Upton's defense

[arch stanton]

Looks like he's not comfortable moving towards the wall and doesn't track the high flies in the sun. He also errs on the cautious side when coming forward. Overall a pretty typical left fielder

[Angel Oracle]

4 hours ago, tomsred said:

No one cares to comment on the nice running catch late in the game, the solid two RBI double that put the Angels ahead, or the great read on the pitch that allowed him to score in the eighth?  He doesn't seem like a space cadet to me.

The hitting is benefitting them.   The defense is too up and down.

[tomsred]

17 minutes ago, arch stanton said:

Looks like he's not comfortable moving towards the wall and doesn't track the high flies in the sun. He also errs on the cautious side when coming forward. Overall a pretty typical left fielder

Maybe he thinks he can't help the team if he injures himself against a wall.  The sun seemed to be a real issue for all today.  Maybe he doesn't want to let some ball get by him, and turn an inning into a big one.  Maybe he isn't used to communicating to Trout, EY and Revere.  Sounds like he has a little GA in him to me.

[tomsred]

37 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

The hitting is benefitting them.   The defense is too up and down.

True AO, but I think it will improve, I certainly hope so.  He's not a gold glove candidate.   Epplier has given us some great run prevention type players. it's a good strategy, but when you're near the bottom of the league in offense we needed another run producer.  We needed someone between Trout and Pujols on the line up card.  He was cheap and he was available for the taking.  I'm not sure there is another run producing left fielder of Upton's caliber available who is also is also a superior defender.

The Phillips situation is a little different.  Cowart is just as good a defender as Phillips.  He's younger and cheaper.  They just couldn't risk going with Cowart's bat when there was so little room for error, so we have Phillips.  I would think there is an adjustment moving to the American League for him.  But he's a veteran player that should be able to help is various ways in the heat of September.  That was a nice bunt today to move Revere in the eighth inning.  That's an example of the little things he does well.  I hope that Cowart learns a lot by watching how Phillips handles himself in September, because I think Cowart could be a really valuable guy in the future.

[ksangel]

The flyball that fell in looked like a miscommunication between Upton and Trout - not Upton not seeing the ball or being a poor defensive LF.  Appeared Upton saw Trout coming towards him at the end and pulled up...

6 hours ago, tomsred said:

True AO, but I think it will improve, I certainly hope so.  He's not a gold glove candidate.   Epplier has given us some great run prevention type players. it's a good strategy, but when you're near the bottom of the league in offense we needed another run producer.  We needed someone between Trout and Pujols on the line up card.  He was cheap and he was available for the taking.  I'm not sure there is another run producing left fielder of Upton's caliber available who is also is also a superior defender.

The Phillips situation is a little different.  Cowart is just as good a defender as Phillips.  He's younger and cheaper.  They just couldn't risk going with Cowart's bat when there was so little room for error, so we have Phillips.  I would think there is an adjustment moving to the American League for him.  But he's a veteran player that should be able to help is various ways in the heat of September.  That was a nice bunt today to move Revere in the eighth inning.  That's an example of the little things he does well.  I hope that Cowart learns a lot by watching how Phillips handles himself in September, because I think Cowart could be a really valuable guy in the future.

Regarding Cowart...I think the acquisition of Phillips, even if just for this season, spells the end of Cowart's career with the Angels.  Heck, the Angels won't even play Cowart at 3B, where he is a far superior defender to Prince Val, with Prince Val hitting .195 and was 0-9 against the starting pitcher yesterday.

[Jeff Fletcher]

I'm sure you've all read my story by now. Someone on the other side of the fence yelled "I got it."

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/10/justin-upton-delivers-big-blow-in-angels-victory-over-mariners/

 

 

[krAbs]

1 hour ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I'm sure you've all read my story by now. Someone on the other side of the fence yelled "I got it."

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/10/justin-upton-delivers-big-blow-in-angels-victory-over-mariners/

 

 

But like...I feel like that's part of the game. I guess I'll give him some slack because he is new to the team and isn't intimately familiar with Trout's voice, but that feels like a pretty lame excuse.

[Stradling]

20 minutes ago, krAbs said:

But like...I feel like that's part of the game. I guess I'll give him some slack because he is new to the team and isn't intimately familiar with Trout's voice, but that feels like a pretty lame excuse.

That both he and Trout made.  

[Angel Oracle]

Sounds like the M's bullpen are PayRod wannabes?    Next thing you know, they will be clamoring to enter as pinchrunners and all try to slap the ball out of the 2B's glove like a girl.

[Troll Daddy]

1 hour ago, Angel Oracle said:

Sounds like the M's bullpen are PayRod wannabes?    Next thing you know, they will be clamoring to enter as pinchrunners and all try to slap the ball out of the 2B's glove like a girl.