I'm not sure what you mean by "too early". In Abreu's case he should have been let go 2 years ago. The Wells trade was a ridiculous one, and at this point it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to let salary determine who plays and who doesn't when there are other alternatives that would most likely be more successful.

I have seen, over my seasons around here, that the posters here start coming to a (loose) consensus on what lineups should be used, and when, after about 2-3 weeks.
Scioscia will start using those lineups sometime around mid June.

At this point, Wells and Trumbo should be platooning in LF. Abreu should be released. Those moves will make the team better. Not the best it could be, but better.

Mike has to show the team that they are here to produce and defend and anything less is unacceptable. Making this an AYSO team sends the wrong message.

I would embrace trying Trumbo in LF.

When it's determined Trout is healthy, he needs to be called up and he needs to play.

Offensively, Trumbo and Wells are pretty interchangeable. If someone wants to say Trumbo has potential to be much much better, I'm not going to argue. Maybe he does.

Defensively I know Wells can handle LF. He may not be great, but I know he can handle it. I'm not opposed to seeing if Trumbo can handle it.

Morales needs to DH against RH pitchers. When Trout is healthy, I would make Wells our 4th outfielder, RH DH. I would cut Abreu, I would trade Trumbo.

I'd prefer to trade Wells, but who would take him? How can you trade someone and eat 50 million dollars?

You can give him 350 to 400 ABs and have him try to resurrect his career. A 4th outfielder/DH on this team will get 350 to 400 ABs.

That Wells trade was so bad that no one with a clue would have agreed to such a deal.

My point is Dipoto has a dilemma and is stuck with Wells and Abreu because of the money owed them.

Tough call to eat millions of dollars.

The question is are the Angels willing to play the best players regardless of the cost IF they hope to win now?

It's too early in his career to trade Trumbo. He is the first decent power hitter that's come through out system in a long time. We have years of control on him for cheap. By next year, Hunter is probably gone and Wells probably still $ucks. Trumbo in the OF is not a bad option. Release Abreu and let Trumbo get some time in left and right this year, in advance of the possibility that we go Trout, PB and Trumbo from left to right at times.

Now, admittedly, someone will have to break it to Charles that Calhoun is more than a year away. I elect you, AG.

That's a interesting idea in lieu of not releasing and eating millions owned to Wells.

IYO then is Trumbo would Trumbo not play 3B anymore?

Think of it this way, if you were Arte, how many supposed stars with big payroll have been cut and what happened after. Arte doesn't want to cut someone who is going to get paid doing nothing at home or with another team, Add up the money that has been wasted. Does cutting Wells/Abreu guarantee a WS? Will Arte make up the big Millions be will eat if we do go to the WS, and is it worth it to have Trout get a super two status early and cost more money?

Arte will keep Wells until he can trade him or when he shows he can no longer be an adequate OF. Abreu will be on the team until he can trade him or Abreu shows he can no longer hit or get on base, so far this season Abreu has shown enough to make it another 2-3 weeks.

Owners get rich on the other business they own/run, they don't want baseball to eat up the profits from the other business.

What time is the game today?
Callaspo will go 4/4 three ribbies, a triple, three RS and five game saving plays on defense, the stats will prove this( I wish).

1 pm, and that was a good dream of yours.

Ha ha, if it comes true I think I'll buy a lotto ticket!

That was the dilemma I referred too before you posted.

First off, after 3 games it's way to early to assess the Angel offense.

Why is the emphasis on the offense? Both Haren and Santana gave up 5 runs in a little over 5 innings. If people are going to give them a pass, then maybe we should wait before worrying about the offense.

The Yankees and the Red Sox are both 0-3. Philly lost 2 of 3 to the Pirates.

Take a deep breath and relax.

I also agree with those that posted KC is a much better team than they have gotten credit for.

>>Here is what they should be doing....1. Erick Aybar (S) SS<<

Can anyone explain to me why nearly everyone on this board insists on having one of our worst OBP guys at the top of the order?

Mike is trying hard to see if this team has any weakness 1-9. (no offense by my sarcasm intended) :)

This offense should not sputter long I hope. Aybar will do better.

Not worried about the offense. But I am worried about a few pieces that make the overall team weaker.

What we're talking about are better options. There is a better option to Trumbo playing 3rd. There is a better option than Wells playing everyday. There is a better option to Abreu being in the line up at all.

There are no other options to Haren and Santana.

All that's being discussed are better options.

I wouldn't mind Callaspo leading off, but who else?

The number two spot is incredibly important, and Kendrick there is fine.

You can't have Morales or Hunter or Wells or Trumbo or Ianetta lead off. Let Ianetta hit in this park and in this league before moving him to the position.

PB is just as bad as Aybar.

By default it's Aybar.

Albert has always batted 3rd and I would not mess with him. I mean trumbo is batting .429 right now and his errors have been bad but I think more nerves than anything else. He will never be great at 3rd, but I think the callaspo homers need to stop talking.

You ( not you in particular) want to say the games trumbo has played is enough to show he can't play 3rd then I say callaspo .000 batting average is enough to show he is horrible.

Trumbo will be fine at third I think the first home stand really messed with them, because of the pressure. I am not saying trumbo is great....but his bat is undeniable, and I feel it is way too early to even be worried.

AG if this team was doing great during spring then how is hatcher a bad hitting coach? You can't have it both ways this team can hit and produce and they will. They have been pushing too hard to impress the home fans, let them get their legs and get in rhythm and this team will be fine. I see trumbo getting 70-100 starts at third if he calms down and play manageable defense like he played in spring.

I am looking at the batting averages and it doesn't look horrible we just need some timely hitting which will come and those royals are a legit team this year if their pitchers keep doing what they did to us.

**fixed some typos...writing on an iPad is tough!

The Angels have two holes in the batting order.

1) Lead off hitter
2) Cleanup hitter vs left handing starting pitching

<You ( not you in particular) want to say the games trumbo has played is enough to show he can't play 3rd then I say callaspo .000 batting average is enough to show he is horrible.

Trumbo will be fine at third I think the first home stand really messed with the, because of the pressure. I am not saying trumbo is great....but his bat is undeniable, and I feel it is way too early to even be worried.>

Trumbo was also brutal @3B during the Dodgers series.. He's a much better fit in a platoon role @DH(vs lefty's) and LF