totdprods

This whole doom and gloom thing is a joke. A simplified generalization. Yeah, the Angels lost Ohtani and Trout and Rendon can’t stay on the field, but the Angels core is in better shape now than it has been in a long time. Let them percolate for a year and they’ll be a nice surprise sooner rather than later.

I think Blum is actually a pretty good reporter, and I appreciate how critical he's been in Arte and the org overall. He has dogged them on things that they deservedly need to answer to. He has a good pulse on the fans, both casual and diehard, and he's written some great pieces on players and experiences that usually fall by the wayside.

But I also think there's a little Icarus flying too close to the sun aspect here. He's become a little too focused in trying to land some interview to ask the tough questions that I feel it's blinding him a little bit more than he realizes. It's turning into a perpetuating cycle, especially with Rendon and Arte. 

This whole doom and gloom thing is a joke. A simplified generalization. Yeah, the Angels lost Ohtani and Trout and Rendon can’t stay on the field, but the Angels core is in better shape now than it has been in a long time. Let them percolate for a year and they’ll be a nice surprise sooner rather than later.

Trout seems perfectly happy here. Obviously he wants to win but fuck off with this shit already.

I think Blum is actually a pretty good reporter, and I appreciate how critical he's been in Arte and the org overall. He has dogged them on things that they deservedly need to answer to. He has a good pulse on the fans, both casual and diehard, and he's written some great pieces on players and experiences that usually fall by the wayside.

But I also think there's a little Icarus flying too close to the sun aspect here. He's become a little too focused in trying to land some interview to ask the tough questions that I feel it's blinding him a little bit more than he realizes. It's turning into a perpetuating cycle, especially with Rendon and Arte. 

I think Blum is actually a pretty good reporter, and I appreciate how critical he's been in Arte and the org overall. He has dogged them on things that they deservedly need to answer to. He has a good pulse on the fans, both casual and diehard, and he's written some great pieces on players and experiences that usually fall by the wayside.

But I also think there's a little Icarus flying too close to the sun aspect here. He's become a little too focused in trying to land some interview to ask the tough questions that I feel it's blinding him a little bit more than he realizes. It's turning into a perpetuating cycle, especially with Rendon and Arte. 

Totally in agreement with that.

I think this board's falling into a little bit of tunnel vision re: Arte.
First, let me preface by saying that I do think Arte should sell, Arte is owed more than a fair share of criticisms, Arte does hold a large share of the blame...I'm by no means an apologist. 
But Arte has done things a little differently the last couple of years that I believe are blurred by the decade of missteps he made before. 
Arte wanted big splash Trea Turner, Perry convinced him to spread the money around instead. 
Arte was set to pay luxury tax following the deadline acquisitions last year for the first time in years. 
Arte has largely stepped back, at least publicly, which may or may not mean he isn't involving himself as much in baseball ops decisions. 
Arte did not kneejerk respond to Ohtani leaving by signing another big-name, despite clear FAs available, money to spend, fan backlash...
You could even say not giving Ohtani a blank check was atypical - he's never shied away from giving unprecedented contracts, and as much as we wanted Ohtani back, it was still a $700M deal for a DH coming off two elbow surgeries.

I'm not saying these were all the right moves or are good moves, or even that Arte is 100% responsible for how those played out, but his behavior the last 18+ months or so deviate from what he's done in years before.
I also don't think you could also say the Angels are 'cheap' or have done nothing...they've still plopped down what, $40M this winter? Stephenson, Moore, Garcia. They have room to keep spending now, at the deadline, or in locking up the new young core. Has he been cheap in regards to the minors, lower-tier FA, staff, development? Hell yes, no doubt - but the Angels are still spending more than most of the league, even this winter. 
From a baseball sense, it made all the sense in the world to trade Ohtani at any time the last couple of years, but he's never shied away from saying he's in the entertainment business and he felt having Ohtani as long as he could was more entertaining to a much larger fanbase than the diehard fans here who "know baseball". Sure, winning brings in plenty of bucks and fan excitement too - but Arte was getting that just by having Shohei. Bad baseball move to keep Ohtani? Sure. Bad fan experience decision? Nope. More parents got to bring their kids to see Ohtani a couple more times, perhaps some even knowing it'd be their last chance. Not to romanticize the decision, but we here are a different breed from the fans that bring in the Angels' revenue.

In many ways, I actually think the way the Angels have operated the last 18+ months is sneakily the way we've wanted them to operate - we just haven't seen the fruits of those labors yet, so it's hard to buy-in. They haven't committed dumb money (even to Ohtani), and they've seemingly turned an emphasis to developing youngsters - O'Hoppe, Neto, Moniak, Detmers, Joyce, Silseth, all while never actually tearing down the team to where they were a tank job that would turn off the casual fan, which is the biggest pipeline of revenue. 

All of this is why I've maintained the Angels org, and us, need to just take a deep breath, exhale, and enjoy 2024 without the intense pressure we've had hanging over us the last decade. Wouldn't be surprised if we were already in the dawn of a new age of Angel success, but that sun just hasn't yet risen. Give it a few more mornings.

I think Blum is actually a pretty good reporter, and I appreciate how critical he's been in Arte and the org overall. He has dogged them on things that they deservedly need to answer to. He has a good pulse on the fans, both casual and diehard, and he's written some great pieces on players and experiences that usually fall by the wayside.

But I also think there's a little Icarus flying too close to the sun aspect here. He's become a little too focused in trying to land some interview to ask the tough questions that I feel it's blinding him a little bit more than he realizes. It's turning into a perpetuating cycle, especially with Rendon and Arte. 

I think Blum is actually a pretty good reporter, and I appreciate how critical he's been in Arte and the org overall. He has dogged them on things that they deservedly need to answer to. He has a good pulse on the fans, both casual and diehard, and he's written some great pieces on players and experiences that usually fall by the wayside.

But I also think there's a little Icarus flying too close to the sun aspect here. He's become a little too focused in trying to land some interview to ask the tough questions that I feel it's blinding him a little bit more than he realizes. It's turning into a perpetuating cycle, especially with Rendon and Arte. 

I think this board's falling into a little bit of tunnel vision re: Arte.
First, let me preface by saying that I do think Arte should sell, Arte is owed more than a fair share of criticisms, Arte does hold a large share of the blame...I'm by no means an apologist. 
But Arte has done things a little differently the last couple of years that I believe are blurred by the decade of missteps he made before. 
Arte wanted big splash Trea Turner, Perry convinced him to spread the money around instead. 
Arte was set to pay luxury tax following the deadline acquisitions last year for the first time in years. 
Arte has largely stepped back, at least publicly, which may or may not mean he isn't involving himself as much in baseball ops decisions. 
Arte did not kneejerk respond to Ohtani leaving by signing another big-name, despite clear FAs available, money to spend, fan backlash...
You could even say not giving Ohtani a blank check was atypical - he's never shied away from giving unprecedented contracts, and as much as we wanted Ohtani back, it was still a $700M deal for a DH coming off two elbow surgeries.

I'm not saying these were all the right moves or are good moves, or even that Arte is 100% responsible for how those played out, but his behavior the last 18+ months or so deviate from what he's done in years before.
I also don't think you could also say the Angels are 'cheap' or have done nothing...they've still plopped down what, $40M this winter? Stephenson, Moore, Garcia. They have room to keep spending now, at the deadline, or in locking up the new young core. Has he been cheap in regards to the minors, lower-tier FA, staff, development? Hell yes, no doubt - but the Angels are still spending more than most of the league, even this winter. 
From a baseball sense, it made all the sense in the world to trade Ohtani at any time the last couple of years, but he's never shied away from saying he's in the entertainment business and he felt having Ohtani as long as he could was more entertaining to a much larger fanbase than the diehard fans here who "know baseball". Sure, winning brings in plenty of bucks and fan excitement too - but Arte was getting that just by having Shohei. Bad baseball move to keep Ohtani? Sure. Bad fan experience decision? Nope. More parents got to bring their kids to see Ohtani a couple more times, perhaps some even knowing it'd be their last chance. Not to romanticize the decision, but we here are a different breed from the fans that bring in the Angels' revenue.

In many ways, I actually think the way the Angels have operated the last 18+ months is sneakily the way we've wanted them to operate - we just haven't seen the fruits of those labors yet, so it's hard to buy-in. They haven't committed dumb money (even to Ohtani), and they've seemingly turned an emphasis to developing youngsters - O'Hoppe, Neto, Moniak, Detmers, Joyce, Silseth, all while never actually tearing down the team to where they were a tank job that would turn off the casual fan, which is the biggest pipeline of revenue. 

All of this is why I've maintained the Angels org, and us, need to just take a deep breath, exhale, and enjoy 2024 without the intense pressure we've had hanging over us the last decade. Wouldn't be surprised if we were already in the dawn of a new age of Angel success, but that sun just hasn't yet risen. Give it a few more mornings.

I think Blum is actually a pretty good reporter, and I appreciate how critical he's been in Arte and the org overall. He has dogged them on things that they deservedly need to answer to. He has a good pulse on the fans, both casual and diehard, and he's written some great pieces on players and experiences that usually fall by the wayside.

But I also think there's a little Icarus flying too close to the sun aspect here. He's become a little too focused in trying to land some interview to ask the tough questions that I feel it's blinding him a little bit more than he realizes. It's turning into a perpetuating cycle, especially with Rendon and Arte. 

We STILL lost the trade!

Totally in agreement with that.

Yeah, don't get me wrong: I'm not advocating for signing either of them. I've been very vocal about that all along.  I'm just saying that for folks who are still holding out hope that there's going to be a "big splash," it might be time to give up that hope. 

Sooo, they are currently $49 million under the AAV tax threshold.
Still plenty of room to sign Burnes a year from now.
Use 2024 to properly assess all of the young players, and then go for it a year from now.

Every time they talk to a guy they seem to be saying something without actually saying it. 
My personal opinion has been that constantly having to play to "keep" some guy (Trout first, then Ohtani) created this sense of impending doom that just hung over the team like a dark cloud. It's not even like they are talking optimistically, just feels like they have exhaled and are glad that it's all over with now.
Now someone go get Arte out of his bunker.

Moniak’s a hometown kid too I think

As of now, #5 is basically open and Suarez had a solid run before 2023 starting. No harm in having him compete. 

I am pretty much in agreement with this, was very happy to see basically a completely new bullpen. If the offense stays healthy I think they’re in fine shape - basically every starting hitter was hurt last year for some time. I do wish they had landed someone in the ERod, Stroman, Gray, Shoto tier, but I have a lot of faith in Sandoval, Detmers, Canning and even Anderson improving this year.

This, plus I am 50-50 on whether Rengifo has his most trade value yet.
Four months with Wash could send that trade value even higher by late July?

Don’t worry about it too literally. Just saying they match up. 

Tomorrow would be a great time to sign Brandon Woodruff for 2025 and beyond. 

Moniak’s a hometown kid too I think

I am pretty much in agreement with this, was very happy to see basically a completely new bullpen. If the offense stays healthy I think they’re in fine shape - basically every starting hitter was hurt last year for some time. I do wish they had landed someone in the ERod, Stroman, Gray, Shoto tier, but I have a lot of faith in Sandoval, Detmers, Canning and even Anderson improving this year.