kevinb

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

Bro, I've been one of those guys that argued closers were overrated even before it became trendy.  I loved the fact that Stoneman was a master of building pens from failed SPs and casts off..   But if ever a team needed someone with some clout in the pen it's these dinks.   I havent looked to see who is available but this might be the first offseason where they actually chase a guy capable of shutting hitters down in the pen.

That’s what I think I miss about our pen. When Shields would come in it was basically game over. It wasn’t even about Franky to me although he was incredible. Arguably a top 3 at the time closer. But Shields would come in and it didn’t matter who was at the plate. He was as close to game over as it came. I don’t know what the numbers are but that’s just how it felt watching. He’s throw that two seem fast ball inside and every batter would crumble. 

59 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Not the best, not close to it.  But it's fast, it's easy and it's a world better than ERA.   Best of all you don't have to really do a lot of digging to find it.  BBRef, FG -- they all have it listed right after ERA so, you can pretty much cross check one against the other.     The important thing is that the pitching isn't as awful at it seems at first glance.  Pen is a shit show though.

What would be a good FIP? 

1 minute ago, Inside Pitch said:

It's not all that fancy or complicated.  Basically it takes K's Walks, HRs allowed and tries to scale it into an ERA.   Essentially it's attempting to remove defense from the equation and focus on what the pitcher is doing to get outs/limit runs on his own.     It's not perfect, there are flaws to it, but it's more predictive than ERA is and is more often than not a better indicator of what the pitcher is capable of than ERA.

Will there be a study guide before the mid term?

But honestly thanks I’ll look it up. Would you say that stat is the best one for pitchers?

4 minutes ago, Fourts said:

I’m expecting more out of our players than an 87 OPS+....but you do you.  
 

also that was last year for Thaiss.  
 

if you are happy with our depth, then I don’t know what to say to you.  

I am very much. I think the young guys are good enough. Even if Simmons leaves. Ward Marsh Thaiss Adell we have plenty of depth in the outfield and infield. Even catcher we have at least average depth. 

9 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Kevin for a young guy you have the most old man fascination with old school stats I've ever seen -- it's actually funny.   The Angels FIP this year is 4.34 -- thats 6th best in the AL.   Not sure that the numbers can really be used cross league but that 4.34 would rank 11th overall in MLB.

They definitely need to add pitching, but the defense has really dinged the pitchers.  They have pitched better than the results, but the defense has been atrocious.

I definitely do. I don’t know all these new fangled stats. I like ops or ops+ for offense and era for pitching. Hey at least I don’t like wins and losses. Maybe one day I’ll get to FIP. I honestly don’t even know what FIP stands for.

On the topic that’s awesome I had no idea we were 6th in the AL. It just feels like we need a couple an ace maybe another starting pitching who’s good to above average. And a couple lock down bullpen arms. This offense I’m comfortable with going forward. Even if Simmons leaves. What would you say this team pitching wise needs in the offseason? Do you disagree with my sentiments?

30 minutes ago, Bronson said:

He’s not even worth arguing with lol

You know me. I’ll take on all comers haha

16 minutes ago, Fourts said:

This year, Walsh has been fantastic.  That's one.  Ward seems like recently he might have finally turned a corner and can be a decent ML player.  Hence me saying "hopefully our youth is ready to make that jump".  But It's a small sample size to get crazy about these two and think we have gold. 

Thaiss has been horrible -- i'd like to see you spin that.  Meanwhile the rest of our youth has "sucked" -- Rengifo, Adell, Hermosillio, etc. (not to mention on the pitching side).  

Sure Thaiss had an over 700 ops last year. I’d say that’s not sucking. 

Just now, Justin said:

Dipoto

Maybe we need to rethink Dipotos draft picks. Fletcher Walsh....

2 minutes ago, Fourts said:

Lol how many fan bases are posting some of the same stuff - we are one ace, a #3 and a Good RP away?  Most might even only need just one or two of those.  
 

btw, we also need to improve our depth.  When guys get hurt in our lineup, our replacement guys usually really suck compared to other teams.  Maybe our youth is ready to make that jump and improve this area.  We always think that though and it doesn’t happen. 

Ya Walsh Ward Thaiss have sucked I agree.

Walsh for MVP!

Was he drafted by Dipoto or Eppler?

16 minutes ago, Bronson said:

To be fair that era is bloated by Teheran who won’t even be here next year. And doesn’t Ohtani have like a 37 era? That surely doesn’t help either. I really think you’re looking to much into it. We have 3 solid starters right now with Bundy, Heaney and Canning. Just add an ace to that with another 3 starter and that’s a kick ass rotation. And bullpens are so volatile who knows what’s gonna happen with that next year, Buttrey could look like the next Mariano Rivera next year. Just get a true closer and call it a day.

I may be and I believe in those three. But is Bundy this guy or is he a mix between what he did last year with Baltimore and what he’s doing this year in Anaheim? I think the Angels need a number 1 guy for sure and I’d say sign Bauer if they can and then try and trade or sign a middle of the rotation arm. 
 

I get that relief pitching is iffy but signing or trading for  a couple lock down guys would do amazing for our rotation and offense. Knowing we have that shut down pen we used to have with Shields and Rodriguez was awesome. 

28 minutes ago, Bronson said:

Naw we just need that 8th and 9th shut down. That’s when we always blow leads. Mayer’s and Hendriks will do that. Then just hope the others can develop to good middle relievers.

Our team era is 24th in the league. I think we need more than just 4 pitchers. 

47 minutes ago, Bronson said:

We are literally only 1 ace, 1 reliable starter and 1 closer away. Sign Bauer and Hendriks in the offseason and trade for a #3 kind of guy. That’s not many pieces.... that’s a few pieces away. 

What’s your definition of many?

I agree I think we are 1 ace and another good starter away

I disagree I think we are 2 or 3 good relievers away as well 

On 9/20/2020 at 2:54 AM, Bronson said:

I think many pieces is an exaggeration. 

Would multiple pieces be a better way to say it? I think we are pitchers away. Starting and relief. I don’t think our position players are offense over a course of a year should be top 10 if not too 5. 

San Diego and LA probably have the highest likelihood to sign him. They’re ready to strike now to win a championship. The Angels are still many many pieces away unfortunately.  

Too bad. I’ve always liked Verlander. Never wish injury on any one. But him being out for the year and next will help the Angels get in the playoffs. Get better. Baseball is better when the elite players are playing at elite levels. 

Who ever will give him the most years and most money will sign Bauer and likely a contender will do that. I hope the Angels make an offer he can’t refuse. He’s becoming my favorite player in baseball. 

13 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Except to re-sign Simba, need the defense that he and Fletcher give them up the middle. 

I don't think so. If I were the Angels I would go with Rengifo or the guy we got at the deadline and Fletcher. I don't believe in Rengifo but some people here do. I would try to cut salary on every day players while increasing spending on starting pitching. I like Simmons, but I don't think signing over 30 year old players who have been injury prone to multi year contracts is a wise idea.

Walsh is raking keep it up. We may have the future 1b. This would help the offense a whole heck of a lot. 

Definitely don't sign any outfielders. The Angels have plenty in the minors and Adell should eventually be good. I wouldn't waste the money on any position players in free agency. 

2 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

No I said your argument in favor of 16 teams in the playoffs would be stronger if they were proposing every team in the playoffs.

I am not against change in this sport, but you fall into about a 1-2% group of fans that seems to think this is a good idea. Owners are not trying to make the game more fun, they simply see more playoff games = more money and that is it.

I’m ok with being the 1-2% 

and of course they are which is what most of us would do in their position. Capitalize on their product and make the most money possible. What you’re kind of missing at is sure it’s about money but if the fans aren’t interested and don’t watch then they wouldn’t be doing this. It’ll be exciting for the fans they get their teams in the playoffs and it’ll be better for the owners pocket books and it’ll be better for the players pocket books. Seems like a win all the way around to me. 

1 minute ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

You've posted a lot of stupid shit on here over the years but this might be the dumbest.

You just said 16 teams in the playoffs is like having every team in the playoffs. It’s idiotic. Baseball playoffs and baseball needs to keep evolving. It’s what happens in life and in sports. I promise baseball will be better off because of it. It’ll make the game and the regular season more fun having more teams in the playoffs and it’ll make more fan bases continue to pay attention if there team has a chance at making the playoffs. The wild card play in game has made the game more exciting. I’m sorry you disagree. 
 

And no I don’t really think you would have protested Jackie Robinson. Chill out. 

34 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

I feel like you could make a stronger argument for including every team in the post season rather than this garbage 16 team format.

I love some baseball fans. They hate change. The game can’t evolve. I bet you protested Jackie Robinson playing in the league too  

32 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

I think the universal DH negatively impacts the strategic and tactical aspect of the game. It promotes roster specialization with a focus toward the batter/pitcher matchup as opposed to versatility and the more fundamental aspects of the game. I understand that most here don't think that's important.

More playoff teams inherently reduce the value of regular season games. Expanded playoffs means that any big games at the end of the season are not between the best teams, but between lesser teams that shouldn't be playing meaningful games anyway. In baseball it also means mediocre champions and a watering down of the competition.

43 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

It's insignificant... if the Lakers were the 8th seed they would still demolish the league. Home court means so little people were saying the Lakers should try and finish second so they could get a more favorable matchup in the playoffs. The Lakers didn't play a significant game all season... all ~80 games were one epic pre-season.

Disagree with you completely. More playoff teams mean more teams are in it late. Home field is very important. Has determined champions a lot of times in game 7s. And DH universal is the biggest no brainer in sports. No one wants to watch a pitcher hit ever. Cool you bunted yay! I’d rather watch the Nelson Cruz and Big Papi types hitters over and over again over a pitcher any day of the week. 

1 hour ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

I'm as big a baseball fan as there is but I'm really getting fed up with all these stupid changes Manfred has proposed. I feel like there is going to come a point where I look at the league and don't see all that much left from what drew me to the sport in the first place.

What do you dislike about a universal dh or more playoff teams?