samwum

You might be right. I honestly like Plesac and the way he pitches, but in significant innings in 2021 and 2022 he was awful and his peripherals were awful. I guess there's a chance we catch lightning in a bottle and Plesac is somewhat fun to watch, but you're probably right, and in my eyes that's just more of the same bullshit Tyler Wade over Luis Rengifo or Juan Lagares over Jo Adell.

Jabari Blash had an OPS well over 1.000 in Salt Lake. I don't need Reid Detmers learning how to pitch to Jabari Blash.

Magic 8 ball says Daniel! lol

I don't know who it will be, but Davis Daniel and Andrew Wantz both are youngish and might have potential. There's a very real possibility they stink, but they are borderline enough the org should check them out and see if there's a chance.

I'm frustrated with Detmers too. I really wish he were doing better and living up to his potential. But I think there's nuance to life and this might not be a move that benefits the team or player. Maybe a move that is emotional and not supported by the data or situation.

This is an awesome post. I think the judgement/categorization meter is maybe a little subjective but I generally agree with assessments and the research is incredible. For me the thing that sticks out is that the "great" players are really incredible. Francisco Lindor -- Elite combo of bat, speed, and defense at premier defensive position SS. Got the superstar contract. Trevory Story -- Elite combo of bat, speed, and defense at premier defensive position SS. Injury riddled, but got the superstar contract. Giancarlo Stanton -- solidly in the running for most elite power slugger in the word. Injury riddled, but got the superstar contract. Sean Murphy -- arguably the best power hitting catcher in the entire league. Got traded for top prospects and then signed to long term extension. The actual results of drafting are scattered but picking #8 in itself is pretty sweet. Don't you have a better chance at an elite player like the above if only 7 other prospects are off the board? If I have that pick I'm shooting for someone elite like those top guys. I wouldn't mind at all if they take a high school guy. I just pray that this strategy of rushing low ceiling players to the majors is over because we need a Lindor way more than we need a Schanuel and if you don't take the risk, then you'll always fall short.

I definitely can agree with that. If someone actually suggested Detmers is ruined then surely they don't know what they were talking about, or they were just frustrated/exaggerating. To some degree I recognize the frustrated/exaggerating thing because I hate that the Angels are bad, and this is a guy who could help us fix that and he's totally not. Maybe I am just frustrated because this is a player who the baseball community nationwide believes to be very talented, his analytics show he's very talented, and the Angels who are incompetent can't get the most out of him or stand by him when he struggles. Maybe a "have some awareness" thing...?

Detmers is really fuckin talented. Early draft pick, top prospect, great stuff. The talent is exceptional. This isn't a player that lacks the ability.

Well I agree with your second point. Although I still feel like if you're the GM and you wanting a fucking ace, instead of batter or reliever, you can fuck Moreno into that no? Convince him why, or just threaten to blackmail him and out him as an awful over-controlling owner in alarming detail....? But I'd like to learn more about your first. Is "cracking under pressure" relating to the pressure of adjusting to the big leagues? Pressure of getting out of slumps? Pressure of pitching out of dangerous situations with baserunners? There are different theoretical answers for each so I'm genuinely curious.

Would like to bump this thread. Tonight we lost 9-0 to the Mariners to achieve a 21-38 record. 3rd worst in the majors -- with a solid group around us of the White Sox, Marlins, Rockies, A's. Closing the game on the mound for the Halos was Cole Tucker, a backup infielder who the Mariners cut from their spring training roster and offered a coaching role. Yes, you're reading this right, the Angels have the 3rd worst record in the league and tonight their final pitcher was an infielder who the Mariners 2 months ago offered to quit playing entirely. How much more of this embarrassing shit has to happen before people realize than not only is our ownership bad, but the front office is equally incompetent? 12th in the league in payroll, 28th in the standings..... hmmm... We can't change the owner, so I'm going to continue to root for a new front office to but put in. At least that way I have something to be hopeful for.

I didn't mean to quote you so I deleted my comment. I just think he has the most potential out of any of our starters, and the analytics are good, and the team sucks anyways, so this is a moment in time where you stick with the guy and fix it. Utah isn't a place where pitchers get fixed. I also understand my desire to stick with a guy who is miserable to watch on a nightly basis could be very contrarian. I am just hoping to point out this situation is complex and maybe isn't being played the way that more analytical organizations would play it. Like for instance if we go hire some Rays assistant to be our GM after Perry, they would in this situation probably keep Detmers up. Food for thought, that's all.

Incompetent front office. Doesn't understand data and how to get the most out of players' talents.

That's fair and there's probably some merit to your point. Maybe I am just more patient than some. Either way I still have huge belief in Detmers.

I understand where you're coming from but don't feel this is true for a non-contending team.

Ridiculous move. Before tonight Detmers had a 3.56 xERA and 3.74 xFIP. He might have the most potential out of any SP in the organization, and the analytics indicate he has been pitching solid and just getting bad luck. To me this is incredibly symbolic of the current front office's complete lack of understanding of baseball analytics, especially on the pitching side.

I'm all for getting young relievers involved, but in the Estevez conversation I think that it is unfair to Zuniga to talk about him. Zuniga wasn't particularly good in the minors and has a bad control problem. At least initially, expectations should be very low.

Estevez' peripherals are totally fine. His 3.69 xFIP and 3.11 SIERA suggest he should get back to a 3.25-4.00 ERA soon. I'm optimistic about the fact Estevez has actually cut his BB/9 from a massive 4.48 in 2023, to a fantastic 1.15 in 2024. He is just adjusting to throwing more strikes and getting a little unlucky with some hits falling which probably shouldn't.

I edited my post a bit and don't think you had a moment to see the revised so I apologize for that. Didn't really change my point. Strickland if he continues pitching this way is very comparable IMO to Dominic Leone in age and performance. The Halos traded Jeremiah Jackson for Leone at the deadline last year. So I kind of look at it like the best scenario from having Strickland is getting a Jeremiah Jackson type of prospect at the trade deadline. I'm not sure that level of prospect is actually more valuable than getting Wantz, Zuniga, Joyce, or whoever 30 more big league innings. My gut feeling is those guys really could use 30 big league innings to learn, and we need to see if we can count on them next year. I do appreciate the comparable trades you mentioned which suggest you can actually get a competent prospect for an average reliever on the cusp of retirement. Hard to believe, but I guess maybe its possible. I have read good things about Armstrong. I'd fine calling him up instead of Strickland if you want. That is a fair point too about replenishing last year's pitching prospect losses. I hadn't thought about that and that's interesting. I think overall I just get a little concerned that we aren't using the bottom of the roster to develop and evaluate depth for next year, and maybe we are a little too optimistic about trade values. I see one healthy and sustainably performing reliever we can pencil in the bullpen for 2025, and I just can't imagine that is an industry standard strategy for any team whether they are competing or rebuilding. As you mentioned signing relievers for significant payroll in free agency is generally one of the biggest sins a front office can commit and building a bullpen organically is non-negotiable. But I suppose the lower end of the minor league system does need to be restocked a bit and that's important. Maybe I just want to have my cake and eat it too. I think selfishly as a fan, I probably just wish there was someone, anyone, in this year's bullpen who was young and exciting and worth watching. I'm not asking for much here!

I guess I'm kind of splitting hairs here but I would much rather see that pool of optionable guys proving themselves and developing right now. I don't feel like the current the 2025 bullpen outlook is very promising. Relievers under contract for 2025 and on the 2024 Angels 40 man roster - Pitchers pitching well in the MLB Adam Cimber Carson Fulmer - 4.80 xFIP is a huge red flag for significant possible regression Injured relievers who may be healthy and have proven to be MLB caliber Robert Stephenson Jose Quijada Lottery Tickets and unproven pitchers Sam Bachman Kelvin Caceres Roansy Conteras Davis Daniel Ben Joyce Victor Mederos Jose Suarez Guillermo Zuniga Andrew Wantz Not exactly a stellar group. And hoping Jose Cisnero or Hunter Strickland have trade value does not feel like a worthwhile venture, at least to me. "“I kind of made peace with my career and was grateful for it. I thought I was probably done,” said reliever Hunter Strickland of his mindset last year. He didn’t sign with another team following a May release by the Reds."

Gubie is a great dude, but his opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. His job is very clearly to pump up the fanbase, not provide objective analysis.

Yeah I mean or we could just platoon Moniak against righties now and send Pillar to the pine. But I guess if we did that, we might find out if Moniak is actually any good, or he might develop a bit. Two things which are clearly nowhere near as valuable as sneaking out an extra win or two.

Wish we knew what #2 was.

It is pretty funny that the group of young position players Eppler brought in appear to be the most clueless knuckleheads around the league. Wash must be going crazy with Gifo, Adell, Paris, and Adams.

Fabletics exists, but it doesn't effect Vuori's sales.

I understand where you're coming from but you're thinking of a quality long term asset like a low quality short term asset. I don't know what else to say.