Worst to First - The Sequel

[mirrf]

Congrats on winning the series!

Originally Posted by NYY #23

7. Los Angeles Angels (64-98)

Boooo! Stupid Angels.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by JaBurns

Congratulations on the short stay with the Nats. Loking forward to seeing what the Angels have in store for you and your leadership talents. Enjoy your vacation.

Thank you on both points!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

Congrats on winning the series!




Boooo! Stupid Angels.

Thank you!

I have to admit that the Angels are one of my least favorite teams too. So I hope for a short stay.

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Thank you!

I have to admit that the Angels are one of my least favorite teams too. So I hope for a short stay.

I want them to go from last to first, then back to last and stay there. But they must have had a history of winning if they've avoided having you as GM all these years.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

I want them to go from last to first, then back to last and stay there. But they must have had a history of winning if they've avoided having you as GM all these years.

The Angels have had a decent history. They have a career winning percentage of .488. They've only had one bad stretch of history from 2024-2026 where they finished last three straight years, but that coincided with the beginning of my tenure with the expansion Breakers. They've also been to the playoffs 12 times, but haven't won it all yet.

[mirrf]

Bump to get back to the first page.

[mirrf]

I'm bumping this again because I want to see it on page 1.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

I'm bumping this again because I want to see it on page 1.

Thanks for the multiple bumps. One trip seemed to lead to another in August, and I'm excited that this is the first week I don't have travel planned since the beginning of July. But I've been looking forward to getting back to this.

[JaBurns]

Good to have you back! Looking forward to the reports.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by JaBurns

Good to have you back! Looking forward to the reports.

Thank you!

[NYY #23]

The Angels have been on a downward trend the past three years, losing 98, 86, and 101 games respectively. That's allowed the Angels to restock their minor league system with 20 year old pitcher Aubrey Everett, 19 year old pitcher Pat Gross, 19 year old pitcher Michael Ferguson, and 23 year old centerfielder Victor Gonzalez all drafted within the first two rounds of the past two years, with another top pick scheduled this year.

Unfortunately for Angels fans the talent in the minor league system is pretty bare outside of those four players. With just $13 million available for free agents I don't expect Los Angeles to be a quick rebound.

[mirrf]

Bump. Woo. Almost made it to page 2.

[NYY #23]

If Angels fans were expecting a big offseason they're likely to be disappointed. That's not to say the Angels didn't have a busy offseason. One of my first goals from my owner was to trade our closer Jose Rincon. He saved 30 games last year with a 2.04 ERA in 75 innings as a 33 year old, and let the league with 51 saves two years ago. He's definitely talented, but also a clubhouse cancer.

Despite his reputation there were a couple of teams willing to take a chance, including the Rays who are in it to win it next year. So the Angels packaged Rincon along with 23 year old second baseman Jorge Perez (2.9 WAR) and 28 year old left fielder Chris Phillips (3.7 WAR) along with minor league outfielder Vicente Miranda and sent them to Tampa Bay.

The return coming back to Los Angeles won't excite many this year - 25 year old catcher Stephen Williams and prospects 23 year old third baseman Jeff Ryan, 21 year old first baseman Jose Moreno, and 22 year old second baseman William Hayes.

In addition to the trade the Angels signed 29 year old Cuban third baseman Leon Espinoza, 25 year old second baseman Sun-wei Siew from Taiwan, 26 year old starting pitcher Hua-ding Du from Taiwan, 23 year old starting pitcher Sugimoto Iida from Japan, 27 year old right fielder Jesus Cuevas from Cuba, and 32 year old starting pitcher Gus Smith. Smith was 10-14 with a 4.39 ERA last year with the Rangers after two seasons as a closer where he saved 62 games. He's the only player we signed with major league experience and we're paying him $1.9 million.

2057 might not be a great season for the Angels, but in the long run I feel like we're a better team because of this offseason.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

Bump. Woo. Almost made it to page 2.

Thanks again for the bump. Things really have been pretty crazy lately, and I really haven't had much time for OOTP. I kept waiting for things to get back to normal, but that really hasn't happened yet, so I figure slow progress is better than no progress. We'll see how that works.

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Thanks again for the bump. Things really have been pretty crazy lately, and I really haven't had much time for OOTP. I kept waiting for things to get back to normal, but that really hasn't happened yet, so I figure slow progress is better than no progress. We'll see how that works.

Even 1 out of 1 Marcus agrees that personal life is more important than playing a game.

So maybe you get back to this after the holidays, maybe earlier, or maybe never. I hope everything is fine with you and your family and that is a happy distraction that's pulling you away from this thread.

[abell1198]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Things really have been pretty crazy lately, and I really haven't had much time for OOTP.

This is just so sad....

Not much time for OOTP??

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

Even 1 out of 1 Marcus agrees that personal life is more important than playing a game.

So maybe you get back to this after the holidays, maybe earlier, or maybe never. I hope everything is fine with you and your family and that is a happy distraction that's pulling you away from this thread.

Well, I wouldn't quite say happy distraction, but not unhappy either. Mostly just way too much traveling, but hopefully that's coming to an end, at least for a little while since it seems to take a lot out of me.

But maybe being away and getting a glimpse again was good, because I've been looking forward to playing again. So hopefully I'm back and ready to knock off the Angels.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by abell1198

This is just so sad....

Not much time for OOTP??

It is sad, it just isn't right.

[NYY #23]

Before getting in to the Hall of Fame results I wanted to report on a big trade of former Astro Pascal Sisto. Coming off a year in which he hit .311 with 30 home runs and drove in 101 runs Sisto was traded to the Brewers for a pair of prospects. Sisto was one of my favorite players, and I think will be a future Hall of Famer.

While three players were elected to the Hall of Fame this year, I don't have ties to any of the players.



Hector 'Wild Thing' Sanchez was the leading vote getter, appearing on 98.9% of the ballots. Sanchez will go in to the Hall wearing a Padres' cap after hitting .304 during his career with 447 home runs and 1592 RBI. A 3 time MVP Sanchez won 15 Silver Slugger Awards, and was a 13 time All-Star.



Steve Bannatyne was the second player elected to the Hall of Fame this year after receiving 92.9% of the vote in his first year of eligibility after a 16 year career where he spent seven years as a starter, and 9 as a coser. The Winner, South Dakota native was 149-105 during his career with 322 saves and a 2.86 ERA, winning three Cy Young Awards, and going to 9 All-Star games.



Rays catcher Reynaldo Chavez received 76.1% of the vote and was the third player elected. A .263 career hitter as a catcher who hit 433 home runs, 1326 RBI, and scored 1131 runs. Chavez won one Gold Glove behind the plate, one Rookie of the Year Award, three Silver Slugger Awards, and went to six All-Star Games.

2B Héctor Sánchez 98.9 (1st year) Inducted HOF
CL Steve Bannatyne 92.9 (1st year) Inducted HOF
C Reynaldo Chávez 76.1 (1st year) Inducted HOF
SP Michael Baldwin 68.9 (3rd year)
C Tony Pollock 67.5 (4th year)
C Manny Rodríguez 58.2 (1st year)
CL Juan Gómez 56.4 (2nd year)
CF Grant Murphy 22.5 (10th year) Dropped
SP Nick Seaton 17.5 (2nd year)
CL Bill Olson 17.5 (3rd year)
C José Carlos Escobar 14.6 (8th year)
SP Howard White 14.6 (2nd year)
SP Luis Rosas 12.9 (10th year) Dropped
CL Jason Ray 10.4 (1st year)
SP Raúl Maldonado 9.6 (1st year)
SP Mike Darch 8.2 (4th year)
2B Albert Wilcox 7.1 (10th year) Dropped
SS Christian Lee 6.1 (10th year) Dropped
CL Johnny Stewart 5.4 (7th year)
C Rafael Herrera 5.0 (2nd year)
SP Juan Gómez 4.6 (6th year) Dropped

[NYY #23]

Heading into the 2057 season the Angels are expected to improve with a predicted 75-87 record, but it's still going to be a long season in Los Angeles. Our 12-16 record in Spring Training seems a fair predictor of the season.

Prior to Spring Training the Angels announced the last of our signings, bringing aboard 23 year old center fielder Soetsu Takahashi. He'll get a shot to hit leadoff and man centerfield this year, and hopefully will join right fielder Dave Flynn as our 2/3 of our outfield of the future.