Season 15% Gone - 15 Questions

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 10:05 PM PDT in Angels News

1. IF Garret Anderson's hip flexor is a problem, do the Angels DL him, bring up Figgins and keep Brandon Wood on the bench instead of in every game - most would agree that an unseasoned Wood needs to playing every day...

2. Maicer Izturis left the game today with a tight hamstring...
IF Mice Tits is down, then the starting infield this week is Figgy/Cabby/Aybar/Kotch with Quinlan, Hillenbrand and Wood on the bench. Tommy Murphy is in AAA limbo for another week, as is Kendry Morlaes, so the likely replacement is Nick Gorneault or calling up Curtis Pride from his coaching internship as an outfielder at AA Arkansas...

3. With the Jered Weaver situation apparently settled, the question of Ervin Santana's shelf-life may be the next conundrum facing the Angels' brain trust - with Joe Saunders proving he is a #5 Angel Starter and competition in Moseley, Bootcheck and Carrasco safely placed in bullpen niches, the future of the Halo's Black Magic may soon sully an otherwise sublime Anaheim...

4. How much Mathis-free rope will Mike Napoli be given to hang himself? Is Jose Molina traded by June or will mike swap seats with Jeff on the Slat Lake Shuttle?

5. Gary Matthews has quietly come alive, but no player has performed Mike Scioscia baseball more flawlessly than did Reggie Willits today - and Mike answered the call in getting ejected after arguing an awful call of Willits having tagged up and scored on a sac fly. Were Shea Hillenbrand not in the way, a DH rotation of Anderson and Guerrero would benefit the team health and rest wise while getting Bang-Bang Willits onto the field and into the lineup.

6. On July 31, Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana were almost traded for Miguel Tejada. Ignoring the meddlings of Peter Angelos, would or could that trade still happen right now?

7. Is Kendry Morales getting seasoned for another season in AAA or is he playing every day to attract a trade? And why would they trade a developing bat?

8. Is more playing time the answer to the Robb Quinlan crisis or is any playing time the manifestation of this crisis?

9. Will, at any point in the season, the order of Speier/Shields/Frankie be shuffled?

10. If Figgins is a disaster how many ABs does he get anyway?

11. Will Hillenbrand be a starter on the Angels after the 4th of July?

12. What Would Ebel Do?

13. Is Bud Black missed?

14. Is Orlando Cabrera the Latino Darin Erstad? He is getting the reputation as being the clubhouse glue and chemistry guy, he is a presence defensively and a scrappy, low-average hitter...

15. Are the shakes at the stadium Ruby's a hundred times better than last season's non-dairy helmet sundaes, or one million times better?

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Figgins and Wood

Figgins is already up. Wood is already down. Happened after today's game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270429104

by LA Seitz on Apr 29, 2007 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

I'll wade into the pool ...

Wood should be playing everyday in triple A; He's not ready for the major leagues and he shouldn't be rushed or have his development hindered by playing sporadically for the Angels. Figgins is by all acounts close to being ready and GA remains day to day.
I love Pride, but the call should go to Murhphy. We need a reserve outfielder and Murphy is the best choice.
Santana will only leave the Angels if he lands us a big bat. It's too early in the season to talk about trades, so Saunders will be in SLC indefinetly.
Napoli has at least another month or two before we start thinking about removing him for Mathis. Molina is not going anywhere. He is a higly serviceable back up catcher. I just wish the guy could hit.
I like Willits, but I would like him a lot more if he were a middle infielder. I love what he brings to the Angels, but the Halos need Shea's bat. It's far too early to talk about pulling the plug on Hillenbrand.
I would do the deal. Tejada still has plenty of bat left (and he's a damn good fielder) and we have the depth to absorb the loss of Aybar and Santana.
I think the Angels will hold on to Morales for at least one year as insurance for Kotchman. If Kotchman is the real deal then the Halos should trade Morales. I think Morales will be a good first baseman, but he lacks the power to be DH.
Quinlan is an invaluable reserve who will end up having a solid season.
I think Speier and Shields will rotate depending on health, work load, performance, etc. Frankie will always be the closer unless he gets hurt or needs a break.
Figgins a disaster? I can't imagine a scenario where he'll be a disaster. GA is our disaster.
Maybe. If Rivera comes back earlier than expected and has a strong rehab in SLC, and Shea is not getting it done, then yes.
Send him.
Yes. Black was an invaluable asset to the Angels and a class act. Of course he is missed. However, Butcher seems to be settling into his new role nicely.
Yes. Cabrera is a gamer. Not to mention a very smart ball player. And a solid bat, although his offensive skills are inadequate in an era where middle infielders hit 20 plus bombs a year.
I've never had a Ruby's shake. Are they good?

by Johnny Angel on Apr 29, 2007 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

Ruby's Shakes

Story of the season.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 29, 2007 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm intrigued

by this development

by Ty Webb on Apr 30, 2007 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions

those helmet sundays

with the little dip-n-dots pellets in them were/are Goddamn awful. I'm still waiting for Wahoo's Fish Tacos to open up in RF(wishful thinking)

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 29, 2007 11:42 PM PDT reply actions

The DOTS were COOL maybe ONCE

I almost barfed the 2nd time - and the soft-serve vanilla in the helmets had a chemical aftertaste - but that was before RUBYS arrived. WOOOT.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 30, 2007 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Fuck Wahoo's

when are we getting Rubio's? They've got it in Tempe.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Apr 30, 2007 1:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Blasphemer!

Wahoo's wins, hands down!

Help me out, and help raise money for the MS Society of OC http://www.ms150baytobay.com/sipperphoto

by sipperphoto on Apr 30, 2007 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

No Way

Rubio's all the way

by thebigA on Apr 30, 2007 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

My Beef

is the awful Carl's Junior... the joke being that McDonalds now advertises in the stadium!

by Rev Halofan on Apr 30, 2007 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm a traditionalist

Hot dogs or nothing. And a sushi-sized bottle of Sapporo Draft from the Beers of The World or whatever they call the bar behind home plate on the Sea View level now. And peanuts. And maybe a chocolate malt with the tasty flat wooden spoon.

I'm hungry!

Stoopnocracy is peachy

by rspencer on Apr 30, 2007 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

figgins

figgins' performance will decide who stays and who goes.

by yeswecan on Apr 30, 2007 1:27 AM PDT reply actions

That answers 14 of them

and your answer to #15 is "beer"

by Rev Halofan on Apr 30, 2007 2:16 AM PDT up reply actions

good idea

i think they should serve beer in the little batting helmets.

by yeswecan on Apr 30, 2007 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions

That'll be $12 sir.

since 1961

by Chompo on Apr 30, 2007 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Question 9

Will, at any point in the season, the order of Speier/Shields/Frankie be shuffled?

I think that the it should be Shields/Speier/Frankie.

I dunno what it is, but Scoty has really taken over my K-Rod nerves. He has looked ineffective thus far.

by Erik121 on Apr 30, 2007 5:42 AM PDT reply actions

An additional question...

How serious in Kendrick's injury.? It hasn't gotten much play in the press, but an injury like that can nag and nag well after the player is re-inserted into the roster. If Howie's not the same player upon returning to action (though it's probably too early in his career to say definitively what kind of player he is or will be), then there will be additional pressure on Stoneman to make a move for a bat. Rev mentioned earlier this season that the pickings out there are slim, unless the Halos are willing to rent a high-priced player. All this is further complicated by the fact that the club would need an infielder who can hit since the outfield is more or less set, assuming the Escalade's injury is not serious. What are the potential trades they could make for more offense, even if Kendrick does come back strong? Your thoughts, please...

by Kenny Katella on Apr 30, 2007 8:09 AM PDT reply actions

Hand injuries are bad

but wrist injuries are worse. Howie, from everything I've read, should be fine when he returns, though there may be an early slump.

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

by scareduck on Apr 30, 2007 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Speier/Shields/Frankie

You don't touch that lineup. Shields is the man and it takes more than a couple of bad outings to change that. Let's let Speier be what he is, and Shields be what he is.

Hell, Romero even bailed us out of a jam at the beginning of '06 against Seattle. It is still April (barely), remember.

by thewebb on Apr 30, 2007 8:25 AM PDT reply actions

There may be a deal already in place.

Most teams will wait until their team is out of contention prior to the trade deadline to pull the trigger. It will involve Santana/Saunders, and will also depend on how healthy the rest of our rotation is at the time of the deadline.

by Wytelitning on Apr 30, 2007 8:45 AM PDT reply actions

Oh, baloney

Show me one single big midseason deal Bill Stoneman has ever pulled off. One.

He tinkers, he doesn't make wholesale readjustments.

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

by scareduck on Apr 30, 2007 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Haha, good point.

Maybe a little wishfull thinking on my part. Hillenbrand will probably begin to pick up his average and hit a few home runs allowig Stoneman to sit on his hands again.

I guess I'm counting on Moreno more than Stoneman.

by Wytelitning on Apr 30, 2007 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions

opd picks

i have to do my monday picks here cause i cant figure out how to do it elsewhere. vladdy, lackey, 2

by adirondakangelfan on Apr 30, 2007 9:44 AM PDT reply actions

The most interesting question in this list

is the Mathis/Napoli question. Mathis is quietly off to a very good start offensively at Salt Lake, hitting .303/.346/.461. He's still damned young, and may have just hit a hiccup on his way to the majors. If he can continue to hit down there, the Angels may not have a real choice but to call him up, especially if Napoli continues to post lines like .208/.296/.354.

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

by scareduck on Apr 30, 2007 9:49 AM PDT reply actions

At SLC

There's nothing really impressive about hitting .303/.346/.461.

That .303 becomes .250 in the show, and without walks or much power. Mathis doesn't have a track record of doing anything better than that either.

I guess that's better than what Napoli's hit so far, but I think we need to stick with Napoli a good while longer.

If I went to war and could only take one weapon, it would be an HK47.

by RallyMonkey5 on Apr 30, 2007 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Pride

Wait Rev, why do you say "coaching internship" when talking about Pride? Think he's coaching material?

by Carl Johnson on Apr 30, 2007 10:50 AM PDT reply actions

He was sent to Double A

for specifically that reason - play and learn to coach...

by Rev Halofan on Apr 30, 2007 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Good points

I think Dino stays

Bud is defineately missed but you cannot fault him for wanting to manage.

I wonder why Wing & Co. has not set up a Wahoo's at the Big A. He is a big supporter of the Angels and Salmon's charities. For me, I prefer the fish there to Rubio's. No deep frying at Wahoo's = more beers of the month.

It is way overdue Arte. #5 needs to be retired by the Angels.

by BrianDowningFan on Apr 30, 2007 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

Bring Saunders Up

and run with a six-man rotation...skipping any road starts for Ervin Santana...make sure Santana only starts at Angels Stadium.

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on Apr 30, 2007 1:43 PM PDT reply actions

I haven't tried their milkshakes.

I'm going to have to do that, and come back with a full report.

by bc56274 on Apr 30, 2007 4:26 PM PDT reply actions

give it another month

i think we need two months to fully evaluate where we stand, but it's basically what we all expected: the pitching is solid, and with Bart back, really even better than we thought.

The offense is as we thought too - still have a power shortage, especially at 3B. Nap has another month, Chone has two, Wood needs at least another month at AAA, and eventually we trade a combo of our surplus at SP, C, and infielders for a big bat.

one thing we can conclude though - Rob Neyer is wrong (Texas = 1st place in AL West). again. (he probably doesn't like Ruby's Shakes either.)

In 1st place at the end of April, so we are discussing the most prominent issues - the merits of Rubio's vs. Wahoo's, and ice cream.

by rbrianc on Apr 30, 2007 6:52 PM PDT reply actions

No Mo Nap

Napoli needs more AAA seasoning; he's become the offensive equivalent of Rob Deer -- without the HRs. Defensively, the guy can't throw out anyone to save his life.

Bring back Jose Molina to 1st string status. I'd gladly put up with some offensive mediocrity (or a little bit below that) for that superior defensive game of his.

R.I.P. Mike Penner

by PieceOfAase on May 1, 2007 12:43 AM PDT reply actions