Los Angeles Angels Organization Discussion

I see a mixed bag in 2011—a couple steps forward and a couple steps back, or rather a bunch of stalled players. The downside is that a lot of the breakout candidates didn’t breakout but either flopped or simply tread water; some were due to injury - Segura, Grichuk, and Martinez Mesa, and others, including a quartet of the typical Angels toolsy outfielders in Moore, Witherspoon, Clarke, and Bolden, due to inability to develop major weaknesses (Moore had a solid season, but we must remember it was in Salt Lake and that atrocious walk rate isn’t going to fly in the majors, except as a relatively useful 4th outfielder). Trevor Reckling, while having a solid season isn’t taking any major steps forward; I think it is safe to say that he looks more like a #4-5 starter at best. Alexi Amarista, as with Jeremy Moore, looks to be what he is—a future bench player, useful, but probably not a starter.

On the other hand, there were a bunch of strong performances and breakout seasons. Nick Maronde and John Hellweg look on the verge of huge breakouts. Kole Calhoun and Carlos Ramirez further legitimized themselves and could surprise and become quality major league regulars (I like to think of Calhoun as a poor man’s Brian Giles, and Ramirez as something similar to a Ramon Hernandez). There are also a bunch of sleeper pitchers in Ariel Pena, Matt Shoemaker, Daniel Tillman, Steve Geltz, David Carpenter, etc.

Further down in Orem are bunch of promising young position players that look like legit prospects in Kaleb Cowart (who wasn’t all that exciting but did well enough), CJ Cron (should move fast), Taylor Lindsey, and Abel Baker. It is too soon to get too excited about any of these players, except for Cron, but there is some potential here.

And of course Mike Trout became even more awesome. He almost seems to be underrated at this point because people were strangely disappointed that he wasn’t able to do what no 19-year old position player has ever done: become a star right away. Is he ready? Depends on what you mean by “ready.” Ready to be star? Probably not—I’d say 2013 or 2014. Ready to be better than Vernon Wells? Probably. Ready to be a quality major league player? Yes, definitely. If he got a starting gig in April I think he’d struggle a bit at first, then hold his own for a couple months before taking off in the second half, finishing around .290/.800 BA/OPS and plenty of SB and XBH.

All in all it felt like the farm stabilized in the 10-15 range. With more positive developments than setbacks in 2012, it could enter the top 10 even if/when Trout graduates, but if its another year of one step forward, one step back it will fall to the 15-20 range.

If the guy could ever get (and stay) healthy, I’m really excited to see what he can do. Too much has been made of him being drafted right before Trout, and I hope that doesn’t ruin his development.

I’ll stop dominating this thread in a moment, but wanted to point you to a good Angels prospect list, John:

Monkey With A Halo’s Top 30 Angels Prospect Countdown.

The above link goes to Mike Trout’s page but you can get to the other 29 prospects in a drop-down menu at the top of the page. I don’t agree with all of their rankings and are probably a bit rosy in their outlook on Angels prospects, but they offer excellent scouting reports and you’ll get some good sleeper picks from that list (ever heard of Jean Carlos Santiago? Didn’t think so).

Does anyone think he can be a decent 4th starter at this point?

“..sleepers or prospects you feel are overlooked.”

I like Ramirez and second baseman Taylor Lindsey, with Conger still in the picture at AAA, Lindsey likely has the clearest path to the majors.

“How do you think this system looks beyond phenom Mike Trout?”

Pretty good depth almost everywhere, almost to a fault. There are a handful of big-money contracts blocking some guys pretty close to being ready. It’s almost a shame Trout will go to Tempe in March with no realistic chance of breaking camp.

Pitching depth is thin, though, it was with Tyler Chatwood in the system, without him it’s much more of a question mark. A season affecting injury to a major league starter would be a problem, for sure.

“Is Trout ready to play in 2012?”

Yes, although unfortunately for him it will be in Salt Lake.

“If you took over this team tomorrow, what would be your plan for both the major league roster now that Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson are on board, and what do you do to improve the minor league organization?”

Have to make a trade before spring training, it’s a must.

The thought of Mark Trumbo playing third base isn’t a comforting one, and if he can’t then you have him, Abreu and Morales as DH options who can’t play anywhere else. At least one, and possibly both, have to go.

No one will touch the contracts of Wells or Hunter (and probably wouldn’t anyway), and Trout spending the first half in AAA isn’t a bad plan, but by July Tony Reagins better have a couple of teams fighting it out for Peter Bourjos.

I’d also have to think about moving Hank Conger at this point now that Chris Iannetta is on board. He would net a decent return.

"What, if anything, would you do differently in upcoming drafts, especially considering the potential impact of the new CBA on amateur acquisitions?

The CBA Draft changes are a great thing, so as the GM or PD guru I’d need to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the draft. Now, if you want to overpay a kid, you have to do so because you believe he will be worth it in four years and not because you have a bottomless budget.

you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

A year from now, you’ll wish you still had him.

I’m familiar with what he did in AZ.

He’d screw up a two car parade.

Says who?

For the last four years they’ve ranked in the bottom third in baseball.

Jerry DiPoto didn’t trade Dan Haren, Ken Kendrick did. He’s the owner, he’s also a former business partner of Arte Moreno.

You’re 100% right about this being a money move, but to give an “interim” GM credit for anything is flat out wrong.

He had the job for ten weeks.

Look at the guys the Dbacks have drafted on DiPoto’s watch. I’m not taking anything away from him, he works for a financially crippled organization and can only do what his bosses agree to.

But at the same time, if you think he’s good, then his record says otherwise.

On DiPoto’s watch, the Dbacks have drafted the likes of Daniel Schlereth, Brett Anderson, Jarrod Parker, Bryan Augenstein, Max Scherzer and Collin Cowgill, none of whom are with the organization.

He’s responsible for Marc Krauss, Paul Goldschmidt, Bobby Borchering and Tim Wheeler, guys who are limited to first base or DH, not a good thing for a NL team.

He’s also responsible for the drafting of a guy who failed his post-draft physical in Barrett Loux. That’s what happens when you overdraft a kid based on $$ and not on talent and don’t do your homework.

DiPoto was so highly thought of after the 2010 season he wasn’t brought back, Kevin Towers hired Rico Brogna to be the new Farm Director. It was only after a chance meeting at a restaurant in San Diego did Towers hire him back, at which time Brogna resigned after losing some of his authority.

This is the first time DiPoto will have full, uncontested authority over an organization, and if his track record of screwing up with less is any indication, the Angels are in deep shit.

Personally, I have no stake, I’m not an Angels fan.

But I DO know of his record in Arizona, and it’s not as good as it appears.