Inside Pitch

They have repeated a lot of the Angels mistakes in recent years -- you are likely right that they are trying to pack as much winning around Yu's peak as possible. The Holland situation has to be a bit worrisome simply because it's his shoulder.

Sneak -- they may be worried about the long term health of Holland or Darvish... Its not the best to see Hamels be less than his usual self, but he's always been fairly healthy and while expensive, compare him to what Porcello got and there is reason to believe he is a bargain.

That will always hurt.. 100 years from now your great grandkid will be telling bedtime stories about Vernon Wells.

And where he got to face pitchers. Those interleague numbers are what they are. A career 4.70+ ERA and 800 OPS allowed speaks for itself. Whether its any real indication of what to expect remains to be seen -- but that's his pitching line. Also, that park is kinder to LHPs despite its reputation for easy offense. Its three year pitching park factors rate it as perfectly nuetral. Go back to the previous 3 year sample and again -- its 100. Go back three more years to account for Hamels entire time in the league and bam -- another 100. Sucks when the facts sort of undermine the narrative, huh?

Dude -- what he said is correct. Albert Pujols has a better WAR. The OPS, the contract -- none of that changes the reality that Fielder is a DH, only, so his WAR is lower.. I like Prince, I like what he's overcome, but there are some things he's doing that may or may not be worrisome indicators. From what I can tell by actually watching him hit he seems to be making a real effort to beat shifts and the sort -- so it may all be by design. But when you see a guy with a career BABIP of .306 suddenly put up a number 40 points higher, and his pull rates and ISO drop, it may be a sign. He's an interesting guy to watch moving forward. He's dropped his K rate considerably, but his walk rate has somewhat cratered. Its like he's become an extreme contact guy.

Yup, hes far from a rental and he's cheap compared to the going rate for pitchers with his resume. Just out of curiosity.. have you ever looked at Hamels career interleague numbers? Averages allowed -- .280/.329/.495 - .824... 190 IP, 209 H, 49 BB, 171 K, 1.356 WHIP -- 35 HR allowed. 4.73 ERA It's going to be interesting to see how he does in that park, and in the AL full time.

Behind 7 other teams...

Stoneman being Stoneman, king of the roster loopholes.

Post menstrual apparatus... Basically he is calling him a douche.

Basically, you mean thank Mike Trout. He is his own holy trinity.

Probably because they didn't actually trade for another OFer or a 1B, they took on his salary and will likely DFA him or send him packing right away. What they wanted was the competitive balance draft pick the Marlins sold them as part of that trade.

My hope is for nothing better than league average offense.... If they can all platoon their way to a combined .715 OPS, I'll be thrilled.

Wilson just cant beat Houston... He goes Chuck Finley vs the Rangers anytime he faces Houston

CJ Wilson is such a pansy...

The beauty of it is that if everything goes in the tank -- they lost nothing.... absolutely nothing. And if Murphy does well, they have an option on him for next year at 7 mil per. Dirt cheap.

Troutmageddon!!!!

It was all a dream.....

Punt Joyce, demote a reliever.... Only a month before rosters expand.

Just give Klentak the full time gig and call it a day...

If the news is right and they just fixed the two black holes while only giving up Stammets and Lopez -- holy shit.... Brilliant!

Only took them ten years to figure him out eh?

He's not a name brand, so he sucks. That's all it takes for some people.

Alex Ochoa, obtained at the deadline by Stoneman, given number 18. Now Victorino.... and he too is given number 18... Print the tickets!!!!

I take it you don't read the minor league forums?

Get in car... drive to Tampa.