I have presented the stats for you to compare but I think we both agree that we are having this discussion now because the FO should have signed Adrian Beltre prior to the 2011 season.

Callaspo would not be a starter for us and Vernon Wells and his bad contract would not be here either.
Perhaps Mike Napoli might still have been here. The past two years may have had a better outcome as a result.

Fielding Bible has Callaspo as the sixth best fielding third-basemen in baseball.

His WAR is solid. He's a nice player. He's not a player you hold a position for, he's not a player you consider a strength.

Unlike Bourjos and Trumbo, he's not a player with a great deal of upside, but he could end up being more valuable than both.

I don't understand the dislike for the guy. I'm glad we have him. That said, when someone better comes along, I'm ready to replace him.

So far that's no one. Hopefully Cowart in a couple of years.

The one error of omission was followed by the desperation reaction which caused horrendous consequences and the GM change.

We can all learn a lesson from this example.

The problem is that I was in love with Glaus and Figgins prior, very different players but both fantastic.

The Angels erred by not signing Adrian Beltre and the picture would have been much brighter.

This year I would have preferred Youkilis on a short term basis. From what I read he lives on the West Coast ( San Fran. Bay area) and would have preferred to be on the West Coast instead of signing with the Yankees. Didn't happen. Now with Callaspo's 2 year contract, he blocks Luis Jimenez.

He's not Glaus, he's not Figgins.

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The Angels erred by not signing Adrian Beltre and the picture would have been much brighter.
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Do you know that two years ago Callaspo hit better on the road than Beltre. Offensively, he's not as good as you think he is.

Road OBP last year 328. He would not be nearly as good if he played here.

Callaspo is better than Youkillis. He doesn't have the upside. But he's likely to be better.

We will see if in 2013 Callaspo or Youkilis is the better player. Youkilis has been declining and has been injured. Last year he had a falling out with Bobby Valentine in Boston ( but then who didn't) so I would throw out his first half stats in Boston. I felt that he rebounded in Chicago except for BA hitting in the #2 hole in their lineup.

A healthy Youkilis can put up 100 runs, 30 HRs, 100 RBIs, & 400 OBP. He grinds out at bats, wears down the pitchers and improves those around him in the lineup. We will see which one of us is correct on this score.

Last time Youkilis did that it was 2009 and he was 30 years old.

Now he's 34 (or will be at the start of the season) and hasn't played much more than 120 games since then. Even if he stays healthy, it's difficult to imagine that at 34 he'll replicate the performances he used to put up at 29 and 30.

Keep in mind that Youk is a pull power hitter so that home run rejuvenation in Chicago could mostly be the result of the relatively friendly left field porch they've got (short walls and tends to catch the prevailing winds).

< "Youk"..What he WAS...versus what he IS now
I think you need to take a MUCH CLOSER look at that.. >

The Yankees are going to get some firsthand knowledge of what you are talking about with A-Roid out at least until the AS break, if he returns at all.

<Beltre>..Its real easy to see "mistakes" afterwards..
AND...in some cases(Wells)...easy to see "beforehand"
Mistakes easy to see beforehand result in "firings"

Its...A WHOLE LOT HARDER to predict minor league talent
that can convert into a MLB star...We've had several occurances
of third base minor league stars...that looked "dont miss"
which turned out to be horrible disappointments....

I commend Angels Mgt for making the right choice regarding
Callaspo...we know what we have.and it aint too bad..

<Yankee Youk>....Back in familiar surrounds..
but he'll disappoint "The Rock"...ha...ha...

Callaspo's two year deal probably kills Jimmez chances. It's clear Cowart will displace or replace Callaspo now.

Our lineup 1-9 is set for the next two years or until Cowart arrives.

Wow, I guess I can get pretty rude when I've had a few to drink.

Take a look at the career BABIP for Ted Williams. While his was consistently higher, which it's going to be for the best hitters, it still fluctuated quite a bit.

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3336&position=2B/3B&page=7&players=1014040

Callaspo has had alternating seasons of above and below average BABIP for the last four years. Hitters have much less control over BABIP than they do walk rate and strike out rate. A lower BABIP in any given year is more likely a result of bad luck than diminished skills.

< It's clear Cowart will displace or replace Callaspo now. >

I wouldn't be too sure about that, Cowart hasn't really impressed so far. But yeah, Jimenez's days in the Angels organization are probably numbered.

Yes,
Cowart is unproven, and we've been through this before.

My comments are guarded for sure.

Come on man, those stats you posted are nearly useless. Fielding percentage? reallly??

Youk is in a big downhill slide. I doubt the Yanks would have put him there if it was a permanent move.