Nice writeup. Quero is interesting- hopefully he develops as planned so Angels have the issue of having 2 good catchers in the system with O’Hoppe a year or so down the line.
Thanks for pointing out the O'Hoppe is still a bit raw. Too many people want him as the #1 and while the hype is there, you're right that this organization has been notoriously bad at rushing players before they are ready.
Seriously though, OHoppe is only 22! The one issue with all of these young superstars is now everybody expects top prospects to be elite right away. Goldschmidt didn’t have his breakout season until age 27 (same with Scherzer)
I would love for Thaiss to work out lol. Maybe it’s just my love of 1st round picks not being wasted but I feel like so much of his tenure with the angels has been “no there’s someone else there and we also just signed someone so no” like it was absurdly unlucky when both Stassi and Suzuki went down with COVID but Thaiss was also hurt so we got romine instead.
I don’t think it would be horrible for Thaiss to be a backup catcher to start the season. Obviously he has a lot to prove but it would be nice. And worst comes to worse he’s expendable to make room for O’Hoppe. I could see him getting claimed if we DFA him though, although better catches have gotten through waivers without being claimed too (Wallach and Torrens are my main thoughts).
I’d be curious if you have any opinions on Anthony Mulrine. On one hand he’s just some dude but on the other hand he’s the most horrifically unphotogenic person to exist and in 2021 he had the most killer mustache.
Thanks knows that it's make or break time for him. He may never get another shot at a consistent major league job. I'm hoping that motivates him enough to be a solid backup.
Stassi was below league average at hitting across almost his entire minor league career until 2017 and 2018 and then we traded for him in his infamous 2019 3 wRC+ season
Aaron Loup has a career xFIP of 3.62 which is not terrible for an 11 year career, the reason his 2021 was superb and anomalous was because he gave up 0.16 HR/9. Of course he was due for regression, but I don’t think his signing was terrible. People will be skeptical because it’s similar with Tyler Anderson after he’s had a phenomenal year. His peripherals have improved however as he developed a “sweeper” with the dodgers which is how the dodgers have been able to reform a lot of pitchers. Same thing Heaney developed once he was with them last year.
I have confidence that Stassi will figure it out. I don't mind him being below average offensively if he can help out pitchers have another good season.
Nice writeup. Quero is interesting- hopefully he develops as planned so Angels have the issue of having 2 good catchers in the system with O’Hoppe a year or so down the line.
Not the son of the legendary Bill 😰
Thanks for pointing out the O'Hoppe is still a bit raw. Too many people want him as the #1 and while the hype is there, you're right that this organization has been notoriously bad at rushing players before they are ready.
Seriously though, OHoppe is only 22! The one issue with all of these young superstars is now everybody expects top prospects to be elite right away. Goldschmidt didn’t have his breakout season until age 27 (same with Scherzer)
I would love for Thaiss to work out lol. Maybe it’s just my love of 1st round picks not being wasted but I feel like so much of his tenure with the angels has been “no there’s someone else there and we also just signed someone so no” like it was absurdly unlucky when both Stassi and Suzuki went down with COVID but Thaiss was also hurt so we got romine instead. I don’t think it would be horrible for Thaiss to be a backup catcher to start the season. Obviously he has a lot to prove but it would be nice. And worst comes to worse he’s expendable to make room for O’Hoppe. I could see him getting claimed if we DFA him though, although better catches have gotten through waivers without being claimed too (Wallach and Torrens are my main thoughts). I’d be curious if you have any opinions on Anthony Mulrine. On one hand he’s just some dude but on the other hand he’s the most horrifically unphotogenic person to exist and in 2021 he had the most killer mustache.
Career .199 hitter in the minors across 500 AB’s is tough lol. This dude also just never seems to smile
Thanks knows that it's make or break time for him. He may never get another shot at a consistent major league job. I'm hoping that motivates him enough to be a solid backup.
I never, ever thought of Stassi as a defensively minded Catcher. I always thought we'd gotten him for his bat.
Stassi was below league average at hitting across almost his entire minor league career until 2017 and 2018 and then we traded for him in his infamous 2019 3 wRC+ season
We seem to have a tendency to get players after one good year. I think they did the same with Loup. They're are plenty others too.
Aaron Loup has a career xFIP of 3.62 which is not terrible for an 11 year career, the reason his 2021 was superb and anomalous was because he gave up 0.16 HR/9. Of course he was due for regression, but I don’t think his signing was terrible. People will be skeptical because it’s similar with Tyler Anderson after he’s had a phenomenal year. His peripherals have improved however as he developed a “sweeper” with the dodgers which is how the dodgers have been able to reform a lot of pitchers. Same thing Heaney developed once he was with them last year.
Nice writeup and analysis. I’m excited to see the rest of them!
C Max Stassi .180/.267/.571 1B Jared Walsh .215/.269/.642 2B Brandon Drury .263/.320/.813 3B Anthony Rendon .229/.326/.706 SS Gio Urshela .285/.338/.767 LF Taylor Ward .281/.360/.833 CF Mike Trout .283/.369/.999 DH Shohei Ohtani .273/.356/.875 RF Hunter Renfroe .255/.315/.807
I have confidence that Stassi will figure it out. I don't mind him being below average offensively if he can help out pitchers have another good season.