totdprods

Arismendy Alcantara is looking like the only non-roster position player who might have a shot at cracking the roster, especially if they want to keep Rengifo in AAA for regular playing time and count on Fletcher as the 4th OF. He’s getting enough looks at SS I imagine he’s getting a little bit of consideration and his versatility and speed would come in handy for Joe’s style. Maddon managed him a bit already back in ‘15 with the Cubs so he’s familiar.

I think Adrian De Horta is going to make his way into the pen sometime this season too.

Then Mayers becomes the example I’m trying to talk up, over Barnes since he’s not on the 40. Unless someone like Barnes wildly outperforms Mayers this spring, I would defer to keeping both and starting with Mayers in the pen since he’s on the 40, rather than losing one.

Yeah, but like I said, why not give him a shot for couple weeks just to maintain some depth? Mayers also looked good yesterday but I think he has options still. I think I saw Buchter also has options still, but like Barnes, would have to bump someone from the 40 to keep them.

I always support the idea of opening the season with minor league invitees/out-of-options because it helps preserve some depth - even if it means someone “better” starts the year in SLC. Not hard to cut someone like Barnes or Buchter or even Neil Ramirez (if he somehow turns things around) after a couple April appearances and replace from within. I too hope that Buchter and Barnes make the club based off what I’ve seen so far.

Ah I missed that he was injured. Thanks!

Anderson in AAA?

Agreed. Meaniehead.

Post-Phillies Hamels still had some veteran moxie and durable workhorse attributed to him - the parallel's I'm drawing up for Sandoval are less related to stuff or production, and more to how he fits on a staff, hence the Santiago comp. Hector never really seemed to settle into a SP role - he had solid numbers in Chicago and Anaheim even, but you still got the sense most of the time that this guy was a reliever/long-reliever who had the ability to stretch out for 5-6 innings but going beyond that, even on a good night, was unlikely. He was anxious and prone to wildness, nibbling, or meltdowns, and I see a little too much of that in Sandoval still. And just because that wasn't ideal five years ago doesn't mean it won't be ideal the next five years. It wouldn't surprise me if the Angels or baseball as a whole trends towards piggybacking starters as we saw the Angels do last year in the minors. Run Sandoval out there for 3-5 innings, then someone like Pena or Andriese for 2-3 innings, then count on a true reliever like Robles or Bedrosian for whatever is left in typical one-inning stints.

Sandoval has the upside no doubt - like I said, they absolutely need to try and make him stick in the rotation - but so far I’m not sure he has the ability to stick. I’ve seen the Hector Santiago comp thrown around and I agree with it. Dude could be dominant at times but just didn’t quite have what it takes to string together full seasons of effectiveness in the rotation. I fully expect the Angels to keep him on the path of being a starter for now, but have a feeling long-term he winds up in the pen. I hope he proves me wrong.

Teheran looks like he is going to pretty volatile. A few dominant games, several effective games, several subpar games, a couple stinkers. Still, as long as he's healthy and good for 30+ GS/160+ IP of even 4.50 ball, I'll be happy. He's just going to be frustrating to watch. Wild stuff, animated on the mound, nibbling, prone to meltdowns. The type of pitcher message board's bitch about constantly even if the end result really isn't all that bad. Personally, I still think Sandoval is better suited for the pen, but no doubt they need to try him in the rotation first and for as long as they can. He might grow out of it, but still looks like he's a little too wild and excitable to maintain the mechanics and rhythm to stick as a starter. If he's really hitting 97 and living around 94 like the broadcast said today, then an eventual move to the pen - once the rotation stabilizes - might be a no-brainer. I really like what I've seen from Suarez and Barria this spring. Not trying to do too much and proving effective (albeit in spring games) so far.

A few impressions/rambling thoughts I've had so far... Matt Thaiss has more power than his numbers have shown. Barria, Suarez, and Sandoval look like MLB-ready pitchers more this year than they did in the actual majors. Noe Ramirez is our most under-rated reliever. I think Jeremy Reed discovered something in his work fixing Kole Calhoun that he was able to apply to other left-handed hitters like Tommy La Stella, and we may see a similar unexpected slugging boost from Jason Castro and Anthony Bemboom. Jahmai Jones looks much more comfortable at second base and in the box. Anthony Rendon is going to be a massive addition to this team and the line-up. I like Jo Adell, but I love Brandon Marsh. I'm buying into the Dylan Bundy hype and think he's got Corey Kluber 2.0 potential. There. Said it. Julio Teheran might be good, might be bad, but he's going to drive us crazy either way. I'm not ready to give up on Taylor Ward or Michael Hermosillo. Luis Rengifo is going to be a really fun player to watch, either here or whatever team acquires him in a deal for pitching. Arismendy Alcantara really wants to make the team. At least two of Jose Quijada, Mike Mayers, Ryan Buchter and Jacob Barnes will continue to make the case that Eppler knows how to build a pen cheaply by being effective relievers this year. I'm expecting a really big year from Keynan Middleton. I'm really rooting for Jared Walsh still - I'd like to see him actually find a way to pull off a two-way-lite career.

Through 3/6... The presumed ‘locks’... Robles: 3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K Bedrosian: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, HR, 5 BB, 3 K Middleton: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 HR, BB, 4 K Buttrey: yet to pitch Anderson: 0.1 IP, BB Ramirez: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 7 K Not counting Barria, Peters, Andriese, Sandoval, or Suarez, as they’re likely factoring into the rotation currently. Here’s the next wave of pitchers competing for a spot... Cole: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K Mayers: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, HR, 3 BB, 8 K Buchter: 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K Barnes: 4 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 K Quijada: 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K Keller: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K Bard: 3 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K From all total, that’s 39 IP, 36 H, 3.23 ERA, 19 BB, 48 K (11.1 K/9)

Yup. I still think I would’ve dealt Adell and Canning for him that winter, but neither probably had the buzz yet to make it happen. He would have fit RF perfectly next to Trout, and ahead of him in the order. Miami seemingly didn’t get much in that deal.

Do we for sure though? Simmons hits FA and Rengifo seemingly was the main youngster discussed in Kluber and Stripling/Pederson deals, so he may be our go-to trade bait this summer if we pursue an arm.