“We just need a couple of well-chosen figures to make this thing to make this thing work all the way around.” says Joe Maddon. It’s been that way for five years now, Sherlock. Who’s going to be doing the choosing? Tony LaRussa? Angels GM Billy “Keppler” is on the hot seat as the season comes to a close. At least someone in New Jersey besides Mike Trout’s family thinks Mike Trout is the face of Major League Baseball. Shohei Ohtani speaks bits of three different languages in the course of a minute responding to his “best friend” Noe Ramirez about whether he was going to rejoin their Warzone group. He seems like a fun guy to me. Here is Jared Walsh doing Jared Walsh things. The Angels are already doomed to a losing season. Therefore the win on Monday only affected their dwindling hopes of sneaking into the postseason.
News From Around Baseball
The Padres, Dodgers, Twins, Rays, Yankees, White Sox, and Oakland have all clinched playoff spots. The window is closing. The MLBPA and MLB have committed $10 million to increase black American participation in all levels of baseball. Availability of witnesses!? What the hell? It was televised. Erik Kratz’s got a nice knuckler, for a catcher. He’ll be a 40 year old free agent in 2021. It would be funny to sign him, but I don’t think funny is the effect the Angels should be going for right now. Trevor Bauer wears trash can cleats in a game.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
If we hire Dombrowski….
We need a post WW2 Marshall Plan or 2008 TARP to rebuild our broken farm system and scouting.
Just one big problem…….Arte wants someone else to pay for it. 😆
Arte will invest, if there is a guaranteed return.
It is probably somewhat nebulous at this point, but there has to be a plan to make money off of owning the stadium/Trout/Rendon and that plan probably involves wishing the Angels were a contender and making money.
yes, Rengifo hitting 9th with his .138 average.
Toronto is losing but I think it’s too late. (duh!)
Reading what Simba said last week it sounds like he’s gone.
“I enjoy playing here, I’ve had a good time. I made good friends. I like the city. I know at the end of the day, it’s not completely in my hands and I know it’s a little bit of a business.”
Had….made… Anyway, we’ll see. Knowing Arte there won’t be a QO.
It seems to me like our FO doesn’t want him back. He was pretty clear when Trout re-signed that he wanted an extension. I think he’s been pretty good about not making an issue of not being offered one. I don’t care if he’s taking these last 5 meaningless games off. There is always some remote chance of injury and that could hurt his future.
All of us can point to what is wrong with the Angels and it seems it is getting easier at every turn. But who of us would make a better GM than Eppler or Moreno or Dave Dombroski? This team is in bad shape and no Tony Larussa or Billy Eppler can change that unless two things happen. One Arte Moreno gets the heck out of the way and takes out a huge loan to cover #2. And that is huge a real front office and send on Free Agent pitching.
I don’t think there is a GM that can fix it. Because Arte will not give him/her the authority to fix it. We need a full rebuild, but Arte refuses to reduce revenue to do it. And also having the GOAT pushing 30 means you need to win now. It’s all messed up.
Trading Trout would jumpstart a rebuild like no other, that conversation is only going to get louder as he hits 30+
I’m not optimistic for the same reasons you aren’t…and I’m Mr. Optimism!
Simmons, what a joke. That’s how you leave an organization after 5 years? Give him the QO and depress his market.
EDIT- Unless of course there is something we don’t know, maybe a family issue, in which case my apologies!
He’s been the ultimate team player since he arrived, I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt here.
And I’m not going to blame a player for not wanting to risk COVID for no benefit. He’s no really fighting for a job, someone will give him a contract.
I’m 100% going to blame him, if there’s nothing else to the story. He basically just gave the middle finger to his teammates and us as fans. On the opposite side, would you sign a guy who quits like that?
Cool. I’d have no issue if any player decides to sit out when their team is eliminated. We still don’t know the long term effects of this virus, why take unnecessary risk? I think grown men can read nuance in a situation.
Come on, the dude has a greater risk of hurting his ankle running to 1st base again. And you’d seriously have no issue with that? As of now there is no ‘nuance’, just a guy who’s preparing himself for free agency. Fair enough to him, but I’m not going to applaud him for doing so.
ha ha! True. That might be the reason he’s opting out. 😀
Nah, we just disagree. It’s cool.
It’s still very likely he has an at risk family member and now that he has no chance of playoffs he sitting out, no issue at all with that. I’m also cool with not condemning someone when I only have part of a story.
Yeah agree to disagree. To be absolutely clear too, I wouldn’t condemn at all if it was a family member or something. I’m just commenting based on what we know.
… which is not the full story.
So then just withhold any judgement? Let’s not get worked up over made up scenarios. If he comes out and says he sat out to not risk injury for his new contract, I’ll condemn him with ya 🙂
It’s the Twitter era… react first, deal with the consequences …. never.
He gave an official statement already, not like it’s just heresay…
Kids these days, I tell ya…
Git off my virtual socially-distanced lawn!
You could turn the sprinklers on to get me off, but that would destroy the server farm.
We will see!
You think Covid’s a joke? We have no idea what happened. I agree with Mia 100%. Simba wouldn’t just walk away for no reason. Hope all is ok with him and I feel your pain on losing him LAAFan, I just don’t have a negative thought about our beloved Simmons.
Like I said, it’s all depending on if there’s info we don’t know. As of right now, COVID? The team’s been fine for 50+ games, they’re not going to suddenly turn into an infirmary on the last weekend…
“…they’re not going to suddenly turn into an infirmary on the last weekend…”
Angels: “Hold my beer.”
Should he take the chance of being injured in the last 5 games for a team that is going no where fast or be realistic and say my worth can only go down in the last 5 games. The team is going to put Fletch at short and put Rengifo at 2b and that is the least expensive move for now until next years FA class of SS comes around who are younger than Simba.
He can do what he wants, he’s allowed to given the rules of this season. However, I’m not going to applaud a guy for essentially giving a middle finger to the whole team.
He’s free to opt out, but then we’re free to criticize it. I honestly did think we were gonna QO him to play SS next year, but I guess not. Hopefully we finally get some pitching!
I think he would take the QO, no? I thought QO is some ridiculous number this year. I could be wrong tho.
I believe it’s around 18 million, and yeah I think he would take it as well. I wouldn’t mind that too much as a one year deal, and letting Fletch be 2B for 2021.
That’s some serial coinage … we could buy maybe ten Odrisamer Despaignes with that kind of change.
Haha, please somebody keep Eppler from the checkbook!
I will never look at dumpster diving in the same way ever again.
Or one Dark Knight and one Doug Fister.
That’s what I was hoping for.😞
Yet another Angels Buttercup.
Goodbye Simba.
Man … Woke up out of a sound sleep all mad at simba. I slept on it and see your point now. ✌
what’s this I hear about Simba opting out of the last 5 games?
Yup, apparently he’s done. Oh well
Rengifo then. I’m sorry, Barreto, but I’m half glad you’re injured.
They do have so things in common such as neither can field or hit.
I bet Jared Walsh can play second too, he seems to be able to do everything
we are so close to contending! All we lack is a few position players and most of the pitching staff.
mix in a new owner, manager, CEO of baseball operations, ball washer, uniform stitcher (bka seamstress/seamster? (what’s the gender-neutral name for one who stitches?) [voice of Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber]WE’RE THERE![/voice]
Not as well as Bourjos
We need him at 1B though.
EXTEND PUJOLS
😂
What is going on? I am surprised at this, was it because they don’t want to extend him?
There is a theory on Twitter that he doesn’t want to risk injury, and if the avenue is there, why not take it?
Honestly, I have no idea. We’ll see what happens this offseason, but his statement makes it seem like he doesn’t think he’ll be back.
That’s what I thought, he isn’t coming back. Which makes the LaStella trade even WORSE if that was even possible. 😥
I for one am going to really miss him but the pitchers will miss him even more.
Yeah, this seems like an odd time to opt out with only 5 games remaining.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/angels-rumors-dave-dombroswki-general-manager-billy-eppler.html
Soon to be an article in Forbes
Thanks for the link. The article did a good job of describing our circumstances, which made me sad.
There replies are all either or for DD, but the last one gave me a chuckle “wait for Theo”.
I am not going to apply. That job is a lose-lose sitch.
Signed,
DD (DowningDude)
Ha! I missed it. That’s good!
Maybe? Dombrowski has built a winner before, and he does carry enough name value to hopefully check Arte’s lunacy.
Humph! They updated that Billy Eppler article to take out the several times they referred to Eppler as “Keppler.”
They just wanted to avoid his orbital mechanics.
YEEESSSSSS! GOLD!
I realize this may be unpopular but I’m an advocate for Luhnow. I think he is the best GM available and will be highly motivated to reestablish his reputation and career. It would be a huge upgrade over Eppler and way better than Dumbo.
I think Arte would stay away from that controversy
Agree.
I know we have a no politics rule, so let’s not discuss the event, but Arte just appeared at an event with the current POTUS. I’m not sure he cares to shun controversy.
Not a chance. Everything Luhnow said afterward made it clear that he’s only sorry he got caught. He might want to reestablish his career, but I doubt he thinks his reputation is tarnished in the least.
And it’s not even the sign-stealing that I’m referring to. He’s a smart guy, so he wouldn’t get caught doing that again. It’s the absolutely toxic culture he created and fomented that I have no desire for my favorite team to create. I’d rather wallow in mediocrity than allow Luhnow to come in and start hiring misogynistic a-holes simply because they’re smart baseball analysts.
Agree. Wouldn’t be able to stomach a winning Angels squad led by Luhnow. I’d always carry the mental asterisk of knowing what he did in Houston.
Sadly the cheating is probably the second worst thing he did: Roberto Osuna.
There are players who would make me turn away from the team as long as they are in uniform. Osuna is one.
Definitely agree.
Rec’d
Really well said. It’s the toxic culture that is the big problem. In many ways the cheating was (probably) just one of many side effects of that.
Definitely all of this is true. He’d probably be good for the on-field product.
I just wouldn’t want to do mental contortions to root for this team. It’s hard enough as it is.
https://sports.yahoo.com/puzzling-lack-direction-angels-owner-031411827.html
Arte has no direction that he wants to take this team. Steady as she goes, on that mediocre line, just making sure not to disrupt his bottom line.
But with COVID-19 going nowhere fast. Arte may just have bite the bullet and spend some serious money to build a winning team that can create interest in his product so he can sell 3Mil again, soon.
Every time I see Bill Shaikin’s name I start singing Eddie Money’s “Shakin'” …
Was a good read but … Does the guy ever post anything positive about the Angels?
If they’d give him positive things to write about…
I have spent every one of my adult years waiting and hoping for Arte to “spend some serious money”
We can count on him to spend just enough to compete and put butts in seats(in non-COVID times). That’s it.
And I don’t see it changing. The only thing he cares about is his money. He doesn’t care about winning, he only cares about appearing to care about winning, to keep those seats full.
The off-season prior to 2019 was the year when I really lost faith that we would ever “spend big”.
To me, that was the year when we needed to truly go big if we cared about winning during Trout’s prime and we didn’t.
I’m not calling Arte cheap. He spends about a league average amount given his revenues. But, he certainly wasn’t willing to go that extra mile to make up for past mistakes, really. I don’t think he ever will.
It is what it is. Is definitely his choice and I still root for the team. I just don’t expect much.
All he cares about is the superstars. Gotta add as many DINGRZ to the team as possible. Because even if they lose, at least you saw a show. Keeps those long ball digging OC chicks coming back.
Pitching can get f*cked. Imagine an NFL team that just refused to spend on defense.
#BILLBOARDZZZ
I honestly think Arte considers himself a “baseball man” who can make that final push to a title himself. How cool would that be, to be the guy who identified and paid for the guy who put you over the top?
He’s a billionaire, of course that’s his mindset.
“Dumbo” is not the type of GM to build and reorganize a failing franchise and to move into the winners circle, however he can made a team a winner all the to the top but getting there deplete everybody and you are left with nothing. Either way, roll for the now or build and win longer term works for me, but prefer the build for long term..
Why does everyone here call him Dumbo?
He’s a three time AL Champion and has won World Series with two entirely different teams ( different orgs).
Doesn’t seem so dumb to me.
His last name is domb … I’m guessing but that’s likely it. Like DiPooPoo for DiPoto
I understand the wordplay off of Dombrowski, but nothing about his record as a GM suggests even slightly that he is dumb. A nickname needs to fit the person or it is nonsensical.
Says who? Are you the nickname police? 😂
Yes !!! Ha ha.
😎👍 I agree … It is a DUMB nickname. Get it?
While the nickname of “Dumbo” may not be fair or earned as his track record is as a proven winner from 3 franchises shows, l wrongly used it in parentheses so that it was known who l was referring to. As my explanation is rather weak and l will admit my choice of name was improper l will move on.
According to the article linked above:
The Angels, who have clinched their fifth straight losing season under Billy Eppler, wasting another year of Mike Trout’s prime, still appear the most likely team to dump their GM. They can simply allow Eppler’s contract to expire, then hire a replacement, with Dave Dombrowski continuing to be the most rumored possibility.
Well, if it is Dumbo that’s hired – there’s not a farm system for him to deplete.
I can see you pointing toy our temple. Nice maymay
You can say he depletes the Farm but he also wins Championships.
Isn’t the idea to win the World Series?
Don’t know about you but I’d gladly deplete the Farm for 5-6 years if it meant winning a World Series for Trout.
Plus… Our “farm” is already enduring a drought worse than the Dustbowl that dispersed Oklahomans all around the country.
Hard to deplete a farm full of tumbleweeds.
True. So let’s go get him.
Why does it make sense to go get a guy whose main demonstrable GM skill (trading away prospects for major league help) would be rendered useless by a lack of prospects?
Rings
I heard that Dumbo can turn tumbleweeds into rings
(insert Joseph Gordon-Levitt armwaving GIF below)
Well, it would be useless if you assume that his WS series winning teams only won because he traded those prospects. I don’t make that assumption, though trading Moncada for Chris Sale WAS a smart trade. Don’t you agree?
Boston and Detroit both had above-average farms when he took over. That’s not the case here, and even if he did trade away the pieces in the farm system, it’s unlikely to make much headway with the Angels roster as presently constructed.
The other thing you could argue about, or the question you could ask would be “is he a good baseball man who understands winning roster construction?”
I think the answer would be “yes” for Dombrowski. So, even if he doesn’t have the young players to trade he could in theory still put together a winning roster. I feel that he could. Of course it might involve Arte opening the pocketbook again.
But I have no reason to think DD could not be successful here. All that said, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I think he’s the best guy for the job or the only guy for it.
.
I thought DD was DowningDude. Lost a few shades there … MAN I DONT WANT THAT JOB!
I’m imagining Dombrowski taking over and no one wants any of our prospects 😂
I’m imagining him taking over and Arte not giving him the budget he needs.
I don’t know as much about this stuff as the rest of you do.
With that said, isn’t that the real crux of the problem, Arte’s unwillingness to open the checkbook enough to get what is needed? Regardless of who the GM is, if Arte does not commit to increasing payroll, possibly going over the luxury tax threshold, then the discussion is moot, right?
Sadly true.
We’ve done depleted farm+losing for a long time.
I’d be willing to try depleted farm+winning.
Though i’m not sure it’s possible to do.