Inside Pitch

Well... the first four Eppler draft picks all got hits -- including a 2 run HR... Not a bad start to the season..

Yup! it's effing great.. It became pretty evident that even when picking college seniors and high floor guys they were focusing on guys with at least one extreme skill or like you point out -- elite performances in lesser known areas. They seemed to really zone in on guys with speed/OBP skills or speed/defense. One of the few things Wilson said the other day was they were were looking to get more athletic, we don't know how good any of these guys will be but they definitely figure to be more athletic. I don't think we have ever drafted this many guys 5'10 and under... Los Angeles Altuve-ish Angels of Anaheim, coming to a ballpark near you 2019.

The only thing as powerful as the "butthurt" towards Harper is the "butthurt" towards Harper "haters". People don't like the guy... the end. I like turtles BTW....

YUP --- poor mans Marcell Ozuna... Hopefully our woeful spot in the standings opens the door for us to get in a claim.

I think he was injured all of 2014 -- it may have been career ending or he just decided to hang them up.

I remember they tried shifting him to SP -- not sure why they cut bait on him, his suspension came early in his career and he didn't really have any other issues after that.. I had not noticed it was the same guy but not a bad pick up by Eppler and company.

I think it's another example of why will people question the credibility of defensive metrics. Calhoun has a knack for closing on a ball in a dramatic fashion -- that always tends to up a guy's profile.. He's likely a bit overrated defensively but not in the Derek Jeter way. JP Arencibia is someone who could be a potential outcome for Grichuk -- Josh Reddick is another. Arencibia is a guy who was always highly touted in large part because of his batted ball profiles and his ability to play C - it just never materialized. I think one of the reasons Grichuk snuck up on people is few realized he could be an everyday CF... The glove really is his safety net.

Well, my comments about Grichuk weren't meant to imply Calhoun doesn't have a glove -- but since you mentioned it, I went to look.... Grichuk's 10 DRS in CF ranks second only to Kevin Pillar. Kole's sitting at -4 DRS in RF, just ahead of Mark Trumbo at -5. I wish we still had both of them.

LOL... Thats comedy gold

Yeah -- the whole social media updates is pretty hilarious.... I'd say it seems very HS, but the kid is actually in HS....

Not sure I understand what you're asking... Based on exit velocity and batted ball profles -- Randal Grichuk is the antithesis of what most would consider to be poor contact.

John.... Thanks for all the updates -- you do this every year and we all appreciate it.

Yeah -- far as I can tell your stance has always been one of ... "why cry over spilled milk". I don't bring Grichuk up cause I can't stand hindsight is 20/20 type posts either -- one day I might even have the willpower to not respond when someone else does. (That day will likely never come) Onwards and upwards....

I don't want to speak for Blarg, but I think he's making fun of the mass number of Randal Grichuk is the second coming posts that sprouted up after he had his breakthrough last year. I dont think he's ever said he wouldn't have liked to see them keep him, if anything I think he's said the team thought they were set in the OF and moved him to try to get something we didn't have.

Meh, I don't mind catching heat on Grichuk, I was calling for a breakout when he was having that bad AA season -- it's only natural I catch some flak... As far as Hughes goes, he's tanking, but at least he's not Matt Garza!!! LOL - that Garza/Hughes back and forth was pretty fun.

Technically, he's a career 109 OPS+ hitter. He isnt the 130+ OPS+ hitter he showed up last year -- neither is he the 80 OPS+ hitter we have seen this year. He's a 24 year old OF with a CF capable arm/glove and the ability to hit for power. If he proves to be nothing better than his current career .250/.305/.475 hitter his glove will make him a valuable player. I'm definitely biased in favor of guys like Grichuk, -- everyone wants to see good on base skills, but beyond that I love power/glove guys and when we are talking pitchers, guys with plus FBs and the ability to induce GBs...

LOL -- fair point. We do have a bunch of tall pygmies on the roster...

Retire.... I think he's doing everything he can to fight off father time -- but he's been successful and he knows what it takes for him to be successful, I'm sure nobody is more well aware of what he can and cannot do than Jered Weaver. I can't imagine he is enjoying who he is these days...

Yeah -- the defensive component of bWAR and even fWAR is kinda loopy.... Honestly, I'd sooner use fWar than bWAR, I went with what was quickest... Also agree he's been on both ends of the luck spectrum -- the power though is real. That power and glove combo will always make him useful although I've said this before and I will again -- I don't think he would have the same success in the AL that he has had in the NL..

Yeah -- I knew that would be your response, and honestly -- it's a fair point. It doesn't change the fact that he's actually improved in the two areas he was most lacking in. So unless you think he's a sub .300 BABIP hitter, you know the average will come up... Its basically his AA season all over again with all the same people making all the same mistakes. Edit -- if you recall, I've never expected him to hit for average, I just believe the power and glove will make the lack of average less of an issue.

He did.. 24 and five years of control still. His 1.5 WAR this year would be second on the team to Trout. But but but.. indeed!

Is it June where you are or October? His exit velocities are just under where they were last year, his walk rate is up, his K rate is down. His BABIP is .243.... So, what's that tell you? He's been unlucky and dealt with an injury early on -- so unless you think he's going to carry a sub .300 BABIP all year he's as good a bet to improve as anyone in MLB.. You're free to get you crow on for now but, he's still better than anyone we got in that trade or that we have capable of playing LF.... I mean, Grichuk hasn't hit and he's still sporting a 1.5 bWAR.. Calhoun's sitting at 1.4. That's always been the thing with Grichuk -- he has a glove to fall back on when his bat is flat.

Jared Ruxer was my pick to click going into this season and I know I've brought him up a few times, so sorry if I've become repetitive... Anyway, he's made the move from RP back to SP and he's doing well. I still think he needs to be moved to High-A, but whatever... it's a boost to the franchise if his arm is all the way back from TJ surgery. 5 IP today -- 0 ER so far.

Relax? ..... I never had an issue nor was I upset with you being wrong. =)

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/183906680/2016-draft-signing-and-bonus-tracker this is sorta that... Howie Kendrick does not belong in the same mention with Mathis. Kendrick was a first division starting 2B who was drafted in the 10th round.. Mathis was a second division back up catcher drafted in the first round. Kendrick ranks 70th overall among 2B for career WAR. Mathis has 1.4 career WAR. Yeah Howie was saddled with unrealistic expectations but he isn't a bust. Mathis is both a bust and a success story. He didn't come close to fulfilling what you'd expect out of a first round pick but as a catcher with any semblance of a career he's had a successful run. Honestly, the only people that think HK was a bust are Angels fans. Ward isn't a bust yet, it's just not looking all that great.