Willits, Five Others Out of the Picture

by Rev Halofan on Apr 4, 2009 10:48 PM PDT in News Comment 19 comments

The Final Roster for the Angels has been set for Opening Day and who is NOT on it is bigger news (although no surprise) than who IS on it...

Reggie Willits, Brandon Wood, Matt Brown, Sean Rodriguez, Bobby Wilson and Byan Budde are all headed to join the AAA Salt Lake Bees.

The biggest surprise, as reported by Sam Miller at the OC Register, is that Jason Bulger will be the 7th Man in the bullpen to open the season. And it is hardly a surprise.

The Five Man Rotation to begin the season: S - M - A - W - L ...

Saunders, Moseley, Adenhart, Weaver, Loux

Ready or not, here it comes...

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Warning: Bad Pun alert

Does this mean we play S – M – A – W – L ball?

Bye Bye Ohio, hello Valencia!

by anaheimisnotla on Apr 4, 2009 10:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

thats what we've been playing since 05

Vlad cheated me. I thought he was 12.

by vlad IS my man on Apr 4, 2009 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

'82

mauch invented it

Who goofed? I've got to know.

by hittheg on Apr 5, 2009 2:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Willits off the roster = me being stoked.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Apr 4, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

true....

but I still kinda feel bad for the guy, having to go back to the minors at this stage of his career, having already spent whole seasons in the majors…gotta be a blow to the ol’ ego.

Sean Rodriguez...the Rodriguez for a new Millennium

by HaloDutch on Apr 5, 2009 4:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Willits

did irritate me last year, but when he scored last night I wanted to keep him. If any of our other outfielders tried to run like that they would fall apart. But hey let’s play ball.

Give the young guns a chance...if they suck wellll...

by angelskid2210 on Apr 5, 2009 7:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are team is set

Play Ball!

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Apr 5, 2009 12:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Our, sheesh

getting too excited here.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Apr 5, 2009 12:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have sent down several players (Willits, Wood, Matt Brown?) who would have made most clubs 25-man roster. That is because we have players on our bench that would be starting in a lot of other places as well (Matthews, Izzy).

I am also happy enough with our rotation, which isn’t vastly different (at the moment) from places like Oakland or Texas, with the vital difference being that our top three pitchers are on the DL and this is their rotation.

Go Angels!!!!

by matthiasstephan on Apr 5, 2009 3:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NNOOOOOOOOOOOOO

S-Rod, we hardly knew ye!

Sean Rodriguez...the Rodriguez for a new Millennium

by HaloDutch on Apr 5, 2009 4:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

12 pitchers?

The ONLY positive thing this does is allow us to not have to give up Jason Bulger without receiving anything in return. A four-man bench gives us a maximum two pinch-runners (GMJ & Izzy), two worthwhile pinch-hitters (Q & Izzy, though GMJ could be brought in for power purposes), and effectively only one backup outfielder, though I suppose you could stick Q in left, or shift Figgins out there.

I guarantee there are gonna be some guys who’ll pitch no more than once a week in this setup, while EVERY DAMNED GAME there will be some situation where you’d rather have Willits either running, fielding, or bunting.

I’m actually psyched for Bulger — his K/9 numbers have been off the charts for years, yet the organization normally gives him no love. But a four-man bench is not a smart game set-up, and what we are doing to Brandon Wood right now just really sucks.

by mattwelch on Apr 5, 2009 4:50 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, but

where do you play him?

No room at third, short, second, DH or the outfield.

You can’t send down either Aybar or Izturis without them passing through waivers, and that sure as shit isnt going to happen.

You cant magically make a trade happen, this isnt playstation.

Figgins is a staple and WILL play SOMEWHERE whether we like it or not.

Someone will eventually go down, and Wood will step in (and most likely horribly disappoint us all) to one of the spots he can fit in.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Apr 5, 2009 6:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You make a trade to open space for a guy that has a chance

to be a difference maker. Chone Figgins, as much as I like him, should not be retained next year. This team needs to get Wood some seasoning right now for 2010.

Jim Scully

Jim Scully Home
Haloville - Land of the Halos

by jimmuscomp on Apr 5, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

time for a staple-remover.

Blogging is FUN!

by Downing Rules on Apr 5, 2009 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree 100% with you matt

I think Elvis will be sorely missed on the running/bunting situations.

I am starting out this season feeling like there is just SOMETHING missing from this current roster. Like it’s the trial run to see how things go and they can’t really be serious about some of the choices. I’m excited for the start of the season but the warm fuzzies just aren’t there. for now

It's a beautiful day for baseball.

by ladybug on Apr 5, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There weren’t any warm fuzzies on opening day in 2002 and only heartburn after 20 games that same year.

Blogging is FUN!

by Downing Rules on Apr 6, 2009 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It just sucks

because Wood finally produces and does as he is told and gets rewarded with AAA. I just feel bad for the guy. But hey its a business and he will be back soon. Opening day lets go!

Give the young guns a chance...if they suck wellll...

by angelskid2210 on Apr 5, 2009 8:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Depth is wonderful

It forces all of the Angels to produce. If someone goes on a streak and isn’t producing their playing time will be diminished. If Rivera starts out cold, GMJ will get more playing time, if Aybar starts out cold, Izzy will play.

Also yea I would like to see Wood in the majors but I think if he hits something like .320/.400/.700 in AAA then the Angels WILL find room for him.

by MH252525 on Apr 5, 2009 8:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs