Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 09, 2006
Getting Their Wings

Doug Padilla looks at the talent in the Angels pipeline as a reason for no big moves this off season:

General manager Bill Stoneman admitted that his No. 1 off-season priority was signing free-agent Paul Konerko, and there was disappointment when the first baseman returned to the Chicago White Sox. Plan B does not involve spending the $60 million-plus earmarked for Konerko on somebody else.

Maybe the Steve Finley signing caused them to re-think signing veterans.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:28 AM | Management | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Hard not to be disappointed with the Angels inactivity this off-season. Their need for offense .... particularly someone with power... was exposed in the post-season, and the response (thus far) is to allow the only person who did hit in the playoffs walk away... and a failure to bring in anyone from outside the organization.

Stoneman is putting an awful lot of pressure on Kotchman, Mathis and the hopefully-recovered Dallas McPherson to carry the offense.... and overestimating the contributions of Erstad (thankfully entering the final year of his contract) and Anderson (who has mysteriously become baseball's most expensive singles hitter).

He's also down a pitcher...allowing Byrd and Washburn to leave, and replacing them with Hector Carrasco...who is needed to replace Escobar in the bullpen rather than the starting spot Stoneman seems to have promised him. Hopefully, Weaver steps up and wins the #5 spot in the rotation outright.

Coming off a very disappointing playoff exit, and watching most of their competition in the division and throughout the American League improve themselves, I think the Angels have taken a step or two backwards by sitting on their hands this off-season.

Posted by: Drew at January 9, 2006 09:21 AM

Yes, it is hard to believe that the Angels have basically done nothing this year to improve but have actually fallen behind. But that article has said that they are really anxious to give some of their young talent a chance. So as much as Angel fans will not want to see it, especially those season ticket holders that have seen their cost go up 20%, this may be somewhat of a "rebuilding from within" year where they will see what happens with what is seen around the league as some of the best young talent around. As a fan for 39 years, I guess I could put up with that for ONE SEASON. I think that the Angels wheeling and dealing over the last two seasons has spoiled us a little and we think that they are going to go out every year and get the best talent out there no matter what the cost. They gave it a good try this year (Konerko has said that you have no idea how close he came to signing with the Angels) but came up short. And the trades they looked at always wanted the young talent that Stoneman is not willing to part with. So instead the Angels will try that "coveted young talent" themselves and see what happens.

Posted by: Bob Eddy at January 9, 2006 03:46 PM

edgardo alfonzo = raw power.

Posted by: tony flynn at January 9, 2006 08:42 PM

angels are still good, but the rangers are winning the west. even if their pitchers have 5.00 eras. any hope to get manny???

Posted by: colin at January 10, 2006 10:37 PM
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