This team is in trouble - and there are no quick fixes

[Lifetime]

Reading comprehension..... 

[Erick McClendon]

Farm system strength is cyclical especially for teams that are perennially competitive. 

It seems that with International signings and deep national draft that these kind of excuses are pretty much incorrect. look at teams like Atlanta or St.Louis and while both are highly competitive they also have very deep farm systems...

[Lifetime]

yes right now they do, as did the Angels for a few years whilst they stayed competitive. And a few years back, ATL was a 3rd and 4th place team with a .500ish winning %. STL also had a few recent years in that range.

[Fontana Halo]

You think the coachs' jobs are to remind professional players what their objectives are? 

Yes. That's literally their job description.

[Lifetime]

LOL!

[jshep]

It seems that with International signings and deep national draft that these kind of excuses are pretty much incorrect. look at teams like Atlanta or St.Louis and while both are highly competitive they also have very deep farm systems...

 

It's amazing what being active in the international market and not trading prospects as fast as you can produce them does for a farm system.

[70runner]

Finally, as a sidenote, for the love of all that's holy, please Arte stop with the George Steinbrenner impersonation. It didn't work for George - in fact, it pushed the most successful franchise in baseball history into its longest World Series slump - and it won't work for you. You can't build a perennial champion by gutting the farm system and focusing on past-their-prime overpriced stars. You've got to focus on the core, the heart, which is the farm and the homegrown players it produces. Actually, the bright spots on this team right now - Trumbo, Bourjos, and Richards in particular - are homegrown. The problems and underachievers are all mercenaries, for the most part. Think about that, Mr. Moreno (and Dipoto) and think of the long-range plan.

 

It's a painfully growing list: GMJ, Wells, Pujols, Wilson, Hamilton.  Easy to blame Reagins and now Dipoto, but Arte is the guy that needs recalibrated.  The Angels success was driven by a balanced team of aggressive, energetic players (we called it small ball) with solid pitching, supported by a productive farm system.  Being self motivated and driven to achieve more, they thrived within Scioscia's turn the page construct.  Contrast that to the present team, mostly headlined by guys who have reached (and passed) the pinnacle of MLB performance in terms of both achievement and reward.  Wells said it best, too blessed to be stressed.   More a collection of huge, long term contracts than a team.  And no balance to be found.

 

Can only hope the long range plan looks a little like building from within around the core of Trout, PB, Weaver, Trumbo, Richards, and not buying the next available huge long term contract.

[stormngt]

Very good post:  

 

There are inherent weaknesses to this team it there is not quick fix answer.

 

Yes, the biggest problem is the starting pitching.  We have the offense and defense to have a great team, but we do not have the pitching.  This includes our BP which I think has been mediocre and looks worse because our starting pitching has done so poor.

 

Our farm system is weak so there can be no trades or any call ups that can change things.

 

I agree that this problem occurred because the Angels have been in the win now moment for the past five years.  We felt we were just one piece away from winning a WS.  We kept adding expensive FA and trading for expensive players where Teixera and Grienke became just rentals.  In hindsight we should have rebuilt after the 2009 season.  But that is the past.  It is time to rebuild that that will be tough when you have Pujols for another eight years and Hamilton for another four.

[mrwicked]

its the gulf stream.

they'll be fine.