Can you guess the identities of the players in the above un-captioned images? These are players who are actually in the Angels system.
Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for a Silver Slugger award.
Here is Rhett Bollinger’s post-mortem on the 2021 Angels roster.
Jeremiah Jackson is hitting his stride now in the Arizona Fall League.
The players are not the only ones learning their craft at the Arizona Fall League, by the way. The first annual Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program just wrapped up. Over half of the graduates were women.
Ken Griffey Jr. is now part of the Seattle Mariners ownership group.
The Cubs hired Ehsan Bokhari as Assistant General Manager.
The Phillies just hired Bobby Dickerson, formerly of the Padres, as their infield coach.
Meanwhile, the Padres are about to hire Ruben Niebla as their new pitching coach. They interviewed Luis Rojas for their newly opened field manager position.
Gerrit Cole has no sense of humor concerning the ban on the sticky stuff.
What do you think? Are the Angels in the top five most likely teams to land Max Scherzer?
At this point the Mets are not even sure whether they are seeking a President of Baseball Operations or a General Manager. The list keeps getting longer of all the people who won’t work for the Mets.
Job Postings Galore
Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, and MLB itself.
Player photos credit: Rex Fregosi
Do we get a WS thread?
Eric Kay and Tim Mead dismissed from Carli Skaggs’ lawsuit but the Angels remain a defendant.
Hard to square that one. The guy who literally was selling him pills is not a target of her lawsuit but the team is. I feel terrible saying this of a widow but hard not see that its just about what entity has finances to go after and not about actual justice.
This whole thing is a farce.
This would only make sense if they knew that both Kay & Mead would testify against the Angels. But I just don’t see that happening with Tim Mead. 40 years with one organization? No way.
If I recall the family’s case was filed in the state of Texas . I suspect they will amend their lawsuit as well unless Texas laws’ are more conducive (highly unlikely) to keep the 2 defendants in the case.
Is it possible Mead and Kay settled out?
I don’t feel terrible at all. I’m sorry her junky husband is dead. I’m sure she’s sad. I’m also sure she’s kind of being opportunistic. I am totally sure Tyler made some money before he died and she’s not going to starve. I have been sorry about a lot of dead junkies in my life. None of their families got to sue anyone for selling them the pills, much less the employer of the guy who sold them the pills.
If it worked like that Home Depot would be out of business next year.
Tyler sounds like he was a pilled up asshole who aggressively sought drugs. How this was more the Angels responsibility than Carli’s is a mystery to me unless there is some truly damning stuff about to emerge.
I really don’t want to land Max Scherzer. I just don’t see us as being in the position to eat another 30M a year (or continue to pitch a zombie) when age catches him and he still has two years on his contract.
And no. I don’t think he’ll sign for two years if you just give him a huge pile of money. Have there been a whole bunch of other players doing that? Why sign for two years and a pile of money when you can sign for three or four years, also for a pile of money? The Scherzer plan is perfect for a team that has a bunch of solid pitching under contract for little money for the next few years.
I agree with you. Stroman, possibly. Scherzer, no. Also all of these has-been scrubs would be a no, too. For the last few years we’ve signed guys that made us all go “oh yeah…that guy! I forgot about him still being active.”
Stroman is a tool. Serious malcontent. Gives up too many hots per 9-innings to anchor a staff. Rodon or Rodriguez would be better as they are already successful in the AL and younger.
You know Stroman was in the AL most of his career right? I mean, both you and Eric are correct, none of the FA pitchers are all that great an option, and Stroman is kind of a tool, but there’s gonna be some kind of an issue with anyone we sign.
Also, we are almost 100% certain to sign some type of has been scrub since that’s pretty much what the market is now days… risk and scrubs…. guys you just pay to fill innings. I kind of hope we go with the scrub we know, who seems happy and well adjusted to our team, Alex Cobb.
Yeah, Blue Jay whose antics wore thin with his management. His stuff is Ordorizzi like. Not electric enough for my big Halo pitching wish.
I could care less about ‘electric’ and would just settle for ‘effective’. Stroman has been that, is younger, and would cost less than Mad Max (and with the relative youth, we could absorb those extra years more easily).
And his ‘antics’ are just what others call ‘grit’ or ‘fire’. He wants to play for a winner – and I think we can provide that chance.
It’s been my experience that when sports folk talk about wanting players with grit and fire what they are really saying is that they want you to know that THEY have grit and fire.
I have no grit nor do I have fire. I’ll be happy with a more realistic pick up of Iglesias, Cobb and DeSclafani. I’d be fine with rolling the dice on Max if someone can explain to me how he’s any less of a huge risk, given his huge cost, than Gausman. But I sure as hell don’t want to pay an extra 10M a year to a guy because he has genetically defective eyes and he scowls enough to make my inner Sons of Anarchy fan tremulous.
Honestly, if the Dodgers don’t keep him, with their budget and brain trust, I’m not sure we should chase him, especially if it means having Joakim Soria for a closer. For what Max is gonna cost we can keep Iglesias and sign a guy like Stroman.
The FA pitching market just sucks. I am almost hoping for a work stoppage just so it can hold off all the steamy bitching from Angels fans that can’t manage to look at what the situation realistically provides and plan accordingly. We will most likely not sign any pitchers that anyone would call “impressive” unless it’s Raisel. I think effective is the goal and we’ll need some luck, which everyone hates hoping for.
enough PLZ!!! just get him and be done with it!! besides Farhan is way better and smarter than anybody Arte would hire anyway!!
I kinda get the feeling we’re gonna have to overpay for Max or you’re gonna be a sad boy all year again.
I don’t want to land anyone who will suck for us as soon as the ink dries. I want good players that will cause 2002 to never post a headshot again. That’s my only goal in fandom anymore.
A novel concept 😇
That is quite the lofty goal!
The only way to make that tool happy is to draft Corbin Burnes and Walker Bueller today.
Because the Angels need a mule, a guy with the “gimme-the-faucking-bawl” attitude and can get outs 9 times out of 10 starts. You will see how this type of pitcher will make the whole staff better. Ohtani, a trade acquisition, Sandoval and Sicario + MAX.
Stop messing with lesser arms and hoping they come through. Had enough of that this year. Take Alberts money and pay the man.
^ This ^
If next year is truly “playoffs or bust,” and I believe it is, then you need somebody who you can count on. Risk be damned. You’ve got to go for it if you want any chance of keeping Ohtani long term.
Scherzer should be really, really good at least one more year. My guess is that the 2nd year of the deal would be a good return too. The third year is where it gets dicey.
But if we make the playoffs in 2022 (on the back of Scherzer) and everybody’s morale improves (especially Ohtani and Trout) then it will be worth it, regardless of what happens in year three. This is really a time to think about NOW and not two years down the road…
So…. sentimentality says “do it” cause he’s intense? I especially love this idea because guys like yourself and Fungo are going to be exactly the type that comes at years three and four of that contract with “YARRR HARR DEE MARR SHERZAR GART US TO THE PLAR OVS IN YAR TWO AND WHAT ARTE DO? TOO CHEAP FARR GOOD PRADUCT ON THE FEELD! I DERMAND YAR WINNAR! WHAR IS DAR COMMITTMENT? MAX ARE HURDT AND ARTE NO REPLACE! ANGRY FACE! WE COULD BE DYNASTY!”
Don’t get me wrong. If we sign Max away from every other team that wants him it’s going to be to a longer contract than what better teams offered, and for a lot of money. I’m sure I’ll enjoy him when he’s good, but if he breaks down like Weaver did, well, that’s where our “ace money” is going to live for those bad years, so I’ll be willing to accept that, even if it means we get outbid for Ohtani, etc. We’ll just have to remember what ever success he brought us and fondle the memories of how gritty and intense Max was until he’s off the books.
But hey, worse things can happen, like all the pitchers that were meant to replace Weaver falling apart physically. Probably won’t, but this type of deal is exactly how another 2015-17 happens again.
It has nothing to do with sentimentality. Far from it. And it is not because he’s intense, even though he is. The reason is simple:
he’s the best pitcher available.
Max Scherzer would raise the level of our entire pitching staff more than anyone else next year.
That’s it. No extra imagined motivations about love of intensity and grit are needed here.
My response is beggars can’t be choosers. I’ll take any quality pitching the team can get.
Sometimes old isn’t a bad thing, especially when you already have a lot of talent and not just three other good players like us………………
Why wasn’t Joe Perry in on Ruben Niebla? Over qualified?
I’ve long thought women were overlooked assets in scouting and front offices. By the numbers, adding 51% of the talent pool always makes sense. But in a real life sense, women have a lifetime of training to see through guys bravado and bs.
I have no trouble with the curve.
But Jesus does. That’s why we have Jobu.
I think the guy on the left is Roberto Baldoquin. Kudos for the Angels trying to stick with him during his ongoing development phase.
No clue who the dude on the right is. I’m not sure it really matters since by the time the Angels change his stance and swing 3 times in the next 2 years he’ll be unrecognizable by then anyways.
Trent Devaux on the right?
Neither of these guys is particularly famous. I just liked Rex’s photos. These guys were in the ACL over the summer.
(Trent Devaux was #16)
If the uniform numbers and the roster information match up correctly, The guy on the left is Jose Bonilla and the guy on the right is Werner Blakely. That’s kind of a big if, because I see at least two different guys wearing #19 in the pictures Rex took that day. Both of these guys are listed as infielders and when they are pictured playing defense both of these guys are playing in the infield, so there’s that.
Yes Bonilla and Blakely – two of the good ones in Tempe this year
Here’s what TBW said about them and their top 30 ranks (and yes, i heard plenty of players/coaches that day calling Bonilla “Bobby”)
21. Werner Blakely, Shortstop
The second of two Detroit-based prep selections in back-to-back years, Blakely is a speed/power project who could stick at a premium defensive position. The Angels have worked with Blakely to find a more rhythmic swing and load – lowering his hands – to assist in better timing, while Blakely himself has worked towards finding a more consistent bat path to avoid his natural uphill swing from the left-side. Though it’s loose, there are moving parts in Blakely’s current swing that have caused length to the swing and timing problems. Since being drafted, Blakely has added some general strength to his already tall and athletic frame (first thing that stands out to scouts), which has aided in his power projection which is now above-average raw, including samplings of easy triple-digit exit velocities with wood bats. He has already shown a better approach than expected in Rookie Ball, and the early returns show some promise to potentially sustaining his high swing-and-miss rate. With above-average speed, Blakely is a smart baserunner who utilizes his speed both offensively and defensively. With quick feet, Blakely’s vertical range is strong suited for shortstop where he has easy and fluid actions, backed by soft hands, a strong arm and quick release. His glove will need some work, which is standard for young infielders. He looks natural at the position, and plays at an advanced defensive pace, but his size and minor inconsistencies may move him to third base where he could be a plus defender. The Angels have time with Blakely at only 19-years-old and will utilize that time by developing inconsistencies in Rookie Ball.
30. Jose Bonilla, Third Baseman
The Angels pivoted some of their international bonus pool around as to acquire Kevin Maitan and Livan Soto during the 2018/19 signing period. That led to a full year of patience and waiting for Jose Bonilla to keep his verbal commitment and sign for $600,000 – about third-round money on the domestic front. He is an offense-first infielder who utilizes a line-drive swing and approach that lends itself to keeping the ball through the middle of the field, a bit balanced and advanced for a young hitter. Likely near his physical peak, Bonilla is broad in the beam and heavy footed (he may be a 2/3 runner for me), making it clear he will not be a shortstop and may be challenged at third base despite a plus arm. The power is present at raw, and he has quickened his separation which should show some fringe or better power in time. He struggled mightily against older pitching during full season play and is currently trying to get back into his natural game at the Arizona complex. It’s a long road, but the Angels have time to tap into his offensive potential, likely as a corner infield bat.
my favorite part of Bollinger’s article, on Cishek
“He’s set to be a free agent and he’s not considered likely to re-sign with the Angels.”
Bollinger’s said Seashells had a solid season, well it went as liquid as saltwater when entering with runners on base. 😲 😭 😪
I clipped that bit out of the quote. Basically, I just ignored it.
So who is he going to sign with next year? The Milkmen?
George Sisler has started his own team?
id rather watch the team in the above upcaptioned photos than anything in the AFL this fall (or whatever the AFL is called now)
The mess in New York keeps on festering. Nobody with a decent rep wants to work there. The Mets organization sounds like a candidate for 3-second thermonuclear urban renewal. I wonder if Alderson is the sticking point for making this the most unpopular job in MLB (along with head plumber for Oakland Coliseum).
The Angels probably have the same reputation. Arte is a meddler, and no one with any sense wants to work for someone like that.
The head plumber at the Oakland Coliseum? Isn’t that Sisyphus?
Charybdis?
😂
No, it’s
That looks like Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh.
He can pitch, allegedly. He can also hit the bull mascot on command.
Is he driving that Porsche with the Blaupunkt?
When we DFA Jack Stefanski, he will get scooped up (pooper scooped?) by the A’s – then proceed to destroy us several times per year. As a side gig, since he’s a plumber, he will fix the sewage issue at Oakland Coliseum.