AngelsFanSince86

Obviously, they were doing everything possible to overturn that call. It's supposed to be overwhelming evidence. Even the Dodgers' announcers were saying they didn't see anything to overturn that call. There needs to be a time limit on that bullshit. If they haven't seen evidence that call should be overturned within 60 or 90 second, the call stands.

There was no evidence to overturn the original call.
Just part of mlbs agenda to get Ohtani on the dodgers 

I'm torn. I want them to re-sign him and trading Ohtani away would obviously have an impact on their ability to do so.
That being said, it's very likely he goes elsewhere. The Angels are currently in it, but to me it comes down to how they perform against good teams from now until the all star break. At some point they have to show they can win series against good teams. Otherwise, they are just a slightly better version of the team we've seen for the last 8 years. I said it in another thread, but they have a tough schedule coming up. So being in it now doesn't mean anything if they can't beat good teams. Especially when those teams that they are just barely behind in standings are the ones they'll have to face.
I hate the thought of trading Ohtani, but I hate the thought of the Angels missing the playoffs and losing Ohtani to free agency anyways even more.
I can't give a true opinion right now because I think the next few weeks need to play out. If I had to state one now it would be this: to be buyers at the deadline, Angels need to have played at least .500 against good teams and have an actual wildcard spot by July 9.
 

I'm torn. I want them to re-sign him and trading Ohtani away would obviously have an impact on their ability to do so.
That being said, it's very likely he goes elsewhere. The Angels are currently in it, but to me it comes down to how they perform against good teams from now until the all star break. At some point they have to show they can win series against good teams. Otherwise, they are just a slightly better version of the team we've seen for the last 8 years. I said it in another thread, but they have a tough schedule coming up. So being in it now doesn't mean anything if they can't beat good teams. Especially when those teams that they are just barely behind in standings are the ones they'll have to face.
I hate the thought of trading Ohtani, but I hate the thought of the Angels missing the playoffs and losing Ohtani to free agency anyways even more.
I can't give a true opinion right now because I think the next few weeks need to play out. If I had to state one now it would be this: to be buyers at the deadline, Angels need to have played at least .500 against good teams and have an actual wildcard spot by July 9.
 

Still not convinced of this team. Still watching and going to games, but just not convinced. They haven't won a single series against a team that's over .500. 
They'll have to win at least 5 out of the 9 games against rangers, dodgers, and d backs to convince me they shouldn't be sellers at the deadline. Their schedule gets a lot tougher after the all star break. It's easy to be excited because they are 1.5 games out of a wildcard, but that's all by beating up on weak teams. After the all star break they play Astros, Yankees, pirates, tigers, blue Jays, braves, mariners, giants, Astros, rangers, rays, reds, Mets, then Phillies to close out August. Only weak teams there are the tigers and reds. 
Then A's, Orioles, guardians, mariners, tigers, rays, twins, rangers, and A's again for September. So pretty even split of bad/good teams.
My point is that if they don't show now that they can win against good teams, it's pretty easy to see them falling back to at or below .500. 
I know they'll never trade Ohtani so it's a moot point, but realistically they should be sellers if they aren't playing at least .500 ball against good teams from now until the deadline.

Still not convinced of this team. Still watching and going to games, but just not convinced. They haven't won a single series against a team that's over .500. 
They'll have to win at least 5 out of the 9 games against rangers, dodgers, and d backs to convince me they shouldn't be sellers at the deadline. Their schedule gets a lot tougher after the all star break. It's easy to be excited because they are 1.5 games out of a wildcard, but that's all by beating up on weak teams. After the all star break they play Astros, Yankees, pirates, tigers, blue Jays, braves, mariners, giants, Astros, rangers, rays, reds, Mets, then Phillies to close out August. Only weak teams there are the tigers and reds. 
Then A's, Orioles, guardians, mariners, tigers, rays, twins, rangers, and A's again for September. So pretty even split of bad/good teams.
My point is that if they don't show now that they can win against good teams, it's pretty easy to see them falling back to at or below .500. 
I know they'll never trade Ohtani so it's a moot point, but realistically they should be sellers if they aren't playing at least .500 ball against good teams from now until the deadline.

WPA (measure of actual performance that includes leverage) is 22nd in baseball and 4th worst in just high leverage.  So you're spot on. 
The problem is that there have been way more high leverage situations than this pen was built to handle.  The starters are partially responsible.  The hitters somewhat but lesser so.   

That's definitely a reason, but I would venture to say the Angels relief era is misleading. They tend to hold the opposing team when they are up or down by several runs. Meaning, they hold opposing teams when the game is already decided. When it's a 1 or 2 run game, they blow it. The era looks good on paper, but what it comes down to is that they are giving up runs consistently when it matters most.

Nope. They got to beat up on the struggling cards and the awful A's. This is a large reason they are above .500. They continue to lose games they should have won and continue to underperform as a team. Score 4,5,6, 7 runs and lose and then hold a team to 3 or less runs and still lose. I think on paper they are a borderline playoff team, but for some reason the Angels repeatedly underperform their talent. I won't believe in this team until they prove they worth it. But I'll still go to games and cheer, just with no expectation of success.

Is it safe to just write this dude off?

I think that is two dimensional thinking. Whoever has Ohtani won't just be taking on a $50m liability, but will also receive a huge uptick in advertising revenue and a much increased media profile at home and abroad. Ohtani himself is set to make over $20m in personal endorsements, if a marketing team can't parlay that into an extra $20m - $30m per year revenue for a team then they really should consider other careers. Ohtani will bring revenue other players simply can't create, and that mitigates a large proportion of his additional cost.
For example, how much would a new TV contract be with Ohtani, compared to without Ohtani? How many hits will any online content receive with Ohtani compared to without? How many extra fans come to the stadium just to see Ohtani? How many Japanese advertisers would want to be associated with whoever Ohtani is playing for? How many US advertisers would want to be associated with such an excellent brand ambassador? And that is all before we even consider his impact on the field and the improvement in team performance we see with him on the team leading a rotation while launching 30HR per year.
I can't imagine Rendon brings much extra advertising revenue, I doubt any player in the $20m - $35m bracket does (except maybe Trout). So if a top class player is a $20m - $35 million cost, and Ohtani is $15m more but brings in an extra $30m per year revenue, I don't see how that cripples any team. Especially when you consider with Ohtani you are getting an ace pitcher and a league leading DH which would cost $30m per year (pitcher) and $15m per year (DH) to replace for the same levels of production.
Even at $50m per year, he is excellent value for money.

Opening day in a shithole stadium with shithead fans and Rendon just can't walk by like they don't exist. There is competitive fire and just being a dumbass. This is not an example of competitive fire. 

I'll go first...
Mike Trout. Nolan Ryan. Tim Salmon. Vladimir Guerrero. 

Honestly, unless Arte is willing to blow past the luxury tax starting next year (should have started this year), then they need to trade Ohtani now. 
Everyone thinks Arte signing Ohtani or not is the defining moment. Ohtani is going to command more AAV than trout. Signing him while then being unwilling to have an open ended budget is almost a guarantee of another 10 years without a postseason.
You either trade Ohtani now or sign him and go bonkers in free agency.
Arte is inept though so he'll do one of 2 things: not trade Ohtani and fail to extend him. OR sign Ohtani and keep this marginally increased budget that results in mediocrity on the field.

1) put an much money into scouting, development, analytics, etc. as Perry thinks necessary.
2) attempt to extend Shohei. If you can't get it done this offseason then allow Perry to field trade offers and give him the blessing to do what he sees fit.
3) regardless of whether he's able to extend Shohei he needs to open up the pocket book without any budgetary restrictions.
Essentially, allow Perry to do whatever he wants throughout the organization without any thought to a budget. Anything short of that is failure.
He can reinstate an mlb roster budget when the farm system is functioning at a high level.

Easily the worst news Angel fans have gotten in the history of the franchise.

No way. Anyone who was going to come in on a team with trout and ohtani and win the bidding process was going to be willing to spend more than Arte ever will. Arte is committed to mediocrity. If you have over $100M committed to 3 players you can't win with anything short of a $250M budget unless you have a fantastic farm system, which the Angels do not. The fact he's gloating about a "franchise record payroll" while still having the 3rd, possibly 4th best roster in the division just shows how delusional he is

No way. Anyone who was going to come in on a team with trout and ohtani and win the bidding process was going to be willing to spend more than Arte ever will. Arte is committed to mediocrity. If you have over $100M committed to 3 players you can't win with anything short of a $250M budget unless you have a fantastic farm system, which the Angels do not. The fact he's gloating about a "franchise record payroll" while still having the 3rd, possibly 4th best roster in the division just shows how delusional he is

No way. Anyone who was going to come in on a team with trout and ohtani and win the bidding process was going to be willing to spend more than Arte ever will. Arte is committed to mediocrity. If you have over $100M committed to 3 players you can't win with anything short of a $250M budget unless you have a fantastic farm system, which the Angels do not. The fact he's gloating about a "franchise record payroll" while still having the 3rd, possibly 4th best roster in the division just shows how delusional he is

No way. Anyone who was going to come in on a team with trout and ohtani and win the bidding process was going to be willing to spend more than Arte ever will. Arte is committed to mediocrity. If you have over $100M committed to 3 players you can't win with anything short of a $250M budget unless you have a fantastic farm system, which the Angels do not. The fact he's gloating about a "franchise record payroll" while still having the 3rd, possibly 4th best roster in the division just shows how delusional he is

No way. Anyone who was going to come in on a team with trout and ohtani and win the bidding process was going to be willing to spend more than Arte ever will. Arte is committed to mediocrity. If you have over $100M committed to 3 players you can't win with anything short of a $250M budget unless you have a fantastic farm system, which the Angels do not. The fact he's gloating about a "franchise record payroll" while still having the 3rd, possibly 4th best roster in the division just shows how delusional he is

No way. Anyone who was going to come in on a team with trout and ohtani and win the bidding process was going to be willing to spend more than Arte ever will. Arte is committed to mediocrity. If you have over $100M committed to 3 players you can't win with anything short of a $250M budget unless you have a fantastic farm system, which the Angels do not. The fact he's gloating about a "franchise record payroll" while still having the 3rd, possibly 4th best roster in the division just shows how delusional he is

Adell was out there doing defensive drills every day in the second half. And a lot of time before that, too, but it was apparent more in the second half when it was religiously every day. Even on days when there was no BP and no one else on the team was doing anything on the field. And his defense did improve in the second half.

Was yours arterial, venous, or neurogenic (most common), -- what's Walsh's?  Reading up on the issue years ago it seems there are varying symptoms/complications based on the type of TOS. 
During your battle with TOS, how often did you try to bat off MLB pitching?? How many hours did you spend taking BP, did the BP or any of the other baseball activities become more difficult at all or aggravate the condition any?  Was it Walsh's left or right shoulder?  Would lifting his arm to catch the ball or using the other arm to throw it be an issue at all. 
Do you really think your experience with TOS could be considered comparable to that of a professional athlete?

Y'all are Debbie Downers. Fuck it, I'm saying this team improves by 10 wins without any changes. Or rather, the changes from real suckitude already happened within the season. The Angels were 21-16 over the last 37 games...that extrapolates to 92 wins over a full season. That at least tells us that the team as-is is capable of being better than 73-89.
The differences were: Playing time from Velazquez, Wade, Mayfield etc, replaced by Fletcher, Rengifo, Soto. Healthy Trout and Ward. Detmers and Suarez improving in the second half, as befits their age development. Bullpen regressing (positively) to the mean.
The key is depth, depth, and more depth. Pick up a handful of solid position players - a one-year deal for Conforto or Brantley, a solid infielder or two, another decent starter, a reliever or two - and then also hope that some of the minor league pitchers provide depth for the pitching staff throughout the season.
Meaning, the team as-is can win 80-85 games. With some good depth pieces, it is 85-90 wins, which puts you in contention for the wildcard. With a bit of luck and good health, 90+.