Top 100 Angels: Casey KOTCHMAN #96

by Rev Halofan on Nov 8, 2008 1:57 AM PST in 100 Top Angels

The saddest words of tongue or pen are not tragedy, but “What might have been...”

Casey Kotchman was the Angels’ first round pick in the 2001 draft. He made his major league debut after a dramatic baserunning injury to Darin Erstad in 2004, called up from AA Arkansas to join the team on a Sunday afternoon. He had been a batboy to Garret Anderson in the minors where his father, Tom Kotchman was a coach. To some Angel fans he had “Heir Apparent” written all over him, to others he was the ultimate trade bait. A tragic bout with mononucleosis curtailed his 2006 season after Kotch replaced Steve Finley in the final game of the ALCS, Mike Scioscia’s admission that something had gone dreadfully wrong with the promising season and its name was Post-steroids Stevie.

Finally, in 2007, he had a very good season for the Angels, batting .296 and slugging .467 while playing stellar defense, helping the Angels to a division title. He was putting together a good 2008 campaign when he was made the centerpiece of the Mark Teixeira trade.

Casey Kotchman was a role-player on two division winners and a central part of the 2007 AL West champion Angels. His absence from the 2006 Angels was central to that squad losing the division by 4 games. Even though he only made 1200+ Plate Appearances as an Angel, he is good enough to have become a Top 100 Angel.

CAREER STATS

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Comments

questionable call

This is one of those “ruffle the feathers to stir a commotion” type picks. Not biting. I liked Casey, but there’s is now way he makes the top 100. Be accountable Rev.

You are what you type.

by rjcicc on Nov 8, 2008 2:56 AM PST reply actions

I agree

Hooters anyone?

by Chone's Chonies on Nov 8, 2008 6:59 AM PST up reply actions

me too

liked the guy a lot, but i dont think he’ll ever meet the hype

by ihearhowie2.0 on Nov 8, 2008 8:51 AM PST up reply actions

Mediocre 1bmen at best

by BuckyB on Nov 8, 2008 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

serious??

is he a top 100 angel? no, but mediocre. cmon. he was solid in his short time.

by HALO_86 on Nov 8, 2008 10:41 AM PST up reply actions

ACCOUNTABILTY ... courtesy of BILL JAMES

Casey’s 33 Win Shares as an Angel make him #94 in FRANCHISE WINS SHARES ranking.

AND IF STATS RUIN YOUR DAY, look at “gritty winner mojo”:
Parts of 3 division winners and his absence bringing down a 4th – plus he brought in Teix to seal the ’08 title.

by Rev Halofan on Nov 8, 2008 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

I think we all know where I stand on this issue

I still have a miniature shrine for him in my closet.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 8, 2008 5:07 PM PST up reply actions

my shrine for casey isnt miniature

def in my top 10 favorite angels (from about 97 on that is, since i was too young to notice before)

Mr Moreno,
Please re-sign Tex.
Sincerely yours,
Halo fans everywhere

by anaheim angels on Nov 8, 2008 5:38 PM PST up reply actions

I think my partiality for first basemen

comes from playing the position a lot growing up…Snow was a favorite, too. I hate the way so many Angels fans seem to hate him.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 8, 2008 5:52 PM PST up reply actions

Why management, why!!!

why you trade Kotch for crapxeria!!!

by mastermind565 on Nov 8, 2008 9:18 AM PST reply actions

i dont understand

by linkbruin on Nov 10, 2008 9:21 PM PST up reply actions

The Irony of it All

As I respond to this pick there is a list of stories from around SB*N with a topic titled
“Is Casey Kotchman a Bust?”

I must say I found this pick to be questionable at best. A fine player with great defensive skills around the bag, but not sure that his stick and length of time spent in Anaheim warrants a top 100 list.

You state he has a 33 Win Share making him #94 in FRANCHISE WINS SHARES ranking yet he is #96 on the all time list. So it looks like that was not the only thing used in determining his position in Angel folklore. For me he would not have cracked the top #100. I would also count his .133 avg in postseason as a little soft as well

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Nov 8, 2008 11:56 AM PST reply actions

I would want Kotch to come back if Tex isn't coming back

We trade Aybar and prospect for Kotch!

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

by vlad IS my man on Nov 8, 2008 1:11 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

REV ALWAYS LIKED CASEY

BUT FACTS WIULL NOT LET YOU MAKE HIM IMMORTAL

stay humble in a ferari

by MYSPASCOBAR on Nov 8, 2008 1:40 PM PST reply actions

In 3 years..

No one will ever think Casey Kotchman was that good of a player on the Angels, it’s just the what could have been factor. For the amount of time he was on the team, how is he better than JT Snow in any way? Mo Vaughn too for that matter, there I said it, it’s out there now, and there’s no taking it back.

by ponusbaum43 on Nov 8, 2008 3:49 PM PST reply actions

Mo Vaughn will be higher in this list

And unlike SNOW, Kotchman never ganked an easy grounder in a one-game playoff to decide the division…

by Rev Halofan on Nov 8, 2008 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

wait...

maybe we are talking about a different game, but you’re not referring to the 9-1 loss to the Mariners in 95 are you? Because if you are, then a ganked groundball didn’t lose it for us dude.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Nov 9, 2008 9:07 AM PST up reply actions

I remember a game against Oakland this year

it was i think 1-1 heading into the 8th or 9th, and Kotch hits a jack. Kotch always would give it his all, and could rise to the occasion. I like the pick, as Kotch needs to be on the list

Mr Moreno,
Please re-sign Tex.
Sincerely yours,
Halo fans everywhere

by anaheim angels on Nov 8, 2008 5:42 PM PST reply actions

I miss Kotch

But it’s already easy to forget he was one of the team as recently as this past July…weird.

It’s not just the “what might have been” factor; I think—from my knowledge of the Angels that is semi-limited to post-1984 at the least—that he def. deserves to be in the Top 100. I wouldn’t have put him any higher than this, though.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 8, 2008 6:53 PM PST reply actions

Forgot about him already...

blah. No one will remember Kotch as an Angel in 10 years. Little impact.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Nov 9, 2008 9:05 AM PST reply actions

The Win Shares

surprised me, and made me reconsider my initial reaction which was “no.” But even on second thought, he just doesn’t make my list. He doesn’t stand out. He had, what, one full season, which wasn’t an all-star or MVP year. I suspect there have been at least 100 who were better or more important to the team in its history.

by jjackflash on Nov 10, 2008 3:18 PM PST reply actions