HH player ratings: Game 1, Boston v. Halos
by highlandhalo on Oct 8, 2009 11:26 PM PDT
46 comments
My player rankings for Game 1 of the ALDS. In the grand tradition of British soccer writing, I am going to assign a rating of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, based on the individual players' performance in the game.
Feel free to argue ... but these are my damn player ratings. Of course I am elated that we've got a 5-0 victory over the Red Sox but I tried to be very unbiased on these player rankings, journalist-style (non ESPN) ... Keep in mind these are my own ratings alone, and please feel free to disagree or agree with me, or give your adjustments or own ratings in the comments below. ~ highland
BOSTON RED SOX
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF: Did his best and made a Willie Mays-like catch to put out the fire in the 6th. Good job working counts and tried to be a pest. Best player on the Sox tonight. Player rating: 7
Dustin Pedroia, 2B: Hit the ball hard but most of his hits found gloves. Good opposite field hit against Lackey. Player rating: 6
Victor Martinez, C: Did a hell of a good job calling the game but had several poor at-bats for a guy in the No. 3 slot. Player rating: 4
Kevin Youkilis, 1B: Looked really bad for a cleanup hitter on the strikeout against Lackey in the 4th. But when has anyone ever said Youkilis looked good? Player rating: 3
David Ortiz, DH: Angels put the Ortiz shift on him. Didn't matter because he couldn't hit anything anyway. Lackey couldn't throw strikes in the 4th but whiffed him anyway. Destroyed by a tiring Lackey in the 7th. Whiffed against Oliver for the final out. Poetic "Juice-tice". Player rating: 2
Jason Bay, LF: Indifferent. Did a nice job on a Lackey mistake pitch for a solid hit, but was baffled by Lackey for a backwards K in the 7th. Player rating: 5
Mike Lowell, 3B: For someone who was supposed to terrorise the Angels, Lowell looked intimidated by Lackley, managed to ground into a beautiful 6-4-3 DP. Airmailed a throw, but got robbed on a bad call by ump Bucknor. More noodle-arm shit in the 7th. Great beard though. Player rating: 4
JD Drew, RF: Did a decent job all around and had a nice hit against Lackey to open the 9th. Player rating: 6
Alex Gonzalez, SS: Off an on both offensively and defensively. Nice patient AB in the 3rd for a base hit, but looked like crap in his AB in the top of the 8th. Player rating: 4
Pitching:
Jon Lester: This guy is as tough as advertised. For the Angels to win 5-0 in a game started by a sharp Jon Lester is interesting indeed. Kept his team in it and the Angels off balance. Got rattled in the 3rd until Vlad Guerrero got himself out. Made a 94-mph mistake to Torii Hunter in the 5th and paid for it hardcore, bye-bye Game One. Player rating: 7
Ramon Ramirez: Power arm. Uhhhhh. Rating: 1
Takashi Saito: Awkward but has guts. Rating: 6
Daniel Bard: I hope the Angels don't have to face this guy again in a tough spot because he is simply filthy. Rating: 8
Subs:
Jed Lowrie, Casey Kotchman: No rating
----------------------------------
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
Chone Figgins, 3B: Nothing much on the offensive front from the Angels sparkplug (he did lay down a nice bunt in the 5th) and looked silly against Bard. But still was patient with the stick. Shined defensively as usual. Ended the 6th with a hell of a throw and was basically flawless on D. Best arm on the field other than Bard. Player rating: 7
Bobby Abreu, RF: This man played the game as if was easy as a friendly game of ping-pong. Like a man on valium. He was smiling when facing Ramirez in the 8th. Plate discipline? Try four walks, Sox. Player rating: 8
Torii Hunter, CF: Leadership from the front and the huge three-run bomb in the bottom of the 5th to bust up a pitcher's duel. Don't you love guys who can "hit mistake pitches"? The Angels can't hit fastballs? Ask Torii. Player rating: 8
Vladimir Guerrero, DH: Hacking with men in scoring position. Overanxious. A bad game for a player of Vlad's standards. Player rating: 4
Juan Rivera, LF: Juancho had bat at-bats in the 2nd and 4th innings, but showed a hell of a lot of hustle to score in the 7th inning. Player rating: 6
Kendry Morales, 1B: No bombs from the big Cubano but he did a damn good job with the glove at 1B, picking some tough throws from the cannon arms of Figgins and Aybar. Roped Saito for an RBI in the 7th which was a huge help. Player rating: 7
Howard Kendrick, 2B: Looked more dangerous than he was at the plate. Weak-ass ground out in the 4th. But ... made a hell of a nice turn on the DP in the 5th with Jason Bay barreling into him. Player rating: 5
Jeff Mathis, C: Ummmm, Mike Scioscia knows something about catching that we don't. Mathis did a great job behind the dish, blocking balls in the dirt, etc. Completely overpowered by Lester in the 4th and by Bard in the 8th. Player rating: 4
Erick Aybar, SS: Great feed to start the DP on Lowell in the 5th. What a gloveman. Ripped a nice stand-up doublek past Lowell to start the 5th after fouling two pitches back (Abreu influence, anybody?) Vacuum cleaner at shortstop. Player rating: 7
Pitching:
John Lackey: Well hell, what can you say? Big John took the ball like it was the 7th game of the 2002 Series and showed what he is all about. A few shaky moments but overall ... Command. courage. Confidence. In charge. Ace. Player rating: 9
Darren Oliver: Cousin Oliver is the pitching equivalent of Bobby Abreu. Goes about his business like a man on valium or stoned and completely effortlessly effective. Player rating: 8
Subs: None.
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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I was at the game tonight
pretty good ratings, but it was pretty clear from where I was that Ellsbury’s catch was more routine than miraculous. I mean, it was a great running catch, and he covered a lot of ground…but the ball was in his glove with his feet on the ground, and the dive was a nice little tack-on to stop his momentum or something. It was pretty unnecessary.
by Caseys Kiss of Death on Oct 8, 2009 11:38 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree
The ball was clearly within range… I was never under the impression that it would mean trouble for the Sox. I was most surprised that Ellsbury wasn’t fast enough to catch it standing. Maybe he got a bad jump.
by BruinHalo on Oct 8, 2009 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ellsbury is fast
But he gets surprisingly poor jumps on balls. He doesn’t take great routes either. He was shading Figgins to right and still “had” to dive to make that play.
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
by Gorbachav5 on Oct 9, 2009 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ken Griffey Jr. is that you?
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
by hauldog on Oct 9, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Highland gives Figgy a +2 for getting out of bed
Figgins was nada at the plate and almost botched the Kotchman grounder – had it been anyone but Kotch, the runner would have been safe – otherwise solid defense, yeah, but if Aybar is a 7 Figgy is a 5 tonight.
by Rev Halofan on Oct 8, 2009 11:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
lol ... just because I have a mancrush on Desmond does not mean I give him extra points
He made some seriously slick plays with the glove tonight.
Don't call me Desmond!
by highlandhalo on Oct 8, 2009 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is truth.
A lot of people will be impressed by B-Woods D when he replaces Figgi.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 8, 2009 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That 'Wood' be impressive.
Because I haven’t seen anything out of him yet.
The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch
by Stirrups on Oct 9, 2009 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree
He made a nice play to secure that ball and his momentum made him stumble. It wasn’t the most graceful looking play, but it was solid.
He wasn’t great at the plate, though.
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
by Gorbachav5 on Oct 9, 2009 12:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Figgy vs Lowell
How many of those doubles down the line that Mike Lowell made weak ass, no chance, diving flops at would have been outs if they were hit at figgy?
I give Chone a +1 just for not being Mike Lowell…
by Jietoh on Oct 9, 2009 7:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1 for that comment.
THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!
by opiejeanne on Oct 9, 2009 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, it evens out, given that the Rev gives Figgins a -2 for breathing.
There’s a little patch of Figgins boosters on this board, but there’s also a larger posse of Figgins abusers. You can pretty much expect clover_black, the Rev, QGS, and Welch to read every tough play Figgins makes as routine, every out as a team-crushing expression of his suckitude, in any given gamethread or summary. The “almost botched Kotchman grounder” is an obvious case in point. He didn’t end up botching it, it wasn’t a routine grounder, and the play was spectacular enough that the NYT wrote a feature piece around it. But “almost botched” is as much as botched in this Bosch-like vision, or perp walk.
I put it down to sequential prospect man-crushes on DMac and Wood. Dudes dig the longball too.
Doesn’t matter that Figgins has turned from a mediocre utility guy to an elite player that 20 teams want in the off-season, or that he’s learned to walk, bunt and field at a level we never would have imagined he could 2-3 seasons ago. The guy gets more shit from the fanbase than any player of equivalent worth who has been on this team in a decade.
I wasn’t always a Figgins booster, but I am today. The nagging nabobs in our own fanbase have made me one. In three decades of following the Angels, I don’t recall a single player with Figgins’ generally positive track record receive the bum rap and vitriol that he gets from certain segment of male fanboys in our midst.
by Turks Teeth on Oct 9, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Returning in the midst of a happy playoff victory
But I think Lester’s overranked. He’s messed up like this before in the worst situation: Anyone remember ALCS Game 7 last year? If you break him down in the middle innings, he’s about as useless as a hat full of busted assholes.
by 27up27down on Oct 8, 2009 11:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm liking this concept already
I do a post-game ratings post from a “journalist’s” perspective and everyone on HH can kick the shit of me! It’s great! Kind of like my real life …. Lester was a 7 though. One mistake to Torii and that was all she wrote ….
Don't call me Desmond!
by highlandhalo on Oct 8, 2009 11:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm gonna nit-pick
If you mention that Mathis was responsible for a catcher’s interference but managed a hit, the rating would make more sense.
by BruinHalo on Oct 8, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Joe West alone
was responsible for that Catcher’s Interference.
*Ade-Rock 34*
by TheTypingFiend on Oct 9, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lester has some pretty sick stuff
Every time this guy goes out, he wows me. I thought he looked great and really only made 1 or 2 mistakes.
RIP #34
by linkbruin on Oct 9, 2009 3:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Highland
We missed you (and your barmaids) in the game threads.
If I (we) could I (we) would send you a in-n-out double double. You deserve it!
Next game I go to I will try and catch a moth in a jar and send it to you (with some seeds).
You have been missed!
That is all. Now go and save the Queen or some other poor limey.
Peace out, dude.
by Funke5ive on Oct 8, 2009 11:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks funky
I want a double-double animal style (ie with moth on top)
Don't call me Desmond!
by highlandhalo on Oct 9, 2009 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vlad has standards?
Like is selective at which pitches he swing at, works deep in to the count for that fastball over the plate?
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
by 44FAN on Oct 8, 2009 11:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Mathis gets a 4?
Dude got the first basehit of the game, laid down a fantastic bunt, and called a gem of a game.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 8, 2009 11:58 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
agreed...
Mathis deserves at least a 4 1/2… But seriosly good job HIghland…
Now stuck in Colorado Springs
by stuck in Romania on Oct 9, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if napoli carries over his .170 batting average from last month
and stellar D, i can see him raking in a 7 or 8.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
vlad got a 4 for reaching base on a would be double play ball
i smell bias
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 9, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
figgins gets a 15 for striking out twice and leaving 2 on base
but he can catch a ground ball in the hot corner
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No love for the bunt sacrifice?
THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!
by opiejeanne on Oct 9, 2009 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe THIS:
Mike Scioscia knows something about catching that we don’t.
by wumbug on Oct 9, 2009 6:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I knew this would stir up some shit. Be happy to do it again for Game 2
Don't call me Desmond!
by highlandhalo on Oct 9, 2009 12:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
hah, controversy (?) is good...
good write up, …id just have to give your ratings a 6 ou of 10, though.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Reminds me of "Dead Poets Society"
“I like Byron, I give him a 42 but I can’t dance to it!”
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
by red floyd on Oct 9, 2009 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Torii
Broke through the psychological barrier for the team. He gets a 9 in my book.
by ginbejury on Oct 9, 2009 12:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
What's changed on this Angels team from last year?
Bobby Abreu…
He deserves his 8 for driving up Lester’s pitch count on every PA and giving Hunter/Guerrero/Rivera the opportunity to hit with a runner/runners on base.
by BruinHalo on Oct 9, 2009 12:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That has to be the most amazing hitting line I've ever seen.
0-0 4BB.
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
by red floyd on Oct 9, 2009 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re-done Player Ratings
Angel players:
Chone Figgins (0-4, 2 Ks, Sac Bunt, 2 LOB): 4 – Played solid defense with some slight unsteadiness and was not very Figgy-like at the plate. Therefore, he was below average.
Bobby Abreu (0-0, Run, 4 BB): 8 – Played solid defense and got on base at every at bat. Not only that but he taxed Lester’s pitch count which was a factor in Torii’s timely hit.
Torii Hunter (1-2, HR, 3 RBIs, BB, HBP): 9 – Showed why he’s a leader of our team. Gave Lackey the runs he needed to be spot on.
Vladimir Guerrero (1-4, Run, K, 4 LOB): 3 – He wasn’t terrible. However he was very unclutch with bases loaded and he didn’t hustle to home when Morales hit the single. No matter what, Vladdy should at least be keeping his focus on the plate. He actually took the last few steps to look over his shoulder and see Rivera ALMOST get picked off, thus making his run not count.
Juan Rivera (1-4, Run, K, 3 LOB): 4 – A slightly better performance than Vlad and played solid defense.
Kendry Morales (1-4, RBI, 1 LOB): 7 – I know it’s a bit high, but he did make a lot of great plays at first. He did not strike out, which was important. He showed some patience. I wish he didn’t try to go for home when he knows he’s got no wheels, but I’ll blame that on Dino.
Howie Kendrick (1-4, K): 5 – Lack luster performance by Howie and got bailed out by the umps. He did turn a good DP though.
Jeff Mathis (1-3, Sac Bunt, 2 Ks, 1 LOB): 7 – He called a great game, got us our first hit, dropped a good bunt. Also he made some great blocks at the plate.
Erick Aybar (1-4, Run, Dbl, 2 LOB): 6 – Turned a good DP. Got an extra base hit and didn’t strike out.
John Lackey (7.1 IP, 4 H, BB, 4 Ks, 0 ER): 9 – Masterful, except for one inning, but he managed to gather himself. He gave us the lift we needed for this series and hopefully inspired our other starters to be the same.
Darren Oliver (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K): 8 – Solid. We need him to be this solid throughout this entire postseason.
The Big Red Machine V.2 is coming this Fall 2009. Go Halos!
by Slyintine on Oct 9, 2009 1:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I really gotta disagree with Mathis
Defense is half the game. Yeah he did call a great game, and he made some good stops. But man, that catcher’s interference nearly burned us. I’d give him a 4 on defense. And then a 2 at the plate. First hit was good, bunt was pretty good, but he looked badddd his last two at bats.
This is just me nitpicking though. The catcher’s interference made me very angry.
RIP #34
by linkbruin on Oct 9, 2009 3:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There was no catchers interference.
Ask Elisbury. Watch the replay.
It was news to everyone besides Joe FAT PILE OF SHIT West.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 7:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
From what I could see, Ellsbury was leaving the game, he knew he was out.
THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!
by opiejeanne on Oct 9, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watch Mathis glove...
he does pull it back quickly. And there was no arguement, telling me that Scocsia asked Mathis, and Mathis said yes………..
by eastcoastAngel on Oct 9, 2009 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kendrick DP?
Looked to be tailor made. And Bay didn’t even slide at Kendrick, but rather at the bag. Howie hardly had to jump out of the way.
by eastcoastAngel on Oct 9, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We won, right?
Good Lord people, by reading some of this nitpicking of the Halos you’d think that they had lost game 1. Let’s enjoy the V. Mathis played well, that interference was bogus. Figgy and Vlad just need to relax at the dish, they’ll be fine. Any win in the extra season is a success, even if all of the components to get it aren’t perfect. Now…we take game 2 tonight, eek out a win against Beckett…you’ve got to like our chances with Kaz and Saunders going in 3 and 4. What do you think?
by Lompoc Angel Fan on Oct 9, 2009 11:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
overall, in terms of could they play a better game?
figgy – 5: good defensive game (the olay was a do or die, HE DO!), horrible offensive game, and wasn’t running hard on his sac bunt
abreu – 9: facing an ace lefty, does his job as a #2 hitter and gets 4 walks, and no muffs in right
hunter – 10: you want 3 run homers from your #3 hitter and no mistakes in the field
vlad – 1: hard contact in the first at bat, and then 3 absolutely horrible at bats, compounded by not hustling home before rivera kicked the ball for an extra run
rivera – 5: had me thinking out loud about matthews until his double, the gidp late was a hard hit ball
morales – 7: good glove and a nice clutch hit late getting in 2 extra runs
kendrick – 6: abused his first at bat, here we go again … but then came back to make solid contact and get a hit. also reached base 3 times, 2 times via error, but at least he was running hard unlike a few other players
mathis – 9(he cant play much better than this): called a good game, got some calls from joe west, looks like he did have his glove nicked (maybe he sets up a little closer and that’s the perceived benefit umpires talk about when he catches as to seeing the ball better?), got the first hit which you just knew he would considering the nipples mathface drama, and did his usual good job of dropping a sac bunt perfectly.
aybar – 6: very swing happy, but got a double and had a good defensive game
lackey -10 – i have questioned his billing as an ace, but you can’t pitch any better than he did last night. he was around the plate early and often, had some sick velocity and movement, and basically won the game before hunter won it.
oliver -10 – pissed all over the “our bullpen sucks” articles, and turned in a great outing.
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 9, 2009 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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