This is my first fan post, and while I have been reading without an account since the winter before this season, I have only recently signed up, following in game threads the last couple games.

Had a drink after the game. Went to bed still frustrated. Slept it off, and woke up this morning more relaxed, but still heartbroken. With a clear head, I started thinking. Last night, I was certain we would be saying goodbye to Frankie, Teix, Garland, GA, and maybe Speier, Rivera, and pushing hard to rid ourselves of Matthews (creating a situation so bad for him that he will personally welcome a trade despite the clause). 

But then I started to think about Free Agency. Sabbathia is on the market, and resigning Teix is not about money or performance, but on Teix's personal preference. Sure, the Angels are built to win, and to do it for another few years, but all of our FA acquisitions have done NOTHING to get us even as far as we did without them ('02). 

Playing a whole season in Anaheim of Los Angeles would be appealing. We had a ton of really good "high's" this season, and what FA wouldn't want to experience that? Would some potential FA's even think that they could provide the difference to get us over the hump? 100 wins and Mark Teixera couldn't do it for us. We lost to an inferior team with home field advantage, and the culprit was defense. As usual, our starting pitching was exceptional, and our bullpen nearly as such. 

So, where do we go from here? Usually, you don't change what isn't broken. But, where/what are the Angels? 

I think it is time to stay away from FA.

I think Kendry is ready for either RF or 1B, if we can't resign Teix (not sure if he wants to stay after the TEAM performance). This means that Kendry is either our 1B, OR 3rd outfielder (regardless of who plays LF).

I think Vlady needs to be a permanent DH, and do what it takes to learn how to be effective and productive while spending a majority of the game on the bench, even with his pronouncements and desire to stay "in the game." Clearly, his knees cannot hold up to the stress of another season in the field. While he is aging, one has to think a fully healthy Vlad in the DH can return to .320 30.

Next, I think Chone was terrific at 3B this year, but we need Brandon Wood's bat in the lineup. If we don't give him the AB's, he needs to be traded for young SP depth. This pushes Chone to LF, where his speed, coverage, and decent (for OF) arm will play well.

I don't like Torii's propensity to strike out on pitches in the dirt. I expected .290 instead of .278, but looking back, that was a bit high of an expectation. I believe the warm weather and hard work will keep Torii more healthy than when in MIN, and he should do in the least next year what he did this year. 

I might get flamed here by some, but GA needs to be resigned for one more year, if he'll take it. However, hear me out before saying I'm an idiot. GA should not be our opening-day LF, but should see somewhere between 250-300 AB's, and he'll need to prepare himself mentally for a reduced role if he wants to continue his career. With the way injuries ALWAYS seem to strike this team, his presence, professional demeanor, and second half suggest he can still play ball. Ride him when he's hot.

I don't think a decision about Rivera should be made until we see what he shows of himself in winter ball. If it's just more of the same (would LOVE to have the '06 Juan), and an inability to bounce back from a major injury on sporadic playing time and AB's, then he's better off not stealing AB's from other's in this group. Send him to the Mets for an AA arm. I would rather see Terry Evans as a defensive replacement, PR, or PH off the bench.

What to do about the middle infield? I don't think KendricK will ever be a good number 2 hitter, and both he and Aybar are young enough that we need to stay committed to both, IF they can stay healthy. Howie was better than he showed, and one has to think that Sosh's confidence in him despite his struggles in the field and at the plate should play well for next year. Howie will hit .325 next year - let's hope it is over 550-600 AB's instead of 300. I still like Aybar in the field, and in the 9 hole. If he can become as good a hitter as Chone, then we will be fine. With this in mind, Howie and Aybar will come back with a vengeance next October. 

If we are going to pay for a closer, I would rather pay for Brian Fuentes. If not, Dondo and Good Scoty had terrific showings in the ALDS (Marek was starting to look like a good in-season pen callup for '09, a la Dondo).    

I'm more worried about the future of our rotation than the rest of the team. King Ade-Rock is not ready. Lackey will be in his last season? One has to think when he becomes an FA, he might be willing to carry another team where offense won't be an issue ('10 TEX starting to look really really good). Can't count on Escobar for anything next year? Ervin, Weaver, and Saunders will be steady. For being hit or miss, I think Garland is better than what he showed, and there is a little bit of evidence to suggest newly acquired SP's do better in their second season with the club. He might not be a bad idea for a 2 year extension (plus 1-2 club options), if he'll take one.

The farm is deep, but I don't see a lot of impact outside of what has already been splashed. Walden and Hank are at least 2 years out.... FA signings have been killing our draft, and Texas and Oakland are looking to kick ass in '10 and beyond. It is imperative that what we do now in this offseason needs to shake some things up. Yes, I said stay away from FA and then offered buying Fuentes or CC or Teix, but those are options if we do NOT go in house. I would prefer we did go in house, and the FIRST option to spend any money at all is to make Anaheim the permanent home for Teix.

So, if you are a big name free-agent, do you want to come to Anaheim after another miserable showing in the playoffs? What is needed for our core of young players to achieve the maturity and "clutchness" that the mid-to-late-nineties Yanks achieved?  

- Jason