ScruffytheJanitor

Was doing okay before though, and Sosh even spoke positively about him as depth a few days back.

Richards has been cleared to begin throwing so far from 60 or 90 feet. he needs to throw from 180 feet before throwing from the mound.

If you are going by weight, it's like filling TWO rotation spots!

I think this is largely BS. Yes, they miss on the occasional Calhoun but in this site everyone is going to be a star or average starter. Yeah, they haven't rated the Angels system well, but frankly it's been total shit since Trout graduated and they traded Segura. It's been what, 6 years and Calhoun is the best player produced since then. Not only that but Cam Bedrosian is probably second. Maybe, it's Cron but even you just remarked how bad our 1B situation is.
Yeah, we currently have a lot of guys at really low levels who have high ceilings. You know who else does? Every other team. You know who has scrappy late developers in the higher levels who are putting up decent numbers like Hermosillo? Everyone else. 80% of both these categories wash out. The national publications are going to be lower on them and will miss on them when they make it. Angels specific sights will be higher on them and miss on them when they bust. 

How the heck do they rate Barria a 45 overall, when his individuals  are 50 to 60?

I can't see the Kotchman comparisons. Kotch was a brilliant fielder and supposed to be a hitting machine. 
Thaiss was never projected to be that. I think people are simply looking at what Kotchman became and seeing that as a Thaiss comp, but the two weren't ever on the same page as a prospect.

Keep in mind that only about one year ago, Thaiss was still playing college ball, and he's already in AA, holding his own.
He's played virtually one full season now in pro ball, 163 games, and he's slashing .277/.356/.417/.773 with 180 hits, 92 runs, 33 doubles, 14 homers, 8 triples, 95 RBIs, and 70 walks to 108 strikeouts. All while playing a new position.
He may not be the most exciting prospect but his ability to climb the system quickly while exhibiting good patience, contact, and power potential and be almost MLB-ready already offsets that need for prospect sexiness.

I guess we'll have to hit our way to 78 wins.  

Why is it only ever the young pitchers with a modicum of upside? Nolasco could probably get misted at point blank range by an anti-aircraft gun and still somehow regenerate his body in time to give up 7 runs the next day, while one of our young guys goes one day without hitting their daily water intake recommendation and they're done for the year. WTF...

Cashman is just waiting by the phone for inquiries on CC Sabathia. 

This has to be some kind of record, right? Our entire top 5 of the rotation on the DL plus Meyer and probably 6 others I'm forgetting.

Who?

All I could think of is that perhaps we are talking to the Phils about Cesar Hernandez, and their asking price remains high, so we are looking at prospects they would include in the deal.
If I remember correctly, the speculation last winter was Skaggs for Hernandez.

The Nick Franklin Era has truly begun.

Jose Alvarado isn't a ranked prospect, but he also pitched Durham and he seems like an Eppler-type arm.
I agree that Bauers and Adames aren't likely the targets, unless someone like Bedrosian was in play.
Rays are interesting. They're a club that could still use some depth at LF, CIF, C, and RP - and while it's unlikely, they could still sell a major arm like pending FA Cobb for some much-needed prospects and fill SP from within with Honeywell.
If they were to theoretically deal away a good SP and get a good OF prospect back in a package, something like a JC Ramirez and RP for a top prospect like Bauers and Alvarado could make some sense. It'd depend dramatically on how the Angels view Ramirez going forward and if they see Bauers as a legit talent. 

Rays prospects make a lot of sense. They're actively seeking pen help, and we have a lot of it. Their need is ramped up after the Yankees landing Robertson and Kahnle. I imagine they just happened to be playing the Phillies AAA team.
2B Willy Adames (#1), OF/1B Jake Bauers (#4), 1B Casey Gillaspie (#5), and RHP Ryne Stanek (#16) were the Rays top prospects that played yesterday. 
 

Norris for Hu.

Kyle Glaser‏Verified account @KyleAGlaser  2m2 minutes ago More Decent amount of scout heat here in Durham tonight. #Orioles, #Angels, #Cardinals all here checking out #Phillies and #Rays prospects

Good player that I would love to have, but I don't know if I would be willing to deplete the farm for a player like Brantley. 
 

It's different though if said player doesn't require a very good prospect at a needed position to be sent in exchange, like with Segura/Grienke. 

Meyer's first 5 starts, his BB/9 was 6.9
Meyer's last 8 starts, his BB/9 is 4.9, so there is some signs of improvement.

His season BB/9 of 5.6 is almost tolerable so long as he keeps his H/9 around 6 or 7. 

Eppler basically got him for Alan Busenitz. 

Great performance from him tonight. Would have been nice to see if he could have gone for the shutout. Finished on 88 pitches

Calling it now, Alex Meyer will be our Ace, starting next year. 18-3 with 2.20 ERA and 200 k's 

For Long and Barria, I see them like this: If the Angels get an injury to their staff super early in the season, I think they may look to the trade market. After mid-may, Barria and Long are going to be battling for those starts. It wouldn't surprise me if Long was looked at as a bullpen option next year (as a backup plan, not from the get-go).  
 

I had a few rum and cokes tonight.