At the Depths of Angels' Depth

by Rev Halofan on Apr 20, 2009 8:05 PM PDT in Angels News

Let's look at the Angels Projected Rotations in the past 60 days...

On February 21: John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Dustin Moseley until Kelvim Escobar is ready.

On March 21: Weaver, Saunders, Moseley, Shane Loux, Nick Adenhart until any one of Lackey, Santana or Escobar are ready.

On April 21: Weaver, Saunders, Darren Oliver, Loux and TBA until any one of Lackey, Santana, Escobar or Moseley are ready.

Unless Weaver pitches on three days rest, we will know who TBA is on Saturday. If it is a 25-Man roster candidate it will have to be Daniel Davidson. Barring a 40-Man roster switch, it will have to be Davidson or current Salt Lake Bee Anthony Ortega as it is unimaginable that the team will try stretching a relief arm besides Darren Oliver into a starter.

Meanwhile, Kevin Jepsen has complained about a balky back and the team has a chance to retrieve Darren O'Day from the Mets. They would have to clear a space for O'Day on the 40-Man roster. Are the Angels ready to throw Jason Bulger to the waiver wire? Do they still feel attached from trading infielder Alberto Callaspo for him?

With Jepsen tanking in such a terrible manner, a trip to the 60-Day DL could solve the problem, as a spot on the 40-Man roster would then be available for O'Day.

WAIT A MINUTE HERE... Darren O'Day and Jason Bulger are the solutions to the Angels terrible 4-8 start? I think not. The Angels can flip a coin at this point on any of these possible pitching solutions.

With all the chaos surrounding the rotation, the Angels have 6 infielders, 2 catchers and 4 outfielders on their active roster. Reggie Willits and Brandon Wood are the only real major-league ready players that could conceivably contribute full time at a league average (or hopefully better) level of production.

The depth has been plumbed, planted and is seeding toward fruition. This is it, Angels fans, the worst case scenario is this depth on parade. League average, yes, but nowhere else to go but up toward the summer sun.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Rev Halofan,

You are spoiling us rotten this year with your timely game recaps, NYT worthy editorials, and helpful informational articles. Thanks. I will gladly trade this for post-game win or lose photos.

by 44FAN on Apr 20, 2009 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

*last line meant to mean glad to have the articles instead of the photos.

by 44FAN on Apr 20, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions

I liked those Photos.....they were fun!

And my Cousin was a Lose photo……..He is going to fight for the World Title again so maybe if we bring back the Win/Lose photos he will get a Win Photo to go with his Lose pic lol.

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

by acuda27 on Apr 20, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Just wait and see what for 44FAN has cookin' in the photo department acuda27.

by 44FAN on Apr 21, 2009 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions

who's your cousin?

NA 34

by blochead on Apr 21, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Rev = Panther

Now that you put it that way I am glad we are giving the Rookies “Depth” a shot to see what they are made of. They will settle down and like Rev said, theres nowhere else to go but up towards the summer sun!

Go ANGELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

by acuda27 on Apr 20, 2009 8:37 PM PDT reply actions

The first 2 weeks have been a "perfect storm" of things gone wrong, especially pitching.

Can it get worse? I doubt it. But…

I’m opposed to signing any other players, but the last 4 days have continued a successive stream of bad news…too long to mention. We could really use pitching help. Where to get it?

I don’t believe O’Day is the answer. He was effective at the start of the year in 2008, but gradually became less so. If he was passable,why would the Mets give up on him so early? Bulger…what can you say for a relief pitcher that gives up 2 GS’s in a week…other than we really needed a situational lefty? Oh yes…he was pressed into a starting role. The pitchers out there (Martinez, Mulder, Byrd) don’t seem too attractive.

I think your title is correct…we ARE at the depth of our depth. It appears the best option is what management has already (apparently) decided. Wait out the storm (through April), then see what happens with Lackey, Santana, and Escobar. If April showers bring dead throwers, then…it will be time to consider signing free agent pitchers.

One way or the other, I don’t envy Moreno, Reagins, Forsch, Scioscia, or any other decision-maker. They have been dealt a stinking pile of poo this last 2 weeks.

by sothball on Apr 20, 2009 8:43 PM PDT reply actions

If April showers bring dead throwers????

What the hell does that mean? All it made me do was think of Nick Adenhart and now Im even more depressed about the past bullpen outings.

BTW Lackey and Santana are right around the corner.

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

by acuda27 on Apr 20, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Ouch. Apologies acuda....

…sometimes – no matter how many time I edit, I screw-up. That was supposed to have read “…dead arm throwers…” Oh man…that was bad.

by sothball on Apr 21, 2009 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions

i'm not sure ortega is gonna get the start

4.0 IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
against reno..

ouch..

World Series '09 - In Memory of #34 Nick Adenhart!

by b0rd3rline on Apr 20, 2009 9:21 PM PDT reply actions

Guess it is Davidson Saturday

by Rev Halofan on Apr 20, 2009 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

sucks too

i was really looking forward to seeing what this ortega guy was all about after hearing about him so much this spring..

World Series '09 - In Memory of #34 Nick Adenhart!

by b0rd3rline on Apr 20, 2009 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Solid analysis

Just two observations:

1. My guess is that the plan with Bulger is to keep putting him out there as (sadly) needed, in the hope that he will either improve or render himself undesirable so that there will be no risk of his being claimed when the time comes to send him back down.

2. Don’t you think that Matt Brown is another reasonably major-league ready possibility to bring up? I know his ceiling is not nearly as high as Wood’s, but he had a pretty good Spring, and the team has shown a predilection for bringing up lower-ceiling guys in times of need if they feel their top prospects are not ready (and I gather they feel Wood isn’t). I mean, wouldn’t you rather see him in there instead of Q?

Ultimately, I don’t expect the team to do anything dramatic personnel-wise for the time being, but I can foresee Sosh fine-tuning the lineup a bit.

In memoriam Nick Adenhart

by rspencer on Apr 21, 2009 12:01 AM PDT reply actions