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Angels News
Remember when the Angels were on a 6 game winning streak? Yeah, well, now they lost 8/9 and are looking very bad. This last one even giving false hope and all. Yeesh.
Mike Trout has batting practice now. Yay~
Now that Rendon is back, remember, that despite everything, he can still play more games this year than any other year with the Angels. Somehow.
Well, at least the Angels are losing with style. That’s… something.
Around Baseball
Let’s get the big one over with, Wander Franco has been officially charged with sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic. It has been literally a year since the story broke on July 10th, 2023 and things are finally moving.
Who has the most wild pitching staff in MLB? Depends on what matters more, Wild Pitches or HBP? The Answer is the Angels. Or the MFY, or the Nats.
Is it better to have Arte or Nutting as an owner? Like, the Pirates actually have a chance to win and will sell at the deadline instead, does that hurt more than what Arte does or not?
Glasnow is injured. This is the time to fleece the Dodgers with as much as you can for Anderson.
Baseball players are superstitious. That includes former Angel Brandon Marsh, who has a teammate’s father cut his hair in order to hit home runs. Like a reverse Sampson, but still have long locks.
Mets trade for RP Phil Maton. For cash most likely. Not a big trade, but it makes you think about how close we are to the deadline.
Like with the Marlins open to trading Jazz. Or the Nats being sellers.
At least the Angels are not the worst team when it comes to supporting your best pitchers. Cole Ragans should sue the Royals with how the team has a losing record when he throws a quality start.
Do not be crazy like this Japanese woman who leaked personal info on the Yomiuri Giants online in a criminal case. Worked for Life Insurance? Oh yeah, relatable…
Rain ruins everything. Like postponing MLB games.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!
Is anyone else excited to see who we get on Sunday? I’m so hoping Wetherholt falls to us like some predict, but I just don’t see it. Regardless, we should be in good shape as the top 10 prospects all look great. I don’t want to see us do an under-slot deal and try to get two #1s by dividing up the pool as I don’t think it’s a deep draft.
I’m equally excited about Monday. When was the last time the Angels had at least 3 picks in the first 75? 2010?
Tonight’s Lineups
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-angels/2024/07/10/746205/preview
Mercifully I think the Roansy starting experience maybe coming to an end. If so expect another roster move since the Angels will need another starter mo later than this Sunday before the break..
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels go into overdrive and promote another Trash Panda, Sam Bachman, for this Sunday’s start.
from BA:
While most scouts consider Condon and Bazzana the clear 1-2 of the class, the next eight players are difficult to line up and separate, with differing orders depending on the scouts and teams you talk to.
The group includes four college hitters: West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt, Florida slugger Jac Caglianone, Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery and Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz; two college pitchers who dominated in an offense-friendly environment: Wake Forest righthander Chase Burns and Arkansas lefthander Hagen Smith; and the top two high school hitters in the class: Mississippi shortstop and outfield Konnor Griffin and California shortstop Bryce Rainer.
don’t have a preference here, but our guy just needs to be one of the ten above.
I finally saw a draft with Jac falling to us. That would be most interesting. I’d prefer pitching, but im not sold on either Alias Smith and Burns
I want to get all chuffy about this draft. “PERREH NEEEEDSTAH DRAH FT DEEZ GUYZ!!!” but I just have nothing. I’m with you, those ten players are all…. fine? I suppose I’d like a college player more… a little? I don’t even know if I want pitching or position players. I know I’d like SEC/ACC college guys sort of. But we need more…. everything.
I’m literally CTPG Guy here. “JUSS DRAH FT DUH GOO PLAYA PERREH O YOO ARG SOOOO STOOPIDZ!”
Maybe pull another “crazy perry” and just draft all Texas A&M or Wake Forest or Tennessee guys…. and guys from that conference…. and then hire away that team’s entire coaching staff and install them in the IE or Shitdust Washington? Can we do that? Can we also just hire all the Rays guys?
the thing is with those top 10, you really don’t get your choice.
You get what’s left.
and we will adore top10 leftovers
And yes, let this one rip: The Los Angeles Demon Deacons of Anaheim
Some here are high on Tibbs, even thought he’s ranked 12.
Do they call him MISTER Tibbs?
I will if he starts mashing for us.
Hagan Smith is the real deal. I hope the Angels snag him. He is from Tyler, Texas.
Ward in the lineup tonight
https://x.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1811157160182829482
HOLD, PERRY, HOLD!
make them bleed black and yellow
Apropos of just about nothing, I’m following Brandon Sproat of the Mets organization…I guess just in case we trade anyone to the Mets.
As a guy who semi-follows the Pirates and has a pile of friends in Pitt… NUTTING. NUTTING ES MAS MALLO! He is the worst.
Every bullshit overwept wank the twats have on here about ARTE is ACTUALLY TRUE about Nutting…. plus he has the best ball park in baseball, a franchise with history, and a generally good farm pooping out talent and he makes having that stuff MISERABLE.
If we keep up with the shit fan ju ju we will end up with a situation like the Pirates. Complain like you have cancer long enough…. get cancer. Nutting is rectal cancer.
Angels made front page above the fold on the sim. Just a proposal but food for thought:
Taylor Ward to the Pirates for Thomas Harrington, Tsung-Che Cheng, and Garret Forrester.
Harrington is a solid 4 pitch pitcher in AA who looks like a solid mid rotation arm. He’d be to the rotation what Ward is to the outfield.
Cheng is a true shortstop with a 60 fielding grade. Yes we have Neto but good teams have more than one good option and you can never have enough good shortstops. Worst case is you have one hell of a fielding second baseman.
Garret Forrester raked in college and primarily plays first base.. He’s a throw in, but one who had more walks than K’s at Oregon State. The DH exists and Schanuel isn’t irreplaceable.
The top two are in AA, which is the level I’d target in trades. Caden Dana, Harrington, and a future trade pickup or two would create a AA rotation with promise while Cheng adds quality to the system.
I’d totally do this. No prospect is a sure thing, but those guys are solid. I actually like Forrester.
Yeah and with his college background he should be in High A or Double A soon. If the kid rakes, he’ll find a home.
Our High A team is absolutely dreadful. Went 26-39 in the first half of the year, good for last place. Going above and beyond in the second half at 3-13.
I know wins and losses don’t matter a ton at that level, but there’s no way to have any decent talent and be that freaking bad.
God Damn Perrys got big Huevos.
https://x.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1811133235373691197
Why do you say that ?
He is probably our best SP in the minors and has shown he can dominate at that level.
Time to see what he has against Big League competition.
He has struggled significantly more than his successes.
He’s a big boy. I’m looking forward to Thursday now.
Yeah, me too. It’s time. He has the best stuff of all our “kids” down there.
I am looking forward to seeing him face a quality MLB roster. I mean, if this is one of two or three guys we are counting on to join our rotation and be a contributor in 2025 then we might as well take a look now.
Exact oooo muh! This is a lost season. If you use a lost season a lost season to see how some kids with good stuff handle an MLB line up with little added pressure, fail or win, it’s solid data said kid can use. The lost season’s a little less lost if we get some of the kids up here a couple times.
If I were PTP post trade deadline I’d have a list of about 15 arms I’m gonna get a start, or 6 innings of relief etc this year just to see em in real games and add that info to the data the development guys we don’t have use to not talk to our MiLB pitchers at all.
Do you think we will see Caden Dana this year?
Seems a little early, but if he keeps a sub 1.2 WHIP in AA he might have a “just for fun” look later. Wouldn’t shock me.
I don’t think the Angels believe in the shock of MLB talent beating you “breaking” many prospects. Neither do the Braves. If you have a head that can handle the MLB failure in year 5, in most cases you have the same brain early. If you have trouble with that stuff, you just do…. like Adell.
It may suss out over time if they do crack, but it doesn’t seem like tons of confident kids just shatter at MLB failure, as long as they understand that the point was for them to get a look as part of a growth process and getting beat is OK. It seems like the Angels would rather check a kids head early.
So…. maybe Dana, if his current coaches think it’d be OK.
Need to dump some flotsam and jetsam first though.
i think flotsam pitches on Saturday and jetsam pitches on Sunday.
Because he’s making the jump all the way from AA to the Majors.And because just up until a month ago he was sporting a 6.19 ERA a 1.47 WHIP but only 7.26 K’s/9 . For AA numbers that not exactly awe inspiring even if hes had epiphany in the last 30 days.
The difference between AA and AAA is often not that great. In fact, lots of guys make the jump to MLB from AA. The key is do they have it. If they do then the jump is not all that important. And sure, young guys will have a bad outing or two. It is not like you have to light up the minors in order to be a productive big leaguer. I care more about stuff and composure.
We know that Jack has the stuff. We’ll start to find out about the composure side on Thursday.
Exactly. Thursday’s an actual cup of coffee. Let him get a taste, see how he holds up…. maybe see how he takes a beating…. part of the process.
another guy for the rookie Starbucks run.
https://x.com/EricaLWeston/status/1809606234401562741
Didn’t Voodoo come directly to the big team from AA?
i was thinking Frankie and Lackey too, but that was a long time ago
I believe Frankie was promoted to the bigs from the AAA SL Stingers after getting promoted from AA Arkansas. Horseface also was promoted form the Salt Lake since this was the only minor league level he pitched at in 2002.
Other than those like Jimmy Abbott who never played in the minors before making their debut, I always though the most surprising was Chuck Finley who was promoted all the way up from Single A Quad Cities before joining the big league bullpen in 1986.
I’m not sure since Ervin pitched at both AA & AAA during his MLB debut season of 2005. I suspect he started at AA Arkansas got promoted to the big A for a mid May debut but then got demoted to AAA Salt Lake City for 3 starts for Dino Ebel until he finally got called that season for good.
Unfortunately BB reference doesn’t have minor league game logs until 2008 and Im too GA to scour the internet.
I know. And when a team’s in the thick of the play off hunt, with a bunch of tired pitchers, it’s total poppycock to just bring up a prospect who has had some stuff click for a little while and test him out against some MLB hitters.
Not when fourth place is on the line! Where is the winning fire? The grit?
That last name will use up all of the remaining uniform letters at the stadium.
“He has thrown 326 innings in the minors to this point in his career with a 5.44 earned run average. His 19.1% strikeout rate in that time is subpar but he’s limited walks to a 7% clip and has had strong ground ball rates at every stop so far. Major league average is at 42.4% this year but Kochanowicz has been between 48 and 63% at every stop of his career so far. His .317 batting average on balls in play and 61.4% strand rate are both a bit on the unlucky side, so perhaps he’ll be able to have some better results with stronger defenders behind him.”
If he’s our best, our best won’t do.
https://x.com/MikeTrout/status/1811080485327745529
Man Little Beckham sure has a huge noggin.
Jones and Solometo for Ward. Get it done Perry (please).
Ps – Pittsburgh is loaded with farm talent. A great trade partner.
I’m too Arte and too GA to use the trade simulator. But I’m curious what it would say about ’71’s trade proposal. Is there anyone here that has access to it that can analyze this trade?
FYI Jones has been on the IL since July 4th with a strained Lat. Not sure how serious that is.
Don’t really like it.
Solometo’s fastball tops out at 94mph. While his slider is a good pitch there are alot of other guys you can get/find to replicate that; average fastball and plus slider.
To trade Ward who still has time under team control you need an established power pitcher type. None of this soft-tossing lefty shit.
Also; if the Pirates who are not really in contention (they are only 3 out of Wild Card but have too many teams to pass to make it realistic) are willing to trade for Ward that tells you he has value beyond this year (I of course already knew that).
Let’s hope that Henry Davis (former first round, first pick) is not who Perry takes from the Pirates as the “main course.” He has not been good and is back in the minors. At age 24, he still has promise likely as a back up catcher/4th outfielder but he should not be the main haul for Ward.
Another player to avoid is Ke’Bryan Hayes (former 1st round pick) who is 27 and has flamed out as the Pirates’ starting 3B. He has a .590 OPS this year and that is not what we need at a corner.
I am sure that the Pirates would love to dump two first round draft choices on a team like the Angels.
speculation from SI:
As relayed by 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi, Zeise has mentioned infielder Alika Williams, right-handed pitcher Mitch Jebb and shortstop Mike Burrows as players who could potentially go back to the Angels in exchange for Ward. Jebb and Burrows are currently ranked as the No. 6 and No. 9 prospects in the Pirates’ farm system, respectively, while Williams was a fringe top-30 prospect before graduating to the majors.
https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/pittsburgh-pirates-attempting-to-acquire-veteran-outfielder-taylor-ward-in-trade-with-los-angeles-angels-01j2epcg8xtx
Jebb’s an infielder
Yes and that is SI’s quote not mine. I should have put in quote marks.
Yes, and people here will be jumping up and down celebrating if we get two unproven stiffs in return for our proven top tier OF’er.
The good news, it might indicate we are finally rebuilding. Even if we don’t acknowledge it. Actions speak louder than words.
Well, even if you are rebuilding that doesn’t mean you allow yourself to be fleeced. You still have to make good, intelligent trades. Trading a still young and very productive Ward for a couple of unprovens would not be wise.
Christ I’m tired of hearing this from you. SOOOOOO… who? Who you trading for big guy? Please, explain who is “not a fleece” out there that said trade partner will actually give us. I can’t wait to see your brain drop a nugget of wisdom to go with all this commentary.
I totally agree with Jack’s first two sentences. The third one, not so much.
Ughh. I keep having to explain myself.
The problem with Ward is that everyone here is treating him like he’s a hot potato. He’s not !
If Ward were in the same boat as Hunter Strickland then I’d understand the idea of trading him for two unprovens. The Angels have exactly ZERO leverage in trading Strickland. They can try to get preference C over preference D, but they are not likely to get alot. It is what it is. The guy is walking.
But Ward is NOT on an expiring contract. There is no reason to trade him unless you get at least equal quality back in return. If you ask for alot and get it, then sure go ahead and bite. But there is actually no reason to take an offer of two stiffs for him. Let him be a productive member of our OF for the next two years.
So, who are the proven players you think we can get from a trade partner for Ward…. whose primary value is his remaining years of control?
Well, I’m not one of those people screaming and crying to hurry up and trade Ward, so I don’t have to answer that.
You are saying that we need to get a particular type of return if we do trade Ward but apparently it’s like porn? You’ll know it if you see it, and you’ll see it where you want to? So no one knows what an acceptable return is on the Frost Scale.
BTW, if Ward is “Rested” tonight, he will be on a plane soon and I mean flying by himself.
I am getting unconfirmed reports that I am the Grand Poobah of Bedrock.
Oh yeah…some trades or something is happening…..
I’Hoppe O’Hoppe continues to be Bamm-Bamm Rubble and they find him some new friends to play with.
It has been a long time since I’ve been as excited about a trade deadline as I am for this year’s. At least a decade, but back then we were buyers.
The moves made or not made this month will have a significant impact on the Angels rebuild. Really, this is the first real step towards a rebuild.
Considering the very few trade chips we have, Perry really needs to nail the returns.
I agree Jeff. Perry has to stick to his guns that we get a STRONG prospect or two for each of our trade pieces, especially Ward, Anderson and Estevez. Louie line drive better fetch a very high ranked prospect or two. IMHO Perry did well in both trades with Philly last year (We won’t talk about the other trades) and I hope he realizes that there is no need to rush and that he is in a seller’s position, not a buyer’s.
The potential for several top prospects coming to the Halos system is exciting, as long as Perry doesn’t drop the soap.
Agreed – Also being an all-in seller likely increases our draft lotto odds by way of all the losing to follow.
Losing sucks. Losing on purpose sucks less.
trAdition Lotto results would beg to differ.
So often when I run the Tankathon simulator houston or Cincy jump up 12 spots while we, with the 3rd best odds, drop to 8th
Losing with old guys and retreads sucks.
Losing while seeing some light at the end of the tunnel sucks less.
Right now O’Hoppe, Neto, and Soriano are providing the light. We need much, much more.
Gawd I love O’Hoppe. I wasn’t alive for Thurman Munson, but from all I’ve read Logan sounds like that type guy for a team.
Next year could be time to talk early extension. Neto too if he keeps getting better.
Copy
The
Braves
Just dont let him get a pilot’s license anytime soon.
Kelvim Escobar has entered the chat.
One of those times where I’m glad to read Wash being Wash:
And if you think Wash is just picking on kids….
Drury definitely needs to get his act together. Striking out is not a plan.
(Same goes for Adell.)
Then why is Adell following that plan?
Humans are so funny about reverting to their modus operandi. That swing correction stuff he started the season with was working, but he just can’t help himself.
So are you advocating we replace him with a JoBot?
So true and you can see it in multiple sports. Adell is a great example in baseball.
He’s like the boxer who is up through 4 rounds using solid technique then throws it all out the window to brawl and gets knocked out.
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Then, like a rat, they stop in fear and freeze”
-Mike Tyson
Drury is known as a slow starter and he’s missed so much time this year he’s basically starting over.
This is a great year for Washington to work with a former top prospect. I trust Wash to teach him the defensive fundamentals and he’s shown over time he can hit at the MLB level.
Full disclosure, I was a fan of Hiura’s at UCI and kind of hoped the local kid would be an Angel. So I definitely want this to work out.
You gotta root for a local kid.
im sure most everyone knows this but in case you didn’t:
Hiura was the pick right before Jo Adell in 2017 (#9 and #10)
If Hiura can hit and will listen to Wash’s fielding tutelage, then that’s a win-win, right?
And right now I would think Huira probably has the better shot of generating positive career WAR going forward than Jo. .
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating, Ron Washington’s honesty, at least my coach/manager standards, is refreshing and much appreciated by me.
he’s right. Drury needs to carry a big stick.
Yes, I like his honesty. The only thing that didn’t sit well with me immediately was the failed bunt fiasco of Guillorme. But Guilllorme took responsibility and it didn’t upend the clubhouse. So all is well and that’s all I care about.
In fact the Galloping Gourmet’s next bunt attempt was a thing of beauty.
https://x.com/theponiexpress/status/1811064464306827480?s=46&t=s37F-nlMb_J_BruivlYR_A
Ward to Pitt is “In progress”
Skenes is probably not on the table, regrettably.
I suspect It’s either already done or already blown up. (maybe exchanging medicals?) These updates are always reported to be in “real time” when in reality their old news.
To GA to confirm this opinion… Unlike the Doyers, it seems the Pirates have traded away a shit ton of talented players.
Fingers crossed.
1.We will miss Ward and that sweet swing, all of that production, nice glove work. Going to be hard to replace.
50%
2.We won’t miss his long stretches of being an Auto Out. His puzzled looks in the OF (His S,C,V,Z,U,J,N,W, routes in the outfield, resulting in outs, sometimes not). His base running that has Little League coaches scratching their heads in amazement.
Time to move on, we can replace him…. in the aggregate.
50%
Please No requiems until this is a real thing Twebs. I dont want to jinx it.
All the leaks this far are coming from the Pirates side so this maybe wishful thinking and the deal already blew up.
You are correct…..Wine and waffers for everyone!
To GA to confirm this opinion… Unlike the Doyers, it seems the Pirates have traded away a shit ton of talented players.Fingers crossed.1.We will miss Ward and that sweet swing, all of that production, nice glove work. Going to be hard to replace.50%2.We won’t miss hislong stretchesof being an Auto Out. His puzzled looks in the OF (His S,C,V,Z,U,J,N,W, routes in the outfield, resulting in outs, sometimes not). His base running that has Little League coaches scratching their heads in amazement.Time to move on, we can replace him…. in the aggregate.50%In my Ward trade piece I featured a trade sending him to the Pirates. I did not create that trade but am curious to see if any of the pieces are included.
I wonder if Perry can find a way to palm Sano off on them.
oh boy….help is on the way!
https://x.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1810895093836173341
Silseth’s next game would be today, anyway. His ERA is above six, so he is plenty scary but not in a good way.
If the team chooses not to enter the trade market, if won’t get much better next year either for the W-L record as there are no budding Superstars lighting it up at the stats happy SLC hitting drome. We need a transfusion of sorts, new faces with a better future than what we have for sure. It’s a shame that Stupid Arte did not entertain offers for Shohei as rebuilding would have begun and with a great start. S.A.M really is one stupid/dumb-dee-dee-dumb-dumb when it comes to running an MLB organization in thinking that cutting corners in every direction he can, makes one wonder how did we do so well from 2004-2009? I got off point, sorry, but the way back will take more than a couple of years and now is the time for a positive start to take place. Just do it! (Thank you Nike)
#17 was his cash 🐄
No we he was gonna do that.
We suck, but at least we will finish this season knowing Logan O’Hoppe is a budding superstar.
C – O’Hoppe
1B – Schanuel
2B/3B – Rengifo
SS – Neto
OF – Trout (???)
SP/RP – Soriano, Joyce
The importance in nailing the trade deadline can’t be understated. We have the best reliever on the market (Estevez) and arguably the best SP on the market (Anderson). Buttercupping the deadline is not an option, albeit a very possible reality.
Ward is under team control for two more years after 2024, and I doubt the Halos will get anything exciting via an offer for him. So pencil him in for 2025. Rendon will be back, too.
Drury will be gone. Adell and Moniak aren’t good enough. Thaiss might still hang around. The rest are replacement caliber at best.
Only two pitchers, huh? That’s a long uphill climb. I don’t know how to respond. If you are planning for 2028 and beyond with moves now, you cannot say even Joyce or Soriano will be useful then. So keep that in mind. Hence, any plans beyond 2025-2026 aren’t really worth making. It’s a shame.
Plans beyond 25-26 aren’t worth making? Care to elaborate?
Juan Soto was traded with 2 years of control btw.
The Angels have never sold because the hope(delusion?) that next season’s team would be different. It’s pretty clear now that the next competitive team will not be lead by Trout or Rendon so they have the first cut & dry selling conditions of Moreno’s entire ownership.
Everyone except O’Hoppe and Neto should be open for discussion if the return maximizes quality in-house, cheap depth in 26-27
Carpe Diem “Seize the Day” is our way. Screw the future. We don’t do rebuilds.
-Art Moreno
Interesting points. Obviously, a big difference between Soto and Ward exists.
Like it or not, the Angels philosophy is to attract fans by having at least some hope each season, which includes various “now” players and an off-season splash or two. It’s just how they do things for attendance and media revenue purposes. Hence, any plan for a rebuild is likely best assessed through this lens. Until a major philosophy change happens, it’s reality.
Shhh don’t say that to Jack Frost!
You keep Jack Frost’s name out of your mouth 2002! 😃
https://x.com/powerslap/status/1806879364354658413
“Rendon will be back, too” LOL
I disagree with you about the value of Ward for two reasons. First if you go to MLB Stats and just bring up Outfielders stats, you will notice that Ward has value in comparison to other OF’ers. Second is that he has 2 years of control. Several teams will want to have him in LF or even maybe RF.
Why wouldn’t Joyce be useful in 3 years? I don’t understand your logic
Joyce is a hard-thrower who already has been hurt previously. The analytics guys will tell you guys like that have uncertain longevity etc. I will hope for the best, but the same types of analysis that leads to dumping everyone also leads to not being able to trust Joyce or Soriano into 2028. Hopefully, the positives win out.
yeah but we will have 21 new draft picks next week.
I’m sure most will be ready to rock in 2 years.
Absolutely, just look at Halo history and all of the stud prospects they have drafted and developed since 2010. The organization has been teeming with them.
The distinction I’m preparing for is reduced returns due to the receiving teams having to accept all of the remaining salary for Estevez, Ward etc.
Last year the Mets got better prospect returns by Cohen retaining salary. He effectively chose to spend on his farm system. Given the same opportunity in 2022, the Angels dumped Raisel Iglesias’ contract for nothing in return.
Let’s see what happens.
Oh, Mr. Moreno will not be eating money for better prospects 😂😂😂. Only time he does that is when his awful FA signings meet the point of no return (i.e. Hamilton, Pujols, and Rendone in exactly 18 months).
The bar has been set so low, we just want Perry to be granted permission to sell.
For sure. Its just crazy because selling loses some value when reducing your own market and return.
Eat all of Estevez’ contract this season and I assume more teams get involved.
Actually, Ward’s cheap, it’s part of his value.
Agreed. This year has been good at proving we have one absolute stud in Logan, one above average player in Neto, a likely Casey Kotchman in Nolan, and likely two good arms in Soriano and Joyce.
I am not quite as bullish as you are regarding Neto and Nolan. Neto is the definition of an average player currently. Hopefully he becomes above average. Last year he was below average so there is reason to believe he will continue to iimprove. My biggest concern with him is that he seems to rely completely on natural ability and doesn’t look like he actually thinks about what he is doing, especially as a hitter. Nolan, in spite of hitting better lately, is still not a very good player and could go either direction. He may very well progress and he is only 22 with almost no minor league experience, but every time he gets hot he follows it up with 3 for 30 string. he’s almost unwatchable as a hitter for me, his mechanics are so bad. Mickey, on the other hand, has pretty good mechanics, he just rarely makes contact.