POLL: Garret Anderson
by Downing Rules on Jun 25, 2008 11:00 AM PDT
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PrintOK, so in response to the respect for Garret Anderson issue, it seems that asking the Halos Heaven community their feelings on this great Angel will put this issue to rest.
Garret was a hot-hitting rookie who quickly rose up through the Angels' minor league system. He went through Palm Springs and Vancouver on his trip to Anaheim, finally getting the call up in July 1994.
He was a part of a great young franchise-building outfield including Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon.
While recently, he is more known for rolling over to second base weakly or striking out on a ball in the dirt on an 0-2 count, how can we forget his bases-clearing double in game 7 of the 2002 world series? Or all his positive contributions to the division titles the Angels have been racking up the last few years?
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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I'm too lazy to vote.
Sports Bloggers must first write their words before they can eat them, but when invited to the table to feast, decline the offer.
If you laugh
at racial jokes, does that make you a racist too?
GA GA he's the man, if he can't do it, no one can
Someday, we'll have someone who can break the color barrier of online polls...
and when they pay tribute to that man, Garrett Anderson will not be wearing his number.
by shiftyeyedgoat on Jun 25, 2008 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
we have him already
the deity is called simply Howard
I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!
by anaheim angels on Jun 25, 2008 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
agree/this poll sucks
A pipeline of talent, welcome to Anaheim.
That GA is one of the best and longest tenured players the Angels have ever had
really isn’t up for debate. He leads the team in an amazing number of hitting categories and is second in several more. However, given the way he’s playing right now, he really ought to just go ahead and retire after the Angels release him at the end of this year. Given the help he’s given both Casey Kotchman and Chone Figgins, I’m sure there’d be a spot open as a hitting instructor if he wants it.
*Visiting Angels fan* Never give up, never surrender!
Decent way of putting it
Just because Garret is not a good player now doesn’t mean he wasn’t a good player previously. It’s a silly question, really, along the lines of, “Answer yes or no: have you stopped beating your wife?”
Witty .sig goes here.
GA
I can’t imagine GA playing for anyone but the Angels. We don’t know what will happen the rest of this year. GA is at least healthy. My hopes for him is that he is a star in the Angels’ second World Series victory this fall and then he is given the option of either retiring or taking one more good-bye season as a Halo. He is definitely, one of the top 5 players to ever wear the Angels uniform.
Angels in 08!
We have a club option, do we not?
So, it is in the Angels’ hands whether or not he comes back. If he has a second half this year that comes close to the one he had last year, I see the Halos giving him a chance in that final year. But, it fiscally does not make sense to the Angels, given the personnel already there in the OF positions, to keep GA next year.
Hopefully, he is hoisting that WS trophy in October.
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 25, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
if we get the trophy this year
i dont think GA will come back. I would assume he would end on a high note. it would do his career justice for him to walk off the field holding that trophy.
I'd love to see him pull a Costanza
Leaving on a high note
Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.
Kobe tell me how my ass tastes
The voting is 17-1 right now. Who's the lone racist?!?!
Whatever dude.
by Mayheminthehood on Jun 25, 2008 12:00 PM PDT reply actions
I thought the same thing
you have to be a racist to not like GA.
Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.
Kobe tell me how my ass tastes
George Bush hates GA.
Whatever dude.
by Mayheminthehood on Jun 25, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
another strike against that guy
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 25, 2008 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually...
he said Bush doesn’t care about him. But I’m sure his feelings are leaning toward hatred, what with Garret heading one of the major anti-war lobbying groups in Washington and all. I’m sure he’s been meeting with his contemporaries while in D.C. this week. We should probably excuse GA’s less-than-stellar performance at the plate this year. I mean the guy is trying to end a war.
White trashin' the 909
Uh...that outfield was actually
Tim Salmon,
Jim Edmonds,
Garret Anderson,
and some other guy called Darin Erstad.
We had 4 outfielders for 3 spots. There was a lot of talk about which one was surplus. Salmon and Erstad were the obvious keepers but A LOT of the chatter had GA as the odd man out, meaning he was potentially the least valuable fo the four. Fortunately for the Halos, Edmonds turned himself into a serious problem and made the decision obvious to everyone.
And, for the record, I refuse to vote in your poll because I reject both of your two options. I am NOT the lone vote against…
Um OK, smart fellow...
but when GA CAME UP, it was one Mr. Chad Curtis in center field. He was not a cornerstone, hence I did not mention him.
Ersty was drafted in 1995, IIRC, so I did not mention him as being a part in the July 1994 callup of GA to the big club.
But, I do remember when it was a foursome and I do recall some thinking GA was the odd man out. But, the saying was, man, he’s got one sweet swing.
Fine about your vote, I wanted polarization, not FINE details.
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 25, 2008 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Still not quite on target.
In ‘94 the “great young outfield” did, indeed, have Chad Curtis in CF. That “great young outfield” was Edmonds/Curtis/Salmon (ages 24/25/25). Garret came up and was already the odd-man out in that outfield. He was not a part of it. He stepped into that role the next year, in 1995, after Curtis was sent to Detroit in the Spring. Erstad showed up the very next season, and the crowd was restored.
[waves white flag]
you win on every count and I am wrong.
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2008 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
i voted priceless
not because i think hes priceless(i prefer timmy much more to GA) but just because he had some great years for us so to call him worthless is dumb. but priceless is hyperbole
hmm, starting a "GA is hyperactive" fad
nice change of pace
I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!
by anaheim angels on Jun 25, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Priceless
GA might not ever be unconditionally beloved like Tim Salmon or admired like the ‘gritty, hustling, former punter at Nebraska’ Darin Erstad. He probably lost some style points to Jim Edmonds when Edmonds was starring in centerfield for the Angels’ in the late 90s.
On the other hand, GA would say, check his numbers. Things fell into place for him in Anaheim, in his own way [maybe on his own terms].
He helped Anaheim win the World Series in 2002, has over 2000 hits, won the AS HR Derby and the AS MVP. He has had no small part in making this organization a relevant franchise during the last 10 years.
It is going to be sad when the Angels finally have to make a decision on him at the end of the year. I’m not saying he’s a guy who won’t look to play on another team, if there is a deal out there to his liking, but I can see him retiring, rather than just hanging on after this season.
What people forget about GA: he never bitched about the contract he signed in 2000
Following the 1999 season, GA had been a steady (if unspectacular) performer and was coming off a solid season (.303/.336/.469, 21HRs, 36 doubles). With the Angels having traded Edmonds in March of 2000 and not wanting to risk losing GA to free agency following the 2000 season, they signed him that April to a 4-year $20 million contract that would take effect in 2001.
GA missed out on an absolutely insane free agent market following the 2000 season, a market that saw A-Rod get a 10-year/$252 million contract and Manny get 8-years/$160 million. Not that GA would have garnered that type of contract, but certainly more than what he signed for a few months earlier.
Nevertheless, GA put together his finest years as an Angel in 2001, 2002 and 2003. And not once did he bitch or whine that he was being grossly underpaid. Hell, he earned every penny of that $20 million contract just for what he did in 2002 alone (.306/.332/.539, 56 doubles, 29 HRs, 123 RBIs, + post season).
Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!
Did any other Angel lead all of MLB in hits over a ten year period?
Didn’t think so
Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.
Kobe tell me how my ass tastes
GA is a friggin'
OUT MACHINE!
Tim Salmon, and Tim Salmon alone is the best Halo hitter of all time. Don’t quote me hits. Friggin’ Juan Pierre has a shitload of hits too – and he sucks ass.
I can barely handle people getting their panties in a wad over GA when the MF’er has been a drag on this offense for the better part of 4 years. I don’t care what he did in August and September last year he has been worthless since he signed his extension in 2004 (or was it 2003?).
I loved him when his SLG could support his abysmal OBP. But he makes too many damn outs to be useful. Salmon was FAR and AWAY a better hitter and it isn’t really close…
But seriously
Has any other Angel led MLB in hits over a ten year period? Seriously.
Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.
Kobe tell me how my ass tastes
Salmon vs GA
let’s look at a few categories
Number of seasons of 300+ AB’s
G. Anderson 14 seasons
T. Salmon 11 seasons
Hits (sheer numbers)
G. Anderson 2277
T. Salmon 1674
Walks (sheer numbers)
G. Anderson 381
T. Salmon 970
Strikeouts
G. Anderson 1083
T. Salmon 1360
Career Batting Average / OBP / SLG
G. Anderson 0.295 / 0.326 / 0.468
T. Salmon 0.282 / 0.385 / 0.498
162-game averages
G. Anderson AB=644, H=190, 2B=40, HR=22, RBI=104, BB=32, K=90
T. Salmon AB=575, H=162, 2B=33, HR=29, RBI=98, BB=94, K=132
Career Numbers
G. Anderson AB=7715, H=2277, 2B=474, HR=263, RBI=1243, BB=381, K=1083
T. Salmon AB=5934, H=1674, 2B=339, HR=299, RBI=1016, BB=970, K=1360
So, I know, we all have a sentimental place for #15, but realistically, G.A. was a better hitter than Tim Salmon over their careers looking at sheer numbers and yearly averages. 13 BA points higher and an average of 28 more hits per season.
However, if you use BB’s as a criteria, yes, Tim would be considered a better hitter. But, I’d take hits and RBI’s over HR’s and BB’s in this case.
But, maybe you are looking at 2008 and first-half 2007 in your assessment of GA…
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
looking at that data you could easily argue that salmon was the better hitter
59 points in OBP and 30 in SLG over career numbers? The only reason GA has alot more hits and RBIs is because he average 70 more ABs than Salmon.
I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!
by anaheim angels on Jun 27, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
good point...
I can certainly see both sides of this argument. But in those addtitional 70 AB’s GA had 38 more hits…
I am not sure it is an easy argument, though, looking at the stats; not the simplistic way that jimmuscomp is looking at it. I’d like to see his support and maybe I’d understand his point better. Not just a simple “GA IS AN OUT MACHINE.”
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2008 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
true,
I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!
by anaheim angels on Jun 27, 2008 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
, im kinda undecided at this moment.
i think a slight edge goes to salmon, because it is who is the better hitter (all around). if it were healthier hitter, then GA, had it been better hitter for average, GA, but in terms of eye and power, Salmon wins in a landslide
I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!
by anaheim angels on Jun 27, 2008 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions
The Garret Conundrum
Counting stats – indicating longevity – is where he rules.
His averages are just not that great.
Given the number of opportunities to drive in and score runs that Garret has had over the past dozen-plus seasons on the Angels, there are many many many players who would have amassed what he has put together.
Getting those opportunities
is the MOST difficult part. He had to do something right to be there in the first place. “Many many many players” simply never are able to create those opportunities. More importantly, the overwhelming majority of Major Leaguers who have ever played the game have not even come close to amassing GA’s stats, even given those same opportunities.
by GarretSaysSuckIt on Jun 25, 2008 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Before his injury problems
he was a .300 hitter over the course of almost an entire decade. That’s a hell of an “average.”
From 1997-2003, he also averaged 24 homers and 104 RBIs a season, another good average.
STATISTICALLY, if you look at his numbers, he’s Derek Jeter minus the walks, plus some extra power (and much better defense)...and their average statistics will look even more similar once Jeter starts to (if he hasn’t already) enter the decline of his career. The only main difference, like I said, is Garret’s OBP (from walks, not hits). If one goes to the hall, I would argue to my grave that both should. Fuck world series ring talk.
by Caseys Kiss of Death on Jun 26, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
His on-base percentage
Is subpar and he’s made more outs, than say the greatest hitter in Angels’ history - Tim Salmon.
Carew spent the first half of his career in Minnesota, so I’ll defer to Salmon.
Last year
GA made a lot of people eat crow in August and September. He helped carry us into the playoffs. If not for the pink eye, he would have carried his hot streak into the playoffs.
I expect the same thing to happen this year. He will go on a long tear at some point during the season. Hopefully in August and September again.
The Angels will work out the 2009 contract with an 8 or 9 mil/yr 3yr offer. Just a hunch.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on Jun 26, 2008 12:44 AM PDT reply actions
that would be a very stupid move on the Angels part
Chaka Khan... Rally Monkey 2.0
by howiestheman on Jun 26, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Stupid doesn't begin to describe that scenario.
God help us if we have HGH, Hunter, Vlad AND GA again next year. That is one sad use of $50 million.
i respect those guys
but i totally agree… too many young guys to resign Anderson, no matter what he may or may not do in the last 2 months of the season
Chaka Khan... Rally Monkey 2.0
by howiestheman on Jun 26, 2008 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions
With the tour de force of quality players that have played for this franchise
One would think that GA would be embraced. Jesus Christ.
Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.
Kobe tell me how my ass tastes
GA is too lazy to be Jesus Christ.
"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley
by Downing Rules on Jun 26, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Good point
Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.
Kobe tell me how my ass tastes
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