Angelsjunky

Deveaux is really gaining hype, almost too much. But he really could be in the mix with Adell and Marsh as far as prospect value by this time next year.

This is pretty much the best and most accurate summary of Scioscia I've seen. Well done.

Oh yeah, Brandon Wood in 2010 was worse. In fact, Kole is basically the same hitter as Wood that year: 2018 Calhoun: .150/.186/.190 in 161 PA, 2 wRC+ 2010 Wood: .146/.174/.208 in 243 PA, 1 wRC+

From 1901 to the present - the start of the two leagues - there have been 12,880 qualified player seasons. Kole Calhoun's 2 wRC+ is dead last of those 12,880 seasons. #12,879 is at 23 wRC+. OK, that's hardly fair including him within full season players. What about those with 150+ PA? (Kole's at 161). 30,575 player seasons. Kole's 2018 performance is #30,566. In other words, as a hitter Kole has been worse than every single major leaguer from 1901 to the present with 150+ PA, except for 9 players. Of 30,575.

I'm not blaming Scioscia, just pointing out that he has a track record of almost absurd fidelity to Proven Veterans, even when they are sucking up the joint and there are better, younger options. This team would be better if all or at least most of the starts of Pujols, Valbuena, Calhoun, Young and Kinsler were replaced by Thaiss, Fernandez, Hermosillo, Blash, and Fletcher (in some form or fashion). Of course it doesn't happen all at once, but the team needs to start working towards this transition.

Thaiss's minor league line is now a very respectable .281/.346/.503. As for Pujols, if Thaiss really does well in AAA, Eppler may simply call him up and force the issue. Albert has to know the reality of the situation, that the clock is ticking. He may make it through this year as the regular first baseman, but I could see him ending up in a platoon as soon as this year and on the bench next. Or maybe I have too much faith in humanity.

Yeah, but we're talking Mike Scioscia.

I hear you on this and feel similarly on a gut level, but I think that's because hitting is "sexier" than pitching. From a pure baseball perspective, watching him pitch is a real treat. Furthermore, while I think he is and can be an all-star level hitter, I think as a pitcher he has Cy Young potential. In other words, I could see him being one of the top 20 or so hitters in the game, but top 5 pitcher. Of course I voted for both, because both are a joy.

Proven Veteran

I also see Brandon Belt. Maybe we can hope that Thaiss, like Belt, has a mid-career performance spike like Belt is having now. Belt 2011-17: .268/.358/.461 2018: .317/.416/.593

Actually, it kind of is. It isn't like Kole is just slumping. He is hitting .154, with a .396 OPS - and it almost June. If he was hitting .200 with a .600 OPS, it might make sense to let him work things out, but he is so bad that he's really hurting the team. And they haven't really tried Michael Hermosillo yet. Again, a player doesn't have to be very good, even good at all, to be better than Kole.

I don't care how good his defense is, his bat is so awful he shouldn't be starting - or even in the majors. And he's getting worse. His BA and OPS is at a season low. They guy is not figuring it out, he's getting worse. I'd say, "Kole, we want to send you to the minors to fix your swing so you can help us win the World Series." I think he'd accept that.

He's 19.

Kole really needs a clubhouse gang wedgie.

Yeah, I agree they're better than 13-19. But they don't look like the 90+ win team they looked like in April. I'm worried that Scioscia's allegiance to the veterans may continue to drag the offense down. We need to see at least a couple of those guys put out to pasture.

I know you jest, but this is actually a better ball club if you replace Pujols, Kinsler, Valbuena and Calhoun with Fernandez, Fletcher, Blash and Hermosillo. Except the team is 13-19 in their last 32 games and plummeting quickly towards .500.

Unlike Calhoun, Kinsler and Valbuena aren’t historically atrocious, just garden variety bad. I would think the Angels would give Kinsler more time than Valbuena, given Kinsler’s career. I’m also guessing that Fernandez would adjust more quickly to the majors than Fletcher, but who knows.

I mean his slump goes back to Burlington , not him.

That's kind of annoying. Site admin says, "No more swearing because we don't want to scare the kids." Site admin and mods: "F*ck, F*ck, F*ck." Yeah, awesome.

Craig saw it.

Marsh is really slumping, going back to Burlington.

13-19 in the last 32 games. This team is flailing.

Are they watching Cocoon?

Yes, I hope that is what is going on. Eventually they will have a surplus in the outfield and middle infield and can trade secondary prospects to fill holes: possibly a long-term catcher and, of course, pitching (they have a lot, but can always use more). Here are the long-term options at each position, that I see being possible long-term starting options: Ca: None 1B: Thaiss 2B: Fernandez, Rengifo, Jones SS: Simmons, Fletcher, Rivas 3B: Cozart, Ward, Maitan LF: Upton, Adell CF: Trout, Deveaux RF: Hermosillo, Marsh There are other players who could turn out to be major league regulars (Rojas, Walsh, Houchins, Hunter, Sandoval, etc), but those are the ones who seem to have a significant chance. The big hole is catcher, with almost everywhere else having a surplus (except 1B...but we could slot Fernandez and possibly Maitan in there). So what I see happening is that unless the Angels draft a legit catching prospect, they will trade some of that IF and/or OF surplus for a long-term solution. But with Maldy in the fold, that doesn't need to happen in the next year or two. I'd rather see Eppler hold as many as these cards in his hand as long as he can, without going full on Stoneman.