Hubs

I went through all of the years at third base under Mike Scioscia. Production from this position has been awful. 
 
In 2000-02, they had what we expect from a prototypical power hitting 3rd baseman. 
 
2003-2006, they tried a bunch of guys and nothing stuck. 
 
2007-2009, Figgins got the majority of the starts, so there was nearly zero power from the spot.
 
2010-2013, Callaspo got the majority of the starts, still no power, and he sucked a lot more than people want to believe.
 
2014, New guys. Freese isn't hitting, Stewart's been ok. McDonald had one game. The most 3B they've used in a season is 7 and the fewest is 2. If Green were to come up it would be at the expense of an extra BP arm, basically a five man pen, or at the expense of a backup OF…with a 25 man roster, they only have room for a four man bench with a full-time DH because they decided to go with Ibanez over an in house option (likely a platoon), they have to figure on a backup OF, backup C, and they have two infielders now.
 
They're not going to bring up Green unless there is an injury to an infielder. Jimenez is a defensive whiz at 3rd, but can't play SS. If he could, then McDonald would be expendable. Jimenez, Green, McDonald, and Freese are all right handed, so with the two primary left handed bats in the outfield out, replacing Stewart with Green or Jimenez makes them even more right handed. 
 
I don't know how to fix the offense, but the Angels have not had consistent production at that spot since 2000-2002…even Figgins wasn't that consistent. Makes you glad for the production they've had from 2nd and SS over the entire Mike Scioscia era. Eckstein, then Cabrera, then Aybar at SS and Kennedy and Kendrick at 2nd, have been very consistent. 

Yeah, not a bright move tossing a MLB career .292 second baseman for a relief arm worth 1/3 his value. I get there is a collective dislike for Kendrick because you guys never seem to see him hit a ball when you want him to but really, just stop it, stop it!

RE-FREAKIN-LAX.
 
There are 154 games to play. They could win them all. 

RE-FREAKIN-LAX.
 
There are 154 games to play. They could win them all. 

Injured players in the AL West, April 2014:
 
Angels
 
Josh Hamilton, Thumb- End of May, Early June
Sean Burnett, Shoulder? - A few weeks still.
Dane De La Rosa, Forearm - Back Friday?
Brian Moran, TJ- Out for year
Ryan Brasier, Elbow Strain
 
Rangers
 
Derek Holland, Knee, All-Star Break
Matt Harrison, April? May?
Jurickson Profar, All-Star Break
Geovany Soto, All-Star Break
Adrian Beltre, Taken out of Game Yesterday, Sent to Arlington for Exam on Quad
Colby Lewis, Hip Replacement, May/June
Joe Saunders, Bruised Ankle, 15-Day DL
Engel Beltre, Fractured Fibula, 60-Day DL
Joe Ortiz, Fractured Foot, 60-Day DL
 
A's
 
Jarrod Parker, TJ, out for year
AJ Griffin, Elbow, May/June
Eric O'Flaherty, 15-Day DL
Jake Elmore, 15- Day DL
Fernando Rodriguez, 15-Day DL
Craig Gentry, 15 - Day DL
 
M's
 
James Paxton, Left Lat Strain 
Hisashi Iwakuma, Tendon in Finger, 6-8 Weeks from March 21, but reportedly might be back sooner
Stephen Pryor, Lat Surgery
Tajiuan Walker, Shoulder
 
Astros
 
 
Alex White
Asher Wojciechowski
Jesse Crain

RE-FREAKIN-LAX.
 
There are 154 games to play. They could win them all. 

If it were up to me, I'd say Long, Green, McDonald and Conger.
 
It's not so it's going to probably be Shuck, Stewart, McDonald and Conger.

I also thought Texas was looking at Scheppers to be a starter

A walk is only good if you can't get a hit.

SUPER GINGER!!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oooops, I may have broken the nickname rules.

How about this? (insanely positive prediction)
 
OPS
 
Pujols .925
Hamilton .900
Trout  1.100
 
Angels:  900 Runs Scored

Don't get comfortable with the way the floor has been open to throw tantrums or troll your agenda's (i.e, Pujols, Scioscia, Dipoto hate etc.) going forward. Things are changing around here.

We will be announcing the new and improved AngelsWin.com experience soon. It is our desire to create a better environment for everyone here, not just for you to bitch and moan. I don't mind ranting and voicing strong opinions, we've always accepted that here. The shoutbox was designed for rants but was rarely used and the board was flooded with non-stop complaints and regurgitated hyperbole.

But I've heard enough from longstanding members of this forum over the past few years that they don't post in the main forum anymore due to the negativity and constant trolling on certain players/coaches/manager..

I've basically come to a point, and not just me, my Mods too, where if you don't like the new rules that will be enforced going forward you can leave. There's always Facebook, Twitter or another Angels Blog you can post on.

Less is of the negativity is more and there's others dying to post again after the negative opinion and voice goes away. I'm not talking about normal groaning and moaning when Jepsen leaves a ball up on an 0-2 count with 2 outs and runners on base, every fan will raise their voices in frustration over that. I'm talking about the daily ripping, hell vilifying on Scioscia, Pujols, Dipoto etc. win or lose. It is called trolling which is against our code of conduct that I have let slide for far too long. The result is a negative tone that has been established here that most of our members and lurkers are sick of. I know, I get the PM's and emails.

Oh and most of these people that are the detractors of the Angels or certain players/managers never show up at our events, never give to our charities or even send a thank you note for the free website and service we provide for you all.

Lastly, while it hasn't helped that the team has missed the playoffs the past four years, I never in my life have seen so much crying and negativity as I have the past two years. I've been a fan since '79 so I endured the worst of consecutive seasons, yet I still went to the games, still hoped for wins and never went on and on about the same things that some of you go off on on a regular basis.

Howie Kendrick is the backup 1B.

Bench in April:
 
Conger (S)
Green (RH)
Romine (S) 
Shuck (LH) 

I think that is missing the forest for the trees, however. If a team has a bad month, it makes it that much harder to win 97 games. Especially the first month, which puts you in a big hole that you spend much of the season digging out of.

The CBT takes only AAV into account. They divide signing bonuses up equally for the length of the contract, despite how they are actually paid out.
 
The CBT also accounts for payroll beyond the top 25 players, the 15 players not on the 25, but on the 40 man get counted for a specific salary depending on their experience, and also they use some of the $189 million for pension and benefits.

I don't understand how people like Mota or Vic the Brick or anyone who doesn't have a smooth, easy delivery on the mic gets a job as a broadcaster. 
 
I miss Rex. 

I don't understand how people like Mota or Vic the Brick or anyone who doesn't have a smooth, easy delivery on the mic gets a job as a broadcaster. 
 
I miss Rex. 

Capuano is not any better than Blanton. 
 
I advocated strongly for guys like Dan Haren, Tim Hudson, Bronson Arroyo, etc. They were better options early in the offseason. I'd also have kept Jerome Williams because a) arbitration salaries are not guaranteed until the first day of the regular season. They could have retained him, and cut him if they signed better starter. While he wasn't excellent last year, he is at least depth.

Arte will try to stay, but if he moves the team to Downtown LA, (Irvine is too far south) or Carson or City of Industry or wherever else, the NFL will jump on Anaheim Stadium land. 

Hubs, after presenting information you asked the readers 9 questions which were not answered.

I'll read this when I get home but I did just want to compliment Hubs for always putting a ton of thought and effort into his threads/posts. I don't always agree with everything you say but you never have an argument that isn't worth reading.

definite double-take on this thread title

To be fair to Mike DiGiovanna if someone is taken off life support, this is usually not a case of good news. It likely means they expect him to not be able to live. And the family has made the decision not to keep him alive with a breathing machine.
 
This is not the same as reporting that he has been taken off life support because he is doing well and breathing on his own. 

I did say to ignore Trout being an option hitting third in this lineup, because I do not believe it is a viable option for 2014, maybe in 2015 or 2016, but not in 2014. Pujols or Hamilton is your #3 batter for the majority of this season. That will only change if they have viable experienced options in the leadoff spot and #2 spot, which they do not have right now. I said in the OP, that Calhoun has nearly zero experience as the leadoff guy, whilst Trout has most of his experience there. Calhoun has usually been the best hitter on the team, and usually hits 2nd or 3rd in the minors. 
 
I will say that the last season the Angels had a leadoff hitter hit for power, the Angels scored 864 runs. Granted that was a different era, but to say that the Angels are wasting Trout's power in the leadoff spot is not true. This was in 2000 when Erstad had an OPS+ of 137, hit .355 with 25 HR. Yes it was the steroid ERA and teams scored more runs, I understand that, that's why I use OPS+.  Our #2 hitters combined for a OPS+ of 94 from that spot, but there wasn't a set person in that spot. Our #3 hitter, Mo Vaughn, hit .272 with an OPS plus of 115. Tim Salmon hit 4th with an OPS+ of 135 and Garrett Anderson followed hitting to an OPS+ of 103. Glaus hit mostly 6th that year and had the best stats on the team.
 
I bring this up for comparison purposes only, but Trout had an OPS+ last year of 179. In 2012, it was 168.
 
I'd expect him to do this again, but even at a slight regression he'd still be awesome. Calhoun's Major League OPS+ last year was 128. Significantly better than the performance of our #2 batter in 2000. Pujols had an OPS+ of 138 in 2012, and was down last year primarily due to his foot injury. Hamilton has no excuse, but in the second half, he hit to an OPS+ of 125. 
 
My point with all these numbers is to say that the Angels are well positioned to have success from the 1-9 batters in their lineup. Even their worst regular batter, Aybar, isn't a bad hitter by any means, and should carry OPS+ above 90, and could have a good year above 105. Only a few SS each year will outperform that number.
 
Here's the projected lineup with OPS+ from 2013, plus also their best single season mark from the last three years.
 
Trout +179 (best)
Calhoun +128 (best)
Pujols +116 (+148 in 2011)
Hamilton +108 (+130 in 2011)
Freese +101 (+129 in 2012)
Ibanez +128 (best)
Kendrick + 118 (+126 in 2011)
Iannetta +109 (best)
Aybar +93 (+110 in 2011)