BadDog

According to FanGraphs, we have added length AND girth!

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I... don't hate this deal at $2.5M (if that's what we're paying).
Minasian just took the job recently.  He hasn't had the opportunity to build out his team, create a long-term vision, or really even get to know the team's prospects.
What Minasian is doing is playing a long game.  Next year's FA class is absolutely stacked, with a ton of high-end starting pitching and four amazing shortstops in the prime of their careers.  All of these one year deals, plus the Pujols $30M coming off the books, is going to create a TON of flexibility for Minasian and his team to formulate and implement a plan.
I am sensitive to the fear of a decline starting for Trout, but I think our window runs another five years.  I'll reserve judgement and will rain the hate down on Minasian if we're still in this same place a year from now.  But something tells me that the 2022 Angels are going to look MUCH better.  
Assuming we have baseball in 2022.

Maybe the Angels new strategy is to read AW and then do the complete opposite of what we think.  Chances are that the team would likely get better.  

I think you meant to tag Arte Moreno. 

Has anyone mentioned that we're going to need more than this?

Billings is in that league 

It's also a good way if gathering information as to how an extensive group of baseball people would run an organization.
I think it's brilliant.

That was a great read.

1982 Angels v Yankees box score.docx
 
Not sure if you can see the box score I tried to attach.  That was my first ever live professional sport to witness (9 years old).  We were there for a church group activity with my grandmother.  I didn't have a favorite team at the time but I did when we left.  Reggie's two homers and Fred Lynn added one too.  Took down the mighty Yankees and Ron Guidry.  Angels fan ever since!

1982 Angels v Yankees box score.docx
 
Not sure if you can see the box score I tried to attach.  That was my first ever live professional sport to witness (9 years old).  We were there for a church group activity with my grandmother.  I didn't have a favorite team at the time but I did when we left.  Reggie's two homers and Fred Lynn added one too.  Took down the mighty Yankees and Ron Guidry.  Angels fan ever since!

There was another Skanks weekend series that the Halos also swept 3 years later (1982).
Grich homered off Gossage to complete that sweep.   I went to the Saturday night game where Reggie hit two HRs by the 3rd inning to lead the Halos rout. 

I'm more upset about missing out on 3/30 for Gibson than this deal -- but this makes the Cole situation even more of a must and that's a shitty place for the Angels to be in.

I agree

sign K. Gibson
trade for Boyd
hire Maddon

please elaborate

Was super stoked when I saw him walking down to the back fields.  He's signing a ball for my son here.  Even had a conversation with my son.  Great guy.  Wishing him the best and crossing my fingers that it is with us!  

Was super stoked when I saw him walking down to the back fields.  He's signing a ball for my son here.  Even had a conversation with my son.  Great guy.  Wishing him the best and crossing my fingers that it is with us!  

Was super stoked when I saw him walking down to the back fields.  He's signing a ball for my son here.  Even had a conversation with my son.  Great guy.  Wishing him the best and crossing my fingers that it is with us!  

Again, the only info I have which is what we collectively have because it's been shared is that Brandon Marsh was not on the negotiating table in trades.
So the Angels either aren't willing to discuss him with other teams at all, or no one has offered anything that would warrant paying this price.
I don't believe Brandon Marsh will be traded. I think the Angels will find a spot for him. I don't know how that will happen. Maybe Upton moves to 1B and DH with Adell in LF and Marsh is RF, maybe Upton is traded, maybe Marsh moves to 1B....
Either way, I expect Marsh will be in our lineup everyday beginning in 2021.

Was super stoked when I saw him walking down to the back fields.  He's signing a ball for my son here.  Even had a conversation with my son.  Great guy.  Wishing him the best and crossing my fingers that it is with us!  

Because it’s an individual award. Not a team award. 
Mike Trout’s value has nothing to do with how good José Suárez is. 
If Alex Bregman is more valuable than Mike Trout because his teammates are better, does that also mean Robinson Chirinos is more valuable than Mike Trout? 
Honestly this isn’t that complicated. The most “valuable” player and the “best” player are the same thing. 
Also, if you want to use the whole thing about meaningful, pressure games, does that mean no Dodgers players are valuable? They have been at least 15 games up since May. The Astros haven’t had to sweat much either. 

Not me. 

Richard Justice sucked long before this article. And we go through this every year. It isn't even the MVP award anymore. It's which player other than Trout can we give this award to?
They do this every single freakin' year.
The years that Trout has won the MVP aren't years where he was the best. He's there best every year. No, the years where Trout wins MVP are the years where no one else comes close enough.
It's completely unfair to Trout, that the media every year simply goes out of their way to pick someone other than him just to generate news. 
Trout should have 5 MVP awards by now.

Some of you guys are amazing.  Future prospects is likely my favorite forum/thread to visit and read due to the tremendous insight provided.  

We've hit a point in the season where it's time to acknowledge what's been going on with our pitching in the minors. Especially Burlington and Inland Empire. We'll likely start seeing a couple of these guys move up to IE/Mobile within the next month or so.
Last season, the Angels minor leagues saw only 13 pitchers start 20+ games - and of those, only 11 topped 100 innings. 
Within that group only three had an ERA below 4.00: Suarez at 3.92, Canning at 3.65, and Madero at 3.49. Eight had an ERA over 4.50, and four of those had an ERA over 6. It was not pretty.

This year is shaping up to be quite different - even with Canning and Suarez having hardly thrown any minor league innings. 

PATRICK SANDOVAL - 6'3", 190, LHP, 22 years old, drafted in 2015 (11th Rd.)
(AA/AAA): 4.47 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, .278 BAA, 21 BB, 57 K in 44.1 IP across 12 G/11 GS
Dominant in Mobile (32 K in 20 IP), Sandoval has slowed some in SLC (5.18 ERA, 2.14 WHIP) but is still the Angels next-best SP prospect.

LUIS MADERO - 6'3", 185, RHP, 22 years old, signed in 2013 (Intl. FA), acquired by LAA via trade
(A+/AA): 3.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .251 BAA, 17 BB, 59 K in 56.1 IP across 12 G/10 GS
Madero has had no issues adjusting to AA, and could find himself working in the Angel bullpen in September.

JEREMY BEASLEY - 6'3", 215, RHP, 23 years old, drafted in 2017 (30th Rd.)
(AA): 3.33 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, .256 BAA, 24 BB, 51 K in 54 IP across 12 G/11 GS
Bulldog Beasley continues to exceed expectations. Strong GB (55%) and swinging strike (16%) tendencies, sort of like pre-2019 Cahill. Allowed 2 R or fewer in 9 of 12 games.

JESUS CASTILLO - 6'3", 205, RHP, 23 years old, signed in 2011 (Intl. FA), acquired by LAA via trade
(AA): 3.41 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .265 BAA, 17 BB, 51 K in 66 IP across 13 G/11 GS
Currently leads the org in innings pitched, has rebounded from a poor 2018. Has allowed 2 or fewer runs in 11 of 13 appearances.

ANDREW WANTZ - 6'4", 235, RHP, 23 years old, drafted in 2018 (7th Rd.)
(A+/AA): 3.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .211 BAA, 19 BB, 64 K in 54 IP across 12 G/7 GS
After posting a gaudy 47 K in 23 relief IP last year, Angels surprisingly stretched him out to a starter. He hasn't missed a beat. K/9 near 11.

DENNY BRADY - 6'1", 200, RHP, 22 years old, drafted in 2017 (7th Rd.)
(A+): 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .228 BAA, 20 BB, 65 K in 53 IP across 12 G/7 GS
As steady and consistent as a minor league arm can be, has yet to allow more than 3 R in a game.

KYLE BRADISH - 6'4", 190, RHP, 22 years old, drafted in 2018 (4th Rd.)
(A+): 3.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, .228 BAA, 20 BB, 58 K in 43.2 IP across 11 G/7 GS
A little wild, a little inconsistent, but has shown flashes of straight dominance in a trio of starts:
4/23: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K, 5/9: 5 IP, 7 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K,  5/21: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 K
OLIVER ORTEGA - 6'0", 165, RHP, 22 years old, signed in 2015 (Intl. FA)
(A+): 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .203 BAA, 33 BB, 74 K in 58 IP across 12 G/11 GS
Who would have guessed Oliver Ortega would be leading the Angels org in strikeouts in mid-June? Who even knows who Oliver Ortega is?

AARON HERNANDEZ - 6'1", 170, RHP, 22 years old, drafted in 2018 (3rd Rd.)
(A+): 4.26 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, .279 BAA, 21 BB, 35 K in 31.2 IP across 9 G/7 GS
Yet to find a groove, but still posting decent numbers with swing-and-miss stuff, and a decent repertoire of pitches. 

CRISTOPHER MOLINA - 6'3", 170, RHP, 22 years old, signed in 2013 (Intl. FA)
(A): 2.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .193 BAA, 22 BB, 65 K in 58.2 IP across 12 G/9 GS
Stumbled a bit in last three games, but prior, had posted a 1.25 ERA and .167 BAA through first 9 appearances.

JOSE SORIANO - 6'3", 168, RHP, 20 years old, signed in 2016 (Intl. FA)
(A): 2.47 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .201 BAA, 35 BB, 70 K in 62 IP across 13 G/11 GS
Not far behind Sandoval from being the Angels best SP prospect - only 2 HR allowed, a 55% GB rate, a little erratic, but big-time potential.

HECTOR YAN - 5'11", 180, LHP, 20 years old, signed in 2015 (Intl. FA)
(A): 3.86 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, .220 BAA, 26 BB, 66 K in 44.1 IP across 12 G/8 GS
Lots of swing-and-miss stuff could lead Yan into top-of-rotation potential, but he'll need to work more efficiently and get a handle on the walks. Only 1 HR allowed.

COLE DUENSING - 6'4", 175, RHP, 21 years old, drafted in 2016 (6th Rd.)
(A): 4.36 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, .250 BAA, 33 BB, 51 K in 44.1 IP across 12 G/9 GS
Absolutely awful in 2017-2018, with an ERA near 10.00, Duensing's dramatic turnaround offers hope for brighter days still ahead.

KYLE TYLER - 6'0", 185, RHP, 22 years old, drafted in 2018 (20th Rd.)
(A): 4.31 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .217 BAA, 19 BB, 53 K in 54.1 IP across 12 G/9 GS
Another reliever converted to the rotation, Tyler throws strikes (65%) coupled with a strong GB rate (53%), quietly producing and putting himself into the mix.

ROBINSON PINA - 6'4", 180, RHP, 20 years old, signed in 2017 (Intl. FA)
(A): 3.22 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .193 BAA, 32 BB, 61 K in 50.1 IP across 12 G/7 GS
Steady and consistent, in three pro seasons, has yet to allow an ERA over 3.68, averaging over 10 K per 9, only 7 hits per 9, and a total of 5 HR in 145.2 IP.

LUIS ALVARADO - 6'4", 210, RHP, 22 years old, drafted in 2018 (17th Rd.)
(A): 2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .186 BAA, 22 BB, 60 K in 48 IP across 12 G/7 GS Has allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in all but one game, and only 3 ER in the other.

Even more exciting is that still doesn't take into account the 2019 draftees who could ultimately join this list - Jack Kochanowicz, Erik Rivera, Garrett Stallings, Zach Peek, Davis Daniel, Zach Linginfelter - or the legitimate SP prospects who have been injured - Chris Rodriguez, James Swanda, Stiward Aquino - or the other arms who either have had enough prospect pedigree or success to still enter the picture, such as Cooper Criswell, Luke Lind, Connor Van Scoyoc, Jose Natera, Emilker Guzman, Jerryell Rivera, Kelvin Moncion, or Jason Alexander.

The growth we've seen this year - both in terms of development and depth added - is quite frankly, staggering, and given the number of arms drafted in 2019, only likely to grow. 
With Eppler's aggressive promotions, the use of multi-inning relievers. 6-man rotations, and 'tandem' starters, there's a chance we see a lot of these arms start reaching the majors as soon as late 2020 or in 2021.