Post by Jay Cal on Jan 20, 2016 8:38:59 GMT -8
Anyone else get the feeling that the Angels have resigned themselves to not being very good this year?
The off season moves haven't wowed me. There wasn't much of an upgrade to last year. I'm not convinced Gentry or Nava are a real solution for the problem in Left Field, a problem that plagued the Angels last year. Not a lot of left handed bats in the line up, another problem from last year. Offensively Simmons is a downgrade from Aybar, I think long term it was a good trade, but it wasn't a win now move. I'm not convinced Escobar is going to have the same season he had last year, he might have a higher OBP than Freese, but I don't think he'll provide the same pop in the line up. I don't have a lot of faith in Wilson or, sadly enough, Weaver. I expect Richards, Skaggs, and Santiago to have good seasons, (Santiago had an excellent first half and miserable in the second, but it's also the most pitching he's ever done in a single season). I think we'll get more out of Shoemaker this season than last season, I don' think it could be much worse. I think we'll see a slight regression from Heany, Sophomore slump. Pujols won't have another season like last, he's even questionable for opening day. And there isn't enough offense piece to surround Trout.
All that being said, I didn't think the Angels needed to go after a Hayward, Cespedes, or even Upton... but Murphy last season was awesome and they let him walk. Just doesn't make sense. In years past I could see the bigger picture. And I think Simmons and Escobar will have good years, but I just don't know that those moves make the team contenders in 2016.
I'm not trying to get all woe is me, I know every team has lulls. I think they know what it is. Nearly 40MM off the books next season when Wilson and Weaver contracts are up. Unfortunately the free agent class next year won't be as strong as this years.
My prediction, 2018 the Angels will spend all the money to win.
The off season moves haven't wowed me. There wasn't much of an upgrade to last year. I'm not convinced Gentry or Nava are a real solution for the problem in Left Field, a problem that plagued the Angels last year. Not a lot of left handed bats in the line up, another problem from last year. Offensively Simmons is a downgrade from Aybar, I think long term it was a good trade, but it wasn't a win now move. I'm not convinced Escobar is going to have the same season he had last year, he might have a higher OBP than Freese, but I don't think he'll provide the same pop in the line up. I don't have a lot of faith in Wilson or, sadly enough, Weaver. I expect Richards, Skaggs, and Santiago to have good seasons, (Santiago had an excellent first half and miserable in the second, but it's also the most pitching he's ever done in a single season). I think we'll get more out of Shoemaker this season than last season, I don' think it could be much worse. I think we'll see a slight regression from Heany, Sophomore slump. Pujols won't have another season like last, he's even questionable for opening day. And there isn't enough offense piece to surround Trout.
All that being said, I didn't think the Angels needed to go after a Hayward, Cespedes, or even Upton... but Murphy last season was awesome and they let him walk. Just doesn't make sense. In years past I could see the bigger picture. And I think Simmons and Escobar will have good years, but I just don't know that those moves make the team contenders in 2016.
I'm not trying to get all woe is me, I know every team has lulls. I think they know what it is. Nearly 40MM off the books next season when Wilson and Weaver contracts are up. Unfortunately the free agent class next year won't be as strong as this years.
My prediction, 2018 the Angels will spend all the money to win.
