oater

COWART-O-METER   

The line for Duensing tonight:  5 IP    O H    0 R   0 BB   2 SO

From Jeff Fletcher:
"Heaney, who is nearly 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, pitched 4-2/3 scoreless innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts, on Wednesday night in the rookie-level Arizona League. He has allowed two earned runs in 10-2/3 innings in three games, with 15 strikeouts and one walk. His next outing will be at a higher level, either Triple-A Salt Lake City or Class-A Inland Empire.
“Velocity was good, command was good,” Scioscia said. “He’s on his path. Nothing has set him back so far. He’s doing well.'"
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/27/angels-notes-yusmeiro-petit-gets-the-call-to-start/

If you are not aware, for practical purposes, this is the first year Torii Jr. has played organized baseball in 4 years.  He concentrated on football at Notre Dame.  While he technically was on the baseball team for 2 years, he had less than 20 AB.  Under the circumstances, he has performed at an extremely high level at Orem.

If you are not aware, for practical purposes, this is the first year Torii Jr. has played organized baseball in 4 years.  He concentrated on football at Notre Dame.  While he technically was on the baseball team for 2 years, he had less than 20 AB.  Under the circumstances, he has performed at an extremely high level at Orem.

Damn, that is a big overpay considering how average he is.

Eppler is a great communicator.  It is a skill that should not be undervalued.
Great article, so let me add my thanks for the link.

Eppler is a great communicator.  It is a skill that should not be undervalued.
Great article, so let me add my thanks for the link.

Eppler is a great communicator.  It is a skill that should not be undervalued.
Great article, so let me add my thanks for the link.

Chris O'Grady was selected last year and he likely will be available again this year.  So . . .

Hultzen is a sad case.  He was really good in college, but has suffered through major shoulder issues.  At this stage, the Angels have far better in-house options.

Walker is the logical choice, but he would cost a draft pick.  So I'm going with SRod.

Yeah, I remember 2002 when Sosh refused to use K-Rod because he was still wet behind the ears.  

Yeah, I remember 2002 when Sosh refused to use K-Rod because he was still wet behind the ears.  

Yeah, I remember 2002 when Sosh refused to use K-Rod because he was still wet behind the ears.  

Yeah, I remember 2002 when Sosh refused to use K-Rod because he was still wet behind the ears.  

Angels have exercised the option.
 
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/angels-to-exercise-club-option-over-yunel-escobar.html

Thank you to everyone for the further explanation on the AAV rules. 
In prior years, the Angels were very bad at managing payroll which, I believe, led to a number of missed opportunities.  I think Eppler intends to maintain payroll flexibility going forward, and I approve.

Thank you to everyone for the further explanation on the AAV rules. 
In prior years, the Angels were very bad at managing payroll which, I believe, led to a number of missed opportunities.  I think Eppler intends to maintain payroll flexibility going forward, and I approve.

Thank you to everyone for the further explanation on the AAV rules. 
In prior years, the Angels were very bad at managing payroll which, I believe, led to a number of missed opportunities.  I think Eppler intends to maintain payroll flexibility going forward, and I approve.

yeah, Pennington is probably not a good comparison.  The projections I have seen for SRod is 2yrs/$10M, which I could live with.  I do think SRod is a far better option than either Pennington or Petit and Cowart hasn't shown that he can hit MLB pitching.  I would rather bring back JohnnyG than go with what is on the current roster.

Eppler intends to be opportunistic, so focusing on any one player is counterproductive.  I am confident he will address LF and there will be at least a half-dozen free agents on the market that will be an upgrade over what we had in 2016.
My under-the-radar candidate is Eric Thames.  But on the right contract, I would be fine with Reddick, or Jay, or Holliday, or Fowler, or . . .

Eppler intends to be opportunistic, so focusing on any one player is counterproductive.  I am confident he will address LF and there will be at least a half-dozen free agents on the market that will be an upgrade over what we had in 2016.
My under-the-radar candidate is Eric Thames.  But on the right contract, I would be fine with Reddick, or Jay, or Holliday, or Fowler, or . . .

To follow up, Sam Pastrone pitched 6 perfect innings to start the Pioneer League finals!   One more game to go.  GO OWLZ!
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160914&content_id=201454256&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

So THATS why we drafted Matt Thaiss!