Second Base

The more I watch Taylor Ward hit, the more I'm seeing the subtle adjustments.  
1. His legs and arms are somehow thicker now.  He looks like he's been in the weight room. 
2. He still keeps his hands low, the difference is that he's keeping them closer in toward his body now.  His hands now draft straight back and then straight forward through the ball.  Before, he'd have to torque his body which led to head movement and his hands sort of drifting in a circular motion. 
      2a.  The result of this is a "quieter" swing, but also more lift.  Before he drove down through the ball, a little like a lumberjack might if you made him swing a baseball bat. 
      2b. This has also allowed Ward to keep his hands and eyes "inside" of the ball which is a page straight out of Tony Gwynn's book. 
3. There's a higher leg kick now, but less pelvic torque.
     3a. The result of this is a load and hand placement allows him to keep both eyes on the ball, not one eye out of the corner as he loads.  
     3b. His timing seems to be better with the leg kick too.  Usually it throws timing off, but he's getting his leg down in time and is position to hit. 
4. Ward has closed off his stance to directly face the pitcher now instead of relying on an open stance.  Again, coming straight back and straight forward through the ball, keeping all inside of it.
- If you guys skipped through that, no problem, I'll just summarize it here.  He has a cleaner, more powerful swing and looks extremely comfortable at the plate. 
Guys, I'm convinced, this is legit. 

Converting Felix Pena back into a starter is the most Eppler thing ever.

The Angels pitching problems were never quality related as it was over-reported. Their issues have been solely injury related, that's it.
Richards and Ohtani are both aces.
Heaney and Skaggs are both former elite LHP prospects that are healthy now.
Tropeano and Barria were both extremely underrated as prospects, but really had no problems chewing through the minors at a brisk pace. Both can succeed in the majors.
Ramirez and Meyer were both upside arms that got hurt.
Canning projects into the front of an MLB rotation and Suarez in the back end next year.
This is a good pitching staff....if they stay healthy. 

I'm a big believer in Tropeano's ability. Glad he's back so soon.
Any updates on Shoe? Has he started playing long toss or throwing off a mound yet?

Converting Felix Pena back into a starter is the most Eppler thing ever.

I'm a big believer in Tropeano's ability. Glad he's back so soon.
Any updates on Shoe? Has he started playing long toss or throwing off a mound yet?

His name is Steele Walker.
Draft him.

Anymore of Vlad’s kids available yet?

Scotty loves prospects 

Personally....
1. Send Calhoun to the DL with a phantom injury of some sort followed by a lengthy rehab in extended spring and AAA in hopes that he somehow fixes his swing.
2. Promite Jose Miguel Fernandez and let him start leeching starts from Cozart at 3B, Kinsler at 2B, Valbuena at 1B and Pujols at DH. Maybe only one a week from each so it doesn't hurt their rhythm while also providing JMF with the necessary at bats to get his feet under him.
3. Fletcher and Hermosillo both have some development left in AAA. But come July, I'd begin to look very hard at inserting them into the lineup.
4. Keep rolling Blash out in RF for now, but if Herm makes the adjustments or if Calhoun figures it out while on his "rehab" assignment, then make the switch. If Blash turns it on, let him run with it.

4 hits in his last four games, has homered in consecutive games and is now beginning to adopt a more balanced, whole field approach instead of the pull heavy approach from before.
The pull heavy approach definitely works in the minors, but won't in the majors as much, which is partially why he's moving out of his comfort zone and likely sacrificing production right now in return for production in the future.

Personally....
1. Send Calhoun to the DL with a phantom injury of some sort followed by a lengthy rehab in extended spring and AAA in hopes that he somehow fixes his swing.
2. Promite Jose Miguel Fernandez and let him start leeching starts from Cozart at 3B, Kinsler at 2B, Valbuena at 1B and Pujols at DH. Maybe only one a week from each so it doesn't hurt their rhythm while also providing JMF with the necessary at bats to get his feet under him.
3. Fletcher and Hermosillo both have some development left in AAA. But come July, I'd begin to look very hard at inserting them into the lineup.
4. Keep rolling Blash out in RF for now, but if Herm makes the adjustments or if Calhoun figures it out while on his "rehab" assignment, then make the switch. If Blash turns it on, let him run with it.

Personally....
1. Send Calhoun to the DL with a phantom injury of some sort followed by a lengthy rehab in extended spring and AAA in hopes that he somehow fixes his swing.
2. Promite Jose Miguel Fernandez and let him start leeching starts from Cozart at 3B, Kinsler at 2B, Valbuena at 1B and Pujols at DH. Maybe only one a week from each so it doesn't hurt their rhythm while also providing JMF with the necessary at bats to get his feet under him.
3. Fletcher and Hermosillo both have some development left in AAA. But come July, I'd begin to look very hard at inserting them into the lineup.
4. Keep rolling Blash out in RF for now, but if Herm makes the adjustments or if Calhoun figures it out while on his "rehab" assignment, then make the switch. If Blash turns it on, let him run with it.

Personally, I don't see the point in having a talented AAA team unless it's to help the big league club.
I don't think we'll trade for Moose before we give Jose Miguel Fernandez a shot. Or Cowart.

Doubtful. Cozart did not cost a pick, plays better defense, plays multiple positions and posted a .385 OBP last year.
He was our target from the very beginning I think.

Doubtful. Cozart did not cost a pick, plays better defense, plays multiple positions and posted a .385 OBP last year.
He was our target from the very beginning I think.

Doubtful. Cozart did not cost a pick, plays better defense, plays multiple positions and posted a .385 OBP last year.
He was our target from the very beginning I think.

1. I love that Blash is still in the lineup. Give this man as much of a shot at winning the job as we gave Calhoun at losing it.
2. Akeel Morris is not useless. He's actually a very good reliever, but we aren't throwing him into sink or swim situations just yet. You shouldn't ever have to do that with a rookie unless it's clear they can dominate from day one (K-Rod, hopefully Justin Anderson).

On a serious note, I think the players on your list that have the best chance of being on the 2019 25-man roster are, in order, Fletcher, Fernandez, and Blash. After Kinsler leaves I could see see Fletcher and Fernandez competing for the starting 2B (or 3B) job, with the other being the UT. Fernandez could also see some starts at 1B - he could be next year's Valbuena (who will not be re-signed).
If Calhoun doesn't fix things the Angels might be forced to ship him out and hope someone bites, and then give Blash and Herm the chance to fight over RF. Herm really is an ideal 4th outfielder.
 
 

Turns out a majority are operating under the belief that major leaguers now are better than they were 100 years ago.
Yeah that's weird. 
But yeah, your belief that Babe Ruth is better than anyone ever despite being fat and never training holds up. 
If he faced Shohei Ohtani he'd hit a 700 foot 6 run homer while eating a hot dog and if he pitched against Trout he'd strike him out in one pitch while drinking a beer.

Is that you Clyde?

1. I love that Blash is still in the lineup. Give this man as much of a shot at winning the job as we gave Calhoun at losing it.
2. Akeel Morris is not useless. He's actually a very good reliever, but we aren't throwing him into sink or swim situations just yet. You shouldn't ever have to do that with a rookie unless it's clear they can dominate from day one (K-Rod, hopefully Justin Anderson).

Blash in coors could be fun 

John Bohnenkamp‏ @johnbohnenkamp 8m8 minutes ago More Bees OF Jo Adell has been activated from the disabled list and will play in tonight's game at South Bend.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/three-up-three-down-mike-trout-is-getting-even-better/
Mike Trout, OF, Angels
The best player in baseball is somehow getting even better. Only now just 26 years old and starting to enter his prime—a crazy thought in itself—Trout is on pace to set career-highs in batting average (.336), on-base percentage (.458) and slugging percentage (.720) while reaching 200 hits, 57 home runs, 114 RBIs and 138 runs, all career-highs as well. A year after leading the American League with a 1.071 OPS, Trout is on pace to do more than 100 points better, currently sitting at 1.178. Oh, and his defense is getting better too. He’s on pace for 21 total zone fielding runs above average in center field, per Baseball-Reference, which would be the highest mark of his career. With Trout performing at an other-wordly level, it’s the Angels—not the Astros—who hold first place in the American League West and are on pace for a 100-win season.