Morning Angels fans, it is John Henry today. Have some links!
Angels News
As the old saying goes, “Don’t believe in yourself, believe in me who believes in you.” So don’t listen to players saying they are getting better or in their best shape of their life, believe in the ones who believe in them instead. Like Foolish Bailey believing in Jo Adell for 2025. Someone has to believe in him, and hey, he does have some solid points, like Adell being a Gold Glove finalist, his batting stance change, and he is striking out less than before.
With Adell maybe taking over CF due to Mike Trout moving to RF, we may as well ask Torii Hunter how that is like. So, here is Torii Hunter on Mike Trout following in his footsteps.
Taylor Blake Ward, the Angels prospect evaluator, was interviewed by Baseball America on the Angels farm system. He is not Taylor Ward, the Baseball player. Although that would be funny if he was.
Around Baseball
A’s leave Oakland and suddenly have money. They locked up Lawrence Butler for 7 years/66.5M.
The A’s still haven’t even broken ground for their Las Vegas stadium. Completely unrelated to that, Portland has revealed renderings on their proposed MLB stadium. Is it a coincidence that they are showing these as the A’s and Rays continue to have stadium issues? Maybe. But they could be looking for MLB expansion, which Manfred has promised once those two teams get their act together. Any decade now…
Sandy Alcantara will be on an innings limit this season. This is so that he can pitch in the Postseason. Either the Marlins are more delusional than we thought, or they are looking to trade him mid season. The latter seems more likely.
Spring training stats mean nothing, but what hitters (with at least 20 plate appearances) have the best OPS and who has the worst? Would you be at all surprised that Soler is 3rd best? How about 4 Angels being in the bottom 25? Yeah, THAT sounds more like it…
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!
George Kirby = Shoulder issues…. wruhh row. Sadly it sounds a lot like the O’s Grayson Rodriguez may need TJS…. they’ll do the whole rehab dance probably, but his velos way down and he has triceps tightness…..
add another to the list
https://www.mlb.com/news/gerrit-cole-undergoing-tests-on-throwing-elbow
It’s OK. He’s more than earned that contract after all those rings they’ve won.
Moncada might only have a .077 batting average, but at least Fontenelle has a .067 batting average.
So that’s good, it means we have depth.
Better than Rendons .000 avg.
I wonder if the Orioles would give us Coby Mayo since he obviously sucks….
IKR, not even in the top 140.
Angels Dbacks game canceled
Slip and Fall
https://x.com/JackJanes_/status/1898067967621107766
It’s ok if Trout slips on the wet grass though 🙂
he’s DH’ing
That’s good, tell him to make sure he stays off the grass.
Somebody needs to tell him to Homer every time up today and under no circumstances is he allowed to jump on hime plate.
Anxiety stab with that callback memory.
Homer every AB and have a ghost runner. We need to bubble wrap the ish’ outta MNT.
I’m rooting for Jo Adell. I really like that guy. He’s talented AF and he works hard. I hope all that’s enough to overcome the piss yellow fog of hopeless depression and mind numbing boo hoo that is playing for Real Angels Fans. If he can do that he’ll surely be a solid player for some other team when he escapes from us in a couple years. I just wish he was five inches shorter and white so he’d get a little mindless support from us.
Stupid Perry. Why didn’t he go out and get Brett Baty, Vinnie Capra and Jamai Jones? Then we’d be totally chamionship.
Portland is NEVER allowing Portland to have something as evil and American as a baseball team. Much less spending billions on a stadium and then spending hundreds to go to games. Enjoy watching people hiking and running around a big oval weirdos. Oh, and soccer. Hurray. Citizens of the world.
There should be a traveling museum collection of stadium renderings that didn’t happen.
That Butler deal the A’s signed is smart. He’s a really good player. I hope that O’Hoppe and Neto are good this year and we do the same with them.
Uh oh. “Good Suarez” popped his head up for three innings to make us panic about him playing for us. That ERA is getting pretty low and he’s able to throw multiple innings, which is something we want, just not from him, because it’s better to be right about how much we hate him than it is to, you know, have a solid lefty long reliever. I still want to see McDanials instead.
Does it look like a fair number of Angels Campers don’t really want a job? Adam Duvall. David Dahl. Lance Lynn, Jordan Lyles, Kyle Gibson, Spencer Turnbull, whit Merrifield and Alex Verdugo all want work….could be trade bait…..
Great idea.
Portland culture mention…..have to do it.
https://youtu.be/TZt-pOc3moc?si=pDaAFTVr_ts_h6TF
God I love this bit…. very true. I like Portland. It’s just…. has anyone at the MLB offices been there cause it’s not gonna work.
You forgot to mention hacky sack playing in Portland. I’m sure they still do that.
HSM
Hackey Sacks Matter
Don’t forget the Jail Blazers
But if Adell was five inches shorter and white, wouldn’t he get SCREWED by the Angels?
well, yes…. but CtPG Guy would love him….
I think everyone here is rooting for all of our players to be successful as opposed to not, but some of us are more optimistic and some more pessimistic. There are good reasons to believe that certain players will be successful and others may not, and sometimes there are just opinions. There really isn’t a good argument right now either way for a number of our younger players. When O’Hoppe and Neto showed up, they both did enough good things to know that even if they stayed the same, they were our future at C and SS with reasons to be optimistic they would get better. Neto has and O’Hoppe has shown some real promise that he will. The rest of the young position players could honestly go either way.
Adel and Schanuel are probably the most controversial. Adel has been amazingly consistent year over Year as a hitter during his major league career. Nothing would make me happier than to see him become a 30 HR hitting RF with a high enough BA to make it worth it, which would be a huge win for the team. I’m just at the point where I’ll believe it when I see it. Schanuel is a lot younger and has played only one year so he has more time but it’s not like he’s a plus defender, runs well, and hits for power but just isn’t consistent. He has outstanding control of the strike zone and makes consistent contact but just doesn’t hit the ball very hard, especially for guy his size. Even at what I believe might be his ceiling, I just don’t think he will ever be the guy that I want at 1B. If he played 2B or CF and was a plus defender and fast, I would feel differently. It’s only my opinion but I am just not confident he will change much other than to elevate his BA and OBA to maybe give him enough value. I am rooting for him and I hope I’m wrong and he surprises me.
I think what’s really important is, when you just don’t know when or if a player will work out, we need to really focus on why they won’t work out and then make sure we bring that up any time we see their name. That way we look really smart and we never get fooled again.
It’s my favorite thing about baseball. I know that 9 out of 10 prospects will underperform so I just predict that every prospect will fail for one reason or another and I’m right almost all the time. I feel like a genius, and it’s way less work than trying to figure out what CAN actually work and then looking for it.
Running the 2017 draft back, I still think Adell and Canning were totally reasonable selections – and I don’t say that all that often about the Angels draft room.
Who knows how either of them turn out in a better development system, or in Canning’s case, with better health. They were both incredibly talented and tooled up. Adell had a huge ceiling and great makeup, and I suppose, still does. Canning had a high floor and four above average pitches with a no-doubt starter profile – a smart pick for a second rounder.
Of course, there’s any number of reasons why prospects bust (and most do), but I didn’t come away from either of those selections scratching my head.
(And I’m still rooting for Portland baseball, whatever you and CTPG Guy say.)
I’d love if Portland got a team…. I just doubt they will. CtPG Guy will declare that the team is soft for not playing in the rain every day the way the Seattle Rainiers did back when men were men.
I’m still rooting for Canning. Always felt like he was a couple tweaks away from turning into a plus starter.
Wouldn’t be shocked if he makes his way to a good team that gets him over the hump.
Just hope it’s not the Dodgers. He’s not Japanese though so I doubt they’d be interested.
Pretty dismal draft overall wasn’t it? Even 20-20 hindsight only gets you a Brett Rooker.
From Bowden today. He put one name from every camp to highlight buzz (actually PtP)
Perry Minasian, GM: “Mike is in the best shape I’ve seen him in the four years I’ve been here.”
Rex – I certainly like this but it begs the question- why wasn’t Trout in this shape over the past seasons? It’s an issue of working hard and he is being paid almost $40m per season. So this kind of comment, while optimistic, raises the question of prior season preparation.
But don’t ALL comments raise questions?
Lazy?
Stupid?
Aliens?
Damn Time travel.
Why haven’t we been able to get that fixed yet?
I think he’s always been in shape.
The whole “ best shape of my life” line is just the obligatory narrative that declining athletes trot out. This is very prevalent in combat sports.
Unfortunately at this point in his career, running the bases might be a “combat sport”
For a pile of people who will NEVER BE FOOLED AGAIN we sure get upset about “baseball talk” a lot around here.
Jahmai Jones … of the Tigers … is #19 in spring OPS!
Don’t get too excited. Brandon Drury is also on that list!
The Halo’s new POBO, Generative AI Moreno, provides the following caution:
Outstanding spring training statistics generally do not translate directly to regular season success, as the intensity and focus of spring training are significantly lower compared to the regular season, meaning a player’s performance in spring training is not a reliable predictor of their regular season performance; therefore, a player with great spring stats may not necessarily have a great regular season.
Key points to remember:
So, you are saying I shouldn’t think Brandon Drury and Jam Jones are two of the best players in baseball in 2025?
I would suggest that trading C. Moore and Neto for them both based on their spring 2025 performance would be “unwise”.
All valid points and absolutely true. With that said, I am not confident that the guys on our roster who aren’t hitting will start to hit when the season starts, but I am confident that Soler, Trout, Ward, and OHoppe who are hitting well will do so during the regular season, as well as Neto eventually. The other 4 spots though could be really ugly and Ward and Soler will need to be replaced after next year. Hopefully they can be traded for future assets. There is maybe some hope. If Paris can become our 2B that could allow Moore to become the LF and maybe Rada mans CF in a year or two. We would need a DH, a 1B, a 3B for 2027. Hopefully, our 1st draft choice this year fills a spot leaving us with just a couple of spots to fill. Not saying this will happen, but it is one scenario.
I do think it was a mistake to swap Trout and Adell even thought it was well intentioned. I don’t think Trout is really any less likely to be injured playing RF and at least Joe was an above average defender in RF and could concentrate on his hitting.
It’s going to take some patience watching things develop over the next 2 years.
Detmers and silent C both need to be pitching in the major leagues this year regardless of how Detmers does.
Nolan is the 1st baseman of the future
Not based on what he’s done so far. He will be the 1st baseman this year and next year regardless of what he does. but after that, unless he improves, he wont be.
This can be said about…. everyone who plays baseball just about? And if sharks ever learn to move on dry ground, will we even care about baseball? Landsharks bro.
You really do have issues.
You can’t tell me you’re not also concerned about landsharks. Everyone is on some level. This is a safe space.
OK, I admit it. My name is Roy and I’m concerned about landsharks.
They’re fkn terrifying. Everything that walks the earth started in the sea. Sharks have been working at it for millions of years. Any week now they might crack the problem.
Then it won’t matter what a teams payroll is. Even the Doyers can’t pay off a shark.
Sharks you can punch in the face, like if Justin Trudeau came up on you and got in your face…..but snakes concern me.
https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1892887313794928857
It’s true. Snakes… man they are all just one big arm with teeth at the end…. and they want to tickle me with that tongue of theirs… snakes suck. Accept the D Backs. I kinda dig them.
Lost count of the straw men in your analysis. Based on his work as rookie, Nolan appears to be our 1st baseman of the future. Based on the fact he was drafted as a second baseman and plays second base, Moore appears to be our second baseman of the future.
I was thinking about Nolan. It’s what I do….
Anyway. Is it beyond the realm of possibility that I am frustrated with Nolan right now because he is doing what I want him to do? Namely change his approach at the plate here in Spraining? And that work looks bad. And no, I’m not saying his every swing and hit has to look like Reggie Jackson so that I can SEE and FEEL him doing it. I’m saying he may be flopping around with this task mentally and it’s a struggle…..
That is certainly a possibility.
Looking forward to this year to see what Nolan can do
Or can’t do, mainly hit with scary power.
I think we all are.
😫😩😫 ugh
It’s related in part to the $20+ million revamp & expansion to Tempe Diablo complex that Perry got Arte to invest in.
https://thehaloway.mlblogs.com/tempe-diablo-player-development-center-1594e4260a6d
Spring Training stats mean nothing.
I am Angels Fan Guy.
You can’t tell me not to be a pissy sissy about this.
I have PTSD.
Yes. I am soft enough to get PTSD from watching baseball.
I need Ersty to come make me hard.
What is #2 in our organization after Dipoto left?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says his final offer to the Blue Jays was under $600M
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44143628/vladimir-guerrero-jr-says-final-offer-600-million-blue-jays-extension-talk
Oh yeah, probably $599,999.99
Just that much? We should jump right on that pokey object of a contract.
IKR!
Silent C and Kyren Paris have a chance to rewrite the story of our 2019 draft class. Last season, it would have been a fairly objective take to call 2019 the worst draft in Angels history.
Fast forward to today, and Silent C is on his way to becoming a potential rotation mainstay. Is Paris finally breaking out? He is looking real good and tracking for a spot on the OD roster.
I like Silent C. I hope I didn’t jinx him with my support. I’m still a doubter in Paris. Adell somehow made himself at least a part-time MLB guy so anything is possible. But Paris seems to be a Moniak type player on the infield. He shows flashes but that’s where it seems to end. We will see.
It’s tough cause just about everybody not named Acuna or Witt Jr shows flashes and then sucks…. and then the flashes get longer. This is even harder because “fresh Paris” is coming off major training and coaching changes. We’ll have to see, which is what the roster is kinda built for right now.
Not that I am big on Paris but better to have Paris make the team vs. Anderson (and Davis)
I understand your thoughts. I’m unsure the Halos think like that. They signed Kenley Jansen. They seem more committed to having name-brand guys at the start of the season and seeing if they can get one decent year (or half-year plus trade) out of them. We will see though. Anything is possible in Anaheim.
Is it ever ok for the team to sign a guy who we’ve heard of? Is it ever OK when we don’t? Is it possible for the FO to do two things at one time with a mix of 25 players? If the Jansen signing is something we have a problem with is there anything that isn’t a problem? Is it me or does pumpkin kind of taste and smell rotten? Are we OK?
Sure, if it ever works out..9 straight losing seasons…..
Yes, my hope is that he’s lights out and were wise enough to move him.
Hope springs eternal, but a backend starter and a utility infielder aren’t going to rewrite the mess that is the 2019 draft.
There’s not a single player left in the system from the 2019 draft who is likely to crack the roster outside of up and down reliever Jack Dashwood. The mind can do all sorts of things with 16 spring training plate appearances, Pineapple, and calling six knocks a breakout is…um, one of them?
I’m rarely 100% serious in my posts. I tend to go overboard with hyperbolic positivity to offer an alternative to the inherent (and sometimes justifiable) negativity on this site.
The swing adjustment Paris made this offseason is showing extremely early signs of working. That’s a fun development. I don’t actually believe he’s on the cusp of some incredible breakout.
Regarding Silent C, I’m being 1000% serious. Yes, he doesn’t strike out many, but that doesn’t limit my excitement for his future prospects. I’m a big fan of his potential.
At this time a year ago, the 2019 draft produced 0 MLB regulars. It looks a little different today.
Had to do a deep dive on 2019 after reading your post. Pretty bad draft for us, but then… pretty bad draft for everybody who didn’t snag one of those bats in the top half of the first round, and who wasn’t the Orioles. Look at the pitchers in particular. Utterly putrid.
Torii should be with Jo more than Mike.
Rainy morning here, the first time pretty much since the monsoon season.
Soler didn’t surprise me on the list, but seeing NRS on it did. Ugh. Nice to see Jam Jones raking.
Drury on that is surprising, I thought his career was over.
I thought Drury was more likely to rebound than be toast. He was just so bad last year. And often hurt.
I mean, a minor rebound in spring training is not really a rebound. Let’s see where Drury is at the end of the year or at least midseason before any conclusions are drawn.
Yeah. He looked like he came in hurt and never got right last year. It’s likely because he hates playing baseball.
I’m just going by his injury history and age. Definitely good to see him healthy.
Torii definitely needs to work with Jo.
Yes. Such an Angel-like move to put Adell in center the year after he finally steadied himself in the field. Exhibit 1259 on why Perry seems to struggle with the easy decisions.