I know we've all been disappointed with our second base play this year, so how would you like a guy who could pop 15 homers, drive in and score 80 runs, and steal 20 bags? After all, we haven't had a 2Bman drive in 80 in two decades, and the last one with 15 ding-dongs was Bobby Grich, back in 1984. In fact, in 48 seasons we've *never* had a guy at the pivot go 15/80/80 with 20 stolen bases. Would you like that kind of production?

Well, let me introduce you to a cat named ... Howie Kendrick. We've played a fourth of the season now, and he's pretty much played like ass ... and yet he's on a pace for 16 homers, 81 RBIs & runs, 20/4 SB/CS, and 12 HBPs. Even at the rate he's been going, infuriating one and all, he's on pace to break his career highs in just about every counting stat except doubles by the All-Star break.

You wanna bench/demote/trade that? It's a free country, I guess. But considering the possibility/likelihood that he's going to hit *much* better than that from here on out (though probably not in HRs), knowing that Howie at his worst would still produce some historically high numbers at a position the Angels have generally excelled at makes me think that patience might be a virtue here.