Confidence in The Angels Talent Pipeline

by Rev Halofan on May 25, 2011 2:24 AM PDT in Angels News

It took me a few years but I finally got into the minor league prospect hunt earlier this year. For years it made no sense to follow a litany of kids who would never pan out. And when I assessed it, there were hilarities like the overlooking of John Lackey as a Top Ten Angels prospect prior to the 2002 season and of course, the implosions of Dallas McPherson and Brandon Wood did little to give me faith in what might or might not be brewing in the lower levels of the Angels farm system.

But it took a small shift in perspective to understand what was really going on there. I had to stop looking at the farm system as the savior of our club and look at it more as the brick factory. Your team's minor leaguers are the foundation of the future. They are the bricks. What goes on those bricks is a superstar or two. They might be free agents. They might be acquired in trades. They might never arrive. But whatever the situation your team finds itself in, lightning could strike, and if it does, a solid foundation with good bricks at every position will be there to hold up the magic.

Once I realized that I might be asking too much of the minor leagues that they deliver me a Babe Ruth every three or four seasons, the confidence in the possibilities of what might turn up soon blossomed. Imagine three players as distinct as Mark Trumbo and Alexi Amarista and Peter Bourjos. Ole Honus Wagner is not rolling over in his grave worried that his mortal records are in jeopardy form any of these guys. And he can keep his rankings in the dusty old history books for all I care, I bought season tickets and for my money got three players from the same farm system that do different things, play the game their own specific way and play to excel.

While we can dream of superstars, when the foundation of what this team is to become is so fun to watch and solid with the glove and with the bat, fate can bide its time until the superstars arrive. Confidence in the talent pipeline should be the secret asset of every Angels fan. We break the mold on talent.

Poll

Which of these three will finish with the most major league plate appearances:

Alexi Amarista

13 votes

Peter Bourjos

336 votes

Mark Trumbo

185 votes

534 votes | Poll has closed

Angels Fan Confidence Poll

Last tallied on 05/25.

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Comments

Well said

by rghan on May 25, 2011 4:11 AM PDT reply actions

For the notable disappointments in Casey Kotchman, Dallas McPherson, Brandon Wood and Jeff Mathis in the 2000s

At least we are seeing some of the other young guys who have come up through the Angels’ system in the last couple of years make contributions from Bourjos, Trumbo, Conger, Chatwood and hopefully others like Amarista.

Out of the mid 2000s batch of Angels’ prospects – Aybar has been productive in spurts and while Kendrick hasn’t quite fulfilled his potential, he’s been good at times too.

Or is Kendry perhaps the one who needs to sit?

by BBFan1 on May 25, 2011 4:12 AM PDT reply actions

Not to mention

Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders (who made possible the Dan Haren deal). Some pretty solid talent.

by Seraphan on May 25, 2011 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Saundo gave us some good, solid years...

I would agree and say Saundo wasn’t a bust. He just went the way of Kaz it looks like…

dissenter, dubious and devil's advocate to blog monitors everywhere.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on May 25, 2011 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Well written, Rev.

Been a lot of bitchin’ n complainin’ going on at HH lately, I feel. This, plus the Howie post, are nice positive breathers.

I voted for Trumbo, btw. Teams are suckas for big hitters with raw power. Even if Trumbo doesn’t pan out (and I hope he does…and I hope its with the Angels), I am sure he would still kick around the league for a good five years or so.

I love Bourjos but the books still out on him. Too many K’s. Nobody wants a slap-hitter who strikes out 150 times a year.

dissenter, dubious and devil's advocate to blog monitors everywhere.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on May 25, 2011 7:25 AM PDT reply actions

I once heard the Angels compared to a college team

in terms of talent always coming in. Not necessarily the best but always competitive. Makes sense to me.

Unlike this cat, my love for the LAA will never die.

by NathanielS on May 25, 2011 8:10 AM PDT reply actions

No confidence at all when we don't have a decent outfielder to call up to play LF.

"Ballplayers play baseball." -Jose Mota

by Fred Fredrix on May 25, 2011 9:04 AM PDT reply actions

What I find interesting has to do with Trumbo

Word on him was that he had huge upside in his bat, but that he was too clumsy and too slow to be anything other than a DH. He would never find a place in the field.

Turns out that he is already a serviceable 1B, and does not embarrass himself on the basepaths. Conversely, his bat is still merely rookie green.

So his fielding and baserunning are BETTER than reviewed and, so far, his bat has been LESSER than reviewed. Maybe the reviews are what need a closer investigation??

"...the error of age is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence." - Lymon Bryson (1888-1959) pulling a Nostradomus on Torii Hunter's baserunning ass.

by Stirrups on May 25, 2011 9:16 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah, his defense has really surprised me

I thought he was going to be an Adam Dunn-type butcher in the field, but he’s been looking pretty good. His speed has also been a mild surprise…he can actually steal a base.

Trombombs rock

by nicolasville on May 25, 2011 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Me three

I saw him for 30 minutes in spring training a few years back & I thought that was enough to proclaim him a non-prospect forever. Hadn’t seen footwork that slow since the last time I tried to do the box step. I was wrong.

by mattwelch on May 25, 2011 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions