Capital_Dave

Arte Moreno bought the Angels for $180 million.  Forbes recently estimated the value of the franchise at $718 million.  (And it's probably far higher, are the Angels really worth a third of the Dodgers?)  And as the article notes, the Angels have no debts.
 
If Arte's strategy has "blown up in his face" I don't see the evidence for it.  The man is crazy like a fox.  Regardless of the team's performance, the Pujols signing has solidified Hispanic affinity for the team in an increasingly-Hispanic community (and was a true feather in the cap for one of the most successful Hispanic businessmen in the nation); the Hamilton signing maintained the buzz about the team; the team remains highly profitable.  The Angels are relevant in Southern California -- and nationally -- in a way that they never were under the Autrys.  
 
Arte didn't get where he is without a fiercely competitive spirit.  He wants to win the World Series, and he'll continue to make decisions to try to achieve that goal.  Some of those decisions will be good ones, some will suck.  But his investment in the franchise has already reaped huge financial rewards and there's no reason to believe the value of the franchise won't continue to skyrocket, especially once the new TV deal is fully factored in.  Moreno ain't going anywhere, and we should all be glad for that.

Arte Moreno bought the Angels for $180 million.  Forbes recently estimated the value of the franchise at $718 million.  (And it's probably far higher, are the Angels really worth a third of the Dodgers?)  And as the article notes, the Angels have no debts.
 
If Arte's strategy has "blown up in his face" I don't see the evidence for it.  The man is crazy like a fox.  Regardless of the team's performance, the Pujols signing has solidified Hispanic affinity for the team in an increasingly-Hispanic community (and was a true feather in the cap for one of the most successful Hispanic businessmen in the nation); the Hamilton signing maintained the buzz about the team; the team remains highly profitable.  The Angels are relevant in Southern California -- and nationally -- in a way that they never were under the Autrys.  
 
Arte didn't get where he is without a fiercely competitive spirit.  He wants to win the World Series, and he'll continue to make decisions to try to achieve that goal.  Some of those decisions will be good ones, some will suck.  But his investment in the franchise has already reaped huge financial rewards and there's no reason to believe the value of the franchise won't continue to skyrocket, especially once the new TV deal is fully factored in.  Moreno ain't going anywhere, and we should all be glad for that.

I'm no professional lip-reader, but I made out "f*ck me" when Scioscia came out to get him.
 
I think we can all agree.

Right on David.
 
BTW, congrats on your new gig (well new to me). Secretary of the Senate, damn that's impressive! 

Think about how much patience he has shown before executing this trade. At several points last season he could have released Vernon altogether and no one would have faulted him. At last year's trade deadline he easily could have executed a trade and received back maybe $1M-$2M and many here would have said hallelujah. This spring he has massaged Wells' ego, saying he "couldn't have handled this more professionally," and somehow he has coaxed an almost-certainly inflated batting performance out of Wells against second-tier pitching. Dipoto is now trading Wells at his high water mark value-wise, somehow getting $13M back, when the Yankees' backs are against the wall and he can leverage the absolute best case scenario.
Well done, sir. Well done.