oater

Dear Fellow Angels Supporters:
Under the heading, be careful of what you ask for, as you may get it, Mike Scioscia is gone, just as many of you have been so anxious to see for years.  
I recognize that I may receive hate mail, but I believe Mike was a really good manager.  Here are my reasons (not in any particular priority order):
 
His players loved him, even when they had losing seasons.  In 19 years, he never lost the club house.  That is amazing.  Orlando Cabrera said he was the best manager he ever played for.  Torri Hunter,  Juston Upton,   Garrett Anderson, Mike Trout, Otani, etc, --they all loved playing for Mike.  Lots of manager lose the clubhouse when seasons go south.  That never happened with the Angels under Sosh.  To me, that says something about his ability to manage the clubhouse. You can't blame Mike for the past 3 seasons,  How can a team win when four fifths of their starting rotation is gone for the season.  I think it's incredible that the team was as good as it was last year and this year they projected a rotation of Richards, Otani, Skaggs, Ramirez, and Shoemaker.  Basically, except for Skaggs, the rest were out for the year and Skaggs had at least 3 stints on the DL.  You take 4 starters out of most teams, and I think they may have trouble competing.  Yes, I know Oakland managed it this year, but I suggest that is an outlier. I think it's amazing how Sosh developed quality bullpens despite significant injuries over the years.  Last year, Street basically missed the entire season.  This year, Kenyon Middleton  missed the season.   His players love the guy, his peers respect the guy as as very knowledgeable, and the Angels fans have, by and large, ripped him since I have been on this site.  I really don't get it.  When he had talent, the team won.  When his team was destroyed by injuries they often were still in the hunt late in the season.  And most importantly, to me, it speaks volumes that in 19 years he never list the clubhouse.  That is very rare.
It's not his fault the club signed Josh Hamilton, Pujols and Vernon Wells.  He and the entire club suffered as a result.  It's not his fault that Dipoto savaged the farm system , leaving the Angels with little talent to draw on for years. 
Of course, I hope the Angels select a great manager and I am confident they will.  They should be much improved next year, as many of their pitchers are set to return (Ramirez, Shoemaker, Bridwell, Middleton, Meyer).

I have the same question regarding Oliver Ortega.  I don't believe he pitched last year but has two starts at Burlington this year with no runs allowed.  WHIP of 0.44.

Alas, you neglected to include:
Michael Clevinger (traded for Vinnie Pestano)
'18 with CLE:  7G, 42.3 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.07 WHIP,  14 BB,  39 SO.

Fair point.  I stand corrected.

Fletcher is the BEST. 

Nice start tonight for Gatto.  4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO.

Cedar Rapids?  Keep up with the times.

Cedar Rapids?  Keep up with the times.

I'm guessing right around $26,490,000.

I'm guessing right around $26,490,000.

"Contreras signed with the Angels after the Major League Baseball-imposed Jan. 15 deadline, thus receiving no additional bonus on top of the $1.2 million deal he signed with Atlanta in 2016.'
https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-feb-23-march-2-2018/

I didn't realize that Skaggs was being "hyped."  The most "hype" I have seen concerning Skaggs is that, if healthy, he will be in the starting rotation.
I agree with the other posters who believe he has a chance to be a solid contributor, but he will have to prove it.
 

I didn't realize that Skaggs was being "hyped."  The most "hype" I have seen concerning Skaggs is that, if healthy, he will be in the starting rotation.
I agree with the other posters who believe he has a chance to be a solid contributor, but he will have to prove it.
 

I didn't realize that Skaggs was being "hyped."  The most "hype" I have seen concerning Skaggs is that, if healthy, he will be in the starting rotation.
I agree with the other posters who believe he has a chance to be a solid contributor, but he will have to prove it.
 

In 1957, when Ted Williams was 39, he hit .388/.526/.731, with a 9.5 WAR.  Definitely the exception, but . . .

In 1957, when Ted Williams was 39, he hit .388/.526/.731, with a 9.5 WAR.  Definitely the exception, but . . .

In 1957, when Ted Williams was 39, he hit .388/.526/.731, with a 9.5 WAR.  Definitely the exception, but . . .

Notwithstanding the MLBTR spin, I don't sense that anything is happening re Odorizzi.  The TB article is about plans for the new baseball stadium and in an aside states that the Rays "have been talking about dealing RHP Jake Odorizzi with a number of teams, said to include the Brewers, Twins, Cardinals, Angels and possibly Orioles."  In today's OCR, Jeff Fletcher quotes Eppler:' “We feel very good about the club we have right now,” Eppler said. “We feel prepared to head into the season. If there are additions along the way, we’re obviously open minded to it, but we feel good with our club.”'
Presuming that the expected starters are healthy (at least to start the season), adding Odorizzi will likely force Heaney or Skaggs to the minors and will create an even bigger roster crunch in 2019.  I personally am not in favor of that course of action--especially if it means trading a top minors prospect like Jones.
 

Notwithstanding the MLBTR spin, I don't sense that anything is happening re Odorizzi.  The TB article is about plans for the new baseball stadium and in an aside states that the Rays "have been talking about dealing RHP Jake Odorizzi with a number of teams, said to include the Brewers, Twins, Cardinals, Angels and possibly Orioles."  In today's OCR, Jeff Fletcher quotes Eppler:' “We feel very good about the club we have right now,” Eppler said. “We feel prepared to head into the season. If there are additions along the way, we’re obviously open minded to it, but we feel good with our club.”'
Presuming that the expected starters are healthy (at least to start the season), adding Odorizzi will likely force Heaney or Skaggs to the minors and will create an even bigger roster crunch in 2019.  I personally am not in favor of that course of action--especially if it means trading a top minors prospect like Jones.
 

It may just be me, but I find the rankings of catching prospects to be humorous.  Once in a blue moon a Buster Posey comes along that everyone recognizes as great.  For the most part, however, the highly rated minor league prospects are decent hitters with questionable defensive skills.  The reality is that the majority of good major league catchers start with solid defensive skills and develop a decent offensive game, like Yadier Molina. 

I think the Angels should seriously consider extending both Machete and Richards this year.  A Richards extension would obviously carry a significant risk, but if he is healthy and productive in 18, he will be one of the premier FA pitchers next year, so this may be a good time to negotiate a deal that would work for both sides (maybe 4 yrs/ $60 M?).
The extensions would add significantly to the CBT payroll (because of the higher AAV) even if the deals are payroll neutral for 18. 

Cool, but J Turner owns that department.

Thanks for the write-up, Scotty.  You never know for sure how a prospect will develop, but the blood-line sure helps.  As I recall, his dad was somewhat of a late bloomer himself (at least on the hitting side).

Cozart would be the perfect Swiss army knife for the Angels.  Sign him up!

Oh, my!
(apologies to Dick Enberg)