Effectively Wild Episode 1157: Angels GM Billy Eppler on Winning the Winter

by
January 1, 2018

EWFI

In the first episode of 2018, Ben Lindbergh talks to Angels GM Billy Eppler about the Angels’ active offseason, touching on Eppler’s blueprint for building a team around Mike Trout, winning the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes and his plans for the potential two-way star, the Angels’ elite infield defense and Eppler’s run-prevention philosophy, signing and evaluating Zack Cozart, how much lineup balance matters, how to cobble together a bullpen on the cheap, the Angels’ watchability, why this winter’s market has been so slow, his relationships with Mike Scioscia and Brian Cashman, and more.

Audio intro: Destroyer, "Makin’ Angels"
Audio outro: Elvis Costello, "Running Out of Angels"

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lipitorkidMember since 2016
7 years ago

Best New Year’s present ever. Thanks Ben.

Things I hope to hear about:
That Shohei Ohtani is going to be a bigger part of the offense than people think.
That we can patch up the rotation by trading for Ivan Nova on the cheap.
Which SP will move to the bullpen and become a late inning stud.
Can the Angels convince Adam Lind to take a 1 year contract to provide a veteran lefty bat?

5