Second Base

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.

On the AW top 30, Akeel Morris would very likely slot somewhere between 25-30.
A good pickup for nothing in return.

Yankees also have that ridiculous jet stream that pushes everything out that's hot to RF. Stupid design.
 

Trade with the Braves imminent.

Trying to pull a reverse Dee Gordon.  

This is just kind of what happens when you have the OF the Angels have.
Jones is moving to 2B because because he'd need to leapfrog Calhoun and Hermosillo in the short term while warding off Marsh, Adell and Hunter Jr. in the long run.
That's a lot of freakin' talent. 
Jones grew up as a second baseman, the Angels don't have any long term pieces in place at that spot unless you think Kinsler signs an extension or Jose Miguel Fernandez is the piece there. 
Either way it's a much better outlook back at 2B.
And as for what you saw in the Spring, yeah, Jones is smaller in stature right now. He's 20 years old, hasn't finished physically maturing yet. He'll be a consistent 15-20 HR and 20-30 SB threat in the majors.

The only time Pujols should be playing 1B is if he can't DH and the only time that happens is when Ohtani is DHing. 
If Ohtani pitches every Sunday as he did in Japan, it's likely he will DH Tuesday's through Friday's. 

If Vicente Campos is healthy, he won't be with the Bees for long. That's the sort of arm you want in your bullpen.

I feel good any time the Angels have a .750 winning percentage.
But yeah, this team is good, better than they're being given credit for. They can score, especially when Kinsler is back, Cozart is back supporting the middle of the order and Upton starts hitting. 
They can pitch, the Oakland Series showed that. They don't need to shut down the opposition as much as they just need to keep us in it. The defense will definitely stand up with anyone.
The bullpen will need to find something that works though. They'll need to expect to cover 4 innings a night. However that happens, I don't know. But they need to figure it out.

I feel good any time the Angels have a .750 winning percentage.
But yeah, this team is good, better than they're being given credit for. They can score, especially when Kinsler is back, Cozart is back supporting the middle of the order and Upton starts hitting. 
They can pitch, the Oakland Series showed that. They don't need to shut down the opposition as much as they just need to keep us in it. The defense will definitely stand up with anyone.
The bullpen will need to find something that works though. They'll need to expect to cover 4 innings a night. However that happens, I don't know. But they need to figure it out.

I feel good any time the Angels have a .750 winning percentage.
But yeah, this team is good, better than they're being given credit for. They can score, especially when Kinsler is back, Cozart is back supporting the middle of the order and Upton starts hitting. 
They can pitch, the Oakland Series showed that. They don't need to shut down the opposition as much as they just need to keep us in it. The defense will definitely stand up with anyone.
The bullpen will need to find something that works though. They'll need to expect to cover 4 innings a night. However that happens, I don't know. But they need to figure it out.

I feel good any time the Angels have a .750 winning percentage.
But yeah, this team is good, better than they're being given credit for. They can score, especially when Kinsler is back, Cozart is back supporting the middle of the order and Upton starts hitting. 
They can pitch, the Oakland Series showed that. They don't need to shut down the opposition as much as they just need to keep us in it. The defense will definitely stand up with anyone.
The bullpen will need to find something that works though. They'll need to expect to cover 4 innings a night. However that happens, I don't know. But they need to figure it out.

The best move of the free agent season has to be Ohtani. It isn't everyday you get 6 years control of the top prospect in baseball that is major league ready and has the skill set to serve as your DH and staff ace. It only cost them 22 million.
Cozart is good though. We landed Ben Zobrost at a quarter of the fanfare and price. Plus no draft pick compensation. I think the only thing Zo has on Cozart is his appearance in one of my favorite Christian films.

Cozart didn't cost us a draft pick either. And 24 HR in 122 games last year. Sure, Moose hit 38, but across the same number of AB's, Cozart hits 30 and gets on base a clip that's 70 points higher. And Cozart is the better defender.  
Plus the versatility you talked about is ultimately part of what has allowed this Ohtani experiment to happen. Cozart is the starting 3B but also fulfills the role of utility infielder. That with Albert being able to play some 1B has opened up a roster spot for Ohtani.

Man..... Spencer Griffin is at risk to develop an inferiority complex in that OF.   Poor dude....

Griffin Canning‏ @griffin_canning 4s ago More First Spring Training done! Back to California @66ersBaseball

Cozart didn't cost us a draft pick either. And 24 HR in 122 games last year. Sure, Moose hit 38, but across the same number of AB's, Cozart hits 30 and gets on base a clip that's 70 points higher. And Cozart is the better defender.  
Plus the versatility you talked about is ultimately part of what has allowed this Ohtani experiment to happen. Cozart is the starting 3B but also fulfills the role of utility infielder. That with Albert being able to play some 1B has opened up a roster spot for Ohtani.

There is not one specific formula that will produce a major leaguer. That's where we've pigeon holed Eppler and where we've  miscalculated Dipoto's mistakened approach.
Dipoto wasn't wrong when he drafted Taylor Ward because he was a collegiate catcher. Eppler wasn't right when he drafted Jo Adell because he was a prep outfielder.
Dipoto was wrong because he thought he knew something others didn't know. He was going to draft this kid whose skill set was so far beyond any catcher and he was ready right now, and Mike Scioscia, in all his pseudoscience about catching could not deny this kid. He was a major league catcher, talent is talent. Dipoto is right, Mike Scioscia is wrong. The Angels needed this catcher. 
Eppler was right in drafting Jo Adell, because he wasn't proving anyone wrong. There's a hugely talented kid, everyone knew he was talented and he's available. He may have gone 1-1 in any other year, and the Angels never drafted that high. The fact that they drafted tenth overall was as high as they had gone in decades. He was the best player available. 
There's no "draft upside Prep players and you win" or "don't draft collegiate pitchers" formula. It comes to each individual player. That's it. 
Dipoto had a formula he followed. Eppler doesn't. The very fact that Jerry has a formula speaks to his arrogance. He wanted to control this chaos. He knew the answer and that's why he's the best. That's why he is where he is. 
Eppler wants to hear every angle of it because he doesn't feel like he knows it all. He'll take in advice from any outlet that produces. They signed this unknown kid from the Bahamas instead of an upside safer pick from the DR. He used a unique opportunity to acquire Kevin Maitan while pursuing Ohtani which runs directly counter to the Deveaux move. 
Again, no plan. No complex to prove yourself. That's why Eppler is succeeding.

Plus, think of Jahmai playing 2B like this. If he can be our starting 2B, but also our 4th OF, his spot on the roster becomes as unique and valuable as Cozart's this year. That sort of versatility while also being a starting caliber player gives the lineup a ton of flexibility, and flexibility is what leads to things like a certain Japanese phenom both hitting and pitching. 
Those exciting developments aren't possible without a starting infielder being able to also handle a reserve role elsewhere on the diamond.

if you don't know, you betta ax someone.  

There is not one specific formula that will produce a major leaguer. That's where we've pigeon holed Eppler and where we've  miscalculated Dipoto's mistakened approach.
Dipoto wasn't wrong when he drafted Taylor Ward because he was a collegiate catcher. Eppler wasn't right when he drafted Jo Adell because he was a prep outfielder.
Dipoto was wrong because he thought he knew something others didn't know. He was going to draft this kid whose skill set was so far beyond any catcher and he was ready right now, and Mike Scioscia, in all his pseudoscience about catching could not deny this kid. He was a major league catcher, talent is talent. Dipoto is right, Mike Scioscia is wrong. The Angels needed this catcher. 
Eppler was right in drafting Jo Adell, because he wasn't proving anyone wrong. There's a hugely talented kid, everyone knew he was talented and he's available. He may have gone 1-1 in any other year, and the Angels never drafted that high. The fact that they drafted tenth overall was as high as they had gone in decades. He was the best player available. 
There's no "draft upside Prep players and you win" or "don't draft collegiate pitchers" formula. It comes to each individual player. That's it. 
Dipoto had a formula he followed. Eppler doesn't. The very fact that Jerry has a formula speaks to his arrogance. He wanted to control this chaos. He knew the answer and that's why he's the best. That's why he is where he is. 
Eppler wants to hear every angle of it because he doesn't feel like he knows it all. He'll take in advice from any outlet that produces. They signed this unknown kid from the Bahamas instead of an upside safer pick from the DR. He used a unique opportunity to acquire Kevin Maitan while pursuing Ohtani which runs directly counter to the Deveaux move. 
Again, no plan. No complex to prove yourself. That's why Eppler is succeeding.

There is not one specific formula that will produce a major leaguer. That's where we've pigeon holed Eppler and where we've  miscalculated Dipoto's mistakened approach.
Dipoto wasn't wrong when he drafted Taylor Ward because he was a collegiate catcher. Eppler wasn't right when he drafted Jo Adell because he was a prep outfielder.
Dipoto was wrong because he thought he knew something others didn't know. He was going to draft this kid whose skill set was so far beyond any catcher and he was ready right now, and Mike Scioscia, in all his pseudoscience about catching could not deny this kid. He was a major league catcher, talent is talent. Dipoto is right, Mike Scioscia is wrong. The Angels needed this catcher. 
Eppler was right in drafting Jo Adell, because he wasn't proving anyone wrong. There's a hugely talented kid, everyone knew he was talented and he's available. He may have gone 1-1 in any other year, and the Angels never drafted that high. The fact that they drafted tenth overall was as high as they had gone in decades. He was the best player available. 
There's no "draft upside Prep players and you win" or "don't draft collegiate pitchers" formula. It comes to each individual player. That's it. 
Dipoto had a formula he followed. Eppler doesn't. The very fact that Jerry has a formula speaks to his arrogance. He wanted to control this chaos. He knew the answer and that's why he's the best. That's why he is where he is. 
Eppler wants to hear every angle of it because he doesn't feel like he knows it all. He'll take in advice from any outlet that produces. They signed this unknown kid from the Bahamas instead of an upside safer pick from the DR. He used a unique opportunity to acquire Kevin Maitan while pursuing Ohtani which runs directly counter to the Deveaux move. 
Again, no plan. No complex to prove yourself. That's why Eppler is succeeding.

Schimpf is one of those guys that you wouldn't think would hit for power, but he does. 
Just another asset in AAA. As a 2B/3B, he'll join Chris Carter, Colin Walsh, David Fletcher, Kaleb Cowart, Jose Miguel Fernandez and Possibly Zach Houchins, in what figures to be a very deep AAA infield.

Who was the better second round pick, Jahmai Jones, Brandon Marsh or Griffin Canning?
Good luck choosing.

He doesn't call pitches, those are called from the dugout. And he's developed into a fine pitch blocker with a great arm and plus athleticism. 
Ward's shortcomings were rooted in his ability to establish a relationship with his pitchers. This doesn't get quantified but it's something that Maldonado is the best at. He studies video, he sits down with them, asks questions, picks their brains on everything they like to do on the mound and tailors his in game approach to fit each pitcher individually. Everything from pace, to pitch placement, to mound visits, to talking to them in the dugout.
There's so much more to this job, that Taylor just didn't do.