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Angels Re-Up Lackey and Vlad, Decline G.A.

Picpic_tiny by Rev Halofan on in News

Garret Anderson has had his club contract option for 2009 declined by the Angels. They will be paying hima $3 Million buyout. He is a free agent.

The Angels have picked up their options on John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero for the 2009 season. It is the final year under contract to the Angels for both players.

Anderson made his debut with the California Angels in 1995. John Lackey was the winning pitcher in the team's World Series clinching Game 7 in 2002. Vladimir Guerrero was the Most Valuable Player in the American League in 2004, only the 2nd Angel to win a league MVP.

Mildly important and somewhat impactful news... yeah?

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I'm Good with This...

this will free up some money to improve the team. I certainly hope an impact bat/player will arrive to make us forget about GA

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Oct 28, 2008 12:19 PM PDT   0 recs

i hope they extend both of these guys this winter

since john is a great pitcher to build a staff with and vladdy is getting those knees scooped which hopefully will equal better results for him (even though his last season numbers were nothing to whine about). I dont think anyone here reallllly wants to see GA go, he’s a career Angel. I’m hoping he just takes a pay cut and stays here to fill in when needed. We do have to build for the future, but its still sad to see guys like GA go.

by linkbruin on Oct 28, 2008 12:19 PM PDT   0 recs

I did.......

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 2:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

want GA to leave that is.

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 2:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

thats just hateful imo

i dont see the problem with him coming off the bench behind guys like morales and jr. and not batting against lefties. hes a lifelong angel, done great things with us, and i think there should be a place for him to retire here. i dont want him blocking our player development, but there should be places on the roster for guys like ga.

by linkbruin on Oct 28, 2008 10:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

that's because you're a fan and thinking with your heart

and not your head. there’s nothing wrong with that. at all. that’s what we’re here for.

but I think acuda is thinking with his head on this one.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 29, 2008 9:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

GA

if there was 26 players on a roster maybe. cmon unless we don’t sign another bat, after Tex leaves then yeah resign.

by HALO_86 on Oct 29, 2008 10:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ahh

you beat me to it because I had to come up with 75 words

"And the Anaheim Angels are the Champions of Baseball!"

by Grichfan on Oct 28, 2008 12:19 PM PDT   0 recs

surgery

and BIG DADDY had his left knee operatied on.
Beautiful start for 2009
I hope we re-sign GA to a smaller role.
I’d hate to see him somewhere else.

Angels World Series Champs in 2009 - and the crowd goes crazy-START THE LOOTING

by MOJOJAZZ on Oct 28, 2008 12:24 PM PDT   0 recs

SWEET news on Vladdy

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Oct 28, 2008 12:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

YUP...

Linkie

Guerrero, 32, had surgery on the medial meniscus in his left knee on October 10th at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, CO. The surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Steadman. Guerrero is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Whodathunk we would be rooting for a former Ranger come August, er September, er October...? Miss ya Kotch, but Tex is THE man!

by K3YEROUT on Oct 28, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yay

Good news to start the off season

by Seik1177 on Oct 28, 2008 1:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

atta boy Vlad.

can you imagine if this guy actually took care of himself in previous offseasons??
what a natural freak show of talent he is – too bad he had to play on that concrete up in America’s Hat.

load the spaceship with the rocket fuel... load it with the warriors...

by gdog009 on Oct 28, 2008 3:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

All no-brainers...

Solid moves. The sentimental side of me wants to see GA accept a re-negotiated and much lower contract; but the realist side of me understands that he might not fit on the team next year.

If that was the last we saw of you GA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HERE IN ANAHEIM. We appreciated your efforts.

by Downing Rules on Oct 28, 2008 12:31 PM PDT   0 recs

Pretty much how I saw it playing out

Now we will see if they try to bring GA back at a reduced price

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Oct 28, 2008 12:31 PM PDT   0 recs

Small blurb from SI.com
The Angels are going to try hard to sign free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira to a multi-year deal, AL sources said. Teixeira is believed to seek about $200 million on a 10-year deal. The Angels may also be in the bidding for star free agent pitcher CC Sabathia. They wouldn’t mind retaining Francisco Rodriguez, their record-setting closer, but appear unlikely to come close to meeting K-Rod’s asking price of $75 million over five years.

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 28, 2008 12:40 PM PDT   0 recs

Nothing new

I think the whole 10yr/$200million has been debunked already—strange that SI is still reporting it.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Oct 28, 2008 2:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Scott Boras has a direct line

to both SI and ESPN. They’ll report whatever information he feeds them when he’s talking up his players and trying to spark a bidding war.

by Brew Angel on Oct 28, 2008 4:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I hope GA comes back

Sign him to a lower salary. I just couldn’t handle seeing him in another uniform.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 1:00 PM PDT   0 recs

PANTHER

No more GA…..he is a great Angels but he is slowin down and we can do ALOT better.

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 2:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

thirded

and i’m STOKED Big Daddy finally got the knees worked on!

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 28, 2008 4:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Me too.....Hope Vlad hits .340 next season with his new knees

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 4:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

hold on there, chief

don’t get too excited just yet… let’s wait til Spring Training to see how this actually affects him.
although.. i do think he’ll probably hit upwards of .330 with 30+ HRs. here’s hoping!

i don’t know if the rest of you guys saw this quote in the story, but here’s something else to get excited about…

Per The Ninja: “Napoli’s surgery is a cleanup,” Reagins said. “He should be ready to go this spring. We’re looking for big things from Mike.”

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 28, 2008 4:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

no joke.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 28, 2008 6:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Explain to me

Why the Scioscia hate, you seriously want him to be a lame duck manager. I got an idea let’s just fire him since he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.

This good for you?

Who would you rather have Torre, Ozzie, how about Acta?

All these post about Scioscia needing to be told what to do with the team he’s running are lame and getting a little old.

by Seik1177 on Oct 29, 2008 8:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree they're lame and getting a little old.

I actually like Scioscia and want him to hang around for a long time. That being said, he needs to change the way he’s run this team, for that is also lame and getting a little old.

by snowhor on Oct 29, 2008 9:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Really, Scioscia's managing geting Lame & Old

When the F*** did we start being Stankee fans, I’ll take this run that we’re on any day with the way Scioscia is running the team any day.
 

by Seik1177 on Oct 29, 2008 11:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

What the F do Skankee fans have to do with this?

So, you were fine with the winningest team in baseball, which also is a large market, top tier payroll team, continuing to employ a bunch of swing at every pitch type hitters and then being sent home in the playoffs after a botched suicide, mickey-fucking-mouse, squeeze?

Yes, that is getting LAME and OLD.

by snowhor on Oct 29, 2008 11:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If that squeezed had work

you wouldn’t be saying a damn thing, it was a poor execution that’s it.

If Aybar pops up to the pitcher and Figgins grounds out, people here would be bitching about how come Scioscia didn’t go for the squeeze.
Hindsight is 20/20
Get over it

by Seik1177 on Oct 29, 2008 1:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not true. Getting away with a trick play does not make it always make it a smart move.

This was a predictable and poor call. If we’d gotten away with it, I’d acknowledge being fortunate, not necessarily smart.

by snowhor on Oct 29, 2008 2:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

soccia

i personally think going for the squeeze was a bad move. i also think having HK bunt over Willits was a wrong move. in fact i would have used a pinch hitter for at least 1 of the hitters. of course thats just me, who fucking cares. lol. anyways i’ll stick with soccia being one of the best managers in the game anytime.

by HALO_86 on Oct 29, 2008 2:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know when I had my knee scoped..

I felt MUCHO better for 4-5 years.. so I know this is gonna make Vladdy feel better, too!!

To not feel the “crunchies” when you walk or bend your knee is a good thing..

by pattimelt on Oct 28, 2008 6:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

makes sense to me

GA and probably Rivera being gone makes the outfield a spot we could get an impact bat at again if the price is right.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Oct 28, 2008 1:12 PM PDT   0 recs

NO.........We could do better.

Even Juan Rivera is an Upgrade

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 2:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rivera is not an upgrade

The stats do not bear that out.

This team can easily get better while retaining GA. Sign Teix, play Morales in RF, start Napoli 125 times a year and we’ve got a better team.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You might be right.....I started watchin baseball in general when Vlad came over.

The reason I dont like GA is because he sees us as “customers” not “fans” or the people that pay his lame ass by going to watch our team. He is a Good player but he is a jack ass IMO.

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 4:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I've heard he's actually a nice guy

A little bit gruff at first, but a stand up guy when you talk to him. My buddy worked at Fox West for awhile and said he was a good guy once you got to know him. He has come off as a bit standoffish at times.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 4:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen Brother.

GA has always been a favorite of mine, and I sometimes get the feeling that not everyone here remembers the bad ol’ days before 2002. Now i’m not hating on anyone or calling anyone out or questioning peoples loyalty to the club.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Oct 28, 2008 4:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I remember them fine, which is also how I know GA is not what he used to be.

And I don’t want to return to the pre-2002 days. But, if everyone else is being sentimental, why stop at GA. Why not bring back Jackie Autry and the $30 million dollar payroll?

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 8:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I've been a fan my whole life and I was born before 2002.

I like GA. I just think he’s a shell of his former self. Sometimes it’s time to hang ’em up. And we need to get better.

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 4:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Snowhor

I think your right, GA isn’t what he once was, however, I think he has earned the right to come back one more year, to play for the Halos, and solidify his spot as one of the Halo greats. We as a team have a history, of letting players go unceremoniously before their time. If you don’t believe me, ask Nolan Ryan and Wally Joyner etc., etc. Jim Abbott could have remained an Angel. Frank Tanana also comes to mind, along with Blyleven. If were gonna throw the proverbial bank at Tex, shouldn’t we offer GA a parting gift for being the consummate career Halo?

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Oct 29, 2008 12:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't mind that if I was confident GA would be used in a lesser role.

It’s hard for the fan in me to watch GA leave. But, it’s also hard for the fan in me to continually watch the offense continually struggle as it has for years now.

by snowhor on Oct 29, 2008 10:06 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This GA sentimentality is getting ridiculous

I am also tired of the cliched 2002 response that pollyanna types use whenever anyone doesn’t agree with their opinion.

I don’t want to return to the days when Gary Gaetti was leading the team in homers with 12 in 1992 or when Junior Felix was leading the team in RBI’s with less than 80 the same year. Like snowhor, I also don’t want to return to the Jackie Autry days when the Angels were marketing themselves as a small market team and letting good players go due to salary and instead acquiring washed up, cheap veterans like Hubie Brooks, Von Hayes, Eddie Murray, and Cecil Fielder.

I love GA, hope that they retire his number, and he takes part in future Angels playoff rallies, but I love the Angels more and realize that resigning him makes no sense because it either takes away from the pot that can be used to sign an impact player or at least power hitter or takes away playing time from a younger player with more upside.

Erstad, Eckstein, Kennedy, Salmon, Percival, Edmonds, Finley, Langston, and Snow have been gone for awhile, and yet we are all still living and supporting the Angels. We will be able to survive whatever emotional impact that occurs when GA is gone for good.

by stolenbases on Nov 1, 2008 8:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

GA

GA is a good fit for a team needing a singles hitter in the # 2 hole, despite his success in the 2nd half of the last two seasons , his better days are behind him and is no longer a middle of the order hitter run producer which is what the Angels need.

When 3 of your 5 infields have little to no power, a team can’t afford to have a singles hitter in LF.

The other thing to note about GA is despite having 163 hits and 29 walks, he only scored 66 runs so its not like all he was scoring runs when he got on base which is what youd like to see from a # 2 hitter.

by bigdaddyvlad on Oct 28, 2008 2:37 PM PDT   0 recs

He didn't hit #2 most of the year

He mostly hit 5 – 7 in the lineup, which is where he should hit. As much as I like the guy, he’s not a #2 hitter. He’s better when he can come up with guys on base since he derives most of his value from hitting singles and doubles without walking very much.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 3:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He should bat 7th, not 2nd. And preferably for another team.

Some see a proven vetera, I see a proven out-maker.

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 3:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

no

he is NOT a good #2 hitter. to be a good 2-slot hitter, you need to get on base, not just hit singles. which means, you should have an OBP BETTER than league average, not WORSE, as GA’s is.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 28, 2008 4:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd love to see

GA retire and become a roving hitting coach or something, maybe with Timmy?

Like many, I can’t stomach seeing him in another uniform, but that’s how it goes. It’s sad to see Garret go, but that’s baseball. His better days are certainly behind him, and we know he would never take a reduced role—even if he would, Mikey would still be sticking him out there in left EVERY. F—-ING. DAY.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Oct 28, 2008 2:48 PM PDT   0 recs

Oh boy...

Way to regurgitate that Mickey Hatcher bullshit. Somebody is easily influenced.

by Wytelitning on Oct 28, 2008 5:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I've actually been somewhat defensive of Hatcher in many threads on this luminous site.

Our offensive problems are organization-wide and many times unfairly pinned on Hatcher. I’d actually prefer Hatcher over GA because I’ve read quotes from Hatcher preaching the importance of patience. We’d never hear those from GA.

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 8:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We didn't hear anything from GA...

But I understand your point and sorry but your original comment here was very similar to the other nonsense I always see. Alot of these former little leaguers here, feel like Hatcher is responsible for teaching our guys how to hit when they get to the show.

by Wytelitning on Oct 29, 2008 9:44 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Agree on Scioscia.......NO MORE GA, please

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

by acuda27 on Oct 28, 2008 4:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Guess GA was too lazy to negotiate...

Seriously though, you’re welcome back here anytime Garrett. Either retire, or come back for less money.

Hooters anyone?

by Chone's Chonies on Oct 28, 2008 3:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Agreed

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 3:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i think it's the latter one

"Halos Heaven All Time Saves Record Holder Genius Prognasticator."

by vlad IS my man on Oct 28, 2008 3:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

How horrible would that be to see GA in another uniform...

Makes me sick to think the A’s would probably go after him (ala Piazza & Big Hurt) if he goes to FA and we’d have to face him 20x year in the West

by sfhalofan on Oct 28, 2008 3:17 PM PDT   0 recs

I get excited justing thinking about him in another uniform.

Yes, it would be sad to see as I am a long-time fan of GA. But, it’s clear he’s not going to retire and it’s clear we need to get better.

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 3:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

As mentioned ad nauseum

It’s very, very easy to get better and still keep Garret. If you assume our season was kind of a fluke and the Angels really were a 90 win team rather than a 100 win team, you get better by:
1. Signing Teixeira for whatever it takes (two thirds of a season from Teixeira is probably worth an extra 3 – 5 wins over Kotchman)
2. Play Mathis once a week and Napoli the rest of the time (worth maybe a win when you factor in defense)
3. Sit GMJ down on the bench and play Morales (worth maybe another win)
4. Hope for some health and improvement from Kendrick (could be up to 2 or 3 more wins, but we can’t really know)

Some guys will improve from last season (Vlad with new knees maybe?) and some will get worse, but that should wash. Either way, you’ve got a 96 win team now with distinct potential for more. And consider that even if the Angels were a 90 win team, they still would have won the division by 11 games. And that’s all with Garret, who’s been great as an Angel and still deserves regular playing time. Also consider that the Angels are going to need to sign a big free agent hitter no matter what if Teix doesn’t re-up (Dunn? Ramirez?) There’s still a spot for GA on the team even adding one of those guys, both of whom are worse in the outfield than he is.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 4:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree with your notes here. I would just take the risk on JR over GA.

I think we had this talk on another thread. I like JR’s chances of replicating his 2006 numbers than GA replicating his 2007 numbers. Neither one is going to be the answer to our problems, though.

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 5:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree

And I’m willing to concede that GA should be sat against lefties. I’m hoping Teix is going to be the answer to our problems with some help from better roster management (including the banishment of GMJ to the bench).

I have no problem with JR specifically, but it’s really a toss-up between him and Garret for me, and I’m letting sentimentality rule the day.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 5:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And don't forget that GA is not just an OF. 40% of his at-bats came as a DH.

If he’s used the same way next year (yes, I concede that I’m likely on the losing side here), he’ll be doing more damage to the team than his weak offensive production as Sosh will still be carting Vlad out to RF most days.

Last year Vlad DH’d 30% of the time. He had a OPS of .969 as DH versus .850 as RF.

Note to management: save Vlad’s career, full-time DH!

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 5:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rivera should be a DH as well

Rivera is worse in the OF than GA, range-wise. He does have a better arm. I’m a fan of DHing Guerrero as much as possible (although those numbers may have a sample size issue), but then we’re talking about RF and LF up for grabs. I think we agree that Morales should take one of those spots if he’s not playing 1B (which means we signed Teix).

The big, patient hitter we need would be worse than GA in the OF. Holliday would be a better defender, but I really hope the Angels don’t waste money on a guy who’s a product of Coors.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 5:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

GA

replicated his 2007 numbers in 2008

http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/anderga01.shtml

JR is notoriously streaky. True GA is not the player that he once was, but he has never hit below .280. I’m not saying that we NEED GA back, but he definately is not the Goat of this team like some people here make him out to be, I’m not talking about you snowhor or you gorbachev. However some people here can’t stand GA’s presence in this teams dugout or on that field, and I really wanna see them propose a good argument.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/riverju01.shtml here is juan’s numbers for his career. I checked both so I wasn’t too biased on this whole thing. And personally, I really am not that impressed with Juan now that I have seen his career stats

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000

by halofan4life on Oct 28, 2008 5:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In all honesty

GA didn’t really replicate his 2007 numbers. He regressed somewhat. I have hope that he can get back to 2007, but we may have to admit that he’s right around a league average hitter at this point.

And I’m okay with that, especially if GA can hit mainly against righties next year. He’s not the hitter he was, but he’s far from the biggest offensive problem on this team.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 28, 2008 5:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't mind seeing GA in that role, but I don't think Sosh would ever do it.

Lately, it seems I’m making judgements based on what I think Sosh will do and not necessarily what he will do. I really like Sosh, but I’m wondering if I just want to like him. I don’t seem to trust his judgement anymore. It’s been clear for several years now what we need to do to improve our offense, but we keep doing the same old thing. It’s as if Sosh is of the Tony La Russa mold of doing thinkgs his way just to prove he’s smarter than everyone else.

by snowhor on Oct 28, 2008 8:33 PM PDT to parent up