ScruffytheJanitor

It's not "that much" when you are looking at just a one year commitment. Worst case scenario is $17m mill down the drain, something far more preferable than what we ended up having with Hamilton, or even Pujols. Every league average player is likely to receive the QO.

I would pass. Good player and if we had about $20m more payroll flexibility I would take that gamble, but it's too much of a commitment in dollars and years at this point, and limits our ability to improve SP, RP, and overall financial depth and flexibility. A cheaper option would still represent a sizable improvement in LF without the risk. Also, Calhoun produced more WAR than Cespedes, which I found interesting and a bit surprising.

Good Lord. 

Good Lord. 

I thought Swanson was Ric Wilson's replacement. Hal Morris was Pro Scouting, Swanson is the overall Scouting Director. 

thanks for posting the interview. Interesting.
I don't blame DiPoto -- if you know good people in the game that you can work with well -- get 'em on your side.
makes sense
sometimes these front office 'free agent' moves/ departures help or hurt a team as much or more than certain player movements.
 

We know that Mathis would rather throw to 1B anyway.

I actually asked someone in the front office about him recently and they weren't that impressed. Think he is fine as a utility guy but couldn't play every day. 

I still don't understand how someone named Richard Brandon Wood didn't try the adult film industry.. 

Wait. Maybe I'm not understanding this, but it seems like you're saying that you think a nearly .200 point jump in OPS from the year before and .160 jump from his previous career high isn't sustainable? 

Scotty thinks Jett Bandy should be in place of Soto but then you have two very inexperienced catchers on the team.  Always smart to have a vet backup when you have a young C.
 
Salas/Ramos make no difference to me.  Obviously Scioscia and Eppler feel Salas is better.  I think both of them are crap.

I don't have an issue with Soto, because the move hasn't cost us Bandy..   Had the Angels had to expose Bandy to the Rule V or anything along those lines.   I'd be pretty bitter.   If Bandy blows up and Soto tanks -- they still have him n the fold.   But a team with a payroll as big as the Angels can't really risk going into a season with two relative unknowns at catcher.

I seriously do not like Salas. Can't believe he was kept over Ramos. Ugh! 
 
Outside of that, I'm happy with Eppy so far. I think there's more good stuff to come from him. 

Yep....  It wasn't about production, it was about not going into a MLB season with two inexperienced catchers.   

Claude I say this will all due respect, you are literally repeating the exact same "guess" in every forum. By now everyone that has read this forum since the end of the season knows your opinion about Arte as it relates to the luxury tax.

Wait, guys, here it is. We didn't lose it; it just slid underneath the seat of my Pontiac Grand-Am. MY BAD. 

Wait, guys, here it is. We didn't lose it; it just slid underneath the seat of my Pontiac Grand-Am. MY BAD. 

Wait, guys, here it is. We didn't lose it; it just slid underneath the seat of my Pontiac Grand-Am. MY BAD. 

We have TONS of pitching......on the DL.

Jason Dickson should have been allowed to sue Terry Collins.  
In 1996 he was leading the minors in IP.. was recalled in September and threw another 43 innings, piitching nearly 230 innings overall... He was then sent to winter ball and again led the league in IP.  He pitched so well the Angels wanted to get a good look at him in ST and they did as he led the Angels in IP during ST.  Dude made the team and then led the Angels in IP in 1997...   It's estimated he was allowed to pitch over 350 innings in a calendar year between 1996 and 1997....     Dickson shows up in ST of 98 -- complains of stiffness and is told to pitch more..    Stiffness continues, Terry Collins talks about his need to toughen up and put in more work as a major leaguer.  Dickson starts throwing harder, hitting the low mid 90s, balls are flattening out...  stiffness remains...   He struggles, gets sent down and only after pitching 150+ innings and after his shoulder is heard to be making a popping sound every time he throws a ball is he actually looked at....     

I will never forget the report that the Dr. upon looking in his shoulder said that it looked at though someone had set off a grenade in his arm -- that it was all masses of flesh and that you couldn't tell it was a human shoulder.  The last pitch Dickson had thrown was clocked at 96 MPH, the kid was working.  When asked for comment, Terry Collins response to the news was that as hard as he was throwing it didn't seem anything was wrong with him.   His having basically done everything but call the guy a pussy was glossed over and Jason Dickson was never the same.

There are many reasons I disliked Collins -- but his treatment of pitchers stands out as his greatest sin.  It's really no shock that Mets pitchers have been coming down with injuries left and right IMO, the best thing that can happen to those guys is Collins retires..   I wonder if he has learned anything or if he still thinks a pitcher saying he is hurting is signs the pitcher is a pussy.   Terry Collins was a c%nt.

I think they have valid concerns.  I guess MLK and his group should have had better things to do.

I'm still waiting on Chevy Clarke and Travis Witherspoon to pan out.

I wasn't aware that specific religions were responsible for government funding 

unlike abortions 

The main problem with Gary Johnson as the libertarian candidate is that he really isn't a libertarian. He's basically a mediocre Republican that's in favor of pot legalization.