Angels will be little tied up with Pujols and Hamilton contracts . But they do have Trumbo and Trout .
I went with 2017. The turnaround won't happen until sometime next year and it will take a couple after that for them to be a playoff caliber team. There's no sign that they're in a hurry to turn things around so I would expect at least another 4 years. They'd hold back Correa when he's ready because they wouldn't want to lose Jio Mier in the Rule 5 draft.
I'm really surprised at the "outrage" over their George Springer decision. I completely understand the arguments on both sides, and they are valid, but will a 2 week or a month experience at the MLB level to help him get acclimated to the big leagues really make a material impact on his whole career? Looking back on this 15 years from now, and I think this argument will prove to be quite silly. If he's as good as we think (and I have high hopes for the guy), he'll use all of 2014 to be his transition year, and then hopefully be a mainstay at the top of the lineup for the rest of his career. Please read the BA article I linked in the other thread, and let's keep 1 thread as our George Springer discussion (but I have no authority here, feel free to ignore me, haha!). As for the question, I went with 2016. The optimist in me says that we might shock the world in 2015, but I think it is more realistic we see drastic improvement by 2015, and legit contenders by 2016.
I wouldn't call it outrage. I'm just tired of the sucking and I legitimately don't see a turnaround happening in the next 3 years. Still too much to do and few signs that the front office has any sense of urgency.
Patience, dude. Luhnow knows that his job is to produce a product on the field, and he had no problem doing it with the Cards. I'm more worried about Crane than anything, because I think he's a scumbag and I don't trust him to run an organization for anything other than padding his wallet. His co-investors should probably be a little worried, too. What I do trust is that a majority of current Rangers ”fans” were previously bandwagon Astros ”fans.” When the wins start coming again, the bandwagoners will come a'jumping, and MMP will be alive again. Then the real fans can enjoy our run to the Series. I hope we step on the necks of the Rangers and White Sox to get there, and I hope we beat an NL central team or the Braves to finish it. Then, Justice will be served.
It's certainly questionable if its being done for $$$ reasons. On any other team, his draft position, advnced age, and achievements thus far would have warranted a sooner promotion... but on a historically terrible team, without a semblance of a following (media or fan-wise) outside of Houston, the move can go relatively unquestioned (and buried under all the 2 strike approach, minor league playoffs, and rule 5 reasonings). We shall see if he makes the opening day roster (or is mysteriously held back for a month) to settle the stash for cash debate. Also, in 15 years, he will almost be 40, so yeah... I doubt that's when we will be judging his development path. Given his age, hes gonna have a shorter time to figure it out vs. his age matched peers. (Best case scenario is that he's like Berkman and plays at an elite level very very early...even then, Lance was a year younger at his debut).
I went with 2017 because the odds are we won't make the playoffs. It is hard to make the playoffs in baseball (easier now than it was though). It is true that are big time prospects aren't being rushed. There are other organizations that would probably have Correa/Appel in AA by now. Heck, I want both of them here by early-2015, since I expect to compete for the playoffs even if we end up as a .500ish team. DDJ is another guy who despite being drafted a year before Springer is only in A+. I have wondered if the slow moving through the minors for most guys is because of development reasons, timing reasons, or money reasons.
As this has been thoroughly discussed, haven't others - both great posters here as well as the national media (see the BA link and article I posted yesterday) provided other solid reasons other than just $$$ reasons? Obviously you are quite high on him. I am too, but if you are so high on him, why are you placing such importance on 1 month of professional baseball experience? If he's destined for greatness, I think he realizes that, regardless of he stumbles out of the gate a little now, or if he stumbles out of the gate in April or even June of next year. I think we both are hoping for big things from him, I just disagree that not calling him up this year will somehow devastate his career projectory and turn a future hall of fame career into a bust. Putting things in perspective here, and thinking big picture, I still cannot understand the consistent arguments against this decision, but as I've said before, I'll chalk it up to natural frustration stemming from our hometown team being terrible for the past few years.
I wanted him called up awhile ago. I'm frustrated that we're delaying a 24 year old former first round pick's career for a host of obscure reasons that have changed monthly. Him not being called up now (or 2-3 months ago, when it would have also been appropriate) opens up the possibility they're stashing him for $$$ reasons (no matter what hosts of other reasons there are). Teams most definitely keep arbitration time and free agency years as a factor on when they call up players (probably why they waited to call up Villar and Cosart when thy did). They'll never come out and deny it either. I don't like the precedent. I look at the other articles being written as attempts to try to defend the stashing... but none of them are the definitive reason, as the reasoning for keeping him down has changed every single month. If they always were planning on the rule 5 thing being the reason, they could have just come out and said it (it does make some sense, and it is a definitive reason)... they started with the 2 strike approach, moved to the minor league playoff experience, and now are standing pat with the rule 5 draft reasons. They may all ultimately be true... but sounds more like they never had any intention of calling him up till next year, and they've been back-tracking from the media as GS continued to put up monster numbers. I never said not calling him now would lead to him being a bust. I feel he'll hit the ground running fairly soon... may need about a month or so to adjust, but should be pretty exciting to watch. I also felt he would have had a similar impact 2-3 months ago... didn't see much to be gained by dominating AAA as he did. I made the argument a few months back that I thought Lance spent too much time in the minors as well (albeit, he had players blocking him on a division winning playoff team). George is at an advanced age that he really can't afford to take a year or two to "get it". I believe in calling up a player when you feel he can contribute and play at this level... I don't feel he was being afforded that opportunity in this organization due to their "situations" (either financial, or just trying to suck as much as possible to secure the #1 pick). Biggest fear is the stash for $$$, and how it will apply to the future call-ups or future re-signings. As I said before, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come out of ST on the opening day roster. Push back his debut to May or June... get out of another year of free agency (or push him back further and get out of super 2). Lastly, early experience is never a bad thing... especially on a team where there is plenty of playing time to go around.
I think a more realistic goal is to reach .500 Lets get there before we start to wonder when we may make the playoffs. Personally, I wouldn't bet against it taking till 2016 to reach this goal. Oh, and if George Springer had been called up.....
If it all comes together perfectly then I think 2015 could be like the Rays in 08 or the Nats last year. By then Castro, Cosart, and Altuve should be in their primes. Its no guarantee they'll make it, but guys like Villar, Grossman, Dominguez, Oberholtzler, and Peacock should be in or entering their mid20s. Upper level prospects like Appel, Springer, Singleton, Stassi, and Foltynewicz should be established on the big league club. Mid- 2015 looks like it also might be the ETA for Correa. Hell maybe Rodon can play our 2008 David Price role. It could all come together quickly.
