Buy or Sell?

[Diamondback Jay]

I'll keep this post going until pitchers and catchers report.. Keep the chatter going.

Question 1..

Buy or Sell

The additions of Pujols and CJ Wilson make the Angels the team to beat in the American League? Buy or Sell?

 

[crisper57]

Buy. For about 2-3 years (5 tops). Then Pujols' contract drags that team into the basement for the rest of the decade.

 

[Dback Jon]

Buy - unless the Rangers sign Fielder

 

[Mulli]

Sell. Based on CJ Wilson's playoff performances.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Jon, If they sign Pujols and he delievers for both teams, he's an even bigger icon than any of us realized...

(I know you meant Fielder, and am just giving you some fun natured ribbing LOL).

By nature, I agree with you that Fielder going to Texas makes that lineup even better than it already is. When you got Napoli (greatly underrated for his power), Cruz, a healthy Hamilton and Fielder in the same lineup, along with Michael Young, Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus, that's recipe for complete domination. You will find very little weaknesses in that 1-9 from top to bottom.

I still worry about their pitching staff, I'm not as sold on Darvish as others (if they sign him officially) and am skiddish about moving Feliz to the rotation.

They will outscore a LOT of teams though and at the end, ye who scores the most wins.

 

[Dback Jon]

If they sign Pujols and he delievers for both teams, he's an even bigger icon than any of us realized...

(I know you meant Fielder, and am just giving you some fun natured ribbing LOL)

LOL - corrected

 

[Mulli]

I also think Fielder signs with Texas.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

LOL - corrected

What do you think of their pitching staff's potential? Think Feliz can make the jump from dominant closer to starter?

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I also think Fielder signs with Texas.

Me also. I think it comes down to them or the Marlins, and honestly if I'm Prince, I'm feeling better about my chances in Texas at this point. Also, can you imagine his numbers in that hitter friendly ballpark?? Yikes.

 

[Mulli]

Me also. I think it comes down to them or the Marlins, and honestly if I'm Prince, I'm feeling better about my chances in Texas at this point.

With the Texas heat, Tubby could be in serious trouble.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Buy. For about 2-3 years (5 tops). Then Pujols' contract drags that team into the basement for the rest of the decade.

Crisper, interesting thoughts.

I think Pujols can get them 5 good years at current level, then reach a decline. If he can hit an average of .280 with 35 homers+ for them for the next five, by the time he reaches the age of decline, the majority of their young kids will be fully seasoned (Burjous, Trout, Trumbow) and the transition from him as 1B to DH should be easy and smooth. A lot of what if's though for sure. I also thought Mo Vaughn would be a killer there and the only thing he killed was the Angels budget.

Granted, Vaughn was good, Pujols is a different level, but I digress.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

With the Texas heat, Tubby could be in serious trouble.

Miami don't have the dead heat, but that humidity is awful in July.

 

[Mulli]

Miami don't have the dead heat, but that humidity is awful in July.

Ends up being a wash (except the Marlins might be indoors).

 

[crisper57]

Crisper, interesting thoughts.

I think Pujols can get them 5 good years at current level, then reach a decline. If he can hit an average of .280 with 35 homers+ for them for the next five, by the time he reaches the age of decline, the majority of their young kids will be fully seasoned (Burjous, Trout, Trumbow) and the transition from him as 1B to DH should be easy and smooth. A lot of what if's though for sure. I also thought Mo Vaughn would be a killer there and the only thing he killed was the Angels budget.

Granted, Vaughn was good, Pujols is a different level, but I digress.

I still suspect that he is older than reported and that his age of decline will be upon us quicker than expected. We started to see chinks in the armor this season, though he rallied admirably. I think each year, slumps like the one he had at the beginning of this past season will get progressively worse.

 

[crisper57]

Here's a thought: is 5-7 years of crippling budgets worth a World Series title now? The Angels must be betting that a title would be worth it.

As D-Back fans, we are uniquely suited to answer this question. After our title, we were in contract hell for years and swung from luckily good to abysmally bad. Only now are we truly emerging "clean" from the W.S.-era contracts. So, was it worth it? I'd say absolutely.

 

[Dback Jon]

Here's a thought: is 5-7 years of crippling budgets worth a World Series title now? The Angels must be betting that a title would be worth it.

As D-Back fans, we are uniquely suited to answer this question. After our title, we were in contract hell for years and swung from luckily good to abysmally bad. Only now are we truly emerging "clean" from the W.S.-era contracts. So, was it worth it? I'd say absolutely.

Agreed!

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Here's a thought: is 5-7 years of crippling budgets worth a World Series title now? The Angels must be betting that a title would be worth it.

As D-Back fans, we are uniquely suited to answer this question. After our title, we were in contract hell for years and swung from luckily good to abysmally bad. Only now are we truly emerging "clean" from the W.S.-era contracts. So, was it worth it? I'd say absolutely.

I admit I'm a bit of a purist who likes to see teams built, not bought, however don't think for one second that WS title wasn't worth every dime Jerry C. spent to build it.

I also am glad the "bat stew (not my exact words, but you figure out what I really mean) spending" days are done and the team is trying to build it for the long term, with Upton as the face and working around.

I also feel the Angels are built in a unique situation. Majority of their team is young. Pujols is that "stabilizing veteran influence" that they HOPE pushes them into a World Series contender NOW while allowing them to build for the future. I also feel how they work from here will dictate how they grow for the future. There's some legit long term talent there, and if I'm them, I'm seeing my investment early and making long term offers to them based off how much they see.

I'd feel much less optimistic if they hadn't re-signed Weaver to be honest.. But the Weaver and Pujols signings put them in a good spot for both now and the forseeable.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

QUESTION 2:

For several years now, Lew Wolff has battled to try to get a baseball stadium in Northern California, and currently is butting heads with the Giants over the San Jose market. The Giants refuse to budge, claiming territorial rights to the area. Meanwhile, Oscar Goodman has not so quietly stated he's ready to pull the trigger on a 45,000 baseball only stadium in Las Vegas and quietly San Antonio has inquired about the possibility of the A's moving there.

Buy or Sell, the A's long term future is in Northern California.

 

[Dback Jon]

Buy - in San Jose.

Baseball won't go to Vegas.


San Antonio - maybe.

Of course A's in San Antonio would give three AL West teams in Texas

 

[crisper57]

QUESTION 2:

For several years now, Lew Wolff has battled to try to get a baseball stadium in Northern California, and currently is butting heads with the Giants over the San Jose market. The Giants refuse to budge, claiming territorial rights to the area. Meanwhile, Oscar Goodman has not so quietly stated he's ready to pull the trigger on a 45,000 baseball only stadium in Las Vegas and quietly San Antonio has inquired about the possibility of the A's moving there.

Buy or Sell, the A's long term future is in Northern California.

I think it is the only future they have. I think the Raiders move out (back to LA), and the A's become the only tenants of that building. Then maybe they can renovate it into a single-use facility. I don't see them getting a brand new building in a new location. Voters won't build it for them and they need a lot more money in ownership to do it on their own.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Here's a thought: is 5-7 years of crippling budgets worth a World Series title now? The Angels must be betting that a title would be worth it.

As D-Back fans, we are uniquely suited to answer this question. After our title, we were in contract hell for years and swung from luckily good to abysmally bad. Only now are we truly emerging "clean" from the W.S.-era contracts. So, was it worth it? I'd say absolutely.

Well you can't lose sight of that not only did we win the World Series but we were NL West champs several years as well in that span.

Absolutely worth it.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

QUESTION 2:

For several years now, Lew Wolff has battled to try to get a baseball stadium in Northern California, and currently is butting heads with the Giants over the San Jose market. The Giants refuse to budge, claiming territorial rights to the area. Meanwhile, Oscar Goodman has not so quietly stated he's ready to pull the trigger on a 45,000 baseball only stadium in Las Vegas and quietly San Antonio has inquired about the possibility of the A's moving there.

Buy or Sell, the A's long term future is in Northern California.

Sell

5 teams is too many for California.

 

[Dback Jon]

Rangers sign Yu Darvish

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Buy or Sell:

Yu Darvish will live up to his contract..

 

[Dback Jon]

Buy or Sell:

Yu Darvish will live up to his contract..

Sell - in a big way