Team Needs a Shot in the Arm

by hk47 on Aug 19, 2008 11:51 AM PDT

Los Angeles de Anaheim have last four of their last five. Granted they were playing really well prior to this most recent losing streak, but during another painful loss last night, I couldn't help thinking how we're suddenly making this home field advantage thing very interesting. I had an ugly 2005 Steve Finley flashback.

I think the team needs a shot in the arm. I think the Izturis injury was more of a setback than anticipated. I think Howie needs a day off. I am interested to see what Soth has up his sleeve.

I'd like to see a lineup change for a game or two. Maybe DH Morales for Rivera. Maybe sub out Howie for a day off. The guy's hitting .224 in August. Figgins can't buy his way on right now. Aybar needs a day off soon, who's going to play SS?

September can't seem to come soon enough to see guys like Brandon Wood, Jason Bulger and Matt Brown.

Is anyone else worried about the team right now? I think losing homefield advantage has really hurt us in playoffs past. It doesn't seem to be a big deal for Soth. I know we have been a good road team in 2008, but I'd rather be playing at the Big A in October.

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.

0 recs | Comment 31 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Scioscia is a player's manager

This engenders loyalty, but it burned out Figgins last season in September grinding hard in chasing the batting title and I am sure Scioscia is trying to help Howie qualify for the title by playing him everyday when it is obvious Kendrick needs a nap.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 12:19 PM PDT 0 recs

I think sometimes he's a little too loyal. Loyalty is a good thing, but blind loyalty is never good...

I think Kendrick and Figgy could use a day off

Where hk47 is trying to decide what is more overrated...closers or saves...

by hk47 on Aug 19, 2008 2:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thats fine on paper

If Hendrick and Figgy sit who is playing second and third? Q at 3rd on the turf? That will not be pretty!

I believe that Howie needs time off as well. He has played in every single Angel game since his return to the lineup 66gms out of 66. Thats more consecutive games played then at any time in his career. That is my same fear of having Izzy out of the lineup. Aybar has never been an every day player at the big league level. Now he is, and that is tough to do when you have never done it before. I voiced my concern regarding Aybar as the every day SS, but everyone wants to point out how he has done well, and I would agree. He just hasn’t done it daily. There is a difference.

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Aug 19, 2008 2:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

that's why I was puzzled by the Morales call-up

I thought they’d bring Wood up for SS support. I don’t think there’s any doubt Figgy and Kendrick need a day off. Scioscia doesn’t have to sit both of them on the same day. But I think they each need a break.
HK is struggling this month.

Where hk47 is trying to decide what is more overrated...closers or saves...

by hk47 on Aug 19, 2008 3:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

What's that ?? Come again ....

Come now Rev . I read very carefully which you write and points you make to all of us here , but i find your reason for Scioscia playing Kendrick way out in left field. We are talking about a skipper who takes one game at a time and has a second baseman who probably has 15 years left to win a batting title. I don’t think Mike gives a rat’s ass whether he hits .333 or .293 .

by Deadend on Aug 19, 2008 3:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

except that the Angels had 3 days off in the last 2 weeks

go figure!

Whodathunk we would be rooting for a former Ranger come August...?

by K3YEROUT on Aug 19, 2008 6:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

If Scioscia was really worried about Kendrick getting the batting title wouldn't he bat him 2nd

When Aybar has like a .320 OBP?

by MH252525 on Aug 19, 2008 7:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

I would not mind seeing Morales at DH/RF for a couple days

and Sean Rodriguez at SS/2B for a couple days as well.

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

by acuda27 on Aug 19, 2008 12:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Really? We had no idea you would go along with this idea...

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes

by johnnyangel101 on Aug 19, 2008 1:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

1 for their last 5. PANIC!!!!!

L7-10
L2-3
W4-3
L3-4
L4-6
You want answers? Here they are (batting last 7 days):

Player         AB   OBP     SLG      BA Comment
M Izturis      5  0.600   1.000   0.600 Boom... outa here...
K Morales      2  0.500   0.500   0.500 More Kowbell!
M Teixeira     22 0.538   0.727   0.455 Check
J Rivera       22 0.320   0.773   0.318 Check
G Anderson     21 0.318   0.476   0.286 Check
C Figgins      28 0.276   0.250   0.250 Meh
E Aybar        18 0.333   0.278   0.222 Meh  
H Kendrick*    23 0.240   0.217   0.174 Huh?  
V Guerrero*    24 0.231   0.292   0.167 Huh?  
M Napoli       7  0.143   0.286   0.143 Meh  
T Hunter*      22 0.231   0.136   0.091 Huh?
J Mathis       12 0.200   0.083   0.083 Huh?

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

by melvintoast on Aug 19, 2008 1:10 PM PDT 0 recs

I don't think panic is the right word...concerned is more like it...

Where hk47 is trying to decide what is more overrated...closers or saves...

by hk47 on Aug 19, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yep

I’m pretty surprised that Hunter’s slumping…but Vlad…are the days in which his slumping was the anomaly gone? I.e., now his hot streaks are the anomaly?

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Aug 19, 2008 2:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

No need to panic...

remember that virtually ALL of these losses are us playing sloppy and giving them away…played cleanly, we win every one of those games! Lost focus!

Time for Soth to kick some ass to keep guys on track!

Whodathunk we would be rooting for a former Ranger come August...?

by K3YEROUT on Aug 19, 2008 6:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

Tropical Storm Fay

Maybe it would’ve helped us to come back in September and avoid the Rays during our slump. If Shields pitches like Shields can, he is a hard guy to break up a slump against.

When I was up at bat, there was always someone in scoring position, and that someone was me. -Reggie Jackson

by sepulveda on Aug 19, 2008 2:37 PM PDT 0 recs

And yet, today's lineup is the same as yesterday's...

Where hk47 is trying to decide what is more overrated...closers or saves...

by hk47 on Aug 19, 2008 4:03 PM PDT 0 recs

Wait, I'm confused about that first sentence...

What did I do?

by Los Angeles de Anaheim on Aug 19, 2008 7:01 PM PDT 0 recs

You need to knock it off and start WINNING!

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Aug 20, 2008 1:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Matt Brown's busy in China

plus he got lit up pretty good in that China game…man, he took it right to the temple.

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 20, 2008 6:02 AM PDT 0 recs

I think you're thinking Matt LaPortia

of the Indians Minor League System

by TheTypingFiend on Aug 20, 2008 2:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oops

Matt LaPorta

by TheTypingFiend on Aug 20, 2008 2:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

What they need is a Situational Lefty

who can get lefthanded hitter out.

I was uncool before uncool was cool.

by WiHaloFan on Aug 20, 2008 7:30 AM PDT 0 recs

Um................why is that?

A few of our relievers absolutely own lefties.

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

by hauldog on Aug 20, 2008 9:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

Who would that be?

Arredondo does well against lefties. Other than him, who else?

What I mean by situational lefty is a left-handed pitcher who can come in and get a left-handed hitter out. Especially against a left-handed hitter who has a big differential between LH/RH and kills righties. In my opinion, a hitter who kills RH pitching is not the guy you want to bring a RH pitcher in to face.

7th inning, 2nd and 3rd one out and a one run lead. Jason Kubel at the plate (.296 vs RH / .208 vs LH). Do you bring in a RH or LH pitcher?

I was uncool before uncool was cool.

by WiHaloFan on Aug 20, 2008 11:09 AM PDT 0 recs

Perhaps Shields?

LH hitters bat .198/.291/.275 off of him.

Traditionally LH hitters hit RH pitchers batter so I am not really sure I am following your logic here.

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

by hauldog on Aug 20, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

Right...

That’s what I’m saying, bring in a LH pitcher to face a LH batter. The Angels only have 1 LH reliever (Oliver), and LH batters hit him pretty well (better than RH batters do).

I think we’re saying the same thing, except I think the Angels need another lefty in the pen.

I was uncool before uncool was cool.

by WiHaloFan on Aug 20, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

I am saying we have guys in the pen who shut down lefties

Although I am not opposed to a LOOGY.

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

by hauldog on Aug 20, 2008 11:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

hell ya FJM!

I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!

by anaheim angels on Aug 24, 2008 11:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

FJM?

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

by hauldog on Aug 25, 2008 9:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

problem is, we tried that with J.C. Romero...but he was terrible

Where hk47 is trying to decide what is more overrated...closers or saves...

by hk47 on Aug 20, 2008 12:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wow, another bad loss yesterday...

making me think even harder that today’s lineup needs a change. Kendrick needs a rest. 1-4 yesterday with 3 K’s. I’d like to see Morales get some more AB’s. Figgins looking still like he needs a day off too.

The bullpen continued to stink yesterday. When will we see Jason Bulger?

This team is not good right now, and I think Soth needs to do something different.

Where hk47 is trying to decide what is more overrated...closers or saves...

by hk47 on Aug 20, 2008 11:29 AM PDT 0 recs