Coachbulldog

This makes AJ's article look like something from the Crystal Cathedral. 

An appropriate Crystal Cathedral reference.....very good!

Neither, because they'd both be struggling in the minors if they were still with the Angels. 

Which would be great for the Salt Lake Bees!

His value as a manager is still high.  He could opt out and still get a good deal.  

Agree. My guess is the view many GMs and owners have about Scioscia's ability to manage a Major League team is very different, and much more favorable, than many of the Angelswin.com posters.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/9232494/battle-mlb-uniforms

The Angels are losing in the first round against the Twins. THE TWINS!

Is it Blanton's jersey that ESPN is displaying?

"Expert" commentators like Kruk are not journalists but entertainers.

Outside of Segura, what prospects have we given away turned into above average major leaguers?  The only one I can think of is the pitchers we gave up for Haren, but that was a solid move.  Had we won with Haren, no one would have judged that to be a bad move.  It was only a bad move in hindsight.  As for Segura your right, he is probably better than what our front office thought of him.  However, you say "why does this keep happening?".  I ask who else did the front office screw up on by trading?

 

It certainly wasn't Kotchman, or Rodriguez.

Correct. The failure of the Angels front office, long before DiPoto became GM, was NOT trading prospects.

Sandy Alderson is the one in charge of the umps. Makes me pine for Richie Philliips.

Sandy Alderson is the GM of the Mets. I don't think he has anything to do with the umpires.

The logic for Trout hitting second is line up optimization research. After extensive research, detailed in "The Book," it has been scientifically, mathematically proven that a team's best hitter should bat second to optimize runs scored. This flies in the face of 100 years of conventional baseball practice. Since it does, nobody believes the research. Batting Trout second is his optimum spot. Leadoff was being manned capably by Peter. A leadoff hitter needs one important thing, high OBP, not something Aybar is good at. Power is also wasted at the leadoff spot, since research shows they come to the plate the second fewest times with runners on base (interestingly the third spot is the most.) Peter was at .370 and handling leadoff superbly. We just need a player to step in and fill in till he returns. I think Callaspo and his .347 OBP would be best, but we shall see. I realize most people disagree with the research about lineup optimization and the 2nd spot in the order, so I expect push back, but it is true.

I agree 100% with you.

http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/4/23/4255952/miami-marlins-miguel-cabrera-2007-trade-detroit-tigers-los-angeles-angels-howie-kendrick

 

 

Santana or Saunders (Don't think they would have given them Adenhart, but looking back at it, wish they did so he wouldn't have been in So Cal that day), Wood, Willits, Mathis.  Probably the hangup was the Angels didn't want to let go of Kendrick or Morales.  Back in 2007, both had stupid potential.  Especially Kendrick.  

Thanks for posting these links. Interesting to speculate on what might have been. At the time there weren't many Angels fans that wanted to give up prospects for Cabrera.

It is very sad to speculate what might have been if Adenhart hadn't been killed and I will always believe he would have been a solid #2-#3 starter.

For me, the downward slide of the Angels organization began when the "top prospects" failed. There was a time on this board that everyone was excited about the likes of Brandon Wood, Dallas McPherson, Casey Kotchman, Jeff Mathis, etc... We'll never know what Stoneman/Reagins could have gotten in trades for them, but it is safe to say that at the height of their value each could have returned one above average MLB player. When ever the subject was brought up on this board about trading one of the Angels future Hall of Fame players the word "untouchable" was almost always used. One by one each of these players busted and the chain of events began: Prospect failures -> Free agent signings necessary -> Signing free agents loss of draft picks -> Farm system declines -> Free agent signings don't work out -> Organization in disarray. Sadly, it is going to be awhile before the Angels are faced with decisions on what to do with top prospects.

Sad thing is, I don't see pitching improving much until Weaver comes back and even then he only pitches every fifth game.

yes, most managers automatically switch the catcher after 9 innings, especially when he's the last bench player available

Point well taken. There are many legitimate criticisms of Scioscia but leaving a catcher in a game for 19 innings is not one of them. 

My biggest fear is that Trumbo is traded to try and save us from the mess we are in.

I share your concern. I'm sure DiPoto is feeling the heat and could do something desparate, like trading Trumbo, to try and save this season and his job.

I've never seen it work. I was watching the Brewers - Pirates game tonight and Milwaukee had a runner thrown out at home on the run on contact play.

I'm NOT in the "fire Scioscia" mob, but if a change is made the Angels should promote 3B coach Dino Ebel. Even though he works for Scioscia his manager's style, based on what I saw the year he managed in Salt Lake, is completely different. He was firey, aggressive, and the team played focused baseball. If Scioscia goes, give Ebel the job for the rest of the season and give him a chance to prove himself.

Start drafting better within these next few years, actually get involved in the international market and sign guys from there. Replenish this farm system, stop overspending for players on the wrong side of 30, build around Trout

To "build around Trout" will take years and I don't believe Angels fans, sponsors, and the companies that hold their television and radio contracts will tolerate a building process that will take seasons to complete. What does need to happen is the Angels need to figure out a way to win with the players they have on the roster now.

I just hope the Front Office doesn't get jumpy and start looking at trades that will hurt us in the long run.

This is where I have faith in DiPoto. Every move he has made has shown he views the big picture beyond the immediate issue and I don't see him making a desperation trade. 

Which brings me to my next question.

Do fans root against prospects to do well or expect them to fail when they're traded away for proven talent?

My opinion, yes some fans do root against prospects their favorite team trades because they want the team they root for to "win" the trade. I don't do this but many do. But my favorite team isn't the Angels, or any other MLB team, it is the Salt Lake Bees and with two exceptions (Bobby Jenks and AJ Pierzynski) I root for all of the players that play for Salt Lake on their way to big leagues. 

2007 Playoffs vs Red Sox

 

Game 1 Napoli starting catcher, Angels lose 4-0

Game 2 Mathis starting catcher Angels tied 3-3 Naploi takes over as catcher Angels lose 6-3 bottom of 9th. 

Game 3 Napoli starting catcher Angels lose 9-1

 

For further information please see Rangers World Series 2011 involving 1 strike away.

 

Thus ends the Napoli vs Mathis debate.

I hope your use of a four game sample size was an attempt to be sarcastic and you really don't believe it proves anything.

This was written in 2008, but here is a more detailed comparison between Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis. 

2008 Los Angeles of Anaheim Catcher

Yes, that is the point I was making. All those guys are gone and replaced with players (who have also bounced around) and will probably be gone next year like the aforementioned players. Why not bring up "home grown" players and take a chance - rather than sign all these players who were released from other organizations and will probably not be with the Angels next year. Just a selfish fan's opinion I guess......maybe one of them will stick.

The top part of the Angels system is a little thin right now so there probably aren't many prospects ready for AAA. Also, more and more MLB teams are using their AAA as a place for the "organization depth" type of player....the player that can be the 25th bench player or the extra bullpen arm in the event a MLB guy goes on the 15 day DL.

We have been spoiled in Salt Lake because for years we had a lot of true prospects come through here. Some plateaued at the AAA level, but it was a lot of fun seeing guys like Eric Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Kendrys Morales, Casey Kotchman, Dallas McPherson, Jeff Mathis, Matt Brown, Brandon Wood, Sean Rodriguez, Mike Trout, and early on K-Rod, John Lackey, and Chone Figgins. Hopefully the Angels system is loaded up again soon.

I miss the days when the first thing you did in the morning ... was grab the newspaper and a cup of coffee.

That is still my first thing in the morning routine.

A little disappointed with this roster. Some new pitchers to watch - but other than Calhoun, Navarro and Jimenez - a bunch of fillers. Similar to last year - where are Deeds, Langerhans, Crowe, Aldredge, Lucas, etc now?? Not in the Angels organization. Was hoping to see some new "home grown" players. And where is Matt Long (infield/outfield)? He was one of the better players last year. Strange strategy and probably discouraging to younger prospects.

With the exception of Matt Long, none of the players you listed are remotely considered prospects. They are career minor leaguers who bounce around AAA trying to make a living playing baseball.

Cory Aldridge - Tigres de Quintano Roo Mexican League

Doug Deeds - Reno

Matt Long - Arkansas

Ryan Langerhans - Buffalo

Trevor Crow - Oklahoma City

Ed Lucas - New Orleans

Never against team I'm a fan of, but I do root for the perfect game/no-hitter if a pitcher has one going even if he plays for a team I don't particularly care for.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Salt Lake Bees, in preparation for the 2013 Pacific Coast League season, and in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, announced today the team's opening day active roster. Eighteen of the 24 players bring major league experience, while nine are currently on the Angels 40-man roster.

Remainder of article here.

Complete roster here.