Second Base

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 

But it's only one game and Ohtani's unproven and he sucked in Spring Training and needs time in the minors and he wasted everyone's time by signing with the Angels and not going to the Yankees or Mariners and they can't even play him that much because Pujols can't play first base and Ohtani's trying to do something that no one has done in 100 years and a bunch of talented dudes couldn't do it and Ohtani's only 23 and his swing is too long and really smart guys think he can't do it and, and, and....
I'm just really glad we can stop hearing every reason why he can't do it and can now play the freakin' games and find out.

Shohei the meaning of being lonely.

He wasn't a pull hitter in Japan. He'd use the whole field and showed a penchant for deep drives to left-center.
But in Japan he wasn't being tested on the inner half of the plate.
Generally speaking, when guts are really struggling at the plate, they really don't go the other way at all. They become dead-pull hitters because it's a very natural thing to pull the ball. Shohei's timing was off this Spring and so we saw him yank a lot of hard grounders right at the second baseman. Once he cut the leg kick, he began to get his timing dialed in.
My guess is teams will shift on him simply because the majority of players these days are shifted against.
But in the most general terms, Shohei can use the whole field.

A few things....
1. More NL teams than AL teams. I'd say he's open to just about anything.
2. He picked the Dodgers as a semi finalist. If he wasn't interested then he wouldn't have picked them.
3. He likes to hit and pitch. The fact that he didn't choose one when talking to Turner says more about Shohei. He's honest.
4. He certainly had no problem opening up to Trout over FaceTime. He's had no issues connecting with his teammates.
Basically everything the Dodgers are saying is wrong.