LA Angels Wednesday News Crash: Top 5 Ward

Good morning Angels fans, still hanging in there? Yeah that rain was wet so, let’s have some links!

Angels News

So, MLB Network has been doing Top 10 Right Now for each position and apparently, they think Taylor Ward is a LF? Oh and also he is the 4th best for 2023.

A top 5 OF not named Trout?!

Yeah I am surprised too, but given the list, corner OF seems really weak right now. And in case you missed it, yes, Trout is the top CF in baseball still. Oh and Hunter Renfroe is a Top 10 RF. All 3 OF spots are in the Top 10. Pretty neat.

Stadium News! For Salt Lake Bees, as the Bees will get a new stadium in 2025.

Around Baseball

The WBC will be here soon enough, with 4 pools of teams. They will all take place in March, with Pool A being in Taiwan, B in Tokyo, C in Phoenix, and D in Miami.

Toronto is changing Rogers Center dimensions. They join Detroit and Mets in changing OF dimensions for 2023 in a wave of new ballpark changes. I really wish the Angels will redo the wall in RF.

Poor Lewin Diaz keeps moving between teams. Thought there was a new rule in the CBA about this sort of thing?

We have over 40% of the HOF ballots known now and it will be close to see if anyone makes it this year. K-Rod is in risk of not even getting the 5% needed to stay for next year.

Portland is again rumored to maybe possibly getting a team perhaps in the future. The plans do look nice.

Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!

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gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

27 days till pitchers and catchers report?

Less than a month until we see the first explosive sparks that lead to a conflagration of Angels victories where Anthony Rendon wins the MVP award, David Fletcher is an above average shortstop, Urshela and Drury compete for the “Most Zobrist” award, Jared Walsh has 6 WAR, so does Rengifo at 2B, our three starting OF average 30 HR, Estevez has 70 saves and Reid Detmers wins the Cy Young.

And yet sad sacks will complain about something…. “The kids didn’t get enough chances to play cause Arte hates cheap talent cause he is cheap!”

Oh yeah, and the sale of the team doesn’t get done till the season’s in the bag.

And we are still full of sour piss because the Asstros sign Bauer and win 115 games.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

Anthony Rendon wins the MVP award, David Fletcher is an above average shortstop, Urshela and Drury compete for the “Most Zobrist” award, Jared Walsh has 6 WAR, so does Rengifo at 2B, our three starting OF average 30 HR, Estevez has 70 saves and Reid Detmers wins the Cy Young.

that’s the pessimistic’s view point – we will do better than that, assuredly

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

And we still don’t make the playoffs?

Fleckstein
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Yeah, averaging only 30 hr in the outfield?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  RexFregosi

Well yeah, duh. I’m not going to get all optimistic cause then I might be fooled again.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

I want some of what you’re drinking.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

When you sense pessimism, you become optimistic.

When you sense optimism, you become pessimistic.

You are a contrarian and I think you enjoy stirring things up.

It’s a form of sport.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Does that read like a serious comment to you?

You know what my actual thoughts on the team likely are…. I have no idea how well they are gonna do, too many variables.

accept Rendon…. obvious MVP.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

How can Rendon be MVP when it clearly will be Rengifo

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Co-MVP. Obviously. When two players are as INCREDIBLE as they will surely be this season then voters will be forced to not even vote and just give em both trophies.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
1 year ago

Mike Trout gets another one of those transparent bats from the All Star Game.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Tay Tay is our LF isn’t he? I thought that became the thing when we got Renfroe. And yeah, since so many teams tend to hide a bad glove that can mash in LF Tay Tay is indeed one of the better LF probably.

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago

I thought Tay Tay was Featherston (sorry, ryanfea).

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago

I think the broadcast thing is just Arte being Cheap Arte. He’s pinched pennies in every area but free agency for as long as he’s owned the team.

Worst minor league conditions, lowest pay for minor league coaches, skimpy medical staff, etc.

He’s short sighted. He’s cheap. And he’s so far away from his roots as a normal guy that he can’t even begin to understand how badly he’s screwing other people over.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yeah there wasn’t much in that article we didn’t already know but man, the details really hammer how much these guys just didn’t get it. I can see if Minnesota decides against a Spanish broadcast that doesn’t turn a profit…but a team that plays in Anaheim/Santa Ana and claims Los Angeles?

Clearly all the Angels in the Community stuff is just hollow photo ops because this was the type of thing that generates loyalty with the local community. Much like the quality of the minor league facilities, spending where people won’t really see it DOES make a difference. The Dodgers do it, we do not and it really shows.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Twebur

This is unpossible.

I would actually like one of these big paid brains to do a “deep dive” on how valuable evaluator’s estimates of farm systems really are. I bring it up regularly, but I’d like to see how often enviable systems actually produce results for their MLB team and how much better they are than a bottom 10 farm. Don’t get me wrong, I know there is value, and I want that. But how much does it ACTUALLY matter to a team?

It’s just, as I get older, it seems like most of the blabberghast farms I hear about are just a loud fart. The Braves, Rays and Dodgers have worked out well. The Padres traded their system away and that’s working. But let me count the teams…. Mariners (several times), Rangers, Phillies, Marlins, White Sox, the Yankees, Pirates, Reds, Giants, Red Sox, Twins, Tigers…. those are just what teams I can recall off the top of my head having “HUGE” farms that didn’t really go anywhere. The Indians and Cardinals tend to be middle of the road and yet they are long term winners in this.

As we get a new owner it would be nice to get some sense of just how important it is to have five top 100 prospects etc. I love the farm stuff, so I hope we build it up, but I’d also like some perspective. It wouldn’t be that hard to calculate the WAR that your farm hands create for the big club + the WAR created by players you traded prospects for minus the WAR those traded prospects created right? Just how bad ass was the 2014 White Sox system in reality?

Also, Jeebus Crux. I keep watching people who are paid to talk about baseball teams online right now. These are the guys who “know stuff” and focus on their teams, blah blah blah. They are “outside” the MSM and can give us the strait dope, speaking truth and sticking it to the Man.

But hey, experts I will not name…. THERE IS NO FKING AMATUER DRAFT. Sure, you may screw up and say it’s a draft one time, but to blather away an entire video talking about a teams International Draft and their picks within said draft? That’s Clown Tootie. But hey, gotta worry about how these guys view the YouTube videos of prospects they barely know the names of.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

When the Royals had a highly rated farm system, they did make 2 WS. Asstros farm was highly and produced and it continues. Dodgers, Brave, Jays, Rays, Red Sox, Padres sort of, so yes Virgina there is a Santa Claus.

When in the late nineties the Yankees and Braves were led by home grown.

Having a highly rated farm and producing results is really how the minor leagues are coached and teaching skills of the coaches. The draft is important sure, but no team racks up a lot of talent without scouting and connections. But truth is this team never has had all the pieces put in place. Trouty wasn’t even the first choice when drafted, so there is some luck involved.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Actually, the Royals are a good example. Which iteration of the highly touted farm are we talking about? The one that was around for years while the team languished or the one that finally won them a WS?

But more pertinent to my question, how much actual value did the team get from that farm? The 1997 Marlins won a WS. Hardly anyone thinks that their method generated a bunch of value or is the way prioritize a team’s efforts.

That’s what I want to figure out some day. Does a team’s vaunted farm, via actual matriculation or trade, generate a lot of WAR over a long period? More than just signing FAs? I’m almost certain it does, but how much more? And most important, over a period of years, how much more WAR does a top 5 farm generate than a meh farm?

I already know teams like the Braves, Royals and Astros exist. I want more than my Lylin eyes on this though.

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago

The farm going into the early 2000s did a lot for the Halos. The fact that we didn’t win a WS after 2002 was more the fact that the playoffs are a crapshoot.

Cowboy26
Legend
Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Too cheap to pay for The Athletic, can’t read this…..but from experience with Arte, this isn’t a good thing.

frosse
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Hint: click on the article, hit Ctrl&A, then open a word or other document and type Ctrl&C. You can read the article Arte and Crapino are POS’s

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

They appear to be very short sighted in this as with many other things. The population mix is going to continue to trend this way and it’s really sad that they don’t seem to care.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

read it and that is ugly but it seems Sam should have started with the KWKW situation first – there’s a lot more to that

but yeah, Tio Tomas indeed and frankly unbelievable – to me this is worse as anything else and worsier than the MILB stuff

are they really that stupid?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  RexFregosi

Yes. That stupid apparently.

Not to touch off any boomer sadness around here…. plus this is based on absolutely NOTHING but my Lylin eyes….. but

I work with and around a lot of rich baby boomers of various ages.

One thing they all have in common is they can’t let go of anything. A few of them actually handle their business fairly well, but in most cases things erode pretty fast under their feet and in a lot of cases their businesses and finances are trash because of it.

It always starts with details. Little advancements they would have sought out when they were 55 are a pain in the ass that they don’t want to try and grasp at 65 and a threat at 75. And they sure as fk aren’t gonna just let someone else in the company (or household) run wild with it. Often times they are even a little hostile or dismissive of these things they don’t want to deal with. They also, almost to a man/woman, waste a lot of time, money and meetings on shit that doesn’t matter but they seem to be fixated on. And, of all these folks, I have only seen ONE of them just suck it up, really retire, and GTF out of the way.

I kinda wonder if Arte is in this boat. He had a lot of energy AND control when he first got the team. He could manage details and his image etc etc etc. But stuff has slid, especially the last 5 years, starting with the edges. I still think he’s a C grade owner and we could have done a lot worse, but I have to wonder of he’s just too old to herd all the cats he has to the last few years but he’s still trying.

The MiLB thing was so simple. Buy three apartment buildings. Even if all you do is give players free rent they can eat off their MiLB salary.

It doesn’t matter what his personal politics are, hell, most of the Mexican Americans I know are pretty conservative. Los Doyers literally had Latinos killed so they could get the land they wanted for Chavez Ravine. All they had to do was bring up a toady Mexican hick pitcher that had an incredible rookie year and all was forgiven, dey go for duh Doyers. The team was still owned by McCourt and the THE FRIGGIN GUGGENHEIMS. Arte could have totally worked that. A LATINO OWNER in LA people. A guy who literally picked fruit. But he just ignored that…. then he sort of started giving it the stink eye, like a lot of things, because the Spanish market is just another detail he can’t juggle himself.

Combine being the first Latino owner AND have a solid MiLB program with your own housing….. do you think that might have maybe helped attract top international talent? That whole steak just slid off Arte’s plate.

I still think Arte’s the best owner we’ve had. I don’t suffer revenge nostalgia for “the singing cowboy” the way some do around here and, though they won a title, the general direction that Disney was headed would have sucked. The Downtown Disney Angels of Dickwing Periwinkle was not gonna be fun by say 2004. If the Angels had become the Mighty Movie Ducks of Baseball I would not still be a fan.

But Arte’s been past it for a while, you can tell by the opportunities he doesn’t take advantage of. I even like that he seems to have mostly gotten out of they way since hiring PTP…. and yet so many other areas are just rot. This is actually a good reason to hope that the Angels are bought by a nameless faceless group and NOT some single loudmouthed unicorn. Age/Control will be less of a long term factor.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 year ago

I have also worked with “old money” and the common factor is that they tend to be more risk adverse than they are opportunity aware. Seems to be the case here. It’s sad that he has been able to achieve billionaire status just watching his MLB franchise valuation grow with so much mismanagement,

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  PedroCerrano

What’s sad in true “old money” pretty much understands that Grandpa made it and it’s their job to hire smart guys to grow it. It seems like older “self made” guys tend to blow it more often.

Actually, look at the Guggenheims with Los Doyers as an example of old money working right. They haven’t had to let a few dozen Welsh miners die in a mine collapse due to cheap materials in order to get a little richer in a century. They just buy cultural institutions and rental properties with their long since cleaned money and reputation and hire dependable help.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

I’m confused. So Arte is new money that acts like old money?

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Perhaps, the risk adverse tag seems to fit.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Excellent points. Agree with most of it – particularly what happens when older folks hold on too long and don’t trust. I definitely see that in Arte’s handling of the thean over the last 6-10 years.

The only nit I’d pick Is that I’m not sure I’ve seen Arte get out of PTP’s way.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Have a feeling the Big A will remain as is for a long, long, time.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

With or without the Angels?

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

If I were “insert new owner”….redo the Big A. With them staying and playing “underwhelming” baseball in it for another 25 years or more.

Redo completely the entire outfield, foul pole to foul pole. Plus redo to about sections 106 and 130. The rest, refurbish, upgrade, add, improve, but keep the basic features……And, get the original Big A out of the parking lot and inside the stadium, as the main attraction.

It would be nice to have it done in time to see Trouts son roaming the same CF that his fat father roamed….with the same 78-84 record.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

I have the most cursory knowledge of the situation, but think you are right.

By the time the DOJ investigations and subsequent house cleaning are done at the City a couple of years will go by. Then the entire bid process will take place and there are a couple more years.

Even if the new owners of the Angels win the bid, the planning stages will take some time then the remodel or rebuild.

5 years is the earliest I could see the stadium being improved.

Steelgolf will be a much better resource.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Dont count out Long Beach. especially if the new owners have the financial wherewithal and commitment for their own new facility.

The City is motivated to redevelop the Arena property. Of course parking would be a megabitch.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Don’t count out Nashville. A “motivated” city in California is a dead turtle on the side of the road compared to cities in fly over country when it comes to building stuff.

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I love LB but I’m in the IE and that would add at least 30 minutes of driving. It would be a great place, but wouldn’t something more centrally located bring in more fans? I used to think City of Industry with all of those freeways would be a good spot, but my guess is that in the middle the population is not the big concern.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Mikeal1st

How far are you from Las Vegas, Nashville, Portland or San Antonio? Is Montreal doable?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Austin, San Antonio, East Bay if the A’s move to Portland or Vegas.

The Angels will stay in SoCal in fear some other team move in and develop the area into a Mega Stadium with hotels , retail, apartments and condos. Trams running from the RR station to park. When completed it will be done smart and be built between the 60-57-interstate 10 somewhat close to Ontario International Airport and R/R travel. But if the new owners are until like the Dodgers, then we won’t grow the fan base.

I would not follow the team if it moved, but move they may, but it will be in the LA/SoCal area .

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Guess its a good thing we are planning a trip to see the Bees this year in SLC. Guess we will need to plan a trip again in 2025 to see the new stadium.

Any suggestions on where to stay when seeing the Bees in SLC?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Hall of Fame voting is all over the place. Why would you vote for Manny Ramirez but not ARod? I wouldn’t vote for any suspect roid user or anyone that was illegally sign stealing. It’s time to start removing voters that are weakening the appeal of the Hall. Jeff Kent and Billy Wagner belong in the HoF, but as good as Scott Rolen was, yes, he racked up WAR, but War misses out on how important it is to show up and play every season. Games played results in complying numbers in a season that make a player great, Rolen had only a handful of seasons that he could be counted on.

The Hall of Fame is quickly becoming the Hall of Very Good. The Hall of fame is becoming the Home of Cheaters.

That noise you hear is me sliding my soap box away.

The Hall of Fame is for the very best, not the very good.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Then they should let Bobby Grich in.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Si Si Si

FungoAle
Super Member
1 year ago

Agree, I don’t think Rolen is HOF worthy and it should be ok to go years apart before the next guy gets elected

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

He’s the 9th best 3B… 8 WAR behind #8 Brooks Robinson. You should probably get used to the idea that he’ll be in the HOF.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago

The steroid thing is maddening.

David Ortiz is in despite failing a test. And I’d bet heavily on Ivan Rodriguez and Mike Piazza using, there’s plenty of debate around Bagwell.

Meanwhile, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez are out.

I’d get keeping them all out. I’d get putting them all in. But this is just plain stupid.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Pappy had better PR but his career revival without significant injuries attributed is a huge flag for me. Smells like PED/HGH and likely was since he already had tested positive before.

2GA2Join
Super Member
1 year ago

I no longer care about the HOF. If I’m in the area again (I was there when I was about 12), I don’t know if I’d spend the time to visit. In my mind, I lost respect for the HOF and what it was supposed to be, and no longer recognize it as something noteworthy.

Which should be very sad and alarming to MLB as an organization, because there may be a lot more people like me. But I doubt they care.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  2GA2Join

You dont think its just because you’re 2GA2Visit?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2GA2Join

You show em sparky! Have no fun!

Sure, Big Poopi is lame. So are a whole bunch of Yankees players stretching back to the 40s that are in the HOF as well as some Cubs and other guys.

It’s still a great place. I wana see Honus Wagner’s wooden dentures and the silver dollar that Bob Gibson threw across the Mississsippi, etc. Nothing good stays 100% good if it involves people. Might as well enjoy what there is to truly enjoy rather than sit around patting yourself on the back for being huffy. I’m not gonna let Big Poopi stop me from getting a look at the cleats Willie Mays wore when he outran a Cheetah.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Yep I’m surprised the cleats weren’t banned since I heard the cheetah was juicing

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Good morning, Ya’ll, hope you enjoy Winter weather SoCal style. This morning we woke up to 8 degrees. Great snowboarding and skiing up the mountains right now, so enjoy. Have a fun filled day knowing you are halfway through the week. 🙂 

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago

I do not understand 8 degrees.

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mikeal1st

isn’t it that game with Kevin Bacon?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

I agree with you John Henry that outfield in all 3 positions is very weak.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
1 year ago

I reckon it’s the 4th outfielder that everyone is rending their garments over. Things could be worse.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

We may have the best outfield on paper, right? Now if all 3 can play 145-150 games we will do well enough to be a winning team this year.

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago

With an outfield that good I guess we have no choice but to win the whole fcking thing.

Opening Day can’t get here fast enough.

FungoAle
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

50-1. I’d be willing to roll with a weaker SS solution but to acquire a solid No.2 starter and one more proven bullpen piece, might tempt me to throw some coin down.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  FungoAle

If I were offered something like 100-1 that the Angels make the playoffs or 250-1 that the Angels win the WS, I’d probably lay down $100.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I would sure hope so.

FungoAle
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Went back down to check the board and the Halos are actually 40-1. If I had any inkling Perry was after a Marlin starter, might have pulled the trigger.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

THIS

AMP – Always MOAR PIDGEON!

The only way to rock.