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All-Star
Posts: 1875
Location: California | Former Angels 3rd round pick lefty Josh Spence from ASU was DFA'd by the Padres who magically grabbed him in the 9th round. This kid had first round talent and was a consensus Top 20 pick coming out of college until he had arm troubles. The Padres bought low, converted him from starter into a reliever and he was outstanding in their minor league system and in the majors in 2011. In 2012 he struggled with command but still posted passable numbers.
In terms of actual stuff, he's junk-baller. His slider is outstanding and his change up is very good. They make his 87 mph fastball really sneak up on hitters.
If I were Dipoto, I'd certainly claim this kid. The Angels already have lefty depth in AAA (Brad Mills, Andrew Taylor, Brandon Sisk and soon Nick Maronde) but I really don't think you can ever run out of good southpaws. He certainly has the upside and history of success in the major league level, Dipoto's worked with the Padres before and that deal turned out pretty well (Frieri). I'm not saying this will work solely because Frieir worked, but the Angels were interested before and this kid could be really good someday. Worst case scenario, he's a AAA flame out. |
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All-Star
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| Worth a non-roster ST invite for sure. |
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Hall of Fame
Posts: 19315
| Definitely should look at putting a claim in on him. |
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Hall of Fame
Posts: 9232
| He reminds me of a LH version of O'Day. He pitched well in 2011 in limited innings (29). |
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Hall of Fame
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Location: Las Vegas, NV | Can't do any harm to kick the tires. |
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Hall of Fame
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| +1
I'd take a flyer on him, and see if he can develop into someone resembling DO or a lefty O'Day. |
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Hall of Fame
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Location: Perth, Western Australia | I'm pretty damn surprised the Padres gave up on him so quickly. He's definitely worth a look. |
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| Agreed, he had some good success out of their pen there. |
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All-Star
Posts: 4870
Location: Sunset Beach, CA | Spence>Marmol.
He was lights out for a few months for them. |
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Hall of Fame
Posts: 9232
| The Yankees claimed him.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/yankees-claim-josh-spence-off... |
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All-Star
Posts: 1875
Location: California | It's a shame that a team that's hurting for necessary bullpen depth like the Angels wastes golden opportunities like this. I guess Dipoto and company had a different interpretation of his abilities as a pitcher. |
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Hall of Fame
Posts: 19315
| Dumb. |
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All-Star
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Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, California | ScottyAllenLAAI - 2012-11-06 3:56 PM
It's a shame that a team that's hurting for necessary bullpen depth like the Angels wastes golden opportunities like this. I guess Dipoto and company had a different interpretation of his abilities as a pitcher.
Well with all due respect, and I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you Scotty, the Padres are pretty good at developing pitching talent and if they didn't want him you have to ask yourself why they didn't want him anymore. It may just be a case that they needed to make room but Spence could easily be heading the route of Brandon Wood.... or not? We just don't have enough information to be honest. |
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All-Star
Posts: 1695
Location: Tuscon | Seems like going "dumpster diving" for DFA'd pitchers like Spence would work out at least as well as hiring Izzy/Hawkins at significantly lower cost. |
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Hall of Fame
Posts: 50047
| AZMike - 2012-11-06 4:57 PM
Seems like going "dumpster diving" for DFA'd pitchers like Spence would work out at least as well as hiring Izzy/Hawkins at significantly lower cost.
+1 |
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All-Star
Posts: 1875
Location: California | Well I'd argue 2 points....
1. Brandon Wood never had as much success as Spence has had so far in the Major Leagues
2. Josh Spence still has options. If he wasn't ready for the major leagues (proven that he is) then you could stash him away in AAA until he shows you he's ready.
It just seems to me like a no-risk maneuver for a player that's proven to be a very good reliever, is young and cheap. Can't say they screwed the pooch or anything, it just seems like the Angels aren't nearly as active on the waiver wire as they should be. |
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Hall of Fame
Posts: 50047
| Is that a Scioscia thing, or a FO thing? |
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Salt Lake Bees
Posts: 995
| It's stupid. This organization doesn't take advantage of oppurtunities to get a low risk, cheap, proven arm. I guess they think Isringhausen and Hawkins are better fits for the bullpen.
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All-Star
Posts: 2353
| I have to agree with Ettin here. It's not like San Diego is so stocked on young, talented (if maybe somewhat injured) lefty pitchers that they couldn't have let him work through his injury. Seems very unusual that they'd simply cut bait. I wonder if we have the ability to have a dialogue with Buddy Black considering our previous relationship, or his people, and were scared off. |
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Josh Spence DFA'd
