DCAngelsFan

I mean, does it actually need to be said? A front-end SP has far more value than a reliever, who have notoriously short shelf-lives. Using him as a RP runs the very real risk of derailing a potential top-half starter and, if overused, ending his career years early. Manager's job is to win now - GM's job is to win now and next year and next. Perry will need to step in - I can see the temptation to use him now - there might even be some benefit, but only inasmuch it will help him develop as a starter.

Yes - he'd be worth that, *if* his '21 looks like '20 with no signs of injury/regression (with a deader ball, who knows, he might be even better.) I was more thinking "what could we sign him for today" with the team taking on the risk of regression?

I remember AG - smart as hell, but you had to be able to accept the occasional dismissive "you're an idiot" responses from him - Asperger's iirc. Once I realized that was just who he was, didn't much faze me - although there were times I'd kind of put him in the penalty box and not talk to him - sure he never noticed. Exiledc was similar in a way - smart as hell, could be brutal at times - he did not suffer fools. Make some lazy assumption about something being discussed, and he'd smack you down. Once he got to know you, that you weren't just a troll or an idiot, he was fine. Learned a lot from him - didn't always agree with him, but he definitely made me think. I can *almost* but not quite remember the guy who caused the board to be shut down b/c mlb.com thought he might hurt himself - I remember he had all of these theories and formula that he created and insisted had some amazing insights - but mostly they were just pointless transforms of existing stats with zero correlations to anything. That was always the thing he missed - "correlation."

Hard to put a value on him right now - if he sustains 2020, he'd be in demand as a FA next season. What do we think it'd take? 3/30?

Too funny - when I read read @tdawg's "cartoon villain" comment, that's precisely the image that came to mind.

Well, I think the chat transcript said we had 8 amateur scouts - I mean, it's possible we employ 712 pro scouts - in which case, eff the Dodgers But I'm willing to bet we're not in the top 4, or top 7 - my pool pick is #24th, overall.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/theyre-the-model-how-the-dodgers-player-development-machine-rolls-on/ Anyone have a copy of the Baseball America Directory?

In addition to the little fragments of stories like this that occasionally leak out is the overall poor performance of drafting/development of the team. At best, we've been average - "average" or "mediocre" doesn't get your crowned World Series champs. I've long suspected that Arte has underfunded this aspect of the team - putting minimal resources into the nuts and bolts of the team. We've already discussed the org charts of the Angels vs. the Dodgers - their ops side is full of baseball people - the Angels have a few "MBA" types. I hate to say it, but Arte seems to have more in common with owners like Peter Angelos and Dan Snyder than Guggenheim

Usually very much a "best player available" fan - whatever the position. But this year, unless there's huge drop-off, it's going to go with "best college pitcher available" with that first pick. Found some other clips of Cerantola - at least in those, while he needs to clean up his delivery - I'm impressed with what he was putting up. In addition to that CB, he showed a pretty flithy changeup and has good run on his fb. Looks very athletic, with a free and easy motion. Worth keeping an eye on ...

So ... no mention of "players" - no contact with any players?

https://bangordailynews.com/2021/02/10/sports/professional-sports/persistence-helps-bangors-justin-courtney-achieve-his-pro-baseball-dream/ I mean, look at his parents names - Jeff and Debby? I mean, it's a sign, right?

Thing is, it's very difficult to build a top-tier starting rotation - our pressing need for years now - through free agency. Most free-agent pitchers are used up, and even the "aces" that do reach FA (and there aren't that many) are generally near the end of the line and/or hopelessly expensive. I don't mind Arte being outbid on people like Cole (I mean, he didn't even want to sign here) - but I *do* mind that we've done so poorly scouting, drafting, signing, and developing talent - especially pitchers. I'd have much rather he invested in the future, and not quick fixes and marketing ploys - dipstick moves like Hamilton, Wells, GMJ, and Pujols - and signing Baldoquin taking us out of the Vlad JR running. And not participating in the international market at all until Ohtani (which still was a coup, despite the injuries.) He was here while the McCourts were destroying the Dodgers. New ownership came in and built a juggernaut, because they still had the organizational knowledge to re-build, all while the Angels, well, tread water. I shudder to think what this org would be like if someone drafted Trout before we could. Arte *still* hasn't taken that lesson to heart. He needs to invest in the future of this team, and not just the team on the field. I fear as long as business types run the Angels instead of baseball types, we'll always be a business first, a baseball team second.

I make great chilis - if I do say so myself - so, can't really stoop to the canned chili. Although, to be fair, I often eat peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon. Funny, though, I didn't use a dishwasher for years - that was for lazy people who couldn't properly wash dishes with blistering hot water - so, the dishwasher just sat there, slowly rusting and going silently insane. Couple years ago, I redid my kitchen, put in a Bosch, and now I pretty much run a cycle whenever I get more than two dirty spoons. I've become extraordinarily lazy - won't be much longer before I pay someone to cut my grass ...

Yeah, maturity is overrated- while I might've aged a few years this past year - few chances to be immature - roller coasters, punk concerts, weird t-shirts, good bourbon and dive bars keep me young-ish

When I saw the terms, I wanted to be excited - I convinced myself we might get 3 or 4 good "Pujols" years - then 2 or 3 mediocre years, then 3 or 4 disastrous years staggering under the weight of that contract. And that was the best case, which we obviously never saw. The drop-off in production you note was worrying - the declines were right there, and it was hard to rationalize them - it wasn't an injury or bad luck or an aberration - no stat that said "aha! This is all just a temporary thing" - no, the obvious explanation was that he was in physical decline. What really set my alarm bells off was the Cardinals - who grudgingly made him a 5-year offer they didn't seem to want to make. When he refused, I got the pretty clear sense that the Cards front office and most of their fans were relieved that he was "insulted" and later signed with us. The Cards FO were certainly aware of what he did for the franchise, and likely offered him more than they though he was worth. And were happy they could save face by offering something, only to have him reject it. I remember lots of Cards fans saying - to summarize "suckers!" - I think they had a pretty good of what was coming. When a club is happy to see a franchise hero and hall-of-famer depart, you have to wonder if you're doing the right thing signing him.

There's something other than "AM" on my car radio? Does a podcast come on 8-track tape? ugh - I just remembered - "vacuum tube" testers in stores ... F**k, I'm old ...

I find my daily ensure is improved with a 75:25 mix of Jameson's (your choice which is "75") and if you're feeling fancy, maybe some Bailey's Irish Cream. That's breakfast - then for lunch ... Life's getting kinda weird when you actually start listening to ads for Florida "adult living" communities ...

WIthout getting too carried away with questions like "Game 7?" "Home or Away?" "Pitcher?" "Who's hot/slumping?" for a hypothetical scenario... In a playoff game, my heart says Trout would deserve to be there. But - and I know this is heresy - my head says he might be the third choice - after Rendon and Fletcher. Rendon has good plate judgement, pitch recognition, and he has just incredible bat speed - he can put the barrel on the ball and rarely gets beat. And Fletcher makes such excellent contact - it's absurd - maybe a little less disciplined, but that makes him less likely to get called out on a fringey strike 3 like Trout. and with his contact skills, he can spoil a good pitch at least as well - probably better - than the other two - I could actually see him being #1 on the list. So, what the hell: Fletcher Rendon Trout But no bad answer among the three, tbh.

And that's what media has become - stories are more about generating controversy and outrage than "facts" because controversy and outrage means more clicks, and more eyeballs, and more money. I'm sure this: sold more copies than this:

That's a big risk for Bauer to take - an injury could cost him 9-figures. I guess if anyone would do that, though, it'd be Bauer...

Not much I can say that someone hasn't already said. "Now he belongs to the ages" fits - his life and legacy will live on long past any of us.

I'd never heard of him 'til you pointed him out. His 'stuff' looks legit - his status is too complex for me to work out - but if there's a way, he'd certainly be someone I'd want to look at ..

It appears he's still attached to Cuban baseball, sent to the NPB to develop. I have *no* idea what hurdles might be necessary to play here - or if he even wants to. He probably has a pretty short shelf-life - an undersized relief pitcher in NPB doesn't bode well for a long career.

That 14.4 SO/9 doesn't suck https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/63965134.html

Wondering if the Dodgers interest is legit, or just Bauer's agent trying to stir the pot, and get someone (us?) to up their offer? I could see the Dodgers interest going up what with the Padres moves - especially if we were to suddenly drop from the bidding and reduce Bauer's leverage a bit. But I have to think the Dodgers pitching depth would allow them to take a pass on Bauer and a painfully expensive and long-term deal. The terms I'm hearing has me leaning towards moving on to plan B - trade for a starter like Gray (Castillo if he's obtainable) - even though the prospect cost will hurt a lot - sign Hand and maybe an OF'er like Joc. Not ideal, but I've spent too many seasons as an Angels fan waiting for some players' egregious contract to expire, and don't look forward to Bauer joining that club.