Before Billy Eppler’s introductory press conference Monday, most of us had never heard him speak. We knew his background, and that he came highly recommended, but we’d never actually heard anything from the man himself. This left room to wonder just what kind of general manager he’d be: Would he focus on scouting, analytics, or some combination of both? Would he have his own distinct vision for the club or act more as a figure head carrying out Mike Scioscia’s baseball philosophy? Would he be a bass, baritone, or tenor?
Well, now we have some answers. Should we really put much stock in 30 minutes worth of mostly banal quotes given at an introductory press conference? Definitely not! But there’s not much else to go on at this point, so over-analysis is the name of the game.
What follows a few key Eppler quotes from yesterday’s presser, with a brief rundown of what that might entail for the Angels’ future. In addition to our own interpretations, we put each statement through multiple languages on Google Translate (Arabic, Mandarin, Thai, and Russian, mostly) before reverting them back to English to really cut to the heart of each quote.
On Why He Took The Job
The Quote: “I’m looking for a place that has high expectations, I’m looking for a place that has a demanding work environment, because that, professionally, is where I grew up. It’s second nature for me to work in environments that have expectations. That’s why I wanted this job — that’s why I gravitated to this job.”
All those articles out there about how the Angels’ front-office meddling would scare potential candidates away, and the opposite seems to have happened. I doubt Eppler was drawn to the dysfunction, specifically, but the challenge involved in mediating the wants of Arte Moreno/Mike Scioscia and an expectant fan base seems to have been an important factor. The whole “environments with expectations” thing is a super weird sentence. Pretty sure every job has expectations.
Google Translation: “I look round and prompted a search needs to be increased expectation that spot. It is a common me a place as yet consummated. That’s why this job – so I wanted to do the job.”
Same.
On The Moreno/Scioscia Dynamic
The Quote: “It was a non-issue. And maybe that’s because where I professionally grew up, in New York.”
He’s got a point. Hard to imagine Arte Moreno is any more meddlesome than the Steinbrenners. He’s also implicitly acknowledging that there is a unique dynamic in the Angels front office—it’s a non-issue for him, but only because he’s dealt with a hands-on owner before.
Google Translation: “The problem does not lie in this area. Maybe because I grew up here in New York is professional.”
Eppler grew up non-professionally in the San Diego area.
On The Angels’ Current Roster
The Quote: “Generally I’m pleased with the core that’s here. There are some thoroughbreds that can pull the cart. But we’re going to land some other horses that can pull it.”
Some questions: How big is this cart? Is he on the cart? What kind of goods is the cart carrying? If the cart weighs 1,000 pounds and the thoroughbreds, who weigh 500 pounds each, can pull only their body weight, how do they get the cart across a bridge that can hold just 1,500 pounds of weight?
Google Translation: “Overall, they settled there, but I was excited. Some baskets were drawn pedigree. But we will be able to return to the land of the other horses.”
Well, at least it’s only some baskets that were drawn pedigree, amirite? “Return to the Land of the Other Horses” is the worst Land Before Time sequel yet.
On Analytics
The Quote: “Analytics can be a very valuable weapon, but you have to educate the people using those analytics. Just like any weapon—if you don’t use it right, it can blow up on you.”
The whole “educate the people using those analytics” thing is where Jerry Dipoto hit his major road block. One imagines that Eppler will tread lightly on this front, at least for a while, choosing instead to use his scouting background/prowess to get in everyone’s good graces. Also, #NotAllWeapons
Google Translation: “Analysis can be the perfect tool. You have to train people to use these tests. If you do not speak, he can pass to the right to kill you.”
Note to self: Always speak up and/or sit to the left of Arte Moreno.
On the Types of Players He’ll Seek Out
The Quote: “I can tell you we’ll find players with a patiently aggressive approach. We’ll find players with a high degree of baseball intelligence, and players that profile defensively for the positions they play. On the pitching side, we’ll find pitchers that can set up a hitter, pitchers than can execute a game plan and pitchers who have enough weapons to miss bats when it’s needed.”
This was probably the meatiest of the quotes. “Aggressive but patient” has been a hot-button phrase for a while now. This seems to be a way of describing a Three True Outcomes player without having to concede that you’re OK with high strikeout rates. Players currently on the Angels who do not fit the “patiently aggressive” mold: Erick Aybar, Albert Pujols, C.J. Cron, Collin Cowgill.
The “high degree of baseball intelligence” bit is whatever, but the “profile defensively” part says a lot. I take that to mean Eppler isn’t about to pull an A.J. Preller or Ben Cherington and just throw guys into defensive positions they have no business playing just to get their bat in the lineup. This seems to be a pretty prudent approach, given how wretchedly things went in San Diego and Boston this year.
“Pitchers that can set up a hitter” probably doesn’t mean one-pitch guys like Trevor Gott. That and “execute a game plan” also seems to imply solid control of the strike zone, which Angels starters struggled with this season. “Miss bats when needed” = I like strikeouts, but not everyone has to have a K rate better than one per inning. These are mostly things every team is looking for.
Google Translation: “I can tell you that we have five players in the ongoing proactive approach. We found a player with a high level of intelligence and baseball players a glimpse of their title defense. Party building and a bank can be set up and the jug of ingredients can make a game plan and a bottle with enough firepower to miss bats, if necessary.”
I don’t know if five players and a jug of ingredients is gonna be enough, but I’m pretty pumped about the party building.
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