Pancake Bear

I think they want to put Urshela at shortstop, because if he's hitting well enough, they'll want him in the lineup every day, and contrary to some articles, he's not really a 2B, but he has played significant time as SS. It's of value to see what he can do at short.

Olberman is just playing his media role. He's a professional idiot and troll. The WBC is a big deal for most of the countries involved. And injuries happen - Diaz was a total fluke thing that could have happened any time. People just want to lash out and blame someone or something when they're pissed. I'd feel the same way if it was Ohtani or Trout who had a season ending injury. It would suck, but stuff happens. I am kinda pissed at Venezuela sitting Rengifo and messing with his Spring because the manager has favorites he wants to play - whether they're better or not. There's a responsibility to managing in the WBC: You need to do right by the players getting ready for the season (and, honestly, that also includes not overplaying some players as well as underplaying others). I'd say screw that team, but they don't deserve it just because their manager is a loser.

Which is actually my point. I don't think the Angels signed him with the expectation that he was going to suddenly become a great or even competent hitter. I think they signed him because of clubhouse presence (people underrate it, but it does matter), defense, and speed. All other options are mostly superfluous or inferior in whatever they bring to the table. We don't need Velazquez's defense when Fletcher basically matched him (by rate) defensively at shortstop in 2022. We don't need Adell or Moniak when it would be a) detrimental to their development to sit on the bench, and b) not an improvement over just throwing one of the two infielders who would otherwise be sitting out into the outfield for a game when one of the OF needs a day off. There's no reason to carry three catchers (Sam Blum's bizarre suggestion). As a role player, Phillips brings multiple things to the table and his weak hitting isn't as much a negative on this time when we don't really have any other everyday bench players with no bat. Two regular, everyday infielders/outfielders will be on the bench every day. So, if we need a pinch hitter for the catcher, or want to pinch hit a righty for Walsh (or vice versa), we already have those guys available. We don't need him to be a bat. If his new approach eventually shows up, great, but that would be an extra benefit, not something we need or are counting on.

You're right. Davidson's ST are meaningless, because we can see who he was last year. Just like Phillips' ST are meaningless because we can see who he was last year, which is why there is no chance of him being cut or sent down. Hey, I don't make the rules. I'm just following yours.

Feels redundant, idk.

Suarez is indisputably #5. Last spot is still up for grabs, but it's probably between Davidson and Canning, with an outside shot for Silseth or Barria. Most likely at this point is Davidson, I think, unless they really want a RHP.

Angels rotation gets no respect. I'd match our top five up against any rotation in baseball.

Yeah, shortstop and first base are not really up for grabs. The guys who will be on the roster are already decided. The only question is how much each will play. That's not an Opening Day decision, though.

Like I said, I'm just throwing a name out there. It's too hard to know for sure what is most important to them and what direction they're likely to go there at this point in time. It's basically a random guess at this point, whereas the other two spots have at least some basis for making an educated guess.

I'm assuming there must be a reason you clearly have a bias against him because you can't even decide what your problem is with him. He can't hit. No, we need a shortstop. Nah, it's that no one else made a major league offer. It's really strange and kinda creepy how fixated you are with him not being on the roster.

Despite your bizarre hate-on for Phillips, this isn't happening. Go check Fletcher's defensive numbers last year vs. Velazquez. They aren't dumping Phillips for a mild (at best) improvement at shortstop defense vs a severe downgrade at outfield defense. Velazquez is only mildly faster than Phillips and is not a better hitter. Your arbitrary bias against Phillips is funny, but not remotely logical. First it was, "Moniak is a better hitter". Now it's, "We need Velazquez for defense". What did he do, sleep with your sister?

So, halfway through ST games, and with another two weeks to go, the locks for Opening Day (assuming health) remain unchanged. Moniak has been good, but he's not bumping any of the starters, and it makes no sense to have him up just to sit, so Philips remains a lock. The questions to be answered are: Backup catcher, #6 starter, and last spot in the pen. Catcher: Hard to be sure, but if it is a competition based on hitting, Thaiss appears to be winning. Given their contract statuses, I'd assume they'll be content to give O'Hoppe more time in the minors unless they'd basically already made the decision before Spring Training. Starter: Canning has looked good, but Davidson has pitched well enough that they either have to give him the job or trade him. Since Canning has an option and injuries are inevitable, it looks like, barring injuries on the roster, Davidson will be the guy. Reliever: This one is really tough. Joyce has been good, but he's not on the 40 man roster, and that may matter to them. Others have looked solid enough. We probably won't really have much insight on this one until they announce it. If I was predicting today, I'd say Thaiss, Davidson, and Joyce take the last three spots, but who knows.

Moniak Spring OPS the last four seasons (including this year): 2020: 1.088 2021: 1.112 2022: 1.351 2023: 1.112 His OPS in those seasons? 2020: .603 2021: .349 2022: .509 Give him a shot when someone gets injured if you want, but sitting will do his development zero good.

I'll be back in a couple weeks to remind you of this.

Agree that dropping Philips wouldn't be a big deal. But they won't be dropping him based off weak ST hitting when his hitting was a known quantity and not what he was signed for. They would drop him only if he's a bad locker room guy, because it would be ludicrous to have Moniak or Adell sit on the bench most of every week instead of playing every day in the minors.

He's not here to work on his swing. He's not here to start games. He's here to be a cheerleader on the bench, be available for elite defense in emergency situations, and pinch run if needed. If we need a pinch hitter, whichever two of Urshela, Drury, Fletcher, Rengifo, Walsh, or Rendon are sitting will pinch hit. Moniak is not even a particular improvement as a hitter, and he does nothing else as well as Philips. Ignore the ST smoke. People do this every year and wind up with egg on their face. ST stats are almost entirely irrelevant.

What the actual f....

Where's the dude who said Sandoval is a 3? Dude shoved tonight against some of the best hitters alive for 3 innings while still getting into game shape. Meanwhile, Team USA's best pitchers didn't bother to show up to rep their country. Eff them all.

Cutting Phillips and keeping Moniak as 4OF would be a really stupid move. And I don't believe Minasian is that stupid. Fletch posted that Moniak always does well in Spring - it's kinda his deal. Thing is, 4OF is a role player, not a guy you necessarily need to have go out and start 50 games. Phillips is there to be a late inning defensive replacement, pinch runner, and emergency backup. If they need a longer term replacement, they'll call up Adell or Moniak probably, and if the outfielders need a day off, most of their infielders are capable of playing a game in the outfield. Phillips is also known as a great clubhouse guy. 4OF is going to sit most of the time. There's no reason to waste Moniak or Adell there since we want them to be competent everyday guys and that's not going to happen as a 4OF.

I feel like the Stros have fallen off a little from where they were, but they're still the team to beat until someone takes it away from them. Mariners feel just a bit overrated to me, and I'm not buying the Rangers. Texas has made no real change at offense, and their team wRC+ was in the bottom half of the league. Their fans point to runs scored, but that isn't predictive, it's luck. I also am skeptical of their rotation. The talent is there, but they feel like the Angels a few years ago: Betting big on glass arms. If everything comes up right for them, then sure, they've got a shot, but I won't believe it till I see it. Angels are getting written off, but they were a good team last year until their lack of depth sunk them. Now they have depth, which should help keep their top guys fresh with more off days available that don't compromise the day-to-day lineup. I wouldn't bet on the Angels to win the division, but I wouldn't be absolutely shocked if they somehow managed it.

Yes, it would've been nice. But it's pretty obvious from Arte's comments in the article that he seems philosophically opposed to being the top spender because he feels it's unfair to the teams that don't or can't spend as much. He's fine being top ten, but both because he wants to make money (which he undersells, but it's obviously a huge factor) and, to some degree, because he doesn't believe in spending that much comparatively, he won't ever be at the forefront on spending. That's just reality. So, grabbing everything we did plus Turner and another good starter and reliever would've been great, but we can't all be the Mets, apparently. And, ultimately, spending the most doesn't guarantee anything. At the end of the day, it comes down to having a smart front office. A dumb GM with all the money in the world will make a lot of bad decisions in spending. A smart GM with very limited money can still go all the way.

I think it's indicative of the fact that Arte's mindset is that the way to build a team is to buy a star player. I genuinely believe that he doesn't fully grasp why depth is a big deal. He thinks Turner would be the best way to improve the team (and probably sell more tickets than Anderson, Drury, Renfroe, Urshela, Estevez, and Moore). It's also probably a form of preemptive damage control if Minasian's strategy doesn't result in a playoff berth. "I was ready to go all in on Trea Turner, but my front office said not to. I'm doing everything I can to build a winner!" I think Minasian is gone if they don't make the playoffs this year.

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Drury playing most days at 2B, or Urshela at SS regularly when he isn't subbing for Rendon or Walsh. Reality is that time will have to be earned in the infield because there are six starters for four spots. You don't perform, you're sitting.

Still not expecting him to stay healthy, but if somehow he did, he'd make a great sixth starter. Wouldn't need to pitch as many starts and innings in that role. A lighter season would help get his arm ready for a regular rotation role next year.

Seriously, though, I think for a guy who clearly doesn't like talking to the press, be grateful for whatever you get. He's unlikely to ever talk to Blum because Blum would rather ask questions Arte doesn't want to talk about. Since Arte doesn't actually have to talk to anyone, he can pick and choose exactly who he wants to get whatever he has to say out through, and that doesn't happen to be with any of the beat reporters.