Duren, Duren

I'm always intrigued by sidearm throwers. They can be really effective. Especially for short relief use. Seems like he has the 'stuff" but obviously troubled by mechanics and possibly post rehab adjustment. Given his acquisition being of minimal cost, not a bad project to work on. Depending on coaching, spring training results and maybe improved form he could be a useful occasional bullpen specialist. Or be sent to AAA to continue to work on improvements.

This will turn out to be the second most significant player move of the off season. Cole first, then Rendon (Strasburg staying in Washington). The most important amongst position players. A perennial all star, current top five hitter, and gold glover in his prime, filling a position of need. A tremendous addition. The media (and fans)see every event through their own selective filters. If he signed with the Dodgers it would be getting headlines almost like Cole. The difference is that he can't be written/talked about as the missing piece who will make his new team the immediate Series favorite. Even if he went to Atlanta, Milwaukee Oakland or other already established playoff teams the buzz would be greater. The story isn't as big because the Angels are perceived as a rebuilding, non contender. The general sports media spend most of their time on the probable contenders. But the reality is that this addition will instantly make the whole team better. It won't compensate for weak pitchers, but it helps negate the problem. With better infield defense and depth it cuts down on groundball getting by for hits. Potential for more double plays. Allows Simba to range a little more towards second base. And Rengilfo/Fletcher/? to play a step or two closer to the first base hole. And when the shift is used Rendon is much more dependable covering more space. When the infield is drawn in or bunts/slow rollers are in play he is more likely to make the play effectively. Inner diamond defense is often overlooked, but adding a gold glover is important, and helps the entire inner diamond. And by extension, pitchers. And remember, we have Maddon managing. He is skilled and experienced at using his whole roster smartly. On defense and at bat. Maddon will love having Rendon to occupy an everyday spot. The middle of the lineup is as devastating as any in baseball. Angel hitters as a whole were very good going deep into counts. Having Trout and Rendon in the middle will get the other hitters plenty of good pitches. Having Ohtani, Upton, La Stella, Pujols, Fletcher playing regularly in various roles adds enough supplementary power and on base potential. Hitting can be sacrificed at catcher for a quality defender. First base probably will be platoon/rotational. A steady power hitter would be ideal, but I think there is enough talent to get the job done collectively. Pitching will not be the strength of the team, but with the upgrade in hitting it just has to be better than last year. They have started addressing it and will be improving it more to some degree. And don't forget the new pitching coach. Probably the most important coach of all. A really good off season is already in the books (including Maddon and staff) and will get better. The team should be a solid playoff contender. Houston won't be as dominant. Oakland probably won't do better than last year. Looking forward to my visit in July to watching some pennant relevant games!

Important to make a statement rather stay under the radar. This will help the brand, attendance and productivity on the field. And give stability to the heart of the order for years to come. Not bad. And probably still productive into the transition to the new stadium. Pitching doesn't have to be great, just good enough. Certainly there is opportunity for better moves than last year. The signal is clear that the Angels are serious.

Imagine a Sandy Koufax scenario applied to Cole. 1962. Age 26. Leads the league in ERA, has a 14 - 7 record. A lot of promise, but not enough to indicate where he would go from there after 7 years of average production. Age 27 in 1963. Explodes into greatness. League leading 1.88 ERA. 25 - 5 W/L. World Series championship. Cy Young and MVP. The first of four virtually similar seasons, including a 1965 W.S. Game seven win. Then, at age 30, forced to retire because of elbow injuries. My point is that with pitchers you just never, ever know what may happen long term. Even in the middle of their best season. Had Koufax been signed to a Cole deal when he was 26 after his first great year he would have given ample value plus for four years, but the contract would be a big hindrance for the next five years. Still, probably a deal that most would take considering it brought two championships and three W.S. appearances. What if he signed when he was going into his thirtieth year though? One season of greatness, nine of financial pain. Today, an elbow problem like Koufax had could be treated differently and his career would have continued. But he would likely miss a full season in rehab, need another season to see what his stuff could do. And likely revamp his pitching technique. Doubtful he would be as dominant in his prime, but still likely near ace quality if everything went right. But likely not worth his contract. The analogy with Cole is purely for arguement's sake, but some such possibility exists that the Yankees won't get the value they are paying for while he is now at peak Koufax level. Even if he is great and they don't win championships the objective they expect is not achieved. He is being paid to be the difference maker for World Series wins. And even personal awards and great stats won't compensate for team failure. So the pressure really is on all the other Yankees (players and management) to justify this deal by proving that they can support Cole well enough to put him in position to do what is expected from him. A great pitcher on a disappointing team does not make the fan base happy.

Kind of sad that the off season has become dominated with following free agency. No matter how you package it, it takes the brains out of roster construction and makes money the only factor. And the owner essentially becomes the GM for a big part of the process. The name 'Arte' has appeared more than Eppler during the Cole pursuit. Trades and system development are the roots of building a team. Let Eppler be judged by those rather than how he followed orders from the owner.

Cole will face pressure like never before. At the ballpark and everywhere else. Media and tabloids lurking everywhere. Celebrity photo ops and distractions. Private life fair game for snooping. Pittsburgh and Houston were nothing like what's coming next. Top money equals highest expectations. Immediately. Every pitch will be scrutinized. Anything less than domination will be questioned. And the honeymoon period will be over quickly if he doesn't live up to expectations. And his salary will be brought up constantly over the coming years as an impediment to the team if he isn't elite and wins the biggest games. Or gets hurt and shows regression. A la Pujols. Right now he is at the very peak of his career. That's why all this developed the way it did. He will either fulfill his dreams or not. Become a legend or not. Either way he will have more pressure on him than anyone else. I would have thought he'd have gone to the Dodgers had the offers been close enough. Probably even more of a certainty for the playoffs. A better pitcher's ballpark and more stable weather. A deeper rotation than the Yankees and a stream of young elite talent everywhere in their lineup. The 'hometown' factor more or less. Maybe his desire to 'win now' and often, was what kept the Angels out of the mix. Looks like he doesn't have the desire to go through a multi year roster reconstruction but wants an instant winner. In the end, it probably was 99% money/term and readiness to win and maybe 1% childhood fantasy brought to life. Out of curiosity I'd like to know what the Angels and Dodgers offers were and who had the second best bid. And if it came down to a two team choice with one dropping out.

So much for all this 'hometown" fantasy indulgence. Just like Philly last year. Players are mercenaries. The best living life on their terms, treated like royalty. The Yankees always have the mystique, the money, the swagger. Obviously an elite team At present. Cole wanted it all, waited and got it.

This isn't basketball, where one superstar can instantly transform a team. And even you usually need a complimentary star to work in sync with the superstar to really become elite. Nor is it football, where the starting qb plays every game and has the ball in his hands for every offensive play. A superstar starting pitcher can make a good team great if they have enough talent and depth, but on a weaker team he won't elevate them enough on his own. At the least you have to have decent quality elsewhere on the staff. The star pitcher (call him Cole) will only pitch every five games. What happens in the other four makes a team a serious contender or not. Unless the Angels can find a really good second starter, Cole and the current staff won't be enough to keep their rotation rolling with longish winning streaks. Or consistently win 2 of 3 or 3 of 4. The kind of small series that make up the schedule. When you play the same teams 3 or 4 times in a row every day for six months you need to be able to have quality starting depth to insure the chance of winning those series. And resting the bullpen as much as possible. At this stage in Angel team construction I still would be too intrigued with Cole to not make a serious offer. Can't at least try. But I still would be ready to aggressively pursue a plan B of free agency and trades. One of Ryu, Baumgarner or maybe someone more under the radar. And also be active on the trade front. Once few agency sorts itself out Eppler should get creative. Bundy was a nice minor deal, serving a purpose.

Reminds me a little like when the Expos were all in trying to lure Reggie Jackson in the early days of free agency in the late seventies. Charles Bronfman, the owner, rolled out the red carpet. Money and term were more than generous for that era. The Expos had a great farm system and young emerging stars like Carter, Dawson, Valentine, Rogers and more on the way. Sporting News called them ' the team of the eighties' as they were ending the seventies. A new stadium was just built, fan interest was intense, with great attendance and enthusiasm. Then a certain George Steinbrenner quickly ended any dreams of grandeur. Reggie probably played along with the Expos for leverage, or maybe he was serious. In those days the Expos did sign some high profile free agents. But the Yankees always seemed to get who they really want. And this Cole scenario is making me uncomfortable.

At a certain point, money becomes more important to the agent than the player. Ego, bragging rights amongst peers. And more realistically, a big lure for future clients. The best advertising an agent can get. The era of the 'super agent's in sports probably goes back to the seventies, and ties in with the introduction of free agency. Of course big time agents go further back in the movie industry. As far back as the thirties, and eventually was one of the factors that transformed the studio system. But that's another story. In context, I think Cole and Strasburg are probably less concerned about the ultimate numbers they are offered than Boras. Maybe a short term ego thing, but every year there are bigger contracts on the horizon. At a certain point the difference between 250, 260 or whatever millions (within sane reason) are offered become mere abstractions. Things for accountants and investor gurus to deal with. Lifestyle, team success, personal comfort zones and opportunities to excel for the rest of a career are the everyday realities. The biggest splash Boras can make is to sign both Cole and Strasburg to a package deal with the same team. Money and term closely calibrated for each individual but structured differently. Maybe more up front money for Strasburg but more term for Cole. There is a wide spectrum for how the details can be defined. Individually, each player would probably be very careful about choosing a team with very good playoff prospects. But together they would know that as a pair they could realistically turn even lesser teams (within reason)into instant contenders. This kind of thing is now common in basketball, but driven by the players more than agents. It has happened in other sports too, but more rarely. In the early seventies the WHA was formed to compete with the NHL. Obviously they needed players, and the best method was poaching them from the NHL. There were all kinds of crazy stuff happening, but one of the most interesting was the legendary Gordie Howe (then in his late forties) coming out of retirement to play with his two sons, Mark and Marty, in Houston. That three player signing was utterly unique in that time. All this is a long way of saying that if Cole and Strasburg have the same agent, coordinating their strategy is a possibility. If they are both on the same page about money, location, team prospects Boras can orchestrate a deal that will be historic. If that happens, the Angels should be a strong competitor. Yankees and Dodgers always loom, but the Angels could instantly become a championship contender and major drawing card. Not to mention transforming the rivalry with the Dodgers.

This trade is very sensible. The Angels starters mostly couldn't last half a game even. An inning eater with an ERA in the mid 4.00s who starts 25 times, goes 125 plus innings. is certainly a positive. Back rotation pitchers are important in the long run. You need some steady, dependable arms to stretch the innings, rest the mid relievers and stay competitive into the last four innings. The Angels should have a better offense behind Bundy. More runs scored will let him eat more innings. Of course he has his flaws, but he is intended to play a certain role, not be the ace. He has enough experience, knowledge of the league and a very good k rate. What happened in Baltimore is also a reflection of the types of games he was in too, where he had to serve as as a de facto ace and carry more pressure. A nice, modest move by Eppler. Not the blockbuster trade or signing, but a positive addition for the most glaring position of weakness.

I also found more cool stuff quickly digging through my collections. Only a tiny sampling of things. A 1961 Sporting News with a recap of the World Series. And a few other things, including ads for table top stats based baseball games that I devoured as a kid.

No, my memory isn't that good. Here are a couple of magazine covers I have from the 1961 season and a 1962 preview magazine. Mantle and Maris were the dominant subject matter back then.

I'll dig through the magazines later. Many are missing covers though. When I was a kid I ripped them off to make posters and put in scrapbooks. But I'll see what I have.

Looking through my personal archives, I found a number of magazines from the Angels first season, 1961. The players were all expansion rejects from other teams. Normally they are pictured in their uniforms, but since the Angels hadn't been out on the field yet, they had to show the profiles hatless. A bit of nostalgia from thec1961 Sports Illustrated baseball issue and other magazines.

Ellsbury will collect some portion of his contracted millions at some point. Too contentious and too many ramifications for it to be an all or nothing result. Too much at stake for the player's association to be shut out and set another losing precedent. Considering Ellsbury has been collecting millions for no work during multiple years he should have a little more dignity and fade away with a modest settlement if negotiated. But a contract is a contract, and a team accepts catastrophic risks as part of the deal. The Yankees are shrewd, think outside the box and have to live up to fan and media expectations. Coming up short in the playoffs may have ignited this unorthodox runaround to clear up money for Cole. MLB and the Player's Association will generate many billable hours for many lawyers.

Angels making an early semi-big signing would get positive momentum rolling. A new coach and pitching coach already insures a different philosophy. Wheeler may not be putting up Cy Young numbers, but he pretty much seems locked into providing a consistent quality start most of the time. And that is critical. Angels were worst in that category last year and need starters who can be dependable. Ideally a number two starter behind Cole/Strasburg or part of an upgraded rotation with Ohtani in the mix. The Astros and Nationals were really exceptional having multiple Cy Young type pitchers on their staffs. But other teams made the playoffs with depth and reliability from their starters. Three or four very good starters can carry a team far even without the biggest stars. Spend the money shrewdly. Go after Cole or Strasburg immediately and see what happens. But quickly jump to plan B if the response isn't encouraging before the other talent gets signed.

The numbers don't lie, but perceptions and presumptions can provide different interpretations. Larry Walker has all the analytic numbers to deserve HOF recognition. https://www.cooperstowncred.com/larry-walkers-hall-of-fame-case-and-the-coors-field-conundrum/ Before Coors field he already was an established rising star with Expos and no doubt would have continued to put up gaudy numbers. Maybe not as many homers, but more doubles, significant run production quality fielding and overall excellence. Think of Vlad had he remained on his Expos trajectory. Also most likely a HOF career. Same thing that propelled Gary Carter, Andre Dawson and Tim Raines into the HOF. All got more recognition in bigger markets, but the core of their careers was established with the Expos. But Coors Field immediately had the opposite effect. It delegitimized Walker to a notable degree. And Walker was much more than homeruns. A five tool player who was consistent in all phases of the game. Injuries are a consideration, but shouldn't be that much of a negative when evaluating his entire career.

La Stella could be the decent quasi power hitting third baseman that the team needs. Even if he can produce close enough to last season's numbers pro rated. He was technically an all star and then his season literally came to an abrupt end. Whether it was his new normal or a fluke will not be known until he has a chance to play. I think he deserves that chance to start regularly for at least a month or so to see where he stands post injury. 15 plus homers, 270 ish BA and 25 plus doubles would be a nice contribution, but he may potentially do better. Decent on defense, but also versatile enough to move around. Fletcher at second would also provide solid offense and reliable defense from the infield. La Stella, Simmons and Fletcher all should hit for at least a 270 BA with double digit homers. First base will be ok if Pujols comes percentage wise in somewhere like last year for his at bats. And whoever he platoons/alternates with (Thaiss?) can provide some power. The odd man out is Rengifo. Still young enough to play part time and contribute as a defensive replacement. With a lot of moving parts and the versatility of Fletcher and La Stella he could still be used situationally. And as a trade piece if he can bring back someone of greater need in a package deal.

Did he have any important contribution in Boston's championship season? I didn't realize he bounced around to so many organizations in the last eight years. It would be nice to know what exactly he did if he had any direct impact moving anything forwards anywhere? On the surface, a nice PR prestige move. Never hurts to have veteran championship minds in the mix. Not sure how tuned in he is to the Angels, but at least he will be a worthwhile observer and sounding board. The ideal parallel would be Scotty Bowman in hockey. He already was an HOF coaching legend with multiple championships who became a senior advisor (in his late sixties or early seventies I believe) in Pittsburgh and then Chicago, and once more part of multiple championships in both places. I had a strange encounter with Scotty almost a decade ago. While sitting in a coffee shop in an office building here in Vancouver I overheard three older men talking insider hockey stuff. They referred to the refs and various other personnel by their first names and dropped real confidential scouting stuff. I recognized Scotty Bowman right away, having lived in Montreal in his run as coach of the greatest dynasty in hockey history. His Blackhawks were playing the local Canucks that night in an early playoff round. As an avid memorabilia collector I went up and asked for his autograph even though I already had multiple others. He obliged somewhat perturbed, but I have been doing that thing for decades (from Killer Kowaski to Mick Jagger and much more) , so it comes with the territory. Anyhow, if LaRussa can bring any positive insights it can't hurt. As long as he doesn't meddle too much.

Backup catchers have their role. Sometimes under appreciated. Not sexy or high profile, but useful on winning teams. Specialist starters for specific pitchers who they can finesse effectively to better production. Platoon roles against certain teams and pitchers. Pinch hitting. Defensive replacement. And if experienced, spreading insight as a quasi coach amongst the pitching staff. That kind of player is usually suited to contending teams, who have the luxury of fine tuning a roster with specialists who aren't counted on to be major starters. The perfect catcher available now for this role is Russell Martin. He ticks all the boxes above, and was a useful addition to the Dodgers of 2019. At his age he is nearing the end of his career, but if he was available for one year at a bargain price he could fill a role for the Angels. Mentor whoever the Angels use ahead of him. And share knowledge with the pitching staff. Start with a specific pitcher(s)if they find chemistry during spring training. Proven pinch hitter. Still has decent speed for his position. Can fill in at third base and elsewhere. Already in SoCal. Not likely a necessity given the more pressing need of a longer term, quality catcher, but in general, a useful roster player.

I wouldn't be disappointed, because it would be too big a commitment to a pitcher through his decade of the thirties. A power pitcher who already had arm problems. You might get a few good years from him at the beginning, but the odds are that his value decreases over time. And even if he is great in the next couple of seasons, much more is needed to transform the team into a top contender. Money sent his way should be smartly spread between different positions of need. Of course starting pitching is the top priority, but catching, a power hitting third baseman, and depth elsewhere will be necessary. It doesn't have to be totally 'moneyball' designed, but the Angels have to be smart and not get carried away by emotion and hype. They have been burnt more than enough times by chasing after the biggest hyped free agent of the moment. ESPN did have a story earlier in the week saying the Angels are the front runners for Cole. And getting him would certainly be a major upgrade. But it's a 162 game season, and at most he plays about 20% of those. I would be happy if he's acquired because he will be an immediate difference maker. But not distraught if goes elsewhere. On another note, there is a a great Jeff Fletcher cover story in the current issue of Baseball Digest about Trout. You have to subscribe or buy the actual newsstand magazine, which I did. Baseball Digest is one of the few long running publications (also Street and Smith) that I remember reading as a kid. https://pocketmags.com/ca/baseball-digest-magazine I have stacks and stacks of old magazines in my basement that are part of my collectible collections. From time to time it is fun taking a trip back in time to one's youth (along with Topps cards, etc.) and recapture that naive enthusiasm of being a kid.

At Kings and Ducks games you have young girls showing flesh who clean the ice at stoppages and hang out with the fans in the lobbies. Kind of like school cheer squads. Actually in a number of newer U.S. southern hockey markets (Vegas, Carolina, Arizona, Dallas, etc.) this seems to be part of the marketing approach. Nothing like that in the original six cities and more established franchises. Not sure this approach (in any context) would be approved by MLB, given tradition and family friendly marketing and fan base. Too bad. Preferable to the senior citizens in their straw hats, though nothing wrong with having that demographic represented in a less conspicuous way. Or maybe some skanky Real Wives of Orange County supplement their alimony with public appearances! Ocean/beach themes would be fine in a background way. Distinguish the locale from inner city L.A. Maybe murals, a kid water/sand play zone, volleyball and other modest recreational space around the parking lot. And for the traditionalists, an Angel Hall of Fame type room or concourse display. Too bad there isn't a captivated landscape view from the seats now. That's one thing Dodger Stadium has. Especially around sunset. A parking lot, highways and Honda Centre are not aesthetically appealing. But the current location offers little else. Until maybe some of the surrounding space adds more ambience with an entertainment and baseball themed neighborhood. Regardless if it's a reno or rebuild, if it's in the same general area, configure it as best as possible to factor in enough shade! I got a terrible sunburn at an afternoon game sitting along the first base side the first game I attended. And fix the plumbing and widen the concourse areas. Seating wise, remember Arte expects his three million. The economics could be made up with higher prices, but when the Angels contend, demand will increase accordingly. Maybe retractable seats that can be pulled into empty outfield/bleachers areas when needed if enough space is provided. Anyways, should be intriguing watching what comes next.

I don't see the Angels signing anyone for more than Trout is getting. At least this year. Partly a symbolic gesture that he deserves to be the highest paid player on the team. Also because it would severely limit what the club can do with other needs. Maybe in the next few years if the economics keep getting higher Trout's contract will seen in a different context. If Cole"s demands and/or a bidding war ensue the Angels will just have to walk away. You can't become fixated on one player. Especially a pitcher for the decade of his thirties. Eight years are a red flag, almost insuring the probability of injury and/or decline for some of the last part of the contract. And timing is a factor. If Cole waits months, other options shrink with different players signing earlier elsewhere. I would try and get an early meeting with Boras and see what the realistic parameters are. Does Cole want to prioritize certain teams and locations? Could there be any kind of 'home town discount' or creative way of structuring a deal if he wants to play out his career with the Angels? Maybe a bit naive in this day and age, but you never know what really motivates individuals. Especially since the money will be stratospheric to one degree or another wherever he goes. If the Angels can get an early, honest assessment, they should be either all in or all out quickly. Personally I would try to spread the money around. Ryu and another pitcher. Or a combo of a Grandal, and a pair of mid priced pitchers. Even a power hitting infielder like Donaldson for two or three years. Timing is important. They can't play it like last year when they waited late to get Harvey and the other scrap heap reclamation projects.

Hader could have eliminated this entire story. Instead. A foreshadowing of things to come. Washington will seriously decline but so what? The franchise can coast a decade without criticism. Lots of hilite footage to look back on for their fans.