Irony: Dipoto was right about Taylor Ward

[Erstad Grit]

[T.G.]

When Myers was 28, he had already played 6 years in the MLB.

 

Regardless, good for Ward, hope he continues to play well.

Edited April 23, 2022 by True Grich

[Second Base]

5 minutes ago, True Grich said:

When Myers was 28, he had already played 6 years on the MLB.

 

Regardless, good for Ward, hope he continues to play well.

It's not a perfect comp 

 

[Dtwncbad]

Glad Ward rescued his career and looks like he has carved out a job.

But I think saying Dipoto was right about him is a stretch.

It is going to be quite a long shot for Ward to ever deliver the amount of major league value that they expected when they drafted him.

[Inside Pitch]

On 4/23/2022 at 1:29 PM, Second Base said:

Forever etched in my mind was the celebration that came before the Angels selected Taylor Ward in the first round. As if the front office was on pins and needles hoping he would fall to them, despite projections pegging him as more of a second, third or fourth round pick. The arrogance of it always shocked me. 

They felt Ward was an athletic, defense first catcher that would hit for power and had a short path to the majors. 

Things didn't turn out the way Dipoto thought, or anyone for that matter. Despite his athleticism, Ward was less polished as a catcher than anticipated, and his bat would take longer to develop into even an average hitting catcher. Furthermore, pitchers didn't particularly like throwing to him. I have no further detail than that.

It seemed as if he was a bust. 

Even when the next GM, Billy Eppler mentioned that Ward would be shifting to third base, it was met with ridicule. A bad hitting catcher was moving over to third base, where offensive expectations were considerably higher. It would make sense if this is where the story of Taylor Ward as a baseball player ended. 

But then the shock came. 

Taylor Ward hit, and he hit a ton. Turns out, getting him out from behind the plate was the best thing that happened in his career because now, he could focus on hitting and sort of pick up 3B as he goes. In one year, Ward went from organizational depth fodder to making his major league debut. He wasn't successful at the plate, and he was simply passable at third base and first base for short periods of time. 

Still, if this was the end of the story, it was a happy ending. At least Ward had made it to the majors and he'd probably spend a few years bouncing between AAA and the majors in a couple different organizations. It's further than most prospects get. 

Yet here we are in 2022, seven years since he was drafted, and Taylor Ward is now a starting outfielder for the Angels, hitting typically anywhere between second and fifth in the lineup. The Angels believe his bat has enough value that he's going to impact the game, and he's good enough to send their golden prospects, Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh to the bench. The Angels are high enough on his defensive prowess that they haven't hesitated in deploying him in CF. And he's faster than anyone expected too. 

Taylor Ward had become a legitimate, top or middle of the order starting outfielder. And with that, DIPOTO WAS RIGHT. 

No, Ward isn't the athletic power hitting catcher that could be ready for a starting position in the majors in two years, like Dipoto thought. He's instead looking like a potential stud in the outfield, after seven years. But it doesn't change the fact that Dipoto and his front office were correct in celebrating this pick. 

And there's the irony. We always used the video of that celebration as a way of ridiculing Dipoto and his terrible draft record (and it was awful). Like the Mission Accomplished banner behind George W. Bush, for those that are into politics. Maybe the video of that celebration could be perceived in more of a justified context now. 

I mean, I get what you're trying to say but Dipoto got it completely wrong and thankfully the minor league staff were able to make him into something useful.  Walsh, Ward, to a lesser degree Fletcher, are all development department success stories.

When push comes to shove I don't really care who gets the credit, just glad there are homegrown guys becoming useful players.   So thanks all of them.

[tdawg87]

Dipoto deserves nothing.

[Angels 1961]

16 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Dipoto deserves nothing.

That is what Scioscia said

[Angels 1961]

I like Ward and feel he will be an important cog for halos this year. OF for halos will be just fine for years with this group.

[Taylor]

2 hours ago, Second Base said:

The scout in me sees a short, simple path to the ball, a swing that goes through the ball rather than to it, a swing that generates loft and backspin and the way the ball jumps off his bat.

I'm sure you've explained this before, but what is your scouting experience?

[ten ocho recon scout]

3 hours ago, UndertheHalo said:

The same fairly concerning process is going on with Matt Thaiss. 

Yeah, damn. What the hell happened to him?

I was pretty up on him, now I totally forgot he was ever born.

[eligrba]

3 hours ago, Second Base said:

The scout in me sees a short, simple path to the ball, a swing that goes through the ball rather than to it, a swing that generates loft and backspin and the way the ball jumps off his bat. 

I see an unexpectedly good defender who is also faster than you'd think. 

As long as he's healthy and gets the opportunity, I think Ward is going to be a tier just below all-star. He'll be a good starting outfielder for a half decade. 

And the really interesting part is if I'm right, what that means for Marsh, Adell, Adams and any other outfield prospect we have. 

His swing has no extraneous movements and has improved tons since his first major league appearance.

[Angelsjunky]

Myers is very overrated - and one of the most overpaid players in baseball. Based on his rookie season (.293/.354/.478, 129 wRC+, 2.3 WAR in 88 games) he's actually been pretty disappointing, with a career line of .253/.328/443, 109 wRC+, 13.9 WAR in 998 games. 

Actually, where the comp holds well--aside from converting from catcher to outfielder--is how similar that career line is to Ward's season last year: .250/.332/.438, 111 wRC+, 0.7 WAR in 65 games. But I think the Angels think he'll be better than that this year; my guess is that they're hoping for Walsh 2.0, but will settle for .270/.340/.480, which is about what I expect - and is better than Myers.

 

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, Taylor said:

I'm sure you've explained this before, but what is your scouting experience?

Nothing that'll impress anyone, but after my playing days, I worked as a scout for a now defunct sports agency, and managed to get representation on three drafted pitchers and I also worked in scouting and recruiting for one of the better D-2 programs in the country. I had two job offers to be an area scout for a major league organization, but a thousand bucks a month wasn't sustainable, so I turned both down. 

When you add it all up though, it's pretty inconsequential in regards to giving my word any more weight than anyone else's. Your local high school coach likely sees as much as I do. These were more based on who I knew rather than what I did. 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Second Base

[eligrba]

This also works for being a scout.

[Taylor]

30 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Nothing that'll impress anyone, but after my playing days, I worked as a scout for a now defunct sports agency, and managed to get representation on three drafted pitchers and I also worked in scouting and recruiting for one of the better D-2 programs in the country. I had two job offers to be an area scout for a major league organization, but a thousand bucks a month wasn't sustainable, so I turned both down. 

When you add it all up though, it's pretty inconsequential in regards to giving my word any more weight than anyone else's. Your local high school coach likely sees as much as I do. These were more based on who I knew rather than what I did. 

That's still pretty rad. It's lame that area scouts are only paid $12,000 a year.

[Lou]

40 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Nothing that'll impress anyone, but after my playing days, I worked as a scout for a now defunct sports agency, and managed to get representation on three drafted pitchers and I also worked in scouting and recruiting for one of the better D-2 programs in the country. I had two job offers to be an area scout for a major league organization, but a thousand bucks a month wasn't sustainable, so I turned both down. 

When you add it all up though, it's pretty inconsequential in regards to giving my word any more weight than anyone else's. Your local high school coach likely sees as much as I do. These were more based on who I knew rather than what I did. 

Which MLB teams?

[AngelsLakersFan]

11 minutes ago, Taylor said:

That's still pretty rad. It's lame that area scouts are only paid $12,000 a year.

Probably decent extra cash for someone who might already be hanging out around baseball fields, like a high school coach or gym teacher, or something like that.

[Second Base]

5 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

Probably decent extra cash for someone who might already be hanging out around baseball fields, like a high school coach or gym teacher, or something like that.

And that's what Tom Kotchman was, and he was great at it. A very influential man that helped a lot of people. 

[Second Base]

6 hours ago, Taylor said:

That's still pretty rad. It's lame that area scouts are only paid $12,000 a year.

As I understand, a thousand a month was actually pretty good to start, some guys start at like $600. But if you're looking for a way in at an organization, it's not a bad place to start. Both Eppler and Minasian began there.

[Vlad27Trout27]

Lets just say, that Ward continues this production, or even falls to 270ish, with 10-15 hr and OBP of around 340ish-350 and is on his Way to produce a 3-4 War season,  and lets say a team like marlins come calling and are willing to offer Max  Meyer's do you make this trade? 

[Stradling]

34 minutes ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

Lets just say, that Ward continues this production, or even falls to 270ish, with 10-15 hr and OBP of around 340ish-350 and is on his Way to produce a 3-4 War season,  and lets say a team like marlins come calling and are willing to offer Max  Meyer's do you make this trade? 

Of course.  But that isn’t happening. 

[Docwaukee]

35 minutes ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

Lets just say, that Ward continues this production, or even falls to 270ish, with 10-15 hr and OBP of around 340ish-350 and is on his Way to produce a 3-4 War season,  and lets say a team like marlins come calling and are willing to offer Max  Meyer's do you make this trade? 

Yep.  Miami would never do that though.  

I like Ward and I think he's got more value on the trade market than most do.  But he's not gonna headline a deal for a young TOR starter whose pretty much major league ready.  

could he be a strong secondary piece for a guy with 2 years of control?  Perhaps.  

[UndertheHalo]

20 hours ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Yeah, damn. What the hell happened to him?

I was pretty up on him, now I totally forgot he was ever born.

Ya I think he’s going on the find himself journey like Ward.  Currently they’re trying to make him a catcher I believe.  Closer then we think I also believe.  But for a good while I think most people agreed his bat was a better bet then Wards.  Hopefully he can follow in Wards footsteps and get himself onto the team. 

Edited April 24, 2022 by UndertheHalo

[Second Base]

23 hours ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Yeah, damn. What the hell happened to him?

I was pretty up on him, now I totally forgot he was ever born.

He's transitioned back to catcher, the spot he played in college and he's doing a decent by job in AAA. The big thing with Thaiss is that his bat is going to play at the make league level. He's a good hitter, with a good approach. If he's even passable defensively at catcher then the Angels will have struck gold. 

Ultimately, I think his career is as a unique backup. Backup catcher, 3B and 1B and pinch hitter. 

[notherhalo]