Angelsjunky

Here's his triple-slash for today: 1.000/1.000/4.000 in 5 PA. Nice day. Here's another fact which, in my mind, bodes well: Albert didn't have 2 HR until May 16th last year - his 37th game played. If he's gotten over the starting slow bug then we might see, if not vintage .330/1.050 Pujols, a very good .300/.950 Pujols.

Edge: Pierzynski

Give it a chance. As I said in another thread, this team will take time to figure itself out - its got a lot of new parts. My guess is that it will hover around .500 in April, maybe a tad worse, start picking up steam in May and be red-hot in June. Patience, amigo.

Relievers in first three games: 0.73 ERA, 12.1 IP, 15 Ks That's pretty awesome.

Except the bullpen has been awesome in three of four games.

For better or worse the first two games are likely to be very high scoring. Vargas and Hanson are probably going to get lit up in Texas, but the Angels should keep pace. As for Darvish vs. Weaver...that should be a pitching duel. Darvish looks unreal this year.

When you know baseball is here: Watching Trout waddle around the bases again.

Thanks, Chuck. My post wasn't a tweet, so it takes a bit of patient (and reading comprehension) to get it. I'm feeling optimistic, just not gonzo. We need to give this team some time to come together, but they will.

First of all, the sky isn't falling. Its three games into the season. I know that Hamilton and Pujols are 2-23, but let's give this some time. That said, the Angels are going to Texas for a three game series. Chances are they leave Arlington 2-4, even 1-5. If either happens, don't panic! My preseason prediction (not sure if I voiced it here) is that they'd be around .500 in April (13-14?), start warming up in May and be hot in June and hopefully strong for the rest of the year. But remember that this is a relatively new team - lots of new faces and it might take a bit to see how it all fits together. But I think it will. The most encouraging thing so far is how good the bullpen has been - that was one of the team's Achilles' heels going forward. And even if Trout takes a step back and Pujols and Hamilton don't return to peak form, they offense is going to score some runs. The only significant question, in my mind, is the starting pitching. But even then at worse it will be pretty average (but not poor). Best-case scenario and it is actually pretty good (but not great). To put it another way, at worst the Angels will have an average pitching staff and a very good offense, which makes for an 85-90 win team. But that's at worst. More likely the staff is above average and the offense excellent, which makes for a 90-95 win team. And if everything gels just right then this team could win 95+ games. So hang in there, but also temper your expectations, especially in April. Let the team figure out who they are.If they're under .500 on June 1st, OK, we can panic.

Blanton is what he is. He's pretty much the definition of a #4 starter. The reason Jerry signed him, though, is that his particular style will make him good in Anaheim. The logic being that overall he'll be above average.

Josh Hamilton isn't injured.

Trout has sucked too, it is just that his paycheck is half a million.

...that the first three home runs of the year were hit by Iannetta, Kendrick, and Callaspo. Way to go, bottom of the lineup!

At least I have Latos on my fantasy baseball team.

God, who gives a shit if people smoke pot? I mean...really?

Wow. Angelswin.com mojo actually works.

Yu Darvish is very, very good. A possible Cy Young candidate this year.

LOL - come on folks, we're all on the same team here. Its only game one!

Oh please, Chuck. All Sullivan said is that Weaver might not have a lot of room for error. The rest was me. This isn't about playing sides but trying to understand the situation clearly. I obviously want Weaver to continue to be great, but I'm merely voicing the POSSIBILITY that he might take a step down if his velocity doesn't pick back up. Not everyone can be Greg Maddux. That said, I still expect Weaver to be very good for the next 5+ years, and I'm not even writing off continued excellent. Just voicing a possibility here.

Jered Weaver is not Greg Maddux, who is one of the twenty or so greater starting pitchers in baseball history. But even Maddux dropped a notch when he lost a bit on his fastball. From about age 33 on he wasn't the same pitcher he was from about age 26-32.

Sorry - I forgot that we're not supposed to bring a diversity of viewpoints, not all of them homerish, to the table. Apologies!

Its actually a bit worrisome. As Jeff Sullivan said, Weaver might be the type of pitcher that doesn't have a lot of room for error. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see him morph back into something akin to the #2-3 starter that he was earlier in his career, as soon as this year. I'm not betting either way, just saying that it could happen.

Seems about right. Three out of Andrus' four season have been ~4 WAR, which for market value is $15-20MM a year. Also consider his age and further development, then even $15 million per year isn't bad at all. Of course this will only drive up Trout's price-tag.

I think the key for Trout is can he transform some of those strikeouts into walks? If he can then he'll have a similar year to last. If not then I think we'll see some regression.

I don't know storm, but you're probably the first to ask that question twice.