floplag

This is the primary reason i still say the off season was incomplete.
We didnt address this or the need for a legit SS.
I hope im wrong, but from where i sit the SP better be as good as we think as the pen definitely will not be.

Based on Artes most recent contract its possible many of us (including myself) have this all wrong.
He compared it to Trout, said hes willing, but Ohtani has to make up his mind that he wants to be here. 
IF thats all true then the balls is in Ohtani's court, not Artes.
Ohtani always had all the control, but many of us have been assuming Arte wasnt willing to do what it takes.
I guess well see. 

This probably should be its own thread but as spring goes on im starting to winder if the guys that were signed as "depth" might end up more than that.
We had a lineup earlier in spring that had Urshela and Drury as the starting middle infield and so far both of the are outhitting the presumed starters.
I know its a defensive dropoff, especially at SS, that might be a bit much to handle but i wonder would the offensive bump make sense?
even Lamb is outdueling Walsh so far but i dont think they will make that change too quickly. 

9 minutes ago, Taylor said:

I think PECOTA has gone woke. 

Can we please keep the personal or political shit off this board... thanks

23 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

So we've gotten worse!

Yeah im not understanding that at all.
 

This should not be necessary.
Sign him now, or trade him.
Trout needs to be focused on being Trout.

yeah, i might have to get down on that myself 

I for one am ok with cracking down on pitcher dominance.  In the end its just playing within the rules. 
Calling a proper strike zone would also be a positive thing.
Like it or not the game wants more action, more offense, this wont be the end of that trend. 
 

Hes included as the PTBNL

15 hours ago, Lou said:

Mike Trout.

Not what im talking about.
To extend Ohtani and finish the roster will require Arte to go over the tax, at least for a couple years... To date he has been adamant about not doing this. 
I hope Trout history repeats, which would mean Ohtani extends this spring.
But that has to come with a willingness to finish the job or what does it gain us?
Right now the parts we need are out there, even this late in the spring, but there is no way they fit under the budget without the tax.
Extending Ohtani alone isnt enough.  

2 hours ago, Lou said:

Definitely overanalyzing his statement.

History suggests otherwise.
Time will tell, no one will be happier if im wrong than me.

I was honestly very bothered by his comments.
Im down on him right now so its entirely possible im misreading it but "wed like to" ?!?!?! 
Not well make every effort" or "well do what it takes"... just, "wed like to"... seriously?
Thats not reassuring in the the least. 
This has to get settled on way or another before opening day.  Extend him or trade him, but do it now. 
 

I feel like for me i have to have Baylor there somewhere... even if its over Ryan.
Trout, Baylor, Salmon, Vlad.
Honorable mention, Grich, GA, Ryan, Carew, Fregosi, Finley, Weaver, Joyner... ill stop there, lol 

26 minutes ago, Taylor said:

I understood it was a joke, but what geometry term does "haiku" sound like?

Perhaps the superior joke would have been, "Sorry, I took Spanish as my second language."

Could go a lot of ways really... just happened to be the first one that popped in

If/when he pitches against us, yeah, 100% 

3 hours ago, failos said:

You should turn this post into a haiku

Sorry i failed geometry.
(sarcasm/humor before anyone goes there because someone will)

Thats fair IMO.
We could have done sooooo much more. 
We definitely raised the floor, so we wont be as bad ... but didnt do much to raise the roof.
Few games over 500 on the outside looking in come playoff time. 
Theres still time, but as of right now, yeah, thats about right. 

2 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Are you ever a hypocrite?

Arent we all?

2 hours ago, Taylor said:

What does make you BIG MAD?

Hypocrisy

Not at all, i dont really care whose in the owners box as long as he makes the effort to win.
Arte to date, at least in recent years, hasnt done that, but if he does ill be fine with it.
And before anyone asks, no, spending alone isnt trying to win when you leave gaps on the roster and the job incomplete.  

There is little doubt we are better than last year, and that we raised the bottom of our projections, to suggest otherwise is idiotic.
Did we raise to top end?  If so how much?  Enough to actually content for the post season?  Those are the real questions.  Most, including myself, do not think we did.  Were not likely a sub 500 team, but were also no likely a 90+ win one, not as we stand today.  
There is still time, maybe Perry pulls some moves now that the ownership issues isnt a question, maybe by opening day were much better still there is certainly room to make additions that can affect that... but right now at this moment, no, were on the outside looking in barring a near perfect season.
Baseball people are pissed at Moreno i think, and in my opinion rightfully so.  They want Trout and Ohtani to play relevant baseball as much as we do i think for the most part.  AS a result were getting blasted... and we deserve it. 
 

Simple, finish the job.
Him staying could be a good thing, i dont think hes sticking around to continue to flounder that will only hurt the value later on. 
Weve come a long way in many ways, the farm isnt top rated but its get a lot where it counts in terms of pipeline guys, Trash Pandas were one of the better MiLB teams which speaks well for the future... but where he has failed is refusing to finish the job at the ML level.
You cant give three guys half the payroll then cry budget, its not logical, is like driving a Lambo and complaining about gas. 
We continue to go into season after season with as many questions as answers on the big league roster.
Extend Ohtani, trade for a legit SS, sign some bullpen parts, and accept that the tax is inevitable for a few years if you want to actually compete. 

Well, i dont know what to make of that.
If hes pulling back because the truly wants to win... great.
If its posturing to get better offers or whatever, were fucked.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35466344/mlb-power-rankings-preseason-2023-braves-padres

TLDR, were 8th in the AL, 3rd in the West.

4 minutes ago, 70runner said:

Concur, would love to see them grab Kim from the Padres. 

I would love to see this, it makes so much sense.. but i fear it would cost us something we might not want to lose.   Still i would probably consider it strongly.