I've decided something, I don't have the follow through or desire to put in 3 arguments of a TD.  So now whenever I want to say something it will be in a blog.  And coincidentally I feel like saying something.

I can already tell Jerry DiPoto was a great hire, he seems to know what he's doing.  He's already made one move that I think makes the Angels a lot closer to being a Championship contender, he found a replacement for Jeff  "Rename the Mendoza line after me" Mathis.  Ianetta is a pretty good player, he only hit .238 (.235 career) last year, but his OBP was .370 (.357 Career) and he hit 14 HR's.  Defensively he threw out 30% of baserunners (3% better than Mathis) and allowed 8 passed balls (only 2 more than Mathis).

As clear of an upgrade as you can find.  He gave up Chatwood, a good young pitcher, but you don't get anything for free.

This isn't about Ianetta being better than Mathis, because a Alpaca on LSD knows that.  This is more about what else needs to be done.  And who better than some random guy on the internet to tell him what needs to be done?

1.  Fire Mickey Hatcher.

The worst hitting coach in Baseball.  The Ianetta signing shows that DiPoto really wants to add some patience into a line-up that is as free swinging as they come, and Hatcher is the real reason for that.  As a player, he walked 164 times in 1130 games, and yet he's somehow going to give insight on how to work counts and draw walks?  Not his forte.

2.  Sign CJ Wilson or Mark Buehrle

Yeah, Wilson sucked in the play-offs, but let me remind you of a few things.  Pitching in Arlington, he had a 2.94 ERA last year and a 3.35 ERA the year before that.  And he'd be the #3 or #4 on the staff.  PLUS they'd be stealing the defending division champs ace.

If you can't get Wilson, then go after Buehrle.  He's not the regular season pitcher Wilson is, but he has a decent career ERA pitching in a pretty hitter friendly ball-park, and once again, he's only be the #4 starter.  He's also everything that the Angels like in a starter, he works fast, pounds the strike zone,and he's a work horse.  Plus, unlike Wilson, he's had some success in the post-season.

Get either one of these guys, and the Angels will have the best staff in the AL, and maybe the Majors (If Santana really has turned a corner).

3.  See if you can find a sucker to take one of your 3 aging, washed up outfielders.

To call them an albatross would be an understatement.  Really this is self explanitory, so I won't explain it.

4.  Don't let people fool you, 3rd base is not an issue.

Just because you don't have a traditional 3rd baseman, doesn't mean you don't have a good 3rd baseman.  Sure you could find some clown that'll hit 20 HR's, but he's also probably going to hit .250 and strike out 120 times.  Alberto Callaspo is great defensively AND lead the Angels with a .288 average.  Unless you can get Ramirez ($$$) or Longoria (prospects) for a reasonable price, don't bother looking for a 3rd baseman.

5.  Find a bargain for your 5th starter.

Jerome Williams looks like the #5, that scares me.  He pitched well down the stretch, but look elsewhere.  I would suggest Kevin Millwood.  He was unsigned until late in the season and pitched well.  He's been a good pitcher, and outside his horrific year in Baltimore, has been pretty solid throughout his whole career.  You could get him cheap, he'd go deep into games, and give you Quality starts.