Comments on: Running down the rosters: Los Angeles Angels

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:57:51 +0000

I thought that was who you meant but the link is to K-Rod. It is my understanding that those happen automatically for you guys when you post. Just thought I’d let you know.

By: judahbenhur

judahbenhur — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:12:26 +0000

Paperlions: The Angels have over 50 million coming off the books after this season. If Wells has a bounce back year they should be able to move him in the last two years of his contract, and even with eating a significant portion of his contract they would save even more. Morales is still inexpensive, as is Trumbo, Trout, Bourjos and Walden. With a TV deal that pays them 150 million per season there is no way the Pujols contract cripples the team as you suggest.

By: judahbenhur

judahbenhur — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:07:39 +0000

I agree with your lineup, but there could be two variations. Callaspo hitting second at times may make sense because he is a contact hitter and had the highest on base percentage on the team. And you want that in front of Pujols. Kendrick would then hit sixth. And when Trumbo plays third Kendrick hits second and Trumbo sixth behind Hunter. But as longs as Morales is in that lineup it looks deep, talented and powerful. Abreu is great insurance and the ability to keep Trout and Conger at triple-A playing and improving bodes well for the future.

By: Matthew Pouliot

Matthew Pouliot — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:25 +0000

That’s the other Francisco Rodriguez. He’s spent time with the Angels the last two years, amassing a 4.43 ERA in 61 innings.

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:32:44 +0000

K-Rod comeback? Really?

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:36:45 +0000

If they have so much payroll flexibility….then why did they say they could only sign Wilson because Pujols agreed to a backloaded contract?

I’m sure they have more future flexibility, but the mega-TV deal has not kicked in yet.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:52:36 +0000

Great? Try the left-handed stuff dreams are made off…..

By: jason1214

jason1214 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:59:55 +0000

AND they’d have $$ more and a better lineup with Napoli vs Wells.
Just because they have a brand new cable deal doesn’t mean its an endless piggy bank.
If they have any injuries in that rotation they will struggle. Rangers have a much deeper rotation and probably a better lineup already.

By: crackersnap

crackersnap — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:23:30 +0000

They have more payroll flexibility than you think. They had enough to sign Pujols AND Wilson. And, when all is said and done, the payroll difference between 2011 and 2012 (including all the arb raises and Pujols and Wilson, etc.) should be less than $10 million.

By: crackersnap

crackersnap — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:57:13 +0000

How does the bullpen rank as improved? Well…

1) For starters, getting rid of Rodney is a huge addition by subtraction.

2) Last year Walden (AL All Star) was set to start the season as the 7th inning guy, not closer. He was thrown into the closer role by accident. This year he enters the Spring as the closer and can prepare accordingly. Just cutting his blown saves in half puts the Angels back in the Wild Card race using last year’s results. And he is purportedly developing a 3rd pitch this Winter.

3) Downs was arguably the top bullpen arm in baseball last season. Admittedly, we cannot separate him from how Scioscia uses him but there were times when he would enter in the 8th, get 3 outs on 4 pitches, and then be sat back down. His value is nto getting near enough credit.

4) Hawkins, as old as he is, can still throws in the mid 90′s. Experience plus speed is a plus to this staff.

5) Cassaveh has another year under his belt, and was credible last year. This is a natural upgrade as well.

6) Having 4 starters capable of dominance totally reduces the need to use bullpen arms, taking the stress off the bullpen in the first place. Just adding Wilson to Weaver/Santana/Haren will improve the pen, and we still have the chance to see Jerome Richards as the 5th man in the rotation all year. If he pitches as well as he did last season (which is an “if”), top to bottom this rotation improves the 2012 bullpen.

By: jason1214

jason1214 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:53:46 +0000

Moreno, should’ve fired the previous GM the MINUTE he flipped Mike Napoli for Wells.
That idiotic trade is why the Angels have no payroll flexibility to add rotation/bullpen help
They also have too many 1b/dh types. Too bad Morales/Trumbo can’t play 3rd or LF.

By: lyon810

lyon810 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:13:51 +0000

no question Wells sits, Hunter’s bat far outweighs (testament to how bad Wells is more than how well Hunter can hit) that of Vernon

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:47:49 +0000

We will see! Go Yankees!

By: packerpride03

packerpride03 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:20:06 +0000

I wanna see trout play if that means hunter or wells has to sit that’s fine

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:03 +0000

Err. Obviously Hawkins isn’t returning, since he was with the Brewers last year. But considering the Angels were #10 in bullpen ERA last year and added Hawkins, I doubt they’re going to be bottom 5.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:46:30 +0000

You’re aware that Walden had a 2.98 ERA last year, Hawkins a 2.42, and Downs a 1.34, right? And all those guys are returning?

By: lyon810

lyon810 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:39:31 +0000

In terms of bullpen rankings, how do the Angels finish anywhere outside the bottom 5?

By: lyon810

lyon810 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:38:28 +0000

and for what it’s worth, I was not referring to Scott Downs

By: lyon810

lyon810 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:28:25 +0000

The word “great” is tossed around too lightly nowadays

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:20:26 +0000

It’s a testament to how bad the Angels offense was that adding Pujols doesn’t make their offense better than “good”.

That rotation could be killer, though.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:10:45 +0000

Scott Downs is great.

By: footballnut2011

footballnut2011 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:55:03 +0000

This should be a fun team to watch. I really hope they pick up a solid middle reliever.

By: seanthegreatest

seanthegreatest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:45:47 +0000

Looks like lots of trade bait. Maybe flip Abreu for an arm in the bullpen? Plenty of depth in the OF?

By: lyon810

lyon810 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:21:31 +0000

That bullpen is bleak. Can someone call Scot out of retirement?