OregonLAA

I was one of the ones that wanted McCarthy. I also wanted to trade for Dickey. They have both sucked, but won't continue to do so.
 
Of course, once Greinke came off the board, that didn't leave much left. A bunch of back end of the rotation types or guys who were going to be too expensive (especially once we signed Hacksaton). JD did well to get what he got for how much he got them. If they were performing to their career norms (I'm looking at you, JoeBlah), then things wouldn't look so bleak for our rotation (well, once Weaver gets back, that is). We all had had enough of Santana's high wire act, and it certainly appears that Haren may either still be bothered by his back injury or has simply lost some velocity.
 
The problems are magnified, of course, due to Hamilton's struggles, Pujols' second slow start in a row, and the early struggles of the pitching staff as a whole. But these underwhelming performances are not what JD had in mind. His idea was to construct a staff that was average, spending average money on them, because an average staff was all we needed.

I have heard a lot of people calling him and out and I really just don't get it. I would love to hear what the people here would have done. He didn't have a lot to work with, but I thought he did great with what he did have and the players just aren't performing. Here is how I see it:
 
Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols: Everyone loved these deals. We all understood that they might not be incredible for the full length of the contracts, but we were excited for a few years of great hitters. They haven't performed. Did anyone here know that they would hit like this to start off their Angel careers? I doubt it. Plus we all know Moreno had some control over this anyways.
 
Starting Pitching: Haren and Santana were awful last year and they were not worth the amount of money they were about to make. Letting them go was smart financially. Vargas and Blanton were cheaper and all they had to do was be as good Erv and Dan were last year. I mean we almost made the playoffs with those 2 under performing, so even just a little improvement might get us in the playoffs. Greinke wanted a lot of money and we all know how big pitching contracts end up working out. He has been hurt most of the year (although that's not really his fault).
 
Many posters here wanted different options for starting pitching like
 
Brandon McCarthy: 0-3 with a 7.22 ERA
Joe Saunders: 2-4 6.15 ERA
Edwin Jackson: 0-5 6.39 ERA
Anibal Sanchez: 3-2 1.82 ERA
 
So out of the 4 starters people were asking for only ONE of them has an ERA under 6.
 
Plus people were saying we should have traded Trumbo instead of Morales. Not only is Trumbo under club control for longer and currently cheaper, but he can play multiple positions.
 
Trumbo: .294/.364/.548 - He has made great improvements with walks
Morales: .261/.356/.400
 
Trumbo has been the better player.
Dipoto also chose to let Hunter walk and trade Wells so Bourjos could play more. Bourjos is currently injured, but he was one of our best players before he was hurt. Most people on here thought Hunter didn't have another year left in him and every danced a little when JD got as much as he did for Wells.
 
Relief: This where JD gets the most flack. Last year he traded for Frieri and that was a great move. Burnett and Madson were great additions....except they're hurt. Jepsen was great coming back last year and was supposed to help us big time. And now he is hurt. 3 guys who were supposed to be KEY for us are hurt. How is that JD's fault? De La Rosa was traded for and everyone didn't understand why, but he has been very solid for us in the bullpen. Some of the others have been like throwing darts with your eyes closed and just hoping one of them sticks, but he made a lot of good moves. He went for Fujikawa, but he chose the Cubs (don't ask me why).
 
Maybe his moves weren't perfect, but I think he made the right moves. A lot of the reasoning for the hate is because the players haven't performed as well as they should be. Anyways, that's my long rant. I am a JD fan and I hope he sticks around for a while, but I may be alone in that thought

I have heard a lot of people calling him and out and I really just don't get it. I would love to hear what the people here would have done. He didn't have a lot to work with, but I thought he did great with what he did have and the players just aren't performing. Here is how I see it:
 
Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols: Everyone loved these deals. We all understood that they might not be incredible for the full length of the contracts, but we were excited for a few years of great hitters. They haven't performed. Did anyone here know that they would hit like this to start off their Angel careers? I doubt it. Plus we all know Moreno had some control over this anyways.
 
Starting Pitching: Haren and Santana were awful last year and they were not worth the amount of money they were about to make. Letting them go was smart financially. Vargas and Blanton were cheaper and all they had to do was be as good Erv and Dan were last year. I mean we almost made the playoffs with those 2 under performing, so even just a little improvement might get us in the playoffs. Greinke wanted a lot of money and we all know how big pitching contracts end up working out. He has been hurt most of the year (although that's not really his fault).
 
Many posters here wanted different options for starting pitching like
 
Brandon McCarthy: 0-3 with a 7.22 ERA
Joe Saunders: 2-4 6.15 ERA
Edwin Jackson: 0-5 6.39 ERA
Anibal Sanchez: 3-2 1.82 ERA
 
So out of the 4 starters people were asking for only ONE of them has an ERA under 6.
 
Plus people were saying we should have traded Trumbo instead of Morales. Not only is Trumbo under club control for longer and currently cheaper, but he can play multiple positions.
 
Trumbo: .294/.364/.548 - He has made great improvements with walks
Morales: .261/.356/.400
 
Trumbo has been the better player.
Dipoto also chose to let Hunter walk and trade Wells so Bourjos could play more. Bourjos is currently injured, but he was one of our best players before he was hurt. Most people on here thought Hunter didn't have another year left in him and every danced a little when JD got as much as he did for Wells.
 
Relief: This where JD gets the most flack. Last year he traded for Frieri and that was a great move. Burnett and Madson were great additions....except they're hurt. Jepsen was great coming back last year and was supposed to help us big time. And now he is hurt. 3 guys who were supposed to be KEY for us are hurt. How is that JD's fault? De La Rosa was traded for and everyone didn't understand why, but he has been very solid for us in the bullpen. Some of the others have been like throwing darts with your eyes closed and just hoping one of them sticks, but he made a lot of good moves. He went for Fujikawa, but he chose the Cubs (don't ask me why).
 
Maybe his moves weren't perfect, but I think he made the right moves. A lot of the reasoning for the hate is because the players haven't performed as well as they should be. Anyways, that's my long rant. I am a JD fan and I hope he sticks around for a while, but I may be alone in that thought

Shane is always so positive. It's nice to see

Troll Daddy is such a big fan that he doesn't know Bourjos is out

I absolutely LOVE Williams in long relief. I don't know if hitters don't study him before a series if he is in relief like they do if he is starting or what, but he is much better in the long role. But he almost never does well when he is starting. And that's fine. I don't need him to be a starter for him to help this team. What he did in the 19 inning game was amazing. He has been great for us this season. But he does not work as a starter for us and he hasn't for quite some time. I think it was a dumb decision to have him start today. Richards had one bad game as a starter and now he is back in the pen? He was our best pitcher for a few games and in relief since the demotion, he has been pretty bad. I don't know who made that decision, but it wasn't a good one

Wow I can't wait one day to tell my kids about this moment.

I'll never understand the gay thing from a media and social perspective. It trips me out that it's 2013 and a gay dude coming out is the talk of a nation. How far behind are we when a dude coming out is a big deal?
Maybe one day the straight peeps will "give" gays equal rights.

VDN will be looking for work by the weekend

They said 435, but that homer was as close to 435 as Lifetime is to not starting a 3 page argument.

I posted this in the makeshift silver linings thread from the other night. I really like how the starters are coming along and it only gets better with Weaver coming back. They are going more innings, allowing fewer runs, and consistently getting out of tough spots with RISP.

As a Bible believing Christian I'm disappointed in some Christian's response to this.
 
If I was asked I would respond something like this:  My personal feeling on homosexuality is irrelevant to this story.  It has no bearing on Mr. Collins as a player or person.  I support his opportunity to pursue any way to make a living in this country, wether it be a professional basketball player or anything else.  I will pray that things go well for him.

Lifeless and apathetic.  Just going through the motions.  If it isn't obvious over the last 3+ years that nothing will change until he is gone then I don't know what would convince you.  He had a great run but should have been gone two seasons ago.

Seriously? No comments on Saunders? I am shocked. So many people commented on Vargas after one bad start and were screaming for the amazing Saunders

Great game last night, CP3 is the man!

Three infield starters not in there now. It could be worse.

We've hit the ball harder than they did all of last inning

Mad props for the whole year so far. He has been money. He is perfect in that role. Couldn't be happier for the guy

Well this is nice

Go home marine layer, you're drunk.

Mile High Dreams will disappear until Bourjos goes 0-for-4 again.

Threeforfourjos

MILE HIGH DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Threeforfourjos