THURSDAY ANGELS ROUNDUP: Roy Halladay A Halo Today? Trade Deadline Deals Will Happen

by WiHaloFan on Jul 30, 2009 7:26 AM PDT in Angels News

Angels 9, Indians 3 - nbcsports.msnbc.com
Aaron Laffey and the Cleveland Indians watched another game and another star slip away. Hours after trading Cliff Lee, the Indians lost to the Los Angeles Angels 9-3 Wednesday. Howie Kendrick homered and drove in a career-high five runs, and John Lackey easily outpitched Laffey.

Scioscia will be cautious on artificial turf - angelsbaseball.com
"You definitely have to work harder to run on it because it has a sponge to it and while I think guys that play on it every day get used to it, when your not, you are going to feel some muscles that you never knew you had," said Scioscia.

Team Reports - CBSSports.com
With the trade deadline approaching, the Angels have been in the market for an ace. But their in-house ace is starting to look like one again. Right-hander John Lackey held the Indians to one run on three hits while striking out eight in seven innings Wednesday, the sixth time in his last seven starts Lackey has allowed two runs or fewer. In six starts this month, he is 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings.

Team Reports II - CBSSports.com
With Wednesday's victory, the Angels are batting .312 (273 for 874) in July. That would be their highest average for a month since they hit .319 as a team in June 2007. Their five-run fifth inning Wednesday was the 13th time in the last 22 games they have scored four runs or more in an inning.

Deal for Roy Halladay appears unlikely - Los Angeles Times
General Manager Tony Reagins said the likelihood of the Angels acquiring a pitcher before Friday's non-waiver trade deadline "is probably 50-50 right now," but he would not specify whether he's zeroing in on an ace, a middle-of-the-rotation starter or a reliever.

Obstacles aplenty in any potential Halladay deals - CBSSports.com
Trade deadline translation: Less than 48 hours until Friday's non-waivers trade deadline, Ricciardi's gut is telling him that it doesn't like what the Angels, Red Sox, Dodgers, Rangers and Yankees are offering.

Trade Central: 2009 MLB trade deadline - USATODAY.com
Deadline trades that could have an impact prior to the July 31 deadline:

NBC Sports - Trade talk: Roundup of Wednesday's rumors
With Cliff Lee off to the Phillies, and Matt Holliday already making himself at home in St. Louis, the trade market has lost a bit of luster. But there is still a lot going on out there as we march closer to Friday's trade deadline. Let's take a look at what's going on:

Halladay staying, Washburn going? - Sports Rumors - Yahoo! Sports
Even though the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox would all like to add Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay(notes) to their rotations, it's looking like Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi may end up keeping his ace.

Kazmir’s Value - FanGraphs Baseball
Over the six starts Kazmir has made since coming off the DL, Kazmir has thrown 35 1/3 IP, walked 12, struck out 27, and allowed just five home runs. Before landing on the DL, he had a 29/35 BB/K in 45 innings over nine starts. The rest certainly did him some good.

This is the pitcher (or at least, one of the pitchers) I think the Angels will end up trading for.

Hang on, Sloopy, er, Tony, hang on - Angels Unplugged - Los Angeles Times
My advice to Angels GM Tony Reagins is to hang on and hang in, especially now that the front-runners for a prospective Roy Halladay deal, the Philadelphia Phillies, are no longer in play.

Baseball Digest Daily Blog - 2003’s Trade Deadline Shows Living For Today Is Right… Even When It Is Wrong
Since it still might be too early to evaluate last year’s player-for-prospects deals and such moves aren’t always plentiful, the best time frame to look at is July 2003 when eight three-for-one deals were made. While these weren’t the only trades made that season, these are the moves most often criticized and critiqued.

Interesting article about how prospects traded at the deadline don't always (usually?) do much.

A Glance at Greatness: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim All-Time Team - Bleacher Report
Year Established: 1961

I don't know why this was written at this point of the season, but it's one writers list of all-time Angels.

Mike Scioscia: The Best Manager in Baseball - Bleacher Report
The reason Reagins is never talked about is because he's not the Angels. The scouting, the talent, the strategy, and the chemistry all come from a single foundation. That foundation is to listen to manager Mike Scioscia.

What’s past is prologue -- The Hardball Times
Roll up your sleeves; there's going to be some math in this one. Let's talk about regression to the mean.

Regression to the mean has been brought up here at HH a few times, here's a good explanation.

The Baseball Analysts: Designated Hitter
The Staticky Charm of AM Radio There's something human in static. Record collectors are fond of saying vinyl recordings have a warmer sound than their digital brethren, but I think the real humanity is in the airwaves.

July 30 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on July 30.
1972 - The Angels beat Kansas City, 4-3, when Bob Oliver hits a leadoff home run in the 11th inning against his former team. The win goes to Lloyd Allen, relegated to the bullpen after five straight losses as a starter. Allen's batterymate, Jack Hiatt, is 1-for-1 after taking over in the late innings. Hiatt, purchased yesterday from the Astros, appears without a number on his uniform since there was not enough time to sew one on.
1991: The Angels trade 3B Jack Howell to the Padres for OF Shawn Abner.
1995 - Chili Davis of the Angels is charged with disorderly conduct following California's 8-3 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. Davis allegedly slapped a fan who was taunting him. Chili also had a hit in the game.

Poll

Why are the Angels scoring so many runs?

Playing to their potential

327 votes

Regression to the mean

27 votes

Getting lucky

70 votes

Other (comment below)

15 votes

439 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'll bet Scioscia didn't say "when your not".

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Jul 30, 2009 7:30 AM PDT reply actions

Ninja: SIGN LACKEY !!!!

The franchise needs an ace pitcher, and we have one. If the front office is going to continue overvaluing prospects, then it’s imperative to keep the existing major league talent under contract.

by mustard_man on Jul 30, 2009 7:45 AM PDT reply actions

Why are they scoring so many runs?

1) Better to much better than expected production from Morales, Aybar, Figgins, Abreu, Hunter, Rivera and even Izzy.
2) Some of the younger guys have been maturing over 1-3 years (Aybar, Izzy, Napoli, Morales) and they are appearing more comfortable in their AB’s.
3) More patience at the plate. It makes for a longer game, but I love Abreu’s approach. Make the pitcher throw strikes! The longer AB’s also wear on an SP and make it more likely to get into opponent’s bullpens sooner. The quality of middle relief is generally not too high, especially on the teams with poor W-L percentages.

by sothball on Jul 30, 2009 8:09 AM PDT reply actions

I agree with #2 comment

I think it’s because our younger guys have finally matured into the MLB after few years.

by dan73962 on Jul 30, 2009 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions

#3 has led to #1 and #2

finally some “plate discipline”. I used to always feel like our pitchers were getting squeezed more. But it goes both ways if you just spit on a few pitches.

by The Clyde on Jul 30, 2009 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

other

When big players are around the other guys feel less responsibility. It’s not right but it’s true. When the big guys go out of the lineup everyone else feels like they have to help pickup the slack and their turns on a sense of greater responsibility in getting it done. my thoughts on it anyway

"Boy, did he drop a huge deuce in the stands!" (About a two-run homer)
Rex Hudler

by devildogamp on Jul 30, 2009 9:27 AM PDT reply actions

"their mind turns on a sense"

"Boy, did he drop a huge deuce in the stands!" (About a two-run homer)
Rex Hudler

by devildogamp on Jul 30, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Last night on EAssPeein

After the Sux and Skanks total oration of what they did in their games. The babbleheads started to show the, thats right show only, the highlights from the Tribe vs. Halos game. Then they talked about how the Angels are starting to struggle because they need help from the "other parts of the line-up. And they can’t get it done because lack of homeruns, and right then they were showing Howie’s homer.

The difference between the highlights was amazing. The East cost jolly, know everything about it, banter, and a loss for what is even happening in the other games. They were just mumbling about anything during the Halo highlights, while being all educated sounding for the Skanks, and Sux.

Real sad.

by eyespy on Jul 30, 2009 11:32 AM PDT reply actions

WhHaloFan check your title spelling - Dealine?

Mike Napoli speaks softly and carries a big stick.

by 44FAN on Jul 30, 2009 11:40 AM PDT reply actions

Not getting Halladay will be a mistake...

Most of the reports are now saying the Sox and Dodgers are the front-runners and will get him for prospects alone.

I don’t see how Kazmir benefits us. He’s no better than the rest of our rotation.

Our rotation cannot survive in the playoffs with the way we’ve been pitching. On top of this Lackey may indeed walk next year and without another ace caliber pitcher we’re left with a depleted rotation.

If we can’t Halladay for the likes of Kendrick and/or Wood and minor league players then Reagins is doing it wrong.

by Nashdiesel on Jul 30, 2009 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

or the Blue Jays are asking for too much from the Angels.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jul 30, 2009 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

then that's reagins fault. If the GM can't get an equivalent deal that other teams are getting then he's not a good GM.

Either that or the dodgers and sox have incredible prospects that the Angels can’t match. I have a hard time believing that. If Halladay goes for prospects only then there is no reason the Angels shouldn’t be able to land him, especially if Kendrick is part of the converstaion.

If they are worried that Izturis can’t start then try to get Scutaro too.

by Nashdiesel on Jul 30, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Not Reagins fault

JP is a dumbass, and will likely get fired unless he brings in an amazing haul for Halladay. Overpaying will hurt the club in the longrun. Remember the Ervin, Howie, and I think Aybar and more for Miguel Tejada? That would have killed us, and is why you NEVER overpay, no matter who you get.

That'll only happen if that one prospect is the second coming of Christ and redemption for mankind can only be achieved by smacking many balls out of the yard.
-The Limey

by anaheim angels on Jul 30, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

GOOD MEMORY

I remember all the Tejada bitching around here. I cannot imagine Tejada would have helped us win the additional five games necessary to overake the A’s that season, nor carry us against NYY/Minnesota and Detroit into that World Series.

by Rev Halofan on Jul 30, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Guilty as charged.

I was on the “get Tejada” bandwagon, and I publicly repented.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jul 30, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Obviously overpaying is a blunder...

and I’m not advocating Reagin’s should. But if the Sox and Dodgers are poised to get Halladay for “prospects” then Reagin’s is screwing up if JP is demanding a haul from the Angels. That means Reagins isn’t leveraging the correct value.

We’ll just have to see if Halladay moves at all. If he doesn’t then Reagin’s is vindicated for not overpaying. If he goes to the Dodgers for “prospects” then Reagins dropped the ball because if one GM can get him for cheap then Reagins should be able to do the same.

by Nashdiesel on Jul 30, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions

George Sherrill (sp?) is a Dodger

I sure hope Reagins is working something out because Lee and Sherrill were two of the better options out there and we clearly missed the boat on both of those. Maybe Halladay is in the works… I sure hope we don’t end up with neither a starter or reliever ’cause I dunno if i am comfortable riding into September with our current repertoire

2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick

by trojanangelfan on Jul 30, 2009 1:08 PM PDT reply actions