Second Base

Defensive merics have to be at least 5-10 years away from remotely resembling something useful for analytical purposes. 

Considering how deep they are at SP, one of the best 2B in the game on a contender, plus two high ceiling power bats? That's an incredible get for a WS contender..

I'd say the Angels are two GOOD starting pitchers (legitimate #3 SP in MLB) and a good bullpen arm away from being in the middle of a playoff race, and this is assuming that Garrett Richards is as good as I believe he is, which is a solid #3/4 SP for right now.  
 
The good bullpen arm may already be in their system.  Mike Morin, Nick Maronde and R.J. Alvarez should all be in the bullpen in the next year, and when combined with Frieri, a healthy Burnett, De La Rosa, Kohn and Jepsen, you're look at a really good staff.  
 
The hard part is getting those two good SP that I talked about.  I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if the Angels dealt Kendrick, money, Cron and Grichuk to Tampa Bay for Jeremy Hellickson, then use the 9 million they cleared off payroll in that trade to try and sign Matt Garza.

Information that I know and believe to be true, but I certainly won't bother backing up.  
 
When Elvis Andrus was traded from Atlanta to Texas, he began using deer antler velvet, which as we can see by his numbers between the two organizations, had a profound effect on his performance.  When he arrived at the big league level in 2009, he began getting his teammates into it and this was the actual origination behind that little deer antler celebration thing the Rangers players did, though they certainly tell a different story. 
 
Ian Kinsler's HR totals between 2008 and 2009 almost doubled, Nelson Cruz went from 27 year old minor league journeyman in 2008 to MLB All-star in 2009, Hamilton was hurt and started using in 2010, which was the year he just happened to hit .359, Marlon Byrd doubled the amount of extra base hits he had between 2008 and 2009 and rolled that into a big payday with the Cubs, Hank Blalock, who was a former user himself had one last hurrah and hit 25 HR's, which was his highest total in 5 years.  
 
This last part I'm guessing about though.  I think Hamilton probably stopped using midway through last season.  He didn't want to test positive and hurt what was sure to be a huge payday.  This would help explain his terrible performance in the second half of last season, and as far as I can tell, certainly isn't using with the Angels.  But again, as I said, that last part I have no information on at all and am only guessing.  

That umpire is absolute garbage, it was a terrible call to begin with.  Then he goes off and starts calling strikes just to be petty.  When someone calls him on his childish behavior, he tosses them.  It's like the cop who got picked on in high school.  Takes this job just to feel a sense of empowerment and control.  Is hardly there to uphold what is right or fair. 

With Zach, whenever I've watched him play, the best case I see for him is Daniel Nava.  But don't have tools that excite scouts, but they play above their skill sets.  They both have similar build, Zach has a little more power projection in his swing while Nava has a better approach.  

Is Trout the MVP?  Yes.  For the second consecutive season, yes.  Will he win MVP?  No.  For the second consecutive season, no. 

The owners (and Bud Selig being a former owner) wouldn't EVER agree to this, so it really doesn't matter.  But in the large scheme of things, is it fair to punish a team with PED users? Absolutely. They benefit from the player by contributing toward win total. They should either forfeit some wins or be penalized. 
 
It would force teams to police themselves and effectively eliminate the issue. But this will never happen. MLB isn't interested in making the sport clean as much as they are preserving the image of the sport and if that image in tarnished by PED users, then they'll go after them. But if nobody thought less of ball players using drugs, MLB wouldn't bother with any of this.  They're more interested in making money and one of the ways they make money is by attracting fans and nothing takes fans away more than a game that isn't seen as fair or honest.
Admittedly, after the baseball strike of the mid-90's drove fans away from the game, MLB had no problem promoted the crap out of juiced players to bring in money and fans back to the game. They can't just pretend that now all of sudden they're concerned with the integrity of the game.  They're interested in money and if it's financially a smart decision to bust PED users, then they'll do it

The owners (and Bud Selig being a former owner) wouldn't EVER agree to this, so it really doesn't matter.  But in the large scheme of things, is it fair to punish a team with PED users? Absolutely. They benefit from the player by contributing toward win total. They should either forfeit some wins or be penalized. 
 
It would force teams to police themselves and effectively eliminate the issue. But this will never happen. MLB isn't interested in making the sport clean as much as they are preserving the image of the sport and if that image in tarnished by PED users, then they'll go after them. But if nobody thought less of ball players using drugs, MLB wouldn't bother with any of this.  They're more interested in making money and one of the ways they make money is by attracting fans and nothing takes fans away more than a game that isn't seen as fair or honest.
Admittedly, after the baseball strike of the mid-90's drove fans away from the game, MLB had no problem promoted the crap out of juiced players to bring in money and fans back to the game. They can't just pretend that now all of sudden they're concerned with the integrity of the game.  They're interested in money and if it's financially a smart decision to bust PED users, then they'll do it

I tohonestly makes me wonder what Dipoto's infatuation with under-performing 4th and 5th OF's is.  Guys like Cowgill and Shuck, they have a place on a major league team somewhere.  But when that team already have the likes of Trout, Hamilton, Bourjos, Trumbo and Calhoun along with Witherspoon and Grichuk in the minors, well, it leaves the other guys with little role at all. 
 
I think we can all agree that while Cowgill and Shuck are nice little tools to have in the cupboard, under no circumstance should either be playing above Kole Calhoun. 

I tohonestly makes me wonder what Dipoto's infatuation with under-performing 4th and 5th OF's is.  Guys like Cowgill and Shuck, they have a place on a major league team somewhere.  But when that team already have the likes of Trout, Hamilton, Bourjos, Trumbo and Calhoun along with Witherspoon and Grichuk in the minors, well, it leaves the other guys with little role at all. 
 
I think we can all agree that while Cowgill and Shuck are nice little tools to have in the cupboard, under no circumstance should either be playing above Kole Calhoun. 

I have to think Lindsey is the long-term 2B of the future. Green might hold it down for a bit until he is ready. After that, I am kind of in love with the idea of Green becoming a super utility player. There are a lot of things wrong with the current roster, but one of the underrated issues they've had is bench depth (or lack thereof). A player like Green who could play almost every position (maybe not well, but at a passable level) would be a big help in that regard.

To each his own AO and Toby Zigler.  But I think you can ask just about any scout and they'll give the same answer.  C.J. Cron is a better prospect than Zack Borenstein.  He has more power, has a better hit tool and if everything goes right, should probably be a starting 1B in the majors around age 24-25.  Borenstein is 23 years old in A Ball and if he does make the major leagues, he's going to need to beat out younger, more physically gifted players.  I'm not saying he won't do it, I'm just saying his journey will have considerable roadblocks prventing him from ever being an everyday player in the big leagues. 
 
They're both ranked within my own Top 30, and hopefully among everyone's Top 30 because Borenstein's earned it.  But on my own personal list, these two prospects are separated by about 15 in between. The fact is Borenstein is likely 10th on the Angels depth chart in terms of OF and it's likely he'd be around the same spot in most other organizations.  That's a lot of players he'll need to beat out.  I wish him the best of luck, just keep hitting like he has and improve in some other areas and he'll do it. 

Well to me personally, the most exciting components in the system aren't as well known.  
 
1. Kole Calhoun - I think he's a legit major league starter and will be a great asset for the Angels now and in the future.  Left-handed, great plate discipline, power, very good defense, speed, intelligence.  He's going to be quite good. 
 
2. Jose Rondon - Great approach at the plate, very similar to Trout in that when he walks on the filed, you can just tell that athletically, he's on a completely different level than everyone around him.  He's going to be a good offensive SS with a refined game that makes it to the Major LEagues by age 22/23. 
 
3. Natanael Delgado - Very similar to Rondon.  Spent no time in DSL, was signed for a lot of money, came straight stateside and is just killing everyone in the AZL.  He's very young and very raw, but he's just oozing tools. 
 
4. The future RP.  I'm talking Mike Morin, R.J. Alvarez, Nick Maronde and Cam Bedrosian.  Very projectable arms could pay big dividends in the majors. 
 
5. The plethora of young SP just making it's way through the lower levels.  Hunter Green we all know about and yeah, I really like him.  But I'm also talking about Arjenis Fernadez, Kyle McGowin, Reid Scoggins, Cole Swanson, Yency Almonte, Victor Alcantara, Dan Hurtado, Gabe Perez and Key Middleton.  That's a ton of young pitching talent that's all the result of Dipoto and Ric Wilson.  I'm not saying they'll all be starters or even major leaguers.  But with a crop that deep, you're bound to come across at least two or three that will do big things as starters. 

Not to sound too old school Poozy, but there's quite a bit more to this game than stats.  And even if numbers are all you care about, look at Yarbrough's overall production, Lindsey's power and discipline development, Grichuk's power in probably the hardest place to hit for power in Minor League Baseball, Rondon just killing everything in Orem, Nat Delgado and Ismael Dionicio's numbers down in Rookie Ball.  - There really are a lot of stats that'll jump off the page for Angels prospects. 
 
From a non-statistical standpoint there are some story lines that make the Angels minor leaguers worth following. 
 
1. This team really needs help in the SP department, and Mark Sappington's doing quite well in his first taste of pro ball.  Skipped over A Ball and went straight to the Cal League, notoriously tough on pitchers.  3.42 RA, lots of innings and lots of strikeouts in your first year is nothing to sneeze at.  Not to mention his profiue as a power pitcher.  He could be a decent #3-4-5 SP and could be ready to take on that role with the Angels in a year or two. 
 
2. This team is going to have a good, inexpensive bullpen rather soon.  Long term, Frieri, Jepsen, Kohn and De La Rosa are pretty solid.  Add in Mike Morin, Nick Maronde, R.J. Alvarez and suddenly the Angels will be lethal.
 
3. The offense has had its brigt spots, but take a look at all the bats coming up.  Even if they're currently blocked, these players will be valuable trade candidates.  Calhoun, Grichuk, Lindsey, Cron, Witherspoon, Yarbrough, Stamets, Borenstein and Rondon all look like they'll fill roles at the major league level, several of which would be starters.
 
4. The wave of high risk, high reward pitchers that have been infused into the system since Dipoto's arrival.  Arjenis Fernandez, Key Middleton, Yency Almonte, Victor Alcantara, Daniel Hurtado, Austin Wood, Reid Scoggins, Hunter Green, Kyle McGowin and Jonah Wesely.  I'm not saying many of those guys are going to be big league starters.  But of those 10 pitchers, you gotta figure that at least one or two (probably more) make it into a big league rotation and with their arsenal, they could be impressive. 

I know everyone noticed Tommy Hanson suddenly throwing hard again the other night, but it turns out that almost across the board, Angel pitchers are gaining velocity. After 2012 when it was pretty much the exact opposite, it makes one wonder if this is just coincidence or if the Angels are actually doing something different in terms of training, coaching or preparation.
 
You may now commence your various comments about how it couldn't possibly be anything Butcher is doing.

In all honesty, the answer is probably as simple as this.  The organization wants Calhoun to grow, either in value or as a player for the future.  Shuck is what he is.  And right now, what Shuck is bringing to the table is adequate for the Angels needs.  There'd be no reason to promote Calhoun so that he can fill Brad Hawpe's role and play once a week.  They'd rather keep him hot in AAA, where his value blossoms along with his confidence and he keeps his timing.
 
That way, the Angels can either feature him a in a more prominent role next season without having him waste a full year in a partial bench role, or they can trade him, in which case the idea that he's 25, climbed the ladders quickly, has no weaknesses and hit over .350 in AAA will undoubtedly inflate his value in any potential deal. 
 
Keep in mind, this is not my personal opinion.  I believe Calhoun should've been on the field for the Angels the very second Peter Bourjos stepped off the field.  But I believe there is some tact to what the Angels are doing.  I don't think it's particularly intelligent, but it also isn't the dumbest possible option either.  The dumbest thing the Angels could do is promote Calhoun and have him sit the bench. 

In all honesty, the answer is probably as simple as this.  The organization wants Calhoun to grow, either in value or as a player for the future.  Shuck is what he is.  And right now, what Shuck is bringing to the table is adequate for the Angels needs.  There'd be no reason to promote Calhoun so that he can fill Brad Hawpe's role and play once a week.  They'd rather keep him hot in AAA, where his value blossoms along with his confidence and he keeps his timing.
 
That way, the Angels can either feature him a in a more prominent role next season without having him waste a full year in a partial bench role, or they can trade him, in which case the idea that he's 25, climbed the ladders quickly, has no weaknesses and hit over .350 in AAA will undoubtedly inflate his value in any potential deal. 
 
Keep in mind, this is not my personal opinion.  I believe Calhoun should've been on the field for the Angels the very second Peter Bourjos stepped off the field.  But I believe there is some tact to what the Angels are doing.  I don't think it's particularly intelligent, but it also isn't the dumbest possible option either.  The dumbest thing the Angels could do is promote Calhoun and have him sit the bench. 

Admittedly, I'm somewhat skeptical about this move.  A 23 year old in A Ball and a 22 year old in Rookie Ball.  Why?  Is there some upside we're all unaware of?

I'll have to call BS on this.  I mean first of all, what does Trumbo have a roommate for when he's at home?  It isn't like the man is hurting for money in his current profession.  But that's really beside the fact. 
 
A General Manager does not approach a player in Trumbo's situation (younger, under contract) just to tell him he's on the block.  That's stupid.  That's not the way it works at all.  In Downs case, sometimes a GM will do that, SOMETIMES.  But in Trumbo's case, that's not only unheard of but also bad policy. 
 
No way this is remotely ac curate, even if he is on the market. 

The thought of Trout playing on another team makes me sick, like imagining my wife married to another man.

Why would they call up Calhoun? Cowgill and Hawpe and Shuck are doing absolutely fi..ahh **** it this team is stupid.

There are at least 5 other players that deserve a DFA before Shuck.

I'm really not all that worried. Between their own TV money, revenue sharing and the national TV contracts, the Halos will be clearing $150 million in revenue before selling a single ticket, beer or t-shirt, as shown here
http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/may/how-mlb-splits-your-tv-dollars.html
 
The luxury tax is a legitimate concern, but I don't think it is a big enough to concern to start worrying about it affecting their ability to keep Trout. Moreno has demonstrated a willing to spend if it means winning. I suspect that the payroll can easily approach $165 million before there are any real repercussions to the bottom line and even then, as mentioned above, this team has no debt. They probably can't afford to add any more nine figure free agents, but given how well that has worked for them thus far, that is probably a good thing. 

You absolutely have to offer compensation to Vargas at this point.  Generally speaking, your final year of arbitration you usually make approximately 80% of what your AAV would be on the open market, which is to say that according to this logic, Jason Vargas should make approximately 10 million a year on average once he hits free agency.  
 
Now at his age, being left-handed and the premium being put on pitching, I could see Vargas signing for 4 years 40 million somewhere.  But if the Angels could get him for 1 year, 13 million, I'd do it.  Even if Vargas didn't accept it, chances are teams would still be reluctant to sign him because that gives the Angels another early pick.  It could potentially cause a shift in the market for his services and the Angels would be able to sign him to a cheaper deal, or they'll just get another draft pick.  Either way, they win.