AZMike

Zack Greinke went 2-2 at the plate today, pushing his average to .406 (not qualified of course). Nevertheless Greinke has accumulated more WAR as a batter than Josh Hamilton.

Looking good. Hopefully he keeps pounding the zone and avoids the signature "blow up" inning

This is a repost from earlier in the season: ...for $445 Million

It's amazing that Loria was able to get away with fleecing TWO towns for nearly-empty brand new stadiums. IMO there should be some type of salary floor for teams receiving revenue sharing. If teams spend under that salary floor (as in the case of legitimate rebuilding) they shuold be required to place money into a trust fund which can only be used to hire players, rather than going into the owner's pockets.

It's a pitching duel between Williams and the fat man (not Scioscia)

Blanton had a much lower xFIP for the same price, plus the Angels have an option for the third year instead of the third year being guaranteed

Yep. Better than pulling an Iannetta and walking only for Kendrick to bat w/ bases loaded and one out, which is what I expected.

Angels will answer with some hard hit balls of their own. I suspect something along the lines of a leadoff double from Shuck, a walk to Trout, Pujols scorcing a ball right at the second baseman (GIDP) then Hamilton flying out to the warning track in right field.

When money is sent over in trades, the team sending the cash is charged for the luxury tax, and the team receiving the cash gets to deduct that amount from their taxable payroll. Cash sent in trades is applied year-by-year for the tax though. Wells contract counts as $18M/year for luxury tax. This year the Angels are sending the Yankees $10M, next year the Angels are sending $18M. So for the luxury tax, Wells counts $10M against the Angels and $8M against the Yankees for 2013. He counts $18M against the Angels and $0 against the Yankees for 2014. The deal was structured this way as the Yankees are trying to get under $189M for the tax in 2014.

They should start another Senators franchise, but this time in Montreal .

Marmol is a bit of a wild card. He walks a lot of people, but if you walk the bases loaded, but so long as they don't score, no harm done. He also has the one key trait that makes him an excellent pitcher for the Angels -- lots of flyballs. 1) Lots of Flyballs 2) Trout and Bourjos Shuck in the OF Simultaneously 3) ? 4) Profit

Calhoun is clearly not up because Moreno is trying to pinch pennies and doesn't want Calhoun's free agent countdown clock to start until that season. Either that or Calhoun is in Scioscia's doghouse for some reason.

The Vernon Wells situation is chump change by comparsion

Agreed

<-- *tips cap* nice pickoff, despite my recent complaining

Nearly all MLB clubs have seen similar increases in equity and TV deals, that has nothing to do with decisions Moreno has made in particular. The Dodgers got a TV deal worth double what the Angels deal brings in. The Phillies will likely get an even bigger deal in the not distant future. Fact is that live sports as a whole has gone up in value.

Tyler Chatwood + Bobby Wilson >> Joe Blanton + Chris Iannetta

who?

The Angels could offer Trout a long term extension before the 2015 season. That's when the wells money will go off the books. Doing so would ensure that the Angels are over the tax in 2015, 2016, and 2017. They *might* be able to pinch pennies and get under after Hamilton leaves. Extending Trout now though would be a bad idea as that would be 5+ consecutive years over the cutoff instead of 3+ consective year. Tax rates go up drastically for teams that are over in multiple consecutive years so the difference in tax liability for those two scenarios would be huge.

Problem is Arte knows billboards/advertising, as that's where he made his money, and I believe grossly overestimated the importance of having "big name" players like Pujols to help sell tickets. (just look at that ridiculous "11 world series appearances..." billboard) That pot-committed him to "win now" and signing Hamilton was a panicky move to push all in. Too bad the other teams in the AL West called and have us beaten.

I completely expect a routeine flyball to left to fall in and give Oakland a run back. One run is not nearly enough of a lead.

f'n Home Run Derby

Pujols needs to be batting in the 6 or 7 hole. Have Hamilton bat behind Trout against RHP, Trumbo or Kendrick* behind Trout against LHP. *Pujols hits into so many double plays I would in fact rather have Kendrick take his place SMH

We need someone other than GIDPujols behind Trout. Trout often gets pitched around in high leverage situations.

Forum crowd seems a bit thin today. Nice infield single for Shuck + error to end up a second.