Angelsjunky

But the Mookie/Ramirez arguments will continue, which is what it was anyways.

Taylor Featherston sighting in the Mobile game, playing for Pensacola. Brandon Marsh went 3-5 today with a HR and 2B. Jose Soriano 3.2 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 4 walks, 5 Ks. ERA down to 5.04.

If you have the stomach for it, here's a description of the different flavors of WAR: https://www.fangraphs.com/library/war/differences-fwar-rwar/

There are actually three main versions of WAR: Baseball-Reference (rWAR), Fangraphs (fWAR) and Baseball Prospectus (WARP). All are different for Albert: 0.7, 0.0, 0.5. And as someone mentioned up-thread, the main difference is defensive metrics. Also, it should be understood that WAR--in whatever form--is not an exact science. But in all three cases, Albert is essentially a replacement player; at best, he's a "role player" stretched to be a starter because his name and contract. If he wasn't named Albert Pujols and being paid $27 million a year, he'd be on the bench or in AAA or stocking the shelves at Home Depot.

Haha, I completely know that feeling (not knowing how the conversation got to a certain place, or how one became the perceived defender of a specific position that one doesn't necessarily feel that strong about. The internet). I hate the thought that we end up with Machado but lose Trout. And there's just something about Machado that doesn't sit right with me. You look at his numbers and everything looks good, with some small breakthroughs this year that have led to his best year so far (with the bat, at least). He's also young enough that further improvement could be ahead of him. On the other hand, for some reason I see a player that could decline before 30, sort of like Hanley Ramirez, and then play out 70% of his contract as a mediocre .250/.300/.470 hitter with poor defense. Just a hunch, though.

@Dochalo, neither Skaggs nor Heaney have pitched a lot of innings over the last couple years so all things considered I’m very pleased with their performances this year. I’m reasonably optimistic we can expect improvement over150-180 innings next year. @Stradling, you’re being a bit selective about comparing Machado and Upton. Upton is pretty much established as a 3-4 WAR player, what Fangraphs calls a “Good Player.” Some years he’s above that, some below, but it evens out. Machado, on the other hand, is on pace for his third 6+ WAR season in four years, which makes him (what Fangraphs would call) an MVP caliber player. I see him more as a “borderline MVP,” but he’s still among the dozen or so best position players in the game. As for pursuing him, I’m mixed. On one hand I’m big on the youth movement and both want to see what Ward/Fletcher/Rengifo can do; on the other, Machado—as a superstar in his mid-20s—is exactly the type of player you invest big on. That said, for me it is contingent on whether or not he’s ok to play 3B. I’m guessing he’ll get an offer to play SS somewhere so this is probably all a moot point as the Angels won’t get rid of the best defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith.

Last I heard they're removing his UCL to give to Garret Richards.

A couple things. One, how many Verlanders are out there? Half a dozen? Secondly, as great as Corbin has been this year, his velocity drop worries me. Keuchel is another finesse guy who could quickly become a #4, and a very expensive one. Thirdly, teams rarely trade DeGroms and Bumgarners, and only for a bucketload of prospects or in a walk year. But clearly the Angels need to address the starting pitching. Richards didn't work out, Ohtani is a big question mark and one bad throw from not pitching for a year and a half, and no one else is really better than a good mid-rotation guy (e.g. Skaggs, Heaney part of the time). The Angels might have to hope for the best with Canning and Suarez and go after one or two depth guys. Hopefully BIlly can pull a rabbit out of a hat.

Pujols is #22 out of 27 qualified 1B in fWAR. But for 1B and DH, I tend to look at wRC+ (or OPS+) because it is such an offense-heavy position. Pujols is...wait for it...#22 out of 27 in wRC+ at 95. So Albert is exactly at replacement level and 95% of an average hitter playing the most premium offensive position in the game.

As @Kevinb pointed out, 0 WAR is not "average." It is replacement level - a scrub - someone who can easily be replaced. floplag, paying Paul McAnulty $27 million a year is a problem. Change the name to someone who was once great and somehow it seems more palatable. I guess. According to Fangraphs: 0-1 WAR Scrub 1-2 WAR Role Player 2-3 WAR Solid Player 3-4 WAR Good Player 4-5 WAR All-Star 5-6 WAR Superstar 6+ WAR MVP Albert Pujols, year by year: 2001: MVP 2002: Superstar 2003-10: MVP 2011: All-Star Angels career begins: 2012: Good Player 2013: Scrub 2014: Solid Player 2015: Role Player 2016: Scrub 2017: Scrub 2018: Scrub So step back and look at what the Angels have gotten out of Pujols: One year as each a Good, Solid, and Role Player, and four years as a Scrub. Or 6.9 fWAR over 7 years, so about an average of 1 WAR per year. Tell me again that he's not under-performing. The dude is an absolute disaster. And yes, contract matters.

Before making me the latest target for your chastisement, why don't you read the quote from floplag that I was responding to. He very much said that Pujols is not under-performing.

Dude, why would you even say that? Do you realize that Ramirez is having one of the greatest seasons ever by a third baseman? He is one of the very best players in baseball, is 25 years old (just a year and three months older than Ward) and has already produced 20.7 fWAR. To mention them in the same breath is like saying "hopefully Thaiss is the second coming of Joey Votto." It ain't gonna happen. Now maybe Ward can hit .270/.350/.450 and play passable defense at 3B...that would be awesome. But let's not talk Jose Ramirez.

There's just no way that the Angels are going to be comparable to the Sox, Yankees, and Astros in 2019. Let's accept that and not go into panic mode and try to stack up for next year. What is more important is the trajectory: get better and younger, year by year. I know it is hard to accept this, but 2019 really should be a stage-setter for 2020 and beyond. 2019 is the year that we'll see a lot of young players get playing time, to see who the building blocks are. Machado assumes he'll happily play 3B, which may not be the case. The Angels already have a better option at SS. They're neck and neck in WAR, but I'd rather have an "amazing defender, good hitter" than a "mediocre defender, very good plus hitter" at short. The Angels can make up the 20-30 point wRC+ gap between the two at other positions; they can't make up the defense. So I say, kick the tires on Grandal - he's a very good player, will cost a quarter as much, and fills an even larger hole. Upgrade the bullpen. Give the young guys a chance, and build for a sustainable greatness in the 2020s.

Oh sorry. Completely invalidates my post. He's definitely worth $27 million.

Huh? The guy has a 95 wRC+ this year, up from 78 last year but still a below average hitter at a premium position. He’s produced 0.0 fWAR, meaning he’s the definition of a “replacement player” — that is a scrub who could be easily replaced by a league minimum minor league veteran. All for the bargain price of $30 million! I’ve long given up on “vintage Pujols” but we’ve gone from “overpaid but still decent Pujols” (2012-16) to “scrub Pujols” (2017-18) who is very much under-producing relative to his contract and placement as not only a regular but a MOTO.

Craig just loves that video.

If Harper stays that's going to be one amazing outfield.

By saying I don't care how he performs, I only mean that he needs the reps. The more PA he gets this year, the more adjusted to the majors he'll be next year. Similarly with Ward, who has a real chance at being the Opening Day third baseman if the Angels give him some major league exposure this year. The point being, the rest of this year should be seen as auditioning and preparation for this year. It doesn't matter how many of the remaining games the Angels win, except on the off chance they win 15+ of the next 20 and sneak back into glimmer of hope, but we've seen no sign of that.

(I know tdawg posted the quote up-thread, but this just never gets old)

Juan Soto is amazing. He's now hitting .310/.324/.556 in 278 PA...19 years old. As Fangraphs wrote, he is probably the best teenage hitter in baseball history. It is scary to think what he'll look like if he develops normally. Chances are the gap between where he is now and where he'll eventually be isn't as large as a typical 19-year old, but he should still improve significantly. This kid could be the best hitter in the game in two or three years. I also wonder if his emergence has made Bryce Harper more prone to want to leave Washington, given that he's no longer the top phenom on that team. Bryce just belongs in pinstripes, anyhow.

Finally. JMF is next year's Valbuena, but hopefully much better. He (and Fletch) should be given as many at-bats as possible the rest of the year. I don't care how much he struggles.

I have a feeling Maitan will gradually morph into a Pablo Sandoval type, except with crappy defense at 3B and an eventual move to 1B before (if) he reaches the majors. He’s still holding his own at Orem as an 18 year old, which is testament to his talent. If he ever gets serious and in shape, he could skyrocket as a prospect.

Sickels likes Rengifo. Gives him a grade B or B+. And here's his midseason review of the Angels top 20.

Here's an interesting stat: Jose Ramirez with 32 HR (one behind JD Martinez) and 26 SB (tied with Dee Gordon for AL lead) has a chance of leading the AL in both HR and SB. Not sure that has ever been done before. Very impressive player, regardless.

“I’m pleased as punch: I just got tdawg’s autograph.”