Here’s the latest from around the AL West…
- Jerry Dipoto originally signed a three-year deal with the Mariners, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports, so the general manager is entering his last year under contract. Seattle is 164-160 in two seasons under Dipoto, with a winning year in 2016 followed up by a disappointing, injury-filled year this season. There haven’t been any rumblings about Dipoto’s job security, however, and it would make sense if the M’s explored extensions with Dipoto and manager Scott Servais (whose deal is also up after 2018) this winter in order to avoid lame-duck status for either man. More pressure would seem to be on Servais since managers are more readily replaced than GMs, though Dipoto recently defended his skipper against some reports of clubhouse criticism. The firings of bench coach Tim Bogar and first base coach Casey Candaele does remove some of Servais’ support system — Heyman notes that Candaele and Servais are good friends, while Bogar is close with Dipoto.
- The Angels announced earlier this week that hitting coach Dave Hansen won’t return to the club next season. Hansen had been with L.A. for the last four seasons, first as an assistant hitting coach and then taking over the lead job in 2016-17. The Angels finished near the bottom of most offensive categories last year, as Mike Trout (181), Andrelton Simmons (103) and late-August addition Justin Upton (137) were the only regulars to finish with a wRC+ above the league-average 100 mark. (Yunel Escobar also finished with a 100 wRC+ on the dot.)
- Analytics played a major role in the Astros’ rebuild and subsequent rise to World Series contender, though as Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes, the Astros are now faced with the challenge of staying ahead of the curve. “It’s a double-edged sword. If [other teams are] following things we did first, it means, a) it works; and b) our advantage is gone, or dissipating,” Houston GM Jeff Luhnow said. “That’s why we’re constantly trying to figure out how we can gain small advantages in multiple areas. We’re all observing each other. I copy what I see works with other teams and vice-versa. Keeping things a secret allows you to benefit longer but it’s hard to do.”
Garrett Anderson for hitting coach. No more former Dodgers. The last two hitting coaches failed.
It’s probably just that the Angels dont have a ton of talent
People keep saying that, which I find funny because they also try to say their prospects are bad. I’m in no way shape or form an angels fan, but I feel that evaluators much in the same regard they overvalue yankees prospects they undervalue angels prospects and angels in general. Angels on the whole despite a rag tag team were on the verge of the playoffs. It’s going to take some time to get over dipoto’s idiocy/bad trades as a gm.
I like the Angels system more than most, but Adell is the only potential star.
As for their actual offensive talent, its no secret what they have. Trout is great. Escobar, Simmons, Calhoun and Cron serve their purpose, and everyone else are what they are.
If you blame a hitting coach for Pujols, Danny Espinosa, Ben Revere and everyone else, then idk.
Because the Angels farm system is terrible. Outside Jo Adell who was a high pick last year they dont have any guys that are special. They weren’t a 2nd wild card contender because of their farm system. It was the free agent signings and waiver pickups that contributed for them in 2017.
I agree with Angels system getting no love … The Angels bad farm system has produced Patrick Corbin, Jean Segura, Mike Clevinger, Tyler Skaggs, Will Smith, Kole Calhoun, Matt Shoemaker, Mike Trout, Randal Grichuk and Garrett Richards. And that’s without having a 1 and 2nd round pick in 2012 and without a 1st round pick in 2013.
Keep sleeping on Jahmai Jones
Anderson played for the Dodgers his final year in the bigs.
Haha it’s not the coach!
Dipoto is a terrible gm if not the worst. Ran 2 franchises into the dirty for .500 baseball. Seattle will be his 3rd and hopefully last audition playing the role of a gm. Inept guy who’s “use” of analytics is laughable.
I don’t know man,
Moreno probably had a lot of influence in LA and I dont think its fair to judge Dipoto on 2017 considering how badly they were affected by injuries.
Arte has just as much influence as any other owner. As far as Dipoto, he made the mistake of trying to force his Billy Beane 2.0 philosophy on the Angels organization and created a divide between front office personnel and the clubhouse. Major lesson for him to learn about leadership, and it’s too bad he had to learn the hard way in an organization that needed to bounce back and re-establish themselves as perennial World Series contenders.
It was Arte who authorized bringing in Pujols and Hamilton. Those deals/contracts would hamstring any GM.
As an Angel fan, I agree horrible deals i’m still shaking my head at including the Mo Vaughn deal that I’ve still haven’t gotten over! But that doesn’t have anything to do as to why he resigned! Glad he did but not a fan of the new guy! Arte needs to sell!
Everybody is to blame in regards to the Angels. Arte signed Josh Hamilton. Di Poto made some bad trades like Cleavinger to Indians for Pestano. Dave Hanson was not a good batting coach. He and Mickey Hatcher are friends with Scioscia since they were in the Dodger organization.
Andrelton Simmons has come a long way offensively. Started out hitting .214 and now he is around .280. Kole need to learn to spray the ball everywhere.
As far as Jordan Adell I saw him in rookie ball a few months ago. He will be good in two years.
If Dipsnot didn’t drop the ball on Grienki, Hamilton would have never been an Angel. Traded a 30 homer 90 RBI, for a bag of peanuts and a hope and a prayer. Not once but twice. Jones is also going to be really good.
Lenhow released JD Martinez outright – for nothing in return, not even a bag of peanuts. How’d that turn out? Altuve was signed years before JL got there.
Lol. One mistake in 6 years, plus at the time JD was ant even worth a bag of peanuts.
For real! Ppl will never stop hating on the Astros and Jeff luhnow…I mean like theres a guy on here named luhnowsucks…theyre legit WS contenders and they’re still hated on all the time for the dumbest reasons. I bet it won’t stop even if they win the WS! The argument will just be switched to, “wow any team can do that if they just purposefully tank for a few years….luhnow still sucks.” Lol ppl love to hate on the Stros for whatever reason but that hasn’t stopped them from making a total powerhouse of a team. #TakeOctober
I would take Lunhow over any GM in the game. No GM bats 1.000, but he has presented a clearer plan than just about any other franchise in history. It took 5 years, but it’s worked. The Astros are set to own the division for the foreseeable future and we could win it all any given October.
Seattle Mgr should not be given an extension. Let him play out this season and see how he does. If not good get s new mgr after 2018. You have to be a lame duck meg sometime and he hasn’t don’t much to prove otherwise
The talent the last 3 yrs on Seattle is UNbelievable that they don’t make the playoffs and a good run in playoffs!
what talent? their lineup is aging, their rotation is tanking, and their bullpen is made of unestablished rookies. of course cruz cano paxton haniger and some other had, albeit injury-plagued, good seasons.
That Astros article is garbage. Zero substance. No insight.