WEDNESDAY ANGELS ROUNDUP: Santana "Bueno", Angels Want To Deal

by WiHaloFan on Jul 1, 2009 8:32 AM PDT in Angels News

Up next for Angels: Wednesday at Texas - Los Angeles Times
Jered Weaver vs. Kevin Millwood

Saunders stumbles again on Texas trip - OCRegister.com
His road woes continue against the Rangers, who slug five homers.

Angels rebuffed in pursuit of Haren? - Angels blog - OCRegister.com
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Angels made an effort to start trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks regarding their best (healthy) starter, Dan Haren, and were rebuffed.

Report: Angels Contacted D-Backs About "Ace" Dan Haren - MLB Daily Dish
The Angels, however, gave a clear indication that they have every intention of adding an additional starter. Given the weak market that has been decimated by injuries (i.e. Peavy, Halladay, Bedard), it will be tough to acquire a big impact pitcher. According to Rosenthal, virtually every top-end rotation starter is either injured or unavailable, which likely will force teams to be more creative in their attempts to add starting pitching. Haren, 28, would be coveted by many teams should the D-Backs make him available. Along with his talent, another appeal to Haren is his cost effective contract. His deal includes salaries of $7.5 million this season, $8.25 million next season and $12.75 million in both '11 and '12, with a $15.5 million club option or $3.5 million buyout for '13. While on the surface those figures seem substantial, given Haren's production they more than warrant his services.

Team Reports - MLB at CBSSports.com
RHP Ervin Santana threw a 48-pitch bullpen session and said afterward that his arm felt "bueno." Santana is on track to start Friday, bumping RHP Matt Palmer from the rotation (not RHP Sean O'Sullivan). But Angels manager Mike Scioscia refuses to say when Santana will pitch other than that it will be during the four-game weekend series against the Orioles.

Los Angeles Angels Team Report - USATODAY.com
The Angels finished June with a 17-9 record and pulled off their largest one-month improvement in the division since June 1998. They started the month trailing Texas by 4 1/2 games in the AL West and ended it leading the division by 1 1/2 games. That's the largest change since they started June 1998 trailing Texas by 5 1/2 games, then ended the month up by 3 1/2.

It's All-Opinions day - Angels Unplugged - Los Angeles Times
It's All-Opinions day. They're only opinions, but at least they're all mine.

Steve Bisheff has stepped up his game at the Times.

Juan Rivera: Man Crush - Bleacher Report
In a move that surprised many (read: Me), the Halos ponied up for an extended contract, all but handing Rivera the starting role with his shiny new three-year contract.

Angels' Grichuk gets career underway - angelsbaseball.com: News
Angels first-round pick Randal Grichuk definitely sees the jump in talent just two games into his professional career.

Angels are rated most fan-friendly - Los Angeles Times
The Angels have ranked as the most fan-friendly baseball team for six consecutive years in the annual ESPN study, but this is the first time the Angels have ranked No. 1 among all the teams in the four major North American sports leagues.

Red Sox botch 10-1 lead in 7th, lose to Orioles - nbcsports.msnbc.com
Baltimore trailed 10-1 before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five more in the eighth. The rally was even more shocking because it came against a Boston team that had defeated the Orioles eight straight times, including five this season.

Jon Wilhite Video (here's the link)

Poll

Is Dan Haren a "difference maker" for the Angels play-off run?

Yes, but only in the right deal

223 votes

No, the Angels don't need to make a trade

30 votes

253 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

wowzers

people like Haren

2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick

by trojanangelfan on Jul 1, 2009 9:44 AM PDT reply actions

I've been enjoying Bisheff's blog, but I'm not sure I agree with this opinion of his:

“Howie Kendrick was hitting over .300 at Salt Lake last time I looked, but the feeling you get is that he could be hitting .400, and Mike Scioscia still wouldn’t replace Maicer Izturis at second base right now . . .”

He makes this sound like a bad thing. Izzy needs to play every day.

Whatever dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Jul 1, 2009 9:48 AM PDT reply actions

Kendrick is the superior player when on his game

i think that was Bisheff’s point.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jul 1, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions

no he isn't

by Fred Fredrix on Jul 1, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions

really?

you fail.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jul 1, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry

I would be shocked if Howie gets another 300 PA with the Angels. EVER. Scioscia is doing the “You are dead to me routine” and the only trouble there is… it is not a routine.

by Rev Halofan on Jul 1, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions

You think?

I figured he was in no rush to shake up a squad that has consistently started winning.

Play Wood already. Willits sucks.

by hauldog on Jul 1, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions

really?

i’d be surprised if he got significant playing time this year, but i’m sure he’ll be back next year (a la Santana ‘07/’08)

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jul 1, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions

My gut tells me he is trade bait

we shall see…

by Rev Halofan on Jul 1, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

"when on his game"

That leaves a whole lot of lattitude, there. One could easily say “When Izzy is on his game, he is 3 for 5 with a double and home run power, can score 3 runs and drive in 2 more, and fetch 7 total bases. All with no strikeouts.” (Those are Pujols numbers, yet actually did happen 6/16/2009 against the Giants).

FWIW, I do agree that HK has more raw power to the outfield and the capacity (proven for long stretches) for a more consistent offense than Izzy. But I favor Izzy’s defense and am pleasantly surprised that he is better than I expected (as an Izzy fan) at the plate with lots of playing time. The knock on Izzy is health, but it turns out that HK is also problematic with his hammies.

Bottom line: between the two, Izzy is the one who has not turned himself into a headcase and worked himself right back to AAA.

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Jul 1, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

okay, let me rephrase

when all things are equal, and both players are playing at the top of their respective games, Howie Kendrick is the greater talent.

Izzy is a solid player, no doubt, and he’s done a good job so far this year. but Howie has more power (especially to the gaps), and can hit with the best of ’em

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jul 1, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Need another option in the poll...

…I think we need to trade, but not for a starter, especially for the playoffs (yes, I’m optimistic we will make the playoffs). We should have Lackey, Weaver, and either Santana or Saunders as the playoff starters.
We need at least one more solid reliever. If we play Boston again, how much confidence will you have if we send Jepsen, Bulger, Speier, Thompson, or Rodriguez in to pitch?

The only 2 relievers I have any faith in are Oliver and Fuentes. I don’t believe we will be any better off with Palmer or (insert an unknown for AAA or AA) coming in to pitch in a crucial situation. It sounds like Escobar is done (at least for this year) and Arredondo’s status is unknown.

We need a trade, but for relief pitching.

by sothball on Jul 1, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions

You can never have enough pitching.

I agree that we need bullpen help more than rotation help but you can never have enough starting pitching. If Escobar indeed returns this season after his 1 start, having Haren would put less pressure to try to force Kelvim back in the rotation and we could have guys like Palmer moved back to the pen.

"F it, let's pitch." - Ervin Santana

by Chzburger Jones on Jul 1, 2009 11:09 AM PDT reply actions

I'm not sure if that was intended as a response to my comment.

I agree that you can never have enough pitching. If you’re a normal healthy male, you can never have enough sex either. That’s the fantasy world (except maybe Hugh Heffner).
With limited resources, we need to be a little more selective in our desires. That’s the real world. Dan Haren would be nice (at the right price), but we need to be a’courting relief pitchers.

by sothball on Jul 1, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Escobar and Lackey won't be back next year.

What are you going to replace them with? Relief pitchers?

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jul 1, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree on Escobar. I think his career is in jeopardy.

I’m not sure about Lackey. The market has definitely declined, and he has started the last 2 years on the DL. My guess is the Angels will give him a fair offer…not sure he’ll take it though.

If Lackey doesn’t re-sign, I agree he will need to be replaced…and that’s why I added “for the right price”. What fair trade would you be willing to make right now for Haren, knowing that whatever players we send to AZ will make it more difficult to impossible to deal for a reliever?

by sothball on Jul 1, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions

We have Palmer, O'Sullivan, and Arredondo (when he gets back) for relievers.

Along with possibly resigning Oliver. Shields will be back next year sometime. I don’t see any big need to trade valuable prospects or go out and spend a fortune on a reliever when it would be better spent on a starter.

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jul 1, 2009 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions

It appears you are looking to some degree to next year.

Nothing wrong with that, but what about this year? Assuming we make the playoffs, we will need at least 3 reliable arms in the ‘pen.
Fuentes is one. Oliver is another. Who’s the 3rd? I can’t think of a 3rd RP I’d trot out to the mound in a close game.
Palmer? Risky.
O’Sullivan? He is likely going to be sent back to AAA (although he will also likely receive a call-up in September.). O’Sullivan is not a relief pitcher. Again, this is a risky, unproven choice.
Arredondo? Even with full recovery and no further setbacks, I wouldn’t count on him being ready come playoff time.
I have no confidence in Bulger, Speier, or Raff Rodriguez.
I don’t see anyone in AA or AAA that is an impact player like K-Rod…not this year anyway.

So, that means we trade or trust what we have. I don’t trust what we have (besides Fuentes and Oliver). I’m not sure the price we’d need to pay for a decent RP. If it’d cost us Aybar and a pitching prospect I’d probably make the trade.

by sothball on Jul 2, 2009 6:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes.

You CAN have enough pitching. I think that Texas has enough pitching. I don’t want them to have any more pitching. Let the ones they have wilt over the next 60 days without any possibility of re-stocking.

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Jul 1, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions