Hank Conger, Mark Trumbo Join Angels Tuesday
by Rev Halofan on Sep 6, 2010 9:28 PM PDT
in Angels News
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It was just announced by the Angels that Hank Conger and Mark Trumbo have been called up to the big leagues. The Salt Lake City Bees finished their AAA season today, just missing the playoffs and 1B Trumbo and the switch hitting catcher Conger will be in Angels uniforms for the first time for tomorrow night's game.
In other moves, pitcher Brian Stokes has been released, Matt Palmer was taken of the 60-Day Disabled List and will return to the Angels, Kevin Frandsen returns and so does reliever "Bobby" Robert Cassevah. Stokes was acquired from the Mets for Gary Matthews Jr. The Angels are still on the hook for $11 million of GMJ's salary next season.
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Everything i expected happened
Hopefully they get lots of playong time
" With Haren bolstering the rotation, the Angels are set up beautifully for 2011"- Another East coast biased reporter
by Halos2011champs on Sep 6, 2010 9:31 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
The Korean Dream Machine era begins tomorrow!
Where he’ll likely ride the bench this month.
"If he raced his pregnant wife he'd finish third"
Tommy Lasorda on catcher Mike Scioscia
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Sep 6, 2010 9:32 PM PDT reply actions
Damn
we should’ve just kept GMJ. I rather take GMJ over Rivera. At least GMJ hit .350 with RISP last year.
Now let's not get carried away...
Any time you think you have the game conquered the game will turn around and punch you right in the nose.
Mike Schmidt
by Monkeyspanked on Sep 7, 2010 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions
He's available...
Stokes lasted in the bigs after that deal longer than GMJ. Lol!
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2010 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
That pic of Conger
damn he is just a boy
3 new 2010 starting LBers via 2010 draft
Confidence breeds success, self-doubt breeds failure
He is King Conger!
2011, Here We Come!!
by angelskid2210 on Sep 6, 2010 9:46 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
"Wastin away again in Minor-Leaguer-Ville..."
by Stirrups on Sep 6, 2010 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
That is AWESOME!
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
by Quad Fin Rider on Sep 7, 2010 1:06 AM PDT up reply actions
That pic makes him look like the fat kid an a random $DISNEY_MOVIE
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
I'm excited to see some fresh faces
Trumbo and Conger are going to provide some excitement (hopefully) I just want to see them play.
2011, Here We Come!!
by angelskid2210 on Sep 6, 2010 9:47 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Anyone else
feel we need to make a “Hank Conger and The Father Who Wouldn’t Love him” the sequel some time from now?
by phoenix15 on Sep 6, 2010 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
no
please God, no
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 1:00 AM PDT up reply actions
This will have HUGE ramifications on our lineup
Mathis looks awful for 5 plays and amazing for one play. But, I expect Scioscia to game-test Conger and figure out exactly what we have. We know Wilson is a very capable backup and we know Scioscia is pretty much done with Napoli behind the plate. So three scenarios can/will play out.
1. Conger struggles. This will mean Napoli is either traded or slotted at DH and we’ll see a Mathis/Wilson timeshare while Conger remains in AAA.
2. Conger does ok and it’s all freakin’ up in the air.
3. Conger is a smash hit. This means Mathis will be cut, Napoli will be traded or DH and we’ll see a Conger/Wilson timeshare.
Trumbo’s situation only complicates matters. If he smashes major league pitching like he did AAA pitching, we might have our own mini Adam Dunn. Trumbo would be in LF and fill in at 1B and DH, Napoli would be traded and Abreu would DH. This would be the ideal big bat.
So who has the most riding on the performance or Trumbo and Conger? You might say the Angels, or Conger/Trumbo themselves, but in reality, the guy who’s future depends on the performance of these two the most is…..
MIKE NAPOLI
Think about it, if Trumbo struggles, Naps has a great shot at DH and backup 1B. If Conger struggles Naps might even log a bit of time behind the plate next year as well. But, if Trumbo starts hitting HR’s, then Mike’s chances at DH and backup 1B become remote and he more than likely becomes trade bait.
"You play for Cleveland? I didn't know they still had a team." - Claire Holloway
"Yup, we've got uniforms and everything, it's really great!" - Jake Taylor
by Halowood on Sep 6, 2010 11:13 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
After some recent disappointments among those brought up from the minors
I think we need to take a deep breath and see just how these guys actually perform at the pro level.
A wise man does not need advice and a fool won't take it.
Well duh, I was merely summarizing exactly what the issue at hand is.
"You play for Cleveland? I didn't know they still had a team." - Claire Holloway
"Yup, we've got uniforms and everything, it's really great!" - Jake Taylor
by Halowood on Sep 6, 2010 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Funny, Scioscia says it will have ZERO ramifications
At least as far as Trumbo is concerned. From the fish wrap:
"He’s certainly one of the top power prospects in baseball. He opened up a lot of eyes with the year he had at Salt Lake," Scioscia said. "Crossing over to the big leagues is obviously the next step. Sometimes for guys with bigger swings, it takes longer.
"I think whatever opportunity Mark gets for us right now isn’t going to define him as a player. It’s not going to be a huge look. …You’re not going to make a determination in the amount of time he’ll get a chance to play up here, even if he played everyday."
Seems pretty sensible. This is the first time Trumbo has ever played well for an extended period of time. Chances are pretty good he’ll do a face plant his first go-around with major league pitching.
With Conger, I agree. We all know it comes down to his receiving skills. He can bat .190, throw zero base runners out and even make a couple errors. If he “sets a good target” and “doesn’t drift” then he should be a lock for next season. Hopefully he gets ample playing time this month.
Awesome.
“Sometimes for guys with bigger swings, it takes longer.”
So, translation for that statement is: “Hatcher will be working with Trumbo to change his plate mechanics, shorten his swing, and use the opposite field as his first choice. It should take us about 4 months to repeat the success we had with Brandon Wood on this conversion.”
"Wastin away again in Minor-Leaguer-Ville..."
by Stirrups on Sep 7, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Cue the Mark Trumbo Transformation Thread in
5… 4… 3…. 2… 1…
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
Sounds too politically correct if you ask me....
Just when the F are you supposed to get a long, detailed look of Trumbo? Spring Training? That’s even less than what you’d see in September. This is the perfect time to find out if Trumbo can handle the bigs. It won’t dictate who he is 5 years from now, but it will suggest what exactly he is and can mean to the team in 2011.
Case in point, Chris Davis. Came up late 2008 and completely punished AL pitching, he was the next Mark Teixeira. Then we learned the next year that Chris Davis was essentially an over-sized Branfon Wood. Still Davis’ call up completely influenced the team next season. Mark Trumbo could have the same effect. IF he looks awful he could be packaged in a trade because we don’t think he’ll ever get it. If he looks great, he could be our new LF.
Saying a players PT has zero influence on the teams future or his is completely false.
"You play for Cleveland? I didn't know they still had a team." - Claire Holloway
"Yup, we've got uniforms and everything, it's really great!" - Jake Taylor
Huh?
So are you saying you want to get fooled by a small sample size fluke to get a Chris Davis clone in left next season?
Trumbo took a nice leap this year, no doubt. I’m all for getting him some looks right now in September, but it won’t and it shouldn’t affect any offseason game plan, regardless of how well he does. If they can get good value, trade him. If not, keep him for depth, likely back down at AAA where he can continue to get his reps in. His year was good, but considering his age and ballpark it was far from great. Let’s see if can elevate his game again next year before we crown him anything.
CONGER!!!!!!!!!!!
been waiting years for this day. ever since I saw my favorite team drafted a guy from my high school in the 1st round of the draft, I’ve kept an eye out for him. I will be watching this game since this and Bourjos are really the only reasons I go out of my way to watch this awful team.
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It seems like Conger played a few games last season when the minor leaguers were brought up late in the season.
Maybe I am misremembering.
I hate the Texas Rangers
you're probably thinking of spring training
that was the first time I ever saw Conger with the team. The only catchers that were September callups last year were Budde & Wilson.
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
by Quad Fin Rider on Sep 7, 2010 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Which high school...
HB or the other one he was illegally recruited from?
If ain't nothing wrong, something just ain't right.
HB
I didn’t know he was recruited from another HS, is that true? assuming it is, why? HB doesn’t have some super good baseball program where kids from all over transfer to become a part of. I saw this happen with surfers during my time there, but never with baseball players.
you got a link or anything to back that up?
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions
'99
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
97' here. my younger brother was 99'
Know the name Ericksen?
by AlohaHalofan on Sep 7, 2010 3:47 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I know a Dustin Ericksen
is this his older brother…my memory is bad so forgive me if I’m wrong….Danny?
if so, we met a bunch of times back in the day. I used to hang out with Dustin a lot. my name is Casey…..
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions
what up casey
Got a last name? I’ll tell dusto you said hi…
by AlohaHalofan on Sep 7, 2010 3:59 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Petersen
I saw him at the beginning of the summer when he was doing a gig at Hurricanes. but yeah, tell him I said what up.
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
cant picture your face but definitely recognize the name
Right on bud!
by AlohaHalofan on Sep 7, 2010 4:06 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I hung out with D-Bone
mostly around freshman and sophmore year. I remember we went to your dad’s house in Seal Beach and watched Braveheart one night and you were there. random, I know.
I also hung out with Mike Sanders and Lori Alarcon, we were all into punk rock and went to a lot of shows together.
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
classic!
Dustin lives with Derrick Turner nowadays…
by AlohaHalofan on Sep 7, 2010 4:20 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
thats awesome
Derrick cracks me up. I saw him at Hurricanes too.
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by 2pintsofbooze on Sep 7, 2010 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
There is a certain freedom to being out of the race
If Scioscia is so inclined, he can give a lot of playing time to Conger and Trumbo to see how they fare against big league playing. He doesn’t risk losing a divisional championship, so testing the talent is really an option he can explore.
If we were in the thick of a divisional race, both young men would ride the bench (since I don’t think either would be called upon to pinch-run unless it was the 18th inning).
"I can't tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we've taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we'll be able to evaluate the offseason moves."~Tony Reagins, on the Angels' offseason
Sorry to state the obvious
But it would really help if one or both of these guys can crush big league pitching. We already have four positions slotted next season for hitters who have no power and an average (or worse) ability to get on base — Kendrick at 2B, Aybar at SS, Callaspo at 3B, and Bourjos at CF. If Mathis continues to start at catcher, even Kendry’s return will not be enough for this team to score runs.
I wouldnt say those guys have "no" power
Kendrick can give you 10-15 homers a season. I do agree that all these guys have a low BB ratio. However, I dig how they all do put the ball in play. Thats one advantage to Bourjos to Wood so far…He puts the ball in play ALOT.
dissenter, dubious and devil's advocate to blog monitors everywhere.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Sep 7, 2010 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Fair enough
Kendrick and Callaspo are both good for 10-15 home runs. Aybar and Bourjos have almost no power. None of them gets on base a whole lot — Bourjos has an on-base percentage of .245, and the other three all range between .321 and .335 for their career (Aybar .321, Kendrick .326, and Callaspo .335). This is almost half of our lineup, and does not take into account possible weak spots at catcher and left field.
Watch for Trumbo to see a lot of LF
Let’s see if he gets a start in LF as an option to get his bat in the lineup. He isn’t going to replace Kendry next year (and let’s hope there is no need to do so), but if he can hit almost as well as he has in SLC this year, they’ll need to find a home for him.
If the team has confidence in his ability to (A) hit the ball with authority (like Kendry, not like Wood) and (B) not suck too horribly in LF, then the team doesn’t need to go crazy in negotiations for Crawford.
"I can't tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we've taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we'll be able to evaluate the offseason moves."~Tony Reagins, on the Angels' offseason
by George Kaplan on Sep 7, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
That would be nice
Any chance we platoon Abreu and Rivera at DH next season? If not, what happens to JR?
I'm the last person to know
I think Abreu is destined to DH next year, and then Hunter will inherit the slot in 2012.
What happens to Rivera may be dictated by what Trumbo does in Spring Training, as well as how Rivera looks (though he is a slow starter most seasons). If Trumbo hits well and doesn’t embarrass in LF, then he might take that job and Rivera becomes currency. After all, the luxury of having Bourjos is that he can cheat to LF a little and cover the gap, and let Hunter have more room to roam in right.
But Trumbo has to hit first.
"I can't tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we've taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we'll be able to evaluate the offseason moves."~Tony Reagins, on the Angels' offseason
by George Kaplan on Sep 7, 2010 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Today is stokes's birfday
Happy birthday, muthaluva
by HalosBiggestFan on Sep 7, 2010 8:37 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Stokes was a pile of shit...
saw up close and live in Seattle earlier this season. He walked 3 (including one with the bases loaded) and gave up something like 3 runs. It was painfully obvious Scioscia had given up on the game and was keeping Stokes out there to work his problems out on the mound. After walking three in a row, he didn’t even get anyone else up to warm up in the bullpen…
dissenter, dubious and devil's advocate to blog monitors everywhere.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Sep 7, 2010 10:03 AM PDT reply actions
September catcher platoon
1. Start Mathis, bat him 9th
2. Pinch hit Trumbo at first opportunity (never let Mathis bat)
3. Put Wilson in to catch
4. Pinch hit Rivera/Abreu/Napoli/Matsui (whichever one is not starting in lf/1b/dh
5. Let Conger finish the game at catcher, and take the remaining at bats.
You can do this with expanded September rosters. That way we get 5-6 innings of the Mathis/Wilson D, and never have to suffer watching them hit.
"That boy is our last hope" - Obi Wan Scioscia, as Francisco Rodriguez left for the Mets. "No, there is another" - Yoda Reagins.
by RallyMonkey5 on Sep 7, 2010 11:14 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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