What's with the Panic Halo Fans?

by Balls and Strikes on Dec 14, 2009 9:53 PM PST

Seriously people, why the panic?

Yes, the Halos missed out on Halladay and Lee. Yes, Lackey is off to bean-town, Figgy will be running in the cold seattle rain and we appear to have traded one aged OF with a handicap placard for another.

But when has this kind of stuff stopped us from winning? And what do Seattle's improvements have to do with our ability to win?

Lackey has missed the beginnings of the last two seasons and we still managed to play solid baseball. Figgins had a great year last year but we've lost him to injuries in the past and we kept on winning. Vlad missed significant time and we played great while he was gone. We don't need to panic, we dont need to make a signing just to make a signing. We have talent and we will continue to win.

So, stop the crying, put down the bottle and let's be optimistic. Worst Case Scenario, Itzturis is not that much worse than Figgins, Kazmir, if Butcher gets him going right- can easily replace Lackey and we still have all our prospects and some payroll flexibility for potential midseason acquisitions.

And hey, just 9 weeks until pitchers and catchers can report to spring training.

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I think the thing that pisses me off most

Is Tony’s inability to pull the trigger and make some big trades/buys. Did you see how Seattle came out grabbing people? New York? Boston? Philly? Why not the Angels? We’re a contender.

I understand we’ve given him the cute nickname “ninja” because of his silence but it’s starting to piss me off. We deserve an explanation. I’m so sick of this “I’m not talking to anyone” bullshit. I kept my mouth shut (for the most part) but this is too far. It’s not about who we lost (although who we lost them too stings) but it’s about who we didn’t get. If we don’t get Bay, Reagins has completely failed us this year.

I miss Hudler already.

by Teixeira Who? on Dec 14, 2009 10:07 PM PST reply actions

Not really.

Bay is great but also hit and miss. I’m disappointed with the thinking that Matsui is the answer—would much rather have Vlad instead of Matsui—but I don’t think no Bay = offseason failure. Now, if the Mariners get Bay and it turns out he only went with them because no one else was interested enough and he waited as long as he could for Reagins to call him, then I’ll be pissed about it. But not until then.

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Dec 14, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions

If he goes back to the Red Sox, too, I'd be pissed.

But I don’t think we should get Bay just for the sake of getting someone.

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Dec 14, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions

Last add-on

It’s a panic move in that case, unless it’s what’s been planned all along.

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Dec 14, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions

Much less likely

If he goes back to the Red Sox, too, I’d be pissed.
But I don’t think we should get Bay just for the sake of getting someone.

The Sox, apparently, have signed Mike Cameron. Bay’s chances in Boston just went close to zero.

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

by George Kaplan on Dec 15, 2009 4:54 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I dont get the Matsui over Vlad thing

Vlad has a higher BA and just as much power. Matsui did well last year, but not the few years before. Vlad is pretty reliable. I really hope he wasnt a signing just to have a signing.

by Balls and Strikes on Dec 14, 2009 10:31 PM PST up reply actions

OBP

batting average is so 1978.

Vlad reliable? Have you been watching him the last two years?

by jjackflash on Dec 14, 2009 11:14 PM PST up reply actions

2008 he was .300 with 27 hr and 91 rbi..hardly unreliable..
Last year- injured,same as many other big name players in there careers,who get the benefit of the doubt…
Delgado,Thome,Beltran,Griffey, all spent time injured,never hear of them being done,though Griffey is a tad older and near the end of his days…

by raven191 on Dec 15, 2009 1:00 AM PST up reply actions

not pulling the trigger???

what does that mean?

I am just as disapointed as the next fan but, remember this isn’t the slave trade…. Players have choices
Do you think that if we offered TEX the exact same amount that he got from NY he would be here instead? NO he wanted a certain location and got it.
Halliday said he wanted to do Spring training in Florida, that took us out of the running.
I am pissed that we lost Lackey to a hated rival, but to give him the years that he wanted with his injury past, I was a little doubtful of his future performance. Do you remember that last time he played a full season? We still had a good economy thats how long ago.
These deals (figgins and Lackey) will benefit these teams for 1-2 years and after that the contracts will not be worth the players output.
We do need to get a pitcher and a bullpen guy… But that’s it!

Think about it… what do we need to improve on.
Catcher- two solid guys each with faults but together splitting time very solid
1b-KMO even with a predictable dropoff still a cheap and great option
2b Kendrick- A healthy year could have us all buying kendrick jerseys
ss- we didn’t trade him away, he is replaceable but even with a dropoff he is still a good SS
3b – Wood, a guy that we all have been jonesing to give a shot to
OF- Abreu Hunter Rivera and Mathews—- Old sure, but solid at the plate Hunter while in decline is still a great CF and Rivera was good this year in RF. Abreu’s defense is almost not even an issue. teams put weak players in RF for a reason
SP- Kaz (A good year ahead mark my words) Saunders, Weaver Santana + whomever is a good rotation young and affordable.

So yeah we need another SP and maybe a middle relief guy, hopefully a lefty. It is still a good time to be an Angels fan…
and remember the offseason isn’t over yet Abreu signed really late last year….

My prediction as of 12-11-2009- Wood .265 avg, 20 HRs 70 RBIs and an above average glove at 3b

by Sinatrasratpack on Dec 14, 2009 10:36 PM PST up reply actions

Slave trade?

Uh, what?

Like I said, I’m okay (as okay as a fan can be) with losing Figgins and Lackey. But why couldn’t we get Cliff Lee? I’m just sick of the notion that we’ll do just fine. Yeah, we will. Then the teams that bought and traded their way to the top will beat us in the post season. I guess the main point of my post would be if Reagins has a plan, I’d sure like to hear it.

I miss Hudler already.

by Teixeira Who? on Dec 14, 2009 10:55 PM PST up reply actions

How Many Prospects

are worth giving up for one season of Cliff Lee, who is not signing a contract extension and will be a free agent at the end of the year?

How do you even know whether the Angels had prospects that Toronto wanted (remember, Seattle’s players are going to Toronto, not Philadelphia). Once again, you cannot force another team to accept your players. You have literally no knowledge base from which you can rationally conclude that the Angels didn’t make an attempt on this one.

by jjackflash on Dec 14, 2009 11:16 PM PST up reply actions

Actually

The Seattle prospects are ALL going to Philadelphia.

by ryanfea on Dec 15, 2009 8:32 AM PST up reply actions

I meant by slave trade

that not getting a player isn’t from "not pulling the trigger’ that all you can do is make and offer the player chooses. You cant just “buy him” like a slave.

The East coast gets favorable coverage, the most games nationally televised, most of the endorsement deals, and giveaway usually the biggest contracts. Players have egos and John Lackeys ego decided he was as good if not better than AJ Burnett and wanted the same inflated deal.

My prediction as of 12-11-2009- Wood .265 avg, 20 HRs 70 RBIs and an above average glove at 3b

by Sinatrasratpack on Dec 15, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions

Very true

and I’m over Lackey leaving. I just think Reagins owes us a little explanation. How about enough speculating about what was/wasn’t offered. I’d really like to know. It’s frustrating.

I miss Hudler already.

by Teixeira Who? on Dec 15, 2009 5:17 PM PST up reply actions

So you want to

rent Lee for a year and give up a few GOOD prospects for him? You obviously don’t know anything about baseball or the Halos.

9 Gold Gloves and counting...

by Gold Glove Hunter 48 on Dec 15, 2009 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

Too bad I never said I wanted to rent Lee for a year by giving up a few GOOD prospects.

I said, if you would bother to go back and read it, “Why couldn’t we get Cliff Lee”. I would like to know what was offered, what prospects, if we could/couldn’t get a salary extension (probably not, hence Philly getting rid of him) and what were all the demands that the Angels didn’t see worthy of meeting. My point to all this is why? Why aren’t we informed. I’d like for someone to come out right away and say “This is why we didn’t go after so and so…” Someone to kill some speculation and just let us know what’s going on.

I actually do have a pretty good handle on baseball and the Halos. Your reading comprehension level is pretty suspect.

I miss Hudler already.

by Teixeira Who? on Dec 15, 2009 5:24 PM PST up reply actions

Good Points

Tough day to be sure, but no need to panic.

by Rusty Carew on Dec 14, 2009 10:12 PM PST reply actions

9 weeks?

YES! NOT THAT FAR AWAY!

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Dec 14, 2009 10:26 PM PST reply actions

Great news

And hey, just 9 weeks until pitchers and catchers can report to spring training

Music to my ~~ears~~ eyes.

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

by George Kaplan on Dec 15, 2009 4:52 AM PST reply actions

Agreed

While yesterday sucked for the most part, today the smoke has cleared and we’re all thinking rationally again.

Our rotation is solid, very solid. Our 5th starter could be Palmer, Bell, O’Sullivan, or Ortega from within our system
or we could find one through free agency like a Jason Marquis or Joel Pinero. There’s also talks about the Angels thinking about trading for Derek Lowe, but I’m not certain that Reagins wants to lose any more off the current roster. Can’t really blame him.

Our lineup won’t be as speedy as in years past, but it will have a bit more pop with Wood coming in and another improved year from Rivera, Morales, and Kendrick. I just hope Napoli hasn’t lost his mojo.Matsui will be great for the Angels, I said during the playoffs that he could be next DH for us and sure enough, here he comes.

Sure, Seattle has made improvements and so has Texas. But are they on the Angel’s level yet? I don’t think so. We still have the best manager in the AL and a young core of taleted infielders mixed with all-star veteran outfielders. The one major trouble spot we still have is the bullpen. I’m sure the Angels aren’t done shopping this offseason and the bullpen will be addressed.

Also think about this: The All-Star game is in Anaheim; wouldn’t you think that the Angels players are gonna hit the ground running to start the season, with a goal to play well enough to represent the home team at the All-Star Game? I hope this leads to improved performances all around

2009 was good. Now on to 2010 - Let's go Halos!

by ryanb517 on Dec 15, 2009 11:19 AM PST reply actions

FIGGINS AND LACKEY SITUATION IN A NUT SHELL...

Figgins…

Hate to see him go but i do think his numbers will be lower… Career .266 hitter at Safeco. I say he hits maybe .270… he doesn’t have the opponent like Abreu to drive him like he did this year. In 2009 he had 101 BB and 114 K’s, Pre 2009 he has averaged only 60 BB and 100+ Ks, I see him falling right back into that pattern.

It seems to me with all of the signing of Seattle so many are picking them to win the West. We still have 162 games to play here. DON’T GIVE UP ON OUR ANGELS… TONS OF BASEBALL TO BE PLAYED! Lets not give Figgins the MVP or Cliff Lee the CY YOUNG.

Now on to Big John…

Signing with the Red Sox is a stab to the heart. I don’t blame him for taking the money, but i hate to see him go to the FN Sox… I think he will give up a lot more homers over the next 5 years then he has in his time with the Angels just look at the short porch in RF and LF.

His ERA at Fenway career is 5.75… it is going to be a lot harder to pitch there. He isnt going to have Torri behind him to save his ass on those long fly balls. I also think those Chowda Heads are going to boo him and he will not take well to that. I see a Yankee Randy Johnsonesk melt down after getting shelled a few times and getting booed off of the field.

I think we are going to be okay. We will get a few more bats, young guys will step up and i think another arm or two. WE WILL BE FINE! And how sweet will it be to win the west and knock Big John out of the playoffs for the next 5 yrs.

His Lt. Pile lookin ass crying, huffing and puffing will be priceless.

ABNER OUT!

by THE ABNER on Dec 15, 2009 5:09 PM PST reply actions

Say what?

he doesn’t have the opponent like Abreu to drive him like he did this year

Say what? Seattle has this guy called Ichiro. Maybe you’ve heard of him?

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Dec 15, 2009 7:19 PM PST up reply actions

I'm fairly confident ichiro will be hitting in front of chone.

And who else do the mariners have that can hit? Griffey? What a joke that is, Maybe they can pull Frank Thomas out of retirement while they are at it.

by Balls and Strikes on Dec 15, 2009 7:28 PM PST up reply actions