The October 5, 2015 edition of Los Angeles Angels news includes Billy Eppler being named the team’s next general manager, Mike Scioscia not opting out of his contract with the Halos, and more…
The Story: Angels name Billy Eppler GM, press conference Monday at 1:00pm
MWAH Says: Eppler is a guy who started at the bottom rung of the player development ladder, as an area scout with the Rockies, and made his way into the upper echelons of an MLB front office within a decade. Pretty damn impressive. One imagines that career trajectory doesn’t happen if he’s not a bright, driven, resourceful individual, fully capable of handling the myriad duties required of a general manager. Being GM of the Angels is a different animal, of course, but I’m cautiously optimistic Eppler will be able to work with (and around) Mike Scioscia to make the organization stronger at all levels. The club wouldn’t have given Eppler a four-year contract if they didn’t feel the same. At least you hope they wouldn’t. FWIW, Eppler is signed a year beyond Scioscia.
The Story: Mike Scioscia returning for 2016 season
MWAH Says: The initial quotes about Mike Scioscia’s opt-out were all “no comments”, but within an hour the LA Times‘ Bill Shaikin had confirmation he was returning. Not sure what that’s all about. Anyway, with all of Scioscia’s recent quotes about how “I’m not involved in the GM process but, hey, since you asked here’s a list of the things I’d like our new GM to do”, it seemed pretty clear that he would be back. I have as many issues with Scioscia’s in-game tactics as the next person, but it’s hard to argue that his prevalence for small ball and/or strict reliever usage has hurt the organization when he’s got 12 winning seasons to his name in 16 years. I suppose you could argue another manager would have won more, but that’s just counterfactual thinking. Who would’ve managed in his stead? Frustrating as he is at times, Scioscia’s gotta be doing something right to have his team outplay its Pythagorean W-L% 11 times in the last 12 years.
The Story: Trout and Pujols become the Angels’ first 40 home-run teammates
MWAH Says: Pujols’ dinger in the first inning Sunday put he and Trout in some exclusive company. The duo are the 30th set of teammates in MLB history to each homer at least 40 times in a season. Two other teams, the Blue Jays and Rockies, also accomplished the feat this year. Before 2015 the only Angel to ever top 40 home runs was Troy Glaus, in 2000 and 2001.
The Story: Dan Haren will retire after postseason
MWAH Says: Well, technically, he’s retiring after the Cubs finish their postseason run. That could come as early as Wednesday or as late as November. The former Angel has had a rough go of it the last few years, but he’ll retire with a solid 3.75 ERA, good for an above-average 110 ERA+, and 153 wins in his 13 seasons in the big leagues. A career most would kill to have.
The Story: Torii Hunter undecided on 2016
MWAH Says: Pretty confident the Twins will make this decision for him. They had use for Hunter when Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, and Aaron Hicks were all finding their way in the bigs, but now he’d serve only as an impediment to their further development. And with Oswaldo Arcia still around at Triple-A, there probably isn’t even room to keep him around as a fourth or fifth outfielder. Lord knows he couldn’t be a defensive replacement.
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