I'm stepping away from the ledge

by RallyMonkey5 on Nov 26, 2006 12:26 PM PST

I don't hate the Matthews Jr. signing any more. Its extravagant, but improves our team in the short run.

In the long run, he's a highly paid 4th outfielder, but with Brandon Wood hitting 35 homers at short and Nick Adenhart racing Weaver, Lackey, and Santana to see who gets to 20 wins first, we can live with it.

I looked at how he rates by every defensive measure that means anything (the play by play ones) as well as the fan's scouting reports. Read more here:

http://lanaheimangelfan.blogspot.com/2006/11/defense-of-sarge-jr.html

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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Yay!

It could be worse...look at Oakland and Texas, losing key players left and right.

Worst case scenario, we could be the Mariners--a mediocre team doing little to improve itself.

Every team wins fifty, and every team loses fifty--it's what you do with the rest that counts.

by cardinalwraith on Nov 26, 2006 1:43 PM PST reply actions

except

we're already WAY better than the mariners

i think gmj, though overpriced, will still be a big thing for our team

A lost child: "If you don't sing the song, they'll make you do a Christmas movie with Tim Allen."

by Los Angeles de Anaheim on Nov 26, 2006 2:04 PM PST reply actions

The A's

Are in a world of hurt offensively if they fail to sign Bonds.

Have they picked up a bionic arm for all world DL pitcher Rich Harden?

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 26, 2006 2:14 PM PST reply actions

Do you honestly believe

that Billy Beane won't make as many deals as it takes to give his team the best shot at winning the division?

The guy simply does not stop working to make the team as good as it can be.

Yeah, he's losing Zito and Frank Thomas. Just like every other year, when he loses guys to free agency. And guess what? They're in it to the very end just about every year.

Compared to Stoneless he's Red Auerbach.

I don't doubt for a moment that the A's will have a different look next spring. And that they'll compete for the division.

After the past month I'm thinking we'll be spending most of next summer trying to catch them.

by goodvibe61 on Nov 26, 2006 7:36 PM PST reply actions

He got lucky last year

Thomas does not enter a time machine to deliver 39HR in a contract year they are not in sniffing range of the division.

Their pitching is suspect now without Zito.

Stoneless has assembled the best pitching in baseball, I am not very concerned

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 26, 2006 7:40 PM PST up reply actions

Harden's injury, hello?

Their pitching is suspect now without Zito.

And they spent most of the year sans Rich Harden. Plus him makes for a lot more interesting team.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 26, 2006 11:27 PM PST up reply actions

Plus Harden 2007

does not replace last season's injured Harden AND Zito. It is :

Harden
Haren
Loaiza
Blanton
???????

Not good. Beane has 120 days to solve it, but compare that to Stoneman's conundrum of what to do with Saunders if/when Colon gets healthy...

by Rev Halofan on Nov 27, 2006 12:02 AM PST up reply actions

Good point

That's two pitchers to replace with one guy. Maybe.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 27, 2006 10:33 AM PST up reply actions

I love this point

They did not have HArden. When exactly have the had Harden?

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 8:47 AM PST up reply actions

2005

But you're right, he hasn't been able to stay healthy.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 27, 2006 10:33 AM PST up reply actions

Richard "Dick" Harden

"I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else." - Churchill

by johnnyangel101 on Nov 27, 2006 10:20 PM PST up reply actions

Is Beane really going to make a huge move

with this insanely expensive free agent market? I think not.

Every team wins fifty, and every team loses fifty--it's what you do with the rest that counts.

by cardinalwraith on Nov 26, 2006 9:58 PM PST up reply actions

Remember Esteban

After last year, you can't count out Beane paying market rate for a mediocre 30ish starter.

Personally, I hope he does. Pay Jeff Suppan 4/40 and watch the Halos tee off on him 4-5 times a year.

by RallyMonkey5 on Nov 27, 2006 7:25 AM PST up reply actions

Their farm system

Sure is stocked up with minor league talent to trade.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 26, 2006 10:05 PM PST up reply actions

Wrong

Shot their wad for the forseeable future...

by Rev Halofan on Nov 26, 2006 10:34 PM PST up reply actions

Sarcasm

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 11:09 AM PST up reply actions

trying to imply

That Beane is not going to get much done via trade.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 11:09 AM PST up reply actions

We had the same staff last year.

With the exception of the new middle reliever.

We weren't even in the race for the final week of the season.

I'm glad to hear you're not concerned.

by goodvibe61 on Nov 26, 2006 9:41 PM PST reply actions

Same staff?

Really Jered was pitching the entire year? Are there going to be 16 starts by his brother that average over 1.5 baserunners an inning?

Besides that, keeping runs off of the board was not the problem.

I am not too concerned.

I won't mention no Thomas no Zito................

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 26, 2006 9:51 PM PST up reply actions

We do have the same staff as last year

And with the switching of Weaver brothers, we have a damn fine staff. I'm not concerned about that part of our game at all.

The season was lost by a combination of anemic offense and erratic defense, not our pitching staff--our arms were the one thing keeping the club afloat.

Every team wins fifty, and every team loses fifty--it's what you do with the rest that counts.

by cardinalwraith on Nov 26, 2006 9:57 PM PST up reply actions

FOUR GAMES

Colon, Moseley, Gregg and Carrasco started over 15 games that Jered Weaver could have pitched, not to mention the mediocre travails of his brother. Start him in April and we take the division handily.

by Rev Halofan on Nov 26, 2006 10:05 PM PST up reply actions

Not to mention,

not having Howie/Nap up during the first couple of months.

by Obscurity on Nov 26, 2006 11:03 PM PST up reply actions

Howie

Remember, the first time he came up he hit under .200. How much of this was due to his not being prepared vs. the erratic manner in which they used him?

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 27, 2006 9:30 AM PST up reply actions

Probably a bit of both.

(As an aside: where the hell have you been?)

Every team wins fifty, and every team loses fifty--it's what you do with the rest that counts.

by cardinalwraith on Nov 27, 2006 9:51 AM PST up reply actions

(Off topic)

I could ask you the same thing. Why the f- doesn't your phone work?

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 27, 2006 10:41 AM PST up reply actions

What happened to

"Congratulations to the Oakland Athletics on their 2007, 2008 and 2009 Western Division Championships"

???

john RIP samo

by angels4adam on Nov 27, 2006 3:49 AM PST up reply actions

Ooops

I will try to remain in "angry character" a little longer before I shoot straight into "see-the-light-redemption" mode...

by Rev Halofan on Nov 27, 2006 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

Well

the big fear is that indeed Colon takes some starts that could be absorbed by WTY. That will require some teeth-grinding.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 27, 2006 10:34 AM PST up reply actions

Saunders?

Wouldn't he be taking Saunders starts?

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

True that

But even then, would he be better? Shoulder injuries tend to be catastrophic, and Angels management likes to give veterans every possible chance to recover, regardless of how badly they play (see also Steve Finley).

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 27, 2006 10:38 AM PST up reply actions

He could be

I for one do not have the confidence in Bart to properly rehab this thing. Pedro said it was one the hardest parts of his professional career. Although it is a contract year so you never no. The man has to eat.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

It's Colon, so I hope you meant

"not eat" or "eat a reduced amount at every meal."

Every team wins fifty, and every team loses fifty--it's what you do with the rest that counts.

by cardinalwraith on Nov 27, 2006 11:43 AM PST up reply actions

I was thinking

he might be motivated to parlay a walk year into a limitless ticket to the all you can eat buffet.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 12:53 PM PST up reply actions

Wow

That's probably a $10-11M/year deal.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 27, 2006 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

A fat contract

for a fat man.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Nov 27, 2006 1:50 PM PST up reply actions

maybe we'll be ok?

The calamity that was the Angels defense has little chance of repeating itself next year. Why? Because last years circus/anomaly was fueled by widespread speculation that Chone Figgins was actually this man (http://2.srv.fotopages.com/1/8705927/Waldo-Geraldo-Faldo.jpg) Also ther's no way OC makes 16 errors next year
Plus-
- GMJ is an upgrade in center and as long as he doens't fall back to earth with his .336 obp we should be ok. I think Stoneman and his scouts think he's turned some kind of "corner" on his career, and unless he hits .220 in April I'm going to hold out hope that this is true. (fingers crossed 50 million tiems harder than ever before)

And-
- This isn't an El Nino year. The last was in 1998, and we all know what happened that year. Need I mention numero 42?? Well I just did.

In conclusion, I think the Angels make the playooffs next year, and my Finals paper on "How the prison systmes failure to reform Balck men negitively effects black communities" will suck. Good Day

i have sloppy handwriting

by rjcicc on Nov 27, 2006 10:36 AM PST reply actions