tomsred

I protest the 1-4 kendrick, single. I was the first to predict and the others that got it right clearly are intimidated by my potential.

April was clearly the month of the six inning starter; May belongs to Kendrick 1-4.  It's like the stock market, you have to know when to buy in and when to get out that's important.

Actually, the pitcher doesn't need to throw a pitch if an out is recorded. If a pitcher came into a game and picks off a runner on base before throwing a pitch, he can be replaced whether it was the last out of the inning or not.

On this Angels team that could have definitely happened.

After the first,he looked good for a few innings and then he started looking like CJ. Couldn't (or wouldn't) throw a strike. Weird. Don't know what happens between innings with some of these guys.

He choked, I think he wanted to get through 5 innings and rack up a win.  The closer he got the more outside his game he got.  Also it doesn't take long for ML hitters to figure out tendencies on pitchers who are struggling.  I don't know what the organization sees in this guy, he should be at AAA.

I think chemistry matters most in two areas:  Between the pitchers and the catchers, and between all of the infielders (and, to a lesser extent the outfielders) because they work side by side on defense throughout the game.  Other than that, I don't think chemistry matters that much.  The dugouts, clubhouses, bullpens, and charter airplanes are large enough for players to join whichever clique they feel most comfortable in.

 

However long it takes for leaders to develop, doesn't it strike you as bizarre that no player on this team of 25 took cues from Hunter and is able to emulate him in some way?  I find that especially troubling with Pujols and Hamilton here.  I suppose Hamilton could grow into a leader over time, but why is Pujols seemingly a zero in this role?

 

As a group, I think the biggest failure of Moreno, Reagins, and Scioscia was not dealing with the catcher dilemma years ago.  This was during the era when Scioscia had too much power and wouldn't let Mathis slip away.  I think Conger would be much better today (and he isn't that bad) if the Angels hadn't bounced him around so much.  Our younger relievers have had a difficult enough job as is without the constant juggling of catchers the last few years.

Hunter had a rare personality, I'm not sure anyone on this team could emulate him.  Eventually Trumbo and Trout could be leaders, but that might take a few years.

I agree with you on the catching, not enough emphasis there, but really good catchers that were available via trade or free agency have been rare the past few years.  I think DiPoto missed the boat on the pen construction.  He tried to build a house with a hand saw instead of an electric saw.  Maybe Madsen will bail him out, but I don't expect that he will contribute much right away.

Hamilton and Pujols pray enough for all of us, but the problem is they aren't using the right prayer. I prefer this one:

 

 

Our Trout who art in center (and sometimes left),

hallowed be thy name.

Thy MVP will come.

Thy wheels get it done

on the road as it is in Anaheim.

Give us this day our daily win,

and forgive us our LOBs,

as we forgive those who pitch around you,

and lead us not into poor situational hitting,

but deliver us from losing.

For thine is the franchise,

and the leadoff spark, and the future World Series glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Nice!

Don't see why he's apologizing, each one of those asshat umpires should be doing it instead. 

 

Sure the manager didn't know something we all figure is basic knowledge, but that's not his problem, managers have brain farts, lots of stuff going on during games, sure enough somethings going to come along they don't know. 

 

The umps should be apologizing because first and foremost its the UMPIRES JOBS to ENFORCE and KNOW the rules and in this situation they failed miserably. Hell, I wonder if this would have even been an issue if Mike didn't run out there to start arguing! And THAT is my biggest beef with this.

.....and it wasn't just one umpire, all four group farted.

We need Weaver back as soon as possible. Once he gets back things should start to settle down and hopefully on this board as well.

Things settle down on this board?  You're a real optimist.

I think Wells should come back as our hitting coach, you guys need another Hatcher to keep you occupied, LOL.

he's got as much chance to go ballistic as north korea does. 

They both do nice press conferences, but neither are going to the moon real soon.  LOL

Go back earlier in this thread.  A certain somebody said he agreed with everything Haren said a mere 7 minutes after the link was posted here.  How that is possible I have no clue because Haren's comments could be construed different ways.

 

I agree with your comments.  The players should be able to speak their minds.

I disagree, you don't let everyone represent the organization with public comments because they are unskilled public speakers, and what they say can be interpreted in various ways.  Think of some of the comments made by Hunter in previous years, and how unsettling and misconstrued they were.  Yes, it's our right to have free speech in this country.  When you wear a uniform of an organization, or you are an employee of an organization, what you say reflects on everyone in the organization.  How well you say it, and to some degree what you say, can be construed to represent the opinion of the organization.  That does not fly in public companies, that takes some skill and is a specialty.

Now as a fan you would probably like to hear every players opinion on team performance, but many fans would take those opinions as fact and as representative of the entire organization, and make conclusions from those supposed "facts.".  That is why an individual like Tim Mead exists.  That's why baseball is full of cliches that are not seen as detrimental to the organization they represent.  If you allowed everyone to be a public relations representative, you would be toast in the community and as an effective organization.

One other thing I would add that was handled poorly by the organization - marketing.  They pushed hard this offseason in marketing the skills of the key players acquired.  They fueled the expectation level for performance to an unachievable level, probably because it would help sell tickets and merchandise.  I would have cautioned fans to temper their enthusiasm because it would take some time to integrate the new players, and make the adjustments that were necessary to win consistently.  I don't believe the Angels marketing department, and the baseball operations communicate very well.  They might not have an effective leader over both organizations that effectively integrates them.

OK, my thoughts:

 

1.  I think the idea of team chemistry is overemphasized, too often used as a scapegoat for other failures.  Not saying it isn't important.  You just never hear about chemistry problems when a team is winning games.  Other teams break up their chemistry without a noticeable effect the following year.  Look at the Cardinals and how they've played since Pujols' departure. 

 

2.  What is he implying about team chemistry?  Were the guys who brought good chemistry to the team shipped out?  Or did Dipoto and Moreno make mistakes in their offseason acquisitions?  This can be interpreted different ways. 

 

3.  I have no doubts Torii Hunter was a good leader.  Why is it, though, that no other player is capable of stepping up as a leader?  Why isn't Scioscia and his coaches capable of filling that void in leadership?  This is what they are paid to do, to provide leadership. 

 

4.  Haren places the blame on players' performance.  Why then are so many players sucking at once if Scioscia and his coaching staff are doing a good job?  Why is underachievement the norm in Anaheim over the last several years?

My answer to some of your questions is as follows:

1. I pretty much agree with you, chemistry is over emphasized and tends to show well when your winning.

2. I think he was implying that the team had learned to jell well together as a team, and there was no need to make the amount of changes that were made in total.

3. I think he meant that leaders have to develop over a period of months.  Managers, coaches and player leadership qualities are quite different.  A manager makes hard decisions regarding who plays, who sits, many in game decisions, bating orders, etc., and must be in a position to reprimand and encourage a player as necessary.  He shouldn't have to justify every decision he makes, and must be isolated somewhat from the players.  The coaches fill an intermediate role, they can be closer to the players, sometimes consoling and encouraging them.  Player leaders come in all types, part of it is they have to lead by example to some degree to have a much credibility.  Some can be poor performers and be leaders, but I believe that is rare.

4. No one is saying that the manager and coaching staff have done an outstanding job this year.  I would think their performance is under review mostly by DiPoto, and somewhat by Moreno.  Not every player is playing poorly compared to their norm.  Unfortunately this team has little depth, and the highest paid players on the team are under performing for various reasons.  A few are injured, and there is no depth to step up and fill the void created by these injuries.

Making changes to a baseball team, employees in a company, or almost any situation where team performance is required to succeed will many times set the entire team back a few steps until they learn to work with one another, not always but many times it will.  I believe this wasn't taken into account by either Arte or DiPoto.  I still believe this team will come together and win somewhat consistently, but not until some of the players come back from injury, it's just not a deep enough team.  I've said this in previous years, you need between 40-50 effective players to win a championship.  That's how many different players the Angels run out at the Major League level each year.  Unfortunately our numbers 25-50 on the depth chart are very poor right now compared to other clubs.

Dan Haren > Jerry DiPoto.  Jerry can't comment because Dan will say "scoreboard baby."  LOL

Post your predictions here for season game #36, 5/11/13 vs. Chicago White Sox.  Game time is 4:10 pm PST.  Winners from tonight's game #35 vs. Chicago are shown below.

4 Points, 2 Points

None

3 Points

HeavenlyHalos  (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

The Angels  (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

Redondo  (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

nando714  (Callaspo 1-4, 1 single)

BatsnBeer  (Trumbo 1-4, 1 single)

paws  (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

AngelsAndRamsFan  (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

Jeff M  (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

1 Point

tomsred  (Trout 2-5)

TCB  (Trumbo 1-4)

Angels_Baseball  (Trout 1 run)

Jellybean  (Pujols 1-4)

JAHV76  (Pujols 1-4)

2002_halos_II  (Enright 5 ER's)

notalpujols  (Enright 3.1 IP)

I think he hit it 100%.  I agree with everything he said.

"I'm sick and tired of those of you that claim no one is at fault except the players are underperforming, therefore, do nothing. It's not Sosh's fault, not Butcher's fault, it wasn't Hatcher's fault last year. Why have a coaching staff if they don't share in any of the blame?

Someone needs to get the ax for this pattern the team has. Terribly slow starts, no sense of urgency, no one willing to accept blame for their part, player or coach."

---------------

No one is saying to do nothing.  They need to act strategically, and with some plan, not out of emotion and trying to punish someone.  Put a plan together, execute it, and do it at the absolute best time.  To react just because fans are emotionally frustrated is stupid.  Everything should be reviewed carefully, and discussed thoroughly.  Change will occur, but right now is a silly time in my opinion to make changes because the alternatives are slim.  All you will do is make more mistakes, and probably some that will ensure failure for even longer than we all want to endure. 

Whatever.

Scioscia was never known for creativity.

I guess you missed the constantly changing lineups from the last few years.

This year's edition is an interesting problem.  Hamilton and Pujols are far different to me than Hunter and even Wells in personality.  They seem more introverted, and explain things through God in an abstract way.  Hunter and Wells were openly encouraging and enthusiastic toward other players.  I think it is almost impossible for Scioscia alone to fill a leadership void.  He has to be the bad guy at times as well.  Picciolo, Eppard, and Butcher don't seem to effectively connect to the players like a Maddon, Roenicke, or Black.  A more effective coaching staff might fill some of the breach between veteran leadership and developing players.  Or they could shake things up by replacing some of the older players with much different personality types.  The timing stinks rights now.  We are virtually stuck with what we have until around mid-season.  Any replacements for player, or coaching staff, would be choosing from a very limited available base right now as opposed to later in the year, or at the end of the season.

All that said, we might not have one of those either.  Effective leaders most of the time have to be trained to fill that role.  Many study it in college, or do extensive reading on the subject, or learn it directly from others.  Baseball players don't generally work on that skill, they want to play and work on their physical skills.  Once secure in that role then maybe they have the interest, ability or inclination to work on being an effective leader.  I'm not sure we have a lot of mental giants on this team, or players who want to accept that role.

Could that lead to this team's performance problems, definitely yes.  Wrong mix of players, or missing maybe one key player who is good at leadership, and who is the go to guy for encouragement, example and knows what to properly discuss with his co-players.  That's DiPoto's job to make sure we have someone like that, not just a mis-matched bunch of players who have good past stats.  Scioscia also needs to keep an eye on what's happening between the players, and step in when when necessary, but he can't do it by himself.

I don't think some of you understand effective leadership.  Leadership is not constantly "calling guys out."  Leadership is encouragement, setting a positive example, helping others with their problems, emphasizing teamwork, and helping them stay within their capabilities to perform effectively.  It's not yelling and screaming, embarrassing, and booting people in the a** all the time.  Yeah, there are some few moments when that  is necessary, but that's usually done in private, one-on-one, and usually ends with something encouraging said.

Trout 2-5, 1 single.

Post your predictions here for season game #35, 5/10/13 vs. Chicago White Sox.  Game time is 5:10 pm PST.  Winners from tonight's game #34, 5/9/13 vs. Houston are shown below.  Also below is the updated Predictions Scoreboard that is also posted in the Pinned Thread above.

4 Points, 3 Points, 2 Points

None

1 Point

Angels_Baseball  (Vargas 2 walks)

Mark68  (Vargas 7 K's)

Tank  (Kendrick 1 double)

2013 PREDICTION GAME

SCOREBOARD

[Year to Date Through 5/9/13 - Season Game 34]

1.   JAHV76.....30 (7)

2.   Ray McKigney.....28 (7)

3.   Redondo.....28 (7)

4.   Mark68.....28 (5) - "April 2013 Player of the Month"

5.   The Angels.....25 (5)

6.   AngelsAndRamsFan.....23 (3)

7.   Angels N Skins.....22 (6)

8.   TCB.....22 (4)

9.   HeavenlyHalos.....22 (3)

10. SoCalSportsFan.....22 (3)

11. Jeff M.....20 (4)

12. paws*.....19 (3)

13. Jellybean.....18 (2)

14. 2002_halos_II.....17 (2)

15. AZMike.....17 (1)

16. GoodTimesGoneBad.....16 (3)

17. Jeff S......16 (2)

18. notalpujols.....15 (3)

19. katrinab.....15 (1)

20. Troutipoo27.....15 (1)

21. Torridd.....14 (2)

22. Angels_Baseball.....13 (2)

23. tdawg87.....13 (2)

24. True Grich.....12 (3)

25. Ochocinco!.....12 (2)

26. Peyton.....11 (2)

27. SoWhat.....11 (1)

28. tomsred**.....11 (1) - 2010 Champion

29. Lawrence.....10 (3)

30. ZachMartin1994.....10

31. Pbonetheman.....9 (1)

32. BatsnBeer.....9

33. Jimmag.....8 (1)

34. HaloFromVegas.....8

35. Kenny.....7 (2)

36. Jammer36.....7 (1)

37. Tank.....6 (1)

38. m0nkey.....6 - "2011 Champion"

39. bigfish27.....5 (1)

40. scooby10672.....5 (1)

41. George.....5

42. nando714.....5

43. hk47.....4 (1)

44. EDinTUSTIN.....4

45. Geoff Stoddart.....4

46. ispy45.....4

47. stemyn.....4

48. GalericX.....3 (1)

49. nate.....3 (1)

50. poker1.....3 (1)

51. StephenGlansberg.....3 (1)

52. Jim.....3

53. Primitive.....3

54. The Dude.....3

55. Eric.....2

56. LBHalos17.....2

57. open_speed.....2

58. Waller.....2

59. Agalloch.....1

60. Angel Dog and Beer.....1

61. CaliAngel.....1

62. Cory.....1

63. Dochalo.....1

64. ELEVEN.....1

65. Eric Notti.....1

66. ettin.....1

67. ineedanap.....1

68. Kody Mac.....1

69. RallyTime.....1

70. STLCardinalsFan.....1

71. TrumBomb.....1

Following each player is the year to date points total, along with the total of 3 and/or 4 points wins shown in parenthesis.

* Not eligible to win prizes  (conflict of interest)

**Administrator, not eligible to win.

Aybar 2-4, 1 run.

Post your predictions here for season game no. 34, 5/9/13 vs. Houston. Game time is 5:10 pm PST. Winners from game no. 33 vs Houston on 5/8/13 are shown below.

4 Points, 2 Points

None

3 Points

Ray McKigney. (Trout 2-4, 1 single)

Angels N Skins (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

The Angels (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

JAHV76 (Aybar 1-4, 1 single)

Redondo (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

Jeff S. (Kendrick 1-4, 1 single)

True Grich (Trout 2-4, 1 double)

SoCalSpotsFan (Trout 2-4, 1 single)

1 Point

Tank (Callaspo 1 single)

AZMike (Trout 2-4)

TCB (Aybar 1-4)

Troutipoo27 (Blanton 6 K's)

notalpujols (Trumbo 1-4)

GoodTimesGoneBad (Blanton 3 ER's)

Ochocinco! (Aybar 1 single)

ZachMartin1994 (Blanton 6 K's)

katrinab (Aybar 1 single)

STLCardinalsFan (Pujols 1 single)

Jellybean (Pujols 2-4)

HaloFromVegas (Trout 2-4)

Jeff M (Callaspo 1 single)

ispy45 (Trout 1 single)

BatsnBeer (Trumbo 1-4)