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Help Us, Billy Eppler. You’re Our Only Hope.

Please excuse the Star Wars, Guns N’ Roses, and World Championship Wrestling references.

It is the middle of Fall, and unless you are a Kansas City Royals fan, the clouds this time of year seem darker to the most of us. The trees seem barer. The days seem colder. We walk with our heads down listening to November Rain while we let our beards grow longer than they probably should. Your football team is also going nowhere.

However, if you’re an Angels fan, a new hope has arisen.

New General Manger of the Los Angeles Angels, Billy Eppler, has shed the pin stripes and replaced them with a halo. After only a few weeks, Eppler has already began shaking up the personnel. Here’s a brief timeline of what Obi Wan Eppler has done thus far:

October 4: Hired as new general manager

October 13: Eppler fires hitting coach Don Baylor and pitching coach Mike Butcher

November 3: Dave Hansen and Charles Nagy named new hitting and pitching coach, respectively.

November 12: Atlanta Braves traded SS Andrelton Simmons and C Jose Briceno for SS Erick Aybar, LHP Sean Newcomb, RHP Christopher Ellis and cash.

November 17: Angels sign 2B free agent Cliff Pennington.

November 18: Angels re-hire Ron Roenicke as third base coach.

November 24: Angels re-hire Bud Black as assistant to GM. Angels sign Geovany Soto to 1 year deal.

 

In addition to all of these acquisitions, Eppler also chose to not submit qualifying offers to several players including 3B David Freese.

Wow. That’s a lot of activity in a little over a month. Now, do not get me wrong. Activity does not always mean success. See Jerry Dipoto as an example. The guy signed every player known to man and still could not win. However, I can speak for many Angels fans when I say I am overall pleased with the personnel decisions, specifically on the coaching aspect. Bringing back the old squad is at the very least, a crowd pleaser. ‘Hollywood’ Mike Scioscia, ‘Big Sexy’ Ron Roenicke, and ‘The Bad Guy’ Bud Black. It’s pretty much the return of the New World Order.

 

Other than the Hostile Take Over, Part II, what does it really mean?

After winning the World Series in 2002, Black and Roenicke were both highly sought-after names. Each, to their own right, had successful stints as a manager and coach, respectively. Even in 2015, Black and Roenicke are still big names amongst the coaching world and were once again sought after by numerous teams for coaching and managerial positions.

 

How about positional problems?

The Angels finished as one of the worst hitting teams with mediocre pitching and fielding. Not exactly the recipe for success. Thus far, Eppler has addressed mainly the fielding issue. There is no doubt bringing in Andrelton Simmons as the new SS and Geovanny Soto as C will drastically improve the infield and battery. Cliff Pennington is also a solid utility player.

The 2016 season should see a come back for LHP Tyler Skaggs coming off Tommy John Surgery. His arm should be an improvement to the rotation. Other than that, the Halos still seek pitching and hitting improvement.

 

Rome was not built in a day, and neither is a baseball franchise. However, the moves made by Eppler this early in the offseason seem to have provided the proper foundation for an empire.

Look for Eppler to fix the missing outfielder problem in the coming weeks. Jason Heyward and Yoenis Cespedes are names that have been tossed around.

This Thanksgiving, Angels fans, be thankful. Be thankful for Billy Eppler..and of course, Mike Trout. Get ready to shave your beards. Do not be embarrassed to buy discounted Josh Hamilton jerseys this Black Friday. Rejoice! After all, at least our sports franchise is not in Philadelphia.

Michael Taglianetti

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