2009-2010 Angels (fully formatted now)

by sctrojan13 on Oct 28, 2009 5:45 PM PDT Comment 23 comments

First of all the Angels have some decisions to make of their own with their free agents.

Lackey: He must be resigned, he is our ace and no one on the team is ready to step up in that role. (Kazmir did well in his short time with us during the regular season but the post season shows he isn't an ace. Weaver isn't there for two reasons: he has to figure out his to pitch on the road (Sosh pushed him back to game 3 instead of having him pitch in a much more important game 2) and he could regress like he did after his rookie season.)

Vlad: I have been a little down on him and still think he is way past what we was but I think they should resign him but only if Sosh can pull his head out of his butt and take him out of the cleanup spot.

Abreu: With the uncertainty of Vlad and GMJ and of course with his positive influence, I think they should and will resign him (and probably overpay him just a bit too).

Figgins: He has been a favorite of mine since I was a quick utility infielder when I played plus hearing my mother chant "Let's go Chone" (pronounced how its spelled, not how it's actually said) makes it all the harder to say I think his time here should and will be done. I was borderline before the playoffs, and it was actually Aybar's play that pushed Figgins off the edge for me.

Escobar: I still think fondly on 2007 but who knows what he will be like once he's back. If Lackey walks and no deal for Arroyo comes about then there is a slight possibility he could be coming back.

Oliver: He has been way too good to let go especially since 2 All Star break's ago. The type A designation makes it tempting to let him walk, but in our bp we need him, plus he has a little unfinished busines (note: Tex 3 run double).

Free Agents: This class is bad. There is no 2 ways around it. There is a little talent at the top but not too much else besides bench players here. I think they will get Bay (with Holliday going back to the Cards) and pay A LOT to do so after having big chunks of money by cheaply resigning Vlad and letting Escobar walk. Personally I like Beltre if they decide Wood isn't ready yet but I think his time is now.

Starting Lineup:

SS: Aybar
RF:Abreu
CF:Hunter
LF:Bay
1B:Morales
DH:Vlad
3B:Wood
C:Napoli
2B:Kendrick

While I would personally like Kendrick before Wood, Sosh likes having someone to turn the lineup over and I think Kendrick steps into that role with Aybar taking Figgins' role.

Rotation:
Lackey
Weaver
Kazmir
Saunders
Santana

BP:
Fuentes
Jepsen
Bulger
Arredondo
Palmer
Oliver
Shields

Having Rivera and GMJ on the bench would be a lot but I see a trade involving Rivera if they are able to land Bay. Personally I would love to see him get packaged with Fuentes and maybe even Napoli to bring in a big arm (Papelbon (mostly sarcastic, I realize it wouldn't happen, but it's just an idea) anyone??). Wood replacing Figgins adds a lot more pop to the lineup and Bay over Rivera makes the lineup stronger while hopefully Rivera can be sent off to make our bullpen and/or pitching staff better. You add in a healthy Vlad and this teams loooks like it has the complete package.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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Aaaagghhhh! My eyes!

Need paragraphs, Vision failing… Must use spaces….

Happy Birthday to the ground!

by Monkeyspanked on Oct 28, 2009 6:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ahh sorry my computer messed that up

ill try to fix it

R.I.P. #34
R.I.P. JJ
W6G...Go Halos!!
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Aug 13, 2009 7:28 PM PDT

by sctrojan13 on Oct 28, 2009 6:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the fix, my head nearly exploded. : )

Now down to business.

Lackey is very important, but I truly believe that WTY showed this year that he can be our ace. This year was his Lackey version 2006, the one right before he cemented himself as the ace of this staff. That being said, I still wanna keep Big John around. Not because I don’t trust Weave, but because I want Big John.

I think on some level we ALL want Vlad back next year, but he is gonna need to take a serious paycut (SERIOUS) and swallow his pride and take a full time DH gig. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HIM IN RF. It has become very painful to watch him play out there.

No need to talk about Abreu, I agree with you. Figgy on the other hand is much easier for me to say good bye too. SB per 162 games has decreased every year while CS per year has gone up. Wood is every bit the 3B defensively as Figgy, and there is a player in Aybar who could be a damn fine leadoff hitter.

I hope Oliver stays, but I’m starting to think he’s gonna hang ’em up and I think the only way that Escy plays for the Halos is though a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

I’m not gonna argue that Bay has pop, but his UZR rating in LF was the EXACT OPPOSITE of Rivera’s this year (-13.6 for Bay, 13.6 for Rivera. Rivera’s coincidentally was 3rd best among LF’s). Bay has an obvious edge here when it comes to offensive output, But Rivera is no slouch. I’d rather save the money that would be going to Bay to shore up any weakness or even use it at draft time to sign more of our high round picks.

Nick would be proud.

by halofan4life on Oct 28, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree w/ everything except

“Wood is every bit the 3B defensively as Figgy” That would make Brandon Wood one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball. I haven’t seen anything that would corroborate this.

That said, your conclusions are the same as mine.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Oct 29, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was going by what I have seen from Wood defensively.

At 3B, SS and 1B (earlier this year), Brandon made some FANTASTIC plays. Kid’s got range, strong arm and soft hands. Maybe it’s an exaggeration to believe that right now he’s an equal, but I’d bet my bottom dollar that it wouldn’t take long.

Nick would be proud.

by halofan4life on Oct 29, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. Thx for the fix.

Happy Birthday to the ground!

by Monkeyspanked on Oct 28, 2009 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll come back when this is fixed.

Nick would be proud.

by halofan4life on Oct 28, 2009 6:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I've been meaning to say this for awhile

And this post is just the one I’m reading where I saw this mistake. Many people type the word “resign” when they mean “re-sign.” I’ve just been seeing that for years and had to throw it out there before my head exploded or something.

Of course, Merriam-Webster could change one day.

by RICangelfan on Oct 28, 2009 6:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

unless it is Mickey Hatcher talking about resigning

in that case i am hiding my hyphen.

by Rev Halofan on Oct 28, 2009 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Merriam-Webster

Sorry I use Random House ;P

by Baylorsgroove on Oct 30, 2009 5:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he meant MerriamWebster.

I wonder what John Lackey must think about how long Sosh left Juan Rivera in the playoff lineup?

by Stirrups on Oct 30, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

MerriamWebster

Who’s she? ;P

by Baylorsgroove on Nov 1, 2009 1:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I stopped at:

only if Sosh can pull his head out of his butt and take him out of the cleanup spot.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Oct 28, 2009 11:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i could see rivera + a prospect to atlanta for vasquez

rivera is signed for two years for less than vasquez makes next year in his walk year. atlanta is going to sign hudson to an extension which would give them 6 starting pitchers. vasquez is an innings eater who hasn’t missed a start since 2000. if we can pull this off we can make a run at bay/holliday or take on a bad salary/attitude in any gmj deal for our new left fielder.

by thejd on Oct 29, 2009 7:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

to Atlanta

Atlanta has three outfielders already. GA signed a 2 year deal I believe. McLouth in CF and Church in RF. If I’m wrong about GA then it could be a good deal, but the ATL would never do it.

by Baylorsgroove on Oct 30, 2009 5:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

GA according to Cot's (found on HH's front page under "Angels Contracts")

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html

(although, I am pretty sure he’s repped by Scott Boras now)…

Garret Anderson of
1 year/$2.5M (2009)

1 year/$2.5M (2009)
signed by Atlanta as a free agent 2/22/09
4 years/$48M (2005-08), plus 2009 club option

signed extension with LA Angels 4/04
$3M signing bonus
05:$9M, 06:$10M, 07:$11M, 08:$12M, 09:$14M club option ($3M buyout)
LA Angels declined $15M 2009 club option 10/28/08

4 years/$20M (2001-04)
signed 4/01
$25,000 All Star award bonus
agent: Chris Arnold
ML service: 14.049

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Oct 30, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ga's deal was for only one year

the only productive of’s they have are mclouth and diaz, aside from that they have a lot of nothing. there is a saying in the nfl, “when you have a lot of something ( unproven bodies) on your depth chart at one position you really have a lot of nothing.” church made 2.8 mill last year and is arb. eligible, any raise and he could make what rivera will make next year (4.25-4.5 mill). regardless, after bay and holliday there isn’t a lot available as far as free agents on the market. rivera is a productive and a cheap (in baseball terms) left fielder who could be a good trading chip.

by thejd on Oct 30, 2009 9:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade

I say we package HGH and O’Suulivan for Derek Lowe.

by Baylorsgroove on Nov 1, 2009 1:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You can't

You already traded them to the Reds for Arroyo and Rolen. The Braves will be pissed when they find that out.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Nov 1, 2009 10:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No Bay

he’s staying with the Sox- No Holladay either- he is going to the Yanks-

I say sign Lackey, Abreu and extend Weaver and Morales before it becomes a problem in ’11. Expect a breakout year from Woodie, much as Morales did this year.

Figgs is gone, so is Vlad unless he’s sign on the Cheap for DH- I agree he shoudl be batted down further in the line up- maybe the 5-6 spot-

My lineup:

Eybar, SS
Abreu, RF
Hunter CF
Morales, 1B
Rivera LF
Vlad DH (Napoli if we don’t sign Vlad)
Woods, 3B
Mathis, C (Napoli if we don’t resign Vlad)
Kendricks/ Maicer 2B

SP
Lackey
Weaver
Saunders
Santana
Kazmir

Relievers
Fuentes
Jepsen
Bulger
Arredondo
Palmer
Oliver (resign him!)
Shields

Xavier Calvera

by xavier c on Nov 2, 2009 2:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Part right

No Bay- he’s staying with the Sox- No Holladay either- he is going to the Yanks-

Folks here would do well to imagine alternate realities without either of those two in Angel unis. Whether Bay goes to the Sox and Holliday to the Yankees or vice-versa, the Angels don’t figure to get involved in a bidding war between those two camps.

extend Weaver and Morales before it becomes a problem in ’11.

Morales doesn’t hit free agency until 2014, so we have time to breathe.

Li’l Weave is a Boras client, and his athletes don’t sign extensions with anyone. He’ll hit the market for the 2013 season and see what the economy will bear. In the meantime, he’ll work for arbitration money over the next three seasons.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Nov 2, 2009 5:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Very legitimate points

That get taken down by eybar, woods, kendricks, and having Napoli in 2 places if we don’t re-sign vlad

R.I.P. #34
R.I.P. JJ
W6G...Go Halos!!
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Aug 13, 2009 7:28 PM PDT

by sctrojan13 on Nov 2, 2009 6:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs