Torridd

Although I've been vocal about trading Trumbo, I can't help but feel that at some point soon - maybe next year or the next - something is going to click for him and he's going to go from a .250/.780, 30 HR hitter, to a .280/.850+, 35 HR hitter. I know he's already 27, but it just seems like he needs more time to mature into his peak, which will be more like age 28-32.
 
Who knows, of course, its just an inkling I have. Maybe the Angels have the same inkling and are thus hesitant to trade him.

I thought we were going to be sellers.
 
I don't understand this move

I would be shocked and disappointed if Kendrick & Aybar weren't in the starting lineup next season.
Two star players who would be very difficult to replace.

why do people want to trade aybar and kendrick? they're good players with cheap contracts. it would only make sense if they were going into a full rebuilding period and in that case they would need to trade everyone not named trout.

I don't want to see Howie gone

But I already lit my torch and sharpened my pitchfork.  

I think if the Angels can retain Vargas and trade for or sign another quality starter, they have a good shot in 2014.   
 
On paper, the offense looks like one of the best in baseball.    4 guys with 30HR/100RBI potential.    Just need all 4 of those guys to perform.

Side note:
 
Downs has a nice chance to go to the playoffs for the first time in his career now.
 
Always seemed like a cool guy, so good for him.

I think the low pressure situation plays more into his success than anything else.  The talent was always there.  It was the head that got in the way.  
 
If he was on the Angels this season, he probably would be up in the 4.00+ era area.  Because the bats weren't hitting first half of the season, and everything would have been on his shoulders.  Especially after Weaver went down and CJ had a slow start.  

What does Scioscia have to do with a player being clutch? Isn't that the job of the GM?

Save the 25 million and give to Trout on his extension!
 
Or are we playing with monopoly money?
 
I do not believe Scioscia nor any other manager in the history of the game could have taken this team to the playoffs.  Not with this god awful pitching staff, Pujols on one leg, Hamilton turning into Vernon Wells,  and with all the injuries this team has faced.

It is hard for me to find fault with Scioscia.  Take yesterday's game for example - could any manager on earth have obtained a different outcome?  So many games have been lost by 3 or more runs, due to such things as terrible starting pitching and the complete absence of Pujols/Hamilton.  How is any of that Scioscia's fault?  Scioscia didn't construct this team. 
 
Perhaps a better way of looking at things is like this: What moves has Scioscia made that you guys take issue with?  What, specifically, can you point to that he has done wrong?  I would agree that his bullpen management has been bad in a few of the games this year, but I am sure that is the case with all 30 managers in MLB.  Would moving Hamilton down in the lineup earlier in the year really changed where we are in the standings?  Would Conger's .744 OPS really have won more games than Ianetta's .702 OPS?  With how poorly Williams has pitched the last month, can any of you reasonably say that if he had replaced Blanton in the rotation, this team would be better off? 
 
You guys want a scape goat just because you think it will vindicate your dissatisfaction with this team.  But it won't.  Organizational success is cyclical, and we are now paying the price for some very bad free agents signings and some short-sighted trades, none of which are Scioscia's fault.  If Jerry does his job, in time the team will be good again.   

Absolutely he should be fired, because we all know Ryne Sandberg could make Hamilton hit like his MVP year, Blanton pitch like Koufax, heal Pujols' foot, Madsen's and Burnett's arms. 

I was completely against it but these slumps are getting out of hand. He hits homeruns and that's it. He doesn't walk, he strikes out a TON, and he doesn't hit for extra bases outside of the occasional bloop double. As I said in the GDT last night, he is Adam Dunn minus the plate discipline.
 
If the idea is to trade him for a rental, then I absolutely agree that the Angels shouldn't even consider that. However, if you can get a solid pitching prospect or two out of the deal, or even package him to trade for a guy like Hellickson, then I think you have to consider it.

This is when he has the most value.  I think we've seen his ceiling.  

Pity. I really wanted this thing done with as soon as possible.

Pity. I really wanted this thing done with as soon as possible.

But tdawg, I've written this thread multiple times because the team does NOT suck. As I've pointed out, since their 15-27 start they've been 29-22, which is a 92-win pace. I think that represents the Angels' true talent level - a 90ish win team that struggled mightily out of the gate but has played well overall for the last 50+ games. I don't expect that to change - I think they'll continue winning around 55%+ of their games. The problem, of course, is that this is probably too little too late. If they had played that well since the beginning they'd be right in the mix for the wildcard and division.
 
People get frustrated. I get it. But let's not ONLY look at the fact that they got swept by the Mariners but that they won two series in a row vs. two of the best teams in baseball, not long after sweeping the team with the best pitching staff in baseball...for the second time this year.
 
The Angels are a good team, maybe even a very good one. I agree that they're not a great one and that the chances they make the playoffs are unlikely. I'm not asking anyone to be optimistic - I'm not. But I haven't given up - I think there is still a chance worth caring about, even if that chance is only about 10%.

They have the potential to do much better.  Health will have a big factor in it.  Burnett in the pen was a big loss.  Starter wise, I have hopes for Hanson, and hopefully he is past his personal issues and has his head on straight.  That will be a big plus if he is.  And if Hamilton will show just a bit more streak, the offense should be fine.  
 
While I don't think we will win the WC or the Division.  I think we will be able to close the gap quite a bit.  

I will say that this board plays the "I told you so" game back and forth all year long, every year, and it's pretty stupid.

You forgot pessimists, who even when it's chocolate hitting the fan, they are still convinced it's shit.
 
Regardless, nothing horrible has happened to fans who felt positive about this team.  Honestly, I'd rather stay hopeful and then lose it then to never have the hope in the first place.

I didn't read all that, but please don't trade Howie.

I think a different route would be considerably more effective.  Instead of just punishing the player, punish the team as well.  
 
First offense: Player is suspended for 50 games, team is fined 3 million dollars and submits to mandatory drug testing of the offending player once a week for the remainder of his career. 
 
Second offense: Player is suspended 100 games, team is fined 6 million dollars and the player may not participate in a playoff game ever again.
 
Third offense: Player is suspended for life, team is fined 12 million dollars and forfeits it's first round pick the following year.  
 
Teams would start drug testing their own players and policing themselves before the MLB ever found out.  It's doubtful you'd ever see anyone pop positive again. 

Can we please end all the crap about this team having no heart, not trying, or giving up. They may not be the most talented team around, but they do keep playing hard.

Saw it the other day......I enjoyed it a lot.
 
I'd give it a B+