AN AVERAGE COMPARISON, 2009 VS. 2011

Feels like a million years ago

That’s a big dropoff. Kendrick’s .290/.346/.432 this year is significantly more impressive than his .291/.334/.444 in 2009, because of the difference in context.

And as the post-Aug. 19 2009 performance showed, the Angels to that point that year had been hitting over their heads.

All that said, the 2009 offense was awesome, and this year, not so much. Don’t know if it requires “major roster changes,” but certainly playing Conger & Trout more and Mathis & Wells less would help.

I agree with what you wrote above on Conger & Trout vs. Mathis & Wells. That still leaves an offense relatively short of power bats (benching Wells removes about 15% of our HR’s for this year).

Relief pitching is next. Rodney and Takahashi aren’t worth anywhere near what they are being paid. Thompson and Walden are – at best – inconsistent. Horacio Ramirez isn’t the next Brendan Donnelly. This bullpen has nowhere near the same proficiency as 2002 – 2009. It’s needed for Scioscia’s small ball to be successful.

Starting pitching is as good as any 1-3, then drops precipitously after that. Plus, the minors seems pretty bare compared to recent seasons. Bell just doesn’t seem quite good enough. Chatwood did well for 1/2 season, but is either fatigued or the league caught up to him. Richards didn’t quite get a long enough look prior to injury. Palmer? Forget it.

Roster changes will be necessary for 2012 to overcome the Rangers. Major roster changes will be needed to compete with the best teams in the majors (Red Sux, Yanks, Phils…and possibly the Brewers).

comparison. Definitely a baseball anomaly. I know our offense is probably the worst its been in a while. How about looking to 2005-2008 (even w/half season of Tex)

2009 = FULL OF STRESS. Not wanting to face anyone in any situation. Mistakes will not be fun.

2011 = Meh, not so much stress. One in the same. Most of these batters will put themselves out of their own misery.

Mark has done all of that without any protection in the order this season. If things start to turn around, and the team begins to perform more like a Major League line-up, Trumbo’s numbers will explode. He may still have that problem with the low and outside stuff. But he will see it more from the beginning of the count instead of getting set up for it, and it being used on him as an out pitch. Learning to lay, or fight, it off. Pitch counts may start to effect our opponents.

Good info, but better to compare against what the club is competing against I think. The teams you mention (Yanks, Red Sox, Phil, and Brewers) are the true barometer I think.

That 2009 team is exactly what it is the past. Need to focus more on how to beat those that the Angels and FO are now looking up at and not down too.

Curious as to what the difference is after comparing to the above mentioned clubs……just not curious enough to take my time to research. Guessing its because I already know that across the board there are many more teams that are better. Thats not something I like to admit, but as I have said before I am not one that has ever drank the punch or bought into the current GM.

Juancho played LF.

Supposedly batting average wasn’t supposed to be a reliable stat. In any event, this is about Napoli. Pawning it off as an interesting observation then busting out Napoli when no one bites is kinda embarrassing. Despite his supreme domination of baseball universe, somehow every team in mlb history has won a world series without him and the rest of the teams that do between now and infinity will surely find a way to do so themselves….lol

Someone should publish The Napoli Papers. Subtitled: Gotcha Fanhood Against One’s Own Team Through ‘Research’.

My first reaction was how unfair the comparison is, but that was just my hurt feelings showing. The truth is the truth, and although my hopes are riding high after today’s win (4th consecutive), the truth is that this season’s line-up is pathetically weak, by anyone’s standard.

By the way, my sister and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend that series in Cleveland in ’09. What a feeling it was to look up at that jumbotron and see the numbers
for that line-up at the start of the first game of that series! Unforgetable!

I think “The Jake” sounds a lot better, too. My sister and I took the guided tour of Progressive Field. I liked it a lot, but I HATE the guys who have to dress up as mustard and ketchup and run around on the field. I guess that’s fun for kids and all, but I absolutely hate it when teams have guys dress in giant foam costumes as “m-ass-cots”. That’s just a me thing, I know, but thank God the Angels have an actual monkey jumping up and down and not a guy dressed in a giant foam monkey costume (end of rant)!