Angelfaninidaho

They have to play Choi a lot because he is a rule 5 guy and they need to see what he has to offer. No idea if he is any good, I know he is striking out at a pretty high rate this spring.

Thanks.  I figured there was some roster rule in the mix.  He's striking out too much and he doesn't have much power for his size and position.

Weird lineup..  I'm not as optimistic about Ji-Man as some others here, not really sure what the thinking is giving him so much PT this Spring.  CJ has played a lot, and well, so I understand giving him a break and obviously Pujols needs some reps in the field.  I would have liked to see more Bandy, maybe at DH in this game, he may give Soto and/or Perez a run this season.  

They have won 7 out of their last 8 (at the end of ST when the roster is rounding out) and have been red hot in the first 5 innings of those games when Scioscia has been playing the core lineup.  The stats in ST get screwed up because they all unload the benches after 6 and it turns into a slosh ball game.  I don't know if there are stats for just the 1st 5 innings of ST games, but I suspect we are doing pretty well.  I don't see why that won't translate to the regular season.  Escobar and Nava have just been insane.  

I took my dad to game 7 in 2002 on his birthday.  

My dad, who sat with Gene Autry for the '67 All-Star Game featuring Drysdale, Aaron, Carew , Killebrew, Brock, Mantle. et al., myself who grew up at the Big A with Carew, Tanana, Grich, Bonds, Baylor, Nolan Ryan, Jackson.. And my son watching Pujols, Trout, Calhoun, Richards, Street..  The three of us just watched two games together in Tempe where Escobar went 7 for 7, Pujols hit two home runs in one inning and Mike Trout stopped in the parking lot and signed my son's baseball along with 13 other players.   

Nothing, and i mean nothing, could ruin this season for me.  

18th and 19th against Rockies and Brewers.

So the injured player was a minor leaguer going from the Jays to CIN, we have no idea who the Angels were going to trade, if anyone, or if any cash was coming back or going out, and the trade didn't happen anyway, and this is a HUGE embarrassment to the franchise?  Give me a ****ing break..  Start the ****ing season already.

Can't wait for this 100 loss season.

You seem fun.

fresh fish eppler is getting his ass handed to him in these negotiations

If that were true, I'd be thoroughly disappointed in Eppler. One year of Saunders at 3 million does not equate 6 years of Kyle Kubitza.

I'm joking, I have no idea.. Seriously, I think Eppler's iPhone is stuck on 2013 and he doesn't realize it.  Maybe his analytics that he won't tell anyone is that he's found the best LF's from 2013 for each day of the week.  Nava's WAR on Tuesdays is 4.0, Gentry is Mr. Friday, Choi Wednesday, Cron Sunday, Saunders.. It's like a pitching rotation out there.

It's Kubitza.

You guys always complain we don't have an international presence.. 

Gotta do it if we can.  Our utility infielder/injury replacement guy becomes either Freese or Gia.  That is infinitely better than CowBitzaStone any day and twice on Sundays.

Which catcher? Why not good or great?

How about "MAJOR upgrade."?

This one is sleeping in.....

 

Nope... Pirates picked him up today.

I think a partial conclusion can also be reached that while Eppler's execution of an offseason plan looks flawed, there are a couple things that he did exceedingly well at.

He acquired a premier shortstop.

He brought in a good clubhouse leader and utility infielder in Pennington.

He built up a very good group of catchers.

He built up a deep collection of pitchers.

He did it without spending any money.

 

And another:

He moved DiSarcina to 1st base and added Ron Roenicke and Charles Nagy to the staff

 

 

So despite the fact that I live in Eastern Idaho and I am 800+ miles away from Seattle and Denver, I will still be blacked out from Angels games when they play either team again this year (haven't bothered to look to see if they play the Rockies), because Eastern Idaho is totally the Mariners/Rockies home market....right.

 

The good news is I only have to pay 90 bucks this year since I only watch Angels games, I just hope I can still listen to the away broadcast when they play the Doyyers.

 

I live a couple hours West of IF and they should black out Giants games for all the G'D' Giants fans around here!  I don't know any Mariner's fans other than tourists..  And I'm pretty sure I've never met a Rockies fan.

I just can't wait until the season starts so the bitching turns from the off-season performance of dudes in collared shirts to the on-field performance of dudes in uniforms.

Friedrich was 5 and 2 as a starter when he broke in., including a 9 inning 1 run 10 strikeout performance in San Fran. A stress fracture in his lower back set him way back after that. He made several starts until the Rockies figured out what was wrong with him. The lower back injury is a full year injury....this kid lost over 30 pounds in that time. Last season was the first time that he was able to train for a full off season! Considering that, he did pretty good. He might have the best breaking stuff in baseball, now that he is pitching in normal air, we will see what happens. He had good numbers away from Coors! I would like to see the Angels bring him along as a starter again. This could be a very nice pickup, only time will tell. I think two years removed from a significant injury will really help Friedrich regain his old form! The Halos may have gotten a gem here. 

I hope so.  We have a bunch of "two years removed" guys now.  That's definitely Epplers MO.  Some of them should stick.

Unless he's released in the next 5 minutes and we pick up someone else we've never heard of and we all laugh at this thread..

Rather than talk about Jennings I'd rather see the Angels acquire Guyer. Good plate discipline, not prolific but quality base stealer, ability to hit for average. Not a big HR hitter but would do well in the 2-hole or possibly lead-off.

This.. Guyer played a lot of games and isn't unknown.  We don't need HR hitters.  We need On Base guys and base stealers.  That's Guyer.

How is it not already a quick rebuild when you have changed out your Catcher, Left Fielder, 3rd baseman, Shortstop, primary utility infielder, 4th OF and a middle reliever?  I know a lot of people want to replace 2B also, but half the position players have changed.

Eppler probably saw a lot of Nava when he was with the Yankees and Nava did have a great year or two not too long ago.  I'm not even sure who decided it was a Gentry/Nava platoon.  Maybe it will just be Nava and Eppler's hoping to get what he saw on the East Coast.  Gentry may not even be a given for regular playing time.

OK.  Now that Dickerson is on the Rays, how about taking Guyer at $1.15M from them.  He had a great year, great OBP and OPS, and the Rays have an OF logjam.  I like this more than either of the Rockies guys.

And with that, welcome to platoon land Nava and Gentry.  I know, you told me so.

I actually still didn't thank everyone. Thanks guys. I just felt Dexter Fowler would be the best choice for the team in LF. The only major knock on Dexter is can he can't stay on the field right? We don't need him too carry us for 162 games but if he gives us 140+, it keeps him healthy and leaves more opportunity for the other guys to contribute. I'm sure I come off as angry (I am) and I should take my time more often, especially when I know people will read it but not coke. I might prescript to THC products but not the abuse of my nastrals. I actually just quit smoking cigarettes cold turkey a few months ago.

omg