Rally Gorilla

I disagree. Pujols, Wilson, Hamilton....and a tendency to force his GM's to dumpster dive for non-splashy team needs.

Do you think Cahill, Harvey, Lucroy and Allen were Epplers firsth choices? He was picking from the bargain bin because of Arte's self-imposed penny-pinching on lower PR moves.

Arte has consistently shown he will spend big on big PR splash moves.....then he forces his GM's to dumpster dive for everyone else. I love the Rendon signing....I think it was a good move and worth the risk. I can't wait to see him play. But then Arte nixed the Stripling/Pederson deal that could have really helped Rendon's contributions translate into wins....and made us one of the WC favorites.

I think I said what I disagree with. Who said Eppler shouldn't be accountable? I think he's done a fantastic job in spite of Arte's screwing up the team. Arte forces big PR splash moves to sell tickets and get huge TV contracts....then he won't spend even a small percent of his gains to clean up the mess when guys like Hamilton crash and burn. He also won't spend on little moves when we need it to get balance....I guess that doesn't fit his advertising mentality. And threatening Eppler's job unless he "wins now," right after nixing a deal that would have helped that.....is unbelievable.

He just said Eppler needs to win now to renew his contract....after nixing a deal that would have helped us win now w/o sacrificing the team's future. IMHO, he screws things up by making big PR spash moves, then getting rediculously rigid and cheap when it comes to less flashy moves. It has improved his net worth.....but the team hasn't won a playoff game in 10 years. Haters? That's your wording.

Yep. Unless he cashes out....which I don't see happening. I guess he could learn to stop f'ing things up by supporting only high PR moves, put his ego in check, and let the GM build a balanced team....but it sure doesn't seem like things are heading in that direction.

Couldn't disagree more. Eppler has done some really fantastic things to bring the team back from the dead while giving us a shot at being playoff team at the same time. Arte tells Eppler "win now or lose your job!".....right after he nixed a deal that would have helped us win now. A deal that would not have hurt the team's future. Sorry, IMHO Arte is the problem. The only consistent winner over the last decade has been Arte's net worth. Yeah for that, I guess.

From: https://www.mlb.com/news/every-deal-made-during-2019-trade-deadline-season "The Indians received a pair of slugging outfielders in Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes while also stocking their farm system with a trio of prospects. Left-handed pitcher Scott Moss was ranked as the Reds' No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline, while Victor Nova is a 19-year-old third baseman in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Logan Allen, a left-handed pitcher, made his Major League debut with the Padres on June 18 but was optioned to Triple-A on July 27." Without knowing a ton about Reyes or the three prospects, it's pretty hard for me to say if this was an overpay for Bauer or a bargain.

So, you think that frontline pitching becomes cheaper during the season? So much cheaper that you can get a top guy for the off season price of a mid-level guy? That doesn't ring true for me at all.

Man, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Arte actually did nix the Pederson/Stripling deal......unbelievable. That deal would have put us in a very realistic position to earn a WC spot, and maybe even the division with a lot of luck. Just unbelievable.

Geez....so, he won't overpay for front-of-the-rotation guys (which I agree with)....but he also won't allow his GM to bring in a solid mid-level guy like Stripling? That doesn't pass the smell test. And he also chooses the same time to talk about firing his GM if he doesn't win in 2020?

Do we know for sure Arte nixed the deal? I haven't been following it that closely, but I thought that the Dodgers never wanted to give up Pederson and Stripling so they nixed the deal once they found a way to keep them without exceeding salary limits.

IMHO, Eppler has done a great job while being handicapped by Arte's past poor contract decisions and strange penny pinching rules. Arte will spend huge money on high PR moves like Pujols, Trout and Rendon....then go into rigid self-imposed budget lockdown for lesser deals...forcing his GM to dumpster dive. If Eppler gets fired, good luck finding a top rate GM who will want to take his place.

Because....top starting pitching gets cheaper during the season?

This.

It's funny you chose Trout, Ohtani, and Pujols....because all three of them are exceptionally mentally tough and all three of them give 100% respect and effort to the game. I think their reactions to being in a clubhouse with Puig would be less than positive. EDIT: I don't know Rendon as much as the other three....but, I'd guess he wouldn't be excited about spending a whole season dealing with a lazy idiot teammate either.

Maybe he could be a good example of what not to do for younger Angels players. Maddon can call them all over and say "See kids, this is what happens when you waste God-given talent by becoming a lazy j.o....nobody want's to be a Puig."

Well....he is kind of a lazy idiot. Lazy because he doesn't give 100% unless it's time to renew his contract. An idiot because he admits it, on the record, to the press. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2822390-yasiel-puig-says-he-didnt-work-hard-in-the-past-due-to-being-under-contract

The Umps will be issuing warnings before the first pitch and they'll toss him the minute his now 72 MPH fastball gets too close. EDIT: Darn it! I chimed in too late.

I'm not really sure I understand your point. They've screwed up the AL West for several years by tanking (no fun to watch) and then using their ill-gotten draft picks and cheating to walk away with the division (also, no fun to watch). They've selfishly cheated and disrespected the game....I think opposing teams and fans have a right to be unhappy with them. They were arrogant before getting caught and they are staying arrogant even after being busted. Now they are getting the anger and disrespect they have earned. Not sure what pedestals have to do with anything.

It sure would be fun to make garbage can sounds every time Altuve & Co. are batting in Anaheim. I doubt security would allow garbage can lids (even small ones)...the'd be too easy to throw at the cheatin' bastads. Maybe use smartphones?

Correa thinks he is building team unity by defending Altuve. I think what he really is doing is proving again that these guys just don't get it....bringing even more well-deserved hate down on the Garbage Pail Kids.

I was misreading things. Yeah, Upton actually put up a 5.8 WAR in 2017 (5.3 with the Tigers and .5 with the Halos). Heck of a season. EDIT: So, the corrected info....Upton has averaged a 2.6 WAR over his 13 seasons....and only has really had one season shortened by injury....2019. They guy has been even more solid than I thought. Can't wait to see what he does this season.

Goodwin, 28, has been a replacement level player except for a 2.1 WAR in 2019. His average WAR over five seasons is .46. Upton, 31, has averaged 2.4 WAR over 14 seasons (2.8 if you throw out his injury shortened seasons of 2017 and 2019). So, it really hasn't been a contest.

Goodwin hovered around replacement value his first four season, then posted a 2.1 WAR in 2019. Pederson has nearly averaged that over his six year career. So, based on past WAR, Pederson has been the better player....by a lot.