BREAKING NEWS: Izturis to have season-ending surgery

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:16 PM PDT

According to Fox Sports, Angels' shortstop Maicer Izturis is going to have season-ending surgery on his left thumb.

So what does this mean for the Angels? Well, for starters, Erick Aybar just became the full-time shortstop, and Sean Rodriguez became the full-time backup. Will we see another platoon? I doubt it. But I'm sure we'll see more for Rodriguez than we all thought we would.

This year, Maicer was hitting .269 with 3 HRs, 37 RBIs and 11 SB in 79 games. Can Aybar dupicate that same production? I think so. Is there reason to panic? Not right now, no. If Aybar gets injured, then we can panic.

Another thing we may see is uber-prospect Brandon Wood getting some solid time at shortstop. While that may not happen for a few weeks, it remains an outside possibility.

Get well, Gazoo. We'll miss you.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan and may or may not be a reflection of human evolution, divine enlightenment or nine cans into a 12-pack.

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We assume S-Rod can play some shortstop

but I’m with you, call up Brandon and get him ready for backing up during the playoffs.

Angels in 08!

by tanana40 on Aug 15, 2008 3:19 PM PDT 0 recs

i think

you start having wood playing short at Salt Lake and keep playing everyday

that way hes sharp when we NEED him to be up here. S-Rod is a good backup to sit on the bench and play once a week. If Aybar gets hurt, Wood gets plugged in full time without rotting on the bench for X amount of days

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 15, 2008 3:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

yeah, good idea

though, I would like Wood to get some major league at-bats in September to see if he has overcome the problems of April and May.

Angels in 08!

by tanana40 on Aug 15, 2008 3:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Let's split up and look for clues.

Shaggy and scuby… you go with Thelma while Daphne and I’ll will look over here.

If GA wasn't so lazy the Halos woulda won the 2008 WS by now.

by melvintoast on Aug 15, 2008 4:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wood

has been playing SS exclusively the past 2 months

Go Angels!

by Four Ts on Aug 15, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

didn't know that

thanks for the heads up.

maybe they want him at SS and not at 3B?

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wood took two years before he figured out AAA

At this rate, he’ll take four YEARS before he figures out major league pitching. Pass.

Let’s see him in ST next year before jumping to conclusions, yes?

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Aug 15, 2008 6:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Is this assertion based on anything other than pure speculation and haterade?

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 16, 2008 8:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

you could base it on a .134 average in 100 ABs if youd like

i dont have a problem with wood but ive never understood the kid gloves so many fans handle him with. If he doesnt perform well, why shouldnt people be allowed to make a point of it without it being due to “haterade” ?

I just think there reaches a point where you can stop making excuses for prospects. 23 years old seems like a reasonable time

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 16, 2008 2:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

forgot to add

that if aybar came out and performed at a .160 rate at the beginning of this season, most everyone here would hate him, want him traded or in AAA. Its funny how after the OC trade everyone was SO sure about what aybar could and couldnt do yet when wood got a much more prolonged shot at the bigs and failed, everyone here still coddled him. Its just funny how people play favorites with certain prospects but not with all of them

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 16, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

And maybe people would want Aybar in AAA.

That doesn’t explain where a claim of four years to adjust to the majors comes from.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 16, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

First 100 major league ABs, nearly everybody struggles.

Go look at Tim Salmon or Casey Kotchman’s first attempts at hitting big league pitching. And no, 23 is completely arbitrary and 100% bogus age to “stop making excuses for prospects.”

And what favorites with Aybar? Anyone who thought Aybar wouldn’t improve was full of it. I was in favor of trading Cabrera due to our depth at SS. I recommended Aybar get the starting job during ST.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 16, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

ya but i dont think you follow the spirit of scareduck's post

which was, as i took it, that this team has world series hopes and that people who are using izturis’ injury as yet another excuse to try and get a boner over seeing brandon wood on tv is just stupid. Winning is more important than throwing some more developmental ABs to wood and hoping that he learns from all the 0fors for the benefit of the angels in the future.

i think we can put the future aside for 3 months when we’re primed for a serious world series run.

Whats the perk of having a developed Wood? To have a better chance of winning a world series in the future right? Well call me crazy but i think id rather remove as much risk as possible from here on out since we’re fighting for home field advantage and a world series.

I understand people will say we havent seen him take any ABs since hes gone back down and mashed AAA….but wheres the cutoff point? At what point would the sample size no longer be insignificant….and would it already be too late? Would handing Wood another 60 ABs be worth possibly losing home field advantage?

Do we suffer through maybe a .160 hitting short stop over, say, 15 games, just to make sure hes not ready to be a playoff player? Does that not sound completely counter productive to what we’re trying to do this season?

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 16, 2008 8:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why shouldn't they be excited about a guy with 100 XBH potential?

No one has said anything about him being anything other than a backup, which at the moment, is either him or S-Rod.

And “spirit” has nothing to do with it. He’s said similar things in other topics without providing any justification whatsoever. So until he’s demonstrates otherwise, speculation and haterade are about all he’s got for posts like that.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 17, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

The Phragile Pharaoh

That’s kind of a bummer. If this is the worst the injury bug bites I’ll be pleased.

by ReggieBullits on Aug 15, 2008 3:25 PM PDT 0 recs

+1

if it’s just losing Willits for a few weeks and Izturis for the year, then i’m totally cool with it.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

Aww crap. Well, sucks for Izzy. Stay healthy, Admiral! We're gonna need you.

Whatever dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Aug 15, 2008 3:26 PM PDT 0 recs

Good thing our depth is deep.

by Higz on Aug 15, 2008 3:27 PM PDT 0 recs

the deepest.

by 44FAN on Aug 15, 2008 3:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Bummer

Might Maicer was the underestimated King of Klutch. This sucks. I would take Wood as the backup for the stretch run.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 15, 2008 3:27 PM PDT 0 recs

it's important to note...

that while Izzy was hitting .319 with RISP, Aybar has hit .294 in the same situation.

that may not be all the “clutch” you were referring to, but it’s a help, no doubt.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

howiestheman, I hope you had on a business suit and were talking in a very stern voice for BREAKING NEWS.

What a shame, Izzy was a real fire starter in our lineup. With him batting you knew anything great that could happen would happen. He was one of the most dependable guys defensively as well. We will miss him but it will give some of our back-up talent a chance to shine hopefully.

by 44FAN on Aug 15, 2008 3:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Actually, he was in his underwear and was about to do a cannonball into a pool.

Whatever dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Aug 15, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

close

i was sitting on the couch with my hand down my pants. :P

but seriously… i just thought it would catch everyone’s attention if I did that.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

THE MICEMAN GOETH BUT WE HAVE DEPTH

stay humble in a ferari

by MYSPASCOBAR on Aug 15, 2008 3:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Dude.

See that thing next to the letter “A” on your keyboard? It’s called a caps lock.

Now press it! You don’t have to shout to get our attention.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 15, 2008 7:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

he obviously

didn’t get that memo when he was creating his username, either.

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

by lightupthehalo on Aug 15, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

WELL IT COULD BE WORSE I IMAGINE!!!!

Show 'em your a panther... Show 'em what you can do....

by stuck in Romania on Aug 15, 2008 11:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

SHOUT...SHOUT...

Let it all out….These are the things WE can do without….C’MON……I’M TALKING TO YOU….C’MON

by LV AngelsFan on Aug 16, 2008 7:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

LOL

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 16, 2008 8:08 AM PDT up 0 recs

If this had happened in Spring Training

This place would be freakin out right now. Aybar has proven himself to the point where I’m comfortable with him as our everyday.

by ReggieBullits on Aug 15, 2008 3:40 PM PDT 0 recs

this palce freak out???

no way! :)

by SCHalo on Aug 15, 2008 4:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

*place

by SCHalo on Aug 15, 2008 4:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Looks like Kendry Morales has been called up to take his place on the roster

While Matt Brown pounds the ball in the Olympics and Brandon Wood continues to come around down at AAA.

Where right now the only thing shakier than Scot Shields is our defense...

by hk47 on Aug 15, 2008 3:46 PM PDT 0 recs

I caught a little bit of that first game against Korea, Matt Brown is really good.

by 44FAN on Aug 15, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

he LAUNCHED a homer in their game against the Netherlands.

btw, this LaPorta guy that everyone loves… he’s not doing so hot.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's too bad we won't even TRY fielding a team that would dominate

because I have no doubt that if our roster in the olympics was even half-full of high level prospects, we’d win with ease. as is, it’s probably not gonna happen.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 15, 2008 9:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

no kidding.

if we put together a team of guys in the top 50 on the prospect list, we’d probably kill every other country.

sad day.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

The worst thing is

this may very well be the last time any of us ever see olympic baseball, and we won’t go out in the blaze of glory we should, since we own the freakin’ game.

but hey, gotta make room for trampoline, synchronized diving, and BMX somehow. might as well get rid of the sport that no other countries want to play BECAUSE IT’S NOT FAIR…THEY’RE GOOD AT IT, AND WE’RE NOT, AND THAT’S NOT FAIR, BECAUSE WE ONLY WANT TO PLAY SPORTS WE’RE GOOD AT.

makes me wonder how basketball survived the 70s and 80s, or gymnastics hung around through the soviet dominance of the 80s.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 15, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why don't we force the losing side of the All-Star game to go play in the Olympics?

The threat of losing your best players for two weeks of the season might make for a better kick in the ass to encourage trying to win the damn thing in the first place.

Francisco Rodriguez: 192 career saves. 2 career Panthers, tied with Hector Carrasco.

by Stirrups on Aug 16, 2008 12:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

maybe just make baseball

an event at the winter olympics…

by Rev Halofan on Aug 16, 2008 1:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

Hell yeah!

Think of all those indoor baseball fields in high-altitude resorts around the world that we could the A’s to for season openings!

Francisco Rodriguez: 192 career saves. 2 career Panthers, tied with Hector Carrasco.

by Stirrups on Aug 16, 2008 1:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

I was thinking this recently, too

but we still have the problem that the event is being removed, at least in part, because it was an event too commonly dominated by too small a part of the world.

Which is bull since, like I said, this is hardly the first sport to ever be single-region/nation dominated in the Olympics.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 16, 2008 1:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

sadly im sure much of the top 50 list is not american

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 16, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

Make us proud Admiral

Odd choice to call up Kendry and not S-Rod, but I guess if we need a backup at short Figgy can slide in and Q can take over third.

by foxpaw on Aug 15, 2008 3:55 PM PDT 0 recs

SRod is already up.

he was called up when Willits went on the DL.

that’s why the K-Mo call up.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 3:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

Der

by foxpaw on Aug 15, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Morales up?

I assume that the reason we have yet to hear from Acuda is because he wasn’t near his oxygen tank when the news came in?

Francisco Rodriguez: 192 career saves. 2 career Panthers, tied with Hector Carrasco.

by Stirrups on Aug 15, 2008 4:32 PM PDT 1 recs

pantera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Higz on Aug 15, 2008 4:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

LOL!!!!!!

That was like my cousin from Goshen, CA. would say….“hella Funny.”

It actually made me start laughting out loud. And no I was not away from my Oxygen tank lol I just was busy all day and didnt have time to go online yesterday.

I checked the box score for AAA on thursday night and Kendry was not there, so I figured either he got called up, hurt, or got a day off. The one I was hoping for was that he got called up. Hope he gets some playing time.

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Aug 16, 2008 3:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

ROFLOMLest

by eyespy on Aug 16, 2008 9:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

This makes me sad...

But, Izzy did his share for us this year. I’m certainly pleased with what he brought to the team. Also, as others have said, losing one of our shortstops is not the worst thing that could have happened. Aybar will perform well in Maicer’s absence.

by tbone_cutter on Aug 15, 2008 4:54 PM PDT 0 recs

I am pleased with what he brought to the team, too

But when it comes to Maicer, I am always more pleased by what he took away from the team…

…Jose Guillen.

I say we SHOULD call-up Wood. He’s been absolutely raking the last month at AAA.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 15, 2008 9:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

only if he got playing time

if he’s rotting on the bench, it would be worthless.
he NEEDS every day playing time. i think evidence of that is his year in AAA

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 15, 2008 9:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thing is ...

We’ve got a nearly unassailable lead. Why not bring Wood up now and let him play SS every day in the bigs? If it doesn’t work out after a couple of weeks then send him back down.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 16, 2008 8:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

Probably because the SLC guys would kill us.

Jepson and Brown gone for the Olympics, Loux, S-Rod and Morales up here. And them in the middle of a playoff chase themselves.

Let Wood finish out the season down there. The SS spot is still going to be there in September.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 16, 2008 8:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

And, if I were Wood, I would actually be happy with that.

Secure in my future, knowing that it is inevitable that I will be a MLB player, it would be kind of cool to have a chance to win the AAA title, then get called up to the show just in time to win a WS ring in the same year. And, what with the time spent on the ML club earlier in the year, followed by the time spent at the end, I would get a decent winners share! Life would be good.

Francisco Rodriguez: 192 career saves. 2 career Panthers, tied with Hector Carrasco.

by Stirrups on Aug 16, 2008 11:28 AM PDT up 0 recs

well, first off...

we’re going to need Aybar in October, since he’s the starting SS. We need to make sure he’s settled into this game, and used to playing every day.

when September rolls around, though, i’d like to see a SS platoon of Aybar/Wood, and Wood play 3B whenever he’s not playing SS. that way, he plays every day, and our starting 3B and SS get some regular rest.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 16, 2008 10:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

because we're trying to win a world series, not develop prospects

you would like home field advantage in the playoffs wouldnt you?

thats why aybar, and not wood, should play every day. Over-resting guys last year didnt really work out too well. If youre rolling, keep it rolling.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 16, 2008 2:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

I have come around to yours ...

and Roosevelt’s opinion: I hate WAH. We all hate WAH. But we got WAH.

So you guys are right: Aybar’s the man for now, leave Dick Wood in AAA, and let’s win the WAH, ie, World Series.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 19, 2008 7:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

Most of all I feel bad for Izzy

He’s one of my favourite Angels. Shows up ready to play every day, never complains, gets dirty, is uncannily clutch and he’s been a big reason why we have the best record in baseball.

Sure … thank God for our depth. We can plug in the Admiral, S-Rod, or possibly Dick Wood at SS and we don’t suffer much of a drop-off.

It’s just that Izzy is a guy who plays baseball the right way — and it’s bummer realising that he’s not going to be able to experience the playoffs or possibly the WS in what might be the best Angels season ever, especially after being so useful all season. Unlucky Izzy.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 16, 2008 12:44 PM PDT 0 recs