The October 17th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Angels get permission to interview DiPoto, Angels discussing huge TV contract with Fox, looking at what Trout’s AFL experience could mean and much more…
The Story: The Angels have received permission to interview Jerry DiPoto.
The Monkey Says: Some believe DiPoto is the front-runner for the Halos gig, but Buster Olney tweeted late last week that DiPoto was also the front-runner for the Orioles job. Normally, I would think picking between the Angels and the Orioles would be no contest since Baltimore hasn’t been good for years and also has a meddlesome owner in Peter Angelos and controlling manager in Buck Showalter, but the Angels have Moreno and Scioscia, which makes it more a matter of preference, though I think the Angels still have the edge.
The Monkey Says: Assuming that is the figure, that would add $30 million in revenue per year for the Angels. Take this report with a GIANT grain of salt though. For starters, their current TV contract doesn’t expire until after 2015, so there isn’t a ticking clock on these talks nor would that big revenue boost be realized soon enough to make a major change in the current dealings. Most importantly, this is the second off-season in a row the two sides have talked and supposedly been near a deal, so this may stall out just like last season. Personally, I believe the report is emerging more as a PR stunt from either Fox or MLB to try and somehow put pressure on the Dodgers and their ongoing saga over their TV contract rights with Fox.
The Story: What does Mike Trout’s Arizona Fall League experience mean for him in 2012?
The Monkey Says: Not much, apparently. The only real reason I can see for the Angels sending him to the AFL instead of to a Latin American winter league is that the Angels can control his playing time and development a bit more. Plus, it may not be a great idea to send a 20-year old to go live by himself in the Domincan or Venezuela. There is some talk of Trout starting 2012 in Triple-A, but it doesn’t seem his AFL performance will have any impact on that decision, which should be a no-brainer to just let him play in the majors, but that will partly be up to the new GM to decide.
The Story: Is Mark Trumbo the next Mike Jacobs?
The Monkey Says: That’s not a good thing, if you don’t know who Mike Jacobs is. This is a GREAT bit of analysis on how long the odds are against Trumbo having a long and successful career and why we harp on him so much for never walking. The great point he makes at the end about the Angels being foolish to consider first base filled for years to come because of Trumbo’s presence is one I hope the new GM realizes too. It is possible he can address his plate discipline issues to a certain degree, but history has whosn that, for the most part, it is just one of those innate skills that you either have or you don’t.
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