Angelsjunky

More on Trout's 5.1 fWAR, now through 62 games. 5.1 fWAR is... ...As good or better than all but 17 players last year - in the entire season. ...as good as Garret Anderson's best year, 2003. ...better than all but one Tim Salmon year (1995, 5.8) or Darin Erstad year (2000, 8.7). ...is still on pace for 13.3 fWAR, which would be the best non-Ruthian season in major league history. Now I personally think it is very unlikely that he keeps that fWAR pace, but he's pretty much a lock for 10 WAR (would only need 4.9 through the next 100 games, which would be pace of his worst season ever), has a very good chance of 11 WAR, with a solid chance at 12+. To put those in context, here are the number of x WAR seasons in baseball history: 13+: 4 (all Ruth) 12+: 10 (Ruth 6, Bonds 2, Gehrig 1, Hornsby 1) 11+: 25 (Ruth 6, Bonds 3, Hornsby 3, Williams 3, Mantle 2, Cobb 2, Gehrig 1, Morgan 1, Yaz 1, Foxx 1, Musial 1, Wagner 1) 10+ 52 (including 2 by Trout)

Why wouldn't they call up Fletcher or Fernandez? Such a no-brainer.

Here's a blast from the recent past: Ricardo Sanchez. He was a live arm traded to the Braves for Kyle Kubitza a few years ago, in a very Dipoto-ish move. Kubitza flopped. Sanchez hasn't really panned out, but is still young. He's 21 and in AA but has a 10.80 ERA in 2 starts. The last couple years he struckout about a batter per inning, but walked half that many, with an ERA around 5.00 and no sign of improvement.

As far as impact players go, Newcomb (2014), Clevinger (2011), and then Skaggs, Corbin and Richards (2009). There have been a few decent relievers scattered throughout.

Newcomb.

Another juicy stat. Through June 4, Trout's 5.1 fWAR is equal to or better than any two position players except for those in the top 8. Think about that. In other words, Trout's value is equal to the the value of the 9th and 10th best position players this year...who are Freddie Freeman and Brandon Belt. Or how this: Trout's 5.1 fWAR is equal to the combined fWAR of Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, and Joey Votto.

He reached 5.1 fWAR through 61 games. I wonder if that was the quickest to reach 5 fWAR ever. A new stat: WBT. Wins Below Trout.

There is no way Kole gets the at bats to qualify if he continues to hit this poorly.

I thought we drafted the black version of that guy yesterday?

Jo Adell will be a major league regular by his 21st birthday (April 8, 2020).

Well, if Simmons is DLed it will almost certainly be Fletcher called up.

It looks like the Angels have already assigned some players to Orem: http://www.milb.com/roster/index.jsp?sid=t519 Notable names include Maitan, Duensing, and Soriano. Some players listed for the AZL Angels as well: http://www.milb.com/roster/index.jsp?cid=404 Aquino, Rivera, Swanda, Soto, Nonie, Sala. No sign of Deveaux or Knowles yet. I assume both are headed to AZL unless the Angels think Deveaux is so advanced he belongs in Orem. That might also make sense with Adams almost certainly going to AZL.

Fangraphs' day one recap: Jackson was great value, and Adams may have the highest upside in the draft. Jackson has some similarities to Jahmai Jones, Adams has some with Jo Adell, and the Angels’ most successful recent picks have been the riskier types (Griffin Canning and Brandon Marsh, as well).

I dunno, I wouldn’t be surprised if Eppler just continues with high upsides hidden jewels. He’s already established depth and quality in the minors; what will bring it to the next level—a top 10 system—are a few more high upside types.

I almost deleted it right after typing it, as there are guys we'd see before him--Fletcher, Fernandez, and Cowart. But Rengifo is kind of like the position player version of Jose Suarez: He isn't flashy or dripping with tools, but he is adjusting quicker to higher levels quicker than some of his more obviously talented peers.

Brandon Marsh: Lumbersexual? Seriously though, I love that Adell-Trout-Marsh outfield, but things get tricky with the equally talented Deveaux and Adams a year or two behind. But I don't see Marsh or Adell being traded anytime soon. Both are not yet at "peak prospect value" - they need to at least dominate at A+ ball, if not AA. They're both at that crucial stage developmentally where they need to jump from relying on pure athleticism to refined skills. We've seen some of that from both, but until they make that jump--which roughly equates with either A+ mastery or AA competency--they don't have the fullest prospect value.

Eric Longenhagen mentioned how excited he is about seeing Jordyn Adams at AZL (He lives in Arizona). Adams and Deveaux are going to be a nice combo in the AZL outfield.

What a year from Rengifo. .327/.423/.468 now, including .341/.408/.477 in 11 AA games. At this pace we may see him get a cup in September at age 21.

Jackson. I don't have an expert eye, just not a lot of torque in the legs. But maybe he's going at 80% as it is batting practice.

His swing seems a bit stiff.

Was he a good friend of yours?

^True. It is also important to remember, as Doc mentioned above, that JJ and JA are very young - high school guys, who are at least a few years away from the bigs. Plus Jeremiah Jackson is a badass name.

Well, I can buy the approach of drafting the highest upside, most athletic players, and then adjusting as needed. I'll warm to these picks as I trust Eppler's judgement, but I'm just a tad surprised he passed on Singer or Seigler for Adams, and didn't go for the best arm instead of Jackson. But I tend to geek out over position players more than pitchers, so I'm OK with it.

So the Angels drafted at the two positions (OF, MI) that they're already deepest at? Hmm...

Miami drafted a kid named Osiris. Awesome.