Angelfaninidaho

HR Cron DP 1

This just in... Angels are going to platoon Hamilton with the rally monkey in an acrylic box and a coke dispensing button. First one to tip over gets to dance to "calling all angels" on the jumbotron next game.

The one good thing about all of this is MLB and the Angels are doing all of this talking on a Friday afternoon. It's the best day to crush the news cycle and allow opening day to be the story on Monday. He's still hurt so there's plenty of time to manage the situation. The Angels definitely need to put up some wins before he starts rearing his head though.

We have never heard what Josh's actions actually were, other than doing coke. The way Angel management is reacting there must be much more to it. I don't think he found an old bindle in his couch and then felt bad about it the next day and confessed. You never hear management lay out a team member like they are today. They are pissed that he wasn't suspended and there's a reason for that other than simply saving the 20 day suspension money.

I'd like Cron to hit 4th eventually. Trout, AP and Cron is a tough 2,3,4 for any pitcher.

Todays lineup may be the opening day lineup.. I like it. 1. Kole Calhoun (L) RF 2. Mike Trout ® CF 3. Albert Pujols ® 1B 4. Matt Joyce (L) LF 5. David Freese ® 3B 6. Erick Aybar (S) SS 7. C.J. Cron ® DH 8. Chris Iannetta ® C 9. Johnny Giavotella ® 2B

I agree with the OP in every way. You have to give Giavotella credit for stepping up in a 4 way competition at 2B as well. I had him 3rd or 4th out of that group but I think he won the spot. He's not Howie, but.. The other bright spot I saw was DiSarcina maturing. He lost games for us last year. If we can run ahead of Pujols and prevent some GIDP's, along with making good decisions running the bases, it could be worth 5 or 6 extra wins. That and keeping Hamilton out of the stadium may give us another 2 or 3. Enough to keep competing in an even tougher AL West.

I know, I know, it's early.. But of all the players with 30+ AB's so far in ST, Cron is crushing it. You can't name 3 or 4 players in baseball who have been better so far. What more can you ask of him?

Straight outta Rexburg..

Pujols is not playing 162 games at 1B so Cron's going to be on the 25-man roster. Navarro is the odd man out. Other than CJ's lack of patience at the plate, what metric says Navarro should be anywhere ahead of him at DH or 1B?

I was working in Seattle and Portland the last few days so I had a lot of time to listen to Doug Gottlieb and the other local sports radio guys. They are all 100% convinced that the Mariners will destroy the AL West. One (not Gottlieb) going as far as saying the separation between them and the Angels will be "the biggest gap between 1st and 2nd place in any division in baseball.." They'll be good, but the myopia was comical..

Thanks for the response. I'm not convinced any of the new additions, save for Rutledge, will play much this year and he's apparently going to compete for 2B with Green and bat towards the bottom of the order. So I just don't see any speed anywhere in the lineup (especially if they aren't going to let Trout run). I find it hard to believe they are going into ST with 4 catchers and an extra pitcher, as well. It feels like there's another move hanging out there.

Kendrick, Beckham.

Good moves this week.. BUT, we lost even more speed now. Angel's base running was suspect last year anyway and I don't think they sent Trout nearly enough to protect Pujols from GIDP's or to keep pitchers off guard.. Soooo.. Someone is going to have to fill in in the top of the order with some speed. Agree? Thoughts?