Some early thoughts...

by The Limey on Apr 15, 2008 5:34 PM PDT

So 15 games under the belt. Not a huge sample, but a nice snapshot of where the team is and is heading in 2008:

1. The infield - Isn't this what we've been waiting for? A+

1B - Kotchman: .352, 1.027 OPS, 4 HR

2B - Kendrick: .500, 1.220 OPS, 5 doubles

SS - Aybar: .324, 3 sb, some (mostly) slick glovework

3B - Figgins: .393, .507 OBP, 7 sb

2. The outfield - B

To expectation: a combination of strength with some signs of ageing

Vlad impales, daily; GMJ is, to be fair, what we expect him to be (for better or worse, for now, like a spouse you've realised you want to divorce); Torii has started reasonably well (better with the bat than the glove, methinks, unexpectedly); GA is showing signs of wear and tear: he sort of reminds me of my grandfather - he needed a little warming up in the morning (early season) before he could give of his best. Not ideal, but he was my gradfather so I could forgive him that

3. The rotation - B

Good performance so far from the guys that HAD to pick it up (Santana, Weaver, Saunders), Moseley needs to be back in the pen, for Garland the jury's out so far. With Big John returning and Adenhart looking sweet at AAA, we should be fine (injury notwithstanding, touch wood and sacrifice something large at the altar of chance)

4. The pen - D

Christ on a bike - showing signs of life now, but I thought we were going to have to get out the paddles for an impromptu resuscitation. Needs health and a more even share of the workload. May well need propping up between now and the end of the season.

All in all, I think this team is looking like it could/should do well.

As hoped for, offensively the Angels appear much stronger than last year, with a few of the younger guys growing into the role. The pitching has been reflective of the injuries that the team has had to carry, while again being supported by 3 younger guys fgrowing into the role. I feel pretty confident. I think even with the injuries, we're going to take some beating.

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I forgot the catchers

5. Between them batting .302 with 6 HR.

If only Napoli could throw out a runner from time to time, and Mathis could take a pitch, we could be onto something here – A-

I see red people

by The Limey on Apr 15, 2008 5:43 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

I was gonna say

The Angels have the best small-sample-sized offensive catching platoon since 1900 (maybe not if you include any team with Mike Piazza on it, but still).

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Apr 16, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

well done

However, I think you went a little easy on the outfield. They get a C, in my opinion.

by yeswecan on Apr 15, 2008 6:10 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Nice report card

Loving 9-6 with the injured starters! Bullpen has been a shambles…prior to today I would say your grade was too high!

Very unimpressed with 5 E’s in 10 games for Eybar! How do we keep Howie in the lineup (decision by Fri on DL) ? What do we have to feed him?

Catching tandem with 6 HR’s already? Sweet! Make that an A!

I would probably throw in a B for Managing/Coaching. Some odd choices for Scioscia thus far. For example, we could have really used a complete game from Saunders when he pulled him with 80 pitches after 8.

I will throw in an A for our AAA team too! We will need Arredondo and Adenhart before this season is over to pull a Lackey and KRod from 02 to win it all! Probably KMo or Wood also.

Don’t let down for KC…they are pitching lights out!

There's an old saying: 50 percent of what's going to happen, you have no control over. And the other 50 percent is going to happen anyway." -- Arte Moreno

by K3YEROUT on Apr 15, 2008 6:14 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Is it 5 already?

So he’s on target for a 50+ errors this season… wow.

I see red people

by The Limey on Apr 15, 2008 11:32 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

LOL = Eybar

I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious.

by lightupthehalo on Apr 16, 2008 5:25 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Who knew Serrano would be the next guy from AAA?

And I love the nickname Eybar for Senor Error! We need some IF coverage…I take it we are Figgy as our backup 2b/SS now? Move Q to 3b? Cupboard is a little thin while HK is hurt! :(

There's an old saying: 50 percent of what's going to happen, you have no control over. And the other 50 percent is going to happen anyway." -- Arte Moreno

by K3YEROUT on Apr 16, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Whoa, homey

See, I can be hip. I hope I spelled homey correctly.

The outfield is an A. You tell me which outfield as a whole will be more productive (RBI, HR, etc.) than us and I will say I may not believe you.

Rotation, with the loss of Escy Man, I can maybe, maybe, coming down to a B but I would say B+

The pullpen is not at our normal awesome self, but compared to the rest of the league, I would say at least a B or a B+

I know our ERA right now is terrible. Patience grasshoppers.

by vladtheimpaler on Apr 16, 2008 1:13 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

thats where we should be...

but i think we were discussing where we’ve actually been to start the season.

infield – A, they’re all killin’ it. room to improve, but thats always the case.
outfield – B, they’re old, we all get it, but they’re all pretty consistent too. other than injury, i don’t see anything drasticly bad happening in the future. even if that happens, we have two starting outfielders on the bench.
rotation – B, great job so far given the circumstances. a couple poor starts sprinkled in there, but i’m not too worried with lack coming back and adenhart in the works.
pen – D, horrible so far, but can really only get better…i hope.
catchers – A, offensively great so far, nap just needs defensive work.

C: Bengie Molina, 1B: Wally Joyner, 2B: Bob Grich, SS: Jim Fregosi, 3B: Troy Glaus, RF: Tim Salmon, CF: Darin Erstad, LF: Brian Downing, SP: Nolan Ryan, RP: Troy Percival

by NoDakHalo on Apr 16, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

*drastically

C: Bengie Molina, 1B: Wally Joyner, 2B: Bob Grich, SS: Jim Fregosi, 3B: Troy Glaus, RF: Tim Salmon, CF: Darin Erstad, LF: Brian Downing, SP: Nolan Ryan, RP: Troy Percival

by NoDakHalo on Apr 16, 2008 10:01 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

My Evaluation so far...

Infield: A-

If Izturis could be hitting over .200, I’d give it an A+. Aybar looks raw, but with his hitting, I’ll take him. Howie, Figgins and Kotch are raking.

Outfield/DH: C+

The only outfielder living up to his potential right now is Hunter. Still, he hasn’t yet made the spectacular catches we have know him for, but I think they will come.

Vlad has been striking out WAY MORE OFTEN. That concerns me, but it seems even in what I would call a mini-slump, Vlad still gets it done with some homeruns or doubles off the walls. I expect him to heat up soon, and then we’ll be killing teams offensively.

GA has remained healthy (which is a plus) but is not hitting like a #4 or #5 hitter. He needs to show that he can still put up numbers to justify him hitting where he is in our lineup and keep Juan Rivera on the bench.

GMJ has been struggling as well…hope it’s just a slump not a sign of him slowing down for the next four years.

Starting Pitchers: Overall C+

Weaver: B- He has not showed the dominance he did in spring training but has been ok.

Garland: C- If it wasn’t for the one solid start, he would be this years Jeff Weaver. Let’s hope he rebounds, because we’ll be in trouble if he doesn’t

Saunders: A+ Pitching like a Cy young caliber pitcher. I fit wasn’t for an inherited runner scoring, he would have only given up 2 runs in three starts.

Santana: A- How did he learn to pitch on the road? Has been solid and is showing resilience (such as giving up 3 in the first inning of his last start and not giving up any more the rest of the way).

Moseley: D+ Back to the bullpen ASAP. Has stunk it up—getting hit hard AND walking a lot of guys—bad combination.

Bullpen: C-

Without Scot Shields pitching lights out, this grade would have been a D. That said, O’Day has been solid and Oliver has been decent.

Rodriguez and Speier have been terrible—and were suppose to be the two that anchored our bullpen this year.

Bulger and Thompson don’t belong in the majors—keep them in mop-up duty unit Moseley and Bootcheck return to the pen, because that’s all there good for.

Catchers: A+

Naps has been as offensive force and Mathis has been a defensive force (as well as doing well hitting too). Almost wish we were carrying a third catcher for Mathis to come in as a defensive replacement when Shields and Frankie pitch.

Bench—No grade because nobody has been getting ABs between Q, Rivera, and Willits (13 Abs combined).

Coaching: C+

What’s up with GMJ batting second and getting most starts at DH? He needs to bat way lower and play the field way more. Kotch and Howie need to bat higher and when our starting pitchers are dominating with low pitch counts, they need to finish games—Especially when K-Rod is struggling.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Apr 16, 2008 12:10 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Contract

What’s up with GMJ batting second and getting most starts at DH?

That could be shortened to, “What’s up with GMJ batting?”

For reasons unknown to the general public, the coaching staff doesn’t like Juan Rivera. He sat behind Jeff DaVanon & Steve Finley, though he was a better hitter than both at the time. He’s a better hitter than GMJr. ever was or will be. Yet, he sits.

by jjackflash on Apr 16, 2008 2:29 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

I'm sold

I have seen enough of HGH with a bat in his hand! Move him to 4th OF and let’s have Rivera DH. Enough already!

There's an old saying: 50 percent of what's going to happen, you have no control over. And the other 50 percent is going to happen anyway." -- Arte Moreno

by K3YEROUT on Apr 16, 2008 10:38 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs