The March 26th, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels including Madson feeling good after another bullpen session, Trout vs. Harper and much more…
The Story: Ryan Madson is feeling good after another bullpen session on Monday.
The Monkey Says: Nice to hear, but he still isn't throwing 100% or throwing his changeup. In other words, he still has a long way to go
The Monkey Says: The Bowden piece is as stupid as you'd expect. But I just don't get why we need to declare a winner in the present, past or future with these two. Why can't we all just enjoy them both being great, potentially generational talents without trying to constantly force this stupid narrative that they are somehow rivals?
The Monkey Says: Using more sophisticated tools doesn't make this manufactured debate any less inane.
The Story: Looking at the areas at the plate where Harper and Trout can both stand to improve.
The Monkey Says: They avoid the comparison here in favor of something that is actually interesting, which was a welcome surprise. More of this please.
The Story: The beauty of the Vernon Wells trade.
The Monkey Says: It is so beautiful that I think I just shorted out my keyboard because it was soaked in tears of joy. (Don't ask how I just typed that. You'll ruin the moment.)
The Story: The money saved in the Vernon Wells trade allows the Angels to avoid the luxury tax.
The Monkey Says: This is the gift that keeps on giving! The Halos probably would've come in just under the threshold anyway, but at least now they actually have enough wiggle room to add another chunk of salary via trade if need be.
The Story: Vernon Wells ranks 18th in Jonah Keri's Vernon Power Rankings.
The Monkey Says: If reduced to the Vernon Wells Power Rankings, Vernon Wells the ballplayer still comes in second behind Vernon Wells the actor. He just can't do anything right, can he?
The Story: Nick Maronde is being converted to a reliever permanently.
The Monkey Says: The Angels say "indefinitely" but it is really "permanently." I think I kind of hate this move. Don't get me wrong, Maronde could become a terrific reliever, but he at least had a chance of being a quality mid-rotation starter and the Angels don't have many of those in their system, much less ones with experience above High-A ball. It seems to me the Halos could've allowed him to keep starting for another year to see if he could hack it since they don't have a pressing need for another lefty reliever.
The Story: Mitch Stetter has a chance at making the Opening Day roster.
The Monkey Says: If the Angels carry three southpaw relievers, I might have to quit blogging. There is absolutely no reason for it, especially since Scioscia has never been a guy who is religious about exploiting platoon match-ups. Also, Stetter doesn't appear to be all that good, so that only makes this more infuriating.
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