Second Base

This one is a head-scratcher for me.
I think the Colorado Rockies are the dumbest team in baseball.
They have Ryan McMahon, David Dahl and Raimel Tapia all major league ready. And instead, they decide to play Gerardo Parra and Carlos Gonzalez. 
Desmond should be starting in LF with Dahl in RF and McMahon at 1B and Tapia being speed off the bench.
I'm not a Rockies fan, actually if I root for anyone in the NL West it's the Padres. But I just laugh when teams keep their top prospects in bench roles or in AAA, even after hitting .350 there.

Yankees strikeouts:
Sanchez  -  304
Judge      -  223
Gardner   -  202
 

@SuperTroopers @totdprods
If we're lucky, Jahmai could be ready to play 2B in 2019. Also, I think the Angels would consider not picking up Valbuena's option if Matt Thaiss has a good year in 2018.
It's really exciting to think about our prospects impacting the 2019/2020 roster. Fletcher at utility infielder, Jones at 2B and backup OF, Thaiss at 1B, Barria and Canning in the rotation, and the bullpen having some options like Paredes, Morris, and Abraham.
That figures to be the largest influx of prospect talent this team has benefited from in over a decade, since Kendrick, Aybar, Weaver, Mathis, Wood etc.... Obviously they all didn't pan out but it was still a huge wave of talent.

And without increasing payroll or having a fire sale. The possibilities are endless when you have a GM that makes the right moves.

Unfortunate because Meyer had truly turned the corner before getting injuries. He was looking like a legitimate ace. 
I think since Alex is out of options, they'll bring him back as a reliever, for at least the first year. Then if he proves he's healthy, thry can visit moving him back into the rotation (I mean, with that kind of upside you can't pass up that chance). If it works, great, if not, there's always the bullpen.
Personally, I'd bring back Garrett. He's close with Trout and Kole, part of the fabric of this team and is the leader of that pitching staff. They'll have about 25 million coming off the books (15-ish after raises in arbitration). 
They can extend Richards and Maldonado and get away with raising their payroll only 5-10 million or so.

I'm hoping it will cause Eppler and Scioscia to have a much shorter leash for underperforming starters. Bridwell really isn't very good, and if Ramirez struggles we know he can find success and stabilize our bullpen. Same with Skaggs and Shoe if they're healthy. Plus Tropeano is waiting in AAA.
Basically, there's absolutely no reason why the Angels should put up with crap performances.

Intentionally walking Trout is still a no-brainer, but now it becomes a dangerous no-brainer.  
Upton. 

Somewhere, Billy Eppler is saying, "...and that's why I build teams based on run prevention."

Bridwell's last three starts against Oakland, 7 innings and 19 runs? 
Good God. Fool me once...

Intentionally walking Trout is still a no-brainer, but now it becomes a dangerous no-brainer.  
Upton. 

I'm hoping it will cause Eppler and Scioscia to have a much shorter leash for underperforming starters. Bridwell really isn't very good, and if Ramirez struggles we know he can find success and stabilize our bullpen. Same with Skaggs and Shoe if they're healthy. Plus Tropeano is waiting in AAA.
Basically, there's absolutely no reason why the Angels should put up with crap performances.

Somewhere, Billy Eppler is saying, "...and that's why I build teams based on run prevention."

Game summary

It was absolutely stupid to have Bridwell promoted over Tropeano. 

Because he's black.

That's what i was thinking. Henceforth, on all future scouting reports, I will claim with full authenticity that Griffin Canning sits 140, but I heard from a friend of a friend that he can touch 150.

I've been among the few that felt Valbuena was better than being given credit for. But he's also not a starter. He doesn't hit LHP, he isn't a plus defender and he's a streaky hitter.
By comparison, our offense and defense both improve considerably with Kinsler. We get a better defensive second baseman (and thus a better third baseman in Cozart) and a better hitter to set the table in Kinsler and a better run producer in the middle of the lineup with Cozart. 
We're a much better team with Kinsler than we are with Valbuena. Luis is fine at first base when Ohtani isn't hitting and there's a RHP on the mound.

Looking forward to getting Kinsler back. Not because Cozart is doing a bad job at 2B, but because of the offensive a defensive difference between Kinsler and Valbuena. 
Simply put, Luis Valbuena is not an everyday player.

Canning maybe top 30 overall MLB prospect by September?    That's some electric stuff and command.

You did a great job! Loved the updates. 

That's what i was thinking. Henceforth, on all future scouting reports, I will claim with full authenticity that Griffin Canning sits 140, but I heard from a friend of a friend that he can touch 150.

If I had known there was a pop quiz I would have studied for it.

 
 
 

Also, I know we are under the luxury tax, but our actual yearly budget is pretty much tapped out. The only money we have coming off the books next year is Kinsler's 13 million and whatever Richards is making. That money will likely be needed to extend Richards or sign another front of the rotation starter, unless Barria or Canning turn into something near that this year.
What I'm trying to say is, I think Eppler spent big this winter, because he knew most folks were saving their bullets for next winter.  

Good thing we didn't trade Mike Trout @OHTANILAND

I agree