2020worldseries

It has been fun to watch Eppler slowly build a pen.    The main issue is Anderson's control, that won't fly in the long run. 

Passing along another update...
While I would still like to see Eppler add another solid vet RP in the offseason (and yes, a David Robertson type would be nice) I don't think the bullpen needs as much work as many would think. 

Cam Bedrosian: since allowing 4 ER in Detroit on May 30th...
3.18 ERA in 39.2 IP,  with 13 BB, 38 K, 3 HR

Blake Parker: since allowing runs in three straight games in June....
2.97 ERA in 30.1 IP, with 6 BB, 26 K but also 6 HR

Hansel Robles: since July 4th...
2.61 ERA in 31 IP, with 25 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, and 14 BB to 28 K

Justin Anderson:
First 28 IP: 3 HR, 20 BB, 36 K, .257 BAA, 3.86 ERA
Last 27.1 IP: 0 HR, 20 BB, 31 K, .165 BAA, 4.28 ERA

Jose Alvarez: since July 23rd...
1.71 ERA in 21 IP, .181 BAA, 7 BB, 21 K, 0 HR allowed
He made 50 appearances in our first 99 games, only 25 in our last 58.

Taylor Cole: taking away his two 'starts'...
1.44 ERA in 31.1 IP (in 15 G) with a 0.70 WHIP, .140 BAA, 1 HR allowed, and 8 BB to 30 K

Noe Ramirez:
April - May: 3.34 ERA in 28 G, 32.1 IP with 39 K, 1 HR allowed
6.03 - 7.28: 6.84 ERA in 21 G, 26.1 IP with 32 K, 11 HR allowed
7.31 - now: 3.91 ERA in 19 G, 23 IP with 23 K, 3 HR allowed

Jim Johnson: 
First 40.2 IP - 34 strikeouts, .253 BAA, 4 HR allowed, and 14 BB
Last 20.2 IP - only 8 strikeouts, .308 BAA, 4 HR allowed, and 8 walks

Deck McGuire: since Aug. 17...
3.86 ERA in 11.2 IP, .231 BAA, 9 BB, 9 K

Williams Jerez: a little rebound after his stretch following the Arizona game...last 4 games:
0.00 ERA in 4 G, 2.1 IP, H, BB, 4 K

Ty Buttrey: even with his 'struggles'...
3.31 ERA (and a 1.62 FIP!) in 16.1 IP, with 5 BB to 20 K, and 0 HR allowed
 

Ward is TRASH

Yeesh.  That's certainly an awful way to start a career, but 1) Nick Adenhart has nothing to do with it; 2) Kid wasn't even 18 yet, if I recall. 
If every kid that did something stupid with alcohol before the age of 20 has "very poor character," then you must think a lot of otherwise good people to be pretty crappy. Again, this isn't ideal, but it's a different thing from, say, assaulting a woman (or a dude, for that matter).

Always click on the OC Register links even if I don't read the article.
Glad to do my part.

I don't see any reason to believe he won't be the same underwhelming player he has been for the last few years.
Everyone expected him to settle into being a dangerous offensive player and it hasn't really happened.
He has 4 years $63m left on his contract.
Would you sign him to a 4/63 deal if he was a free agent??
Pass.
 

He had his hot streak at just the right time to fool someone.  Red Sox bit on him.

I want to see Shohei hit 4th next year.  
I don't see us adding a major moto bat before next year.  The Arcia/Briceno spot is prime for a significant upgrade.  I was thinking Grandal, but Ramos is a beast vs. lefties and still good vs. RHers.  Also very solid defensively and because he was traded, no comp pick.  
I'd probably start the year with Calhoun leading off, Trout 2nd and then Simmons, Ohtani, Upton.  
An interesting play could be to sign both Grandal and Ramos.  I know that sound a little odd, but both can play 1b.  But then you'll need someone who can hit lefty and play 3b.  Maybe even OF as well.  like a Marwin Gonzalez type.    
That's probably a larger financial commitment than they'll be willing to spend on offense next year considering our pitching needs.   
But that would be a nice set of options assuming Cozart and Albert come back and Fletcher is the util.  So for C, 1b, 2b, 3b, and two bench spots its, Grandal, Pujols, Cozart, Fletcher, Gonzalez, and Ramos.   Final roster spot likely to JMF.  That gives you 3 who can play SS, 4 who can play 3b.  4 who can play 2b.  5 who can play 1b.  The only nit is that Calhoun becomes the backup CFer.  Which is fine for a game or two if the shit hits the fan and then you just call up someone at AAA.  
That would make for a pretty damn versatile roster.  It does lack speed though.  

30 HR, leads the team in RBI's, .824 OPS, on pace for a 3.5 WAR season. 
It's nice to have a guy come here and not immediately suck grundle. Upton is right on track with his career numbers and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 
Having him with Trout and Ohtani makes for an exciting middle of the order going forward.
If you say anything about streakiness or JD Martinez in this thread you are gay.

Bump for the save.

Angelswin thinks the Angels are that insecure boyfriend dating a girl out of their league.   Worried that if we pop the question, we'll get laughed out of the room.  But what they don't realize is that the Angels just nailed the hottest Asian ever and that they also landed the hottest latino in baseball history several years ago even though since then she's gained 40 lbs.  
The point is, stop acting like Mike is looking to get out of his situation with the Angles.  My guess is that he'll be looking for reasons to stay, and there are plenty.  

This is the part where I remind you to look at the actual payroll and not the luxury tax figure. The gap is about $17 million now. 
Could be one incentive to sign Trout to an extension. If he lowers his salary in 2019 in exchange for all the future money (as Upton did) it could help them in the short term. 

LOL
Well, at least Cole isn't starting.   That's the only role he hasn't done well at so far here.

Why do you keep bringing up Jerry ... thought this was about the Angels next Manager. Sorry about your team taking a dump when it counted. There’s always next year. 

Credibility lost.

And we still have people on this board who actually think this dude is going to retire early. Insanity.

Go away Albert

Arte paid a quarter billion dollars for THAT.
Business genius!

I can get behind the idea of Canning topping out at a Bauer or peak Haren, having an ace-like season here or there and very good years the others, but to expect anything more than a #3 at best for a year or three is reasonable still. 
Even Weaver and Lackey had some sophomore/junior slumps after strong rookie campaigns, and it did take Bauer awhile. 
And I'm good with that. If the Halos had been able to trot out 4-5 guys putting up just #3 production (say 170 IP, 3.80 ERA) any of the last three years, they would've made the playoffs once or twice.

I'm actually going to run counter to most here and say that I think Canning can grow into an ace.  His stuff is VERY good.  But that's not out of the ordinary, I mean there are a ton of guys in the minor leagues with a great fastball and breaking ball.  Both of Canning's fastballs are great, and both his breaking balls are great, and that's not all, his actual best pitch is supposed to be his change up.  He has too many ways to get you out, so even if he ever lost velocity in his fastball, he'd still be very good.  Look at the numbers he posted in college, when his fastball was working 3-4 ticks lower and he hadn't fully developed his curve or slider yet.  
His mechanics are a little funky but that's what separates him.  Canning is very committed to his process and highly intelligent.  I think he grows into a Trevor Bauer type (though to be fair, it took him a few years before he fully developed).  Or he might be similar to Lance McCullers and be a dynamic #3.  Or we could hit the jackpot and he's the next Pedro.  But I think Canning's going to be a solid front of the rotation pitcher. 

Leake’s stuff doesn’t even come close to Canning’s. The disrespect, smh