And The Angels Wedding Gift To Mike Trout Was…..Shohei Ohtani!

No Comments December 17, 2017 Angels By John Stellman

What else could you call it?

A wedding for the ages? Yes!

A script that would have worked in Hollywood (where marriages are likely to fall short of that lifetime commitment))? No!

Michael Nelson Trout and Jessica Tara Cox said their vows in romantic, picturesque New England.

Young Love

High school sweethearts who became best friends.

“I met her in high school, and we trust each other, and she is one of my best friends.

“She is somebody I can talk to and is always here for me,” Trout said of his fiancee.

The Sky Is The Limit

Trout used a sky writer to propose.

“Will You Marry Me Jess?” was splashed across the deep blue sky overhead.

For Cox, 28, who graduated from Lebanon Valley College 2012 with a degree in elementary and special education, the answer was a foregone conclusion.

“After a few unforgettable days at home and in Boston with our families, I’m so excited to finally be able to officially call this amazing man my fiance,” Cox remembered.

They exchanged vows December 9

Excitement, Excitement!

Her “Man” was doubly excited.

One day earlier, the Angels announced the signing of Japanese super star Shohei Ohtani.

Thanks to the tireless effort of Angel General Manager Billy Eppler and his sleep deprived team, the 23-year old sensation is now Trout’s newest teammate.

So what was the sales pitch Trout delivered to Ohtani earlier in the week?

Trout The Pitchman

Through an interpreter, Shohei told fans who gathered in front of Anaheim Stadium that Trout, “basically explained to me how great the Angels were.

“He said we have a great clubhouse, and how much he would enjoy having me here.

“I took those words to heart and I’m here,”

Japan’s latest phenom was equally impressed with the presentation made by Eppler and the front office.

Good Vibes

“I think he felt some comfort with the organization,” the GM began.

“He felt comfortable with Arte Moreno and the things Arte said to him and the things (club president) John Carpino said to him.

All In The Family

“He felt there was a family-like atmosphere and something he was wanting to, and willing to, be a part of for a lot of years to come,” Eppler concluded.

“When you break it all down,” Ohtani continued, “there were so many factors.

“I just felt that I wanted to play for the Angels.

“It’s something I cannot describe in words.

“It’s hard to explain. With the Angels I just felt something click.”

Chunk Change!

The guy who throws a baseball over 100 miles an hour and hits home runs more than 500 feet was an absolute steal.

Because he is yet 25, Shohei signed a minor league contract for the major league minimum of $545,000 and the Angels $2.315 million international signing bonus.

Moreno must also pay Shohei’s team, the Nippon Ham Fighters, a $20 million posting fee.

Where’s the Brinks truck? This could be one of the biggest heists in baseball history.

The 6’3, 189-pound right handed pitcher who bats left handed, put it all together in 2016.

In what was a stellar season, Shohei made 20 starts.

Impressive Resume

His record was a 10-4.

His earned run average was 1.86.

He pitched 4 complete games.

The only major league pitchers with more complete games that year were the White Sox Chris Sale (6), and San Francisco’s Johnny Cueto and Madison Bumgarner, and the Cubs Jake Arrieta, with 5 each.

He had a WHIP of 0.957.

And in 140 innings he allowed a minuscule 4 home runs and had a strike out to walk ratio of 174-45.

Swings A Mean Bat!

Ohtani also did some serious damage at the plate.

His 323 at bats produced 22 home runs, 67 runs batted in and a batting average of .322.

Couple that with an on base percentage of .416 and a 1.004 OPS and you can see why the Angel upper echelon is in seventh heaven.

Still, there were some concerns in 2017.

Offensively, an ankle injury limited Ohtani to 65 games. And elbow problems caused him to throw just 25 1/3 innings.

The injuries were well documented and all 30 clubs knew of his physical history prior to their courtship.

Watchful Eye

Eppler says Ohtani will be carefully monitored during spring training.

Something that wasn’t damaged is his enthusiasm.

The kid wants to hit. He makes no bones about it.

And the designated hitter would provide that opportunity.

But that depends on the health of Albert Pujols.

At First Base… ???

Pujols, who turns 38 on January 16, played 62 games at first base in 2015.

However, he’s only played there 34 times over the past two summers, including just six games last year.

He is currently in full workout mode, enjoying his first injury free winter since joining the Angels in 2012.

If Pujols can give the Angels 50 to 60 games in the field, that would open up opportunities for Ohtani.

Catering To Shohei?

That the Angels are considering a 6-man rotation could be the icing on the cake.

This would be more in tune with Ohtani’s normal routine of pitching every seventh day.

And it would free up possibly three days between starts for Shohei to DH.

Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Charles Nagy might have to work in extra bullpen sessions, but personally, I like the 6-man idea.

Less starts means less innings pitched, less pitches thrown and less chances of injury.

Plenty Of Healthy (?) Arms

And on paper, the Angels certainly have ample candidates to fill five positions behind their newest starter.

But then again, it’s all about health.

Scioscia’s staff was ravished by injuries last season. He never had all five starters together at the same time.

So if everybody is healthy this year, here’s a look at the possible candidates:

Garrett Richards (0-2, 2.28 ERA), their top of the rotation guy, was limited to 27 2/3 innings over 6 games.

Andrew Haney (1-2, 7.06) worked 21 1/2 innings in 5 games.

Tyler Skaggs (2-6, 4.55) pitched 85 innings in 16 games.

Parker Bridwell (10-3, 3.64), who was Eppler’s ‘Steal Of The Century’, worked 121 innings in 20 games.

J.C. Ramirez (11-10, 4.15), who had never been a starter, led the team in innings (147 1/3) and games (24).

Matt Shoemaker (6-3, 4.52) hurled 77 2/3 innings and 14 games.

And then there is Nick Tropeano, who missed all of last year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

In 2016 however, the 27-year old was 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 68 1/3 innings spanning 13 games.

So although strengthening the pitching staff was primary, Eppler still had some unfinished business.

Not Done Yet

First, he added a year to Justin Upton‘s contract, locking him up for next five seasons.

In 152 games last year with the Tigers and Angels, the 30-year old outfielder slugged 35 home runs, drove in 109 runs, batted .273 and had an OPS of .901.

Then he acquired second baseman Ian Kinsler, solidifying a position that had been a weakness since Howie Kendrick’s departure after the 2014 campaign.

And like Trout, who sold Othani, this time it was Upton, a trusted former teammate, who convinced Kinsler to become an Angel.

The 12-year major league veteran had a workmanlike 2016 season: 153 games, 28 home runs, 83 RBI and a .288 batting average.

Kinsler fell off last season. He hit 22 home runs, drove in 52 runs and hit a disappointing .236. But then again, playing for a 98-loss team certainly didn’t help.

Solid Defense

In a dozen big league seasons, Kinsler, who along with Martin Maldonado, Andrelton Simmons and Trout provides the Angels with strength up the middle, is a .273 career hitter.

And, in what hopefully WILL NOT be the general manager’s final move of the winter, Eppler inexplicably signed Zack Cozart.

Why?

To play third base?

It’s a position he’s never played.

Cozart is a career shortstop.

In addition, he is expected to backup another position he’s never played, second base.

I Don’t Like It!

I think Eppler had this signing all wrong!

First of all, he gave the 32-year old a three year contract worth $38 million.

Granted Cozart is coming off a career year in Cincinnati: 122 games, 24 home runs, 63 runs batted in, a .297 bating average, and an OBP of .385.

But first and third base are suppose to be your power positions.

Twenty-nine year old left handed power hitting Mike Moustakas slugged 38 home runs, drove in 85 runs, hit .272 with a .521 slugging percentage in 148 games with Kansas City.

Offense Versus Defense

Granted Cozart (3,027 chances, 62 errors, . 980 fielding percentage) is the better defender (2,155, 87, .960) I’d still rather see Moustakas playing third base for the Angels.

Eppler should’ve given the Chatsworth High School graduate a reasonable amount of money and found a serviceable veteran for $4-5 million to backup the infield.

As for me, I think that script would have worked in Anaheim!

The Southern California News Group Contributed To This Article

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...