Lackey And Saunders are Angels ALCS Yankee Stadium Starters
by Rev Halofan on Oct 13, 2009 4:14 PM PDT
in Angels News
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PrintALCS Game 1: John Lackey @ CC Sabathia
ALCS Game 2: Joe Saunders @ A.J. Burnett
According to the Angels' own website, pitchers John Lackey and Joe Saunders will be the starters in ALCS games 1 and 2 at Yankee Stadium. The assumed Yankee pitchers in those games will be CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. The logic of starting Saunders is two-fold: Lefties pace good at the billion-dollar-Bronx-bandbox and Angel Righty Weaver dominates on his home turf, where Games 3 and 4 are scheduled to take place.
While the Angels have many choices in great pitchers, the Yankees are hindered in a laughable dropoff in starting pitcher strength after their "Initial" two starters. The Bronx Bust may have to gas-out the obese Sabathia while the Halos have a luxury of four able-bodied starters in reserve in Matt Palmer, Ervin Santana, Scott Kazmir and Jered Weaver.
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Great call
sets up for Weaver at home in game 3. Having him pitch at home is a better fit for WEaver and to top it off he is 5-1 in day games.
I like it alot
R.I.P. Nick, you are missed!
This is the right call
Saunders has all the right splits – he’s a lefty and he has a good GB/FB ratio. Given Kazmir’s start against Boston, I’m worried that there are some lingering arm problems. His velocity was way down and he couldn’t seem to locate his offspeed stuff.
Colonel is the way to go!
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
You never know with the lurkers, they just like to vote and nothing else.
Then you always have fans from other team sites that like to mess with the polls.
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
Unreal
They are relying on CC Sabathia to win 2 games, potentially 3 if the series is stretched out. I’m losing sleep, continuously pondering whether he will be an ALCS bust again.
The Yankees signed the guy, thinking he is an absolute iron man, but if I recall correctly, his stuff is not electric in terms of movement. He throws BBs, which our guys are good at waiting on. Burnett is a good pitcher against us, but nothing fabulous. Pettitte has a losing history against our squad, but still a threat. I believe Pettitte has been knocked around more than he has pilfered holes through the line up. Now Chad Gaudin, he also has a history against us, mostly his Oakland days though. That guy scares me in whatever fashion he is used because he has solid stuff.
I try to believe that the Red Sox just were not good this post season but then everything points to the Angels just being awesome and playing inspired ball. Boston had every opportunity to beat our closer in game 3 too, but Fuentes’ post season form seems to be in tact. Hopefully that inspiration will not be expired this series!
Sabathia post season ERA 6.54
in 5 post season series.
Pettitte 3.89 but no more HGH for him so who knows who shows up against us.
Burnett 1.50 ERA in one series.
Philip Hughes is so so but is one of those California kids. Those guys tend to beat our asses.
You've got to be kidding me
This is a horrible idea. If we want to throw a lefty against New York, why not Scott Kazmir. He has ace stuff, had a sub 2 ERA since coming over from Tampa, and has the best record and history against the Yankees.
Saunders has given up way too many HR’s this season to believe he’ll keep the ball out of the stands in New York. The only way this is a good idea is if it’s too darn cold for the Yankees to hit the ball out, then Saunders seems like the best option, but I highly doubt it.
Bad call Mike, bad call.
Weaver is a fly ball pitcher and Kaz is coming off a rough start
Saundo pitching well. I don’t see how this doesn’t make sense.
RIP #34
Not sure about that one
Saunders has a good road record and is an east coast boy. I think I saw a graphic yesterday on MLB Network and Saunders was in top 10 in road wins, which may be why Mike uses him here.
Kazmir allows about as many flyballs as Weaver
Saunders has a better chance of keeping the ball on the ground, where it can’t go over any outfield walls. Flyballs are a big problem in that tiny stadium. This has to be the right call—I’m actually somewhat surprised Scioscia took this into consideration. Usually he goes with his gut, not with the numbers.
Kazmir's ace stuff
Has gone the way of the dinosaur the last 3 weeks. You can argue ERA all you want, but in his last 6 starts (including Sunday), Kaz has struck out 19 guys in 36 innings. When you’re a “power pitcher” who gives up a lot of fly balls, that’s not a good thing. Something tells me that Kazmir is hurting again, or at least has a tired arm.
Saunders has struck out 19 in 37 innings, but he’s also not a strikeout pitcher. He gets quite a few groundballs. And he’s been just as good as Kaz the last month and a half.
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
I approve of this.
Unless Saundo pitches like shit, in which case I will say I did not approve of this.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 13, 2009 4:40 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree with you.
Unless you are wrong, in which case I disagree with you.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
I think that this is great.
I really like our man Saunders, especially late this season as he got stronger and stronger. Scioscia is showing a lot of confidence in him, which I think will help Saunders.
The Angels can win this.
I'm down with this
Now, would you guys like to know how I got ripped in 4 weeks?
We are the Los Angeles Angels of the late 2000s
Does it involve NEVER wearing a t-shirt and posing for pics with your best male friends?
SIgn me up.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 13, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
did i stumble onto the wrong board?
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Oct 13, 2009 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Invested in derivitives?
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
If it won't be Palmer and Q, I like this option very much.
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
are you missing the word TIME?
Yes, and I LOVE IT! Declare it a holiday in SoCal! Playoff matinee, doesn’t get any better than that!
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Oct 13, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Good call Limey but as picker extraordinaire of HH, I think Weaver will pitch game 3.
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
This MLB Fanhouse article says Scioscia has indicated Weaver will pitch Game 3
http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/angels-rotation-tilting-left-for-alcs/?tid=sbn
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
In case you all weren't sure...
This decision by the Soth confirms all suspicisions that The Limey is really pulling the strings in that clubhouse.
Want evidence?
He thought of this idea and posted it hours ago. After I suggested he let Scioscia know, this information is released by the Angels website.
I rest my case.
by BruinHalo on Oct 13, 2009 4:59 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I would rather have Kaz going in game 2
he has more experience and is on normal days rest. He has a good track record against the Yanks and I would love to see Saundo and Weave at home to close it out!
First we had a Salmon and now we have a Trout, let's see the same results.
-d
Harold Reynolds speculates that Philip Hughes DID NOT throw a cutter to the Angels lineup back on Sept 14 (15?) because the Yankees knew they would face the Angels, thus hiding is out pitch.
Al Leiter stroking AJ Burnett, Carlos Pena stroking Bobby Abreu, Reynolds stroking Philp Hughes.
I once said, and I still feel this way, that of all our starters besides John Lackey
the one I have the most confidence will come up big and keep us in the game against another ace is Hokey Joe. Saving Jered for the home game is a good call, and getting ground balls against the Yanks in that stadium is hugely important.
#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!
CC is the key to the series
The Red Sox had two great starters, but the Yankees only have one. Burnett is just wild, his control was pathetic the other day. Pettitte is probably not reliable either at this point, and I seem to remember the Angels always handing him his ass. After that, it’s like, Chad fucking Gaudin? He’s been released, signed to a minor league deal, and traded outright for cash, all in the last six months.
So they have to rely on CC to pitch three games for them. He was terrible in his last regular season start and merely okay in the division series. The Twins hit him, but they had a lineup full of rally-killers. He chewed up the likes of Matt Tolbert and Delmon Young, but the Angels don’t have any black holes in their offense (unless Mathis is playing). It will be particularly interesting if Girardi starts him on short rest in Game 4. He’s already thrown a lot of innings this year, and he didn’t respond well to three-days rest in the NLDS last year. If he doesn’t come through again, I think the Yankees are sunk.
Even though that’s from the official site, it’s still just speculation.
"Saunders, who allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight outings, wasn’t needed for Game 4 against the Red Sox in Boston and will be well rested if he draws the assignment at Yankee Stadium. He hasn’t pitched since Oct. 4 when he went five innings in Oakland."
Notice the IF. I guess they’re just like us. Sitting around on an off-day thinking of things to write about.
Who goofed? I've got to know.
I interrupt this blog-cast to bring you the following Papelbon fail moment...
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=7041201&c_id=ana&topic_id=7222200
God needed a starter. RIP #34
Still cannot believe it
If you watch the video closely, Abreu hits Figgins in the face with his hand when he runs across the plate
Hahaha he did!
nice job pointing out
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart, Marquis Cooper, Steve McNair, and Frank Grimes, or Grimey, as he liked to be called.
SCREW BOSTON.
by JoseGuillenSux on Oct 13, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I can watch that over and over and....
and NEVER get tired of it.
by angelsfan777 on Oct 13, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
games 6 and 7
so kazmir and lackey will go in games 4 and 5, and for games 6 and 7, if necessary, weaver can pitch game 6 on full rest. do you think weaver would get the call in game six or saunders? up 3-2, down 3-2, either way?
Depends on how they've done so far, but....
…. I’d expect Saunders in Game 6, and then Lackey in Game 7. Weave is good for Game 1 of the World Series. Less good against left-handed sluggers playing on a Little League field.
No games 6 or 7 when we win in 4.
But….. if it comes to that, I say we blow everybody’s mind’s and show our depth by throwing out six starters this series. Lackey will feel bad if he doesn’t get two shots.
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
Starter's ERA in the postseason
Angels 2.67
Yankees 1.42
And that’s with that stellar performance by Lackey. Yankees starters gave up a total of 3 earned runs and struck out 21 while walking 6. Also gave up 14 hits in 19 innings. Yankee pitching is doing just fine.
Good video of Angels workout today right now on MLB Network
Ch. 213 on DirecTV
Saundo throwing in the pen
God needed a starter. RIP #34
I'm so excited about this series.
Last week I was nervous but this time I’m excited.
Not saying that it’s going to be easy but we can do this.
I expect it to be just as loud with Angels fans at game 3 & 4 as it was for games 1 and 2 against boston.
anyone else
buy world series tickets this morning? i got some for games 2 and 7
Nick Adenhart- Forever a true Angel in Heaven. RIP 1986-2009
Games 6 and 7...
Stoked. But i’d be happy to never see the games if the angels win sooner.
by BruinHalo on Oct 13, 2009 6:19 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I made the mistake of trying to pick my section and game....
And I got shut down faster than the Red Sox in game 1. No tix for me.
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
I tried....just wanted 1 ticket....
it took 15 minutes to process it and then it came up with nothing on my first choice. 2nd choice 15 minutes later (total 30 minutes) they were all gone. I’m a little bummed.
by angelsfan777 on Oct 13, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Almost the same here, except the tickets that came up on the second try were so high and so far down the right field line
that we’d need an oxygen tank. I suggested we buy them anyway and resell them through the appropriate vendor in order to buy better tickets, but my husband didn’t want to bother. I was at school or I would have done it.
THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!
Game 2. P249. Two tix.
(and now the clock begins to tick on the wait for the phone call from Rubixs…)
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
we are in section 420 for game 1 and crappy seats for game 6 & 7
WS in 09
by salmonforever on Oct 13, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I fully expect to not be sitting in my seats,
but roaming the concourse, changing my view, meeting and screaming along with fellow fans.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
I love to see CC pitch on short rest
Hopefully screws him for game 4 and if we need a game 7, he’ll be on full rest, but hopefully won’t have recovered from game 4. I think NY should go with a committee approach in game 4 since there is an off day after, but if they want to potentially ruin CC for the rest of the series, it sounds good to me.
Exactly my sentiment
They figure since they have so much $ invested in him, then they better utilize this. I’m hoping our hitters see that and just wait him out.
Maybe it will all blow up in Yankees’ face
stinking ass yankees
to hell with Sabathia… light his ass up (like a pumpkin on halloween) for 6-7 runs
go angels…
2010? 2011? 2012? 2013? 2014? 2015?
The Colonel has been great
i’m completely okay with this. Kaz also has some pretty bad numbers at Yankee Stadium, which really makes this good.
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
I Get It
I liked Kaz going second as well, but Saunders already has a ludicrous amount of rest built up. He’s got to get in there if he’s going to be any kind of sharp when we make it to the World Series.
The layoff between series is ridiculous. These set in stone schedules have created yawning gaps where no baseball happens when baseball should be THE sports topic.
Aside from hideous mustard/mud throwback unis.
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart - Always an Angel
Got game 7 tickets for World Series should be interesting
Bring back Lackey
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 13, 2009 10:21 PM PDT reply actions
That should be a great day to watch the arrival of the victory parade!
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
On the Angels frontpage of their website Scoscia is saying what his rotation is until tomorrow
Bring back Lackey
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 13, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions
*is not saying what his rotation is until tomorrow*
Bring back Lackey
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 13, 2009 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry if someone else posted this already, but it's so full of crap I just had to share it.
This is a post from Pinstripe Alley. http://www.pinstripealley.com/2009/10/13/1084133/side-by-side-matchups-yankees-vs
It is basically a side by side comparison of all players from Yankees and Angels. Here is what makes it hilarious. First he is using only the stats from the last month, which he believes is more indicative of the real numbers……(not the worst idea I have ever heard). However in his analysis whenever a Angel player is playing better the last month he explains it away as some kind of anomaly and gives the advantage to the Yankee player. Whenever the advantage goes to the Yankee player for the last month, but not for the whole season, he gives it to the Yankee player. Classic homerism / flawed logic.
Here are just a few tidbits:
’1B: Teixeira – wOBA = .465 Morales – wOBA = .344"
“Teixeira has been on a tear, while Morales has been relatively cool recently. For the whole season, their difference is only .02, but Teixeira is hitting right now, when it counts. Definite advantage Yankees.”
So the recent information reigns supreme, got it.
“2B: Cano – wOBA= .365 Kendrick – wOBA .416
Might seem like Angels have the advantage here, but keep in mind that Cano for the year is a .370 wOBA, while Kendrick is just a .339. I think Kendrick has been playing out of his mind the past month, and will come back down to earth when he hits Yankee pitching. Push”
Oh, OK, we are using the whole season now, got it.
“C: Posada – wOBA = .279 Napoli – wOBA = .370
Posada is in a bit of a slump, so if he can’t break out of it, the Angels will have an advantage. Posada is a .378 wOBA hitter for the year, so hopefully that HR he hit the other day will wake him up. Tentative advantage Angels.”
Um, tentative advantage? I guess we are back to using recent numbers……not sure?
“LF: Damon – wOBA = .298 Rivera – wOBA = .328
Pretty close, however, Damon is in a bad slump, while Rivera is playing at about his year average. The fact that they are this close when one is slumping badly and the other is playing average says that if Damon just comes back to average, the Yankees will have the advantage. Advantage Yankees.”
Ahhhh…. Damon is in a slump. I guess we will go back to the season numbers, got it.
“Hughes – WHIP = 1.13, ERA = 2.53, FIP = 3.10 Oliver – WHIP = 1.21, ERA = 1.93, FIP = 1.67
Oliver has pitched well recently, while those two runs Hughes gave up the other day are inflating his numbers. For season averages, Hughes is much better, so advantage Yankees.”
Oh, Hughes got screwed because he gave up a few runs? Makes sense, I guess we should give the advantage to the Yankees. Hmmm, so Oliver loses ground because he HASN’T given up any runs? Interesting.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
Hmmm....Somebody did already post this.
Now I look like an idiot. Only the 7th time today, so that’s about the usual. LOL
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
Not even close to a record.
But thanks.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
Yanks starting pitching is laughable after the first two?
Respectfully disagree. Andy Pettitte has shown he has “some stuff in the basement” as Rocky Balboa would say. Andy 14-8 and an ERA of 4.16…not Cy Young numbers but perfectly fine for a #3 starter. And he dominated the Twins in the first round too. Don’t count on him being a pushover.
This guy is an idiot
To say that the Yankees starting pitching is laughable after CC and Burnett, are you kidding me? I will take Pettite pitching over any of the Angel starters in the postseason. Even your first 2.
that's stupid.
really? you’d take old, steroidy pettite over any of the angels starters?
really??
you’re dumb.
"it's mind-bottling."
So, it's official now? Lackey, Saunders, Weaver and Kazmir in that order.
I was listening to KNX on the drive home and they announced it, then said Scoscia was going with the three-man rotation. They must not have enough fingers on their hands.
THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!
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