angelsnationtalk

THEY STILL NEED TO MAKE THAT DAMN HALO GOLD.....

Meanwhile Ippei Mizuhara has his own baseball card.

You said bold predictions for 2021 so here we go with 10: 1- Ohtani wins comeback player of the year. I actually don't think this is too bold of a prediction. He just needs to stay healthy. Let's say his final hitting/pitching lines look like this: Finished batting line .280-.285 with 25-30hr and around 80RBIs. Pitching he finishes with an ERA at 3.50. This takes me to the bolder #2 prediction. 2- Ohtani Joins the MVP AND Cy Young discussions. Yup, you heard that right. If he posts the numbers above then he should be heavily considered for the MVP. The last time there was a player who destroyed the game both hitting and pitching was Babe Ruth back in 1919 (and kinda 2018 Ohtani). All Ohtani has to do is stay healthy and perform like he did in 2018 and he'll likely find his way into MVP/Cy Young discussions. 3- MVP race includes Trout, Rendon and Ohtani with David Fletcher also getting looks. David Fletcher actually received some MVP votes for the 2020 season so this isn't that far off. We already know what Mike Tout and Anthony Rendon can do but with a previously mentioned healthy Ohtani season and David Fletcher being Mr. Consistent, we could see these 4 Angels finish in the top 10 for votes if all goes to plan. 4- Angels starters ALL finish with a 4.10ERA or less. I'll admit, I think out of everyone on the AW thread I think i'm one of the most pessimistic of them all when it comes to the rotation. But, you said BOLD predictions and this is bold, but if all play to their best abilities (and stay healthy), then maybe this isn't too far off. 5- David Fletcher wins Gold Glove at 2B. We've known for a few years now that David fletcher plays defense VERY well. Now that he's likely to play 2B all year it's time for his first Gold Glove award. Incredible arm, extremely fast and athletic. Time for the hardware to go with it. 6- David Fletcher becomes one of the most valuable players on the Angels. With a Gold Glove and MVP consideration Mr. 5' 9" David Fletcher, Aside from Trout, will become one of the most valuable players on the Angels' roster. He will hit leadoff this year, bat around .295, WAR of around 5-6 and win a Gold Glove. This is the year of David Fletcher. 7- Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh are in the majors by end of June. It's only a matter of time. The Angels added Lagares, Jay and Fowler to help give time for Marsh and Adell to develop and be ready at a slower pace, but let's be real. At some point those two are going to tear it up in AAA. I agree on the lines of what @Second Base mentions about Upton. It will only be a few months in for him to continue his decline and eventually he will be given no other option but to go. They will call up Jay to help out but none are doing well. The Angels see Marsh and Adell tearing AAA up and call them up to permanently stay. 8- The farm helps deepen the Angels for the final stretch of the season. Marsh, Adell, Detmers, Rodriguez, Rivera, and Naughton will produce success for the Angels in some form. On the field, starting or out of the bullpen to help the Angels get to the playoffs and finish with a solid winning record. 9- Angels finish with 90 wins or more. We know the Angels will heavily rely on the offense.... Again, but if #1-4 go to plan then a 90+ win season would actually be very possible. BOLD prediction Angels finish at 91-71. First place. *GASP* 10- Angels get eliminated in first round of playoffs BUT.......... They go into the offseason with a much better outlook for 2022 and payroll flexibility. Minasian found gold in 2021 while taking a huge (one year) risk. Pujols will be off the books, Upton (likely gone) will be off the books and the Angels have a completely reset payroll. The Angels have the first offseason in nearly 10 years to start from scratch. BOLD BOLD BOLD.

2022 rotation: Ohtani, Bundy, Odorizzi, Canning, Detmers, Rodriguez Pretty good upside and good cost as well

Yeah i've thought about this too. Bundy and Heaney are free agents after this year and I doubt both are given contract extensions. Bundy also is younger. I think Bundy will likely be given a new contract with the Angels leaving Heaney out. I'd like to see Heaney get flipped for other needs like the bullpen if possible. Angels would become a pretty deep team if that happens.

Joel Sherman says the Angels are one of the teams that remain "engaged" in the pitching market. With Rosenthal and Walker off the board, the only main guy left is Odorizzi. Will the Angels sign him? I think if they do then that might open dialogue up for a trade. Possibly for some bullpen help. Thoughts?

Assume the obvious typo.... Adams in LF and Adell in RF

To beat 73? Sorry Trout, I don't believe he can break that.

That's why I put him where Upton plays. Could use his wheels in CF, but Trout will be there for a few more years.

I think Thaiss has a longer way to go with his bat to be full-time. Same goes for Ward. Walsh seems very promising and I love the power he brings. Plus he takes Pujols out of the equation which is nice. Perfect scenario is to let them all grow, but likely scenario is they keep Marsh and Adell to become regulars and let Adams have a breakout year and grow value then flip him.

Very true. All depends on Walsh and the media liking to connect Freeman to the Angels because of Minasian. I worry a bit if the Angels want to wait that long for Adams when he's currently the odd man out and has trade value. Two things to heavily watch this spring: 1: Does Marsh get serious reps at 1st base. Not occasional, but a serious look. 2: Does Adams have a breakout year in the minors. posible 2023 position lineup: C; FA 1B: Marsh/Walsh 2B: Fletcher SS: Baez/Jackson??? 3B: Rendon LF: Adams CF: Trout RF: Adams Does sound damn good. But the Angels need to be careful NOT to wait for that. Trout would be turning 32 that year and it's risky to wait.

Odorizzi "engaged" or Teheran "engaged" haha

True but him being a catcher has always been in our minds. It's not some crazy new thing for him. Also, having Marsh at first base gets him in the lineup but his arm/glove/athleticism would be missed in that outfield.

Why is this a thread

Yep didn't see that part.... But it's a love/hate relationship with this damn team so it still fits.

Breaking news to me.... But I'll gel with the gossip

The moment they made that damn halo silver....

Hands down still my favorite jersey.

Aside from his current MLB contract I don't mind the service contract. It's off the books but he's a great baseball mind and can be valuable for the young kids.

I think it's become clear that the Angels really are waiting for the farm to be ready and for certain contracts to expire. I'd imagine that by 2022 when Adell and Marsh are ready full-time that things will change, but then again, we've always said "next year" for the last 4 years. The one year deals over the last few seasons has completely puzzled me as well. Only Bundy out of the group including Harvey, Cahill, Teheran and others has actually worked. Quintana fits well for a #4-#5 type guy. But i'm lost with Cobb. High-risk guy (at low money) IMO. And to trade Jones for it? ummm.... Sure, the Angels paying big bucks to Pujols hasn't handcuffed them to sign Trout, Rendon and Upton, but it's where they spend their money that concerns me. It's the lack of financial attention to the rotation. Yes, homegrown is the best option. Just look at the Dodgers, Astros, Rays, etc.... But the Angels aren't in that position so they needed to do the other option.... Spend more. Yeah, what concerns me isn't the fact that they aren't spending money. It's the fact that Arte fires Eppler and has publicly acknowledged that they're looking deep to figure out what's wrong and has said "they feel it everyday" with Trout not being in the playoffs yet it feels like nothing has changed. The Angels do have a better chance to make the playoffs this year, but I think a lot of us still see major concerns with pitching. I'd like to stay optimistic, but it's difficult.

Not in terms of production at all.

Like this idea. I really like Josh Staumont from Kansas city. Dude tops out at 102mph. Trade website says his value is less than Heaney's but he's not a free agent till 2026. Angels would probably need to make it better.

Agreed. Again optimistic, but how much of difference do these two rotation options look (order based on performance. 1 being Ace and so on).... Bundy, Heaney, Quintana, Canning, Cobb, Ohtani or Ohtani, Bundy, Heaney, Canning, Quintana, Cobb