disarcina

BIGGIO !! Glad to see him get in. Randy Johnson - 303 wins -- may have been the most dominating starter of his era. Pedro put up good numbers. Smoltz was steady and great as part of the Braves excellent rotation which may go down as one of the best rotations of all time. And then Smoltz shifts to a closer role and dominates there!! Well deserved !! Biggio -- All Star at two/ three positions, 3,000 hits, over 400 SBs and close to 300 HRs (I think he wound up with 299). Good Gamer type attitude/player.........should have been a first ballot guy two years ago. Good to see him get in now.

just checked Drew Butera's career stats -- they're Mathis -like -- that clinches it -- SOSH has him locked in for the back up spot !!

No Biggio on Fletcher's ballot?? I saw the explanation and obviously disagree but you noted that as well. To me Biggio should have been a first ballot guy two years ago. Nomar for the HALL -- NO. Did not have enough of a run of stellar years. Never quite the same after leaving Boston. On Fletcher's list, one name I certainly agree on is Gary Sheffield......sort of a pain in the neck, bad attitude guy -- but what a ballplayer !!! His career stats are Hall worthy. One wonders the numbers and better legacy he would have left with respect to his MLB career had he not been the angry, disgruntled player that got moved every few years from club to club.

With Pedro Martinez getting into the Hall first ballot -- perhaps this means Delino DeShields Montreal uni can be a part of the display?

Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and CRAIG BIGGIO !! Glad to see Biggio make it -- although IMO he should have been a first ballot guy two years ago. Was reading some twitter feed reaction posted by the Houston Chronicle -- and amazingly, several suggest Biggio does not belong in the Hall !! Biggio is a guy with 3,000 hits, more than 400 SBs and almost 300 HRs (I think he wound up with 299) -- few players had those numbers and then he is an All Star at two (was he also an OF'er All Star?) positions, catcher and 2B. Versatile player, played hard every pitch, every out, every inning, every game....a true Gamer. Biggio fits the Hall well. Also pleased to see good guy (and versatile, starter/ closer) John Smoltz get in. Randy Johnson gets in because he just dominated during his career -- no argument there. Pedro Martinez had great stats -- I probably would have voted for catcher Piazza over him -- not sure Martinez should be a first ballot guy (and I'm sure Biggio should have been!!)........

Agree with all the assessments. I like Navarro better than Cron but that's because (and with Joyce added) we've got at least 3 DH types on the roster (Pujols, Hamilton and Joyce).....we really need some one for D who can hit a bit and that's Navarro. To me Cron is almost strictly a DH, his glove at 1B is that weak........Cron can mash the ball but I'm concerned at the MLB level, the second time around the league (and he's been around the league at least twice or more times now) he turns into Dave Kingman for those of you who remember that ex-Halo (Giants, A's, Padres, etc.) I think that Heaney either impresses in ST and earns a rotation role or winds up starting every fifth day at SLC -- and could easily get a mid-season call up if any rotation arm goes down. Now as familiar with Tropeano but you folks here think he could stick -- so his ST starts are real important. Can't have enough rotation guys as we saw last year.......would be nice to be 6 to 7 deep including the top two starters at AAA. Butera -- I think he makes it simply because he has some experience and seemed to have a back up role with the Dodgers. But that back up catcher spot is definitely one of the ST battles to watch and you know that Scioscia will be ALL IN in concentrating on that decision --- OOPS -- maybe we re-sign Mathis LOL! At 2B - I agree with the comment that that position Zobrist -- and soon -- the announcement that Beckham has been signed may not be far away. The pen depth battles are going to be real interesting in ST.....these guys better be throwing strikes. Walks will get them sent to AA/ AAA,

I see Cron as trade bait and Santiago as well depending on the status of Heaney and J. Alvarez. As for Cron -- who would you rate higher? Efren Navarro or Cron -- I think Navarro has the edge defensively and hits for a better average. Cron can rip line drives and has power but is weak on D at 1B at a time when we have a build up of DH guys like Hamilton and Pujols. We really need a 1B who can play D so I think Navarro gets the edge. If we sign Beckham, he can also play both corners including 1B in a pinch. We need some help at 2B -- and probably someone who can be a one / two year stop gap. Zobrist seems to fit the bill -- he was good at one time. News on Beckham? If Angels sign him then we have a possible platoon with Beckham and Rutledge. Expect Grant Green to take a lot of infield practice during ST.

Going to be interesting battles during ST -- I don't think our 2B situation is settled yet. And the rotation could go as is but a pick up for a decent arm (I don't think we need to break the bank for Sherzer or over-pay for Shields) but some rotation help could be helpful particularly since Tyler Skaggs will likely start season on DL and not see any MLB action until perhaps June. If season started today: PITCHING ROTATION locks: Weaver, Richards, Shoemaker, CJ Wilson (4) fifth spot competiton: A. Heaney, H. Santiago, J. Alvarez (at least two of these may stay up in pen -- although if Heaney does not get rotation spot may make more sense to have him pitch every fifth day in SLC). PEN: locks: H, Street (CL), J. Smith, M. Morin (3) pen depth competition in addition to rotation guys above: F. Salas (almost a lock but can pitch himself off roster in ST); C. Rasmus, C. Bedrosian LINE UP (locks) (9) C- Ianetta;1B/DH - Pujols; 2B-Rutledge(?);3B-Freese; SS-Aybar; LF/DH- Hamilton; CF-TROUT; RF-Calhoun; DH-1B: Navarro DEPTH (locks) (4) OF/DH - Matt Joyce OF - Cowgill MIF- Green C - Drew Butera (?) That's 20 roster spots locked in although several of those 20 could play themselves off the roster in ST. I assume Tyler Skaggs starts season on DL. I assume we carry 10 perhaps 11 pitchers depending on April schedule that leaves these position players scrambling for roster spots: Cron 1B/DH --- lots of power, poor average; weak field -- could be traded for MIF help Beckham MIF/3B (will he even be in camp?) Gaviatella MIF (weak bat, good speed, decent field at 2B not SS). Featherston MIF (going to need to really impress during ST to stick) Something tells me that if we don't sign Beckham we will be making a deal for a 2B -- Zorbist. Who am I missing? Am sure there are a number of pen arms on the potential back end of the pen list. I am hopeful that Alvarez, the guy we picked up from Detroit last year can impress during ST and stick -- perhaps as a long relief/ spot starter/ lefty guy.

Angels interest here may be legit. If we had to open the season today -- Jason Rutledge would probably be our starting 2B/ Grant Green would be another option. Giavotella and Featherson will try for a depth MIF spot by their ST performances. And Angels may try to sign Beckham again if a deal for Zorbist doesn't happen.

I don't blame Hamilton for his 2014 post-season performance. I blame the front office for putting him on the playoff roster and then inserting him into the starting line up and then for not yanking out of the line up if not after his first two awful ABs then certainly by the start of Game Two. One can only hope he rebounds this Spring. I could see (optimistic side) of Hamilton coming out of the gates strong and having a good first half before tailing..........equally possible is that he continues his just terrible ABs from 2014 post-season and hits about .235 in April before the Angels finally sit him down on the bench.

I was trying to remember whether Ryan Madsen ever threw even a warm up pitch for us. well, he was once the key to the Phillies' success - was a pretty good set up guy. did ZERO for us. Literally ZERO.

Class act all the way, what a speech........particularly the part about 'you don't lose the fight to cancer' part. R.I.P. Stuart Scott.

a long time -- his contract is like a cement block. who's fault is that? the Front Office. this was a terrible contract from Day One. Everyone here knew it and said so. the only way to unload him is to trade him to a team where he would perform well in that team's ballpark (Texas comes to mind) and then the Halos would still have to eat a good portion of the remaining cost of his contract -- so you trade him to a team where he might partially revert to form because of the ballpark and you pay him to beat you? Nah, he stays put -- even if he has the most expensive seat in the ballpark.

what's the update on sign ups for FanFest for March 14th? I just bought FOUR tickets to the Chi-Sox vs. ANGELS game at 1 PM that Saturday at Tempe. Looks like a split squad situation because the ANGELS also have a game out at Surprise vs. KC. What game is everyone from Angelswin.com going to ? The HOME GAME at Tempe or the road game in Surprise. I assume the FanFest event will be held somewhere in or near Tempe. Since I bought tickets to the game, sign up for FanFest is next.......let us know how that works. Thanks CHUCK and ALL. Looking forward to a fun time and, hopefully, a good season.

Team did fine in '14 -- the real issue came down to preparing and playing a post-season playoff roster and line-up geared to the opponent rather than some sort of formula baseball. Putting a not-ready-for-prime-time Hamilton on the playoff roster and in the starting line up was a decision I will NEVER understand. It placed a huge hole in the middle of the line-up against a team that plays tough D, has speed and a quality pen.........so you take what's been working for August-September that led you to the best record in baseball (despite starting pitching/ rotation injuries/ challenges) and make a change for the playoffs that is 1.) bad in the first place and 2.) not geared to the other team's strengths. For 2015 -- I remain concerned about the starting rotation and feel we are a quality starter (not an ace, we don't need to spend a pant load of money for Scherzer or someone like that) short. I also think we need that quality MIF utility guy who can play 150 games if called upon -- that might be Beckham who is not the best, but probably the best we can do. Meanwhile monitor Hamilton - IMO he either comes out of ST with a scorching first half (before tailing off) OR picks right up where he left off in the playoffs being Mr. K and GIDP. One of the more interesting issues for ST is the battle for back up catcher to Iannetta.

Beckham? Grant Green? Seems to be better options. Drew sat out part of that one year after the contract issue with (was it the BoSox?) he played well for them that prior season, sat out half a season, came back and played some place but was never the same players. I say we pass. Better options on the roster/ in the organization now.

unless you like traveling in groups, I find you can do a lot better on your own, planning your own trip on your own schedule than these packages....... but it's a good concept for those who want everything wrapped up in one purchase and don't want to do the leg work on buying tickets and accommodations. I find the key ticket to Spring Training games are shade seats -- as the smaller parks provide decent seating pretty much anywhere between the base lines and the plate, higher up and in the shade usually works best.

Marcelino Lopez........

not much...........235 -- lot of K's, some HRs. lots of limited effort swing and misses.

always blamed Josh Paul and NOT AJ Pierzynski for the playoff call debacle vs. White Sox. Josh Paul should have made the tag even if the ump blew the call or made some nonsense no call. once the ball is close to the dirt in anyway, the catcher should instinctively tag the batter and not roll the ball back to the mound...... so random players? Josh Paul -- that's what I think.........oh well.

decent pick up for them. would have been good for us and pitched well for us when he came over last season. oh well. MLB today - here today, gone tomorrow.

right -- but I am not just talking about 0 for 5's or what not......I'm talking about just terrible looking ABs where it looks like the guy isn't even really trying and pretty much phoning it in. That's how Hamilton looked. I'd still like the back story on who was really insisting he put on the playoff roster and then inserted into the starting line up. I mean, makes no difference now -- but too me, Hamilton's terrible ABs were kind of the theme of the Halos post-reason run. We had the best record in baseball and had a good stretch run in late August/ September and then we change the line up dynamic for the playoffs? Oh well. I never felt that way about Vladdy (he was just a bad ball hitter and swung at everything) or Figgy.

Howie needs to get a standing O for his first plate appearance in the pre-season freeway series............... it's hard to root against Howie. I wish him all the best.

Hard to say. Folks on this board have seen a lot of baseball in their lifetimes. Have any of you seen a more dismal performance than Hamilton's AB's during the KC series? is this is the Hamilton coming back, he'll be fortunate to hit .215.

ah, yes -- he's a rule 5 guy -- which means he could very well make the roster......and I think rule 5 guys have to stay on the 25 man roster all season so he can't be sent out -- or it he is, he gets sent back to the Rockies........thanks for correcting that. don't know much about faetherston -- guess he competes with Rutledge for that MIF/3B bench depth roster spot. I am somewhat familiar with Rutledge, he actually started for the Rockies for parts of at least two seasons.