Angel Injuries Cooling Off Hot Summer

by Rev Halofan on Aug 28, 2008 2:20 AM PDT in Angels News

Wednesday's terrible loss to the Athletics was made almost tolerable by the unimaginably first and certainly LAST time that Angel stadium announcer David Courtney will ever utter the sentence “2nd Baseman Juan Rivera.” Chone Smith and I marveled as it echoed throughout the stadium.

Are you of the belief that the Angels MUST disable Howie Kendrick immediately? I am. HK47 has played in too many consecutive games and could use the rest, let alone the desperate need for immediate depth here. Sure, we are going to make the playoffs, but if we are an exhausted crew of senior citizen mockers we are going three and out to the Twins, the Chowds or AJ Pierzsynski with or without Doug Eddings. Howie would be able to rejoin the team on September 12, plenty of games to get into an October groove.

I could see the recall of Brandon Wood making sense if it were not for the dual injuries – let’s hope they are of the “tweak” variety and not of the “Maicer” type – to Aybar and Figgins. A week or two of Robb Quinlan at 3B is like a week or two of indigestion, it is not fatal but it can make fatality seem like a nice option at times. We need a solid major league lineup with minor league players ready to graduate. Oh and Figgins strained his toe Tuesday, beating Aybar (tight hamstring) to the trainer's room by about 12 hours.

Meanwhile minor league starter Shane Loux looks capable of taking Joe Saunders’ job away, although the irony here is, unlike Howie, we root for a mild hand injury to explain away the astoundingly bad pitching Joe served up on Wednesday.

Mike Scioscia has just about exhausted his “roster depth” list of ingredients to sprinkle on this pizza. Please use this thread to discuss what exactly we are supposed to do to replace HK-Aybar and Figgy, back up Saunders and strengthen a depleted bullpen over the next few games. I know you are jaded in the bliss of a big lead, but pretend for a minute that winning a majority of the next 30 games kinda sorta matters, yeah?

Oh and in the middle of all this, Torii Hunter could sure use two or three days off...

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Comments

why not use this as a time to bring up

SRod and BWood for some quality time. I def agree that TReagins needs to make a move from some help for now, but we have some eager playes ready to come up and help. Also keep in mind that if we get these guys hitting now before october, when they are called on to help the team in the playoffs (on our expanded roster) they will be ready and already in a groove. that might be the optomist in me.

by kingfish on Aug 28, 2008 4:20 AM PDT reply actions

Wha? Expanded rosters don't extend into the post season

And not to nitpick, but SRod is already up.

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Last night's game

was about as bad as it gets. Being on EDT and having an infant daughter makes my ability to catch any of the night games difficult, but last night I caught the top of the first after she went to bed, and the bottom of the ninth when she woke up.

I can’t believe the injuries sustained in / around one game. Just astounding. Feeling a bit sick today, to be honest.

by ViolaHalo on Aug 28, 2008 6:01 AM PDT reply actions

Bring back Eckstein

There is still too much baseball to play and the Angels haven’t secured anything yet. With the middle infield a mess, Eck could provide some stability for the next few weeks as HK does need to go on the DL. The Angels need a high-quality hitter in the #2 spot and Eck is ideal; his OBP is solid, he continues to post good line drive rates and his bat control is very good.

_LD__Avg__OBP
2006: 21.9% .292 .350
2007: 22.3% .309 .356
2008: 19.7% .274 .353

SRod by comparison has a LD rate of just 9.1%, is hitting .160 and has an OBP of .259

Furthermore, SRod makes contact on only 76.6% of pitches. Eck this year makes contact on 92.3% of pitches (94.4% in 2007).

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Aug 28, 2008 6:58 AM PDT reply actions

There's a small problem with this:

there are still eleven teams that can block our acquisition of Eckstein

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 28, 2008 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Co*k blocking

Not so easy to always block a waiver wire trade though. Usually, when the player is claimed, the waiving team will rescind the waiver to avoid losing the player unless a trade can be worked out with the claiming team.

With roster moves (40 man) things can get tough for some teams to claim a player. Players only have so many options available before they have to clear waivers. Whatever is done it will have to be done quickly. Players must be on a team’s 25-man roster as of August 31 to be eligible for post-season play

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Aug 28, 2008 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Eck Block

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Even if Eckstein misses out on the Aug.31 deadline

I’d love to have him on the team for the September run. After the recent spate of injuries, Howie, Aybar and Figgy all need to rest. SRod might be good in 2010, but currently he’s just flailing away at sliders.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Aug 28, 2008 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

hmm...

-call up bwood and kendry.
-keep resting the senior citizens (vlad, ga) twice a week.
-let kendry get some playing time in the of – he should be in place of gmj.
-put bwood at short, get aybar out.
-put srod at second, get howie out.
-when necessary, go Q at 3, wood at SS, and srod at 2.
-keep shuffling these guys around so that guys are getting ample rest, but still fairly regular playing time. let the ones on the brink of injury sit out for a week. get the bees bats warmed up for the playoffs. scioscia knows how to get guys their playing time (unfortunately that includes gmj).
-hopefully this was just a bump in the road for hokie joe. i’m not even contemplating the fact that he wont perform the rest of the season.

"Life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end."

by NoDakHalo on Aug 28, 2008 8:17 AM PDT reply actions

Bring up Wood

Put him at SS. Put S-Rod at 2B and hope he gets it together quickly this time around.

As for Hunter; Willits is back, give him a day or two.

Don’t want to see Matthews or Quinlan in the lineup more than strictly necessary.

Hey you! What are horse mackerel!
Hey, the chair are sailing! You believe that I am toad of the month!
(Yes, that is K-Rod's entry music, translated)

by infant on Aug 28, 2008 8:36 AM PDT reply actions

woody

Wood is on FI-AH!, and walking too.

Time to plug him in for a couple of weeks and see what happens.

by elricsi on Aug 28, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

it all depends on how bad the Aybar/Figgy injuries actually are

I think Howie might miss a week or 2, so SRod is about to get some serious playing time. maybe he can figure out how to hit?

If Aybar is out for a week, then we need to call up Wood and see what he can do? If, and i mean IF he can continue what he’s doing in AAA right now, we’re not going to have a problem. Also, SRod and Wood played together in AAA, so they should be comfortable together up the middle.

Figgy doesn’t seem serious, so we can put up with Q for a few days….

When Aybar comes back, you can rotate Wood between SS and 3B almost every day whenever Aybar/Figgins needs some rest.

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

by howiestheman on Aug 28, 2008 8:51 AM PDT reply actions

"A week or two of Robb Quinlan at 3B is like a week or two of indigestion, it is not fatal but it can make fatality seem like a nice option at times."

Great analogy! Although I probably would have substituted “diarhea” for “indigestion”.

I'm your huckleberry

by autry's cowboys on Aug 28, 2008 9:11 AM PDT reply actions

indigestion is easier to spell and to clean up after, kinda like Quinlan.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 28, 2008 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Panther!

I hope Harden wins 10 more games for the Cubs. Ha!

by 101halo on Aug 28, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Is Morales any better at 3rd than Q?

We could go Morales, Wood, SRod, Tush, left to right in the infield. If any 1 of those 3 strapping young lads could figure out how to hit in the bigs in a jiffy, we can manage for a week or two.

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 10:33 AM PDT reply actions

K-Mo a no-go a 3B

sorry that doesn’t rhyme but it is the truth.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 28, 2008 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions

k-mo = gmj replacement

"Life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end."

by NoDakHalo on Aug 28, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

we can only hope

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

by howiestheman on Aug 28, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Who knows everyone always talked shit on him playing 1B and he shut everyone the FuK up.

Maybe he is better than Quinlan and he definatly has a better arm cuz he pitched for Cuba as well.

But you know who is WAY BETTER than Q at 3B………MARK TEIXEIRA!!!!!
Thats where TEX played in Texas until they moved him to 1B.

Morales at 1B/OF (OF to give Vlad a break and give Q a start at either 3B or 1B depends if you wanna keep moving TEX from 3B to 1B)

And yes CALL UP WOOD!
Place Aybar on 7 day DL just to get him fresh, and HK on the 15 day DL cuz he NEEDS time off.

This gives the Angels a look at Morales to see where he would be at 1B next year with some regular playing time in the bigs. And we get to see how Wood responds to the Bigs after being on FIRE in AAA.

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

by acuda27 on Aug 28, 2008 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Scioscia needs to man up and show some Wood

We’ve been hearing about how Brandon Wood is the future. Well, the Future is NOW!

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Aug 28, 2008 10:38 AM PDT reply actions

Welcome to HH, Dono.

For your avatar, the rules are, new guys need to post a semi-nude self portait. See “mayheminthehood.”

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

lmao

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

by howiestheman on Aug 28, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions

It was supposed to be funny.

Sorry if it came of arrogant.

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

not in the least

hence, my reaction.

i thought it was hilarious

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

by howiestheman on Aug 28, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions

It was funny, but...

kinda sounded gay (but there’s nothing wrong with that).

I was uncool before uncool was cool.

by WiHaloFan on Aug 28, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Does the word "semi-nude" make you uncomfortable?

How about “megaphone” or “wankel rotary engine?”

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Not just semi-nude, but you have to use Angels gear/promo items to creatively make the pic PG-13.

You’re a cool dude Rally Manatee, so you can bust my scantily clad balls any time.

Oh, by the way. I was waiting till I got paid next to send of a check for your cd, so i’ll be sending out a money order in the next week. I’m pretty sure I still have your address in my Myspace Inbox.

Whatever dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Aug 28, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I meant to include that Angels gear is required but I forgot.

Thanks, Mayhem. You’re alright in my book too. (Cue The Saturday Afternoon Special, touching moment music.) No worries on the cd. If you never even get around to it, I won’t think any less of you. But I’ll be sure to send it right out if you do.

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Weeping is just for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Last night, I thought it was almost as bad as the team charter plane going down. I had flashes of getting swept in round 1 again, if not getting beaten by Texas down the stretch. However, after a good night’s sleep, and reading some of your options, I now feel like we can pull through this and still win a ring.

Thanks guys. You’re like a support group for me right now.

No more hammies! Please!

by Rally Manatee on Aug 28, 2008 10:41 AM PDT reply actions