goldenGlove

That should make you stand out.

he held the super bowl trophy, he's going to the Phillies. This article was probably written before that though so they couldn't have taken that into account

The quote in your sig cracks me up. Classic Mota

The quote in your sig cracks me up. Classic Mota

So what does the rotation look like next year barring there's no trades or FA signings? 
Heaney, Skaggs, Shoemaker, Pena, Barria and maybe one of Suarez or Canning? 
While not bad on paper, I would like to see us acquire a true frontline starter. 
I would trade Skaggs & Canning for deGrom.

I think the Angels are going to resign him.
Arte gave Scioscia a 10-year deal and he signed Pujols. He isn’t going to be cheap with Trout. 

Sat on 95-96 in the 9th, and touching 97...with a low/mid 80s slider perfectly mixed in.
Parker, Anderson, and Buttrey makes for an interesting mix in 2019.   Will Familia join them?   No draft pick would be lost, being a mid-season acquisition by the A’th.   Only concern is the BBs increase since coming to the AL.  He’s still only in his late 20s.

This fuggin' guy. 

At this rate, I'm half expecting him to show up to ST as a legitimate left-handed SP, or perform a brand new surgical procedure he discovers on his own to heal faster.

Because he's as healthy now as he would be at the start of the spring. Might as well try out the elbow and see how it holds up. If he hurts it in the next month he can have the TJ surgery in October and be ready to hit in the spring and pitch for start of 2020. 
If we didn't have him pitch now and he hurts his elbow in March/April then all of a sudden we lose his bat in 2019 and dont get him back until late 2020/ early 2021.

Because he's as healthy now as he would be at the start of the spring. Might as well try out the elbow and see how it holds up. If he hurts it in the next month he can have the TJ surgery in October and be ready to hit in the spring and pitch for start of 2020. 
If we didn't have him pitch now and he hurts his elbow in March/April then all of a sudden we lose his bat in 2019 and dont get him back until late 2020/ early 2021.

Because he's as healthy now as he would be at the start of the spring. Might as well try out the elbow and see how it holds up. If he hurts it in the next month he can have the TJ surgery in October and be ready to hit in the spring and pitch for start of 2020. 
If we didn't have him pitch now and he hurts his elbow in March/April then all of a sudden we lose his bat in 2019 and dont get him back until late 2020/ early 2021.

Nice lineup! Hope Ward can start turning it around soon

Fletcher stepping in perfectly at 2nd with simmons. Love this guy

the best 

His third level this season, much like Adell, Rengifo, Canning and Suarez. 
 

The one thing I really wish the Angels would do is go back to integrating navy blue with the red. 
It was a good look. Needs to come back. 

Sorry about that. I hadn't read their posts.
Carry on.
 

People are saying they liked Anaheim on the front, I’m saying I don’t 

Notes from last night...
Rengifo: 1-3, BB, Thaiss: 0-4, 2 K, Walsh: 0-4 Jose Rojas has been promoted to AAA, hopefully for good, in the wake of Ward's call-up. He struggled a bit in a very small AAA stint earlier in the year. 
Rojas' 2018 AA line: .304/.381/.554/.935 with 21 doubles, 3 triples, 17 home runs, 36 walks, 75 strikeouts, 9-13 in SB attempts, playing 1B, 3B, and a bit at 2B/RF Ivan Pineyro with a second straight great start: 7 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K
His last two starts: 13 IP, 6 hits, 0.69 ERA, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts - but on the year, a .7.08 ERA in 95.1 AAA innings Jeremy Rhoades: 1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 K 
Rhoades' second half: 16.2 IP in 13 games, with 0.00 ERA, .179 BAA, and 5 walks to 17 strikeouts Brandon Marsh: 2-4, R, 3B, BB Rene Rivera: 1-5, R, HR (2), 2 RBI - who gets sent down, Briceno or Arcia?  Brendon Sanger (.326/.453/.535/.988) and Connor Justus (.290/.390/.449/.839) continue to torch A+ pitching after being demoted. Jared Walsh had a similar resurgence after being demoted so they may be worth watching again.  David MacKinnon last 25 games: .333/.438/.536/.974 with 11 XBH, 17 walks, and 15 strikeouts. He has a .401 OBP on the year, with 76 walks to 89 strikeouts.  Adrian De Horta, plucked from the Padres org, last four starts: 18 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5 BB, 21 K, .284 BAA Torii Jr: 0-4, Rivas: 0-4, Orlando Martinez: 2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB - hitting .325 in last 10 games Jose Soriano: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K - now 0-6 with a 5.08 ERA on the year, but he is very young for the Midwest League at 19 Livan Soto's last 22 G/103 PA: .352/.427/.396/.823 with 12 walks to 8 strikeouts. He turned 18 in June. Kevin Maitan: 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R How about this? Nonie Williams last 13 G/61 PA: .269/.344/.577/.921 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 6 walks, 17 strikeouts. Probably the best stretch of his career. Drevian Williams-Nelson: 2-4, R, BB, 2 K, Julio de la Cruz has made the move stateside. 18-yr old infielder with hints og intriguing power/speed/discipline  Johan Sala is hitting well after being bumped back to AZL from Orem: .375/.488/.625/1.113 in 13 G/32 AB - was an interesting intl FA signed a few years back, only 20 years old Emilker Guzman: 31 IP, 2.61 ERA, .224 BAA, 1.03 WHIP with 6 walks to 25 strikeouts, only 19 years old, first year stateside  Galvi Agramonte's first 7 innings stateside: 1.29 ERA, 5H, BB, 7 K Connor Higgins: 15.2 IP, .183 BAA, 13 walks, 19 strikeouts, 4.60 ERA to start his pro career UDFA Parker Joe Robinson, a 6'5" RHP, first 18 pro innings: 1 BB, 19 K, .180 BAA, 0.67 WHIP, 0.50 ERA 18 year old DSL LHP Andersson Espinal: in 16.2 IP, only 5 hits allowed - but also 23 walks to 21 strikeouts 18 year old DSL LHP Samuel Perez: 10 G, 26.2 IP, one walk, 27 strikeouts, to go with a .180 BAA and 0.68 ERA

AO in 2022: “ dammit No-D’shawn!!!! He was the one on the grassy Knoll!!”

Completely ridiculous. Fletch was perfectly straight down the line the entire time in a completely normal running motion and the throw by the pitcher was just bad no matter what 

Good riddance

Good riddance

There is obviously Ohtanitalk sprinkled throughout the forum, but I wanted to open up a discussion about his potential as a hitter vs. as a pitcher. We've seen quite a bit of him now so have a sense of what he can do, so I wanted to see what folks thought his potential was?
A few thoughts:
As a Hitter...(.272/.343/.533, 11 HR, 138 OPS+ in 205 PA)
After an underwhelming spring in which some were thinking his bat was all hype, he started off really strong taking everyone by surprise. He personally reminded me of peak Josh Hamilton: he had that naturalness and seemingly the ability to turn on anything. He gradually started slowing down--or perhaps the league pitchers figured him out a bit. Since returning from injury he's been significantly worse, until yesterday when he had his best day ever and showcased how good he can become.
Best-case scenario I see a true star bat, not unlike Hamilton: maybe .300/.370/.550. Worst-case scenario and he hits more like .270/.330/.500, but given that's about what we've seen so far this year in his rookie season, I see that as the absolute floor. I also think the more he hits, the better he'll be. As a regular he's a true MOTO bat.
As a Pitcher...(3.10 ERA, 20 walks, 61 Ks in 9 starts, 49.1 IP)
Hard to believe we only saw 9 starts from Ohtani. For the most part he pitched very well, other than getting roughed up by the Red Sox and Houston. But no devastating blowouts, and a couple truly ace-caliber performances. But what we saw is a pitcher who arguably has the best stuff in the major leagues, or at least is as good or close to as good as anyone else. Quick question: which pitcher has better stuff? Anyone?
Best-case scenario and Ohtani is one of the best starters in the major leagues, a guy who will have a 2.50 ERA or lower with nasty peripherals. He really could be that good. Worst-case scenario...well, he needs TJS and doesn't return to being the pitcher he was at his best and could be more consistently given time.
Overall: As good as Ohtani can be with the bat, his pitching stuff is what makes him truly special. A .300/.900+ OPS bat would make him one of the top 20 hitters in the game, probably somewhere in the 10-20 range but not top 10. His potential as a starter is top 5.
So while I understand why some hope the Angels just turn him into a full-time hitter, I want to see Shohei reach his full potential, and that is as a hitter and pitcher. 
Here's hoping his arm heals...

How many other teams would still be giving Valnobuena this many at bats?????