ettin

The Angels are seven games out of the Division and four games out of the Wild Card, so I don't overly fault them for pushing in some chips. However, in my opinion, they need to go a step further and really commit to this, because in order to win the Division they will need more firepower and moving two top prospects for rentals is a bit of a dangerous gamble to angle on just a Wild Card spot only, too much can happen in a Wild Card playoff spot. This is why Arte Moreno needs to sell this team, he is writing ego-based checks that the Angels organization cannot cash. I have always appreciated Moreno's commitment to maintaining consistently high payrolls, but his interference in what should be purely baseball-based decisions has damaged this franchise over the last 13 years or so. If this move or moves do not pay off, the fan base is going to be even more unhappy, potentially watching Ohtani, Giolito, and Lopez walk off into the sunset, with a greatly reduced farm system and a probably unhappy Mike Trout heading further into his post-30 years with no hardware to show for what is a truly Hall of Fame career (and he wouldn't be the first, sadly). I hope the Angels make the playoffs and I hope they go all the way, I love this organization. I fully expect that the Angels will continue to try and add before the Trade Deadline because if you are going to commit like this, you'd better improve so much that you can actually have a shot at bridging the gap to win the Division, too.

Not me, either, lol...

That one girl is going to have to find a different set of bleachers to jerk her boyfriend off on.

I, too, think about the Conger Donger, every day...

I am not sure how much I buy the quote, about, "You mean you need more than just Turner?" For someone who has been to intimately involved in baseball operations, it seems quite odd that he would make that statement to Minasian, knowing that they need more than just another highly-paid superstar to the roster, particularly in light of the fact that he knows that if they want to extend Ohtani, they need to pay him way more than Trea Turner got paid. Seems quite disingenuous of Arte, that guy knows what is going on and what the team needs. It is almost as if the quote was designed to make it look like Moreno is not that engaged in baseball operations and that Minasian is the only one running the show and I don't buy it.

A lot of extensions happencloser to the startof rhe season. It generates more immediate interest to go to the games and gets the fanbase more excited (Marketing). I feel pretty confident the Angels will extend him, not super concerned about it, it is a no brainer, presuming Ohtani isn't asking for the moon and stars (doubt he is, honestly, he seems like a humble type of guy).

Manfred was LIT!

Mathity-mathity-math!

It seems like the Dodgers are signing just about every spare piece they can find on the open market, many to Minor League deals.

SURPRISE!!!!

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/projection-systems/szymborski-projection-system

Happy New Year, I think the Angels will make good noise in the New Year and make the playoffs! Best of health and happiness to you and yours.

So like I thought might happen, Kim is potentially available in trade: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/padres-open-to-trade-offers-on-trent-grisham-ha-seong-kim.html Per the article the Padres might consider a back-end SP, C, or COF/CINF. It is probable that we could spare the former, at least and if Minasian had other plans at C, they could move Stassi maybe (I don't care for that thought, but it is doable I suppose).

I was simply referring to its velocity, Doc, not how good of a pitch it is. Yes it absolutely needs work, for sure.

To be fair, it is a blazing slider too.

Thanks for Putin that idea out there, Ten!

lIvAn SoTo 4eVeR!!!!!

Kim was a 3.7 WAR player last year. That is too productive of a player to put on the bench, in my opinion. MLBTradeRumors.com mentioned they might put Tatis in LF, Kim at 2B, and Croneworth at 1B, but that doesn't seem like an ideal allocation of players at their most ideal positions (Kim is a SS and Croneworth is an above average 2B). Moving Kim and his salary would help alleviate what they just took on with Bogaerts contract. Just saying it wouldn't shock me if they kept Kim, but it also wouldn't shock me if they moved him to a team like the Angels that probably don't want to fork out a mega-deal to one of the remaining FA SS's.

If intentional, bravo, if unintentional, still nicely done, lol!

I know that people are indicating the Padres, after signing Bogaerts, are going to slide Ha-Seong Kim over to 2B, but he really is a SS by trade and skills, so I am wondering if the Angels will try to acquire him and supply the Padres with a 2B?

You both have misread/misinterpreted what I said. I said that there are money implications for both sides, here. Getting a deal done before the season starts equates to more sale dollars for Moreno and the opportunity for new ownership to extend Ohtani before he goes into the new season. I am not talking about after the season, but over the next 3-4 months. After that, Ohtani is much more likely (if he hasn't made the decision already) to test free agency. The sooner this deal closes the better for both sides in the sale and what it means for Angels baseball, potentially, next year and beyond. Incidentally, the Angels can still pick up a SS, in trade, and a new ownership group might spend extra in that arena too (but a trade feels more likely).

I think Ohtani factors into this sale equation more than people realize, as Pancake said. For Moreno it's probably millions added to the sale and for a potential new owner, getting in before the season starts and making a mega-deal offer for such a high-profile superstar makes a ton of sense and has terrific implications for sales and the teams chances of winning consistently with Mike Trout. $$$$ for both sides and implications of winning a championship with someone like Ohtani. Honestly, everyone keeps talking about a SS, but my God they need to save that money for an Ohtani extension. He is the Ace everyone kept screaming for, previously, and his bat only adds to the value (and actually kind of gives great insurance if he hurts his arm again, because he can return and hit well, probably). I don't mind if they run out Joe Blow at SS and extend Ohtani, the latter is all that matters to me, personally, he is a must sign. Trade other assets for a short-term SS and wait for someone like Neto to enter the picture.

If the Angels can improve enough, parity in the Division will level the playing field to a degree.

I've always had a liking for Adames and I think his two years of remaining control fit a Neto call up in 2024 and then full-time in 2025. If the Angels believe Neto is their future at SS, then finding the right bridge player to cover the next two years or so, makes a lot of sense.

Doc to me: