mulwin444

I expect the team to finish above .500 but out of the playoffs.  Unless one of Hanson, Blanton, Richards,or Williams can establish themselves as a solid third option with Vargas out, 60% of their starts are in question.  I like the way the BP is coming together and I think Frieri has the stuff to establish himself as a premier closer.  Here are some other predictions:
 
Josh Hamilton will finish with an OPS above .800 but the low .800's
 
Pujols will make a DL trip at some point if he keeps struggling numbers-wise
 
Downs will get traded if they are floundering at the All Star break
 
Trumbo will finish with an OPS under .800
 
The next two weeks are crucial.  If they don't make significant gains in terms of wild card standing, I think you will see some movement on the roster, possibly given Jimenez and Calhoun some steady reps. 

I don't think you can evaluate a GM's moves unless you put them in a situational context.  These moves don't happen is a vacuum.
 
Vargas for Morales:  Both players were going to be free agents at the end of 2013 and the Angels were not going to re-sign Morales with Pujols, Trumbo, and a host of younger, cheaper options.  Angels needed SP and Seattle needed offense - deal made sense for both parties.  Morales is essentially a one-trick pony - a DH playing 1B with zero speed and late-order pop on a good offense.  RIght now his numbers are .280/.337/.800 which is good but not spectactuar for a 1B.  Vargas averaged 200 innings and  3.80 ERA 1.25 WHIP the prior three seasons and averaged looked to be a solid back-end starter.  He was busy matching the numbers from the past three season when he developed a blood clot, which I'm sure everyone here predicted would happen (haha).  This was a good trade.
 
Hanson for Walden:  WIth Santana, Greinke, and Haren not coming back, Dipoto essentially had three rotational spots to fill.  Vargas filled one of them using a surplus of IB at his disposal.  Hanson for Walden was essentially a swap of projects by the two teams.  Walden, armed with a fastball that could touch triple digits, struggled with location (4.4 BB/9) and mechanics, was poor in high leverage situations, and dealt with bicep issues.  Hanson was a top pitching prospect that found initial success but struggled with injuries but, up until last season, averaged a 1.18 WHIP and a .225 BAA.  Project for a project...it wasn't a bad nor expensive gamble.  Who could have predicted his brother's death?  How do account for that as a possiblity?  I'm not busting him for this one.
 
Dane De La Rosa:  He found this guy totally off the radar and he has a delievered with a 1.11 WHIP, .224 BAA and 40 K's and only 13 BB in 43.1 IN.   
 
Sean Burnett:  He's averaged 60 appearances since 2008 with a 1.20 WHIP and a has been especially tough on lefties (.227 .293 OBP .567 OPS againt).  Unless you can read the future, don't see how this would be considered a bad signing.
 
Ryan Madsen:  A $3.5 mil gamble on a potentially quality arm...how is this a big deal?
 
J.B. Shuck:  Despite his defensive misadventaures, has a been a solid fill-in aquired for cheap.
 
Ernesto Frieri:  Despite a couple of meltdowns, the guy has converted 22/24 and is sporting a 1.16 WHIP .178 BAA with 61 K's in 40.2 IN...and he got him for this generations Alfred Almezaga.
 
Chris Ianetta:  At the time, when they traded for him, Chatwood was giving up a BB for every two innings he pitched and it will take more than 70 innings of 1.29 WHIP .260 BAA to make me break out the torches on this deal. 
 
Not signing Torii Hunter:  He was 37 coming off one his best seasons hitting in front of a HOFer and he had the great fortune of finding a similar scenario in DET.  He also said he'd here for a discount...until the first two year deal came his way.  The only mistake the Angels made was signing Hamilton instead. 
 
The fact is there is logic behind these deals, sound logic, and for one reason or another they haven't worked out.  The only obvious and glaring mistake is the Blanton signing, which cannot be defended.

Take the sentiment out and why would anyone want Saunders?  The guy had one good year 4 seasons ago and he averages a 1.40 WHIP .280 BAA.  Outside of Safeco this season he has a 1.61 WHIP .321 BAA.

Reagins was at the helm for the Wells and Kazmir trades...I'll let that simmer for a bit

I don't think you can evaluate a GM's moves unless you put them in a situational context.  These moves don't happen is a vacuum.
 
Vargas for Morales:  Both players were going to be free agents at the end of 2013 and the Angels were not going to re-sign Morales with Pujols, Trumbo, and a host of younger, cheaper options.  Angels needed SP and Seattle needed offense - deal made sense for both parties.  Morales is essentially a one-trick pony - a DH playing 1B with zero speed and late-order pop on a good offense.  RIght now his numbers are .280/.337/.800 which is good but not spectactuar for a 1B.  Vargas averaged 200 innings and  3.80 ERA 1.25 WHIP the prior three seasons and averaged looked to be a solid back-end starter.  He was busy matching the numbers from the past three season when he developed a blood clot, which I'm sure everyone here predicted would happen (haha).  This was a good trade.
 
Hanson for Walden:  WIth Santana, Greinke, and Haren not coming back, Dipoto essentially had three rotational spots to fill.  Vargas filled one of them using a surplus of IB at his disposal.  Hanson for Walden was essentially a swap of projects by the two teams.  Walden, armed with a fastball that could touch triple digits, struggled with location (4.4 BB/9) and mechanics, was poor in high leverage situations, and dealt with bicep issues.  Hanson was a top pitching prospect that found initial success but struggled with injuries but, up until last season, averaged a 1.18 WHIP and a .225 BAA.  Project for a project...it wasn't a bad nor expensive gamble.  Who could have predicted his brother's death?  How do account for that as a possiblity?  I'm not busting him for this one.
 
Dane De La Rosa:  He found this guy totally off the radar and he has a delievered with a 1.11 WHIP, .224 BAA and 40 K's and only 13 BB in 43.1 IN.   
 
Sean Burnett:  He's averaged 60 appearances since 2008 with a 1.20 WHIP and a has been especially tough on lefties (.227 .293 OBP .567 OPS againt).  Unless you can read the future, don't see how this would be considered a bad signing.
 
Ryan Madsen:  A $3.5 mil gamble on a potentially quality arm...how is this a big deal?
 
J.B. Shuck:  Despite his defensive misadventaures, has a been a solid fill-in aquired for cheap.
 
Ernesto Frieri:  Despite a couple of meltdowns, the guy has converted 22/24 and is sporting a 1.16 WHIP .178 BAA with 61 K's in 40.2 IN...and he got him for this generations Alfred Almezaga.
 
Chris Ianetta:  At the time, when they traded for him, Chatwood was giving up a BB for every two innings he pitched and it will take more than 70 innings of 1.29 WHIP .260 BAA to make me break out the torches on this deal. 
 
Not signing Torii Hunter:  He was 37 coming off one his best seasons hitting in front of a HOFer and he had the great fortune of finding a similar scenario in DET.  He also said he'd here for a discount...until the first two year deal came his way.  The only mistake the Angels made was signing Hamilton instead. 
 
The fact is there is logic behind these deals, sound logic, and for one reason or another they haven't worked out.  The only obvious and glaring mistake is the Blanton signing, which cannot be defended.

I don't think you can evaluate a GM's moves unless you put them in a situational context.  These moves don't happen is a vacuum.
 
Vargas for Morales:  Both players were going to be free agents at the end of 2013 and the Angels were not going to re-sign Morales with Pujols, Trumbo, and a host of younger, cheaper options.  Angels needed SP and Seattle needed offense - deal made sense for both parties.  Morales is essentially a one-trick pony - a DH playing 1B with zero speed and late-order pop on a good offense.  RIght now his numbers are .280/.337/.800 which is good but not spectactuar for a 1B.  Vargas averaged 200 innings and  3.80 ERA 1.25 WHIP the prior three seasons and averaged looked to be a solid back-end starter.  He was busy matching the numbers from the past three season when he developed a blood clot, which I'm sure everyone here predicted would happen (haha).  This was a good trade.
 
Hanson for Walden:  WIth Santana, Greinke, and Haren not coming back, Dipoto essentially had three rotational spots to fill.  Vargas filled one of them using a surplus of IB at his disposal.  Hanson for Walden was essentially a swap of projects by the two teams.  Walden, armed with a fastball that could touch triple digits, struggled with location (4.4 BB/9) and mechanics, was poor in high leverage situations, and dealt with bicep issues.  Hanson was a top pitching prospect that found initial success but struggled with injuries but, up until last season, averaged a 1.18 WHIP and a .225 BAA.  Project for a project...it wasn't a bad nor expensive gamble.  Who could have predicted his brother's death?  How do account for that as a possiblity?  I'm not busting him for this one.
 
Dane De La Rosa:  He found this guy totally off the radar and he has a delievered with a 1.11 WHIP, .224 BAA and 40 K's and only 13 BB in 43.1 IN.   
 
Sean Burnett:  He's averaged 60 appearances since 2008 with a 1.20 WHIP and a has been especially tough on lefties (.227 .293 OBP .567 OPS againt).  Unless you can read the future, don't see how this would be considered a bad signing.
 
Ryan Madsen:  A $3.5 mil gamble on a potentially quality arm...how is this a big deal?
 
J.B. Shuck:  Despite his defensive misadventaures, has a been a solid fill-in aquired for cheap.
 
Ernesto Frieri:  Despite a couple of meltdowns, the guy has converted 22/24 and is sporting a 1.16 WHIP .178 BAA with 61 K's in 40.2 IN...and he got him for this generations Alfred Almezaga.
 
Chris Ianetta:  At the time, when they traded for him, Chatwood was giving up a BB for every two innings he pitched and it will take more than 70 innings of 1.29 WHIP .260 BAA to make me break out the torches on this deal. 
 
Not signing Torii Hunter:  He was 37 coming off one his best seasons hitting in front of a HOFer and he had the great fortune of finding a similar scenario in DET.  He also said he'd here for a discount...until the first two year deal came his way.  The only mistake the Angels made was signing Hamilton instead. 
 
The fact is there is logic behind these deals, sound logic, and for one reason or another they haven't worked out.  The only obvious and glaring mistake is the Blanton signing, which cannot be defended.

Just another case of workplace violence....

Just another case of workplace violence....

1-6 for Yasiel Francoeur

Word is, Angels are commissioning a new painting to commemorate the event...

Word is, Angels are commissioning a new painting to commemorate the event...

What's the big deal?  I see women in Hacienda Heights wearing these things while driving all the time...

What's the big deal?  I see women in Hacienda Heights wearing these things while driving all the time...

What's the big deal?  I see women in Hacienda Heights wearing these things while driving all the time...

Mike Trout is pretty much the reason the Angels are even within shouting distance of the playoffs...to say he's not "clutch" is pretty hilarious considering his HR put them ahead in the third and clutch "Pujols" left him stranded at 2B after his double in the 1st.

LOL at people calling this thread a joke after one at bat by Josh Hamilton. Let's look at the total picture - both players have been total fiascos this year. There are signs of Hamilton coming out of it - he's got a 10-game hitting streak in which he's hitting .382 (13-34), so I think he should obviously stay in the lineup, but Albert's worse than ever and have some have said, actually hurting this team. His GIDP with Trout on 1st and Shuck on 3rd is an example. Why wasn't Trout stealing? Is it really because Princess Albert doesn't like people running around when he's at the plate? Albert's worse than ever - he's got 6 hits in his last twelve games (.122 BA).

He needs to be DL'd.  This is ridiculous.  There is catering to a vet and downright hurting a team with constant stroking on one dudes ego.
 
Enough of this BS

AJ, I just don't trust Wilson.  The guy can have Ace stuff at times but has the mental fortitude of a back of the rotation starter.  I would them to find a legit middle starter while Hanson/Vargas are out so we don't have to depend on Blanton/Williams/???? to carry the load.
 
I'd like them to trade Trumbo as well as I think he limited overall as a player (great power, average plate approach, defense and speed) but could attract the best prospect since he has the longest track record to for an opposing GM to check out.
 
I don't know if you knew this but Calhoun has 34 games of minor league experience at 1B and seemed to manage pretty well.  Perhaps a scenario of Trumbo being traded and Calhoun sliding in 1B is not so far fetched.  Right now, I love to give his .325/.401/.949 slash line a shot at the top of the order either in front or behind Trout

Roth?  Haha 

I'm sorry but I see these threads all the time on this board.  A player struggles to find some consistency after being out for 2 months and suddenly he's done...and Mike Trout is fat and can't hit because he's playing LF instead of CF....and Frieri is done as a closer....and Howie is a unclutch loser...and Bourjos is mediocre...

Dino Ebel would give the windmill to the runner at 2B on a sharp hit ball to the SS...

I'm sorry but I see these threads all the time on this board.  A player struggles to find some consistency after being out for 2 months and suddenly he's done...and Mike Trout is fat and can't hit because he's playing LF instead of CF....and Frieri is done as a closer....and Howie is a unclutch loser...and Bourjos is mediocre...

Okay, who can argue with FIPS, I guess...I just know he had two of his best seasons in 2011 and 2012 when he is supposedly declining.  To me, he pitches to contact, relies on his defense and is developing into more of a pitcher.  I could be wrong but I'll let him get back into a groove before declaring judgement.

Hmm...What did he do since signing his extension?  Ah, that's right, he went 20-5 2.81 ERA 1.02 WHIP .214 BAA...
 
All while barely touching 90 in most of his starts...because he pitches instead of throws