FanShot
8 months ago >by mustard_man
- Tony Reagins will not return in 2012
- Andrew Freidman will be the President of Baseball Operations and GM
- Jeff Mathis has been released
- He will release underperforming players already under contract regardless of the financial impact.
- He has learned from prior mistakes and will not let them occur again on his watch
I don't want to hear him say shit
I want to see things get done
ryanfea - September 18, 2011
Good point - I agree and edited the title.
mustard_man - September 18, 2011
I blame Arte's post season comments for the acquisition of Vernon Wells
maybe he has learned a valuable lesson and will stay away from definitive statements.
UCIHalo - September 18, 2011
ARTE ALLTALK
There, I said it. Until further notice.
Rev Halofan - September 18, 2011
But the beer prices!
Stirrups - September 19, 2011
I appreciate the high payroll
I do not appreciate the way he allows it to be spent.
hauldog - September 20, 2011
Here goes...
1. Can Reagins and get someone competent into the front office.
2. Then STFU and let your front office do their jobs.
3. Tell Soth to keep his eyes on the field and let the new GM ask for input when and if it’s needed.
4. Cut Wells; if you could stomach paying out GMJ’s abomination of a contract, you can swallow this. I don’t want the kids infected by the suck OR the implication you can have one good season and then coast the rest of your career.
5. Fire Lyle Spencer and his favorite player while you’re at it. The organization looks bad enough without this guy making excuses for the worst player in baseball every chance he gets.
BigKahunaMan - September 18, 2011
I say keep Wells
He’s had a very inconsistent career, but he could possibly turn in a decent season next year. He can platoon at DH and left field, or maybe just stay at DH if we let go of Bobby. I’d rather cut the .250 hitting DH with no power and eat his relatively pedestrian 9 million, rather than cut a 21 million load who can at least still hit some bombs, and who could very well rebound to a .250 average.
nicolasville - September 18, 2011
Fair enough.
I’m more okay with keeping Abreu because barring total insanity by Reagins we would only have him for 2012 anyway, whereas we’re stuck with Wells and he’s got enough mobility left that Soth would constantly be tempted to put him in the field, taking time away from Trout.
BigKahunaMan - September 18, 2011
Eh, Vernon's OPS is lower than Bobby's.
By 65 pts no less. His (very) occasional power isn’t more valuable than Bobby’s on-base ability.
Bobby has 30 doubles. Vernon has 13. Vernon is Russell Branyon, but less well-rounded, if that’s even possible.
Bobby has an on-base percentage more than 100 pts greater than Vernon. That’s far more valuable than the 40 pt SLG advantage Vernon offers over Bobby.
Turks Teeth - September 18, 2011
True, of course
But I just don’t see Bobby improving…it’s been a two year slide already. If he had at least kept his power he might be worth keeping. Vernon Wells has had a terrible, terrible season, but he is one year removed from a .270, .847 OPS season (albeit that being in a pitcher’s park); and he’s had a pretty inconsistent career. Just see more chance of a rebound than Bobby, not even taking in the monetary difference.
nicolasville - September 19, 2011
I don't know, I'd have more hope of someone a little less blessed and a little more stressed than VW to turn it around.
Abreu is old and won’t get better, but I don’t get the feeling VW is going to come into camp next year in the best shape of his career and doubly-refocused on producing. Judging from his comments in the Plunkett opt-out thread, VW sounds like he’s just expecting to naturally play better next year.
And his numbers this year (.219/.252/.406) aren’t too far below his road numbers last year (.224/.299/.400). The only difference this year looks like Mickey Hatcher told him to make sure he doesn’t miss his pitch, resulting in the significant drop in OBP (or walks if you believe in a fake stat).
snowhor - September 19, 2011
I'm sure we'll still get best shape of his life stories headed into ST though.
~MMP~ - September 20, 2011
you are wise
Rally Manatee - September 19, 2011 via mobile
he would never DH full time
as we can see with all the platooning he is involved with this season.
eyespy - September 19, 2011
Here's mine (in order of importance):
1. Fire Reagins
2. DFA Mathis
3. Sign a power third baseman
4. DFA Rodney
5. Re-sign Mike Napoli (do whatever it takes)
angelslogic - September 18, 2011
We wont have to do #4
Rodney’s contract mercifully is up in 10 games.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - September 18, 2011
Do it anyway
He deserves our spite
The Limey - September 18, 2011 via mobile
There's no way
Napoli comes back
Nathan Aderhold - September 18, 2011
I agree, except:
If the Angels get a new GM, and that GM likes Naps and tells Scioscia who is boss, and that new GM pulls a Reagins in reverse.
angelslogic - September 18, 2011
Damn, if we could get Friedman...
damn
mathisrocks5 - September 18, 2011
Nate's Five
1) DFA Mathis
2) Fire Reagins.
3) Hire someone competent to be the new GM, such as Brian Cashman or myself.
4) Tell Wells he has Spring Training and April of next season to return to form or else he’s cut.
5) Send me a sandwich from the buffet in the owner’s box.
Commander_Nate - September 18, 2011
More ideas...
6. By whatever means necessary, convince Vernon Wells he can make a greater contribution to society as a preacher. “Too blessed to stress” is a great message for my neighbors, not so much for my ball team.
7. Equip Torii with a “shock” bracelet that will induce a mild electrical shock each time he thinks he’s still as fast as he was 15 years ago. Then look over to Aybar and suggest that one could be fitted for him too, at higher voltage. (I get to administer the shocks).
8. Beg/borrow/kidnap Napoli back from Texas.
9. If #8 doesn’t work, petition for a 2nd DH. My eyes will never make it through another season of such piss-poor offense from the catching position.
10. Also if Mathis remains, sell a Mathis pinata, complete with Billy-Bob teeth. This should raise a few million. And that’s just from us die-hard HHer’s.
sothball - September 18, 2011
1.) To stop talking
2.) Lock up Howie Kendrick,
3.) Make some inquiries into a new GM for 2013, someone with experience
ihearhowie2.0 - September 18, 2011
1. Launch Tony Reagins out of a cannon
That’s pretty much it for me.
Teixeira Who? - September 18, 2011
Lol
miketrout - September 18, 2011 via mobile
You have no idea how down I am with that...
Quad Fin Rider - September 18, 2011
Here goes.....
1. Trade Ervin Santana for some high-end prospects.
2. Use the money from trading Santana and sign C.J. Wilson.
3. DFA Mathis and trade Bobby Abreu (at Spring training when some team will bite).
4. Trade Mark Trumbo, Garett Richards, and another Minor leaguer for Joey Votto.
5. Install Torii Hunter as the full-time DH.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - September 18, 2011
no to 4 for sure
Why give up our only real 1B man and only real power hitter? Trumbo stays until we see what Morales can still do. Even then, I’m very hesitant to let him go. I’m excited about the rumors that they are going to work him hard at 3B in winter ball. Also, your first point is screwy. If we signed Wilson first AND a power hitter, then maybe we could afford to trade a starter.
Rally Manatee - September 19, 2011 via mobile
For one that trade would never happen
But you do realize that Votto is a much, MUCH better hitter than Trumbo will ever be, right?
dmhead - September 19, 2011
My point is
I don’t think we should give up power to get power. I’d rather go after Pujols or Fielder on the FA market.
Rally Manatee - September 20, 2011
Fair enough
But if that trade were somehow offered up, even Reagins wouldn’t be dumb enough to turn it down. Power or not, Votto’s overall production would make all of us forget our boy Trumbo.
dmhead - September 21, 2011
You might be underestimating Tony.
snowhor - September 21, 2011
True
Looking at their HR and RBI numbers he probably figures they’re essentially the same player.
dmhead - September 21, 2011
Love Joey Votto.
mustard_man - September 19, 2011
Regarding CJ
Love to see him in a Halos uniform; the optics would be hideous if CJ was paid more than WTY.
mustard_man - September 19, 2011
No way they do #4
hauldog - September 20, 2011
Arte's first concern is making casual fans happy.
Orange County doesn’t know baseball when they see it. They know baseball races, shell games, t-shirt guns, build me up buttercup, kids run the bases and low beer prices.
Too Mickey Mouse to bring good baseball to the house.
Halowitz - September 18, 2011
They did all that stuff before Arte
Except buttercup
Rally Manatee - September 19, 2011 via mobile
annd they do it in 95% of MLB stadiums
ihearhowie2.0 - September 19, 2011
This list should have been 7 things Arte should do. 6 and 7 are below.
6. ???
7. Profit
snowhor - September 19, 2011
Enough with Mike Napoli.
People make Mike Napoli out to be Johnny Bench. Don’t be fooled by his numbers in Texas. He has a lot of protection in that Texas lineup (just like Vlad did last year). How many good pitches do you think he would see with Premium Jeffy hitting behind him? Look, Napoli was never going to be the full time catcher here. If he hadn’t been traded we wouldn’t have Trumbo in the lineup because Napoli would be the regular first baseman. Given the choice, I’ll take Trumbo. I know there’s a lot of love for Napoli out there and this post is going to upset a lot of people. But this team has to look beyond Mike Napoli.
njhalofan - September 19, 2011
The team could have at least gotten something useful for Napoli
Instead, it got an underperforming, incredibly overpaid headache. That’s why most of us are still pissed. Napoli should have gotten us something better.
Commander_Nate - September 19, 2011
But they didn't
A lot of people here are like the ex who just can’t understand that it’s over and keep looking for a reason.
Its time to move on.
Seik1177 - September 19, 2011
No, it is not "over"
The consequences are just beginning. The first will most likely be the Angels losing a division title that they could have won otherwise. You can move on if you want, but the rest of us will have to keep watching a disappointing baseball team.
Suboptimal - September 19, 2011
I'll be watching the same team as you
Admittedly I’m not a big fan of Napoli & believed he would have performed similarly to last year if he had remained on the team. IMO this would have resulted in a platoon in left field of Bobby & Trumbo and no Conger in the majors and a worse record. Napoli needed a change of scenery, he wasn’t going to perform while in an Angels uniform.
So to that point, I say its time to stop looking at what has happened and think about what could realistically happen to improve the team.
Seik1177 - September 20, 2011
No, we're not the ex who can't understand it's over and looking for a reason.
We’re the one who broke up with the hot ex, replaced her with a wildebeest and now have everyone laughing at us. The commitment we made to the “upgrade” lasts for 3 more years, so unless we’re going to break that commitment and meet someone new, expect our misery to continue.
snowhor - September 20, 2011
I agree.
Wells is an underperforming, incredibly overpaid headache and we shouldn’t have traded for him. But let’s face it. There wasn’t much of a market for Mike Napoli either.
njhalofan - September 19, 2011
Stop kidding yourself. The market that did not exist for Naps was the fault of Sosh.
The rest of baseball was only able to view Napoli through the lens of what Scioscia was and was not doing with him, and what Scioscia was saying as to his reasons for doing and not doing with him. The balance of MLB had no ability to judge Napoli independent of the Scioscia lens.
Now that Napoli is out from under that lens, and the balance of MLB can see what Napoli can truly do as an MLB player when presented with the opportunity, his “market” is significantly higher than it was a mere 12 months ago. NYY and Boston would swap for him in a split second. Phillie probably would, too. Only the Cards might take a day or two before they pulled any trigger.
No, he is not Johnny Bench. But he is on the verge of being the most potent baseball player playing the catcher position in the 2012 MLB playoffs.
Stirrups - September 19, 2011
Great. So we have a home grown power hitting catcher (under club control and at a reasonable contract) whose defense is at least the equal of the triumvirate of catchers we have used this season.In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. It’s unfortunate this damn cyclops resides in Texas.
If these decisions truly bear the fingerprints of Scioscia, I can’t imagine this team ever again having a catcher of the ability of Mike Napoli or Benjie Molina, much less Jose Molina. We will be doomed to “premium” catchers like Mathis for the eternity of Sciosci’a reign.
sothball - September 19, 2011
Management's decision on how to use Mike Napoli doesn't make him less valuable, it makes management less valuable.
snowhor - September 19, 2011
You say not to be "fooled" by Napoli's numbers.
I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to baseball, but even I can’t be fooled by a .316/ .411/ .617 slash line with 26 home runs (as of 9/19/11). If Napoli hits like that for a few years there will be Johnny Bench comparisons in the future, and they will be valid.
It is Napoli’s fault that he was “never going to be the full-time catcher”? Or is that the fault of a deeply misguided mother hen named Mike Scioscia?
angelslogic - September 19, 2011
And he's actually hitting better on the road, so no one can blame his numbers on Arlington.
Road: .322/.405/.621 – 13 HRs.
Home: .310/.418/.613 – 13 HRs.
More power on the road and a few more walks at home (though of course, everyone knows walks are a fake stat).
snowhor - September 19, 2011
Napoli is awesome
But no, he’s no Johnny Bench. For starters, Bench did win 10 gold gloves. He could be more of a Piazza, sans the juice though. An offensive juggernaut from the catching position. What are you worried about though? We have three catchers with the highest hitting around .205.
Teixeira Who? - September 19, 2011
Mike Piazza might be the reason Mike Napoli got the shaft from Sosh
It must have felt awesome for Joe Girardi to bench the man who took away his starting job (Posada). Mike Scioscia never got the opportunity to get his revenge on Piazza so he took it out on another Italian-American power hitting catcher.
LAA101010 - September 19, 2011
Napoli is no Johnny Bench
Bench, while winning the 1970 MVP award, hit 293/345/587, a .932 OPS. That was the best season of his career.
Napoli is hitting 316/411/617 for an OPS of 1.028. Johnny Bench never had a season that good. As a post above shows, he’s hitting just as well on the road as in Texas.
RallyMonkey5 - September 20, 2011
I've always loved Naps but c'mon
Bench was only 22 that year, caught 139 games at catcher, with another 20 games at first, third, left, right and center field. Give Napoli another 200-something plate appearances this year (Bench had 671 in 1970) and I’m pretty sure that slash line would probably dip below Johnny’s.
dmhead - September 21, 2011
Weren't offenses on average less productive in Bench's era?
hauldog - September 21, 2011
An ArteFul Promotion, perhaps?
How about if he promises to DFA Wells and Mathis provided 5000 new full season ticket packages are sold. I can dream, can’t I?
leemoulton - September 20, 2011
Dumping Reagins and Mathis is obvious...
also stop letting Soth insist on using players who can’t get on base.
I’m willing to give Wells one more season to turn it around. He’s always going to be horribly overpaid, but if he can somehow manage to put up an OPS of .800 that’s both helpful and somewhat realistic. If he fails to impress by the All start break make him a permanent platoon or bench player until we can find someone better for the OF in 2013.
I don’t see a whole lot of opportunities for the offense to improve on this team short of a trade or moving Trumbo to 3b if Kendrys comes back or counting on Trout to turn into Mickey Mantle. We could maybe grab another bullpen arm. The best case scenario is Kendrys comes back healthy, Trumbo moves to 3b and Wells learns to hit. All three of those things are unlikely.
Nashdiesel - September 21, 2011
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