Is it just me or is the suspense of the 2011 LA Angels off-season too much to bear?

Or maybe "suspense" is the wrong word to use since the Angels haven't, you know, done ANYTHING.  No signings, no trades, nothing.  Heck, they haven't even been involved in a single rumor (except for that stupendously stupid Wright-Bourjos trade idea that some New York columnist pulled out of his butt).  C'mon, Jerry DiPoto, can't you just throw us fans a bone?  We need some Angels hot stove league action!

All we've gotten from DiPoto so far was some innocuous comments in one interview. He said not to count the Angels out on big name free agents, but they aren't a priority.  It couldn't possibly be more non-commital, but at least he finally acknowledged that free agents exist.  The most specific he got was that he would target end-of-game relief help.  But what kind of help?  Are we talking about "elite" closers like Heath Bell?  Lesser closers like Frank Francisco?  Or does he think Jon Rauch qualifies as end-of-game help?

See, this is the problem with a new general manager, we just don't know what to expect from him.  That can be an exciting way to approach the off-season but it can also be soooooooooooooooo damned frustrating.

The November 10th, 2011 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including DiPoto says not to rule out the Angels on big name free agents, he also hints at adding a closer, Trout likely to start 2012 season at Triple-A and much more...

The Story: GM Jerry DiPoto says not to rule out the Angels on big name free agents and that he wants end of game relief help.

The Monkey Says: DiPoto says he believes in signing big impact players, but he also says that the likes of Fielder and Pujols are not a priority to them right now, so it probably won't happen.  However, he says he wants to get Downs and Walden "some help for closing out the last three outs of a game."  That sounds a lot to me like he is going to make a play for a legit closer and not a lower-end setup man.  Perhaps the combo of these comments means he is going to go after a big name closer free agent?

The Story: It seems likely that Mike Trout will start the 2012 season in Triple-A.

The Monkey Says: Add to that the article above in which DiPoto says he wants Trout to play everyday and that if he can't do that in the majors, he'll do it in the minors.  It definitely sounds like they are readying us for Trout to start with the Bees.  That makes a lot of sense since the Halos will at least want to try and give Vernon Wells a chance to rebound and make them look not so stupid.  However, it is worth noting that they haven't always been honest about their plans for Trout.  Don't forget that Scioscia and Reagins both said in no uncertain terms that Trout would NOT be called up to the majors at all in 2011, yet they went and did just that.

Up next in our Top 30 Angels Prospect Countdown, we take a look at one of the system's deep sleeper prospects, pitcher A.J. Schugel.

A.J. Schugel
Position: Pitcher Level: Split the season between Low-A and High-A
Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 190 lbs.
Age: 22  Born: June 27, 1989

2011 Season Stats (Low-A): 4-3, 90.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 73 H, 2 HR, 39 BB, 80 K, 3.24 FIP, .280 BABIP, 1.23 GO/AO

2011 Season Stats (High-A): 1-2, 19.2 IP, 5.03 ERA, 22 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 15 K, 3.40 FIP, .333 BABIP, 0.62 GO/AO

Fastball – B+. Sits around 91 mph with a hard sink and cutting action against RHB.

Breaking Ball – C. I’m thoroughly unimpressed with his slider. Slow, little movement.

Change up – B+. I liked his change up, it has movement and he throws it for strikes.

Performance – Generates weak contact, good K’s, acceptable BB. Doing well in low minors.

Projection – Middle reliever right now, #3 starter if his breaking ball improves.

Comp – Floor: Trevor Bell.  Ceiling: Shaun Marcum (if he develops a cutter).

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: 2015

The November 9th, 2011 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Reagins knew Napoli would end up in Texas, Vernon Wells pleads his case on Twitter, looking at what new AGM Scott Servais brings to the Angel front office and much more...

The Story: Tony Reagins confesses he knew that Toronto was going to flip Mike Napoli to Texas.

The Monkey Says: This admission is a double-edged sword.  We know that Texas asked for Napoli directly from the Angels at one point, so Reagins clearly knew the Rangers were interested.  So, knowing that, Reagins would have been stupid if he didn't know there was a good chance the Jays would flip Napoli to the Rangers.  By the same token, Reagins could also be considered stupid for making the Napoli trade with knowledge that Napoli would wind up in Texas.  The smart thing for him to do then would have been to trade Napoli to some other team that would actually hold on to him.

The Story: Vernon Wells pleads his case on Twitter that he will perform better next season.

The Monkey Says: It is great to see that Vernon is trying to think positive and get back on his game, but at the same time it bothers me that he is so concerned about it that he has to tweet with random fans about it on Twitter.

The Top 30 Angels Prospect Countdown marches on.  Our next prospect may come in a small package, but he delivers big results on the field (and big headaches off of it).  Checking in at #24 is reliever Steve Geltz.

Steve Geltz
Position: Relief Pitcher Level: AA (with two appearances at AAA)
Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 5'10"  Weight: 170 lbs.
Age: 24  Born: November 1, 1987

2011 Season Stats (AA): 3-3, 46.2 IP, 3.09 ERA, 31 H, 5 HR, 14 BB, 67 K, 2.69 FIP, .277 BABIP, 0.26 GO/AO

Fastball – B+. Geltz’s fastball touches 94 but generally sits at 92 with movement.

Breaking Ball – A. He throws a sharp cutting slider that causes a lot of misses.

Change up – B+. Not actually a change up, but a splitter with diving action.

Performance – A. Just as dominant as a reliever as he’s been his whole career.

Projection – A very good middle reliever.

Comp – Floor: Francisco Rodriguez (Not the good one).  Ceiling: J.J. Putz

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: As soon as miid-2012

The November 8th, 2011 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Angels would be crazy to trade Bourjos, Heath Bell is interested in signing with the Angels, Halos not likely to pursue Cespedes and much more...

The Story: The Angels would be crazy to trade Peter Bourjos.

The Monkey Says: Hear hear!  We all know I love Speedy Petey, so it is nice to see some other right-thinking people agreeing with me.  It isn't that Bourjos is untouchable, but they shouldn't let him go unless they are getting a bona fide star in return and David Wright is definitely not that.

The Story: Heath Bell says he would be willing to sign with the Angels.

The Monkey Says: Bell is known to prefer Southern California, so this isn't a surprise.  However, since he also lists the Phillies and Red Sox as preferred destinations, it is pretty safe to say that he will just go to the highest bidder.

The Top 30 Angels Prospect Countdown marches on.  While not blessed with overpowering velocity or electric off-speed pitcher, Max Russell's yeoman-like performance in Single-A is starting to earn him some deserved notice.

Max Russell
Position: Starting Pitcher Level: Split the season between Low-A and High-A
Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 6'2"  Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 23  Born: September 21, 1988

2011 Season Stats (Low-A): 5-10, 114.0 IP, 3.79 ERA, 101 H, 14 HR, 45 BB, 85 K, 4.67 FIP, .264 BABIP, 1.54 GO/AO

2011 Season Stats (High-A): 1-2, 41.0 IP, 4.17 ERA, 42 H, 4 HR, 8 BB, 34 K, 3.61 FIP, .308 BABIP, 1.28 GO/AO

Fastball – B. He sits at 90-91 and spots it, generating ground balls and sets up his curve.

Breaking Ball – B. Curveball that is hard to make solid contact because he keeps it low and spots it where he wants.

Change up – B. The true mark of a polished starter, he can throw it in any count.

Performance – B. Didn’t blow anyone away, but he was a quality start machine. Consistent.

Projection – Solid number four starter.

Comp – Floor: AAA flameout.  Ceiling: Joe Saunders.

Video - Not one of his finer starts. Max Russell gets hit hard.

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: 2014