Now Accepting Applications for Big League SS

by Angel Aviator on Jan 16, 2008 1:50 AM PST Comment 22 comments

So as time ticks away, and we all sit waiting for pitchers and catchers to report one questions still remains. When will the Angels have a shortstop ready to report for spring training that is able to play a solid defense for 150+ games, and contribute to the offense?

As it stands right now the Angels currently have no proven everyday big league shortstop. What they have now is nothing that would make anyone jump that's for sure. Sure the club has 4 players that have played there before, but none that have truly shown the ability to play the position with any consistence.

Some might argue that the club has Aybar to play the position, and talk about how Scioscia has a love for Aybar, but that will quickly sour when the player is kicking balls around the infield turning the most routine plays into errors (.913 FP). When you look at his defensive numbers last year they are awful. Not to mention there is no way he will ever make up for his lack of defense because he wheels some sort of wonderful bat. This is the guy that hit a robust .237/.279/.289 in 2007 and has shown it isn't a fluke by hitting .252/.288/.338 this winter. As for those that have attacked his base running ability, don't fear. After all one has to reach base in order to steal a bag.

Of course there is nothing to worry about because if he fails us then there is always M. Izturis who has played a total of 65 games at SS (.955 FP) in his 4 years in the big leagues. Who knows maybe he would have played more, but with the problematic hamstring injury he seems to always be battling and the fact that we need his power at 3rd we have not seen him play a lot of SS.

I know there is always B. Wood the savor of the franchise and the player that the club has often refused to trade that can jump in and play SS. In all honesty this might be the one that can fill the position and one day be a solid big league SS that has some offensive potential. 13 games in the show and 3 games at SS is a small sample size I know, but he has the most upside. It's going to be tough though for him to make us all forget the solid SS that played there the last 3 years winning a golden glove last year. Plus let us not forget this is the same guy that was taken off his winter league team's roster this off season when he managed to hit .171/.275/.171 while playing 3rd.

Some may say there is always Figgins to play the position, and that's true. Thing about Figgins he has only 27 games played at SS (.952 FP) in his 6 years in the big leagues and just 46 games at SS (.924 FP) in the minors. Of course if Figgins is playing SS then there is now that 3rd base problem.

Bottom line here is there is a serious issue at SS that the Angels need to take care of and it scares me, and should scare other Angel fans as well. After all we know "Who" is on first, and "Whats" on second, "I don't know" is at 3rd, "Why" we have so many outfielders, we have more centerfielder's `Because" we acquired one through free agency, we have the pitchers for "Tomorrow", and today's "catcher" is one of 2, but I give a darn about shortstop.

Poll

Opening Day SS

Chone Figgins

3 votes

Maicer Izturis

41 votes

Erick Aybar

24 votes

Brandon Wood

17 votes

Acquire through trade

5 votes

90 votes | Poll has closed

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

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

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Comments

They will go with Aybar for at least a month...

...and if he is batting under .230 on May 1, they will stopgap it with Izzy unless Brandon Wood is tearing the cover off the ball in AAA...

by Rev Halofan on Jan 16, 2008 1:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

my thoughts exactly

unless there is an injury, aybar will most likely start at short with izzy playing utility back up, but an injury to figgy or HK could completely throw off these plans

"Water DiSar's Garden"

by Sorbo182 on Jan 16, 2008 2:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i think aybar has a ton of promise but...

his wild style scares me. on the basepaths and in the field. he's committed 17 errors in 35 games in the dominican winter league. if they can reign him in a bit and play a little more controlled then i'm sold until then his wild style doesn't compensate for his promise.

by thejd on Jan 16, 2008 8:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping

Brandon Wood has the kind of spring training that makes it impossible not to start him. May as well throw him out there for a month. Couldn't be any worse than Aybar.

by Chris Knapps Sac on Jan 16, 2008 9:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

give me

aybar through at least may. he'll be playing a lot either way when izturis eventually gets hurt so we might as well try to get him in a rhythm right off the bat

by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 16, 2008 10:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

as long as hes healthy

the job should go to Izturis. If given a full season worth of ab's I'll bet any of you his numbers will be better than Cabrera's next year (at least Izzy knows how to take a pitch). Yeah, hes been snakebit with injuries, but when he plays he produces. Aybar should do nothing but carry the jocks' of the rest of the infield. Of course we all know he'll probably get the starting job...

by dmhead on Jan 16, 2008 10:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

youre

entitled to your opinion on aybar, one that clearly a lot of people share, but I just have to wonder what people would think of izturis when he was 23/24 years old. Im not saying aybar is a lock to be a great player, but he at least needs a fair shot to develop before everyone writes him off. If hes not only being considered to compete with izturis, but is the penciled in starter, so clearly the organization knows things that most fans dont about what hes capable of.

Ive said it before, but i pity brandon wood if he hits around .200 in his first 200 or so patchy ABs because everyone here will be screaming for rob quinlan. Or if nick adenhart starts his career 0-5, we'll want him to be demoted to mop up with moseley taking his place.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 16, 2008 10:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

BIG difference

Maicer wasn't being handed a starting position at 23 or 24, hence no one complained.

I for one do not want to have to watch Aybar go through big league puberty as a starter for my team. Maicer did it as a sub, and it's clear he can hit. Let Aybar do the same. To me, that's a fair enough shot.

Vote Izturis in 08.

by Higz on Jan 16, 2008 12:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ya but then again Maicer didnt have a BEST FRIEND

Named Vladimir Guerrero to guide him through his first full year in the bigs as a starter.

I say give the Kid a shot. I know he cant hit too good but mabye Haynes and Vlad can give him some pointers that will get him to .260 by the end of the first month.

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

by acuda27 on Jan 16, 2008 12:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't follow.

Why does Aybar have to be a starter in order to learn from Vlad?

Looks to me that the only advice of Vlad's that Erick has heeded thus far is baserunning advice.

by Higz on Jan 16, 2008 12:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

don't forget hairstyles

by autrys cowboys on Jan 16, 2008 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

touche

by Higz on Jan 16, 2008 12:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ouch

screaming for Quinlan? The guy seems like a great personality, but let us hope '08 does not have us screaming for him....otherwise, we will have a lot bigger problems going on than B. Wood hitting .200.

by autrys cowboys on Jan 16, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry

but shortstop on a contending club is far too important to entrust a starting job to someone as wreckless as Aybar. He has shown nothing since his very early minor league days that says he is going to be even an average big leaguer in any regard. Nefi Perez, anyone? OK, I'm sure hes not as bad as we've seen so far, but Izturis is obviously more polished at this point and would help the team net more wins. This is not a rebuilding club. If they were out of contention, sure, start Aybar and see if his tools can eventually catch up to the big leagues. Until then, start the guy you know will contribute the most, on both sides of the ball.

by dmhead on Jan 16, 2008 12:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank You

This is my whole point. SS is a valuable position, and often plays pivotal in a teams success.

If the Angels were in the rebuilding stage then maybe you could afford to play Aybar, but that isn't the case.

by Angel Aviator on Jan 16, 2008 4:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not all that concerned about Aybar...

It seems that alot of you have already handed him the starting job. All of us, including the coaching staff, will have ample time during spring to evaluate every option before making a decision opening day.

by Wytelitning on Jan 16, 2008 2:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

if only

Cowbell or Kotch could play third with any kind of glove whatsoever, we would have a ton of guys to play SS and wouldn't have to worry who plays SS. I would then give SS to figgy, and you have a great bench with Aybar and Izzy to back up Middle infield and Q backing up the corners... AHHHH if only

by Sinatrasratpack on Jan 16, 2008 3:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

true story

cowbell should be able to play third

legen... wait for it... dary

by thebigA on Jan 16, 2008 7:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

kotch CAN'T play third...

i'm an easy going guy but LEFT HANDED FIELDERS DO NOT PLAY THIRD BASE. the throw to first is going against their body. the last left handed fielder to play third was mike squires from the chicago white sox and that was about 20 years ago.

by thejd on Jan 16, 2008 7:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I understand

thats why the comment was titled 'if only' picture me tilting my head back and all of a sudden the screen gets blurry and you realize Sinatrasratpack is having a daydream.... Into a magical world where GMJ has accepted a trade elsewhere, where K-Rod started using the throwing motion fro the 2002 seaason (look it up he has changed his delivery) where Aybar is in AAA still working out the kinks and where GA has announced his retirement and will become along with Tim Salmon the roving hitting instructor for the minor league guys, AND where Kotch is at first and Kendry is at 3rd, rivera is playing left and right when Vladdy needs to DH and willits fills in when needed. Where Torii is raoming in CF catching everything around him and where finally Boston's entire outfield has come down with a bad case of Montezumas revenge right before the playoffs.
Just daydream and relax... Maybe one of those things can come true

by Sinatrasratpack on Jan 16, 2008 8:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

Mike Squires also has the dubious honor of being the last left handed catcher. I know Don Mattingly played a left handed 3rd for 3 games in 1986.

Just some odd trivia follow up. By no means am I even trying to suggest the idea of a left hander playing any place but 1B/P/OF.

by Angel Aviator on Jan 16, 2008 10:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

what do we have to lose?

Wood should be given the job. Either SS or 3B with Figgy playing SS. Prospects aren't going to continue growth if you don't expose them to a consistent barrage of ML pitching. Yeah, he might hit .200 for April/May.....but he's obviously talented and should be able to adapt by mid-season. It's not like winning the AL West is going to be difficult, so deal with Wood's growing pains early and have him groomed for the postseason.

Neither Aybar or Izturis is going to give you much more than what you've already seen.

That's what she said?

by Gods Gift on Jan 16, 2008 8:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs