May 18, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Mike Trout (27) before hitting in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

As the Weather Gets Warmer, Trout Heating Up

So far this month, Trout is hitting .328/.432/.705, good for an OPS of 1.137. Last season, it wasn’t until June and July where Mike Trout made it known that he was here for good. Now that everyone is aware of his power capabilities, could June be that month again? Only this time, with a crazy power outburst to go along with hitting everything in sight?

Money Quote: Mike Scioscia on Trout moving back to left field

“If you take a center fielder and ask him to catch, there’s some validity to that point,” Scioscia said. “Take a center fielder and ask to pitch, there’s some validity. But, ask a center fielder to play left field, I think that holds no water as to a guy’s comfort level of what he might be able to do at the plate.”

So that is why Scioscia wont let Mark Trumbo pitch.

Conger and Wilson Proving to be a Good Battery

This is good because it guarantees a day off for Chris Iannetta, who has had injury issues in the past. This is good because it gets Hank Conger off of the bench every once-in-awhile. This is moot because C.J. Wilson still can’t help but have one meltdown inning every game.

Money Quote: Conger on chemistry

“I think the biggest thing is not just when he starts, or when he throws, but off the field when we are in the clubhouse of just talking — even if it’s just talking about regular life or his mindset,”

Sounds like a Billy Chapel and Gus Sinski kind of relationship. That’s cute.

Angels Claim Chris Nelson off of Waivers

Scott Cousins got DFA’d to make room for Chris Nelson. The Angels are down an outfielder with Peter Bourjos on the DL. They are not down any infielders however. So they have added depth where they don’t really need it, and have effectively made J.B Shuck the only outfield option until Bourjos comes back. Ugh.

New Year, Same Old Dodgers and Angels

Simers gets this started by making fun of his wife’s appearance. Hopefully, she finds out.

Angels Fans to Blame For Team’s Failures?

No. Just, no.

Money Quote:

Maybe former Angels general managers Tony Reagins and Bill Stoneman were on to something. Build within the organization and draft talent along with being fiscally responsible with payroll.

Yeah, because Tony Reagins never traded off prospects for big time deadline moves. Or freak out and trade for, oh, I don’t know, Vernon Wells and Scott Kazmir. And, a GM is not being fiscally responsible when he is dumb enough to guarantee money to Fernando Rodney and Brian Fuentes.

August 29, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros catcher Chris Snyder (18) reacts after a call strike in the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

In lieu of Hank Conger’s troubles throwing the baseball so far this spring, the Angels have signed catcher Chris Snyder to a minor-league deal with an out-clause that will allow him to become a free agent if he fails to make the Opening Day roster. Snyder was released by the Washington Nationals earlier today after being signed to a minor-league contract with them just six weeks ago. The announcement of the two moves came at almost exactly the same time. The Angels had been rumoured to be sniffing around Rockies backup Ramon Hernandez as well and could still be in on him.

Conger is hitting the cover off the ball so far in Cactus League play and the 25-year-old has long been a promising prospect, but his limitations defensively have always held him back—especially since Mike Scioscia has a certain affection for slightly-above-average defensive catchers (see Jeff Mathis and Bobby Wilson).

Conger was to be Chris Iannetta’s primary backup this season, but he is 0-for-6 in throwing out attempted base-stealers and has committed four throwing errors. He even had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher this past weekend. For all intents and purposes, Conger appears to be suffering from the Yips. Or Jose Offerman syndrome. Or the Rick Ankiel disorder. Whatever it is, the Angels are clearly concerned.

Having said that, Snyder is not exactly Johnny Bench and although he has a decent Major League track record, he was atrocious in Houston last season hitting a woeful .176/.295/.308 for a 67 wRC+. No amount of good defense can excuse that kind of hitting and Snyder is no gold-glover. He couldn’t even warrant a minor-league deal with the Nationals, who were, granted, basically set at the catcher position with Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos at the Major League level and Jhonatan Solano and Sandy Leon expected to tandem at AAA-Syracuse.

Snyder is nothing more than an insurance pickup in case Conger’s yips don’t go away and it shouldn’t be treated as any more than that. Having said that, Hernandez is a much better option and has become expendable in Colorado with the emergence of Wilin Rosario and Jordan Pacheco and Yorvit Torrealba still on the roster.

Conger is still only 25 and catchers tend to take a bit longer to develop than most position players due to the amount of time they have to spend on things other than basic skills (i.e. learning how to call a game, frame pitches, counsel pitchers, etc.). He still has another year of options, meaning the Angels can send him to Salt Lake to work on his defense if he continues to struggle. Plus, it never hurts to have a third capable catcher on the roster in case of injury—something that affects catchers more than most other position players. Right now, outside of Iannetta and Conger, the Angels have John Hester and Luke Carlin—not exactly the type of catchers I’d want to see getting significant playing time.

And it’s not as though Conger has done anything at the Major League level as of yet that should guarantee him a roster spot—he has a career .272 wOBA in 253 plate appearances. I understand the inclination to give him regular playing time at the Major League level, but the Angels actually have a better option right now in Iannetta. It’s not like they’re playing Jeff Mathis over him.

Either way, unless the Angels do get a more experienced backup like Hernandez, Conger is likely to see a decent slice of playing time whether Snyder makes the team out of training camp or not—unless the yips never go away.