ettin

"We want more, we want more!".... Jerry and Mike: It's not complicated! Love Lucho's passion and he has been impacting every game he is playing in right now!

I wish him well, he is off to a great start.

Trout 4-5, Triple

First of all I did say within the Texas League playing pool which isn't a hitter's haven to start. Secondly, as IP pointed out, Grichuk's walk rate and strikeout rates, based on a limited amount of PA's, appears to be trending in the right direction. Third, as the article pointed out, Grichuk (and Lindsey) is a 21 year old in AA so he seems to be holding his own. Are the slash lines great? No they aren't. But there is potential there AJ, I thought you'd delve deeper into the player profiles/numbers?

Some Grichuk Goodness out of some early Texas League results: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/daily-notes-notable-performances-of-the-texas-league-so-far/ Notably you'll see Rolando Gomez, Taylor Lindsey, Jett Bandy, and Mike Piazza on those Scout leaderboards as well. Early results but encouraging ones within the Texas League player pool.

At first I thought this was "Wilson Developing Rap with Conger". I could imagine songs like: "Let Me Ride (the Bench)" "99 Problems but a Pitch Ain't One" "Straight Outta Newport!" "Don't Call it a Comeback ('Cause it Ain't)" "Nuthin' But a PMA Thang" "Ruff Snyder's Anthem" (Featuring Chris Snyder) "4th Conger" "(I Throw to the) Base Down Low" "Protect Ya Vette" "(Scoring) 3 the Hard Way" "Close (Straight) Edge" "C.R.E.A.M. (Conger Rules Everything Around Me)"

To address your points: At $4 a year for two years you have a reliable defender who can hit for contact. Although he isn't a big bat at the hot corner he does provide enough value on defense to be worth the contract he was given in my opinion. One thing that Dipoto has tried to do is build depth at every position so that if a player is injured we have a better than average replacement player to take over during the interim time that our main player is out of action. Lucho still has minor league options so it makes more sense to give Callaspo a short term contract at a reasonable price until either one of Lucho Jimenez or Kaleb Cowart becomes Major League ready. If one of the latter becomes ready sooner then we could possibly trade Callaspo, with his reasonably valued contract, to another team for a piece or pieces that could fill another area of need on our team. The depth chart looks like this: Callaspo, Jimenez, Cowart. Izturis wanted to play full time and he probably wouldn't have done that for the Angels. Haren and Santana both had velocity drops in 2012. Velocity drops have been proven indicators that an injury exists or will happen in short order. Additionally Haren and Santan threw a lot of splitters and sliders, respectively, which also have been proven to damage a pitchers arm over a given period of time and with a given percentage of use during a season. Although the Blanton signing hasn't started off well I think that Dipoto wanted to take that chance over the clear warning signs regarding Dans and Ervins arms. Anibal Sanchez would have been a potentially good signing, I agree. Lohse came off a great season but his peripheral numbers showed a completely different pitcher and I think Dipoto was wise to stay away from him. And he would have cost us a first round pick. I'd rather have a more proven, upside talent in Hamilton and lose that pick over a fringe pitcher coming off a career season. $4 million per year is nothing for this club and it gives us needed depth. Callaspo is of course not the ideal player you want at 3rd but he isn't the worst one either.

Trumbo 3-4, 2 HR's

In his defense he didn't indicate which month and year.

It could just be a cold start? I'm sure the organization is looking at Cowart's approach, mechanics, etc. to determine if it is just a BABIP thing or if something is truly off physically and/or mentally. Besides it is way early in the season!

Although anything could certainly happen, Dipoto has stated that he plans to have Bourjos on the team for the next handful of years (through 2017 if I wasnt' mistaken). I know we need help with the pitching staff but I just don't see Bourjos being traded after Jerry has so clearly stated that fact? I understand that he look like a "disposable" piece but I think we'd be underselling him a bit too at this point. Who knows....

I really like Lucho! Never really saw him play before but I love the energy and I think the rest of the team does too! On a different note I like the fact that we have Alberto now with Lucho a very capable backup/replacement 3B and Kaleb trying to develop down in the minors. The overlap and the potential depth going forward has some promise. Cowart is struggling a bit to start this season but it's nice to know that we have capable talent until he develops fully (and you never know he might stumble, many others have but I hope that is not the case!).

That's not true Geoff! In fact it's a complete phallicy!

Tdawg's stump and grind mobile on-the-go service.

Santana was traded because of two things: His velocity dipped 1 mph in 2012 (and notably is still down a mph) and Ervin throws the slider over 30% (this season he has thrown in 42%!) of the time and it has been statiscally proven that pitchers who throw splitters (Haren) and sliders are more prone and inclined to have a serious arm injury. The velocity dips are a red flag and warning sign for the both of them so Dipoto tried to flip them for something useful. Notably Dipoto saw that Marmol had a significant increase in fastball velocity last year and I think that is why he focused on trying to acquire him at the time (although his velocity has dipped back down this year).

Sample size. I agree with the principle of what you are trying to do AJ but call me back when we get at least 50 games in and some of those numbers won't be statistically sound over a full season for that matter.

Peter Bourjesus?

I know you were trying to make a point AJ, but it is a little misleading to take a handful of starts and then compare them to a season.

Bourjos 2-4, Triple

Snow eh? I'm sure at least one player will hit for the icicle. That home run will be the 'Cold Hard Blast' of the night too.

I liked the way you framed that statement.

Actually I didn't notice who is on top.... lol! No wonder it seems so dismal!

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=3&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=11,d Scroll to the last team on the list. Leave RISP much? I don't think this will continue however but the small sample size numbers reflect what is happening on the field.

You schooled him!

First of all you don't have any insight into the clubhouse to know the motivation of the players or of management. You are guessing and you have no real evidence that any or all of them are way to satisfied. Why is Albert Pujols the first player in the workout room in the early morning hours? Do you think he does that because he is satisfied? If he were satisfied and not motivated he'd roll in an hour before the game. In regards to your other statement how long did Fernando Rodney last before he was yanked out and replaced by Walden? When Ervin Santana was struggling they put him on a tight 5-inning leash and yanked him if it started going South late in the year last season. Mike only has a certain amount of tools (25) in his toolbox to use and its not like you can just fire a player and bring in a new one who will take their place and perform better? Our farm system is limited in regards to major league ready talent and we don't have many trade chips available to fill a hole. The point is that I think players have been replaced when they clearly have shown an inability to perform or if their attitude and dedication are less than stellar. Guillen, Spier, Rodney, et. al. have all been attitude/performance problems over the years and were traded or released because of it. It is my feeling that most MLB players want to succeed and they want to be winners. It is also my feeling that most MLB players want stability whether it is through job security (playing on a longer term contract in one city), financial security (enough money to retire on after baseball since, in some cases, they have forsaken college for baseball), or even job environmental security (working in an environment that is stable and not prone to moments of wild stress). The latter is what S-C-I-O-S-C-I-A tries to promote by maintaining an even keel throughout most of the game(s). The players are smart enough to know when they screw up and when they do well. It seems that a majority of people prefer to work and try to do well at their jobs. I don't think that MLB players are any different from you and me, they just get very well compensated for their chose profession. I know I don't like to lose and most people don't.