ScruffytheJanitor

A starters value is not only just the fact that they pitch more innings, they also pitch more meaningful innings. More ballgames are decided in innings 1-6 that could be decided on the last three. I think that the only reason closers are getting paid so much is because there are fewer ways to spend cash now. Can't spend much on the draft, can't throw crazy money at international free agents, and marquis free-agents cost a draft pick. Compared to singing a 4th starter, paying $60 Million for a closer seems a lot more palatable.

Some people get all the brains. These people aren't those people.

My cousin who has herpes, is totally honest about it, and STILL gets action can confirm this.

Julian Assange looks like the creepy guy who stares at you in the coffee shop and makes you change your order to "to go." I have nothing substantive to add to this.

I feel like the URL is a summary of the article.

I agree whole heartedly. Case by case is different, but once I can see that a player is just BETTER than the people at his level, I move him up. The main reasons to hold someone back are: 1) if they are STUPID young; 2) If they are young and stupid; 3) they have one major hole in their game ("He's hitting .425 against fastballs...and .125 against sliders"), and 4) A player goes from being a "Single-A burnout" to "The second coming of Mickey Mantle" for four months.

I agree that "spending money" isn't a great argument for why we suck; Arte has paid money time and time again. The issue is that we gambled on a series of players that have either not panned out in terms of production (Pujols, Hamilton) or have produced fine but drained the farm system in the process (Greinke, Haren).

I like it. There is almost no downside and it is a great upside play. It may be better to try Banuelos, Meyer, and someone like Deolis Guerra as a starter than it is to sign Rich Hill and think that would solve our issues (in the sense that Hill would make us a contender). Our path to competing next will will require hitting on a few lotto tickets and a few shrewd FA moves Given that approach, I really like the numbers Eppler is picking so far.

I had a roommate that played baseball in College, and I was thisclose to getting him to play "99 Red Balloons" as his walk-up song during a home-stand with Vanderbilt (which involved not-a-few scouts).

This may shock you, but-- in terms of Managerial duties-- Scioscia just does not have that much of an impact on outcomes of games. Not because he's good, bad or average, but because, by and large, Managers just don't impact the outcomes of games all that much. While he sometimes makes weird decisions, he's always been pretty good at managing a bullpen-- one of the most direct applications of in-game management. Further more, I actually like Scioscia's strategy (aggressive approach and that whole deal) is great for the right team. Don't misunderstand me; I would like a new manager. I think his tactical approach is often wanting, and if half the stuff that came out with the DiPoto departure are true, he probably should have been fired on the spot. The fact that he will fall in love with certain player/ coaches that are CLEARLY inferior (Hatcher/ Mathis, come on down) is enough to give him the boot. What REALLY irks me is that he seems to have a lot of control over how the Angels run their franchise-- and, while that's probably common, it's just not something Scioscia does very well at all.

I think the A's and Rays would qualify as two teams that may be more hopeless. No money, bad ownership, awful stadiums. I also think that both franchises get moved within a decade. It seem crazy to move the A's (I don't think Tampa/St. Petersburg deserves a team), but unless their owner puts up the money or Manfred can force a sale, I just think that's the end game. I also think that California has too many teams as it is. Personally, I'd move the A's to Montreal and the Rays to Nashville (or, maybe, Charlotte). You can make the MLB more international and put a team in the southeast where, let's face it, it's the Braves or nothing-- which, considering how big Baseball is in the South, always seemed like a mistake. The biggest obstacle is Nashville's new AAA stadium, but hell: I'd rather watch a game there any day of the week.

The ease of the lyric, the subtle yet unmistakable nod to the greats like Yeats, Shakespeare, and 2 Chainz, the hidden vacillation between Trimeter, Tetrameter, and the noise of a mongoose choking on buscuit-- when added to the raw emotion few poets have ever accessed, this truly is Art as few in history have ever made it.

I'd take that all week and twice on Sundays. He's basically what Scioscia thought he saw in Mathis.

My eyes just rolled so hard, my eyeballs rolled out of my head.

Guys: After feeding Trout's stats into my patented MATH-MO-TRON, I can conclude: We need to trade him now before everyone realizes the gig is up. Yankees: We need Judge, Bird, Sanchez, Sheffield. Clearly, these last eight at-bats signal a deep, historic decline of incredible proportions.

Their plan? Trade bad players, keep good ones. I am surprised by this AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT analysis. "Cut bait with Jared Weaver" you say? Quick! Someone contact Eppler pronto! Sign a FA pitcher, you say? Arte: WHY ISN'T THIS GUY THE GM?

He had a very flukey first half this year. Was basically mashing everything. Basically, he had a small spike in fly ball percentage and a HUGE spike in HR-to-Fly ratio (especailly compared to his last two seasons. He's also pulling more than he has in the past. That means he was hittin' dem home runs at a crazy rate (even for him), which made everyone forget that he's been a SUCH a superfund site in the field that he's only cobbled together a WAR of just over 1.

Exactly. We have enough (one-year, hopefully) slots open on next year's staff that this makes complete sense.

...for a waiver claim? It sounds like it was a simple waive-and-claim; no prospects reported.

Sure, why not. If you buy enough raffle tickets, eventually you'll get to drive that sweet golf cart home.

You get to pay for lots of free agents?

Additionally: He got Pujols and Wilson in one winter's meeting. Remember: Angels fans were DESPERATE to sign the big name that off-season after being repeatedly spurned.

Holy statistics, Batman. There are some impressive names on that list.

This is %100 true. We really are pretty good on offense. There are a surprising number of good options for left field (Reddick, Saunders, Fowler, heck even John Jay) and Justin Turner might be a good option as well. Hell, even Steve Pierce could have a good role on this club. The only turd in this punch bowl is that the Angels need about 4-6 pitchers (2-3 starters, at least 1 good bullpen option) and I just don't know that we can get the caliber of pitchers we need. Makes me wonder if someone like Cron could be on the move;there is more power in the market than there are arms, and we NEEED arms.

I agree. My only tweaks/ suggestions: 1. DOUBLE the bonus pool for each team, if the "slotting" system has to remain. 2. If they really want teams to benefit from losing a free agent, they could just have a comp round after the 1st, where the 10 teams that have lost the most net production from the year before due to free agency get a pick. That's it. I get that this rule was more about protecting smaller clubs from getting raided by the Yankees, but that's a joke these days. Local networks, internet money: If any team really wants a player in free agency, they can get them. 3. Make picks in the 1st and 2nd round tradeable; would have to include a "Stepien" rule about having to make a first round pick at least every-other year. After that, I am OK with No trades after the first round (the draft is long enough not to have to include windows between picks to allow for trading). 4. I'd like for them to design a way for the draft to eventually just include all amateur players. I sort of see why there has to be an international draft, but I don't know if that will be true in 10 years. 5. Abolish the freaking competitive balance picks. It's just dumb. Does anyone REALLY think the Reds or the Cardinals need extra early round picks?