stanick88

5 minutes ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

So we're not trading Skaggs?!?!?

I’m not the GM, but I see no valid reason to trade Skaggs. 

3 minutes ago, krAbs said:

8.5 back now....not that anyone is counting. Right...?

I most definitely am. I think we can catch up still. 

39 minutes ago, Scioscia4MVP said:

Maybe he retires under an agreement they pay him 80% of what he's owed all at once ? or he gets a bobby bonilla deal.

Awww that sweet bobby Bonilla deal that keeps him set for life. Is he still collecting millions each year like 20 years after he retired? And it includes interest so hasn’t he earned way more than his original contract? 

Time for another solo homer or two for the angels. 

Cam Shit-The-Bedrosian 

Cam-Put-To-Bedrosian

Cam-Wet-The-Bedrosian 

Cam-GaveThemHead-inThe-Bedrosian 

Cam Shit-The-Bedrosian 

Bedrosian just can’t pitch with any pressure. I do not understand this guy. 

11 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

As was stated, we have nothing in the pipeline at C. If Maldonado leaves at the end of the season we're kind of screwed. Beyond that, even if we sign him, he's getting old. Catchers break down. Even if he doesn't break down he's still only a 1-2 win type of player. Best case scenario we get 6 WAR out of Maldonado for 2019-2021. Worst case we get 0. 

You trade Upton and you have your catcher locked in (hopefully) and even if you ate half of Upton's money $40 million. You have $40 million in savings to find a stop gap LF until some of the prospects are ready. 

But a catcher can be filled a lot easier than an impact (or somewhat impactful)  left fielder. We obtained Maldonado for a Jeff bandy swap. 

2 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

There's a huge difference between being 22 in Columbus and 26 in SLC... or 24 for that matter.

What about in 2015 when he Perez was 23 (I believe) in his first year at AAA. Better slash line then Mejia. All I am saying is why give up the only solid left fielder we have had in the past 6 years or so for a prospect that has questions marks and may or may not ever make it. Much less probably ever  come close to the offensive value Upton has. 

Got me 

9 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

Mejia wouldn't be in the minor leagues... He'd be on the big club.

Are you sure. He is a 22 year old AAA catcher, who was moved for a while to the outfield and has a triple slash line of 281/331/431. Don’t get me wrong, that is solid. But that doesn’t scream: major league starter to me. Look at what Carlos Perez did in his career in AAA. In fact why was he auditioned in the outfield recently in the first place. Do we need two Wards who can not cut it behind the plate? 

In fact (Note: sarcasm to follow) while we are at it. Let’s trade Simmons and Trout. That way we can round out the rest of our farm system. We can be double deep at each position for our future. And have the best farm system ever and no major league team with talent. (Note: Sarcasm now off)

I do not understand why some are over infatuated with prospects. Upton is our second to third best bat. Can you Imagine our offense next year without Upton. Do you remember how hard it was to find a left fielder( Upton ) in the first place? I swear that some people here are more concerned about us having a higher ranked farm system over us having a competitive major league team. 

4 hours ago, Torridd said:

I know you're an advanced member, but I get tired of reading this. There's no indication that it's true. There are 30 MLB teams and winning in the playoffs is not a "regular" thing for most of those teams. The Angels, although unlucky the last several years, have just as good a shot to make the playoffs.

There actually is indication of this. He has gone on record many of times stating all he cares about is going to the playoffs and winning. So our teams performance and immediate future possibility of making deep runs are directly tied to resigning Trout. And a bunch of prospects who are likely many years away from contributing (If they even pan out) does not help in winning now and in the immediate future. 

13 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

This would obviously be for 2019-2020 and beyond, but with Richards' most likely done for the year and possibly next season, Ohtani's status uncertain, it would be nice to have a guy to lead the rotation ahead of Skaggs, Heaney, Barria and perhaps a FA pitcher next year, to go along with Tropeano, Shoemaker (if he's back), Suarez perhaps, Felix Pena, etc. 

Do you think Canning, Marsh and Jones get it done? Three top 100 prospects for the ace. 

Thoughts?

If that is all it would take to get DeGrom, I would do it without hesitation. 

I Absolutely would not consider trading skaggs. What would be the reason for that? 

One of Thaiss or Ward may be ok. But Thaiss, Ward, and JMF all making an impact would be like winning the lottery three times at once. 

12 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

The thing is, you don't have to be like the Yankees to win a World Series.

Look at the Giants. Three world championships in five years.

How did they do it? Spending wisely, not relying on superstars but getting consistent production across the board, consistent infusion of minor league talent, great rotation and bullpen, good health and good fortune. 

Basically the exact opposite of the Angels.

We've spent unwisely (Pujols, Hamilton, Wells, Matthews Jr., Pineiro, Blanton, the back half of Weav and Wilson's contracts), we have a couple good players (Trout, Simmons, Ohtani, Upton to an extent) and the rest of the lineup is utter garbage, we haven't had prospect assistance thanks to Dipoto until this year, and while we have a great rotation, it's been absolutely decimated by injuries (moreso than any team in baseball this year and the past three) and our bullpen is a disaster.

So how do we fix it and take the next step forward as an organization. 

I think as Ben Solo put it, "Let the past die."

That means letting go of the past, cutting ties with what came before 2019 if it isn't going to help the team.

Convince Pujols it's time to hang them up and move into a coaching or front office role, and if he isn't ok with that, then cut ties. Either way, he can't take up a roster spot any longer.

Don't pick up Valbuena's option. We've all seen enough. Don't get me wrong, we love his clubhouse presence, but the on-field production isn't where it needs to be.

Let Thaiss take over full time 1B, let Fernandez take over part time DH when Ohtani isn't hitting and promote Taylor Ward to play third base. Remember, we don't need superstars at every position, we just need steady contributors, someone that won't be a black hole. That's what you get in Thaiss, Ward and Fernandez, consistent hitters that can do a little bit of everything and are vast improvements over Pujols, Valbuena and whoever else.

Say bye bye to Kinsler in FA. What can we say, he's been a great player for a long time but time catches up with all of us. He's a shell of the star he once was. But I will say this, seeing him play for the Angels this year has redeemed him in my eyes. He's not as big of a jerk as I thought now that I've had a chance to watch him play everyday.

Move Cozart across the diamond to second base and have him battle David Fletcher for the starting spot. Loser takes the UTIL position. I don't can't about his contract, the best players need to play and he'll need to outplay Fletcher, a total gamer that has been outplaying more noticed athletes his entire life.

Trade Calhoun and either sign or trade for a more productive short term option in RF. Again, like the Giants, this doesn't have to be a star, but it does need to be someone that can produce, play acceptable D and when Adell/Marsh are ready in 2 years, step aside.

Bring back Garrett Richards. He's great friends with Trout who we want to keep around  for a long time, he pitches toward the front of the rotation, and if nothing else, he has low mileage on his arm.

Other than that, keep the rotation as is. Hopefully Ohtani is back healthy, keep Heaney, Skaggs and Barria. Take advantage of the depth we'll finally have in Meyer and Ramirez being healthy, Shoe's return and the presence of Canning and Suarez in AAA. 

Actually, just move Meyer and Ramirez into relief. They need that. And promote Canning in May to preserve an additional season on control. That kid will slot very nicely with Richards and Ohtani at the front of the rotation.

After moving Meyer and Ramirez into the bullpen, get rid of the holdovers that didn't perform, like Bedrosian and Noe Ramirez (not entirely Noe's fault he's been used incorrectly).

Spend any money we have coming off the books on relievers. Surround Scioscia or whoever is managing next year with so many options he can't screw it up.

After all of that, start throwing ridiculous sums of money at Trout and extend him for another decade.

If the Angels do all of that, they'll be hard to beat in 2019, and with the farm system Eppler is building, they'll be consistent contenders for very long time. 

It won't require spending like the Yanks or Dodgers, it will require bold moves, spending wisely and continuing to invest in the farm and not trading it away.

That's how the Angels elevate.

While i understand your approach,  i do not think a roster with that talent can achieve much success. I hope you are right and I am wrong. But I do not see a roster as you described being more than a second wild card challenger at best. And likely not even a roster that can achieve winning the second wild card. We are a few impact players away in my opinion. I agree on Cozart and fletcher battling it out, as well as convincing Pujols to retire. But throwing Ward, JMF,  and Thaiss is not likely to do much better than what is currently playing. 

I voted literally like 80 times this morning. 

Is it about time for fletcher to pinch hit for NOBuena yet? 

FREE FLETCHER

1 minute ago, True Grich said:

Deck has a sister named Patio and a brother named Gazebo.

And an aunt named awning. 

I know not all beers are created equal and I definitely have my favorites, and those I dislike; but when I get  into drink mode, I would basically drink any beer. 

Deck is pitching well so far. I know it is the orioles, but his command is on and all his pitches have good movement. 

3 minutes ago, stormngt said:

Wow is everyone on a self ban?

Thats what I was wondering. I was going to post about Cowart replacing Valbuena in the lineup, but there was no forum created for this game. I like this lineup.

Dfa dfa dfa dfa dfa dfa lets start that chant.