly as possible, so they have a little more wiggle room with waiting out other FA SP or trades once teams get a little more needy.  This could play out for awhile. 

After he was a wreck for about a month his first year, this was his line:
 
124g
543pa
42 dbl
29 hr
96 rbi
46bb/60k
.309/.370/.574/.944
 
His production wasn't off last year because he went into steep decline.  He was injured.  When he's not, he's still a relative monster.  No what he was, but there is no reason to think he won't get close to that.
 
He's gonna be huge this year
.300 avg
.950 ops

I think he will put up those numbers and maybe even increase the HR and RBI numbers.  My glass is always half full though and expect the best.  I think Hamilton will have a bounce back year as well.

That Phil Hughes for 24 mil deal sure looks nice right about now...

.315/.380/.570
 
32 HR 120 RBI

I was shocked to come in here and find out that YoT thought it would never work

I hope Mike Trout hires Jay-Z
 
 
 
 
never mind

If accurate, Jay Z is an idiot.

I'd love to see Seattle field a competitive team.    The fans up there have yet to even see their team appear in a WS!   
 
But a 10 year contract to anyone IMO is a bad idea.   Still, would love to see it happen because it would bring some excitement to a team that really needs it.

To be fair, I doubt we see performances by Blanton and Hanson's replacements that are on par with last season's performances. They were absolutely TERRIBLE. That and I doubt we lose the likes of Weaver and whoever our #3 guy is for a significant amount of time. That really killed us.

A pitch hasn't even been thrown in Spring training and you are pulling this bullshit in December?

Alexander Graham?

Put me in this camp.

If he gets 1 year and something like 2 million this board is going to get silly.