So far, the Angels don’t seem to have a top ten anything. Maybe Mike Trout can get into the list when the center fielders are listed.
In case you live under a rock, pitchers and catchers report on February 14 this year. Full squad workouts begin February 19. Photo day is February 21 at 6:30 A.M.
Amazon will invest some money in Diamond Sports which could help solve some of the problems with Regional Sports Networks. The lawyer for MLB expressed a “wait and see” attitude at the hearing.
It looks like the Blue Jays landed Cuban born pitcher Yariel Rodriguez, who has been a story kind of bubbling under the surface this off season. The Yankees designated Oscar Gonzalez for assignment. Does anybody want an outfielder with questionable defense who swings and misses a lot? Oh wait! Never mind.
Minor League Deals
Hey! A guy I’ve heard of: Ty Buttrey got what is probably a minor league deal with the Mariners. The Mariners also signed right-hander Austin Voth, but in his case it appears to be a major league deal. The Yankees signed Josh VanMeter to a minor league deal. The Royals signed Sandy Leon. The Reds signed Tyler Gilbert to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation. The Dodgers signed Jesse Hahn and Stephen Gonsalves (both pitchers) to minor league deals.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Hun Tuhr Doh Sure! F*** YEAH!
This is the type of move I am in favor of this winter. I want a little Shamwow insurance. I want to spend nothing and feel no obligation to play anybody. I want us all to see what an actual cheap off season looks like. I want to relieve everyone of the burden of having to complain about FA signings in Feb.
This is perfect!
We already have Alfonso Rivas & Evan White under contract. We dont need no more Huntering
Rumor is that we are bidding against Red Sox right now for Adam Duvall.
Since Stroman went to the Yanks for less money than we (or SF) offered I donβt know if βbiddingβ is exactly the word. Be that as it may, good to hear that Perry is on the job
I’ll take me some Adam Duvall. He has his uses if he’s not too expensive.
In Anaheim, He’ll reach base less than 30% of the time. We already have a lot of players who hit for some power but don’t get on base. We need some players who make fewer outs. He was better than average last year but was average or worse than average the 4 seasons before.
In Anaheim he can play meh baseball at several positions when our meh fans shit talk a player or prospect into yet another collapse of the soul next year for fairly cheap. This is attractive to me this year.
But Super Shazam Wow will get on base for all them slackers combined.
Hostility Abounds!
Man – what ever happened to WildWill?
Bummed I missed yesterday as my “one-man cliqueueueueueu” was under represented.
Iβm pretty sure there will be more opportunities
A few of my favorite internet warriors didn’t show up and start fighting yesterday. It seemed like the right day for it.ο»Ώ π ο»Ώ
Hats off to you Charles, you handled everything with class and hopefully didnβt have to delete anything. Itβs appreciated
ME! I are your favorite!
You are the subject of the entire post – Top Ten
ME! I is all ten!
Its about damn time Gitcho. You know hard it is for us remaining warriors to hold down the fort for you?
GNARRR! WAR HORSE!
You know how I feel about you, but what about 2002heaven?
At least we will always have Paris.
Dozier is a zero-risk signing. I think it was a good signing, just not THEE signing we are hoping for.
I actually think LeBlanc will be a better signing than Dozier since Leblanc has shown above average defense at second base ( granted is a SSS) and has not looked lost at the plate yet. But you are right these are zero risk signings and I cant wait to see the competition in camp including the influence that our new coaching staff will have on these players.
find broken toys
fix a couple
sell to a team for a top couple 10-20 rank prospects out of their system
repeat
Bring back Packy and Stratton
“The Angels are inviting top position player prospect Nelson Rada to MLB spring, his agent, Felix Leonardo Olivo told The Athletic.
Rada is 18 years old. But the outfielder from Venezuela has been great. He stole 55 bags last year and has a .410 OBP in his first two MiLB seasons.”
https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1748068861449236821?t=CnOqHs-lUXH-IfvOmGerXA&s=19
“I’ve had some frequent discussions about Nelson Rada and what the Angels should do for his development in 2024, Northwest League is a rough spot for hitting (in particular, Tri-City), but would sending a (probably non-ready) 18-year-old to Double-A be the proper development path?
and no, a Spring Invite for an 18-year-old prospect is not uncommon, but it would be for instruction over opportunity — Rada will be in the mid-minors in 2024, but where is the question I’m more focused on.”
https://twitter.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1748075993645158610?s=19
I’d rather have Dozier the dog from Gold Rush than Hunter
Almost to a π―, keep it up!!
I’d rather have Gozer the Gozerian from Ghostbusters than Hunter or Dozier.
Can he pitch?
“Gozer the Gozerian”, a shapeshifting god of destruction?
Huh. Seems like they would be bored here. Nothing left to destroy
Is Zuul available?
I was always partial to the gatekeeper back in the day.
Jose Rojas off the boards-SoCal guy going to MLB’s second most evil empire.
I think counting on Wash or his coaching staff to make a difference is wishful thinking at its best. Itβs a Hopium orgy. Those guys arenβt out in the field or at bat and Wash wasnβt in demand for over a decade. If they had hired Bochy, I might buy into it. But Wash?!
If the team really is set on not signing any impactful players, this off-season, then I think they are probably looking at 65β70 wins. As I mentioned, Iβm fine with that as long as the kids get real experience and are evaluated for the future.
Robert Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, etc etc. are all on record saying that Ron Washington played a key role in their development.
That’s not hopium dude, it’s literally documented from the players themselves.
You have a relentless kink to flip anything remotely positive into negativity.
Are we supposed to base our POVs on the information we have from MLB players that have worked with Wash or you?
I choose the former, sorry.
Many, if not most, posters on here have flamed every d@mn Halos manager all the way back to Gene Mauch. That alone shows that the Halos manager does matter. Who and how how a team runs things on the field is major. Lasorda had teams with talent, but not loads of over the top talent, (#1988) and he got rings for his org.
None of those cats were worth 15 WAR like Ron Washingtonβ¦.
All the Maddon worshippers should turned on him quickly on this site.
Maddon 1979-2004 >>>> Maddon 2020-2022
I still want Joe back
I definitely did last year in order to see the power of the Joehawk
I concur
I like Mike and Joe if Bud helping again.
Mickey? Saw him carrying his young wife’s purse and following her around with a scowl at the Block of Orange a few years ago
Iβm just enjoying the ongoing 15 WAR joke.
It is shaping up to go down in infamy, like the Granderson meme.
But then we might be out on Wilson
Itβs been memeβd into existence – at least in these parts.
π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
Marcus Semien wants. to extend his best Wash Wishes
Thanks for pointing out reality to ’71 P12. I would have done it but then he would have called me a troll again. ο»Ώ πΉ ο»Ώ
I’m fortunate to have started a new job (hopefully career!) last week, thus having limited time for the same nonsensical back and forth lol. Reading yesterday’s comments was comedy πππ.
The irony in calling you a troll is hilarious because you are one of the few posters who consistently provides stats to back up your arguments.
Why didnβt you comment yesterday? You can go back and have the last word if you so desire. Maybe let sleeping dogs lie instead of try to stir the pot? I think yesterdays comments were much need for CtPG. Thatβs just my opinion.
Did I just hear Jim Rome’s toilet flush?
You live in Shady Canyon, Irvine too??
Apparently nobody got the toilet flush reference.
Congrats on the new gig, SeΓ±or PiΓ±a Doce!
My definition of a troll is someone who lurks and just comments on comments (usually asserting they know better or implying that the commenter is an idiot) rather than trying to raise points of discussion and respecting all viewpoints whether laced with hopium, reality or pessimism.
Backing up oneβs 100 posts per day with obscure facts makes a troll into a knowledgeable troll – but a troll πΏ nonetheless.
I think a βtrollβ is a person that says things with the intention of provoking a reaction and when people take the bait and react emotionally or angrily, the Troll enters into Valhalla.
Some things can have different definitions.
All I know is you have to pay the troll toll to get into this boy’s soul.
Day Man, Fighter Of the Night Man !!!
Troll on Bro!! Youβre my favorite troll…even when you troll me!!
To troll me is to love me
Thanks ’78.
I guess its always good to be a favorite somethin’.
I’m sure that Washington played a positive role in the development of many, many players. Candidly, you don’t last as long as Washington has in baseball unless you are a successful teacher and mentor.
Atlanta is talent rich and deep at all levels of the franchise – players, coaching, executives, and management. The Angels sadly are not.
I do believe that leadership matters, and in that regards the Angels will be more disciplined and effective in 2024 because of Washington. I also believe they will play like a team for the first time in many, many seasons.
My expectation is that the 2024 season will establish the foundation for the team to be successful in the future. The “success” I’m speaking of is not winning a championship or division title – I don’t believe that will be possible until the farm system and player development is fixed. Success for the Angels is playing hard until the last out, stopping the mental mistakes, being a team that is never out of the fight, and being consistent and acting with urgency in every at bat / on every pitch.
There’s a lot to be done. It will be a journey. There are no easy fixes.
Ownership does play a role in what a manager can do⦠to take it away from the Angels, look at Jerry Jones/Cowboys the last 3 decades.
βHey boss, is it cool if I get the moon over my hammy today??β
Iβm neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I try to be realistic. I have no interest in getting all hopped up for no reason. This is a team that has won 73 games for two years in a row and is now worse than it was before. I donβt care who manages them. it really doesnβt matter to the extent that you think it does.
Bochy > Washington every day that ends in βyβ especially as skipper. Hopefully Wash plays both roles, as company man for Arte and manager leading the youth movement, to a T. All remains to be seen. I donβt think this is Debbie downer type stuff, we could’ve had quite the staff if it wasnβt for some penny pinching (eg Clint Hurdle). Iβll have to grow to like Washington, if for no other reason than I didnβt like him on the Rangers, but Iβve really enjoyed reading what you all have to say about him regarding defense etc. I hope he has a great impact here.
I agree 100%. Iβm rooting for Wash. I just want to keep expectations on this planet.
Iβll just root for the team. Not Washington.
As far as I can tell the. Diamond/Amazon deal does nothing for the Diamond Backs – they seem to be on their own
So. The Angels signed a Bull Dozer, Dozier, Dosier, Dosiest.
He has the perfect Angel perigee: drafted high, scuffles in minors, has a breakout season, signs a large contract, proceeds to forget how to play baseball, the franchise hangs on to him for a couple more season βhoping and prayingβ for a recovery that never happens, is finally released, and then signs a minor league contact with a new team and the βhoping and prayingβ cycle begins anew
Another possibility, he starts off well and looks good, and then he gets obliqued.
Out 2 months, season lost. Both are trAditionAl.
Bull dozers arenβt how we roll.
We just hire a few migrants and tell them they need to provide their own shovels.
ββ
Maybe they’ll make an “Updated” Caddy Shack 3. With all the possibly triggering material cut out, it will have a run time of just over 14 minutes, with 8 minutes of those being the starting and ending credits.
If this guy was signed in lieu of JT or even Kiki to back up ( er start) at 3B then good luck with that. He had one monster season in 2019 with OPS of .870. In his other 1700+ plate appearances hes amassed an OPS of only .680. According to The Fielding Bible hes in the bottom in negative defensive Runs Saved ( or top 5 depending upon if the glass is half empty?) for third basemen over the last 6 years.
Maybe his ex teammate and our new fielding instructor / coach Ryan Goins can turn him into a gold glover.
I’ve gotten to the point where I believe if we signed Chapman, Turner, and a starting pitcher, we wouldn’t be blocking any of the kids and would have potentially a very good offensive and defensive club with enough pitching while staying under budget. We could be a playoff team if the youngsters become what we hope.
Precisely. While the βyouth movementβ has already commenced, we donβt have enough viable kids to fill out the roster.
Signing a few proven veterans is roster construction necessity at this point.
Yep, I agree with this. I like the idea of signing a “good” player or two as long as they don’t block any of the young talent we are trying to let grow, and we don’t spend so much that it handcuffs any future seasons.
I think it is good to bolster the roster a little in this way, instead of just letting an under-staffed team flail the whole season and get discouraged… that sort of thing can mess up young talent, and even make arb-eligible-type guys that we’d like to keep want to escape from the Angels as soon as they can (so no team-friendly extensions, etc).
Not to mention the reality of injuries.
You lost me at the βvery goodβ comment. In your scenario the team would have the potential to be competitive.
I’m ok with the way you state it. I’m actually a little more optimistic or hopeful regarding the teams potential. But right now it is just potential. If everything goes right, we could be very good. On the other hand, we could also end up like the last 10 years. I’m going to try to remain optimistic until they prove differently. The only thing I am not optimistic about is any contribution from Rendon.
Just remember that anything can happen, but it usually doesn’t.
You’re absolutely correct and we will need a lot to happen. The reality is like 71 said earlier, we won 73 games each of the last 2 years and, at least on paper, we’re not as good as those teams right now.
OT: Roy, it’s a reference to my sig from the old site:
“Baseball is a crazy game. Anything can happen, but it usually doesn’t.”
And when it does, itβs usually for the other team.
But thats not what Jose Mota says.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlvqSAtPmi4
I donβt think even Jose knew what he was saying there.
But if we don’t the result will basically be the same but with fewer old men getting paid big money. I want to fill out the roster with dolls made of corn husks and watch Jo Adell finally get 500 ABs come what may.
Exactly! Much more fun to have few expectations and be happy with 73 wins rather than constantly disappointed.
AND we get to watch and root for the kids and see what type of a core the team really has (rather than all of us numbskulls professing to know how good or bad that core is).
“But I saw Jo Adell once. He didn’t make eye contact. It was pretty clear that he will never hit breaking balls, doesn’t care about baseball and is a real piece of shit. I hate my dad…. I mean Arte.”
Over the course of 500 ABβs, Adell will strike out 200 times so with that in mind, what other numbers does he need to hit in order to make the juice worth the strike out squeeze?
i would set the minimums at .250 / 35 HR / .525 slugging & replacement level defense.
The Anaheim version of Jorge Soler. There, you see? We just saved $50M.
Yeah. I’d take that as a side dish then go sign some guys in 2024-25
I think I forgot to link about Kendall Graveman’s shoulder surgery.
What do you know about picture day? Usually they donβt announce it and only professional media is allowed around.
It sounds like picture day might be the only day you can’t take pictures. Ironic.
I just know the date because it was in that link. I never actually tried to barge into such an event.
my days of βcrashing the pearly gatesβ in ST are over im too old for it.
but it was cool to see Hamilton and Ohtani introduction pressers.
it was funny one day when Eric Kay said βhow did you get over there?!? Get back on this sideβ
too old for that stuff now
picture day for )mostly) Bally is cool because itβs the first time youβll see the players in their stunning home whites.
Iβll get there early but anticipate to be barred.
great pics in 2018 but we had stars back then too.
And itβs at 6:30 am! Been a few years since I was last in Arizona, but as I recall, it can get mighty cold in the early morning of winter.
I grew up in Palm Springs and itβs basically the same weather except for one period -winter mornings are much colder here.
Yep, I showed up at a golf course there one winter morning, and it was 28 degrees.
All right guys. Time for the pictures. Take off your parkas.
Stand still! Stop shaking. What’s the matter with you guys?
Good news, no Shohei stand-in for the team photo this year.
Has anyone told Arte yet?
Wash is awesome. Super, super excited to see what he does with this squad.
#15WAR
https://twitter.com/MLBDevelops/status/1747749078555865547?t=te5jWWRpP8vw7pv0FDcLkA&s=19
This is great. I might have use this in a speech in the future.
With absolutely no expectations, no international Ohtani sideshow. They can just quietly go about their business.
Hopefully they take chances, play fast, and have fun.
Crossing my fingers.
Edit: Hoping for minimal buttercups.
Kind of like 2002?
Minus the lock down bullpen and Troy Glaus. This team has better starting pitching though. There’s still plenty of time and a lot of quality unsigned players but your point is well taken.
Aroldis Chapman is the veteran bullpen piece this team needs.
The lock down bullpen in 2002 was certainly not predicted. I think the only known established arm in that pen when the season started was Percy. Makes you wonder how much influence Bud black had on the staff in its entirety.
Helped we had some juicinβ
Taping them together lol
We can all DREAM β- series.
It was more than a sideshow- it was the main event.
I will miss all the beautiful Japanese middle aged women/groupies, but nothing else. I bet the team feels the same way lol.
Thinking about the first time they try to get to the ravine at rush hour. π
I canβt wait to hear about the debacles at Ohtani Doyer giveaway games. Iβd want to see how that crowd handles when they run out/guys with trash bags full of 40+ items.
Ticket pricing will most likely take care of that but that learning curve will be pure entertainment (as Iβm glad I donβt have to deal with it anymore).
Get to the Choppa!
(Seriously. The parking lot is already bad enough after the games.)
Rec’d for the commando reference.
Maybe they will install that gondola/zip line thingy down to Hill st in Chinatown!
Between a tunnel and zip line that place will become the new adventure city!
You see what the govenator had to deal with in Germany. That was a funny read!
https://youtu.be/OaTO8_KNcuo?si=H0U_8LauaiJ91vJZ
Home on the range, yes CtPG is home to so many and yesterday’s post toasties ran the gambit on Redone and Trouty. For Rendone, Injured and won’t play at all, won’t play at all, to playing sparingly to playing sparingly and DHing. We have Trout back playing CF, Playing CF & DHing, playing all 3 OF positions as dome super back up, to playing RF or just LF, playing DH, no mention of learning 1st Base so I’ll add that in now-playing 1st Base.ο»Ώ π ο»Ώ This is why we come here to act as a community of wanta be GM’s-to express our ideas and opinions, not to argue about them or be pointed out or at.
My thoughts on Rendon, he is mentally done, he has taken the money and rolled over legs in the air, dead weight. We will all happy to see him mount a comeback in ’24 and resume his career, but it is just flat out unlikely, his fielding last season was a liability to. What to do, prepare for the worst and as Jeff pointed out retain the services of Turner or as others have mention sign Chapman to a deal.
What to do with Trout. I agree with BannedinLA, Mike needs to change coarse and lose some extra pounds and work harder at making contact. As far as stealing Bases again sure if he picks his spots and wants to steal in double digits again, plus looking at possibly injury in the face again. I think moving to a corner OF spot is needed but I also would like him to at least put some practice time in playing 1b. Am I just dreaming or could it happen? I believe Trouty can put up 2 or 3 “Mike Trout seasons once again.ο»Ώ π ο»Ώ
Trout is still far above average when on the field – even defensively. There is little evidence to suggest that it is playing CF that contributes to his injuries (thumb from sliding, hamete?).
So, why 1B? Why try to convince him to play a position he hasn’t tried at any level?
Not to mention 1st base just as dangerous. Chance of a collision too high.
I think the concern is with soft tissue injuries such as strains, pulls and tears which are theoretically more likely when roaming CF.
Itβs about risk management. I think.
They are risky in any position. Think of stretching at 1B to pick up errant throw from Rengifo?
Trout is the GOAT – let him play where he wants, whatever makes him feel comfortable to put up the 6-7 WAR even last years performance maps out to be over a full season.
Iβd prefer to see him as our primary DH / 4th OF over moving him to 1B.
If itβs full-time OF vs. 1B, I agree with you.
Isn’t it ironic how the MLB, famously anti-gambling, had teams invest in a TV network with a major focus on sports betting, only to watch the TV network go bankrupt due to insufficient sports betting revenue? Seems like a swing and a miss on understanding their own stance on gambling.
Without adding California to the mix, it was doomed. Gambling on your cell phone while enjoying games on TV from your recliner is just to easy. But there are casinos not far from home to just as easy to lose your money in, not to mention the racetracks.
I, like you, see the NFL and MLB getting hooked up with professional Gaming as a mixture and recipe for a rude awakening down the road.
With 5 teams in two teams each in big markets, that is the profit margin for the gambling on line sports business, take that future away and you then have problems as there are too many businesses looking to take that revenue in and now are left to scramble for their share.
Couldn’t have happened to better folks though, I bet that they pour a lot of money into lobbying into California to get the state to vote for online gaming. They will address the money taxed on that industry will pay for fixing potholes and bridges-oh wait, that’s happened already. The money can be used for the homeless-there we go, who needs to pay down debt.ο»Ώ π ο»Ώο»Ώ π° ο»Ώ
Pete Rose still isn’t in the HoF…definition of hypocrisy.
The all-time hits leader, home run leader and Cy Young award winner aren’t in. One for gambling. The other two for steroids. Is MLB cracking down on kids taking steroids in Latin America countries before signing them? Heck no. In fact, they have academies in these countries turning the same blind eye Selig did, if not actually perpetuating the consumption. But they care about steroids, gambling and the integrity of the game. Yeah, right!
By the way, steroids are legal, cheap, and easily accessible in the Dominican without a prescription. Just go into a pharmacy, and you can buy them. Why are most of MLB suspensions for steroid use Dominicans? Because it’s part of the culture there. You want a fair game? Make the signing bonus eligible kids register 12-24 months ahead. Make part of registering that they must be just as accessible to random drug tests as MLB players are. And test them after they sign.
I wouldnβt be surprised if they were getting steroids right at the snack bar in the local fields.
Free Pete Rose!
So betting on your teams to lose or making managerial decisions that influence the outcome of your teams games to ensure that you win your bet and then lying about it is not problem?
But taking PED’s and lying about it should garner a life time ban?
Got it.
My take is he should be banned as a manager, but his play on the field was never questioned other than playing too hard. Guys now need incentive clauses in their contracts, Pete never did. You can’t have Selig in, who turned a blind eye to PED’s and the integrity of the game, and not have Pete in, a guy who actually played hard every time. I find the hypocrisy comical. That’s my take. Not everyone agrees, but seems like a lot of virtue signaling to me. And now, some of the biggest sponsors are gambling sites like Draft Kings and MGM.
If I wanted my kid to model a ball player, how Pete played would be near the top of my list. As a human being, he wouldn’t be there nor would many others.
Iβd rather have the all-time hits record than be in the HOF. Easy choice and Iβd tell Cooperstown that I just donβt care.
I AM THE HIT KING!!! π
In MLB’s defense, Bart banned Rose BEFORE the PED scandal. And at the time, Baseball had exactly one iron clad rule, carved in stone above every clubhouse door:
Rose knew the rule, and he did it anyways.
A commissioner voted in should have a higher standard.
Maybe Bezos can get rid of Bobby V for us and bring back Alex Curry?
Bobby V is electric. I do miss Alex however
Is he though? π€
There’s someone for everyone I guess.
Valentine was enough for me to change the channel some nights.
I stopped watching Angels Live because of him π
He’s so bizarre, I found his commentary funny ππ
Bobby is a caricature. He somewhat reminds me of the Jeffrey Pelt character from “Red October”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvDcJydVcHo
irritating, but he was my favorite ball player in 1973, especially after he comped 12 yr old me with his broken bat and a couple of baseballs βΎοΈ after his batting cage session on day in PS.