Angels Present as Winter Meetings Open...

by Rev Halofan on Dec 4, 2006 2:09 AM PST in Angels News

The big news of the Orlando Meetings is that the Dodgers and Red Sox held a Manny Ramirez pow-wow.

Other than that, the GMs of the 30 MLB clubs and the agents of many players are still checking into their hotel rooms and getting in one good night with the mistress before she goes off to Disney World and the old men go to work...

PREDICTIONS:

Athletics will trade Joe Blanton or Esteban Loaiza...

Mariners will trade Ben Broussard or Chris Snelling...

Rangers will overpay for two Free Agents, but not Zito...

Rumors of a Tejada for Santana trade will burn bright but will not manifest and Peter Angelos will get lotsa bad press...

Barry Bonds will not sign with anyone by this time next week...

A-Rod will be an Angel in late January, after Boras has determined the market for Arte to buy out Alex's numerous player options...

Ferdinand Celine will want his three dots back...

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We'll see

As much as I dislike A-Rod, I'd be happy to have him on the roster, though I'd prefer to land Tejada.

by DChalofan on Dec 4, 2006 5:49 AM PST reply actions

re: tejada vs. a-rod

I'd take a-rod over tejada personally, I like his work ethic a lot better even if he is a pretty boy.

"I love this british shit!" -Lou Brown

by jtkelly86 on Dec 4, 2006 6:06 AM PST up reply actions

And, unlike Tejada...

...Rodriguez doesn't have a massive cloud of steroid speculation hanging over his head.

by NPCody on Dec 4, 2006 7:42 AM PST up reply actions

No-Trade Clause?

So Rev, you don't buy into A-Rod's saying he doesn't want to leave NY?

by Neo8234 on Dec 4, 2006 8:14 AM PST reply actions

don't buy it

if he sniffs a ring in OCLA he is here.

by Rev Halofan on Dec 4, 2006 1:22 PM PST up reply actions

Arte + ARod = Ring(s)

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Dec 4, 2006 2:01 PM PST up reply actions

A-Rod = rings?

I'm curious about how everyone really feels about A-Rod. The knock on him has been that he is not clutch and not a winner, and this knock is not a new one. Recall that Texas went from division champ to last place when it acquired him, while Seattle did exactly the opposite after getting rid of him. Texas also improved post-A-Rod, while the Yankees have stagnated, largely due to his postseason failures.

What is the general feeling out there? That this is an anomaly, or that A-Rod is a clubhouse cancer who can't hack it on a big stage? I'm unsure how I feel. I do know that I would be ecstatic about getting him, though, as it would be a clear reaffirmation of Arte's commitment to building a championship team (even if the move ended up being unsuccessful in that regard).

by DChalofan on Dec 4, 2006 2:14 PM PST up reply actions

ARod in Seattle

you may want to check out his playoff numbers prior to the Yankees. He f-ing killed it.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Dec 4, 2006 2:18 PM PST up reply actions

always have liked him

the guy has a beautiful swing, hits 35(ish) HR in a DOWN year? Playoff woes aside, this team is built on pitching and im pretty sure a guy of his calibur hitting 40+ HR behind vlad guarentees us a playoff spot. Once we're there, everyone knows pitching wins the title and weve got plenty.

A-Rod would be the best thing that will never happen to the angels :(

by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 4, 2006 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

My problem with A-Rod is strictly superstition

The Curse of A-Rod is not good to have on the Angels roster. I seem to remember that someone did a study that no team having the most expensive player in the league has ever won a World Series.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Dec 4, 2006 3:20 PM PST up reply actions

I was going to knock you

for having superstitions until you pulled out a statistic to support it.

;)

by atomburn on Dec 4, 2006 5:28 PM PST up reply actions

Don't Forget A-Rod can opt out of his contract

after 2007. Even with his monster contract that pays him $27 anually the final three years of his deal, who really doubts Scott Boras wouldn't exercise that option to get more guarrented $ ?

by Angel Hawker on Dec 4, 2006 8:26 AM PST reply actions

True

The only thing A-Rod has going against him is that giant Hemorrhoid Scott Boras ! ! ! In deed, that would be a huge risk signing him knowing that the Angels could get squeezed by the Hemorrhoid Scott Boar-Ass!!

"Somewhere in suckass Arizona smokin' tumblweeds"

by Rex DaKine Budler on Dec 4, 2006 8:39 AM PST up reply actions

Probably the single best reason to pass

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Dec 4, 2006 3:21 PM PST up reply actions

That gets eliminated in a trade

with options picked up etc.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Dec 4, 2006 3:55 PM PST up reply actions

Unfortunately...

A-Rod will never ask to get out of NY. Even though there are much better situations for him (like Anaheim), he doesn't want to have the "I couldn't hack it in NY" tag for the rest of his career and beyond. It's too bad. He'd be awesome as an Angel.

by 10 27 02 on Dec 4, 2006 1:10 PM PST reply actions

Naahh

If Boras can get him more money, he will opt out.

I don't think you guys in CA have any idea how bad E-Rod is going to get it at Yankee stadium this year. If at any time he is not hitting .400, the booing and all that will be absolutely unprecedented. I wouldn't be able to handle it. E-Rod may publicly crack too.

by elricsi on Dec 4, 2006 1:35 PM PST up reply actions

Why Wouldn't A-Rod Leave NY

Unless the Yankees win a World Championship with A-Rod (which the team has not done with him) I think he will leave. And it would not be a failure on A-Rods behalf. That is, if A-Rod doesn't blame himself. There are still other players on that team which has the largest payroll in the Bigs, so to this point, it hasn't been all A-Rod's fault. True he chokes in the playoffs (with the Yankees), but so has the rest of the team. It is obvious to me that A-Rod cannot handle the pressure of playing in NY along with the expectations he has put upon himself with the ridiculous contract he has. But eventually, as it already is happening, his contract will not look as bad as it once did, and once he is traded to a playoff caliber team with far less media and fan scrutiny (ANAHEIM) he will be fine. In all honesty, he would not be brought to the Angels and be expected and anointed the ONLY reason the Angels can win another World Series. He is just another valuable piece: like Vlad and our pitching.

He would be a perfect fit and I don't even think that he would have his agent Boar-Ass ask for more money, he will only look for guarantees, but not more money!!!

A-Rod's best chance of winning a World Series is with the Angels, Twins, St. Louis, or some other bubble team WithOUT the major media beating down on him.

He's a Hell of a Ballplayer who puts way too much pressure on himself and he cannot handle the media and fans there. He needs to come out to Orange County, buy a house in Newport Beach next to his agent (where they can count their money on their days off) and where he can relax, be a SoCal, blend in, ball his ass off for the Angels (without the pressure) and win a World Series ! ! ! Hell, Kobe Bryant (a A-Rod type of the NBA) does just fine in Newport Beach, nobody bothers him and he plays full time in the spotlight for the Lakers, but hides out in Newport. Just picture A-Rod, hidden away in Anaheim on a playoff caliber team. Pardon the Pun but It's a match made in Heaven

WELCOME TO O.C. A-ROD

"Somewhere in suckass Arizona smokin' tumblweeds"

by Rex DaKine Budler on Dec 4, 2006 7:52 PM PST up reply actions

A-Rod isn't going anywhere

NY is never going to let A-Rod go plain and simple. You might have a better chance at getting A-Rod next off-season but this year he is staying put.

by thebigA on Dec 4, 2006 2:12 PM PST reply actions

Wait and Watch

A-Rod will not be a Yankee after next season. Unless they win the World Series next season (assuming he is still on the Yankees), he is gone!

Why do the Yankees feel that they can NEVER trade A-Rod ? ? ? He is NOT JETER ! ! ! What I mean by that is one thing: Jeter has rings! ! !

That is difference between the those two. Everyone else on that team is trade able unless they win a WS next season ! ! !

"Somewhere in suckass Arizona smokin' tumblweeds"

by Rex DaKine Budler on Dec 4, 2006 7:57 PM PST up reply actions

Chad Tracy?

In the same article I linked in the Bengie diary, it's suggested that the Diamondbacks might try shopping Tracy to us.

Here's his numbers: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7047/

If he's coming from AAAA with these numbers, then no thanks, I think we can expect better from DMac.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Dec 4, 2006 2:42 PM PST reply actions

A question...

The A's just hired former Angels minor league roving hitting instructor Ty Van Berkleo. Anyone here know anything about him?

Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by jlaff @ Halos Heaven on Dec 4, 2006 3:43 PM PST reply actions

... Berkleo = A's new hitting coach

Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by jlaff @ Halos Heaven on Dec 4, 2006 3:44 PM PST up reply actions

HACK-TASTIC

Adios to Fremont's plate discipline...

by Rev Halofan on Dec 4, 2006 4:44 PM PST up reply actions

Padilla got $34 million from Texas

half way home on one prediction, go rev!

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Dec 5, 2006 3:55 PM PST reply actions

A-Rod way over Tejada

Hasn't anyoen noticed the power decline of Tejada since 2004??? Steroids anyone... Tejada has that stigma. I'd take A-Rod in a blink. I wouldn't even have to think about it. The man is a sure 1st ballot hall of famer plus he has a solid work ethic. He's an Angel kind of player.

by matt92130 on Dec 6, 2006 2:36 AM PST reply actions

Plus

the drawing power at the stadium as he reaches 500, 600, maybe even 700 home runs? Nice.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Dec 6, 2006 2:48 AM PST up reply actions

We don't need drawing power

Stadium sells out almost every night. Would be nice if more people showed up though...I would make better money

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Dec 6, 2006 11:50 AM PST up reply actions

Team averages 42,000+ fans

the capacity is 45,050. It wouldn't be a massive boost, but they currently sell out about half the games in a given year. Grabbing A-Rod at the time that he is about to enter his season making a run at 500 homers would be the difference in attendance for several nights...plus the media coverage and attention the team gets on a national level. Huge difference, probably not. Noteworth difference, I think absolutely.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Dec 6, 2006 12:09 PM PST up reply actions

Alright

I give you that. But like you said, not a huge difference. I just wish everyone would show up. My sales were lower last year because of all the people not showing up. Sell outs with only like 30,000 in house. But hopefully with the taking away of season ticket holders excess seats, it won't be the case this year.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Dec 6, 2006 3:11 PM PST up reply actions