ksangel

My statement was one of amazement and sympathy..knowing that Weaver is such a competitor and has meant so much to the Angels...wish he still had the 90's fastball.

Kennesaw State University has had a solid baseball program for a long time while moving up from NAIA to Division II to Division I. Won NAIA Championship in 1994. Won Division II WS in 1996 and made it to Division II WS in 97, 98, 99 and 2003. In 2014 they made the Division I Super Regionals but lost to Louisville. In 2009 they had six players drafted. Have had six players play in the majors. In 2014 their catcher, Max Pentecost, won Johnny Bench award for best college catcher. Yes, they're not a Florida, Miami, Texas....etc. but they have a solid and well respected baseball program.

He'll be 34 in October and he knows the end is here....unfortunately retire. And he's made $96M. Has been a sad season to watch him struggle so much considering what he has meant to the franchise. How does Lackey still throw 95 (was at Nats vs Cubs game on Tuesday when he pitched) and Weaver can't get it above 82?

Haven't seen any mention that 23yr old / 2014 10 round draft choice Tim Arakawa was promoted from A+ to AAA recently. Not being a constant follower of the Angels minor leaguers, is he now a top prospect considering his quick rise through the system? Seems he played SS/2B at A+ but is playing LF at AAA. Or are the Angels searching every nook and cranny for a potential LF considering they don't have one?

Not a bit. Teams and players have their ups and downs and following how they deal with the day to day of a 162 game season is very interesting. I just ask myself sometimes how long have the Cubs waited to be this good??? With Superman Trout, Calhoun, Simmons and Pujols as the nucleus and some good young arms (albeit injured right now) in Richards, Heaney, Skaggs, Tropeano and Shoemaker plus potential long term major leaguers in Cowart and Cron (yes, I know a lot on this board don't like Cron but I'm hopeful it all clicks for him) if the Angels can find or develop a LF, 2B (though I like how Johnny G has improved his D) and C this could be a competitive team.

I'm puzzled why the Angels think a player who never hit over .271 in the MINORS is the answer at 3B, 1B or LF.

Great to here this news. Will be fun to watch Jahmai Jones, Marsh and Nolan Williams climb through the minors...maybe form the nucleus of the Angels with Trout when he's 29 or 30!

If they trade an Escobar, Simmons, Street or Calhoun how do they replace them for next year and stay competitive? There's nothing at AAA or AA and little in the 2017 free agent market. The way Scioscia likes Martes' bat right now if he stays hot, can see Cron going on the trade block and maybe Smith and some other spare parts like Nava, Gentry...etc. They won't get much back for any of them. Pitching wise how can they trade anyone including Santiago with all the injuries? Who replaces them? Huff ? Kendrick? Nate Smith? Not much pitching help at AAA or AA.

Most excited I've been about Angels draft since 2010. Three athletic picks with upside. BTW - Thaiss is not Cron. I live in Richmond, Va and have seen him play at UVa. Thaiss can flat out rake and is much more athletic than Cron. Calhoun comparison much better though Thaiss is more of a singles / doubles hitter right now.

Nolan (Nonie) Williams, SS, Turner (Kansas City, KS) Ht/Wt: 6’2″/195 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of 2016 draft date): 18y, 0m Nonie Williams elected to reclassify as a 2016 draft-eligible player last May and immediately increased his draft stock by virtue of upgrading from a 19-year old 2017 draftee to a 2016 draftee turning 18 just a couple weeks prior to the MLB Draft. During his Super 60 workout, Williams showed athletic actions in the infield, and an arm that should easily play on the left side. He is comfortable and instinctual in his actions, giving him a good shot to stick at the six-spot at the next level. The LSU commit showed fluidity in his swings during his BP session, with a good feel for the barrel and compact cuts geared for contact. Though listed as a right-handed bat, he takes capable cuts from both sides of the dish with a hit tool that projects well. Williams ran a 6.57 60-yard dash, which is consistent with the plus to double-plus speed he has shown previously in both showcase and game settings. It’s a versatile profile with first-division upside. At one time he projected as a 1st rounder...maybe the LSU commitment scared teams away. Now drafting Thaiss in 1st round makes more sense...more $'s to spend on lower draft choices. All the reports I've read say he can stick at SS in the majors too.

5"-11" First Baseman? Maybe he'll turn out to be like this former Stro'

Tropeano has thefreakssstartingitis.

Found the quotes by Scioscia on Cowart... "He's figured some things out," Scioscia said this week. "The ball's definitely coming off of his bat hotter, and I think he's made strides to be more of an offensive player." Scioscia said he's high on Cowart's promise, saying he has the tools to stick in the Majors for good soon. Cowart is currently ranked fifth among Angels prospects, according to MLBPipline.com. "He can be an everyday third baseman in the big leagues," Scioscia said. "He can pick it at third base, and if his bat continues to grow as much as it's grown in the last couple years, he's got a chance to be an everyday third baseman. I think that's his upside first and foremost." So it appears Scioscia thinks Cowart could be an everyday 3B but his bat is holding him back right now....or it could be smoke up the rear too. But it's clear Scioscia believes more in Marte right now

Jefry, he can swing it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said "He had a good offensive night tonight, and held his own at third base. We're happy to have him on the team." Can't find the recent quote by Scioscia but his analysis of Cowart, after being called up, wasn't near as glowing. Quite evident Scioscia doesn't think Cowart is ready to be at MLB level yet.

Thanks Chuck - really enjoyed reading an article where performance is rated lower than improvement. It's what the minors are about.

Good to hear some positive news about him...agree ScottyA that Angels were looking more towards second half of season for him.

This is probably close to reality...though if Lincecum pitches well they may try to sign him for another year especially if Richards or Heaney don't come back in 2017. 2017 rotation = Santiago, Tropeano, Skaggs, Lincecum. Would need a top of the rotation starter unless Richards can come back.

"He's only 23 years old and still younger than many prospects" Cowart is the youngest position player the Angels have on the 40 man roster. He's 2 1/2 years younger than Cron. Mahle and Alcantara are younger. Seems this is the Angels way of messing up their prospects...play them all over the place at AAA (3B, LF, SS, 1B, DH) and then bring them up to the majors, sit them on the bench and squish the momentum they've built up at AAA. By contrast Kris Bryant only played 3B in the minors. I'd like to see Cowart stay at AAA, play 3B everyday and when the Angels can put him at 3B full time, call him up. Being a part time bench player in the Majors isn't a help to Cowart.

Arte will eventually pay him $107,830,000 for 2 seasons. $449,291 per game $105,715 per AB $876,666 per RBI $3,478,387 per HR Sleep well at night Arte? Learn your lesson?

Agree with the posters who say it's time to give Cowart his shot and move Escobar to 1B/DH. Cron's had 2+ years to get it together. Mets need a 1B with Duda hurt...wonder what prospects they would give up for Cron.

Sometime in early June the Angels possibly will have seven starting pitchers: Weaver, Santiago, Lincecum, Wilson, Tropeano, Shoemaker and Chacin. Weaver and Santiago are locks to stay in the rotation. If Lincecum and Wilson pitch well they probably will be in the rotation. Who would the Angels keep of Tropeano (my choice - think he's on the verge of putting it together), Shoe and Chacin?

A college pitcher similar to the one they drafted in the first round in 2004 please.

So you have the true inside scoop on who runs this team and how Scioscia thinks? It's human nature for the top dogs to dominate an organization and Scioscia is no different. It's his rear that's on the line if the Angels don't win year in and year out regardless of the whims of Arte to sign players such as Wilson, Pujols and Hamilton. Trout, Lackey, Frankie Rodriquez, Calhoun and many other young and talented Angel players were held back during Scioscia's tenure. And Tropeano wouldn't be sniffing the majors if not for injuries, even though he belongs in the majors.

Angels are on the hook for Chacin's $1M contract...so a salary dump for Atlanta. Atlanta will probably call up Chris Ellis who is tearing up AA. Scioscia is running the team and he won't play young and unproven players - thus why they recalled Shoe and signed Chacin instead of calling up Nate Smith to give him a shot.

The Angels aren't going to reboot and trade Trout, Calhoun, Simmons...etc. and none of their minor leaguers will bring much. Pujols isn't going to retire...so what do they do..... Use 2016 to answer questions since they won't be contenders - is Cowart ready to man 3B?; will Skaggs and Heaney be healthy for 2017?; Is Tropeano a legit #3-4 starter?; Is Nate Smith a legit #4/5 pitcher? Are Bedrosian, Morin and Mahle legit? Should they keep Escobar for his bat - would he be a better 1B than Cron?; Who's the future catcher?; Is Nava a legit LF again? Or is Ortega? Look to trade Smith, Street, Cron/Escobar, Soto and other veterans (though they won't bring much back but it's better than letting them walk). Off season - Angels will still have a lot of question marks going into 2017 - with 2B and top of rotation pitchers topping the list and will have very little in the way of trade chips. Have to look at signing a FA 2B since there are none in the minors (sorry - don't think Sherman Johnson is the answer); If Nava isn't a legit LF who will it be - Ortega? How far off is Caleb Adams - mid 2017 or early 2018? Can Perez & Bandy handle the catching? Not counting on Taylor Ward in 2017. 2017 - Stay the course and build for 2018: Trout, Calhoun, Simmons and Pujols (DH) are locks to play. Hopefully Cowart pans out. If they sign a 2B and top of the rotation type pitcher then the holes are LF and C if those questions aren't answered by players already on the team. If Heaney and Skaggs are ok the pitching is ok from #2 on down (Santiago, Skaggs, Heaney, Tropeano, Smith...etc.). Hopefully Richards comes back late in the season so they know what to expect in 2018. If Cowart pans out and they sign a 2B and top of rotation pitcher the team could be competitive.