Dtwncbad

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.

1 hour ago, Lou said:

Why trade a guy who's name we know will be written in the lineup every day for a guy who's name we HOPE will be?

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?

6 hours ago, ettin said:

Hi Dtwncbad,

I have to put some boundaries on this series and one of them is how likely we are to actually trade a player. Although I certainly don't disagree with you about Calhoun's value, it is high, but when you consider the hole it would create and the fact the Angels just extended him you have to believe it is Eppler's intent to keep him for next season. Based on that outside looking in evidence I kept him off the list. I almost kept Maldonado off the list as I think the Angels will keep him and even extend him but I leaned the other way with him.

Part of the work I've done in analyzing the trade deadline has also been preparing for the Primer Series in the off-season by looking at team payroll and the opportunities the Angels will have in free agency and some possible trade candidates. I don't think the Angels have to move Kole to be honest in order to fill the other holes we have. That can be accomplished with the large amount of free payroll and trade opportunities in my humble opinion. Time will tell the story.

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.

I know how hard it is to get front line pitching.  But at the same time I just view that as the GM's job.

If you are going to be in the car show business and your 57 Chevy needs a rare expensive part. . .like a legit engine. . .

You dont roll into the same car show every year with extra sharp tires and an extra coat of wax hoping having the incorrect undersized engine won't matter.

This is pro sports.  Go get an ace, and I dont really want to hear how hard it is.

Or at the very least be honest and just say you are at the car show just for funsies and a t-shirt for participation.

The team is extremely boring and has glaring weaknesses.  The GM and owner gotta figure it out.  Be accountable fellas.  

5 hours ago, totdprods said:

None of the ace guys make me feel comfortable. Estrada, Cobb, Chatwood, Tillman, Garcia, Lynn....any of those guys will probably give you more bang for the buck. Pineda is the closest thing to a TORP arm that I'd be willing to gamble on.

Someone like Estrada would be great. We need healthy, durable, solid arms to chew up innings at the back end as badly as we need a #1-2 type.

I literally could not disagree more.  My whole life I have watched teams try to shore up a rotation by adding "depth" at the back and either it doesn't work or they sneak into the playoffs and they are grossly overmatched 1 thru 3 in the postseason and they get blown out.

This team is desperately in need of two front line starters, with the likes of Richards, Skaggs, and Heaney as depth behind them.

You could even have this season's pathetic offense and that rotation might get to the postseason.

36 minutes ago, nando714 said:

The angels have nothing to lose if they want to keep him around. He hasn't done anything in 2 and a half years by next season 

I agree but I am fearful the Angels will convince themselves that a "healthy" Richards means they don't "need" another top of the rotation pitcher.

An organization committed to winning would plan on Richards being no more than a #3.  If you plan a roster relying on Richards as a 1 or a 2 at this point, you are begging for failure.

If you have a legit 1 and 2, then IF (big if) Richards gets dialed in you have something that could do some damage.

This team needs top end starting pitching to have any chance.

No quantity of Tropeanos makes a dangerous postseason team.

I got no time to fight any more.  Back in the day though. . .

Is Vernon Wells available?

My comment wasn't to rip Reggie personally.  He was a blue collar player surviving and I admire that.

The comment was sarcastic in terms of "here we go on filling holes with low/no impact players". . .

2017 has been a joke.  I'm fine punting a season, but then PUNT!

This team has got to move any and every body that doesn't look like a critical piece of a deep playoff run roster.

Yard sale.

There is no reason NO REASON to be idle at the trade deadline.  At this point I could not care less about losing 100 games.  I want to see progress in building a real team.

I heard Reggie Willits has begun a stretching program.

Team Batting .240/.316/.380

Considering what that would look like without Trout. . .

Almost unwatchable.

Hate to be technical but the "ultimate" respect is doing it, not thinking of doing it.

Getting?