Alright, Angels.  You've had two weeks to rest up and lick your wounds since the end of the season, but relaxing time is over.  If you want to return to the playoffs next year, you're going to have to do some work this off-season.  The position players got their assignments last week, but now we turn our attention the the crown jewel of the Angel roster, the rotation.  As good as the starting pitchers were this season, all of them still have plenty of work to do if they want to be as good if not better in 2012.

The Angel rotation got good marks this season, but they weren't perfect and thus have plenty of work to do this off-season.

The October 17th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Angels get permission to interview DiPoto, Angels discussing huge TV contract with Fox, looking at what Trout's AFL experience could mean and much more...

The Story: The Angels have received permission to interview Jerry DiPoto.

The Monkey Says: Some believe DiPoto is the front-runner for the Halos gig, but Buster Olney tweeted late last week that DiPoto was also the front-runner for the Orioles job.  Normally, I would think picking between the Angels and the Orioles would be no contest since Baltimore hasn't been good for years and also has a meddlesome owner in Peter Angelos and controlling manager in Buck Showalter, but the Angels have Moreno and Scioscia, which makes it more a matter of preference, though I think the Angels still have the edge.

The Story: The Angels and Fox Sports are in discussions on a new TV contract believed to be worth around $1.6 billion over 20 years.

The Monkey Says: Assuming that is the figure, that would add $30 million in revenue per year for the Angels.  Take this report with a GIANT grain of salt though.  For starters, their current TV contract doesn't expire until after 2015, so there isn't a ticking clock on these talks nor would that big revenue boost be realized soon enough to make a major change in the current dealings.  Most importantly, this is the second off-season in a row the two sides have talked and supposedly been near a deal, so this may stall out just like last season.  Personally, I believe the report is emerging more as a PR stunt from either Fox or MLB to try and somehow put pressure on the Dodgers and their ongoing saga over their TV contract rights with Fox.

With the Angels' new GM vacancy they've made it publicly know that they want to pursue aggressive and creative options on the free agent market. The standing opinion is that the Angels need to upgrade in the bullpen and at 3B, and while these aren't the only spots that need improvement, they are the most important. But what if I told you that the Angels could fare much better chasing a starting pitcher on the FA market over anything else? What if I told you that pitcher should be longtime Ranger C.J Wilson? Now let's be nice and civilized Angels fans while I state my case, in fact, let's just throw our Angels fandom in the backseat so I can throw some cold hard facts your way without facing some ire from the Rangers haters (all of us).

Yes, this C.J Wilson, in case you were hoping I was talking about a different one.

The October 14th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Keith Law claims all of baseball believes DiPoto will get the Angels GM job, Moreno denies that Scioscia is the de facto GM, wondering what Scioscia thinks of Mike Napoli now and much more...

The Story: Keith Law claims the sentiment around baseball is that the Angels will hire Jerry DiPoto as general manager.

The Monkey Says: I don't think Law was trying to break any news but he is connected, so this does have some credence.  Personally, I believe him.  So few names have leaked out at this point that it sounds like the Angels have already gotten down to their short list and DiPoto is a guy who has been mentioned since before Reagins even got canned.  I wouldn't be shocked if his hire is announced by the end of the month.

The Story: Arte Moreno once again refutes the notion that Mike Scioscia is the de facto GM.

The Monkey Says: He can say that all he wants, but nobody is going to believe it until the new GM is hired and proves that he is his own man.  However, that notion that Scioscia is the real GM could prevent them from being able to hire the best candidate, so it is something of a catch-22.

Alright, Angels.  You've had two weeks to rest up and lick your wounds since the end of the season, but relaxing time is over.  If you want to return to the playoffs next year, you're going to have to do some work this off-season.  The infielders go their assignments earlier this week, but now it is the outfielders turn to find out what they need to work on this off-season.

Why does homework have to be so hard?

The October 13th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Angels get permission to interview two Yankee executives, Mathis and other Angels could be among Fielding Bible and Gold Glove candidates, Astros to join the AL West and much more...

The Story: Angels get permission to interview Yankees' Oppenheimer and Eppier.

The Monkey Says: Finally, we start seeing some real movement.  The candidate list is now only three names long, but I don't think it is unreasonable to think that the GM search could be wrapped up by the end of the World Series.

The Story: Several Angels, including Jeff Mathis, among Fielding Bible and Gold Glove contenders.

The Monkey Says: Yup, the case is slowly starting to build for the Angels to actually bring Mathis back in 2012.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

Before each season I do a preview for all the Angels players and include in those previews all the various statistical projections for each player as well as a projection of my own.  But now that the season is done, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at how accurate all those projection systems were.  SPOILER ALERT: Not accurate at all.

Turns out this whole projection thing is really hard.