Angels 2009: A Half-Season in Retrospect
by Zu Long on Jul 13, 2009 10:42 AM PDT
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PrintIf at the beginning of the season, you had told me that by the time we reached the All-Star Break, Howie Kendrick and Vladimir Guerrero would be our biggest offensive liabilities, John Lackey and Ervin Santana would have stratospheric ERAs, our bullpen would be the worst in baseball, and despite ALL OF THAT, we would still be 12 games over .500 and on top of our division... well, first, I'd have laughed in your face. A lot. Like, for HOURS.
But after I finished laughing, I would probably have said something like, "Man, who stepped up?" As it turns out, the answer is pretty much everyone else.
Certainly, no recent Angels team has overcome more adversity to get where they are. From having half our starting rotation out to start the season, to losing two of our best relievers in Jose Arredondo and Scot Shields, to losing our biggest bat 8 games in, to having our batting champion-to-be struggle at staying over the mendoza line, to losing a promising young rookie in a tragic car accident, this has been a season where everything we've taken for granted the last few years has been turned on its head.
And I'll admit it--after the way this season started, I thought, "You know... this one might be a lost cause."
Fortunately for us, the guys in our clubhouse weren't having it, and I think that it may be an argument for the amount of success Arte has had in breeding a culture of winning in this organization.
From the front office on down, everyone on this team expects to win, come hell or high water. Previous seasons have taught us that the size of our opponent's lead is meaningless--we can come back. Poor performance by our off-season signings is irrelevant--someone else will step up. Injuries to stars can be weathered. Hot streaks by our opponents can be snuffed out or matched. The only thing that matters is winning the game we are playing that day.
That's our team philosophy and I think the players have internalized it. Those of you familliar with sabermetric assessments of previous seasons will be unsurprised to hear that we have once again been dubbed "the luckiest team in baseball" according to what "should" have happened.
Really, it's become such a familliar refrain that it's actually lost most of its irritation value for me. These days I mostly just shrug it off. Luckiest team in baseball, huh? Sure we are guys. Sure we are.
So, looking forward, what's next? Well, we'll be missing Vlad and Hunter for a while. Some of our starting pitchers need to get their heads together. And it'd be nice if someone other than Fuentes and Oliver would step up as being truly reliable in the pen. Certainly, we haven't won this division by any means and we could still finish the season on the outside of the postseason looking in.
But more than ever, I feel blessed to be an Angels fan right now. This is a team that has utterly erased the word "quit" from its collective lexicon, and because of that, they can never become a lost cause. It's fun to watch guys like that play. ^_^
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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For putting into words every Angel fans collective thoughts. Well written Zu
Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu
Long Live Brandon Wood in the 2nd Half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well written Zu (like you know any other way to write anyways)
I was actually curious if you were gonna talk about the Frankie/Fuentes situation in this post…..but alas you did not…..
I remember a few pre-season discussions in which you werent quite confident in the Fuentesaurus…..while I believe myself and Downing Rules were “championing” the cause for our HOF’er replacement.
Im curious as to if your opinion is still the same or changed from those discussions given the (I would say) fairly decent performance by BF.
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 12, 2009 9:21 PM PDT reply actions
Maybe my memory is failing me, but I remember those conversations as not so much whether
Fuentes would get the job done but whether Franky was better than Fuentes. Still, I think its fair to say that after a frighteningly shaky start, Fuentes has manned up and taken command of the bullpen. I’d even go so far as to say that with Franky’s salary at 12 million and Fuentes at 8.5, the Angels have come out ahead in the deal thus far.
#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!
'tits happen!!!
For the record, I wish to make the point that the way that this organization has reacted to adversity demonstates the attitude that makes champs. There are other organizations (feel free to go onto naming names) which take half these problems and paste the excuses onto their sleeves like badges of honor. And those teams are chumps.
We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.
Fuentes has been a pleasant surprise so far
He’s made me eat crow, when at times, all I wanted to do was delight in his early-season implosions.
Admittedly, change has been good so far.
The signing of Bobby Abreu was an underrated and solid move – his professional, typically patient at-bats was something the hacking Angels of the past needed this season.
Despite some question marks about his ability as a hitter and defender at the beginning of the season, Kendry Morales has played up to some high expectations – can we say he has more than one fan now?
Torii has played like an MVP.
Placeholders Maicer Izturis, Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar have more than held up their own – particularly Izturis and Figgins.
Juan Rivera has been a pleasant surprise all season with his ability to ‘clutch up’ and hit for power.
Naps has provided punch and plate discipline – though I wonder if the Angels need to give Mathis 400 at-bats to prove he can hit more than .200.
On the downside, the bullpen is still mostly crap, while the starting pitching has been decimated at times.
Howie Kendrick has underachieved and needs to focus more on his game, instead of recording another Howard’s commercial with Sosh.
HGH – well he’s still HGH and there is still no hope he is ever going to worth what the Angels are paying him.
Or is Kendry perhaps the one who needs to sit?
Bobby Abreu was hanging on the "clearance" racks
66% off? You could have bought four Abreu’s for the price of one Teix.
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Jul 13, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
FREE BRANDON WOOD!!
Free Wood! Free Wood! Free Wood!
That didn’t come out right…
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
The Fail Bus leaves in five minutes, please make sure you are under it...
That's what she said
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
The Fail Bus leaves in five minutes, please make sure you are under it...
And hat's off to the no-stars Starters
who have filled in and PITCHED THEIR ASSES off. Specifically, I am calling out Loux, Palmer and O’Sullivan for stepping into the breach and getting the job done. If you were compare the W-L of the Angels vs. any other team for starts by pitchers not on the opening day roster, I bet we would be so far ahead of the pack it would defy belief.
Torii Hunter: Best Halo Ever.
by LazorkoRules on Jul 13, 2009 7:58 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
When performance consistently, year after year, belies the statistics
It means there’s something wrong with the statistics. Maybe these sabremetric guys should reevaluate what they’re trying to predict and figure out a way to measure heart.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
by Moondoggy on Jul 13, 2009 8:25 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
And another thing
Even with the all the meltdowns and adversity, we’ve got the fourth best record in MLB, behind only the Doyers, the Sux, and the Skanks. And we’re only one game behind the Skanks.
Angels fan since '67
Truly unbelievable so far...
taking into account everything that has happened. I think this last series is proof to that. Did you see our lineup card yesterday? Wood at 1b? Q in LF? And who still comes out a winner and a sweep at that!
This season has been a rollercoaster but whatever happens, it certainly was fun to watch.
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jul 13, 2009 11:13 AM PDT reply actions
I kinda wish there wasn't a break.
Big wheel keep on turnin.
This season is my best chance to get called out of the stands to pitch.
No... it's fine.
It lets Juancho get healthy, and it’s three (or four?) days that Torii and Vlad can sit on the DL without having to worry about it affecting our standings.
Angels fan since '67
I hear ya!
It seems like the break has come at a bad time for the past couple/few? years.
It’s nice for Hunter & Vlad but, man, I wish we could have just kept playing.
by Halo Hurricane on Jul 14, 2009 1:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Nice Post
how about K-Mo? He had his doubters at the start of the season. Partly because we lost both Teix and Kotch. But he has been solid just like the front office thought he would be when we traded for Teix. .284 avg 15 hrs and 49 rbi. i’m really impressed/proud of him. AND don’t forget our injured all-star who basically carried us until he got hurt. Tori is having a monster year!
Chili Davis - the closest thing the MLB got to a real life Pedro Cerrano.
Seconded on Kendry
K-Mo’s having a better season than Kotchman; his game reminds me of the bastard son of Steve Garvey, good pop, very few walks, and not quite enough average to make you think he’s gonna be a star. Maybe the player in the majors right now who I would be inclined to compare him to would be Derrek Lee; if that’s the guy he really is, I’ll take that, especially at the discount over Mark Teixeira.
Witty .sig goes here.
I have to admit I was pretty pissed when we traded Kotch
and even more pissed when Teix didn’t sign. I never thought K-Mo would be so money (sorry acuda). I can haz crow?
All Praise The Ninja!
RIP NICK ADENHART
Amen Brother
You really can’t say enough good things about how this team has performed this year considering what they’ve had to deal with.
You have to give props to the front office for the incredible depth that we have. I mean, we just lost Vladdy and Hunter, and our lineup is still really solid. Playing Napoli every day, giving Wood some AB’s, and having stalwarts like Kendry, Figgins, and Abreu still in the everyday lineup really puts some well-designed make-up over a nasty case of vitiligo.
Even more deserving of praise are guys like O’Sullivan and Palmer, who exceeded any expectation that could have been placed on them. They have flat out executed.
I am more of a sabermetric/stats fan than most and am quick to scoff when people put too much weight on intangibles, but there is no denying that these guys have something at work here beyond raw statistics.
There’s a reason guys can come up to the majors and be productive and that starts with the attitudes of Scioscia and the powers that be in the front office all the way down through the system. Players come up and EXPECT to succeed.
Despite all of the complaints and issues that come up during the course of the season, I love everything about this organization and can’t wait to see what is in store for the second half of the season!
Since he's only had one mention here so far, I'm going to name and fame...
..Juan Rivera has been a monster for us this year.
Written off completely as a worthless signing by our stat/fat-headed breathren….
“Replacement level player” – first FA to pay out the value of his contract
“Can’t field a lick” – UZR of 10.4, ranked 2nd in the AL
“Second half player” – batting line of .312/.351/.527 with 16 HR and 52 RBI before the break (and I secretly hope they’re right nevertheless).
All hail Jonny Rivers!
I see red people
by The Limey on Jul 13, 2009 12:44 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
I wouldn't bash stat-heads on Rivera.
I recall many of us pointing to his prospective health and his 2006 numbers to indicate he was worth giving a shot. It was the non-stat-heads who chastized anyone who wanted to replace GA with JR.
Not aiming at you, or indeed anyone on this site...
…aiming at the variety of 2009 projections which entirely misread his potential, and the ‘experts’ who followed those projections religously in writing him off. Outside of these cozy environs, I read a couple of fairly sneery pieces.
I see red people
Yeah, all the computer projections were pretty bad.
I think I remember reading a Keith Law or someone else on espn saying JR had the potential to blow away projections if he could stay healthy. That’s about the best I recall from those mellonranchers.
No one seems to have mentioned Mike Scioscia.
He somehow gets a high level of effort out of each player He also seems to have Super Glue abilities to hold this team together, regardless of adversity.
For thr first half anyway, he is easily manager of the (half) year.
by sothball on Jul 13, 2009 1:38 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
The Soth
Nobody is perfect, and he deservedly gets questioned for seemingly unreasonable lineup and bullpen decisions from time to time, but there’s no denying that much of this organization’s success can be rightly credited to Scioscia. Whether it’s keeping everyone on the 25-man roster involved, or letting someone like Speier or Jepsen take one for the team in a lost cause of a game so that everyone else is fresh and ready for tomorrow, the Soth pushes the right buttons most of the time, and I suspect more often than just about any other manager. He is fully in command, and everyone on the team knows it and accepts it.
by jjackflash on Jul 13, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
Bingo.................
well said.
Totally agree.
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 13, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Always Like The Soth.
Even though he can be frustrating at times with pitching changes/pinch hitting/player loyalty, etc.
by Halo Hurricane on Jul 14, 2009 1:21 AM PDT up reply actions
All true, but we still need bullpen help.
BJ Ryan is available, are we going after him??
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by matthiasstephan on Jul 13, 2009 3:08 PM PDT reply actions
I hope not
ERA at 6.53, K/BB is at 1/1. I’m not sure how the salary left on his contract works, but me thinks there are better options through trades out there.
Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu
by halofan4life on Jul 13, 2009 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions
If he clears waivers (as is expected)
he can be signed for 200K this year and 400K next year. Toronto has to pick up the remaining 15 million of his contract regardless.
I think for that money he might be worth it.
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by matthiasstephan on Jul 14, 2009 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions
C'mon guys, how 'bout a little love for Mickey Hatcher
After all, he gets all the blame when we are not hitting. And I believe we are currently third or so in runs/game.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
I'm going to give props to Mickey Hatcher
Heck, everyone calls for his hide when we aren’t hitting, I’m going to give the guy some props when we’re one of the top offensive teams in the league (runs scored).
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
good call........
well said…….gotta give the devil his due
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 13, 2009 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Meh again.
We didn’t get on base well last year until Texiera, maybe this year it’s Abreu.
by Halo Hurricane on Jul 14, 2009 1:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Desmond's .393 OBP doesn't hurt either
Although I agree Abreu has been a great addition. (.401 OBP) I never knew that guy was so good. He’s amazingly fast for a guy with his body frame, looks like he can play at a high level til he’s 40. I hope we keep him around a few years.
Don't call me Desmond
by highlandhalo on Jul 18, 2009 2:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Bottom Line
This year proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball and the Angels are the best organization in baseball. As Zu said, the Angels expect to win; Mike expects them to win; Arte expects them to win. Therefore, they win. It’s attitude. it’s sheer will. It’s smart managing and coaching. It’s the willingness to work together as a team. It’s all these things put together. It’s Angels baseball. Let it last for 1,000 years.
Just wondering if Our bullpen is still the worst in baseball?
I know that they started off horrible, but haven’t they come around enough to pass up Washington or some other team? Fuentes after a shaky start has earned his All-star spot.
#34
by stuck in Romania on Jul 13, 2009 11:10 PM PDT reply actions
Also... Is Mathis our supposed batting champ?
cuz he’s the only one flirting with the mendoza line…
#34
by stuck in Romania on Jul 13, 2009 11:15 PM PDT reply actions
yeah...
I know that’s bad, and it’s been worse, but I wouldn’t call that flirting with the mendoza line…Anyway, I guess it’s okay to exaggerate a little…
#34
by stuck in Romania on Jul 14, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
you can put lipstick on a pig and it is still a pig
HK is hitting far below his norms this year
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
Not buying that - he's never had a season like this in his professional career
Kendrick’s issue at the moment is all about confidence, once he gets that straightened (which he is doing, slowly but surely) he’ll be back where he should be.
I see red people
I just think the league has adjusted to him
The potential is definitely there, but unless he makes an adjustment…this will be his norm.
RIP #34
are you calling Sarah Palin a pig???
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jul 16, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
And since we are waxing nostalgic over the past half season
I thing Aybar has been a big part of our continuity. Playing Gold Glove type shortstop, hitting .290, getting clutch hits.
I love the way he runs from 1st to 3rd/home. Got some speed. And I think he leads the league in bunt singles.
I think we forget how young he is sometimes when everyone wishes him the worst. I use to wish we would get rid of him so Iz could play short. Not so sure now. Maybe Aybar at SS and Iz at second.
Or maybe Wood at SS and Howie at 2nd. Though I think this is a reach.
Ah, what a wonderful conundrum. Such talent, let everyone else wish they had our problem.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
so looking ahead....
do we resign Figgs and put Wood at 3B, with Figgs playing, simply, “everywhere”? I’m assuming Vlad is not back.
A lot of people were down on him, including I think the Angels who opted out of his remaining years, but he continues to produce.
by eastcoastAngel on Jul 15, 2009 10:33 AM PDT reply actions
Wood gets to be the third baseman provided he doesn't get traded or shows some deficiency otherwise
There is a good chance Figgy gets resigned if he isn’t asking for the world and with the explicit understanding, he is probably going to have to move around i.e. in the outfield in order to play every day.
Figgins can be an insurance policy if someone like Wood stumbles.
Or is Kendry perhaps the one who needs to sit?
Excellent post Zu.
Despite the adversity, the Angels at the All-Star break managed to achieve a .570 winning percentage. That is remarkable and is very close to what the excellent 2004-2008 Angel teams were able to accomplish (.580). As such, over the last 896 games (2004 – 2009 All-Star break) the Angels are 519-377 (.579).
by Fan Since 1981 on Jul 15, 2009 12:04 PM PDT reply actions
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