At least Cahill looked impressive
We've played only 6 games out of 162 games. Pitchers Harvey, Skaggs, and Cahill's second appearance looked good. Offensively, we're missing two big bats in Upton and Ohtani. Pitching, we're missing Heaney for a bit and we don't get Ohtani back until next season. We're 1-5 and I think our hitting philosophy isn't small ball, except for Trout (going from first to third on a hit). Starting off 1-5 is disheartening, but we're also missing a lot of weapons.
The Mariners were supposed to be tanking this year as they sold off a lot of starters for youth, as DiPoto has quickly revamped the farm team. They're 7-1 right now. Some of their trades wasn't for prospects only. DiPoto sent 8-time all star Cano (along with his high salary) and big time closer Diaz to the Mets for five players, two vets and three prospects. The vets are OF Jay Bruce and relief P Swazrak, both helping with wins already. The three prospects are OF Kelenic (2nd overall Mariners' prospect), RHP Dunn (3rd overall), and RHP Gerson Bautista (27th overall).
That trade reminds me of GM Bob Murray such that he's rebuilding on the fly. Bob traded Bobby Ryan (and his high salary) for Silf, prospect Noesen, and a first round pick (who became Nick Ritchie). We lost Noesen to waivers to the NJ Devils. Ritchie is on a 2-year bridge deal. Silf was re-signed for five more years, with an AAV of $5.25 mil. I think we made out, considering Silf produced similarly to Ryan at a far cheaper rate.
Anyhow, the season is still early. The Mariners could still collapse once people figure out where their deficiency lies (that defense is masked by their offense). The Angels can surge upwards once more weapons return from injury in batters of Upton and Ohtani as well as pitcher Heaney. At the moment, though, it appears DiPoto's still doing something right at the MLB and MiLB levels.
Farm team rankings going into 2019
B/R rankings: Mariners 10th, Angels 22nd
Club House corner: Mariner 12th, Angels 20th
Anaheim4ever wrote:
If he keeps it up they can probably get something for him at the trade deadline assuming the Angels are out of it
So wrong, but this made me laugh heartily b/c I really don't want to think that far ahead. LoL