Gil

Ausmus sure seems to be a big believer in a "proven closer" which is interesting because that seems to be at odds with Eppler's bullpen strategy. It'll be interesting to see if they go out and get a closer this offseason. I'd put my $ on David Robertson since he has excelled in multiple roles in a bullpen (including closer) and has the NYY connections to Eppler.

He's starting in LF tonight. If he can play 2b/3b and the corner outfield, that could go a long way in finding him a place on a team with a 6 man rotation and 3 man bench.

It'll be interesting to see if Ohtani is able to take advantage of the rock pile during day games like Weaver did throughout his career. https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/do-pitchers-get-a-boost-from-angel-stadiums-rockpile/ Both are tall lanky right handers but I'm not sure about their comparative release points (since Weaver was known for throwing across his body). Anybody know where to find the pitch f/x or stat cast data on release points?

Interesting to see that Taylor Ward is still listed as a catcher.

Moustakas should fire Boras if this is true. http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article204259794.html "Early in the offseason, according to league sources, he and his agent Scott Boras turned down a three-year deal from the Angels worth around $45 million."

I think Eppler already has stockpiled some of them (Bard, Pena, Diaz, Noe Ramirez, Kroll, Blake Wood) and I'd assume he will be looking closely at who gets squeezed out of other team's roster crunches. Relievers are so volatile that targeting stuff over past performance has worked out well so far for Eppler and crew. Ettin started a good thread that talked about some options:

His second half was mostly the result of a disastrous August where he gave up 14 earned runs in 9 and 1/3 innings across 11 games. To his credit he rebounded with a nice September. But most scouting reports I've seen have said that he now relies on sliders in the dirt to get K's rather than generating swings and misses in the zone. Bob Nightengale reported that Holland turned down the same 3 year $52 million deal that Wade Davis got from the Rockies, so I guess we should take it with a grain of salt given the source. But on the other hand, with Boras it wouldn't surprise me. And I agree that the Angels bullpen could use some more help but I would expect to Eppler to target guys that he can shuttle between AAA and the MLB given the needs of a 6 man rotation. I could see him targeting more guys in the mold of Parker/Petit/Norris rather than a free agent that would cost a draft pick.

Holland seems like the total anti-Eppler move. Holland has already reportedly turned down a 3 year $52 million offer and declined the qualifying offer, meaning not only would he push the Angels up against the luxury tax but he would also cost their 2nd highest pick in the draft and $500,000 in international spending. All of this for a pitcher who had a 6.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in the second half? The Halos already have a roster crunch problem with pitchers who are either out of options/Rule 5, so giving Holland a roster spot also pushes one guy off the roster. So it hurts the farm system, depth, and prevents further in-season moves staying under the luxury tax. I don't think that is worth $50 million+ to Holland. Eppler passed on Addison Reed at 2 years and $16.75 million with no qualifying offer implications, so I have a hard time seeing him going after Holland now.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/10/angels-acquire-felix-pena-designate-jason-gurka.html He was one of the first pick ups of the offseason in a trade with the Cubs. Has always had the strike outs, so if Eppler, Nagy, and crew can work their magic he could be a nice diamond in the rough.

Love the pick up. He has 2 options left too so I'd assume he is starting the year in Salt Lake where he and Chris Carter could put up some eye popping numbers.

The Halos lost quite a bit of speed this year. And it appears the best pinch runner off the bench would now be Cowart, unless Scioscia was serious about Ohtani being an option at pinch running which seems quite risky.

If he does make extremely hard contact, do you know if there has been any attempt to change his swing to maximize his launch angle?

I think the power concerns for Thaiss may be a bit overblown. The balls are so drastically different between the minors and the majors (https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/the-minor-league-ball-is-such-a-drag/) that the MLB balls undeniably travel farther than the MILB balls. Considering his advanced plate discipline, he seems like the perfect candidate to take advantage of the MLB ball power boost. Granted, I don't have access to his batted ball profile in the minors (exit velocity, launch angle, spin rate, etc) so I can't say definitively but the Angels undoubtedly do have have the data and have advanced him aggressively through the system so they must have some hope as well. I'm not arguing that he is going to turn into a MVP candidate, but he could certainly become a solid regular.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/ex-big-leaguers-japan-ohtani-special-not-invincible-talent/#FFxEQJAl5EiUuRAI.97 "Sarfate, for example, has been able to keep Ohtani in check over the five seasons he's faced him. "I think I faced him 11 times and I think I gave up a single and triple, and the single was actually a squiggler down the third-base line that he beat out." Sarfate said. "He's got decent plate awareness, the only problem I see him having issues with early on—and he can make the adjustment—is fastballs in. Japanese guys tend to stay away from him, I think it's a lot of respect and they don't want to throw a fastball in and break his arm or hit him in the elbow. I think he's aware of that, that no one pitches him in. I pitch him in and have had good success going in. "Big league pitchers aren't afraid to go in, they don't care who you are. And that's going to be his one adjustment he's going to have to make." Morel, from his vantage point playing the infield, sees the same potential shortcoming on fastballs in. "He just has unbelievable pop to the opposite field, center field (but) it didn't seem like he pulled too many balls unless they were offspeed," Morel said. "I think he'll get pounded in like any young hitter going to the big leagues. He'll have to make the adjustment. He was so big and strong he didn't have to worry about it too much over there. I'm not saying he can't make the adjustment, he just hasn't had to yet."