Duren, Duren

Ironic that Kole and the team are getting hot just before the deadline. Kind of tends to make you overvalue what you have. And the optimism diminishes the negatives that precededed it. Eppler needs to remain calm, cool, collected. And evaluate the present as well as the future. And not get either too carried away in either direction. He should be more passive than proactive, and let other teams initiate any trade talks. As it stands, with Kole remaining around the same pace the rest of the year the Angels have a slim, but not impossible shot at the WC. Kole is a fan favorite, a steady franchise asset, and has not reached the critical curve of age deterioration. As such he should either bring back equivalent talent in a trade or still remain oroductive. His contract is pretty much fair value if you project 25 homers and doubles, strong defense and solid team presence. Probably of more value to the Angels at that price than elsewhere because he is a known commodity and likely to remain in a comfort zone. It"s tempting to think he could bring in a juicy return, and if so, then he is tradeable. But if the deal isn't stacked in the Angels favor, then play out the season, see how it goes and reconsider the options for the future. Ideally I'd like Kole for two more years beyond now. At a somewhat more team friendly number. Sacrifice of some money for term security. It would make Adell's entry less pressurized and allow for experimentation at different positions. Tough call, but I still am sentimental for loyalty, even if it brings more risks.

A season sweep will be awesome! But even by winning the season series there is an uplifting of morale. A minor thing in a long season for many, but obviously the team sees it as important. Takes a little air out of the Dodgers balloon too. At least till they go on another big win streak. I love great defense, and the two outfield throws should be on the season hilite reel. Trout showing another dimension and Kole ending a one run game. Walk off defensive assist!

Interesting theme. Here's a hypothetical question. Assume that Pujols hadn't put up those numbers in St Louis and only had an Angels career. Forget his age, just look at the Angel numbers. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml 8 years so far, including this season approximately 200 homers and doubles. . 453 slugging. .768 OPS. 259 batting average. Over 700 RBI. 112 OPS +. All as a DH or first baseman. Roughly 25 homers, close to 90 RBI per season. Quality human being, great in the club house and community. What would be the general opinion about this type of career if it were exclusively with the Angels? Unfortunately, you can't forget about the financial question regarding bang for bucks, but try to just think of it purely in baseball productivity. I would see it as a good career. Not great, with flaws (such as far more strikeouts than walks, no speed, limited range on defense, injury prone). But I also see consistent power and production results. Not all star level, but reflective of a legitimate major league starter in his role. If it weren't for his past life with the Redbirds and his contract be would be one of those good Angel franchise guys you think of positively when his career is over. Productive a little above average, good team player. Someone who could have been a useful part of a championship team but not someone who made a vital difference. Back to the present. Still nice to see him rebound this year. Hopefully he stays consistent and plays out his career with respectable final numbers. Until there is a replacement who can put up better numbers he seems to be the best option at first with some DH time.

The season with the Reds obviously was more illusion than substance. Eppler was gambling that Harvey had rebounded and would continue to at least give him one credible season. But it got Harvey a nice big sum of money for about a dozen appearances. So many of these rehab pitchers are real risks. But given Angel needs the gambles were out of desperation. The three disaster signings look terrible in retrospect, but no long term complications at least.

Don't underestimate the effect of inner diamond defense! For both teams. Last night there were many examples. Effective rundown execution. Pickoff at first. Blunder on the pop up the pitcher got an error on. Wild pitch putting Calhoun on third. Angels pitcher starting a nice double play. And some other bits and pieces along the way. Remember Seattle has terrible defense, and it was a big factor last night. The most impressive at bat was Fletcher going the other way for the winning RBI. I was sitting at a good angle to see him adjust as he fell behind in the count and battle till he got his pitch. Also impressed by the bullpen. Each new pitcher did his job, though Anderson flirted with trouble. Now what do I do with the Martinez bobble heads I received? Some guys near me had shopping bags full of them. No doubt scaring kids into giving them theirs. Probably sad thrifters thinking they can make a few bucks on eBay. This was the best image from last night.

Trout a blur as he homers! Mariner fans leaving in droves. Lots of Angel fans getting nasty!

First time in this stadium. Not a nice experience. Seats too steep and cramped. Ten minutes of PC disclaimers on the P.A. before the game. Fans hardly paying attention, more interested in eating. This retro stadium is superficial. Form without feeling.

Calhoun grounding into a DP. Could have been a much bigger inning.

Angel hitters off stride, low energy. Damnned chirpy Mariner fans all around me. Don't they know they're 20 games below 500?

At the game! The Mariners couldn't even match the Angel names to the pictures. Lame.

Cole will likely be able to sit back and wait for multiple offers. Why would he pick the Angels over potentially more playoff ready teams? Money and term probably will be similar in most offers by serious bidders, give or take whatever unique factors each team throws into their mix. Cole has been around for a while, going from a small market non contender to a now solid consistent World Series threat. No doubt he enjoys being on a winning team now, and probably wouldn't want to regress to a still building team with multiple flaws. There are also marketing and longer term opportunity factors. The 'home town' matter may or may not be important. We don't know if it will until he signs somewhere. Remember the cockiness and confidence Philly fans had about Trout signing there? The Angels will have to do a lot of roster maneuvering to give him the money he will demand. Do they have the burning desire to acquire him at all costs? No doubt they should be a serious bidder, but unless the home town factor is very important it's hard to see them being the favorite. I would guess that a team making the playoffs (or missing by a game or two) , but being eliminated will think that he is the one missing piece and will be intent at getting him at all costs.

162 games define exactly where a team is. Barring catastrophic injuries, what you see is who they are. Still enough time to get hot and have a legitimate winning season, but with each passing week the window closes. And what we have seen so far isn't encouraging optimism for a radical improvement the rest of the way. Probably the fan interest will revert from team focus to individual performance. And the inevitable projections about the future. The present only being an audition for next year a d beyond. So Trout competing for the MVP may be the most exciting thing the rest of the year. Albert's career records are kind of minor things now that he passed the big milestones. Ohtani's progress as a hitter is important, but his status as a pitcher has to be deferred to the future. Sorting out the pitching will likely be inconclusive the remainder of this year because there are so many variables in play and little to get excited about. The rest of the roster will have the remainder of the season to work on their personal stats and upgrade their resumes for the future. I don't expect more than an 85 win team at best, but hopefully one that makes progress along the way. They still can put on a good show and win games, but just aren't amongst the elite teams.

Fletcher really is a throwback. In decades of the past every team tried to have his kind of talent template at the top of the lineup. Excellent contact hitter, patient, smart, some power. The only thing different is that he isn't a speed merchant. In the past, stolen bases were much more valued and a big part of lineup construction and team philosophy. Not just stolen bases, mind you. First to third, bunting skills, infield hit potential, also slap hitting the opposing way. Seeing number one and two hitters choking up on the bat situationally was the norm. In this era of radical shifts it boggles my mind why we don't see more intentional effort to go the other way. Not a hard skill to master. If analytics try to profile every player for every tendency then why not screw the scouting reports and cross them up by going against the profile? I absolutely hate to romanticize one era over another, but there are objective facts and subjective judgments that differentiate how this (and all other) sport is played. In my opinion, the steroid phenomenon really twisted how baseball was approached. Power has been a fan attraction since Babe Ruth. But power hitters were just one type of player, and were blended with others having varied skill sets. The Mantle/Maris 1961 attack on Ruth's record galvanized fan excitement, but it didn't start any widespread trend. In fact, even in that decade you had the spray hitting pitching/speed Dodgers beating the Yankees in the World Series. Then the well balanced, hustling Cardinals the next year. All leading to 'the year of the pitcher' in 1968. That was the polar opposite extreme of today's game, but didn't last long. I think the game in the seventies through early nineties was well balanced and fun to watch, though free agency altered the landscape of team building. The steroid phenomenon tilted things too far towards the prioritizing of home runs and away from more diverse strategies. But it excited fans so therefore that mindset remained in place, and gets more extreme each year. And bigger, stronger players occupy more roster spots than they used to. Back to Fletcher and the Angels. Next to Trout (and possibly Ohtani) he is the most important batter in the lineup. The classic 'table setter' as they used to say. His defensive versatility and steadiness is also valuable in a day by day basis. I still see a lot of upside as well, because he is really just into his second year.

Should be interesting Saturday night. I decided to take the two hour drive down to Seattle for the Angel game and got cheap seats in left field. I should have a good view of Upton on defense if he starts there. Traditionally teams try and hide their worst outfielder in left field. So Upton playing there is conventional. It's been a strange year for him. The injury set everything back, and his hot early return may have raised expectations. He seems off in his judgment of pitches at the plate and falls behind in the count more than I remember him doing before. Could be he is going through a bad spell and will eventually get on one of his hot streaks. With his contract pretty much keeping him here and career offensive production you just have to accept the fact that he isn't going to be great on defense. Just part of his overall package. Hopefully his offense compensates for his defense. Not sure how good he would be at first base. Probably require a lot of practice and a few years of a slow transition. The team really misses La Stella right now with his versatility and bat.

I think he has little confidence that he can nail the third strike and is afraid of issuing walks. So he over compensates and grooves pitches that are easily hittable. His stuff isn't good enough by itself, and he isn't fooling hitters. 93 hour fastball max can be ok if it has enough movement and is part of an effective mix of pitches/speeds and variations in locations. Right now his pitches are either too wild or too fat. Hitters are sitting back, waiting to hit his mistakes. Not sure how much better he can be. Lingering injury/incomplete recovery may be factors. Costing a lot of money, even if just for one year. Spot start him for a few weeks and hope for the best. Then if he doesn't get better bury him in the bullpen if no deal can be worked out.

Excellent discussion. So many questions and variables. Plus the salary cap and term issues really complicate things. The Angels are in an almost schizoid transitional state. A really good core nucleus, but with glaring needs too. The objective should be to blend in younger, longer term prospects with this core, but still find two or three proven veterans via trade or free agency to bridge the gap. In retrospect, signing Ohtani was a stroke of genius with some luck. He single handedly fills/will fill two key positions very well at a very reasonable cost. For now. I don't even want to think about the inevitable future contract issues. But if Eppler can find some other unorthodox way to acquire talent it would be a tremendous help. We see how a stunning talent like Cole can dominate as an ace starter. Imagine him every fifth day! Unfortunately he is so high on every team's radar that it will take a tremendous offer to lure him. Maybe the hometown factor can become an intangible, but I would go all out for him. Which means Calhoun probably has to be dropped for financial reasons. But Adell on a rookie contract and Goodwin plus whoever else could fill the position adequately. If La Stella is back he could factor into this equation.Calhoun is a proven asset, but to land a top free agent you need to sacrifice in other ways. Catcher is a longer term need. Smith may develop into a solid regular, but hard to know yet. I always liked Russell Martin. A short reasonable deal would be a useful bridge. Grandal will be in demand and likely too expensive. Despite his age he is athletically superior and a savvy, seasoned veteran. With two terms on the Dodgers he may find it convenient to stay in the same vicinity. He won't be a big bat, but he is versatile, calls a good game, and would be a good mentor to Smith. Assuming Ohtani resumes as a quality starter, he could end up as the ace at some point next year. But he probably will have fewer starts and carefully monitored pitch counts. A real workhorse inning eater starter would be ideal. Improve the starters and you improve the bullpen by default. Cole has been so dominant against the Angels that maybe it inflates my opinion, but he could be the difference maker with this team's playoff aspirations.

Keep the momentum rolling. Positive for the Angels, negative for Houston. Climbing the WC standings may require a lot of luck elsewhere, but the Angels can control their own destiny and put the pressure on. Many examples of teams coming back from much further. And Houston can't coast either. Two games left in this series, and a win tonight would be huge with Trout absent so far and back tomorrow.

This was a classic baseball tradition. First intimidating act meets retaliation. The first act was deemed illegal, hence the two game suspension. And the first act caused serious injury and deprived the Angels of a starting player for around a month. The retaliation caused no injury or lost time. Was there intention? It's professional baseball, with built in codes and dynamics. This was expected by everyone on the Astros. At worst, a one game symbolic suspension. And why Asmus? The retaliatory act is almost automatic. Not a secret command. Why not a suspension for the yapping Astro bench provocation and their manager? They escalated the incident.

The Houston managerial over reaction must be for motivating his team. These payback pitches have been part of baseball since it began. And no helmets and face protectors for nearly a century. The pitch was high inside, but a foot lower than his head. It hit him where little long term damage occurs. I've seen Trout thrown at far closer to the head/face multiple times this year. Anyone remember Ron Hunt? He made a living being hit by pitches. Over 55 times when with the Expos one season in the seventies. It was actually fun watching him turn at bats into an art form, hanging over the plate. Anyways, yesterday was just part of the game. Glad to see Albert challenge the talkers on the bench.

A win means a split at the worst in this series. Against Houston, important motivation beginning the second half. Pujols is as impressive as he has been in a long time, though in a very small sample size. He seems more balanced at the plate with a smoother rhythm. When the pitches are belt high or higher he's hitting the ball squarely. Lower pitches test his legs and flexibility, but his arm strength is such that he still can make good contact even when fooled. With Trout out Albert will be counted on more for RBIs and power. Hopefully he stays hot through this series at least. On pace for around 90 RBIs now. His favourite stat. At this moment we are watching a modest, mini revival of the two veterans who have been sliding. Calhoun and Puljols.

Smith is doing well. So far. In three or so weeks when Lucroy comes back they probably will be a serviceable pair to ride out this season. . This acquisition looks like it's for short term depth with a low risk gamble he shows some potential. Hanging around the minors for so long makes one dubious about his talent, but certainly worth some cash. You can never have enough catchers available due to injury risk and wear and tear.

Trout wasn't going to play every game anyhow. Much smarter to be cautious about him. But the downside is that he is red hot. But it is the Astros, who always seem to find ways to neutralize hot teams/players. Always interesting watching a prospect when called up. Hermosillo is batting near the bottom of the order, so any offense will be a bonus. Just play steady in the field and do the little things right should be his focus. Outfield depth is definitely an area to think about in the future. Interesting to see if Albert continues to be productive after his extended rest. I'm paranoid every time we play Houston. Minimum expectations are not to be swept.

You do need a core with stability and continuity. Even in these days of players coming and going every year or two. Calhoun fits integrally in this core on and off the field. Since he seems to have stabilized his hitting within a predictable range, he is a known quantity on offense. And a better than average presence on defense and in the clubhouse. I'd gamble on keeping him through next year, and depending on club performance and prospect progress, make a longer term decision around the trade deadline next year. The team is in a fragile emotional state now and need solidarity to regain a collective competitive attitude. The franchise won't be dramatically improved by what he brings in return and his value now may have longer term intangible benefits.

Sometimes the highest value a prospect has is just before he enters the majors. His progress has been documented and the hype seems more or less legitimate. But often these prospects either fail completely or have a long, steep learning curve. Of course many succeed, but percentage wise, how many really become all stars and long term greats? The hype around Vlad Jr. was insane. Every Toronto media person was feeding daily reports and counting down his arrival. Despite the homerun contest he still is raw, with many flaws. It will take time for him and his success may never equal the hype. But even if they wanted to, the Jays would have been crucified had they traded him. Adell hype has been high but he still will be an unknown quantity until he actually plays a meaningful number of big league games. Meanwhile, his value as a trade asset is higher now than it may potentially ever be. Player assessment and long term planning is complicated. You have to project different scenarios and use best judgment to anticipate how the individual prospect will progress and fit in with the other pieces. The current Angel outfield is good and productive offensively and defensively. Should it be broken up sooner rather than later? Is Kole's contract the critical decision upon which other moves will be made? If contending seriously next year is a priority can a rookie with unlimited but unproven potential make enough difference? Meanwhile, catcher, third, first and the pitching staff may be bigger needs for upgrades. Even second base too. Constant rotations between positions isn't necessarily sustainable longer term. At this point I think Adell will be given every opportunity to succeed. Too much invested in him as the top prospect. He likely will get playing time later this season. How much will be determined by the standings and timing of his promotion.

Thanks for all the great anecdotes. I was at Tyler's last game. My yearly visit to see an Angels home game. I got home a few days ago and just got around to sorting through my luggage and souvenirs. I discovered the two ticket stubs from that game and was working on adding them to a new Angels display as the game was on In the background. It's rare for Angels games to be broadcast here, and it was 'joined in progress' in the second inning. So I didn't see the seven run outburst. But I wanted to be vicariously part of the tribute experience and followed the rest of the game. There was so much emotion, and the big lead allowed the broadcasters the luxury of expressing their memories and feelings without being tied down to the game itself. But around the seventh inning I realized a no hitter was in progress, and the game itself had so much more drama and electricity. It turned into a legitimate numinous, transcendent experience. So many synchronistic spooky and mind boggling events merging into a once in a lifetime sporting phenomenon. It will take a long time to process it all. The night of Skagg's last game was also a 'Christmas in June' promotion. I will use the Santa stocking giveaway as part of my new Angel display, since everything takes on a different meaning. And another selfie from that game, where the lighting now also seems quasi symbolic.