MacNasty

ok, now it's a winning streak. may it last.

Win Streak!  Cue the conga line!  Seriously, ladies, can I get in there?

I think I recognize those girls from the Cyclone club in Dubai.

Win Streak!  Cue the conga line!  Seriously, ladies, can I get in there?

Win Streak!  Cue the conga line!  Seriously, ladies, can I get in there?

Win Streak!  Cue the conga line!  Seriously, ladies, can I get in there?

Win Streak!  Cue the conga line!  Seriously, ladies, can I get in there?

Does anybody here fucking read the posts before theirs?
 
I HOPE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP KOLE CALHOUN BECAUSE EPPLER SUCKS! 

Don't forget folks, there's a huge amount of $$ coming off the books here soon so options will available.

Only trade that I hated was Segura.  Outside of that he did try to reload the organization's pitching depth and did a reasonable job given what he had to work with.
His main failure was not having the clout to constrain his owner and inability to deal with the fat man.

Pretty much.  But Arte doesn't look like he's going to sell so the question is whether he'll learn from his failure.
Way I look at it he's on his third GM on Scioscia's watch and this will be the guy he puts some trust in.  Eppler is his last chance really, if he can't get behind this guy and empower him he is never going to get it right.  And I think Eppler might be that guy who is good enough to keep Arte's interference at bay, too.  First indicator is going to be what happens with Mike after this season if they don't start playing better ball.  If the Angels don't win this division there's gonna be another power struggle because this GM is smart enough to know he's gotta reset the staff and get everyone going in the right direction, or as you said single vision.

Every major problem with this franchise has Arte's fingerprints all over it.  
It started by creating a confused hierarchy of leadership.  From Arte's own influence is specific player personnel decisions to giving a manager enough power to where there is even an opportunity for the players to choose him over the general manager.  I consider Scioscia to be a good manager, but there is a reason you don't see GM's also being managers.  You just can't do both jobs at the same time.  Giving the manager as much say as the GM in how the team is run is just too confusing.  You need a single vision.  
That vision is also compromised when the owner's philosophy predetermines and limits how the franchise is constructed.  Again, all it does is create confusion about direction and leadership.  
A sports franchise is an organism.  You can't put a fancy hat and a nice pair of shoes on it yet disregard the internal organs.  Even if the leadership structure was appropriate, putting every last resource into what the fan can see right in front of them so they come to games and spend their money is a recipe for disaster as we can see.  Even if Arte isn't making specific decisions beyond bringing in 'star power', this philosophy forces you leadership onto a very narrow path.  Reagins, Dipoto and now Eppler have had very specific directives.  Keep fans in the seats.  Eventually (now) that leads to zero margin for error when making trades, drafting players, and signing free agents.  
So you ask a GM to come in and you tell them they have no international budget.  They have a limited scouting budget.  They have to use every asset they have to improve the major league club.  They have to clear their moves (for the most part) with the teams field manager they didn't choose who may also influence other aspects of what you'd like to do.  And sometimes the owner might step in and significantly influence how you spend your major league budget.  
On top of that, you are fortunate enough to have the best player in baseball on your team and you have to figure out how to navigate all of the above while not wasting the years you have that player on your team.  
There isn't a gm on the planet likely able to succeed while walking that tightrope.  Our only hope at this point is sheer dumb luck and this year, we've had the opposite.  We are now in a position going forward where exceptional things need to happen for us to succeed.  Luck favors the prepared and it's the night before the big final exam yet we haven't cracked a book.  

When a manager hits his shelf life it's hard to tell what you need.  When Maddon took over the Cubs people were saying he'd need a roster overhaul.  Team started like crap out the gate, but in the second half they finished strong and ended up +24 games over the previous season.
 
I'd let Sciosh finish the season, but if I were the owner he's gone.  They already started the overhaul of the front office, this offseason will be about the staff.

Fire Eppler??? How about firing the guy who's actually been here during all the failing. Mike Scioscia. I think it's time for the new GM to have an opportunity to hire his own manager. 

Whatever. Not like it's a surprise given how bad the drafting has been not to mention the trade for Simmons. But the good thing is the Angels do have a young roster, and once fans get to see the impact of Simmons saving runs every inning they're gonna realize that maybe that move was a good one and the value of those guys is well served at SS.
 
The thing that irks the F out of me, though, is the mere mention of trading Trout. It is an asinine thing to say this early. Sure, beat up the Angels for the bad drafting, or the bad signings of FAs that helped put them where they are financially. But there is plenty of time to get things right in the farm system or not before we have that conversation. It's a bull$#!t article for that reason alone.

Whatever. Not like it's a surprise given how bad the drafting has been not to mention the trade for Simmons. But the good thing is the Angels do have a young roster, and once fans get to see the impact of Simmons saving runs every inning they're gonna realize that maybe that move was a good one and the value of those guys is well served at SS.
 
The thing that irks the F out of me, though, is the mere mention of trading Trout. It is an asinine thing to say this early. Sure, beat up the Angels for the bad drafting, or the bad signings of FAs that helped put them where they are financially. But there is plenty of time to get things right in the farm system or not before we have that conversation. It's a bull$#!t article for that reason alone.

I'm not too worried about the hitting.  They have the pieces just need to settle down and get into their groove.  Really like how Pujols and Freese look so far and even though Freese's average isn't that impressive the dude has always been clutch.
 
It's the starters that I want to see more consistency from and I think Richards is the key.  Might be expecting too much, but I want to see him become the Angels' ace this season.  If he does that, all of a sudden this rotation looks like they can get 'er done.
 
That series vs the Royals was tough, but gonna chalk that up to a hot team vs cold team and cross my fingers.

I think Arte might go pretty high on him.  Angels' rotation would suddenly look pretty good if they can find a way to add him to it.  All it's gonna cost is money, and I think Arte will see a better return on overbidding for him than he will with either of his sluggers.
 
Screw the Mariners, get 'er done Arte!

Right now if I were Trout, I'd have serious concerns about the direction of this franchise.  Since Arte has taken over his GM hires don't look good.  People grouse about Stoneman, but that was a GM who knew how to assemble a team and staff.  We can look at this team now and say all we need is pitching, but it might not be that easy.
 
I am praying the Angels sign Mike to a long term deal.  But I don't think it will happen unless Arte gets his act together.  He's a great owner when he's sticking to the big picture, the beer prices, stadium condition, and happiness of the fans.  Just needs to stay the @$!# out of the baseball operations.

Right now if I were Trout, I'd have serious concerns about the direction of this franchise.  Since Arte has taken over his GM hires don't look good.  People grouse about Stoneman, but that was a GM who knew how to assemble a team and staff.  We can look at this team now and say all we need is pitching, but it might not be that easy.
 
I am praying the Angels sign Mike to a long term deal.  But I don't think it will happen unless Arte gets his act together.  He's a great owner when he's sticking to the big picture, the beer prices, stadium condition, and happiness of the fans.  Just needs to stay the @$!# out of the baseball operations.

I am of the opinion that Arte was behind both signings.  He spearheaded them and made them happen.  
 
But here's my problem with the whole thing...  Dipoto should have known that pitching was the key to this season.  That is his job.  Handling Moreno is his job too, though.  He made a huge investment trading for Grienke, only to watch the guy walk when the Angels couldn't afford the bidding.  But they could afford another bat instead????
 
Way I see it, either Dipoto cannot steer his owner to a good decision, OR he is disregarded by the owner.  Either way, it means the owner needs a new GM.

I think they need to convert their outfield depth to some more pitching.  Trading one of Trumbo or Bourjos will not cripple this team, but either of those might bring in significant pitching depth to this org.
 
And I would also roll the dice on cuban Alfredo Gonzalez in the FA market.  He's 26 and if he's a quick study he might be a late season call up for our bullpen in a pinch.

I like their chances tonight.  Lackey is pitching well, but there's no reason this lineup can't rock him.  I want to see him throwing a tantrum in the dugout around the third inning after he gets pulled.