Here's the latest from the AL West…
- The Angels are considering a contract extension for the newly-acquired Chris Iannetta, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Iannetta is signed through 2012 and the Halos have a $5MM club option for 2013 that Iannetta can now void due to being traded before the start of the 2013 season.
- Also from Renck, the Rockies tried to acquire Angels right-hander John Hellweg in the Iannetta trade. Hellweg, 23, has a 3.83 ERA, an 11.4 K/9 rate and 7.6 BB/9 in four minor league seasons. He spent last season pitching for the Halos' Class A+ affiliate.
- Japanese shortstop Munenori Kawasaki wants to play in the Major Leagues, but only for the Mariners, reports MLB.com's Matt Weber. Kawasaki, 30, is a free agent so he can sign without a posting fee and he said he's willing to sign a minor league deal and play a different position if necessary.
- MLB.com's Greg Johns has more details on Kawasaki, who has a career .294 average but just hit .267/.310/.327 last season with Fukuoka. Johns says the Mariners have scouted Kawasaki in Japan so he is "at least on the Mariners' radar."
- The Athletics aren't one of the teams interested in Eric Chavez, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). "He wouldn't be a fit for them and vice versa," Slusser writes.
- In a mailbag piece, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan looks at the obstacles preventing the Rangers from making a move for Prince Fielder and Matt Garza. Sullivan also notes that it's only a matter of time before Ron Washington gets another contract extension from the club.
- The Mariners' deep minor league system seems to give them an advantage under the new collective bargaining agreement, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
Geoff Baker needs someone to explain the new CBA to him before he starts to embarrass himself even worse. To say that article was off the mark would be pretty kind.
John Hellweg Maybe Angels don’t need to sign another RP
You must not have noticed the 7BB’s per 9 innings. The guy is 22 playing in A+ and still manages a WHIP around 1.5. If his control ever stabilized then he could potentially be a bullpen arm but right now …
I actually didn’t notice that ty…Maybe one more yr in the minors for him
His numbers as a starter are actually really good as compared to as a reliever
Contract extension mean goodbye to Conger. Dipoto is giving away the farm for old players. Reagins 2.0!
Perhaps Reagins never left in the first place?
He does still work for the Angels.
That’s not true he said he wanted to improve the farm system..Then he again he offered A-ram money
Iannetta is old? What if he thinks Conger could be terrific playing a third of the games at catcher and half the games at DH? That would be DiPoto NOT repeating the Napoli mistake. Plus, Iannetta’s value was pushed down by an organization that only recognized what he couldn’t do before, instead of appreciating what he could do. Smart to lock him up before his value shoots up.
Your sentence of “Plus, Iannetta’s value was pushed down by an organization that only recognized what he couldn’t do before, instead of appreciating what he could do.” could be changed to add Napoli’s name and it would work for the Ranger’s in what they got from him. Therefore, I really don’t see Scioscia seeing any plusses in his game. He is an offensive upgrade over Mathis though and that in and of itself is hilarious!!!
He’s a much more natural defender than Napoli. I imagine he’d get much more of a chance from Scioscia.
I would really like to see what Iannetta does for half a season before locking him up. If he pulls a Wells (coming from friendly offensive confines to the offense depressing Angels stadium) and sucks it would be good to know that we are off the hook at the end of the season.
This also leads me to think that Conger is not the catcher of the future. If Iannetta is extended that Conger should be moved immediately.
He batted .238 last year!!!!!! You better hope that offensive outburst wasn’t due to Colorado……
like the profile pic! boston terriers rule!
new lion killing all litters of previous pack leader. this is exactly what feels like.
might as well trade conger for his own good if iannetta is really extended. rockies trash must be our gold.
Could the “extension” actually just working the option back into the contract? Congers job isn’t in jeopardy b/c of Iannetta….Angels will run 2 C’s as always and that will give Conger time to mature…
DPoto trading all of the young SoCal guys? Chatwood, Conger and Trumbo next?
Not a chance he trades Trumbo and HIGHLY unlikely he trades Conger since he considered the Catcher of the future.
Not a chance he trades Trumbo and HIGHLY unlikely he trades Conger since he considered the Catcher of the future.
Maybe but he could be ready by 2013 his stats did get better last year but the fact that he played 20 something games..I see him playing 40+ games and doing a really solid job
Since when is Anaheim an extreme pitchers park?
lol right! Like it’s freaking SafeCo field or something
it’s definitely a pitcher’s park, but not really an extreme one
You forgot oakland
Citi Field?
How can you just say that? You never heard of him until tonight
Wilson and Mathis are still on the team and the only person of value is Conger. Extending Iannetta makes him your starter with Wilson or Mathis as your back up. You really think Big Mike is going to let his defensive catchers go before Conger. Educate yourself.
Dodgers stadium in ’11 was rated at a 97….Angels stadium was rated as 93….
…and 96 in 2010 and 98 in 2009 and 102 in 2008 and 100 the two years prior
I was just saying this past season it was extreme….over the past 5 yrs it ave’s 97 and when compared to Colo which was 117 and over the past 5 yrs ave’d 112
and when Chavez Ravine is considered as an extreme pitchers park and the 5 yr ave is also 97
it’s an extreme pitchers’ park compared to an extreme hitters’ park? yea, i guess
but compared to an average park (100), it is not extreme. an outlier season doesn’t change that
data > perception
well since the topic is Iannetta coming from that one to this one is the reason for the comparison….so even IF it’s a slightly pitchers park over the past 5 seasons….the player in question is moving from an extreme hitters park to a slightly pitchers park….the problem w/ this board is too many people take comments toooo literal and fail to look at the point of the comment…
are Salmon4Coach and Jmann the same person?
How do you know if i have or haven’t heard of him?
the first comment in this series actually talks about moving him from coors (extreme hitters’ park) to an “extreme pitchers’ park”
but, as we’ve shown, that’s not what’s happening. he’s moving from an extreme hitters’ park to a slight pitchers’ park
that move represents an ‘extreme’ difference, sure. but it doesn’t make the original characterization of the park as ‘extreme’ any less false
that’s been the point from the beginning
No what was proven was that over 5 yrs Angels stadium is not as extereme as it was THIS past season in which IT WAS an extreme pitchers park…93 is EXTREME when you look at this past season Petco was also 93 as well as SafeCo 94..
you need it proven to you that projecting from outliers is folly? try google
No clue. All i know is he has a man crush on Kuroda and pretends to know all the players.
No im not Jmann.. And i can pretend i know the players all i want.. Why do you pretend you know me?
“John Hellweg Maybe Angels don’t need to sign another RP”
Sounds like you heard the name, stroked the chin, and thought “ah what the heck.” Did you look and see that he was in high A ball? he won’t be relevant for years if at all, which still makes them need a RP
So you admit you pretend to know players?
And i never claimed i know you. However i read your comments and find myself cringing a lot
If i want to then it’s okay do you have a problem with it if so then idc.. You didn’t then why did you say “All i know is he has a man crush on Kuroda and pretends to know all the players.” As if you know me.
Assumptions Assumptions
If you would to read Bj’s comment you would have noticed that i didn’t notice that he was in High A ball and a lot of other stuff..I just saw his latest stats and said he looks alright..
Then i said TY I ACTUALLY DIDN’T NOTICE THAT.Maybe one more yr in the minors for him”(with a bit of sarcasm intended) If you didn’t catch the sarcasm then its ok. But what isn’t ok is commenting and assuming stuff without reading and without knowing.. Here’s a Tip: Don’t assume because when you do you make an A(sX2) out of yourself..