AngelsHilo

Make Kole bunt.

Can La Stella play 1B?

Nice catch Tommy. Way to make that play.

Jeezus. Put a handle on the ball.

La Stella is just a buffoon on the field.

Love it. With two strikes on Ford, Ottavino and Voit grab their gloves.

Damn! Can I work for you Strad?

Fletcher has done everything asked of him and more. He's played good defense at whatever position he's been asked to play. He doesn't give runs away. His average is hovering just below .300. While he doesn't walk or hit for power, he does put pressure on the opposition with his bat. La Stella has had his offensive moments. However, the net results of La Stella's overall offense and below average defense, I believe has cost us outs, innings, and perhaps games. La Stella should be relegated to a part time pinch hitter/spot starter role. Not a platoon player. Fletcher needs to get the lions share of AB's as he has proven his role on the team. At the very least, Fletcher doesn't hurt you when he's on the field. Let him play.

Nice. Need Kole to have some of those hard hit balls fall in. Need runners in front of Trout.

Whoa. Like it. Hope this works.

Nice to see Cozart get a little momentum going.

LTBU!

Nice play by Cozart and even better pick by Bour.

What's up with Trout?

I take it back. La Stella needs to play everyday.

Would be nice to see if Fletcher can stay in the leadoff spot no matter the pitcher.

Where's the balloons in this circus?

Career WAR - La Stella - 1.1...Fletcher - 2.0. Fielding Ave. - La Stella - .982... Fletcher - .994 Again, I'm not questioning La Stella's role on the Roster. But he's at best a PH, should Start not more than 25 games this Season, and play late inning Defense to give guys a blow. He's not a 300 AB guy. Fletcher should at least get an opportunity for 300+ AB's. If he proves inadequate, give Ward or Rengifo shot. Again La Stella is not the solution.

At least Cozart had a history of being ok. I think it's admirable that he is trying to play out of position to be part of this team. His hitting will come around. He is no La Stella.

Om 3/11, MLBTR listed the following players as Out of Options - Angels Cam Bedrosian, RHP Kaleb Cowart, 2B/3B/RHP Luis Garcia, RHP Noe Ramirez, RHP Hansel Robles, RHP Kevan Smith, C So it seems Pena does have an Option.

So I wanted to look at a larger defensive sample size re: LaStella. I didn't realize this. I just assumed when we got him, La Stella was a decent singles hitter, sound defensively, and could be used as a pinch runner. Well, I looked at his numbers. His overall career fielding % is .973. His best position is 2B, at .983. Hardly stellar. He has a career 4SB's with 3 CS. Not sure if he is a good runner going from first to third or second to home, but he is definitely not a base stealing threat. He does have a career OPS of .709. I still believe he can be a great bench piece for us offensively. He could spell Fletcher or Cozart against tougher righty's as an occasional starter, or come in late in the game and play 1B for Albert or Bour. But to have him get 300 AB"s (which he has done once in his career in 2014 as a Braves rookie)? I don't think so. Last year with the Cubs, he had 192 PA's in 123 games. He started 22 games, of which two were as a DH. I think that's kind of the threshold for his playing time. I don't think splitting time with Fletcher is a short or long term solution. While we hope Fletcher will help with the bat, we know he won't give up extra outs/runs defensively. I think you need to let Fletcher play. If Fletcher screws up, then give his playing time to Ward or Rengifo.

How do you not know where you are in relationship to 2B? LaStella.Cut.mp4

Ask Kole and Trout what they thought of that cutoff play. Kole.cutoff.mp4

Not sure why people thought La Stella should receive significant playing time. Fletcher needs to be given the vast majority of PT in front of La Stella. In less than half a season Fletcher has a higher career WAR than La Stella. There is also no doubt on the huge defensive advantage that Fletcher brings to the field. Fletcher had a solid Spring, La Stella, not so much. Let David play. Tommy can come off the bench as a lefty pinch hitter or spell Bour or Pujols at 1B late in a blowout.

While we certainly are gonna miss Upton's bat, it's kinda nice having Petey earn an Opening Day start. He did well during the Spring, and hope his new swing continues in the regular season. The "spare parts" really make a difference. Every team is decent from 1-5 in the lineup. It's what the bottom of the order and bench can do that takes it one step further.