SlappyUtilityMIF

Its a good trade, Downs being 37 and the Angels being out of it. 
 
 
I would feel a helluva lot better if Butcher wasn't the Pitching Coach.  He has done nothing of significance with any pitcher in the system.  Why believe he will start with Rasmus?

Maybe... I wouldn't be too pissed if the Angels started to retool the farm system though. The Angels should trade as many guys as they can 

I'd rather have his brother, Colby Rasmus.
17 HR, 52 RBI and an .826 OPS this year.

Rasmus WAS a 1st round pick.
 
You can't trade picks like that.

First, you would have to classify what you think is a Downs type of player.   I could list every reliever he has ever shipped in a trade and you might come back at me with how many of them were pending FAs.  I could list pending FA relievers and then you might find issue with that and ask how many of them were making 5 mil a year.  I could list the guys who made decent change and you might ask me to find how many were pending FAs who made money and were 37 years old.   
If you google Billy Beane trades, there are a few sites that have them all listed in XLS format, if you're really interested.   But Beane has always used specialists and relievers in general to great effect in his trades.. 
When it's all said and done, it's not worth effort to be honest.   I just hope there is a plan in place.

I'm not making assumptions, I'm offering opinion on how the team could have tried to get more for what some people here feel his value was.   Take a look at any number of Billy Beane trades over the years if you need a glimpse of how a GM uses guys like Downs in order to obtain more than he would on his own.
 
Like I said, if this is the only deal they make -- whatever..   He was gone.   But the people trying to make it sound like he got something are fluffing it up.   Basically, he gave him up for free.  If all they wanted was to save 2 mil, then fine.  I can accept that, just don't try to sell this as if they got something of value.

You don't think Downs could have been packaged with a guy like Kendrick or Aybar to get some sweetner?    Downs is precisely the sort of guy that a creative GM uses to get a piece he actually wants as part of a larger trade.   Throw in Downs while paying his contract the rest of the year as part of a trade, and it's possible they get someone of actual value.
 
People are defending this move because the feeling is that Downs had little value, and on his own, that's correct.
If this is the ONLY move the team makes then meh -- whatever.  But they could have squeezed value out of him as part of a larger deal, and at best this is a move to make people think the team got something for nothing.    All they got was a guy that likely would have been available -- for nothing.

No, but I expected Dipoto to know about how a contract year a lot of times brings out the best, plus Santana always rebounded after a poor season (like 2012 being). At least hold on to him through July 2013.Plus he was only making some $5 million/year more than Blanton is for 2013, and without the 2014 commitment.

JD talks a fair game, says all the right things and then follows it all up with moves that bear precious little in common with what he states his beliefs are.   He is coming across like a guy throwing shit on a wall hoping to see what sticks. 
 
I don't care that he's making moves because this team is going nowhere but, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with how his moves bear little likeness to what he says he wants to build.  
 
It's getting to where I just don't believe he has a plan at all.  

Maybe because most Dominican players are...             ^   ^  ^
 
Besides, if we didn't, you would have to find a new online persona.

He pitched in high school, but he signed with the Giants after being drafted out of Florida State as a catcher. He became a catcher full time at FSU. I have no idea whether he was drafted as a pitcher before that but did not sign.

its better than buck/mccarver

Link?

My fondest memories of him will be his spectacular highlights playing 1st base

It seems that the league is beginning to figure out Yasiel Puig, and the skip they got from his massive early production seems to be tailing off. The Dodgers have taken on a lot of payroll, and they're a half game in front of Arizona.
 
I had to chuckle listening to Orel Hershiser, the ultimate Dodger cheerleader, on ESPN Radio yesterday talking about how the Dodgers have "figured it out", and that it has taken a while for them to "build a culture". He is apparently convinced that Don Mattingly, who everyone wanted run out of town a month or so ago, is suddenly some kind of genius. The Dodgers are six games over .500, and in any other division in baseball (except maybe the AL Central) they would be essentially out of the race.

Hey guys, look. I found a pitcher!

And when people thought he would get 5/75M

Hopefully Butcher doesn't try to physically assault him as well.

Too old for Cory?

Homerun

Doesn't anybody knock?!

When I was 18 I'd tell a girl I liked whatever just to get her cooter

I'm good with that.

For once I would like to see Scioscia do this......
 

Writing Cowpocalypse on spec. Should be ready in another 5 minutes or so.