Angels 2021 MLB Draft: 20 Picks; Choose 20 Pitchers...

[Maroon Eagle]

The Angels had 20 picks. They picked 20 pitchers. We've never seen that before. Why did it happen?https://t.co/WRO2nS2E1E— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) July 13, 2021

 

[57stratdawg]

Over the last 5 seasons, I see the Angel's pitching staff:

> 25th in ERA
> 28th in Hard Hit Rate Allowed
> 27th in HR / 9
> 26th in WAR

They've been closer to middle of the road in some other categories (xFIP, etc.), but they need all the help they can get on the mound. Dylan Bundy has really let them down this year.

 

[MSUDC11]

They've had Mike Trout for a decade and have won zero playoff games in that time. Now they have Trout AND Ohtani and are in fourth place in their division at the break (I realize Trout has been injured this year, but the point still remains). They've really been one of the most poorly run franchises in sports over the last decade, doesn't get talked about a ton since they are on the West Coast and a distant second fiddle in the LA market.

Trout is a slam dunk first ballot hall of famer, and the average sports fan couldn't pick him out of a lineup because of how mediocre his franchise has been in his career. They have totally failed to capitalize on having one of the best athletes in the world in his prime.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Its an interesting concept, but I like it. You stack a farm full of high ceiling pitching prospects and you can trade for nearly any bat you want. Not to mention if you look at the "draft" holistically, you have to consider the international signing period as part of it. Maybe they like the idea of international bats and domestic pitchers and unicorns like Ohtani that can do both.

Anecdotally, you will tend to find top more top tier pitchers in the US than abroad. Vice versa for hitters.

Of the current top 20 ERA leaders in MLB, 3 (#'s 10, 19, and 20) are not US born.
Of the current top 20 OPS leaders in MLB, 8 (#'s 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 15, and 19) are not US born.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Pujols deal killed the Angels. Dude put up 1.000+ OPS 8-11 seasons in STL. The other 3 seasons were all over .900.

His first season in LA he put up an .859 OPS and never sniffed .800 again. He was basically Mitch Moreland with subpar defense. I love me some Mitch, but I am guessing Albert made about $200 million more than Mitch did from 2013-Present. I could have paid Moreland and got me a couple hundred million worth of pitching to win some pennants for what they paid Pujols. Here is the OPS of both since 2013 I can't tell much of a difference, but I think Mitch is a little better.

Pujols
View attachment 20991

Moreland
View attachment 20992

I know you Cardinals fans love some Pujols for what he did in STL, but I have to say there are very few athletes in any sport that underperformed their contract the way Pujols did. As a kicker, Josh Hamilton stole $125 million from the Angels during the same time period. Man that was some bad investing.

 

[Bin612]

If you take that many guys at 1 position you’ll hopefully hit on a few

 

[Xenomorph]

I guess it's a bad day if you're a pitcher in Low A or even High A ball with the Angels.. they basically just said get your *** outta here.

 

[047Dog]

Its an interesting concept, but I like it. You stack a farm full of high ceiling pitching prospects and you can trade for nearly any bat you want. Not to mention if you look at the "draft" holistically, you have to consider the international signing period as part of it. Maybe they like the idea of international bats and domestic pitchers and unicorns like Ohtani that can do both.

Anecdotally, you will tend to find top more top tier pitchers in the US than abroad. Vice versa for hitters.

Of the current top 20 ERA leaders in MLB, 3 (#'s 10, 19, and 20) are not US born.
Of the current top 20 OPS leaders in MLB, 8 (#'s 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 15, and 19) are not US born.

That's the theory. Or you do it the Braves and Anthopolous way and hold on to those prospects so long that they begin to be exposed, lose trade value and they go on the AAA-majors and back yo yo until they are worthless.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Pujols didn’t underperform on his Cardinals contract. I don’t care that he did poorly for the Angels. It worked out great for the Cards and Pujols. That’s a win win as far as I’m concerned. Maybe the angels should learn to not offer stupid money to 40 year olds.