Angels # 1 ESPN power rankings

by AngelKeith on Jun 15, 2007 9:45 AM PDT

The Angels finally made it to #1 on their power rankings, lets hope they don't do what the Padres did when they took over the #1 spot last week. Lets go out and sweep the Dodgers!! I an not too excited about interleague play really but I like how the Angels are handling the weak NL.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking?week=11

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Ok it;s ESPN not CBS

Sorry I thought I was ob CBS it's ESPN, anyway they are #1 now

by AngelKeith on Jun 15, 2007 9:43 AM PDT reply actions

i fixed the headline for you!

by Rev Halofan on Jun 15, 2007 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

What's the point of power rankings if

they put up 3 teams in the last 3 weeks? Seems to me that power rankings should be at least short-term predictive vs. being strictly backward looking.

BTW ESPNs power rankings aren't even accurate in terms of backwards looking either.

by melvintoast on Jun 15, 2007 12:35 PM PDT reply actions

Just for fun

Can we keep this fire alive?

More Angels Notes
The Angels are reportedly interested in obtaining Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada. Last July, the teams agreed to a deal that would have sent Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana to Baltimore, but Orioles owner Peter Angelos nixed it.

by Bilko 420 on Jun 15, 2007 12:35 PM PDT reply actions

No thank you

The price for his .780 OPS would be exorbitant and he (or OC) would have to play out position.

I'd rather go with a Figgy/Q platoon and keep our prospects.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Pull the trigger!

A shortstop with an overhand gun for a throwing arm can surely play 3B without too much adjustment (and with the help of Alfredo Griffin). That .780 won't last (it's probably gone up 100 points in the past few weeks alone), and we can finally have some power and dependability from the 3B position, the team's biggest ongoing lack.

And though I don't want to trade Santana, we've got some surplus -- Figgins, either Aybar or Izturis, Moseley, Colon, Hillendouche, D-Mac, Molina or Mathis, Wood or Sean Rodriguez, etc.

Imagine this lineup:

LF Willits
SS O-Cab
RF Vladdy
3B Tejada
CF Matthews
1B Kotchman
DH G.A./Quinlan
C Napoli
2B Kendrick

Suddenly, for the first time since 2000, you've got potential 20-homer power at 7 positions. Plus, solid-to-terrific defense everywhere except RF. That's a lineup worth pursuing.

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I seem to remember....

hearing that Tejada wouldn't be willing to switch to third. Which means Cabrera would likely be included in the trade, and I am totally against that.

by NPCody on Jun 15, 2007 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

We don't do the deal unless he switches

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions

And he's more incentivized to switch

After another year of suckiness, and the Angels so obviously being a contending team from here on out.

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions

No...

OC said he would be happy to switch positions if necessary.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Jun 15, 2007 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions

That wouldn't be a good move

OC has good range and soft hands. Tejada has an arm and limited range.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

sounds good to me

by thewebb on Jun 17, 2007 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions

420 SLG%

Is tits. Totally worth future Santana and future aybar.

He also said he would not switch positions mid year. For fear of embarassing himself.

OC was not wild about moving either. I really would not want to piss OC off right now. He is rolling.

B-12 can stay in Baltimore. Furthermore their owner is a prick and he killed the deal once already.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions

It's also "bullshit"

No way in hell Tejada finishes the season that low.

His previous eight seasons:
.479
.476
.508
.472
.534
.515
.498

Smart GMs buy low, sell high. Tejada (and Baltimore) are pretty damned low right now, but he's certain to rebound.

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Okay so you:

Piss off OC and put a below average defender at short. That sounds like a good idea.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

No, I put Tejada at 3B, like I said, repeatedly

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions

You may puty him there but he won't go

"I don't want to go anywhere to play third if they have nobody else to play third base because it's a position that I've never played," he said. "I want to play shortstop because that's the position that I've always played. I don't want to be [at shortstop] all year and then play third base.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

If we're gonna pull out old quotes

I kinda like this one better:

"It only makes sense if owner Arte Moreno is calling the shots, because he has always liked Tejada and, in fact, was seen having a beer with him at an Anaheim restaurant the year he became a free agent."

by Bilko 420 on Jun 15, 2007 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Point being?

We did not sign him.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Point being

Moreno has always liked Tejada, and enjoys drinking beer.

by Bilko 420 on Jun 15, 2007 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm surprised by your attraction to this scenario

I normally agree with your analyses. I don't here however.

To me Tejada is in decline. A fairly subtle decline but a decline nonetheless. It seems to be most apparent in the very power categories you so covet in your analysis above (and rightly so).

He's only on pace for 17 HRs this year which if it continues, would mark the 3rd straight year of decline in both HRs and Slugging. Again, it's statistically small when only including the past 2 seasons but his numbers so far in 2007 make the possibility of said power decline being real and significant all the more likely.

As for his raising his OPS 100 points in recent weeks, how could that be given that he's produced a .753 OPS so far for June after a .736 May?

There is simply no way I'd trade a prospect the caliber of Wood for 1.5 years of the current Tejada despite Brandon's struggles in AAA. If he could be had for Figgins/Aybar/Moseley then I'd do it in a heartbeat but after turning down Santana/Aybar last season I don't see the Mad Greek giving that a thumbs up.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 1:58 PM PDT reply actions

This was supposed to be a response to Matt

But I'm too stupid to click the right spot.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Tejada in decline ...

... is a helluva better player than Chone Figgins at his peak. Chone's career high in OPS+ is 103; Tejada's rate so far this year of 108 (which he will certainly improve upon) marks his lowest since 1999.

And though his power numbers are down, I'm not sure I buy his numbers as being in that serious a "decline." His best year, OPS+-wise, was 2005; his second-best years were 2006 and 2004. He had career highs in batting average and OBP last year, with 71 extra-base hits.

He's been a top-20 MVP finisher the previous seven seasons, an All-Star the previous four, he's as durable as anyone in the game, and he's only 31.

AND THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THIS: Barring a terrible trade of current MLB talent (which I don't think Stoneman would make), Tejada even at his current level would make us the World Series favorites FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

We have two things in abundance -- money, and prospects. We have one glaring hole -- power and consistency from the third base position.

As for the Mad Greek, he's more desperate than ever right now, yet has a good young Mazzone-led rotation & Nick Markakis to build on. What they need is a drastic infusion of young position-player talent, and to change an atmosphere in which their best & most expensive player is obviously disgruntled.

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

It is a shame

Tejada does not play third............

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Strong argument no doubt

He would most definitely improve this team's postseason chances this year and next if he does indeed improve on his power numbers.

The aforementioned top OPS+ years of 04-06 show him being a better 1st half hitter though. He hit 51 homers pre All-Star and only 33 post All-Star while seeing his OPS drop .52 points. How much of that is attributable to a decline in motivation being on mediocre to lousy teams with no postseason chances is anyone's guess.

He obviously would fit in well in the clubhouse being arguably the most popular of all the Dominican players both within that particular ethnic segment and also league-wide.

I would welcome him for sure but I draw the line at Wood or Adenhart's inclusion. It would likely take one or both to get it done. Maybe we can get Figgins to legally change his name to Figginsopolous.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Adenhart

Is from Williamsport. Angelos has been rumored to have his eye on him for awhile.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Sweet

DarkAngel concedes "strong argument".

by Bilko 420 on Jun 15, 2007 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions

If Wood is no longer a shortsop

Then he's expendable. Especially in exchange for a guy at the same position, who we know can successfully hit major league pitching, and beginning now, instead of two years from now.

Adenhart would be tough to swallow, true, but young pitchers are brittle & we've got a Lackey-Weaver-Santana-Escobar-Saunders rotation all locked up for at least, what, the next three years?

Think of it this way -- Tejada solves the last big problem. The only other real issue, roster-wise, is the back end of the bullpen, and that will improve once we call up Bulger, kick Oliver to the curb, and get Speier back (if ever). With Tejada, you've got an outstanding set lineup for the next two years, and a fine opportunity to improve upon it after 2008, when you let G.A. & O-Cab go.

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Wood is no longer a shortstop

due to the hole on the big club. There's no reason he couldn't move back to his left next season. He definitely seems to need AAA seasoning for at least another year which would time his ascension to take OC's place after his F/A post 2008.

I'd be more amenable to Adenhart than Wood for the reason you describe above. The strongest argument in your favor would be taking advantage of the 2007/2008 window and what's left of Vlad's prime. That's not an insignificant concern.

Alright, you sold me on Adenhart/Aybar/Figgins. No Richard Wood though.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

At AAA

He is the starting Shortstop.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

He's been playing both

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Not recently.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh yeah?

Try earlier this week.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Brown got a day off big deal.

He is predominantly playing short. Meaning that Matt's assertion that he a third baseman is incorrect.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Jun 15, 2007 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

In 13 June games

he's played 3b 4 times, DH'd once, sat twice, and played SS the rest.

I think that qualifies as playing both.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Jun 15, 2007 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I made no such assertion

Meaning that Matt's assertion that he a third baseman is incorrect.

What I said was, "If Wood is no longer a shortsop." Meaning that I don't know what the club's plans/beliefs are currently about where he projects, and if indeed they've decided that either Aybar or Mice-Tits is the future at that position, then he's expendable.

by mattwelch on Jun 15, 2007 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions