The February 13th, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Ryan Madson to get an elbow MRI, Josh Hamilton is in the best shape of his life and much more...

The Story: Ryan Madson underwent an MRI on his elbow yesterday and he could start throwing again if it is clean.

The Monkey Says: The results should be available today, if they aren't already. The scary part here is what happens if it doesn't come back clean. They are saying this is a precaution, but it definitely raises alarms that they even felt an MRI was needed.

The Story: Josh Hamilton reported to camp 20 pounds lighter than normal after a juice, fruit and veggie heavy diet in the off-season.

The Monkey Says: Apparently Jesus sent him secret signs that he needed to give up carbs. That isn't a joke. That is essentially what he said about why he changed his diet. He also says he reduced his caffeine intake, which is significant given that a caffeine dependency caused him some vision problems last year.

I hear a lot of gripes about the Angels minor league system lately.  Some of them are founded and others completely unfounded, so I thought I’d take the time to address some of these individually.

1. The Angels minor league system is empty.  The cupboard is bare. 

 Pretty general, but yeah I get it, not a ton of Top 100 prospects to be excited about.  However, consider this, do the Angels have strength where they need it?  Here are the notable prospects and remaining years of major leaguers.

Catcher – Chris Iannetta – three years.  Hank Conger AAA, Carlos Ramirez AA, Zach Wright A+.

First Base – Albert Pujols, Mark Trumbo – nine years and four years respectively.  CJ Cron AA, Wade Hinkle A.

Second Base – Howie Kendrick – three years.  Taylor Lindsey AA, Alex Yarbrough A+.

Shortstop – Erick Aybar – four years.  Eric Stamets A+, Jose Rondon R.

Third Base – Alberto Callaspo – two years.  Luis Jimenez AAA, Kaleb Cowart AA.

Outfield – Mike Trout (six years), Josh Hamilton (five years), Peter Bourjos (four years) – Kole Calhoun AAA, Randal Grichuk AA, Travis Witherspoon AA.

Rotation – Jered Weaver (four years), C.J. Wilson (four years), Tommy Hanson (three years), Jason Vargas (one year), Joe Blanton (two years) – Richards AAA, Nick Maronde AA, A.J. Schugel AAA.

Bullpen – Madson (one year), Frieri (four years), Downs (one year), Burnett (two/three years), Jepsen (three years), Williams (two years) – Carpenter AAA, Cassevah AAA, Enright AAA, Geltz AAA, Kohn AAA, Sisk AAA, Taylor AAA, Alvarez A+, Tillman AA, Chaffee AAA.

So here’s my question, where do the Angels have a need that prospects aren’t filling?  When you have a team built like the Angels are right now, there probably won’t be much turnover in the next three years.  Maybe a starting pitcher or two and a couple relievers. 

For a year and a half, Scott Downs was a savior for the Angels bullpen, but he became part of the problem in the final months of last season. Is the veteran southpaw finally starting to break down? Is he just being infected by the rest of the Bullpen of Perpetual Sorrow? Is there any saving him?

2012 Stats: 45.1 IP, 1-1, 9 SV, 3.15 ERA. 3.66 FIP, 43 H, 17 BB, 3 HR, 32 SO, 2.81 GB/FB, 0.4 fWAR

2013 ZiPS Projections: 45.0 IP, 3.60 ERA. 3.65 FIP, 42 H, 14 BB, 4 HR, 33 SO, 0.4 fWAR

2013 Bill James Projections: 39.0 IP, 3-1, 0 SV, 2.77 ERA. 3.57 FIP, 33 H, 13 BB, 3 HR, 30 SO

2013 CAIRO Projections: 40.0 IP, 3-2, 3 SV, 3.13 ERA. 3.46 FIP, 40 H, 14 BB, 3 HR, 30 SO, 0.7 fWAR

2013 MWAH Projections*: 55.0 IP, 3-1, 3 SV, 3.76 ERA. 3.49 FIP, 55 H, 19 BB, 3 HR, 40 SO

*The MWAH projections are simply my best guess based off my own personal opinion and research (my wOBA and FIP calculations are approximate)

The February 12th, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Madson suffers a setback in rehab, PECOTA predicts the Angels to win the AL West and much more...

The Story: Ryan Madson has shut down his rehab after suffering a sore elbow on February 1st, making it very unlikely he'll be ready for Opening Day.

The Monkey Says: Zoiks, Scoob! This is very discouraging as it virtually assures that Madson will have to open the year on the disabled list, which will definitely test the depth of the Angel bullpen. Frieri will likely take over as the primary closer until Madson is ready, but it means that Kevin Jepsen is functionally the only semi-reliable right-hander in middle relief. This makes me wonder if the Angels might not float a minor league contract out to a guy like K-Rod to hedge their bet against Madson's health.

The Story: The new 2013 PECOTA projections predict that the Angels will win the AL West.

The Monkey Says: You'll have to pay for the full projections, but it is well worth it. One item I will share is that PECOTA believes that Mike Trout is a mortal and will regress down to not quite MVP levels. It also predicts that Vernon Wells will still stink, so it does know some thing.

The MWAH prospect countdown marches on with the only teenager to make our list, so don't make us look stupid, kid.

Jose Rondon
Position: SS  Highest Level: Rookie
Bats: Right Throws: Right  Height: 6'1" Weight: 160 lbs.
Age: 18  Born: 3/3/94

2012 Season Stats
AZL: 212 PA, .262 AVG, .314 OBP, .365 SLG, 13 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 24 SO, 5 SB, 5 CS, .290 BABIP
Rookie: 20 PA, .300 AVG, .348 OBP, .450 SLG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 SO, 1 SB, 0 CS, .357 BABIP
 

Contact – B.  As we haven’t seen him personally but are relying on personal reports from Angels scouts and numbers, Rondon hasn’t displayed any troubles whatsoever making contact in Rookie Ball. 

Power – B.  This is where Rondon becomes particularly interesting.  He’s only hit one HR professionally so far, but every report indicates that Rondon has very real power and will hit for power in the near future.  His frame (6’1 and 170+) suggests that these reports may be accurate.  There has even been one well placed account that says the 18 year old is still growing.  Picture that, a tall, athletic power hitting shortstop. 

Discipline – B.  Last season he posted more BB than K’s as a 17-year old in a pitcher friendly league.  This season, he maintained a strong walk rate and a good eye at the plate, but was also fooled more often.  Still, at such a young age he’s shown he’s not in over his head. 

Speed – B.  Rondon can run.  He isn’t going to be a barnburner like Trout or Bourjos, but he reportedly has the type of speed to swipe 20 bases over a full season.

Arm – B.  Rondon reportedly has the arm and range to play both shortstop or third base.  The Angels appear to be set on giving him the chance at climbing the ladder at shortstop, but there’s some speculation that he will switch to third base at the higher levels. However, he’s only 18 and is a long way away from the high minors and has the physical tools for shortstop.    

Performance – B.  Not many 18-year old Venezuelans can come to the U.S. and hold their own after only one season at the Dominican Academy.  Regardless of the numbers, you have to figure 2012 was a huge success for Rondon.

Projection – A.  Jose figures to log more time in Orem in 2013, but the Angels may get aggressive and give him a shot at A-Ball.  Still, Jose projects into being an offensive minded shortstop.  Scouts and bloggers alike have reported exactly what I’ve hear about Rondon so far.  That his “make up” is sky high.  Rondon appears to be a mature, hardworking, physically gifted youngster that could be a good major league shortstop.  However, we must stress patience here.  He’s going to be 19 next season, and there’s a lot that can happen before he reaches the majors.   

Estimated MLB Arrival Date – 2017.

(*As always, the above scouting report is provided by Scotty Allen of LA Angels Insider)

Oh happy day! Pitchers and catchers have reported to camp. That means baseball is sort of here! It is the kind of stuff that makes me want to go down to my local high school ballfield just to sniff the grass and lick the dirt. But that would be crazy, right?  Right? Ri- right? Yeah, right.

Um, ok, so clearly I need focus on something else to keep my enthusiasm from getting the best of me. I know! Let's look through all the pitchers in Angels camp and see what battles there are. That's a good ol' blogging standby! Of course, the problem is that the Angels have almost no real position battles to speak of. Plus who want to hear me write about no-name non-roster invitees wearing jersey numbers in the 80's? So, rather than just focusing on position battles, we will also take into consideration any personal challenges facing guys in camp. And let's face it, EVERYONE has some kind of personal challenge to overcome... except maybe Mike Trout who is the most perfect baseball-playing human being ever created. Anyway, on to the pitchers!

Jered Weaver: Personal - As the undisputed staff ace, Weaver is living on Easy Street. That being said, he has some questions to answer coming into camp for the first time in years. After dealing with back and shoulder problems last season, Weaver lost a tiny bit of effectiveness and more than a bit of velocity. Seeing him regularly touching 90+ MPH on the radar gun would certainly make everyone feel better.

C.J. Wilson: Personal - He has two personal battles to face this spring. The first is proving his elbow is healthy after having bone chips removed this off-season. After that, he needs to prove that he can be the All-Star caliber pitcher the Angels thought they were signing two Decembers ago. One would hope that by proving the first one, the second one quickly follows suit.

Tommy Hanson: Personal - Easily the rotation member in camp with the most to prove. Showing up in good shape would be a good start. Showing up with his shoulder feeling strong would be even better. If he wants to show up with increased velocity, well, that would just be swell. However, I think the Angels would settle for him actually learning to pitch with reduced velocity.

Jason Vargas: Positional - Eventually, Vargas will have to prove that he can survive outside of the atmosphere in Safeco Field. There isn't much he can do about that in spring training. Instead, he'll just be battling Joe Blanton to avoid the ignominious distinction of being tabbed as the fifth starter.

Joe Blanton: Positional - The fans may already not like him being in the rotation, but he is being paid too much to get shifted to the bullpen before at least getting a shot in the rotation. No, the only thing he'll be battling, as mentioned above, is Jason Vargas to figure out who ranks where on the inning-eating totem pole.

Ryan Madson: Personal/Positional - Our first double threat! Obviously, Madson has to show that he is recovered from Tommy John and reports suggest that he could be ready for Opening Day. The real intrigue though is if/when Madson can get Scioscia to officialy deign him the team's closer.

The February 11th, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Baseball Prospectus' Top 10 Angels prospects, Halos have the seventh-ranked roster and much more...

The Story: Baseball Prospectus provides their top ten Angels prospects for 2013.

The Monkey Says: This is not appreciably different than anyone else's with the exception of maybe Jose Rondon cracking the top ten. Rondon is an intriguing prospect for sure, but for him to rank in a top ten speaks to how thin the Angels' system is given that Rondon is several years away from even being close to ready.

The Story: The Angels roster is ranked as the seventh-best in baseball.

The Monkey Says: I think Toronto might be getting overrated here. Of course, I think the Giants are overrated too, but they have won two of the last three World Series, so maybe I should just shut up.