CJ Cron to Angels Edition of Halolinks

by Rev Halofan on Jun 7, 2011 3:39 PM PDT in Angels Rumors And Links

Last night a CJ saved my life ... Burn down the Disco, draft the bloody CJ ... I am a CJ, I am what I play ...

Basically the ceiling of our first round pick C.J. CRON seems to be a right-handed Prince Fielder or a righty Sean Casey with more power. That's the good news. The bad news is he needs shoulder surgery. The silver lining is that with a torn labrum he led the NCAA in slugging with the new "deadwood" bat, the post-aluminum composite material bat that has made college ball far closer to High-A for purposes of scouting and player development.

The analysis of this pick: The Angels will not be pursuing Fielder. The Angels have lost faith in Kendrys Morales. The Angels envision spending free agent dough on pitching, most likely pressing Scott Boras for a Jered Weaver extension as a way of not publicly bowing out of the coming Prince Fielder Free Agency circus. WEAVE will be like Car-Gon and get a seven year deal soon. Okay speculation, but this is how domino trails that fall get pushed... Look around, this is a very un-Scioscia era pick.

Okay here are the only four news stories an Angels fan needs to read.

•The Salt Lake Tribune has reported on Cron's career as a Utah Ute and was on the scene with him for the draft. They have a good inside take on how sneaky the Angels were in this whole thing.

•Angels' top pick has shoulder tear that will probably require surgery - latimes.com ...The LA Times calls Cron "somewhat damaged goods" in reporting news of CJ's torn labrum. Money quote from scouting director Ric Wilson on the injury: "It's a testament to his grit." Ha ha ha, gotta admire the consistency of the most antiquated anti-stat organization in all of baseball, counting most teeball leagues.

•In case you are wondering how highly regarded Cron was, some baseball sites had the Red Sox taking him two picks after us or the Rockies taking him three picks after us, but here is one Oakland insider pleading with the organization to take Cron with the 18th pick in the draft. Money quote:

With their first pick, Oakland needs to shoot for a 1st baseman or 3rd baseman who can knock the cover off the ball, and you can trust me ...CJ Cron is the answer.

•And finally a complete overview of the first round and the supplemental first round from the SBN Mother Ship.

Round two starts at 9 AM Pacific Time today... The Angels do not have a pick until #104, 14th selection of the 3rd round. Tune into LunchTime HaloTalk our Angels internet radio show at 11 AM for more coverage of the draft.

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Woohoo!

Thanks for linking to my former employer (the SLTrib); the writer will be stoked. :)

by cath619 on Jun 7, 2011 7:07 AM PDT reply actions

Rev, I like the pick.

Unconventional, possibly…but I like the pick. I’m not at all concerned about the surgery. I do not doubt that the Angels knew of the injury; it seems to have been common knowledge.

Ha ha ha, gotta admire the consistency of the most antiquated anti-stat organization in all of baseball, counting most teeball leagues.

You’re telling us the Angels didn’t evaluate Cron’s stats? You cite articles suggesting the Red Sox, A’s, and Rockies, probably had him in their sights. I heard Rojas tell us on TV that Cron is the biggest power bat in the entire draft, a fact I read in numerous articles since. You’re comparing him to Prince Fielder and Sean Casey; someone in one of our own threads reported that he’s a young right-handed Adam Dunn.

Trumbone is crushing and we can envision Cron, too. I’m stoked!

by wumbug on Jun 7, 2011 7:09 AM PDT reply actions

i am pointing out that when your scouting director cites:

“GRIT” as a factor, it is a pretty laughable, almost stereotypically antiquated illustration of “old school non-stat baseball guy” and does in fact fit our profile.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 7, 2011 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions

It's too early to tell

Whether Cron reflects a fundamental change in the Angels’ approach to the amateur draft. However, it does seem like they were thinking completely new thoughts (for them). Maybe they’re even unaware of it, but Cron is a sabermetric wet dream, at least at the plate. We’ll have to see about his glove.

As screwed up as this organization has become under Two-Step Tony, I suppose it’s possible that the “grit” really impressed them, with the stats coming along for the ride. For now, it’s at least one small positive sign to counter the hack-tastic, slap-happy mess at the major-league level.

by Suboptimal on Jun 7, 2011 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Sounds to me as if you're "looking" for a way to criticize the Angels. That's OK; it's your blog.

We all know we need power. Right now, Trumbo’s it, and we’re not sure about him long term (but we surely are hopeful). We’re not sure about Morales’ return, much less his return to previous form. Even when/if he does return, we’ll soon enough be staring his Free Agency in the face. If nothing else, this gives Angels management another “option” for negotiation purposes in the event Boras leads Morales to the open market.

In addition to the SLUGGING reputation we’ve all now learned about, Cron evidently is highly regarded for his OBP skills. The fact that he put up a decent batting average in college is just icing on the cake. They won’t have to work hard at instructing him due to his blood line. The Angels have LOTS of speed and atheleticism in the minors, lots of pitchers and catchers. What we don’t see at first glance is POWER. In my mind, the only thing I regret about Cron is that he is not left handed.

by wumbug on Jun 7, 2011 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

I like this pick as well.

I’m tired of small ball. It’s not working. I’m tired of our clean-up hitter being a 15-25 HR guy. While most everyone else has a 35-55 HR guy at number 4. This current team blows. The salaries are pretty much killing the next few off-seasons. The near future is about all we have to look forward to. Now if only we can somehow sign WTY long-term, then I can watch the rest of this shit season with a little happiness.

Chick Chicky Boom!

by Monkeyspanked on Jun 7, 2011 8:04 AM PDT reply actions

Another local SLC newsaper article:

Salt Lake Deseret News

by wumbug on Jun 7, 2011 8:34 AM PDT reply actions

Cron sounds like a project.

I predict his fans will be called “The Cronies” when he reaches the majors.

"It's our money," owner Arte Moreno said.

by 44FAN on Jun 7, 2011 8:50 AM PDT reply actions

I was thinking they'd be called "Crom-magnons"

CJ was already dubbed “Crom” here, which is a perfectly cromulent nickname

All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.

by Quad Fin Rider on Jun 7, 2011 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions

"The Wrath"

as in “The Wrath of Cron”

by mustard_man on Jun 7, 2011 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions

TR has stated that this is a move to get more physical.

What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.

by clover_black on Jun 7, 2011 8:58 AM PDT reply actions

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Jun 7, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

One of the hottest women of all-time

But not in that picture.

by WiHaloFan on Jun 7, 2011 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions

I like the pick as well

With this pick the Angels covered an area of need and also picked up one of the better players available to them at this spot in the draft. Meaning I am glad that they did not make a huge over draft just based on need

There is every indication that he will sign fast. Which allows the Angels to get that surgery performed sooner rather than later.

He may also sign for money around slot which which (hopefully) may allow Ric Wilson to take higher cost/ higher upside players later on in the draft, and more importantly have the budget left over to sign those players.

by Trott on Jun 7, 2011 9:18 AM PDT reply actions

I can already smell Cron's runs.

by lightupthehalo29 on Jun 7, 2011 9:47 AM PDT reply actions

He's got a torn labrum and diarrhea?

Chick Chicky Boom!

by Monkeyspanked on Jun 7, 2011 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Cron's disease.

by lightupthehalo29 on Jun 7, 2011 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Haha!

Hopefully his form of Cron’s disease makes him crush a lot of homeruns. And it’s contagious! Spread that shit through the whole farm system…

Chick Chicky Boom!

by Monkeyspanked on Jun 7, 2011 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Seriously, though, Crohn's disease is no laughing matter.

At one point we thought Mrs. red floyd had that, before we found out it was something worse.

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Jun 7, 2011 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions

I had an intestinal infection that was misdiagnosed as Crohn's

Colostomy bags etc. Scary shit

I'd like to DFA Reagins

by hauldog on Jun 7, 2011 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

My sister has it; diagnosed when she was 6 year old

She’s had five or six surgeries, had her entire colon removed, and has had to live with an ostomy bag for the last 8 years or so. It’s definitely no laughing matter.

I don’t want to be “that guy” who gets all sensitive about stuff like this. I know people are just having fun. But I’m hoping that’s not a meme that sticks around.

Defending maligned chants since 2009

by Gorbachav5 on Jun 7, 2011 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

i lost a friend to Crohn's

and my banhammer is at the ready.

Although near the end he did have the greatest line:
“Dignity is a luxury, a stupid stupid luxury, everyone else can die with dignity, I just want to live.”

by Rev Halofan on Jun 7, 2011 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Sorry to hear that, my condolences

The most severe cases are brutal. It has certainly made life difficult for our family, although my sister, incredible woman that she is, has complained the least about it.

That is a very good line, though.

Defending maligned chants since 2009

by Gorbachav5 on Jun 7, 2011 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sorry, Rev.

I didn’t mean any harm in my comment. In retrospect it’s not in good taste. My condolences to you.

by lightupthehalo29 on Jun 7, 2011 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions

[Raised banhammer relaxes and returns to desk]

[Peasants return to working in the fields]

"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base." ~Dave Barry

by LAASurfin on Jun 8, 2011 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry to hear that man. Just a crappy play on a name.

My friend’s wife has Crohn’s. It sucks. But she deals with it with plenty of humor. But I’ll not go there again.

Chick Chicky Boom!

by Monkeyspanked on Jun 7, 2011 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I like the pick

Let’s get some power. If K-Mo is done or not about to return in glory, Torii Hunter is almost done, and then what? Mark Trumbo is our power hitter. Trout might hit some, but 30 a season? Bring some power up. Get some bats that will actually make pitchers think twice.

R.I.P. Nick Adenhart - Always an Angel

by Kernel on Jun 7, 2011 10:48 AM PDT reply actions

as I read this, I could only think about Kendrys

and what this means

Angels in 2011!

by tanana40 on Jun 7, 2011 10:50 AM PDT reply actions

Hopefully, it means nothing

Teams absolutely should NOT draft for need in the first round. If the Angels had anyone with an ounce of brain power running the show (and I’ll grant the debatability of that statement), they would draft the best player on their board. Maybe if you have two players that you show as being pretty much equal, then you draft the guy you’re more likely to need. But chances are that this had nothing to do with Kendrys and everything to do with the Angels thinking Cron was the best player available that they felt comfortable signing.

Defending maligned chants since 2009

by Gorbachav5 on Jun 7, 2011 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions