What should we do about 3B?

by elricsi on May 26, 2007 2:45 PM PDT

It looks like the one position that is a mess for us is the hot corner. Everywhere else we have something going on at least. The Angels are 30 out of 30 in OPS by their 3rd basemen, more than 100 points behind the 29th place Dodgers.

It looks like Wood is about a year away from being MLB ready, Lord knows when D-Mac will ever be healthy, Figgins has completely forgotten how to hit, and Izturis is good for a utility infielder.

To give us some background I figure I would post a list of the 14 3rd sackers with a weighted OPS of over 800 over the last 3 seasons. (Triple weight for 2007, double weight for 2006, single weight for 2005):

1003 Chipper Jones
981 Alex Rodriguez
974 Miguel Cabrera
913 Aramis Ramirez
892 David Wright
884 Troy Glaus
856 Morgan Ensberg
847 Garrett Atkins
844 Chad Tracy
823 Wes Helms
816 Mike Lowell
814 Casey Blake
808 Scott Rolen
801 Mike Lamb

That is not park or league adjusted obviously.

It seems like a bunch of those guys are gettable in trade at least.

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...trading deadline...

Figgins and Moseley for Ensberg. I would prefere Mike Lowell.

by Rev Halofan on May 26, 2007 2:50 PM PDT reply actions

He's platooning

He's not even an everyday player for the Astros at this point. I would think he could be had for Figgins alone.

by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on May 26, 2007 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

That should tell you something

That and the .230 average since the start of the 2006 season in a hitter friendly park no less.

Q's my man over Ensberg. Besides I don't think I can root for anyone named Morgan.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on May 26, 2007 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

dudes

From 2004-2006 Ensberg has a 925 OPS at home and only 791 on the road, so he would probably only be passable at best now.

What about Wes Helms, not a big name, but how hard can he be to get?

Keep in mind almost anyone would be a huge improvement.

by elricsi on May 26, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry LOL

Helms is a complete mess at the plate. His OBP is a whopping .315.

by CaLiKrAzY on May 26, 2007 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow

Helms has 0 homers this year in 131 ABs and is a career .267/.329/.437 hitter.

We need a difference maker not somebody who would do worse than Izzy.

by CaLiKrAzY on May 26, 2007 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Passable at best

does it for me. Its an improvement.

Difference between Ensberg and Helsm is Morgan can play 3B, Helms is a butcher. If nothing else we get a glove out of the spot.

Plus he should be able to hit .240/.350/.450 or so.

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

by RallyMonkey5 on May 27, 2007 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I have to think

they DL him when GA comes back if he is not hitting by then.

by higdog on May 26, 2007 3:24 PM PDT reply actions

The list

The first 5 guys are virtually "un-gettable".

Everybody else below Glaus with the exception of Lowell is having a shit year, or just plain sucks save for maybe Blake who is won't be moved unless the Indians are out of the race. Considering they have a better record than the Angels, I doubt that will happen.

Lowell is highly unlikely since Boston has the best record in baseball and Mr. "Throw in on the Beckett deal" Lowell seems to like Fenway just fine.

That leaves us with Glaus. Bill has shown the lack of will to make a big trade. Anyone who thinks that when/if he finally does, that said trade will essentially double as a mea culpa is delirious.

I don't see any help coming at 3rd sack.

I'd rather give Q the gig everyday.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on May 26, 2007 3:30 PM PDT reply actions

I like Izzy more!!!!

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on May 26, 2007 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Ill take Matthew Brown or Izzy over Q

Cuz we aint makin no trades.

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on May 26, 2007 4:10 PM PDT reply actions

It is easily apparent

that you are not actually an Angel fan.

You sir are a Bees/Travs fan only.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on May 27, 2007 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions

If at all possible...

Buy low on Atkins. He's a good young player, and shouldn't cost too much if we do indeed buy low.

If that doesn't work, I'd like to see an in-house platoon of Aybar and Quinlan. Quinlan rips lefties, and at least the AB's vs. a righty won't be wasted at-bats, as they will be giving Aybar more experience.

by iLoveLamp on May 26, 2007 5:06 PM PDT reply actions

I like that platoon

Quinbar at 3B

by Rev Halofan on May 26, 2007 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Atkins

would be hard to get.

by Pwn on May 27, 2007 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Get used to what we have

As long as we are in a position to win the division, Stoneman won't do a thing.

by thejd on May 26, 2007 5:21 PM PDT reply actions

Sounds good to me.

by wumbug on May 26, 2007 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions

figgy

at 3B is like :0...

by CaLiKrAzY on May 26, 2007 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions

The Angels

have Figgins sewn on their luggage.

by higdog on May 26, 2007 9:40 PM PDT reply actions

Can Willits

Learn to play 3rd? It's a pipe dream, but if not, and we can't get Glaus in a good deal, Izzy and Q will have to do.

by LosAngel on May 26, 2007 10:08 PM PDT reply actions

Q full time

is still the best option!

Stop swinging at balls out of the zone!

by K3YEROUT on May 27, 2007 2:44 PM PDT reply actions

Aramis smells good.

Convince the cubs that they suck and that they don't need to carry his salary.

Teach Kendry to play third.

Teach Howie to play third and get BJ. Upton.

Trade figgins and wood and izzy and oliver for Glaus.

by melvintoast on May 27, 2007 7:02 PM PDT reply actions

Some viable suggestions all around

after all third ain't short - wasn't it Johnny Bench (and/or Charlie Hustle?) that made the transition, so why not Reggie, Kendry or HK? (that said, I have never been comfortable with Figgy in my infield)

by OitsJack on May 27, 2007 8:28 PM PDT reply actions

Johnny Bench was horrendous at 3B

by mattwelch on May 28, 2007 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Sadly, the more I think about it

The more A-Rod seems to fit. Whats the over-under on a Yankee fire sale?

I tell you what... we're one big bat away from being serious World Series contenders.

by melvintoast on May 27, 2007 9:16 PM PDT reply actions

One big bat away....

Thankfully Juan Rivera is due back in July (giving us one big bat). I doubt we get A-Rod, though I wish we would.

by DChalofan on May 28, 2007 6:07 AM PDT up reply actions

hey

how do you guys feel about a package of Molina+Colon+ B Wood for glaus. this seems to be the most generous offer we can give right now if the rumors about moving glaus are true

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlTvSUCCqPo

by ANewFoundThrice on May 28, 2007 3:17 AM PDT reply actions

sounds like

an excellent deal for Toronto.

I don't know about you but we need Colon (especially if Santana will continue to have problems on the road) and I kind of wanna see what Wood can do.

by CaLiKrAzY on May 28, 2007 6:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Trading Colon doesn't make sense

If Santana doesn't improve then we've got Saunders and Moseley starting with Carrasco for spot starts. Is that something we want to see?

by melvintoast on May 28, 2007 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions

I think Wood is detined to get a REAL shot

on the Angels' team; I don't think there is any way they trade him.

Having said that, I think ultimately, he will be playing shortstop, not third base. I do not believe that the Angels are committed to the 3B route.

There's a reason that Dallas McPherson and Matt Brown are on the 40-man roster: The Angels haven't totally given up on DMac, and are probably intrigued with the versatility and talent of Brown. I can envision a true 3-way "competition" for the 3B job next spring; A competition that did not occur when Stoneman and Scioscia "gave" the job to DMac in '05.

None of that helps us now regarding Figgins. Probably, Stoneman will bide his time until someone makes him an offer he can't refuse. I don't think he's going to waste major talent on anything less than a major acquisition.

by wumbug on May 29, 2007 7:36 AM PDT up reply actions