Angels Opening Day Lineup

by Rev Halofan on Mar 19, 2008 6:06 PM PDT

From Ten Years Ago:
C – Matt Walbeck
1B – Darin Erstad
2B – Norberto Martin
3B – Dave Hollins
SS – Gary DiSarcina
LF – Garret Anderson
CF – Jim Edmonds
RF – Tim Salmon
DH – Cecil Fielder
SP – Chuck Finley
APRIL 1, 1998

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Really makes you appreciate

what we have now, amidst all the babbling and whining about the necessity for another power bat.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Mar 19, 2008 6:36 PM PDT reply actions

God that lineup sucks.

On the road to 100.

by hauldog on Mar 19, 2008 7:01 PM PDT reply actions

...AND YET...

AND YET this was the team - the only team - that had a winning record against the World Champion 1998 Yankees, arguably the best team in many, many years, one that won 125 games (with postseaosn victories totaled into the equation).

by Rev Halofan on Mar 19, 2008 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Very good point

Nice pull!

On the road to 100.

by hauldog on Mar 19, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions

good outfield

You have to admit that the outfield was good.

Angels in 08!

by tanana40 on Mar 19, 2008 7:04 PM PDT reply actions

That OF/1B/SP combo kicks our ass

Edmonds trumps Hunter; Young G.A. is at least more healthy than Old G.A.; Salmon in his prime competes with Vladdy in his decline; Finley was a great pitcher; and Erstad was a fantastic player in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

The real crime here is that the team "solved" its Four Outfielders "problem" by trading J.T. Snow and Chili Davis for two bags of shit, and then suffering through a series of disastrous fixes at the DH slot. Those Four Outfielders + Snow should have brought a helluva lot more than one Wild Card championship.

by mattwelch on Mar 19, 2008 7:08 PM PDT reply actions

J.T. Snow

was my first favorite player in baseball. I never fully forgave them for trading him for Allen "Beer Car" Watson and Fausto "Who" Macey. When I woke up and read that he had been traded back in '96 (I was 10) I almost cried, and was probably in denial for a good weak. Go figure he went on to have his best years with the Giants.

And of course, he raped us in interleague almost every year.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Mar 19, 2008 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget his "save"...

of Baker's kid at home plate in the 2002 Series.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Mar 20, 2008 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions

What are you smoking?

Edmunds trumps Hunter? Salmon competes with Vladdy?

One could argue Edmunds and Hunter are a push. Jimmie had better BA (.307 vs .287), score more runs (115 vs 94) and had more hits (184 vs 172) but Torri had more 2Bs (45 vs 42), HRs (28 vs 25), RBIs (107 vs 91) and SBs (18 vs 7).

Vlad had more 2Bs (45 vs 28), RBIs (125 vs 88), higher BA (.324 vs .300), and SLG (.547 vs .533). The only place Salmon compares with Vlad is HRs, where Vlad still had adv (27 vs 26). And our Vlad "in decline" played in more games (150 vs 136)

I will concede Erstad over Kotch but not by as much as you would think.

Finley a "great" pitcher? WTY won more games last year than Finley won in 1998 had a lower WHIP. Yes, Finley had a lower ERA and more strikeouts but come on WTY is our 3rd best pitcher. Wanna compare Finley and Lackey?

by SoCalWine on Mar 20, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I take Kotch over Erstad

and whereas Kotch will continue to mature and produce, we all know what became of Erstad. Kotch's peripherals (low K/high BB) and contact skills dictate only further improvement. I'd say they're a push defensively.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Mar 20, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Who else thought

Cecil is a hilarious name for such a big guy?

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

by Rally Manatee on Mar 19, 2008 8:56 PM PDT reply actions

i remember

this lineup so well because it was the lineup of the angels in major league baseball featuring ken griffey jr for nintendo 64, lol, i think randy velarde might have been the 2nd baseman though, with martin riding the bench

Is it March 31st yet?

by Sorbo182 on Mar 19, 2008 11:44 PM PDT reply actions