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LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: A Contender!

March 7, 2023

Now we will have to make do without Mike Trout or Shohei Ohtani for a little while. Pool C, which includes the United States, reported for the World Baseball Classic on Monday.

Angels News

The Angels top 30 prospects include a lot of pitchers. Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, and Edgar Quero all made into this Fangraphs list of top 100 prospects. The bad news today is that the Angels got multiple mentions in this list of the weakest positions on American League contenders. The good news is that at least the Angels were considered contenders or they wouldn’t even be on the list. It’s something I suppose. The Angels shortstop situation was considered so bad that the article didn’t even spend much effort showing how bad it is. Save us, Livan Soto!

Injuries

Tommy Kahnle has right biceps tendonitis, but is expected to be able to pitch when the regular season begins. Vlad Guerrero Jr. has a knee issue that caused him to pull out of the World Baseball Classic. Justin Turner got hit in the face by a pitch and left the game bleeding. Andrew McCutchen also left a game after being hit by a pitch. He was hit in the hand. Leody Taveras has an oblique strain and the Rangers shut him down for the time being. Bryce Harper is reporting to spring training. It remains to be seen how long it will be before he is back to 100 percent.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

43 Comments

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Super Member

Twebur

13 days ago

“TOILETS! 1,160 toilets and urinals!

Even the Clippers will have a new home….Angels?

https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1633229045642203137?s=20

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Cowboy26

13 days ago

Reply to Twebur

He seems to have good bowel control.

Trusted Member

Simba

13 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

He looks constipated to me.

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red floyd

13 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Super Member

FungoAle

13 days ago

Reply to Twebur

That is the Disney motto, don’t want their guest to wait in line to park, pay and pee.

Editor

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Jeff Joiner

13 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

Just to ride rides and eat.

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red floyd

13 days ago

Super Member

GrandpaBaseball

13 days ago

Funny Stuff Department; I watched parts of a game a few days ago and thought “Boy has Patrick O’Neill improved.” It was Trent Rush, so I guess Trent Rush is a lot better than Patrick to me. 😀

So far this seems to be a fun Spring Training not knowing who will step up, and all with an attitude of winning games. The Yuts are impressive coming through. Brandon Wood feels for Moniak and Adell.

I still believe in PTP and think a lot of growing pains of learning on the job have happened and that he has assembled a very good team, but like all of the other 29 teams he will be judged on the results. The health factor seems to always bite this team hard, but maybe, just maybe we dodge the bullet this season. After all Trout and Rendon and Walsh and Fletcher are seemingly all healthy so far 😃

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Cowboy26

13 days ago

Well it looks like Taylor Ward is in mid season form.

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Jeff Joiner

14 days ago

Something that has gotten me a little excited lately:

For years the Angels have featured the doomed scenario of Billy Eppler drafting super raw athletes and Arte Moreno skimping on the development budget.

Perry Minasian has gotten Arte to increase the development budget considerably and added coaches and staffers from places like Driveline up and down the organization.

Perhaps we finally do see one of the football players turned high draft picks pan out.

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Fansince1971

14 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

This is precisely why I’d like to see Adell in AAA or even AA this season. He really has not had the benefit of the improved organizational coaching and it shows. Let him have a full season of it and let’s see what happens.

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Cowboy26

14 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I also have hope that maybe some of these young super athletes that Billy drafted finally put it all together and turn into really good baseball players ( Paris, JJ, Jordyn Adams, Calabrese or Blakely to name a few) Although I have to concede that Jo looks permanently Lost.

Maybe they just needed some patience and better instruction to finally get over the hump?

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Jeff Joiner

13 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

At this point I’m leaning towards it being one of the younger guys. The earlier good coaching starts, the better.

Super Member

matthiasstephan

14 days ago

With 6 shortstops in our top 30 prospects, I can see why we aren’t keen to sign someone long term (see Machado’s 11 year extension).

I hope someone steps up this year (I wouldn’t mind it being Soto), and we find a long term SS/3B as well as a pair of OF out of the bunch there.

Trusted Member

Angelz4ever

14 days ago

Reply to matthiasstephan

Oh no, not in the Angels MiLB system!!

Member

grichmanpoorman

14 days ago

Reply to matthiasstephan

Even Soto’s write-up on that list is couched in skepticism… that he’s destined for a “utility” role. But, you know, why? He’s got a 60 glove. He gets on base. Occasional power. If he could do in the majors what de did in AA last year (.280/.370, 15+ SBs) that’s like a 4 WAR shortstop, isn’t it? I’d take that.

Super Member

FungoAle

13 days ago

Reply to matthiasstephan

I am really hoping Neto steps up and ends the post-Simba SS misery. Nevin is already his big fan. Give him the starting job and let him grow with OJT.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

13 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

I really like Neto too, but he needs more time in the MiLB. He is great, but he’s still looking a little bit “on his back foot” defensively, which makes sense. The guys running to 1B were a bit slower when he was at Campbell last year. He can also develop power more, he can actually get a little bigger if Arte doesn’t lock him in a kennel and starve him, as we all know he’s always doing. Let him see 100 games at SS in SLC. Get his timing down, get a little stronger so that leg kick can get smaller and smaller. I have confidence he’ll be good.

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Jeff Joiner

14 days ago

Walsh is a big X factor this year. If he’s healthy and back to mashing, that really deepens the lineup and frees up Nevin to play matchups across the infield.

If not, one of Drury or Urshela will be camped on first base a lot. Or perhaps Mr. Trey Cabbage gets some looks if Walsh hits the IL.

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Cowboy26

14 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Dont overlook Jake Lamb. Nevin’s buddy from his D Back AAA manager days could turn out to be a valuable depth piece if Walshie can’t get back to his 2021 form.

Trusted Member

Angelz4ever

14 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Lamb looks really strong and comfortable already early in ST.

Super Member

GrandpaBaseball

14 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Walsh will be very good in 2023, but his days of betting against lefty’s will be reduced possibly.

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Jeff Joiner

14 days ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

Which is fine and takes 1B off the worry list.

Drury torched lefties to the tune of .299/.329/.626 last year. Those numbers are bound to come down but his lifetime OPS against them is .770.

Urshela is a lifetime .764 against southpaws. Higher on base, lower slugging.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

14 days ago

I think the nice part of the article was that the Angels were 2nd in most WAR gained in the off season even though they didn’t sign a big name. I think the general consensus has been that Perry did most of what he really needed to do.

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Cowboy26

14 days ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

It’s easy to gain the most WAR if your previous roster sucked giant balls.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

14 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Yay, the Angels just suck… no balls!

Super Member

steelgolf

14 days ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

Soooo….. only strikes, no balls, and not Lucky Strikes.

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Jeff Joiner

14 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

That makes it easier, but I think Perry also did a good job.

Using BB-Ref, Tyler Wade -0.6 and Jack Mayfield -0.4 tallied about the 400 PA’s we expect from Gio Urshela who put up 3.1 WAR last year. That’s a solid 4 WAR turnaround for minimal prospect cost.

Super Member

MarineLayer

14 days ago

My two biggest concerns are not addressing SS and the apparent overpay for Estevez. I sure hope I’m wrong about Estevez and Fletch becomes David Eckstein 2.0.

Super Member

FungoAle

14 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Isn’t Fletch Eckstein 2.0, now?

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Cowboy26

14 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

If Carlos Estevez really doesn’t have the Tiger Blood then in the worst case, he will become TePoup 3.0. another overpaid mediocre middle reliever that can provide filler over the next 2 years.

Would that mean Jimmy Herget will close again this year for us or do we really think Matt Moore can handle that role until the Trash Pandas are ready?

Super Member

JackFrost

14 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

I say give Joyce or BTO a look. If they are better than what we have no reason to throw Herget out there in those crucial early season games.

Trusted Member

Biggiswrth

14 days ago

Reply to JackFrost

Have we seen C Rod yet? I still think he’s a closer in waiting along with Joyce

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Jeff Joiner

14 days ago

Reply to JackFrost

We could see a scenario where Joyce is the guy brought in when a strikeout or two are needed with Esteves coming in to start a clean 9th inning.

I love Herget as a guy who could get you a double play, too.

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grichmanpoorman

14 days ago

That Top 30 list is a fun read… but Calabrese is too low at No. 26. My dude raked with a .900+ OPS over the last two months last season as a 19-year-old in the California League. Fast as shit. He’ll be a Top 10 before the season is over.

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grichmanpoorman

14 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Strange also that the list didn’t include Luke Murphy, who generally is regarded as the top closer prospect in that 2021 all-pitcher draft, right?

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Cowboy26

14 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

College bullpen pitchers get no love.

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Jeff Joiner

14 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

As Cowboy says, relievers get no love. Which I find odd considering how much baseball has turned into a bullpen game and the salaries top bullpen guys are getting.

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Cowboy26

14 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Keith Law loves Calabrese and thinks hes the real deal. Law and others are not as high on Blakely which I don’t understand considering his youth versus the competition in a breakout season in the Cal league last year.

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Fansince1971

14 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

The farm system is really where my interest is. My favorite is watching young players develop, come up to the big club and contribute. The lack of a viable farm system and the Organizations failure to make the farm a priority (arguably worse than that due to the poor treatment of minor leaguers and poor coaching) has been a source of significant frustration for me. I am starting to like what I see coming up through the ranks and that is a source of optimism for me.