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By Steve Adams | at
Email a copy of 'Valbuena Likely To Get Significant Playing Time At First Base With Angels' to a friend
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Brixton
Cron was their second best hitter last year, and they bench him
HaloShane
2nd best hitter….. watch Angels baseball much? I’m gonna assume “NO”.
gmflores27
Shane clearly doesn’t watch Angels baseball tho
ryanw-2
He was tied with Calhoun for the team’s second best OPS at 117, but Cron’s problem is that he is very slow out of the gate in April and has not been able to stay healthy enough to play more than 116 games. He’s had 2 1/2 seasons to show he can be healthy and productive. And while he’s been productive for what he is overall, the health hasn’t been there. That’s why you add depth like Valbuena. Jefry Marte had a 115 OPS himself, but that didn’t warrant him a secure starting job because he’s never played a full season and is a late bloomer, which is why one can be skeptical about him that his 2016 season might have been a fluke. The Angels had a lot of bench depth when they were making the playoffs year after year. No One’s job was really safe unless they were Vladdy. That’s the way the Angels should be building their roster.
ryanw-2
*OPS-plus. The app doesn’t seem to recognize the plus symbol.
alt2tab
In all fairness to Cron, he was hit in the wrist by a pitch which forced him to the DL for about a month and a half. So it’s not as if he’s had consistent injury problems.
biasisrelitive
I think 3rd behind Calhoun but it’s close
Nats4life
If Cron shows well in spring training and Pujols is ready valbuena could easily take Espinosa’s job, or at least provide the large part of a platoon. Valbuena’s been playing 2b in the winter league and Espinosa is terrible against righties.
angels fan 3
I hope this is the case
halos101
i would think this too, but eppler and sosh love their defense. i doubt valbuena can be everyday 2b
CubsFanForLife
I would keep Cron. Even if/when Pujols returns at full strength, he’s still going to require days off regularly. Your worst case scenario is a platoon, but Pujols’ health is no given.
alexgordonbeckham
Yeah I would assume Cron would get at bats against lefties while Valbuena potentially sits.
MrMet19
Cron is a monster… also him and valbuena will fit in same lineup as soon as next year
stymeedone
May as well keep Cron. This move shows the amount of faith the Angels brass has in him, so his trade value just took a hit, and it wasn’t that high to begin with, considering whats still available in FA..
Diablo 2
This signing has nothing to do with Halos faith on Cron. This move has to do with the front office’s faith on Pujols foot. Cron won’t have to worry about not getting AB’s like this post says. The Dh spot and 1B are available rn for him to slot in. Not only that but having Valbuena is huge as he is versatile af and gives the Halos a piece to trade (Cron being that piece) if needed. It just benefits the team in so many ways but the signing wasn’t because they don’t believe in Crons ability.
bosox90
Valbuena has the defensive versatility to cover 1B/2B/3B and has strong splits against righties. I think that gives Scioscia a lot to play with as far as lineup combos. He can give anyone in that infield a day off and still fill out the lineup card with ease. I’ve seen a lot of optimism from Angels fans on here and I can see why, their lineup is balanced offensively and defensively, and they have the best player in baseball. I think they’ll go only as far as their pitching takes them. A lot of question marks in that rotation both health-wise and performance-wise. Everyone on this site that isn’t an Angels fan likes to put them down, but I think if their rotation doesn’t completely tank like last year, they will be right in the thick of that division. Personally I think Seattle has the best roster in the division, and that Texas is solid, but overrated by many due to recency bias. I think Houston still has a lot to prove, but if their rotation clicks could win 95 games.
Wow well I ended up ranting a bit. Guess it’s safe to say April 2nd can’t come soon enough.
ryanw-2
Well we saw how important bullpens have become last season and the Angels were thriving on that formula of just getting innings from their rotations and using big bullpens 10 years ago, along with a lot of bench depth, speed, taking the extra base, and good defense. It looks like Billy Eppler is making an effort to get the Angels back to that kind of roster building and style that worked for so long. Rotation health pending, I think they’ll go as far as their bullpen takes them.
chesteraarthur
I think the reason people are down on the angels is because of how unlikely it actually seems that those pitchers can stay healthy/effective. “If x and y stay healthy and perform, they can be good”. This can just be said about so many teams.
bosox90
This is very true. Obviously that caveat applies to most teams, “if they stay healthy they’ll go far,” and that’s a big IF with the Angels and their staff. I just think they are still overlooked despite that.
ryanw-2
Pretty much the entire AL West. No one in that division has a ‘safe pick’ for a rotation. I wouldn’t take any. But the way the divisions are lined up, one or two (maybe 3 with the WC’s) will sneak in and go deep.
ThePriceWasRight
what is their infatuation with yunel. put LV at the hot corner and keep cron at 1b.
angels fan 3
He puts the ball in play and gets on base regularly at the top of the lineup.
alt2tab
The platoon that makes the most sense is Valbuena/Escobar at 3B. Defense won’t be great but they have Andrelton Simmons to make up some of that ground.
ryanw-2
Hit over .300 the last 2 seasons and never strikes out. Need more players s like that in today’s game.
robertj53086
Just want to say thanks again to the Angels for taking Pujols
bkbkbk
The most classless fan base in the game ladies and gentlemen.
ryanw-2
Yeah right! You wanted him. Anyone who says they would not have been ecstatic is a liar.
unathleticasian
If Eppler wants to deal Cron. He’s a guy i’d love for the Royals to make a move for.
texasslim85
Valbuena will do just fine with the Angels, he’ll do just fine wherever he would have gone. Thing is, the Angels won’t be much about nothing! Valbuena’s always welcomed back down here in Houstone, TX!
ryanw-2
Won’t be much about nothing… lol
texasslim85
It’s a Southern thing, one day it’ll all make sense to you, and soon enough! Halos might have a better record than the A’s, might?! Division will go to either the ‘Stros, or the rotten Rangers! I’d say Astros! All in all, Valbuena, continue to crush out West!
bkbkbk
The good ol’ Texas school system blessing us with inisght.
texasslim85
Just as you are blessing us with your accurate grammar *insight*, all’s forgiven pal.
angelsinthetroutfield
Hope they keep Cron but if they do deal him they need a controlled arm from Tampa.
With Pujols starting the season on the DL I would hope Yunel is DH with Cron at 1B and Valbuena at 3B
cxcx
I what like they have been doing in terms of signing and trading for youngish veterans on one or two year deals. Two years for Valbuenna makes sense to have some infield continuity next when Escobar and Espinosa expire. They have a ton of money to spend next year and will be in good position to sign a couple of the several $20m+ players available.
jdgoat
If they don’t want cron I’m sure he could be traded north of the border for some much needed prospects and would move smoak to the bench
halosfan4ever27
I don’y get how pujols wasn’t the 2nd best hitter last year for the halos. He batted likel only 3 points less then calhoun for AVG. and had 14 more homers. He had 119 RBIs which was more than trout( same for homers). Sure he didn’t have a good OBP. but he was still much better than the whole angels team besides trout for offense.
cmancoley
I agree
jdgoat
Obp is probably the most important stat. And he’s obviously going to get a lot of rbis hitting behind Calhoun and trout
ryanw-2
It is not the most important stat. It’s just as flawed as BA because it still doesn’t tell you the value of how any given player is getting on base. A player who hits .220 but draws a ton of walks and has a .350 OBP is not going to do much damage with the bat unless they’re making the most of that BA with power. Baseball has yet to come up with a stat that is really accurate enough to throw it all in a box and say that number measures the player’s value without question. Personally I like Runs Created.
cmancoley
Kind of confused on why Eppler didn’t sign Valbuena before trading for Espinosa. Luis could easily take over an every day role at 2b
ryanw-2
They were negotiating before that. The article and several other outlets have said that this flurry of infield activity is fueled by the uncertainty of Pujols’ opening day status, and is a good insurance policy.
mstrchef13
So… Valbuena puts up career highs in all three slash categories in half a season in Houston, and the Angels are going to pay him $7.5MM to be their first baseman? No wonder this team is expected to finish 4th in the division.
Cardinals17
The Angels should look into Matt Adams. The cards don’t give “Big City” as much credit as he deserves.
cmancoley
lol what. We are trying to get rid of a corner infielder