Dtwncbad

I agree and this what I am talking about. Smart people in the organization should probably be working on "helping" Albert decide an actual plan. Like get your 3000 hits in 2018 and be on a farewell tour.

No thanks. I don't really need your approval.

Sorry to disappoint you but I had a whole career in sports communications in my twenties and spent plenty of time talking to future hall of gamers fave to face. The main reason I left the business was money. But one thing I learned that really disappointed me was the number of people in that business that were intimidated by the players or that very much seemed to care more about being accepted by the players than asking the hard question. There was always that guy in the room or more than one. It was pretty lame.

I don't "want him to quit". . .I am a huge Pujols fan. I simply think it is obviously time to start learning where he is mentally on his plan. The performance this year is notable. A fair FAN of both him and the team has this subject surging in their brain right now.

Yeah that was a mistake and I think I explained the context and subsequent post. Not personal. Should have worded differently to make it generic. Lots of people in that business wont ask hard questions. That's real. I don't know Jeff. I just would like the subject pushed.

It's nothing like that. But let me fix you example to make it accurate. It would be like if everyone knows taco bell WILL at some point stop selling tacos and switch to omelets, and in the meantime the quality of their tacos became almost inedible. Uh, people probably would start pushing for an answer when the switch to omelets was happening. I guess I ruffled a couple of feathers pushing. Don't take offense. I believe it is about time to push the subject and you disagree. That's fine but I won't apologize for knowing there are lots and lots of people in your business that will avoid hard questions. So if someone says this is a ridiculous question and I dont agree, then wondering out loud abput fear isnt unreasonable. No personal offense intended, my belief is your profession carries organically some of this scrutiny.

Oh please dude. Jeff is in a business that carries accountability to his CUSTOMERS. I doubt he is actually personally offended with a fan having a reasonable opinion that a huge subject at the center of an organization's plans going forward be directly prodded and addressed rather than passively ignoring it. He's probably a big boy. No it is not out of line to start asking direct questions to Pujols about when he will choose to retire. It's not. You might ask 100 times in a row until he answers, just like people asked potential presidential candidates if they are running or not for literally years until they finally answer. If you don't care when Pujols retires, cool. I care and want to know. As soon as possible. Wanting dude to ask isnt.put of line. You are wrong.

OK Jeff. So just wait and never ask. Suit yourself. Wait forever until he brings it up. Good plan. That sounds nice and safe, and maybe he will so appreciate you that you guys will be buddies, right? Give me a break on not asking a question because you know the answer. 98% of the questions you guys DO ask fall into that category. Its not where I thought this conversation was originally going, but maybe you just don't have the nads.

This is a total copout. Nobody expects Pujols to announce his retirement tomorrow or for the Angels to bench him. The elephant in the room is what is the plan? Asking about next season and if Pujols has considered retiring after next season is a no brainer, unless you are afraid to ask the question. What honest fan does not see the decline? What honest fan is not interested in his retirement plan? The answer is there are no honest fans not interested in getting an indication.

I cannot even remotely figure out how you think the Angels "need" Albert right now.

How about a baseline expectation that a "professional" have the skills to ask a relevant question in a professional way? Too many sports "professionals" either don't have the skills or they are intimidated by the pro athlete and they don't have the knees.

Are you afraid to ask real, obvious questions? "You would project to reach 3000 hits in 2018, basically checking off every monster milestone anybody would ever dream of in a career. . .have you considered 2018 as a possible farewell tour season?" It's a fair question and an honest question. It's not that hard.

When he signed his ten year deal I said a hundred times that I didn't honestly believe that the Angels thought he would be a productive player for ten years. I said they likely thought he would be productive for 6 or 7 years, but that they structures the deal as a 10 year contract really more as spreading out the cost. I really hope the Angels and Albert are disciplined to make some good decisions. Albert would hit 3000 hits next season. They should announce that 2018 will be his farewell tour. Albert hurts his legacy if he lingers through age 42 with pathetic numbers. I THINK he is too smart for that. He has over 600 hr now and getting 3000 hits is a plus for his legacy. I hope I am proven right from the beginning and they announce 2018 as the last chapter.

How about to address a specific positional need if you project it is far easier to replace an OF than it is to find a 3B?

No the Angels don't have to move Kole. They don't have to move anyone. My point on Kole is he is the kind of player that can make a difference for a team in the hunt. Proven matters. I'm not in ahurry to trade Kole. I like him a lot. I'm just being realistic that this is the kind of player that gets you a prospect that safely projects to be a name that will written into a starting lineup for multiple seasons. I think it is more realistic to acknowledge that Kole's name WILL be a common subject on Epplers phone, that's all.

To be clear, one of the differences between group one and group two is length of remaining contract. More control can bring back more value. . . On that point the Angels should be AT LEAST as interested in moving players from group two. Get something that matters. Also, Calhoun is not listed as a potential trade candidate? Whether you love him and want to keep him or not, the reality is Calhoun is the DNA of a player teams in a playoff run will overpay for. Calhoun name will be the subject of a whole lot of conversations on Eppler's phone calls.

It seemed like the main point he made on the spot at the draft was he just wanted to "get to work." So far he is a man of his word.

Silver lining is anything that happens to the Angel pitching staff that helps convince the owner and then GM that they need an elite starter is fine with me.

Can he play second?

Revere has no role going forward. Trade him or dump him. And I certainly like Calhoun but I can't ignore that he may be the one player most likely to bring the Angels a high quality prospect in a trade that could be part of a long term solution.

Please please please please please do not draft an arm that does not project to #1 or #2 starter quality. "Could be an innings eater and round out a rotation" is like asking me to be excited about going to some random cousins second wedding in Laughlin serving chicken thighs and PBR.

Whether we like it or not, mlb is becoming a home run contest. Pitchers make mistakes and the game is now set up to get a run or runs out of that ONE mistake rather than a bullet single. If each team gets the same number of mistake pitches in a game, the team loaded with all the power that punishes those mistakes is often going to win over the team that sprays the ball. I dont want to use a high first round pick on somebody I cannot imagine hitting in the middle of the lineup. Get some power.

Latest rumor. . . At the #10 pock, the Angels may take C Luis Campusano to finish the puzzle for the future platoon with Taylor Ward. It is unknown which of the two would be converted to a left handed hitter.

I am not a fan of Haseley at #10. He is a safe bet to be a big leaguer, but I am afraid he will be a comer outfielder that hits 12 homers. . . And is nothing more than a plug in body complimentary player on a roster. I hate drafting guys like that because you can always just sign a second tier outfielder if you need one. I want a higher ceiling, potential high impact player. I am praying Adell is there at #10. Also I know Haseley would get to the big leaguers a couple years before Adell and we have the Trout window to consider. Bit what would you prefer? To have a pedestrian bat at a corner OF spot reaching the majors OR have a dynamic elite toolsy Adell at AA to use as trade equity for a high impact player to pair with Trout?

Wood gets ripped on and I won't join that crowd. He was a first class gentleman that worked hard and had some very impressive and entertaining baseball talent. I used to travel to Utah a lot and I would plan trips to make sure I could go to a Bees games. I became a fan who rooted for heavily. His final ceiling should not change how I view him now. Ultimately (for lots of reasons) he could not bridge the gap between AAA and the majors. I absolutely respect him and won't use him as a punchline like other people do.