Angelsjunky

Great post, @Dochalo. It really is rather remarkable how Billy has turned the entire franchise around so quickly. He also tends to hit more than miss in terms of acquisitions. He does seem to have misread Cozart's so-called breakout; it reminds me a bit of Stoneman and GMJr, when the numbers clearly said "fluke" but the GM hoped they were getting a steal of a deal. Cozart's contract isn't nearly so bad, but he does seem like he's going to spend a good chunk of it as a very expensive utility player. But I'll take a misread now and again if he keeps doing what he's doing: not only improving the franchise from top to bottom but, best of all, doing so without giving up too many crucial pieces. Newcomb is a loss but worth it.

3rd rounders are a different story - although have proven quite useful in trades. 2018: Aaron Hernandez - ominous name? 2017: Jacob Pearson - traded for Ohtani international money 2016: Nonie Williams - Whothafuk knows 2015: Grayson Long - in Justin Upton trade 2014: Chris Ellis - in Andrelton Simmons trade 2013: Elliot Morris - in Huston Street trade

Probably. it is a vicious cycle...like porn and shame.

I love the Angels 1st and 2nd round draft picks the last few years: 2018: Jordyn Adams, Jeremiah Jackson 2017: Jo Adell, Griffin Canning 2016: Matt Thaiss, Brandon Marsh 2015: Taylor Ward, Jahmai Jones So much upside there.

My mojo is back

#freepuello

I'd keep Thaiss and deal Ward, because I think Thaiss has higher offensive upside and there are more options at 3B in the minors. Plus, Thaiss continuing to develop could lead to Pujols being benched.

1-3 with a sac fly = .333 BA, .250 OBP.

It is technically possible if you have more sac flies--which don't count against BA but count against OBP--than walks and hbp.

Man FUPA!

A rare occurence, because he usually manages at least a walk. Plus 8 LOB. Anyhow, here are the number of times he's gone 0-5 in his career: 2018: 2 (today and he went 0-6 on the first day of the season) 2017: 2 2016: 0 2015: 4 2014: 2 2013: 2 2012: 3 2011: 0 I might have missed one or two as I just scanned his game logs, but that's only 15 times in 991 games.

The only way the Angels trade Trout is if the organization collapses and the team sucks tdawg’s balls in 2020. You don’t trade a franchise player unless your franchise is in shambles, and that is unlikely to be the case in two years.

Maybe he’s just adapting to American culture.

My crystal ball says... 1. Fernandez sits tomorrow. 2. Stradling gets into numerous squabbles defending Scioscia.

Eppler has already improved the organization by leaps and bounds and the trajectory looks good. I’d rather see the Eppler Era see a continued trend of improvement than a spike and then fall. If Trout sees this, he’ll more likely re-sign: 2017 < 2018 < 2019 < 2020. That said, Arte will have to show him the money. And the worrying factor: Trout’s (and more so, his wife’s) roots on the east coast. We’re probably going to see an epic bidding war and an eventual contract topping half a billion dollars.

I can’t imagine a situation, other than being a sumo wrestler or a linebacker, where extra fat doesn’t degrade athleticism. Yes, baseball isn’t basketball and you have fatties like Prince Fielder who can crush the ball, but does anyone doubt that Prince would’ve been better if he had been fitter? The bottom line: being fit > being fat. This doesn’t mean Maitan can’t be really good with a bit extra, but that being fit will increase his chances of being good and his overall upside.

Trout slumping again..,he seems more streaky this year. 2 hits in last 16 at bats, or five games.

Eddie Rosario Matt Chapman Scooter Gennett Eugenio Suarez Jeimar Candelario Brandon Crawford Eduardo Escobar Daniel Robertson Wilson Contreras Nicholas Castellanos Albert Almora Jr Whit Merrifield Chris Taylor Jose Iglesias Brian Anderson Tim Anderson And many more...65 players in all, of 159 qualifiers. I wouldn't consider myself a Harper Hater or having Bryce Butthurt, but for some reason I like to root against this guy.

Dipotoed

Guess he isn’t toast quite yet. This is why you give Proven Veterans a chance.

I was speculating something similar in another thread. But I'm also thinking that if he does need TJS, the Angels will take it easy with him afterward, which may also mean that they'd delay TJS until after the season - or at least until after they're eliminated - because they'll probably go conservative on treatment for a couple months to see how he responds, and it probably doesn't make much difference if he gets cut in August vs. October. Either way he'll miss all of 2019 and should be ready in 2020. So if he needs TJS (and that is still an if), then we might see something like this: June - July: Shutdown completely while stem cell injections commence, slowly returns to hitting August - September: Hitter only October: Tommy John Surgery October - March: Shutdown March, 2019: Resumes baseball activities as hitter; main DH during season March, 2020: Returns as pitcher/hitter

I was previously a bit underwhelmed by Thaiss and Scotty tried and failed to convince me that he was legit. I'm glad to be proven wrong - or at least it seems that way. I'm thinking his upside is that of a .290/.370/.530, 25 HR, 140 wRC+ hitter in the majors. Maybe .280/.350/.500 is more realistic, but I'll take it.

Camel Dipotoe

Yes, because one game all of a sudden changes everything. Albert will have a good game every once in awhile.

Well, to be fair it isn't like there's been a significantly better option. But that is changing. Fernandez will out-hit him and Thaiss continues to develop. Albert might remain full-time this year, but I don't think he will be next. Hopefully he accepts that gracefully.