Why Brandon Wood? And Why Now?

Chone Figgins is going to rehab 7 - 10 days in AAA Salt Lake. He needs as much time defending at 3B as possible. This cuts into the playing time of Brandon Wood.

So the Angels are calling up Wood to the big club. Orlando Cabrera has not had an off-day and will likely be spelled by Izzy/Aybar, the two of whom could use a break.

Kendry Morales gets sent down, as Robb Quinlan, who is not exactly lighting the world on fire, can back-up at 1st Base, so why not make use of the organizational shuffle with Wood?

And who will Brandon Wood be facing?

Tampa Bay on a warm afternoon in Anaheim with Jae Seo on the mound.

The Homer-Friendly Chicago Comiskey (albeit against three solid pitchers - Garland, Buehrle and Vasquez)

Four Games in Kansas City against an improved Odalis Perez, Zack Greinke, young lefty hotshot Jorge De La Rosa and the $55 Million Dollar man Gil Meche.

If Figgy needs any more rehabbing, it is back to the Big A to face the Chi-Sox while fresh in the young hitter's memory.

This is a good move - Figgy does not block a prospect, expectations are lowered on the kid, some infielders get a little rest after ten percent of the season has gone by and the competition is easier than average in five of the first 8 games and in a hitter's paradise when the pitching gets good. He gets the hometown butterflies done away with first, then travels with his new teammates for a stretch.

This is a win/win situation.

Update: Poster Bilko-420 added a link to the Angels' press release in the comments here, noting that the club placed Juan Rivera on the 60-Day Disabled list, allowing them to promote Wood without deleting anyone from the 40-Man Roster.