See you in September

by vladtheimpaler on Aug 8, 2008 3:50 AM PDT

I have really enjoyed the Angels day off. Halo heaven fans are having a good time with posts and comments and enjoying themselves. This is how it should be. A reward for a great season so far by our Angels.

Now we come to a point where we just had a day off. We take on the Yanks for three games then have another day off. Then, we have Seattle for two games and then we have ANOTHER day off.

Then, the days off are over. Only two more until we enter the playoffs. That is why September is so important for us.

Mike (Sosh), in his great wisdom, has seen fit to give as much time off (days off) for our players as he possibly can. Our outfield and DH, while kind of old but healthy, appears to be well rested because of this philosophy. We even give Rivera days off. Hasn’t played a lot of games, but sometimes he needs it.

Now for the infield. Figgy needs some time off. Kendrick needs some time off. Mathis needs some time off. Tex will need some time off. SS doesn’t need time off, because Mike has been very, uh, responsible for not playing our two great shortstops too much (fix). This is where September comes in. So who do we bring up to give our great team some rest:

3b:

2b:

1b;

Starting Pitcher:

Other?

Mikes philosophy is to rest players so they will be healthy at the end of the season. It is a tough philosophy but it appears to work if you have a good team.

Feel free to explain who you would bring up, how much playing time they should have, and at what position. Be specific. “Trade for Erstad” not allowed.

Of course, if you disagree with the days off philosophy, explain your point.

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Raid the minors

3B: Brandon Wood, Freddy Sandoval, Matt Sweeney
2B: Sean Rodriguez, P.J. Phillips
1B: Mark Trumbo, Kendry Morales
C: Hank Conger
SP: Jordan Walden, Nick Adenhart, Nick Green, Sean O’Sullivan, Trevor Reckling
Other: Peter Bourjos, Chris Pettit, Jeremy Moore

But the 15 that should be added are: Wood, Trumbo, Morales, Conger, Walden, Adenhart, Reckling, Bourjos, Sandoval, Bulger, Jepsen, Fuller, Romine, Green, and Fish.

Hell, I might even call up Manuarys Correa just to see what he’s got. Same thing with Orangel Arena, Ariel Pena, Baudilio Lopez, Eduardo Soto, and Fabio Martinez Mesa.

We have some amazing Latin players. And they’re all young as hell.

But the 15 that will be called up are (most likely) Adenhart, Bulger, Green, Kennard, Moseley, Wilson, Brown, Morales, Rodriguez, Wood, Evans, Serrano, Thompson, Jepsen, and Alvarado.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Aug 8, 2008 5:16 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Terry Evans

I’m going to crosspost something I wrote last night (posted this morning, sue me on the timestamp) about Terry Evans:

Terry Evans continued his rehab assignment, got a double and scored the first of the Angels’ two runs. Evans’ role in the Angels’ future plans has probably been under-analyzed, mainly because he’s been out so long with a shoulder injury. Jeff Sackmann’s MLE calculator projects Evans as a .257/.293/.403 hitter in the Show based on the totality of his work in AAA; that’s better than Gary Matthews, Jr.’s .223/.304/.330 2008 line, especially in the power department. Baseball Prospectus justifiably groused about Evans’ lack of plate discipline (at press time for the 2008 book, he had an unacceptably high 4:1 K:BB ratio at the higher levels), but even there, he seems to be whittling away at the problem. In a small-sample-sized 104 at-bats, Evans has a 33:14 K:BB ratio, a lot closer to 2:1. There’s hope, but as BPro said, Evans’ skills will limit him to an all-or-nothing attempt to win a starting job. It’s only the AZL, but he’s hitting well so far, and there’s enough time left in Salt Lake’s season to get a better read on the 26-year-old’s progress.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Aug 8, 2008 10:03 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Uhhh, I think we need to keep the 40 man roster in mind...

If you start bringing up all these guys mentioned above who are NOT on the 40 man roster there will be dire consequences…

Hence, your options are limited to the players below with bullets:

40-Man Roster
Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB

34 Nick Adenhart R/R 6-3 185 08/24/86
66 Jose Arredondo R/R 6-0 175 03/30/84

52 Jason Bulger R/R 6-4 210 12/06/78

45 Kelvim Escobar R/R 6-1 230 04/11/76 60-day Disabled List=Not on 40-Man Roster
20 Jon Garland R/R 6-6 210 09/27/79

79 Nick Green R/R 6-4 200 08/20/84

68 Jeff Kennard R/R 6-2 195 07/26/81
41 John Lackey R/R 6-6 245 10/23/78
68 Shane Loux R/R 6-2 235 08/31/79

—Dustin Moseley R/R 6-4 215 12/26/81

53 Darren O’Day R/R 6-4 225 10/22/82
38 Darren Oliver R/L 6-2 200 10/06/70
57 Francisco Rodriguez R/R 6-0 195 01/07/82
54 Ervin Santana R/R 6-2 185 12/12/82
51 Joe Saunders L/L 6-3 210 06/16/81

68 Alex Serrano R/R 6-1 200 02/18/81
62 Scot Shields R/R 6-1 180 07/22/75
33 Justin Speier R/R 6-4 205 11/06/73

63 Rich Thompson R/R 6-1 180 07/01/84
36 Jered Weaver R/R 6-7 205 10/04/82
Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
28 Ryan Budde R/R 5-11 210 08/15/79
5 Jeff Mathis R/R 6-0 200 03/31/83

44 Mike Napoli R/R 6-0 215 10/31/81 15-day Disabled List

46 Bobby Wilson R/R 6-0 220 04/08/83
Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
2 Erick Aybar S/R 5-10 170 01/14/84

43 Matthew Brown R/R 6-0 200 08/08/82
9 Chone Figgins S/R 5-8 180 01/22/78
6 Maicer Izturis S/R 5-8 170 09/12/80
47 Howie Kendrick R/R 5-10 200 07/12/83

19 Kendry Morales S/R 6-1 225 06/20/83
39 Robb Quinlan R/R 6-1 215 03/17/77

18 Sean Rodriguez R/R 6-1 215 04/26/85
25 Mark Teixeira S/R 6-3 220 04/11/80

3 Brandon Wood R/R 6-3 190 03/02/85
Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
16 Garret Anderson L/L 6-3 225 06/30/72

64 Terry Evans R/R 6-3 205 01/19/82
27 Vladimir Guerrero R/R 6-3 235 02/09/76
48 Torii Hunter R/R 6-2 225 07/18/75
24 Gary Matthews S/R 6-3 225 08/25/74
21 Juan Rivera R/R 6-2 225 07/03/78
77 Reggie Willits S/R 5-11 185 05/30/81

Not on Active Roster

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

by K3YEROUT on Aug 8, 2008 7:05 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Good Post, Topic

It’s my opinion that Mike has done a great job managing the roster this year and I’m interested on what he will do down the stretch. So for fun here’s what I would do, I’d be interested if its close to what actually happens. I won’t get into all the players that will be called up when the rosters are expanded but the few that will get playing time.

Current Starters:
Howie: I disagree with you that he needs time off. I know he can be injury prone but he is young so I would say the give him only a few days off in September.

Rivera: He needs more ABs especially against lefties. He could really make the difference in the playoffs if he is mashing. I say he plays everyday (or see below) either at a corner OF or DH.

Hunter, GA, Vlad: rest, rest and more rest. GA is hot right now so it’s a slippery slope how much you rest him vs keeping him hot. Vlad looks like he could always use some time off (lots of days at DH) and Torii’s defense is invaluable come postseason so keep him healthy. All this means is more pt for everyone’s favorite Reggie. A 5 man rotation that will give each OF a day off/week. I think Matthews has to shut it down, for himself and my sanity.

Figgins: I agree he needs time off. He hasn’t had a day off since the ASG. Give him ample time off in August and early September but play him regularly towards the end of the season. More playing time for Quinlan, Wood, and Brown.

Teixeira: When I rent a car from Hertz, I don’t drive it like my own car I beat the hell out of it. But we care about the postseason so give him a couple days to keep him healthy and get Kendry in the game.

Mathis, Aybar, and Izzy: Mathis will get plenty of rest when Naps comes back and you’re right Aybar and Izzy are fine.

Key call ups:
Wood: I really want to see him get a chance to play regularly, but I don’t think you can do that and keep the starters in sync. Anyway, You guys see how he is playing the PCL like a video game?

SRod: He can give Howie a day off once in awhile.

Kendry: I want to see him play a lot at first and DH. Because he might be our first bagger next year.

Don’t ask me about the bullpen, I would burn up a ‘pen like Joe Torre. The starters and Mike have been able to keep the ‘pen fresh so I wouldn’t change too much. I’d do anything/everything to try to get the old Speier back, I just don’t know whether he needs rest (dead arm) or more success (confidence is shot). Also, give guys like Moseley, Loux, etc more chances in tight games (i.e. Shields and Arrerodondo spots) just to see how they respond.

by Wittness on Aug 8, 2008 6:00 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

I wonder how much Figgins' lack of days off

contributed to that godawful final game in the late Yankees series in which he was charged with an error but could have been dinged with two or three more (according to some accounts, as I didn’t watch that part of it).

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Aug 8, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

its was really bad

Sean F. looked like little leaguer out there.

You are what you type.

by rjcicc on Aug 8, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Barring injury or illness, I don't see Soth straying far from the what is on the 25 man roster.

3b: Robb Quinlan is the back-up third baseman, and given his lack of playing time, Soth would most likely use him over anyone on the expanded roster. For some reason Soth has a pledge of allegiance to Q.

2b. Aybar is interchangeable with

by 44FAN on Aug 8, 2008 1:05 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Izturis and Kendrick who all have been producing offensively. This trio seems to be working well so I don’t see anyone being brought in here.

1b: Mark Teixeira was brought in for a strategic reason and is a durable player. I don’t see anybody other than him at first base through 2008 unless he is injured or falls ill. Robb Quinlan is the back up first baseman in that event.

C: Mike Napoli is due back today against NYY, which will give Mathis needed rest. In spite of Nap being out a whole month, backup catcher Budde started only one game. So I don’t see anyone other than the dynamic duo of Napoli/ Mathis behind the plate the rest of the season.

SP: Anything is possible here, but as long as the starting rotation remains healthy, the five man starting rotation is carved in stone. The last indication of who would replace a starting pitcher was Moseley who pitched in Oakland when Saunders was excused. The Angels won that game and Moseley had a quality start. Chances are he would be the one called on to replace and ailing starting pitcher.

Relief pitching is the place where I think we might see new faces here and there. Shane Loux was recently brought up to replace O’Day and did pretty well in his debut. Relief pitching is our only place where there has been any weakness or inconsistency and Soth seems to be addressing that.

by 44FAN on Aug 8, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I think that

If the Halos make the playoffs, Sosh should rest the regulars the week before the last … say, starting with the series OAKon 9/16. Then, play them again starting sometime in the series SEA, either 9/22 or 9/23. That way they’re rested, but won’t be rusty for the playoffs.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 8, 2008 6:02 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Let's try that again....

I think that if the Halos make the playoffs, Sosh should rest the regulars the week before the last … say, starting with the series at OAK on 9/16. Then, play them again starting sometime in the series at SEA, either 9/22 or 9/23. That way they’re rested, but won’t be rusty for the playoffs.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 8, 2008 6:03 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

agreed

that seems like the smartest thing to do

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

by howiestheman on Aug 8, 2008 10:39 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'm not big on resting them that much...

Last year it seems that they got over rested and then came out really rusty…. Maybe at the beginning of September give them some extra rest but allow them to feel gelled as a team going in to the big games… Or maybe it had nothing to do with that and they just slumped…. I dunno…

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

by stuck in Romania on Aug 8, 2008 11:32 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

That's why I suggested

to rest ‘em the week before the final week, and play the regulars/playoff starters during the final week of the season.

Gives ‘em a break, but then a chance to shake loose the rust.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 9, 2008 4:50 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

ok... gotcha....

read it to quick…. anyway… yeah… glad we agree…

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

by stuck in Romania on Aug 10, 2008 4:52 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Thanks for the opinions guys

We just beat the Yanks 10-5. I think Figgy really does need a rest. And even though Kendrick got 4 hits, we may still want to give him some rest in September. However, I seem to remember Kotch saying something like this after Mike sat him: I don’t need a rest, hell I’m only 25.

If we are in position, I wouldn’t mind Mosely giving each of our Starters a day off in September too.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Aug 8, 2008 10:34 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs