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Brandon Wood or Erick Aybar?

So before Aybar/Figgy's injuries, Brandon Wood was just a scrub who could barely get the job done. Aybar was a wizard defensively, and could be passable batting as long as he batted 9th or so.

Then Wood had his crack at the MLB, and he produced. At first, Wood sucked, to say simply. He was sporting a very amazing OPS of .318 in 30 games. Then, something long overdue happened, he started to hit. In the next 12 games, Wood hit .333 with a .350 OBP and a .600 SLG, as well as clubbing 15 hits, 3 HRs, 3 doubles, and only 10 Ks.

Meanwhile, in July, Aybar had just pulled off his best month of his career, going 13-41 in 10 games with a .317 BA and a .950 OPS. But August was a terrible month where he OPSd .620 in 22 games.

Now the question becomes, who should start at SS in the playoffs? The powerful Wood or the defensive wizard Aybar? Or should there be a platoon with Aybar in the lineup for garland and the other extreme ground ball pitchers while Wood is in for Weaver and other fly ball pitchers to provide more offense?

Poll
Who should be the starting SS for the Angels in the Postseason (assuming both are healthy)
Erick Aybar
125 votes
Brandon Wood
95 votes
Platoon
93 votes
I really miss maicer :(
80 votes

393 votes | Poll has closed

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.

3 recs | Comment 46 comments

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howie has alot of time to heal

he should make it into the playoffs healthy. a healthy howie is a hittin machine

Exceeding expectations is less a matter of luck than possession of certain assets.

by anaheim angels on Sep 17, 2008 12:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

HK in August

.236/.277/.270 Howie was healthy but that bat was sickly

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Sep 17, 2008 11:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Howie WILL make it back

And Aybar will play ss.

At least I sure as hell hope so.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Sep 17, 2008 5:58 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh,

And I do miss Iz.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Sep 17, 2008 5:59 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

it will be the Admiral

you can’t lose a position to injury — that’s an old MLB unspoken rule.

by yeswecan on Sep 17, 2008 1:00 AM PDT   0 recs

Funny, he may lose it next year...or more likely be traded!

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

by K3YEROUT on Sep 17, 2008 8:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ayyyy Barrrr

But Wood will get a shot this spring.

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

by acuda27 on Sep 17, 2008 3:03 AM PDT   0 recs

as Oliver Stone would say

Platoon

Bryan Harvey- king of the 'Stache

by HaloDutch on Sep 17, 2008 6:03 AM PDT   0 recs

Aybar but

I think Rev made a good point in questioning whether Howie will be back. Wood will get his chance to shine next year. I dunno how exactly but according to recent LA Times article, things are going to look really different next year.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels17-2008sep17,0,2305095.story?track=rss

And knowing the Halos…we’ll ditch the vets before we trade prospects like Wood. The upside is…we have TONS of depth now not only in the infield but the outfield. (Lets not forget Sean Rodriguez who has been doing pretty well 2nd time around as well.) Just counting middle infielders thats 5 who could all be potential starters. (Wood, Aybar, Howie, Sean Rodriguez and Izzy)

Lots of room to work with when it comes to wheeling and dealing….so guys are definitely going to go and its going to be sad. However, I think our future is looking bright.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Sep 17, 2008 7:20 AM PDT   0 recs

Let Frankie, Garland, Rivera, and Oliver go

Let Arredondo close, sign a cheap LOOGY, sign a 5th starter, let Morales take over in the outfield/DH for Rivera.

Give Tex whatever he wants to stay, try to renegotiate with GA. I know others would say to let GA go, but I would like to see him finish his career as an Angel.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Sep 17, 2008 5:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No. Save the $ for Tex.

The team can’t get outbid for Tex while throwing money to GA purely for sentimental reasons. Letting GA go will free an outfield spot for Morales in LF. And then Vlad should move to DH and Rivera should get RF.

by snowhor on Sep 24, 2008 9:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Aybar

will definitely be on the postseason roster whether he starts is a different story, and may very well depend on what Brandon Wood does over the next two weeks.

As I pointed out in a fanshot yesterday, there’s a real chance that Howie Kendrick isn’t going to make it back in time for the playoffs, and this may affect who starts at SS (Aybar if they have Howie, Wood if they don’t). The way I see it, Wood has played himself onto the roster; the guys on the bubble are Sean Rodriguez and Kendry Morales. If Howie can play, only one of those two makes it.

by jjackflash on Sep 17, 2008 7:44 AM PDT   0 recs

Yeah...

I really hope Kendrick is “OK” for the postseason. Replacing him with Aybar makes me sad…

If Kendrick is ready, then I start Sheriff Woody and sit Aybar.

by jimmuscomp on Sep 17, 2008 7:49 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

playoff infield...

3b – sandoval
+
ss – wood
+
2b – rodriguez
+
1b – quinlan
=
world series

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

by NoDakHalo on Sep 17, 2008 8:06 AM PDT   0 recs

:) dude...SLC did not go far in the playoffs for just that reason!

not enough of those guys were there!

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

by K3YEROUT on Sep 17, 2008 8:11 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

guys... platoons are a HORRIBLE idea

in a game that’s all about getting into a rhythm, the one thing that will kill your game is inconsistent playing time.
as we’ve seen previously, Wood performers much, MUCH better when receiving everyday playing time. i’m sure the same goes for Aybar.

in any case, i’m ready to give Wood a shot, and make Aybar the back-up. Aybar’s defense is a little better, but Wood’s bat is leaps and bounds ahead of the Admirals.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 17, 2008 8:56 AM PDT   0 recs

its almost a push, in my opinion...

they are different players with different strengths.

i’m not going to be concerned either way, so long as one of them plays everyday.

yeswecan makes a good point about the unwritten rule of injuries. wood looks like he’s coming on a bit, but he’s still under the mendoza line. aybar is a proven DECENT hitter in the major leagues.

i think it will be aybar.

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

by NoDakHalo on Sep 17, 2008 9:08 AM PDT   0 recs

One thing they could do with Howie...

…if he’s not ready for the division series is wait until the ALCS (assuming we make it) and then add him to the roster then.

I think it’s looking bleak as far as Howie making it back. But maybe he’s just taking it easy until the end of the season. This does not look good at 2B for the playoffs.

BYU 59, UCLA 0

by hk47 on Sep 17, 2008 11:30 AM PDT   0 recs

setback

report in today’s LAT says he had a setback last week (Thursday), with some irritation behind the knee, and he was shut down over the weekend. He supposedly ran at about 50% yesterday, but that’s still not enough.

Howie seems like a rather fragile fellow, which is really a shame. The guy is a hitting machine, but if he can’t be on the field for more than 100-115 games per year, his career will simply be another case of “what could have been.”

by jjackflash on Sep 17, 2008 12:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Fragile 47

Does anybody know what his injury history was in the minors?
Or where one could find that sort of info?

by TheTypingFiend on Sep 17, 2008 2:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

not sure

but you could certainly look up the # of games he played each season. I seem to recall reading that he had a good health history prior to last year. He played 141 games in 2006 between AAA and the majors (basically, a full season). In 2005, he played in 109 games. I can’t tell, though, whether the missed time was due to any injury.

by jjackflash on Sep 17, 2008 5:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Aybar!

Most Luminous

"i got 5ive on it"

by Funke5ive on Sep 17, 2008 11:33 AM PDT   0 recs

im just not sure wood hitting well for a couple weeks is enough

to outweigh aybar being a solid SS for most all of the year.

it will work itself out im sure. Its not like either guy will be the linchpin for any victory. If aybar isnt swinging well by the end of the season, id hesitate to bat him 2nd, but his speed and range are definite pluses

by ihearhowie2.0 on Sep 17, 2008 12:28 PM PDT   0 recs

Agreed

I’d carry Wood and play him as a late inning health replacement a la last night to make sure aybar goes the distance with us.

by TheTypingFiend on Sep 17, 2008 2:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Black Bear or Brown Bear?

LA Angels/Baseball. Can we stick to that topic?

by hauldog on Sep 17, 2008 2:37 PM PDT   0 recs

Hmmm yeah

I’m thinking with Aybar as SS it makes our overall defence better even with SeanRod at 2b but having SeanRod at bat instead of B-Wood might tip the balance the other way to put B-Wood at SS and Aybar to 2b.

I don’t see B-Wood playing 2b so it’ll be either S-Rod or Aybar there, makes ya wonder. Well, it’s making me wonder

It’s the depth-go-round! Will it ever end?

We take serious...comedically.

by Versolt on Sep 17, 2008 3:52 PM PDT   0 recs

I voted platoon...

But I think I’d take that back and vote Aybar if I could. I really, really want Wood to succeed, and he has been hitting better, but I could see him looking stupid in 3 at bats against Beckett or Kazmir, while I see Aybar at least putting the ball in play and making something happen. Plus Aybar has about double the range of Wood at shortstop.

If Howie’s still hurt though…put Aybar at second and keep Wood in the lineup.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Sep 17, 2008 5:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Woods D

I don’t think Aybar’s D is much better than Wood’s. He looks spectacular at short. But that’s not based on any #’s.

If Kendrick isn’t healthy, we should go Wood at 3rd, Aybar at short, and Figgy at 2nd. S Rod has been a decent fill-in, but I think I’d rather have Wood’s power threat. Then the line up would be:

Figgy
Anderson
Tex
Vlad
Hunter
Rivera
Napoli
Wood
Aybar

Shine on, luminous panthers!

by Rally Manatee on Sep 17, 2008 6:08 PM PDT   0 recs

Not too bad of a setup if you ask me

i pledge alliegance... to mike Scioscia
and the angels way of baseball
and to each pennant and ring we are sure to win.
one fanatic, under the halo, unwavered
with in n out and world series rings for all

by halofan4life on Sep 17, 2008 6:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i like it as well

nice top to bottom lineup, and 2-8 can go deep any time while 1 and 9 are speed demons

Exceeding expectations is less a matter of luck than possession of certain assets.

by anaheim angels on Sep 17, 2008 9:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

good call, sir

i think we all forgot that Wood plays 3rd and Figgy plays 2nd.

and with that, i totally agree.

however, i still don’t like GA as a number 2 hitter… oh how i wish Aybar could become a 1 or 2 hitter

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 17, 2008 10:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

only issue is against a right hander

that lineup will stack up as 5 righties in a row and then 4 lefties

Howie for MVP!

by angels.vlad27 on Sep 19, 2008 12:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

this lineup would strike fear into the hearts of many a pitcher

and makes me pregasm AND kendrick isnt even in there.

Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!

by teopeht on Sep 21, 2008 5:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

S Rod at 2nd
Aybar starting SS with Wood on hand to be brought in

Peace Love & Angels Baseball

by MrsMoreno on Sep 19, 2008 3:04 PM PDT   0 recs

i'd rather have Aybar at 2nd, Wood at SS

same defense, more power in the bats.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 19, 2008 4:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah...

I’d like to see them run this out there a few times – just to see how those two run the DP together. I am sure that has happened rarely, if at all, in the past…

by jimmuscomp on Sep 20, 2008 9:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dick

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 24, 2008 4:53 PM PDT   0 recs

Moot

Aybar

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Sep 25, 2008 3:01 AM PDT   0 recs

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