Left Side Infield... Prospects for a Year?
by cookieman 57 on Dec 28, 2008 11:19 AM PST
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PrintI would love to read what all Halo fans think about giving the prospects 162 games to prove themselves. We all know that management was shooting for Tex only and now are not interested in signing a bat. With that said do we give 3rd base to Matt Brown and Shortstop to Brandon Wood giving us potential power at both positions. I assume we would move Figgy to left and have Rivera and Vlad play right and DH. Do all of you think we could still win the division with that lineup? And if they didn't produce would that hurt us in trade value as far as other teams looking at potential ........................ especially Wood. I think back when the Dodgers gave the opportunity to Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey and it worked out but it seems like most fans want to play for the current year and win now !! I have mixed feelings but would like to hear all of the pros and cons regarding giving the kids a a full year of opportunity. Thus, trading for pitching to offset the unknown offense that we would be introducing and living with. Then lastly what would we do with Izzy and Aybar .............................. would they be the names in a trade? Looking forward to your takes and any other options that you feel might fill the void of not having that big bat to protect Vlad that management is not interested in pursuing.
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Few thoughts
1) No one likes reading one block of text in all bold. To make it easier to read, and consequently get more replies, you should break up your article and lose the strong font.
2) With our pitching we should win the division
3)I’d rather have Aybar
4)Wood isnt good.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
I KILLED THE BOLD
my editing button was on high alert with that sheet … looks like cookieman ate a caffeinated cookie this morning…
One thought PhiSlamma
Focus on the words in the article and not the bold lettering. Are we back in school getting graded??? Jesus.
apparently matt is cookie's virtual bodyguard....
relax, bud. we’re giving the guy tips on how to write in a not-so-annoying manner. no one hates the guy, its simply constructive criticism.
Wood isn't good?!?!?!?!?
Were you not paying attention in August and September. His strikeouts went down considerably, his BA improved (.245 compared to his below .150 earlier in the year), his OPS was on average .300 points higher than it was earlier in the year. He flashed some sensatinal “D,” remember that DP he started in Detroit diving to his right (yes I know, play before he made an error, but, it shows maturity that he didn’t screw up the net one).
I’m not saying 3 Wood is a “sure” shot can’t miss prospect, but I am highly confident that he will be productive when they make him the starter and show continued confidence in him at the big league level.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000
by halofan4life on Dec 28, 2008 9:59 PM PST up reply actions
PhiSlamma isn't good
He doesn’t know shit about anything other than the love in Shiftyeyedgoat’s eyes.
by Rev Halofan on Dec 28, 2008 11:21 PM PST up reply actions
Run the site
Dont troll your own subscribers.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Never said he was
but I don’t understand why he goes out of they way to belittle me and my posts. His job is to moderate not discriminate, no idea why he feels the need to not only go after me but also insinuate that I am a homosexual.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
You lose me at "his job"
This ain’t no utility, this is one very crazy (and yet very Just) man’s website. Part of his considerable hosting skills is that he doesn’t just lay passive, he jumps right in when he feels like someone has said something silly.
And at the risk of explaining the joke (but in the Christian spirit of brotherhood, etc.), you have exactly as much standing & evidence to conclude that “Wood isn’t good” that the Rev. does to declare that you ain’t either. You want more respect? Back it up. And don’t be so dense as to tell the Rev. what his job is, or you won’t be here in 2009.
I believe he agreed to this when he became part of the SBNation
http://www.sbnation.com/guide/terms
(e) stalk, harass, or harm another individual, including revealing the real name of any fellow user that has chosen to use an alias on the SBNation Network;
unfortunately he is breaking that code, for little to no reason.
Providing poor evidence for my arguments is, unfortunately for you, not ban worthy. Harassment by a host of a SBNation site is actually grounds for termination.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
so, what, hes supposed to just let you bug 90% of the people here?
honestly, go read your posts. Everything you do is either complaining, whining, or otherwise spreading unnecessary negativity.
He also made a post mid season last year about how people wouldnt be allowed to endlessly bitch about the same topics without being banned.
by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 30, 2008 2:18 PM PST up reply actions
I implore you to link me my posts where I endlessly bitch about the same topics.
“Everything you do is either complaining, whining, or otherwise spreading unnecessary negativity.”
That is not only unfounded but also not ban-worthy.
When did I step on your toes?
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Im sorry, your posts generally fall along 3 basic themes
1. Player X sucks.
This is seen pretty clearly about 8 posts above, starting your little fit over what the Rev’s “job” is on HIS blog. Sure, not everyone here is crazy about Brandon Wood. But if youre going to make a statement, back it up. We’re here to advance discussion, not throw shit at the wall and see if it sticks.
2. Our front office sucks because we cant sign players to $182 million contracts in a horrible economy.
I generalized your posts because until Teixeira actually signed, most of the stuff you added to this blog was blasting our owner for not spending enough money, how we’re always outbid and how thats the worst thing that can happen. Never mind that being outbid on all our past pursuits only resulted in us winning 100 games last year and not being saddled with disgusting Soriano and Konerko contracts.
3. Waaaaaaaaaaah
Posts about how Rivera will have one good month this coming season and then get hurt kinda fall under this mindless, unfounded whining
by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 30, 2008 2:45 PM PST up reply actions
Look, Rev and I don't always get along
but he does a good job running, what I consider, the best Angels blog on the internet. Most people here are intelligent and constructive, which I like.
He usually nips trouble makers in the butt, and gives thoughtful Angels backstory and lore to young kids like me who were not fortunate enough to see the Halos play in the 70s and early 80s.
That being said, I honestly do not understand random attacks directed toward me. That was my point, and it has nothing to do with you.
That being said, if you do not like the content of my posts then simply skip over them. I may be a glass half empty type blogger, but I do try and provide evidence as to why I think the way I do and try not to needlessly flame people.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
It is almost as bad as you constantly making excuses for the Angels
This is the worst offseason in years. I do not even want to talk about it.
Wood
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=457420
Fielding: His .973 FP is not close to being good, especially combined with his abysmal range factor (3.505 as a SS and an awful 2.95 at 3rd)
Hitting: Facts:
-Wood has walked four times in 183 major league at bats. Thats good for a whopping .212 OBP.
-Wood in those same at bats as had five doubles. Five.
-He has twenty more strikeouts (55) than hits (35)
-His career line in the majors over nearly 200 at bats is .212 /.317/ .191
That is why Wood isn’t good!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Then I implore you to go back and look at a couple of Angel mashers who didn't do so hot in their 1st go around.
Troy Glaus – .218/.280/.291 165 AB 36 H 51 SO 15 BB, only 1 HR
Tim Salmon – .177/.283/.266 79 AB 14 H 23 SO 11 BB, 2 HR
The walks are higher, but they came up in the organization at a time when contact and aggressiveness was not more important that simply getting on base. The strike out to hit ratio is almost identical between Glaus and Wood.
people have used these stats in comparison with Wood before, but I feel they are pertinent to this argument so I’m bringing them up again. What do they prove about Wood’s ability? Nothing. He very well could be a huge flop. However, what it does mean is that people like you need to back the fuck (november) off of him. A full major league season consists of roughly 500 AB’s, like you said he’s had 200. And like I said in my original reply go back and look at the stats from Aug. and Sept. In fact, here’s the link to see his splits http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=woodbr01 . There’s a major improvement there in his offensive approach at the big league level.
Hell, I’ll bet your one of the many who wanted to throw Howie under the proverbial bus after he went 0 for the playoffs last year, let’s not forget the fact that he was also out of action for a month and only back in the lineup for a week before the playoffs, not nearly enough time to get his timing back.
And by the way, mocking me with this “?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!” totally immature.
For Rev; I’m not trying to be an asshole here with that ending, but I hate being patronized.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000
by halofan4life on Dec 30, 2008 7:04 PM PST up reply actions
dude, some people just don't get it
you’ve wasted enough of your time trying to explain something to someone who obviously won’t/can’t listen. Some people make their mind up and won’t let themselves think of anything else but that first thought. Sad. Just move on.
Go Angels!
And he showed flashes of that 30 home run power he has produced in the minors.
I’ll never forget that game where he hit 2 homers against the Skankees in that 12-1 blowout or whatever it was.
by Chzburger Jones on Dec 29, 2008 4:10 AM PST up reply actions
No doubt
I watched the video highlight of that game the other day, that second home run that he hit was a good pitch riding in on him that he turned on. it seemed almost Vlad-esque
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000
by halofan4life on Dec 29, 2008 7:41 AM PST up reply actions
if the season started tommorrow
i would think we will struggle early in the season as the young bats find their comfort zone if they ever find it. i say give them 2-3 months of consistent PA and see where were at in june-july. make a trade then before we give up on our young guys.
Especially on a hangover
BOLD not so much. But Wood is going to get his shot whether it is at third or short he will earn it. Will he turn out like the 40 HR guy thats a probably not.
Matt Brown, well he will not get his shot and from his first time around does not deserve it. The guy I want to see get a shot over both of them is Sean Rodriguez. The dude can play ball.
I hope these young guys pan out that would be awesome, but we always have izzy and aybar to fall back on. Time will tell and I am excited to see where these young guys go. Hopefully no Macpherson’s in this bunch
Give the young guns a chance...if they suck wellll...
whoops on the bold
Give the young guns a chance...if they suck wellll...
by angelskid2210 on Dec 28, 2008 12:16 PM PST up reply actions
Brown's not a prospect
He’s a year older than Howie Kendrick, the same age as Casey Kotchman, and he’s only batted over .300 once since rookie ball.
I think Wood should start next year no matter what. I expect him to hit .246 with 24 home runs and 153 strikeouts, while playing good defense and stealing bases. Ideally (for me), Wood would start at 3B, Aybar at SS, and we’d trade Figgins & Izturis along with others to get either Jake Peavy or Matt Kemp. If it takes Aybar to get those deals done, I could live with a year of Wood at SS (where his offensive value would be maximized), and Figgins at 3B for one last go-round.
But it’s very possible that our long-term future is a Wood-Aybar-Kendrick-Morales-Napoli infield, which will certainly field great, hit quite a bit, and be so hella-cheap that we can spend our money on stuff like maybe getting an outfielder who isn’t almost as old as I am.
For me
that’s been the most frustrating part of this off season, the whole “we’re happy with our outfield as is” proclaimations. Unless Vlad can start 150 games out there, we need another corner outfielder who can HIT (and yes, it’d be nice if he were under 30). I know its redundant to talk about how awful the Matthews signing was, but that problem will only be compounded if he plays everyday.
Agree
Wood has nothing left to prove in the minors. It’s interesting to note that his mediocre, yet improving, September OPS – alone – would be better than Chone’s. So – even if Wood doesn’t continue to improve one bit, he’ll be an upgrade over Figgins. And I think Wood WILL continue to get better. He’ll still be only 24 years old next year. Give him 70-80 AB’s in spring training, another 150-200 AB’s during the regular season, and see where he’s headed.
It’s interesting you brought up his SB figures, too. Brandon stole four bases in September (without getting caught). If you throw in the possibility of 20-25 SB’s, he narrows the gap between his talents and what Figgins brings to the table.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes
by johnnyangel101 on Dec 28, 2008 12:42 PM PST up reply actions
Brown
i don’t know if he can play at this level or not, but lets not just throw him away because of his age. there are players who mature later in their careers. players who finally get it.
Don't want to throw him away, just don't want him starting, because he likely won't be good
Scioscia’s been good about getting bench use out of non-prospect guys like Wooten, DaVanon, Quinlan, Willits. I hope Brown’s like that.
Welch- Whats up with our outfield prospects??
Are dudes like Terry Evans or Bradley Coon too old and untested to be a possibility for filling in some outfield here and there. It seems that Willits has our fifth outfielder position held down but it would be nice to see someone with some bat….
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Dec 28, 2008 2:36 PM PST up reply actions
There are many people here who can answer that question better than I
But I can add this — in the 9 years of Scioscia era, the Angels have had 22 top-90 draft picks. Wanna guess how many of them were expended on outfielders?
Zero.
Instead, we’ve picked 12 pitchers, 5 shortstops, 3 catchers, 1 Casey Kotchman, and 1 Dallas McPherson. In fairness, Tommy Murphy was eventually converted to the outfield, not that it ended up mattering much.
It’s funny — in a matter of four years (1988-91) we drafted Jim Edmonds, Tim Salmon, Chad Curtis, Garret Anderson, and Orlando Palmeiro. But as of now (at least for what we know) we haven’t drafted an outfielder worth a damn since Darin Erstad in 1995.
The problem is that
if Wood starts at 3B, where does Figgy play? I guess you could put him in LF, move Rivera to RF and have Vlad DH permanently but I don’t think that is going to happen. And if Wood starts at SS, both Aybar AND Mighty Maicer will ride the pine. Ideally, we could trade one of our middle infielders but we might need both of them when Howie blows out his hamstring yet again.
by Chzburger Jones on Dec 29, 2008 4:13 AM PST up reply actions
Perfect
Figgy was initially a SS. But he can play just about anywhere. By all means, trade Aybar. We have Sean Rod who can play if Howie get’s hurt. I like Sean Rod, the kid can play. Keep Izzy… the guy could be starting for half the teams in baseball. He’s a great option for us. Provided the time, he’ll hit .270, close to 10 homers, drive in 60-70 runs, steal 20 bags, score 80 runs, and play a solid SS. He’s a great contact guy.
1. Figgins LF
2. Izturiz SS
3. Vlad RF/DH
4. Hunter CF
5. Rivera RF/DH
6. Morales 1st
7. Napoli C
8. Kendrick 2nd
9. Wood 3rd
The line-up is very flexible.
Flexibility is about the only plus in that lineup
Torii Hunter is our cleanup hitter? Rivera is our #5?? Crap.
I don't know...I'm makin' this up as I go.
I wouldn't say crap
The minuses are we don’t know if Morales will equal Kotchman, but I think he will. Can Kendrick stay healthy? Hopefully.
The positives are Rivera will be every bit as productive as GA, with a lesser BA but more homers. The upside to Wood is nice, especially considering we didn’t get shit out of the DH position last year.
All together, we should take the West again while gaining valuable experience. Maybe swing another dead line deal for bullpen help, or a productive 3rd baseman (Ramirez) so Wood can move to SS. Considering what Reagins said last week (basically no bat via FA), Fuentes isn’t a terrible option for the right price. I still think we need to make the deal for Peavy, w/out Wood but add Aybar, and another player to be named later. Maybe they like Mathis. I’d even put Weaver in the deal and sign Mulder for our 5th. I feel he’d be a productive 5th guy.
So...the minuses aren't really minuses?
The minuses in that lineup are: Torii Hunter is not a cleanup hitter. The very best we can hope for from Rivera is GA type numbers (I don’t think he’ll get there) and that’s our #5 hitter. Morales might be Kotchmanesque, but is that really what we need from a corner infielder…especially one who doesn’t come equipped with a glove? And I have to watch Brandon Wood strike out 200 times? Even Naps may have been a bit over his head last year.
Yeah. I would say crap.
(Not that we won’t win the division. We will. But from there, it would take a lot of luck and perfect health.)
I don't know...I'm makin' this up as I go.
I wouldn't quite say crap...
Its a tough lineup to project with so many hitters performances having a wide range of possibilities (Wood, Rivera, Morales in particular). Obviously the heart of the order doesn’t come close to the Sox or Skanks, but I’d bet that running those starting 9 everyday would give them roughly a league average offense. If the pitching staff gets bolstered before the start of the year (I’m sure it will) that should still be plenty to make the playoffs. And despite our recent past in the postseason, I’m still one of those that believes that once you get there its pretty much a crap shoot.
See? You DID say crap.
“And despite our recent past in the postseason, I’m still one of those that believes that once you get there its pretty much a crap shoot.”
I don't know...I'm makin' this up as I go.
not too high on Brown
to me, he’s basically Quinlan 2.0… and since we already have a Q, we might as well trade him in a package. i dont think another year in AAA is gonna do a whole lot for him.
I agree with Matt that Wood-Aybar-Kendrick-Morales-Napoli should be our infield. I say we either 1) trade Figgins for some pitching or 2) move him to LF, move Rivera to RF and Vlad to DH, and let Wood play 3B. Either way, that boy needs to play.
I’m excited that we have a young nucleus as solid and as promising at those 5. we could do some serious damage with them.
Kotch would've had that.
so if hes awesome
should i become ihearquinlan2.0 ?
by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 29, 2008 4:44 PM PST up reply actions
I hear ya...
But I’m not sure I’d want to give Brown a full year at 3rd. I’d give him the spring. If he outperforms Wood, give him the 1st half guaranteed, and have Wood at short. If he bottomed out in the spring, Izzy is my SS. I would have packaged Aybar in a trade last week for Peavy. Adenhart, Aybar, Jepson, and a player to be named later.
I do like Matt Brown… I really do, and think he deserves a spring training shot to see what he can do.
If it all worked out with Brown and Wood, I like the Figgins to LF and Rivera and Vlad switching RF/DH.
I still believe pitching is the key to winning championships. And then obviously possible softening blow if Lackey leaves.
Izzy > Wood/Aybar/Brown
I personally would rather see Izzy at short. He’s more disciplined than Aybar or Wood, and seemed to always come through in the clutch.
Plus, I wouldn’t want to try out 2 prospects at once. Maybe Wood gets 2 months at 3rd, and if he’s still flailing around at the plate, put Brown in, or come up with some other plan. But to have 2 spots in our lineup being potential easy-outs, also factoring in that we will not have Tex or GA, is too big a risk. And let’s not forget, we don’t know how Morales or Rivera will pan out either playing full time.
It’s the same reason I’d like to sign either an FA starter, or closer. To give both the 5th spot in the rotation AND the closing role to unproven players is too great a risk.
Don't mess with Teix-ass or Bor-ass!
To your last...
Mulder could be an interesting option. Another lefty plus he had a decent 2nd half.
Only if we get Scully too...
Mulder: I want to believe that we can win the WS.
Scully: Scientific evidence is uncertain one way or ther other.
Plus, Gillian Anderson is HOT!
Angels fan since '67
by red floyd on Dec 29, 2008 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Ok, I'm going to get blasted for this opinion
Iz is our shortstop. He was our shortstop last year but he couldn’t stay healthy so Aybar got a lot of playing time. If Iz wasn’t injured, Mike would have still given Aybar 30 games or so to prove himself. Going into this season, Iz is our starting shortstop. It’s his to lose. Maybe Wood will get his chances here also.
Figgy is our starting third basemen. The best can-play-any-defensive-position very well player in the MLB, he started to become so good at 3rd defensively toward the end of the season that his defensive plays were blowing my mind. Can anyone remember that? Can anyone remember that he hasn’t played third base every season his whole life like some great defensive 3rd basemans? Oh, and he is perfectly capable of hitting .280, .380, 50sb. Actually, I think he is capable of doing better than that. Wood will get his chances here, maybe 30 games (or more because Figgy can replace an injury). But the position is Figgy’s to lose.
And I am pretty sure this will be Mike’s position too. Figgy and Iz. You want it. Take it away.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
The problem with Figgy
is that going into this year he will be 31. His SB numbers have gone down every year (and with the exception of his playing out of his shoes 2007) his other offensive numbers have been merely OK from a leadoff hitter. He has turned into a slap-single’s hitter which is not scary to opposing pitchers, especially when they know that his speed isn’t what it once was. Last year was the first time he didn’t eclipse 20 doubles and had only one, count ‘em, ONE triple. His % for caught stealing has increased every year. Starting with 2005 when he had 62 it was 2005 – 22, last year it was 28. Now that number wouldn’t be so bad if he was stealing 60+ bases, but he only stole 34 last year.
I’m of the belief that the Angel’s should shop Figgy this offseason for pitching help, he’s in the the last year of his contract and for a guy who’s ENTIRE offensive attack revolves around speed, it looks like he’s losing it.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000
by halofan4life on Dec 29, 2008 8:03 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd for content!
His legs aren’t going to last forever, and he is looking replaceable of late. But, 2007 was so damn good it’s hard to sell low on a guy with that year in him…
Jim Scully
I think...
That with his defense coming around to what it has become, which in hindsight is pretty damn good, we wouldn’t really be selling low. We wouldn’t be getting what we could have gotten for him last year, but we could still trade him straight up for someone and get something fairly good in return. Hell, Jim Leyland is high on him, send him to Detroit.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000
by halofan4life on Dec 29, 2008 9:07 PM PST up reply actions
And 2006 looked so damn good for GMJr.
Better hold on to him too.
Don't mess with Teix-ass or Bor-ass!
by Rally Manatee on Dec 30, 2008 12:36 AM PST up reply actions
I dispute your analogy, despite the green asterisk you are wise thingy ma jig
Figgy is the starting third baseman. Every thing you said is wrong. Don’t compare Figs injured SB seasons to his non injured SB season. The guy with the green asterisk for your post is subjective and should be chastised and ridiculed.
Aybar (did you see him flailing at pitches in the playoffs) is not, and will not be our starting SS if Iz is healthy. When’s the last time Mike has batted Aybar cleanup?
Get over it. Fig at 3rd and Iz at short. Mike will go with that. Wanna bet?
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on Dec 30, 2008 1:37 AM PST up reply actions
PS It is getting toward a dry part of the yearly season
Just trying to keep things interesting. I say Mike has Fig at 3rd and Iz at SS. Not me.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on Dec 30, 2008 1:42 AM PST up reply actions
I wasn't cherry picking stats
My point was that his entire offensive attack is based on speed, and all of his speed numbers have declined, year by year. And for the record, I never said anything bad about Mighty Mouse. IMPO I would prefer to see Izzy at SS over Aybar. I know that Aybar has the greater range and the greater power potential, but I, simply put, trust Izzy more with both the bat and the glove.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/figgich01.shtml Theres Figgy’s BR page, take a look for yourself. All of his speed numbers have already started to decline. He is still a good ball player, but I don’t see them resigning him after this season, and why not get a high level prospect or pitching for him, instead of 2 picks in next years draft that we can’t be sure of their ML abilities for 3 to 5 years.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000
by halofan4life on Dec 30, 2008 6:46 AM PST up reply actions
yeah, sure, I'll bet you
I think either Figgy or Izturis (or both) will be traded before Opening Day. Plus, when Reagins said “we’re gonna give the kids a chance,” there was a plural there that I think goes beyond Kendry Morales.
Right...
I actually think that he expects Wood, Aybar and Kendry to play every day in 2009. I also saw him Reagins talking up Adenhart in the article as a potential #5 starter.
He might be willing to really go for the youth movement this year because winning the AL West in 2009 – with the other teams in the division being so weak – is pretty likely. I’d say it’s 75% chance the Halos win the West and 25% the A’s squeak it out. Why not see what you’ve got in a year that 88 wins will probably win the division?
Jim Scully
wood, aybar, HK, morales and Nap/Mathis
what is the theme? All home grown talent……oh, and extremely cheap too.
Go Angels!
I think
Give the kids a chance means they will have the opportunity to prove themselves. We shall see.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on Dec 31, 2008 1:24 AM PST up reply actions
Izzy
i think he’s a good role/bench player. not a starter. he would get exposed if he was the everyday player at SS. i would go with Aybar if the season started today, and give Wood the shot at 3B. move Figgy to DH and let him be the super utility guy filling in for someone.
Izzy has the tendency to post
higher OBP, which is why I would start him over Aybar. But, the more information that I see regarding Aybar’s defense, the more I think it is a wash. If Aybar posts defensive numbers in 2009 like he did in 2008 – he probably SHOULD be the starter, but I want a bit more evidence of his complete and total dominance on the defensive side of things because he is pretty bad with the bat.
Jim Scully
He and Izzy were a push offensively last year, for what it's worth
I think Izzy’s better than that, and I’m not convinced Aybar is as good as that, etc.
Right, and right.
Izzy had a bad year (for him) and Aybar hit better than I expected (for him). If only Aybar could have over-achieved on that suicide squeeze bunt attempt…
I kinda hate Aybar – but he can friggin’ pick it.
Jim Scully
Izzy is
just as fragile as Kendrick. I like the guy but his hammies are as unreliable as Kendricks. I think he is an asset as a bench/utility guy. Sosc tends to rest people a lot anyways so he’ll still get time.
If we don’t sign anyone, why not put Figgy in left and Wood and Aybar in the IF?
Because I for one don't want to see two slap hitters in the lineup
We need all the power we can get, especially if Scioscia keeps insisting on playing Mathis 40-50% of the time. I think you really need to decide who the shortstop of the future is — either Aybar or Wood — and depending on your answer either trade Figgy now or (if you choose Wood, and package Aybar for Jake Peavy), let Chone ride out his contract year at 3B, and take the compensation picks when he walks.
But really, we all (and the team) needs to come to grips with the fact that we basically have 4 potential starting shortstops on the 25-man roster — Izzy, Aybar, Wood, and Sean Rodriguez. Since SS is no longer the powerhouse position baseball-wide that it was in the 1990s, we are A) in a great position to deal, and B) on the verge of blocking the development of potential future All-stars. I think the situation is untenable, and that we need to clear the surplus in order to get stuff we need — another SP, or a basher at the OF/DH spot, or (if we go with Wood as the long-term SS) a 3Bman of the future, or just some young prospects (preferably of the OF variety) who might mature in a few years.
Absolutely
The Angels’ declared drafting policy for years has been to get the best available athlete as opposed to drafting for need. The point of that policy is to get the best value for each draft pick, isn’t it? But that assumes that the team is then going to trade its surplus further on in development in order to fill its needs. At some point the organization needs to decide which prospects to keep and which to trade, and this point should be sometime before interest in the prospects starts to wane.
". . .and the young lions will lock horns!" -- Ron Fairly, from an Angels telecast
How could the best available athlete NOT be an outfielder sometimes?
And yet be a catcher three times outta 22? I think the overwhelming bias is “best available athlete in the middle of the diamond,” which might be redundant most times….
Well, yeah
Just to be clear, I was merely stating what their declared policy was, not what they actually have done. Whatever the reason, it seems that they have ignored the outfield for a long time in their system, and I don’t understand why.
". . .and the young lions will lock horns!" -- Ron Fairly, from an Angels telecast
What defensive numbers are you looking at?
Because what I see is that Aybar’s fielding % was actually worse than Izturis. Even if you doubled the number of innings that Izzy played last year, his fielding % would still be much better than Aybar’s. Izzy only made 2 errors in 448.0 innings at SS. Aybar made 18 in 784.2.
I’m sure no one who watched regularly can deny that Aybar not only made outlandishly incredible plays at SS, but also blew pathetically simple plays. However, if the rest of our lineup consists of an aged Vlad as our biggest offensive threat, I don’t want to waste a spot on the weaker offensive SS.
Izzy is more disciplined at the plate (26 BB and 27 SO) than Aybar (14 BB and 45 SO). We need to minimize the number of flailers at the plate, especially if we’re giving Wood a shot at 3rd.
Don't mess with Teix-ass or Bor-ass!
by Rally Manatee on Dec 30, 2008 12:59 AM PST up reply actions
Holy crap!!!!!!!
We’re (possibly/likely) going to have no more than 4 players with more than 20 home runs, but maybe nobody with more than 30 next year… (assuming Figg=3b and Aybar/Izz=ss)
Rivera: 22
Napoli: 28 (30 Potential)
Vlad: 27v(30 potential but not likely)
Hunter: 22
Morales: ????
I guess I just need to write it out to really understand how anemic we will continue to be offensively. Killer…
by MidwayCityLivestock on Dec 30, 2008 11:08 AM PST reply actions
Wood will hit at least 20 if he starts
Angels catchers led the AL in home runs at that position by a wide margin. Howie Kendrick hits more doubles per at bat than 99% of players in major league history.
It all really depends on A) who will be the DH/OF not named Rivera or Vlad, and B) what we’re going to do with our shortstop glut & Chone Figgins. If, at the end of that, there’s only one slap-hitter in the lineup, we’ll be fine in the power department, probably better than we’ve been for a while.
but that's the Angels way!
you’ve got to have a lineup full of stupidly-low-OBP, slap single hitters! it worked once, so it’s going to work forever! didn’t you know that???
/frustration.
ideal lineup with what we currently have:
Figgins LF
Izturis SS
Guerrero DH
Hunter CF
Napoli C
Rivera RF
Kendrick 2B
Morales 1B
Wood 3B
Kotch would've had that.
by howiestheman on Dec 30, 2008 1:19 PM PST up reply actions
never said it was good
i said it was ideal given our current personnel.
Kotch would've had that.
by howiestheman on Dec 30, 2008 1:58 PM PST up reply actions
ironically that lineup doesnt even really bother me
I have more faith in rivera, figgins’ contract year and kendry than most here though
by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 30, 2008 2:22 PM PST up reply actions
we're one power hitter short
as always.
if we could get a legit cleanup hitter, i’d be happy.
Kotch would've had that.
by howiestheman on Dec 30, 2008 3:18 PM PST up reply actions
but who?
Milton Bradley frightens me in terms of health. The team seems stuck because of Vlad’s inevitible DHing to commit to Burrell or Dunn.
I know the stats suggest Dunn makes sense, but I get the feeling his fielding doesnt drive management very wild for him.
Maybe we’re just waiting for the right guys instead of just the available ones?
by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 30, 2008 7:20 PM PST up reply actions
i think we're waiting on a trade
personally, i want Dunn. we know it’s not going to happen, so i didnt bring it up.
who to trade for? i have no stinking clue… but i think one will happen.
Kotch would've had that.
by howiestheman on Dec 30, 2008 7:41 PM PST up reply actions
Milton
is going to be a Cub most likely.
by Chzburger Jones on Dec 31, 2008 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
I'm positive on them too
But we’re going to have to rely on what was a freakishly low injury rate for our starting pitching compared to their production yet again this year as it stands. Not to mention losing the MLB record holder for saves in a season.
I noticed a link to a stat breakdown while wandering Athletics Nation, notice the statistical disparity of D1, D2, and D3 for Angels vs. the rest of the league.
Although I don’t necessairly agree with the A’s fans view that #’s explain ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, but “statistics” class teaches me that outliers cannot be relied upon for anything…
by MidwayCityLivestock on Dec 30, 2008 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
haha its actually kinda funny to see that
the rays were the next highest “lucky” team. Ironically managed by an ex-angel coach.
Im convinced stuff like this has more to do with how we play and manage games than statistical anomaly but i agree, these kind of numbers should start being taken into account by Tony and the guys callin the shots. a little OBP wouldnt hurt.
by ihearhowie2.0 on Dec 30, 2008 7:25 PM PST up reply actions
I didn't mean "crap" as in "that lineup is crap."
I meant “crap” as in “Crap. That’s our lineup?”
I don't know...I'm makin' this up as I go.
got it
and yes, that’s what i would field.
kind of a bummer, no?
Kotch would've had that.
by howiestheman on Dec 30, 2008 3:17 PM PST up reply actions
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