2009 Angels Compared to 2009 A's

by Rev Halofan on Jan 3, 2008 11:31 PM PST in Angels News

Seeing as Billy Beane has seemingly surrendered the 2008 season, it is never too early to see how the 2009 Angels stack up against the 2009 Athletics. By examining the current DEPTH CHARTS of each team, and then adding into any holes the current top rated prospects, we get a cursory glimpse of what may approximate each team, assuming no contract extensions to free agents and barring any more radical shakeups to the makeups.

GONE...
ANGELS: Anderson, Garland, Frankie, Figgins, Rivera, Oliver, Quinlan
ATHLETICS: Ellis, Kotsay, Calero, Duchscherer, Melhuse

OUTFIELD (aka Age versus Beauty)
ANGELS:
RF: Vlad
CF: Torii Hunter
LF: Gary Matthews
OF BENCH: Reggie Willits, Nathan Haynes

ATHLETICS:
RF: Travis Buck
CF: Carlos Gonzalez
LF: Ryan Sweeney
OF BENCH: Chris Denorfia

INFIELD (aka Our Leather versus their Weathered)
ANGELS:
1B: Casey Kotchman
2B: Howie Kendrick
SS: Erick Aybar
3B: Maicer Izturis
IF BENCH: Morales, Wood

ATHLETICS:
1B: Daric Barton
2B: Donnie Murphy
SS: Bobby Crosby
3B: Eric Chavez
IF BENCH: Dan Johnson

CATCHERS (aka Solid versus Squalid)
ANGELS:
Mike Napoli, Jeff Mathis, Ryan Budde

ATHLETICS:
Kurt Suzuki, Robert Bowen

DESIGNATED HITTER (aka Apostles versus Cust)
ANGELS: Rotates
ATHLETICS: Jack Cust

STARTERS (aka Proven versus Possible)
ANGELS:
Lackey, Escobar, Weaver, Saunders, E. Santana
6TH STARTER: Nick Adenhart

ATHLETICS:
Joe Blanton, Rich Harden, Chad Gaudin, Gio Gonzalez, Brett Anderson
6TH STARTER: Aaron Poreda

BULLPEN (aka Prayer versus Wing)
ANGELS:
Shields, Speier, Bootcheck, Moseley, Bulger, Rich Thompson

ATHLETICS:
Street, Embree, Casilla, Flores, Lugo, Meyer, Blevins

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Who knows

who Beane will trade in the next two months, let alone between now and March, 2009.

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Jan 4, 2008 12:07 AM PST reply actions

i think

the idea of figgins being gone to free agency(entirely possible and likely) should only be more reason to give aybar a shot to develop. If aybar can turn into our base stealing speed guy who can play short, second and outfield, havent we effectively replaced chone?

by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 4, 2008 1:52 AM PST reply actions

You think..............

they're going to dispose of both Rivera and Evans? Interesting...........

.....And you think Wood will be on our bench with Izuris playing 3B?

OK,....OK. Time for deep thought is short this time of morning.

by wumbug on Jan 4, 2008 3:40 AM PST reply actions

Just going by their depth chart

The team itself advertises the present and fututre thusly...

by Rev Halofan on Jan 4, 2008 10:25 AM PST up reply actions

World Series Title?!

Hall of Fame writer picks the Angels to win the World Series next season!

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/04/q-a-tracy-ringolsby-of-the-rocky-mountain-news/

by ET90210 on Jan 4, 2008 8:36 AM PST reply actions

Very interesting

I hope he is right

legen... wait for it... dary

by thebigA on Jan 4, 2008 12:38 PM PST up reply actions

More like...

2009:

1B Kotchman
2B Kendrick
SS Wood
3B Figgins or Izturis or FA signing
LF Dunn
CF Hunter
RF Rivera
DH Vlad
C Napoli

Lackey, Escobar, Weaver, Adenhart and Saunders with Santana in the pen

Once GA's, Garland's, and Oliver's contracts expire, and if we don't resign K-Rod or Figgins, the Angels will have a lot of money to spend, and what better way to do that than replace GA with Dunn?

If GMJ isn't traded (I think he will be), he'll be benched.

As for the A's...

you have to assume Blanton will get traded, since there's no reason to hold on him. Harden will either be traded or injured, and his contract expires after 2008, although there's a club option for 2009. Chavez will also most likely get traded.

1B Barton
2B Murphy
SS Crosby
3B Hannahan
LF Sweeney
CF Gonzalez
RF Buck
DH Cust
C Suzuki

Gaudin, DiNardo, Duchscherer, Gonzalez and Windsor/Meyer.

...The A's in 2009? Don't have a prayer.

by Angels on Jan 4, 2008 9:26 AM PST reply actions

well

i can only say i hope thats not our 2009 lineup.

adam dunn isnt coming here. hes slow and plays bad defense. hes a DH and vlad is our slow/poor defending DH. sorry, but no.

for a team that is built on speed, running 1st to 3rd and being aggressive, your projected lineup seems to have a complete lack of speed. As in none. at all. if figgins is gone and izturis continues to no longer be a speed threat, whos running our bases? adam dunn, vlad, a 34 year old torii hunter, mike napoli, and casey kotchman? no thanks.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 4, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions

The only reason...

We were built on speed is because that's how the Angels used to manufacture runs.

As for Figgins, I agree, I wouldn't get rid of him, since he's our table setter and makes things happen. That's why I put him there.

As for Dunn being slow and playing bad defense, well, he'd replacing GA, not a GG calibre defender. He would also be adding a lot to our offense.

1B Kotchman
2B Kendrick
SS Wood
3B Figgins
LF Dunn
CF Hunter
RF Rivera
DH Guerrero
C Napoli

Figgins could run, Kendrick could steal 20 bases, Hunter has averaged 20 SBs over the past 4 years, and here, he'll run even more. Wood could run. If the Angels want speed, they'll have it.

by Angels on Jan 4, 2008 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

dunn

200 strikeouts a year (in the National League no less) is helping our offense?? I dont agree, I think Dunn is a good player in a Batting Practice sort of way.

by lozan102 on Jan 4, 2008 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

I have said it 100 times on here

GA is the best LF at playing the left field line. He knows the dimension of the ballparks and how to play the ball down the lines. It's a game of angles. True, he's slower than most. But his arm isn't terrible. True, he can't fade on the ball like he used to. I know the gripe, he nevers hussles in on short fly balls and let's them drop... sometimes you have to sit back and enjoy the other aspects of his game. I'm telling you all, a hit down the line is rarely a double with GA out there. Plus, with Hunter in center, and GMJ in right... It will allow Hunter cheat toward LF a little bit helping GA, and allowing him to play a shallower LF than usual.

by matt92130 on Jan 4, 2008 3:01 PM PST up reply actions

Aybar's fast

But you're still right - not enough speed.

That brings up the question, as a manager, do you base your style of ball on the players you have, or do you make the players you have play your style of ball? What I'm saying is, it's always possible that we evolve into an A's style offense if all we have are slow guys. But that would mean guys like Howie, Napoli, and Aybar would have to learn how to take a pitch. Kotchman, Willits, and Vlad are already patient enough.

"Erstad says he's got it. Erstad makes the catch!..."

by Rally Manatee on Jan 4, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions

Brett Anderson

Is 19, and he's most likely not going to be ready in 2009, at 21. He's viewed as nothing more than a #3/#4 starter anyway.

If they don't sign Duchscherer, then they'll have to either sign someone to fill in or give the spot to Meyer, Windsor or whoever they find.

The A's are a mess and not even the most optimistic A's fan see's them contending in 2009.

by Angels on Jan 4, 2008 9:31 AM PST reply actions

Truthfully

I'd rather have Teixeira, but he plays 1B, and unless he wants to switch over to 3B, he's not an option.

by Angels on Jan 4, 2008 10:56 AM PST reply actions

I see

the angels resigning Garland. Unless he absolutely horrible, he is capable of being a 19 game winner and is a So Cal resident.

legen... wait for it... dary

by thebigA on Jan 4, 2008 12:44 PM PST reply actions

I see this happening as well

But I think they'll wait until closer to the break to see if he's eveything they traded for. I also believe he'll round back to form in terms of wins. The ERA has never woriied me, his ERA was better last year than it was in 2006 when he won 18.

I love this guy and can't wait to see him take the hill in Anaheim. I hope we resign him... the man is solid.

by matt92130 on Jan 4, 2008 2:53 PM PST up reply actions

KROD WILL NOT LEAVE!!!

You guys are wack for not wanting him just because he is going to command a big contract. He is a one of the top 3 closers in baseball and if shields takes over he'll be like top 15
RESIGN KROD!

by krod4ever on Jan 4, 2008 1:30 PM PST reply actions

Baseball is a business.

Businesses have budgets.

I don't think it's necessary or desireable that we become the Yankees or Red Sox. KRod is one of the top three or four, but if you've got a cheaper replacement, typically you use him. Stoneman left the team with three other possible closers on the 25-man roster (Shields, Speier, and Escobar) and one waiting for his chance (Bulger). I think they try to resign him if things are reasonable, but I can also see their trading him for that elusive power bat, especially if they're concerned about his leaving for free agency with nothing but a draft pick in return.......or if they're worried about his arm falling off.

KRod made me awfully nervous when he came in at the end of the season. Maybe it's just me.

by wumbug on Jan 4, 2008 2:58 PM PST up reply actions

He didn't make Manny Ramirez nervous

by Rev Halofan on Jan 4, 2008 3:02 PM PST up reply actions

The BIG HIT theory

Thats all I have to say About that.

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

by acuda27 on Jan 4, 2008 6:44 PM PST up reply actions

Escobar =/= reliever

Bulger is 29 and has yet to do anything in the majors (or, really, in AAA- last year he put up 3.65 ERA, 1.42 WHIP at Salt Lake in 50 innings). Shield and Speier though admittedly decent candidates, are on the wrong side of 30, while K-Rod will almost certainly break whatever record Hoffman eventually sets.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Jan 4, 2008 8:03 PM PST up reply actions

Konerko Trade?

Kinda surprised at this story, but I guess it makes sense.

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/04/angels-make-push-for-konerko/

by ET90210 on Jan 4, 2008 9:21 PM PST reply actions

Wow oh wow

Hope that is an innacurate rumor as it would be the dumbest thing ever.

by Rev Halofan on Jan 4, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions

Konerko Rumor

The site updated it. It looks like they are definitely talking. Horrible idea for the halos IMO.

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/05/more-on-the-konerko-to-la-rumor/

by em3 on Jan 5, 2008 8:30 AM PST reply actions

Figgy not a 09 FA

Why are people thinking figgy will be gone after next year? He is not a free agent for 2 more years. His current contract goes for only one more year, but he is still under Angel control for 2 yrs. Thus, he'll be arbitration eligible after next season -- if a new contract isn't signed.

by TTTT on Jan 5, 2008 8:31 AM PST reply actions

Good points.

by wumbug on Jan 5, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

Figgins

No, he is not a FA. No idea why people think that. Can see list here, at least for "top" free agents...

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/09-free-agents/

by ET90210 on Jan 5, 2008 12:09 PM PST reply actions

2009 A's

Doing only the expected moves, such as letting free agents go and dumping players with out roles on the team, such as Dan Johnson, but not predicting any trades, this is probably what the A's will look like in 2009.

C1 Kurt Suzuki
1B Daric Barton
2B Donnie Murphy
3B Eric Chavez
SS Gregorio Petit
LF Travis Buck
RF Carlos Gonzalez
CF Aaron Cunningham
DH Jack Cust

C2 Rob Bowen (or Landon Powell)
3B Jack Hanahan
SS Bobby Crosby
CF Chris Denorfia

SP Joe Blanton
SP Rich Harden
SP Chad Gaudin
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP Dana Eveland

CL Huston Street
RP Alan Embree
RP Andrew Brown
RP Santiago Casilla
RP Jeremey Blevins
RP Dan Meyer
RP Greg Smith

by Zonis on Jan 5, 2008 7:25 PM PST reply actions