70runner

Win a couple against a pitiful Cinci team and suddenly the Angels are playoff material in 17. Hope does spring eternal. Pujols will be older, slower, and likely fatter next year...likely slug it out with Ortiz for the GIDP leader. SP will be another big question mark even if Richards returns, too much Tommy John uncertainty. BP could be much better with healthy Bedrosian, Morin, maybe Jansen. Street not closer, maybe a setup guy. If Cron learns how to hit offspeed stuff and play IB, Cowart assumes full time 2B, with Reddick or Jay in LF, maybe just maybe a 500 team.

maybe apply a little of that to losing about 40lbs so he can actually run

Toronto after game crew going on about how amazing it is that Dickey has kept Pujols hitless in 13ABs. Truly a miracle.

Didn't take many boons at ASU, but the booze, a crucial ingredient of engineering school curriculum.

They also tried 4 different managers, perhaps searching for a higher success rate. The enlightened ones around here are peddling the notion that a crappy team is not a reflection of this manager. A baseball team now in the running for the worst of the worst should not consider replacing the manager if his name is Scioscia. Injuries, fading big stars, a stinky team, sunspots, whatever, Scioscia should not be held accountable for one WS success in 17yrs and 1 playoff appearance in the last 7yrs. Maybe it's time to search for a higher success rate.

Scioscia skipping the post game meal

Exactly. Manager makes out the lineup card, 1-5/6 same every night. He turns the page promptly but not the lineup card. Meanwhile Trout leads the AL in walks largely because Pujols can barely hit his weight. 10 losses in a row, maybe time for a change? Not in Sciosciaville. When the team is winning, we hear about how wonderful Scioscia is. When they are losing we hear about how shitty the team is and not even Scioscia can fix it. Bring up the kids, can't get any worse than it is.

Exactly. Why the Angels must keep Scioscia steering the ship. Except for some injuries the last place, losers of 7 straight, competing for the worst record in MLB Angels would be kicking ass.

Lindor to Naps...dude, you used to play for these guys???

Lets keep this ship heading in the same direction. Sign Scioscia for another 10yrs.

The Carpino interview does sound like something out of the Scioscia post game handbook. "Accountability and community commitment radiates...", just wow...

No it doesn't/isn't. Dump the two 10yr contracts, bring in the kids. If a team is going to wallow in the cellar I'd much rather watch a team with youth and energy guided by an enthusiastic manager who isn't so anxious to turn the page than one with too many comfy vets past their prime.

Interesting hypothetical. Enjoyed the giggling spike when, after summarizing the prospect math, oops, remembered Pujols @29M in 2020.

Interest in a 33yr old, 88mph closer with a 6+ era would only come from the Angels and they already got one.

Angels should extend him another 10yrs.

Beyond the monotone commentary on pitching, "driving" the ball, and Pujol's meaningless career stats, Goober will be remembered for his Capt Obvious replays.

wowser

I'm also a subscriber to the falsified birth certificate theory, not exactly unprecedented in the Dominican Republic. A time chart of OBP, for example, illustrates peak performance in 2008-9. His other metric charts display a similar pattern. The steep decline began in 2009 (certificate age 29), although performance levels remained well above avg for a couple more years which would be expected for an inner circle guy. These charts may suggest an even larger age discrepancy than your projection. Perhaps already in his early 40s which would put him at 32-34 during the peak (rather than 28-29 per the birth cert).

Street is finished as a closer, except perhaps in Scioscia's world. Since the injury he's lost several mph on the fastball, heading into Weaver territory. He seems reluctant to throw it anymore, since it typically gets ripped. So hitters are now pounding his offspeed stuff. No matter tho, the Angels of late are rarely in need of a closer. The line of GM's waiting to jump on an old, worn out, soft tossing closer would be about as large as the line of GM's waiting to trade for Pujols.

One more reliable bat around...Pujols? The same $240M cleanup hitter who's OBP has been below MLB average since midseason 2014? Short of Trout, Calhoun, there's nothing on this team of value, least of all Scioscia's turn-the-page demeanor while his team flounders 18 games behind the Rangers. Yea, yea, I know it's never Scioscia's fault. Just like Obama. Rebuild, retool, selloff, blow it up, whatever, for every option the Angels are stuck with Pujols & Scioscia. Trying to restore a competitive oval track car with the wrong steering wheel and an overweight, bald tire.

Look at the bright side, we have Scioscia and Pujols cemented in place with 10yr contracts.

Pujols, leaving gaggles of RISP since the HR. Thankfully Scioscia keeps him hitting cleanup behind Trout.

The first plunge into the Angels abyss was Moreno awarding Scioscia a 10yr contract extension in 2009. Since that extension, the Angels have won the division twice in 8yrs (counting 2016), with a 5-7 post season record. Moreno, apparently on a roll, in 2012 purchased a declining Albert Pujols for $240M with another 10yr contract, recently listed by ESPN as the worst contract in baseball. Two too many 10yr contracts (another poll option?). Hamilton abortion, injuries, et al. Still got Trout, about the only reason to watch Angels baseball.

Angels don't suck...they are just a couple players from dominance. Plus we got albert.

Must turn the page. Think of where this team would be without the calming influence of the longest tenured manager in baseball. Wait...