Coover

Yes, you guys that noticed that I wrote "Tyler" rather than Taylor are absolutely correct ... my bad ! I do have a grandson that lives with me named Tyler and I guess I was thinking of him. Regardless of that, I think my post is legitimate. I think Taylor Ward is a heck of a ballplayer, but if Moniac is the real thing, his trade can be the key to a P layoff and World Series team.

The Angels have only 4 players listed as outfielders (though they do have others than can play in the outfield occasionally), but ALL 4 OF THOSE PLAYERS DESERVE TO PLAY. Trout, Renfroe, Ward, and Moniac. Mickey Moniac, if he continues to hit the way he has since he was brought up from Salt Lake City deserves, in my opinion, more playing time than Tyler Ward ... but Tyler Ward could and would start in the outfield for most, if not all the other Major League Teams. I suspect, however, that the Angels wish to give Moniac more time to prove himself, to show that he should start rather than Ward, but, and it's not a bad but, what should they do if Moniac continues to hit like he has been doing? They need to look for a team that has strong pitching with a need in the Outfield. Wade along with somebody like Rengifo for a number 2, 3, or 4 Starting Pitcher or a couple of excellent Relief Pitchers (or some combination like that) just might make the Angels into a strong playoff team. They seem like they are playing well now, and I suspect they will improve even more when O'Hoppe returns, but the Angel Pitching, while decent, needs to improve to contend. I don't expect an immediate trade, but I do expect that the Angel Front Office is thinking hard about it, and already doing their homework.

I have watched every Preseason game this year (as I have done in the past) and am amazed at the talent depth we have this year. In the last several years, the talent depth has always been quite low ... in preseason games when the Angel roster players left the field as is customary during preseason, the players replacing them were, in general, disappointing. Not this year! Our AAA and our AA players look outstanding, some capable of climbing up without a lot of problems, and many of those that will be playing at San Bernardino or Tri-Cities look good. I am elated. The Angels will have lots of depth in both the infield and outfield to help when needed and there are lots of guys at AAA or AA that could step onto Anaheim Stadium without compromising the quality of the team. And if a weakness develops, we do have the talent to make decent trades where we can win the trade. The Angels ... my Angels as I have been an Angel fan since my father first took me to Wrigley Field in Los Angeles in the late 1940s to watch Pacific Coast League Baseball (yes, I'm 81) ... will be an outstanding team this year, will challenge Houston for the American League West Championship, even though the ALW may be the best division in Baseball with World Champs Houston, a much better Seattle (better than last year when they were a playoff team), an improved Texas, and Oakland (who claims they have improved) competing against the Angels. I am not saying "Let's win, Angels", it's unnecessary, because they will win and win and win many games this year. Ah, heck ... Let's go Angels, and let's start a great season with a win tonight against those hated Athletics.

Here is a memory that I enjoy ... my bedtime was 9:30 or so, and my parents went to bed about 9:30. The Angels were playing somebody and I was watching on Channel 9, the PCL Angels Baseball channel. When my parents were going to bed, they mentioned to me to not stay up too late. I told them truthfully that the game was in the bottom of the 8th, or maybe the 9th inning and asked if I could watch the game until it ended. They said OK. What I did not tell them was the game was tied. It was still tied at the end of the 9th and I continued watching. The game continued tied through the 16th inning and finally ended in the 17th, the Angels winning. It was 3:30 in the AM and my mother got up to go to the bathroom and saw me sitting watchin the TV and the end of the game. "I told you to not stay up so late" she said. "You told me I could stay up until the end of the game" I replied with a smile. The consequences of that remark were pretty serious, but I still smile thinking of that game.

Introducing myself to the forum ... I became an Angel Fan even before the Major League Club was formed. My dad started taking me to Angel games in the late 1940s or early 1950s when the Los Angeles Angels were in the Pacific Coast League and played at Wrigley Field, 43rd Place and Avalon. We'd usually go to the Sunday doubleheaders where the Angels would play a 9 inning game and then a 7 inning game. My best memory of those games was one Sunday where a former Major Leaguer. Max West, hit 4 home runs in the first game and 3 more in the second. His Home Runs were not particularly long and most barely cleared the wall near the foul pole (339 feet) or in right center (345 feet), but what an impressive day it was for me, a youngster at the time. When the Brooklyn Dodgers came Los Angeles, my team, my Angels were gone. It was sad. I followed the Dodgers as they were the only pro team in town for awhile, but when Gene Autry got the American League franchise, I HAD MY ANGELS BACK, and I've rooted for them since. I am now 79 years old and have been to hundreds, maybe thousands of Angels games. I was at the Angel's first game at Anaheim Stadium in 1966 and was a Season Ticket holder for several years. And when I wasn't at the game, I usually was in front of a TV somewhere, in my home or elsewhere, watching my beloved Angels. That is true, even to this day. Today, I live in Calimesa, about 60 miles east of Anaheim Stadium and have night blindness so I can no longer drive at night, so even if fans were allowed to attend the games, I probably would not be at many. I attended (probably) 5 games in 2019, but was able to watch most on TV. But I do love my Angels, even after all these years. We have lots of talent on the 2021 team, but still need pitching, both starting and relief. I've been watching to see what new GM Perry Minasian is doing, and he has added some talent to the team, but on February 1, 2021, he has not been able to add the talent the Angels need to contend. I am disappointed in what he has been able to do so far, but hope he will not disappoint me by the start of the season. He still has time to find more talent. But if he does or he does not, I will continue to root for the Angels, win or lose. I AM AN ANGEL FAN FOR LIFE. Let's win it all again!