Halos open extension talks with Howie and the Admiral
I'm quite pleased to see this. Perhaps more so for Kendrick than for Aybar, but these two have been one of the more solid (and taken for granted) parts of the team for the last few years.
3-4 years allows them to hit FA again at 31-32.
5 months ago
The Limey
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I wonder if Dipoto would re-sign both...
If it is one or the other I am rather torn…
The better player (and likely better value given the terms tossed out there) would be Kendrick, IMO.
However, if Aybar walks and Segura can’t play short we would have to look for outside help, and there is nothing in the terms of outside help at SS next winter.
Re-signing Aybar would allow Segura to play 2B, or allow the Halos to pursue a thirdbaseman (whether it be Trumbo or a someone from outside of the organization) as we could slide Callaspo over to the keystone bag.
Id by far want it to be Kendrick.
I see him as the best of the two as an all around player and while we don’t know about Segura’s bat I think his Defense will be just fine at SS and his bat hopefully will come around but Segura is much more of what Aybar already is especially with defense than he is Kendrick who is showing a very solid bat.
by MoralesHomers on Jan 5, 2012 3:25 PM PST up reply actions
I'm split on this issue.
Aybar is one of my favorite players because at any moment he can make a play that just makes your jaw drop. However, I feel like he still hasn’t reached that “next level” yet. With his skill set, I can see him stealing 40+ bases and hitting .280 each year, while putting up great defense. Whether or not he can refine his talent and take his game to the next level, I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out if this is the best Aybar will ever be or if this is just the beginning.
Kendrick is in a similar boat. His ceiling is much higher than Aybar’s but he’s only lived up to a fraction of it. Sure, he’s already one of the best offensive 2B around, but he hasn’t shown he can be the dynamic hitter he has the ability to be. He squares up a ball better than anyone and when he’s hot, he can carry a team. Unfortunately, we’ve only seen glimpses of that.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 5, 2012 4:53 PM PST up reply actions
Those are all valid issues.
I just don’t necessarily think of it same as you which is fine. While I like Aybar I love me some Kendrick. Kendrick to me has a higher ceiling and is closer to that ceiling at this point I think. With Aybar I don’t have the confidence of his development on the offensive side of the game though he is all star caliber on D with Kendrick having solid D himself. So at that point it comes about offense and which is easier to replace and given the peices we have I think Aybar both has a lower offensive playing level in production now and lower ceiling plus we have better chance of replacing the skill sets he brings than what Kendrick brings in our farm right now.
Id still want to resign both and I see a valid reason for choosing either I just would lean Kendrick my self is all.
by MoralesHomers on Jan 6, 2012 3:04 PM PST up reply actions
What if we tried Howie at third in the future?
Maybe he doesn’t have the arm strength but it might be worth a shot if Segura can’t play short. It probably wouldn’t work but I think it is something interesting to think about.
That was actually something I'd been thinking about for a long time now.
Howie has a good enough arm to do it, and as a second baseman, the transition is certainly possible. You know, Michael Young came up in the minors as a 2B, but was moved to SS when he made it to the big leagues to replace A-Rod and make room for Soriano at 2B. There was a guy who moved from 2B to SS to 3B. Granted, that’s Michael Young, but I think Howie is capable of it. I think with the lack of available options on the open market at 3B, Howie might be more valuable to us there if we are able to find a quality 2B. I really like Eric Young Jr. with the Rockies, but he’s not quite the type of player we are looking for and his availability is another obstacle.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 5, 2012 4:59 PM PST up reply actions
I have been thinking about that as well
It would really be interesting. Not to mention it would add some pop to that position.
Tim Salmon: The once and future Kingfish.
by Teixeira Who? on Jan 5, 2012 5:04 PM PST up reply actions
While I find that idea interesting and it is something id not mind seeing them try if Trumbo can’t do it im not sure the likelihood of it being tried. I have never even heard a hit of it from the Angels at all. Now while granted not hearing anything about it from the Angels wouldn’t be new like other player position moves that have happened you normally hear some rumblings of it being considered or discussed.
by MoralesHomers on Jan 6, 2012 12:49 AM PST up reply actions
Sounds like a good use of Torii and Abreu's money to me
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
^that^
"Ballplayers play baseball. Hrrmmmff." -Jose Mota
by Fred Fredrix on Jan 5, 2012 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
I'm optimistic that both will be extended.
Howie’s awesome, and Aybar is Arte’s favorite player (idk if he still is, considering Pujols is here) lol
Representing the Angels in Sin City.
by maze88 on Jan 5, 2012 12:29 PM PST via mobile reply actions
If you could only have 2 of 4 extended over the next couple years..
Haren, Ervin, Aybar, Howie.. Who would it be?
I’m going with Howie and Haren.
Yea I'll eliminate who I wouldn't extend..
Aybar: his errors really piss me off at times.
I think that Ervin will be good with the presence of weaver, Haren and now CJ
Representing the Angels in Sin City.
by maze88 on Jan 5, 2012 12:47 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Aybar is taking his Gold Glove off so he can give you the bird.
In all seriousness though, that’s the most frustrating part of his game.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 5, 2012 5:03 PM PST up reply actions
What errors are you talking about?
The ones where he is playing deep on the grass towards second, and tries to make the play on a slow roller coming off the third base side of the mound. Or the one where he is cheating for the DP, but the ball is a can of corn in the hole, and he just can’t make the play at second for the force out.
Aybar will get leather on many a ball no other player can. If it hits leather, and the play isn’t made it is an error. Derek Cano he is not. Missing balls, so not to get the “E”.
That's the part alot of people miss.
I remember when we had Orlando Cabrera after watching Eckstein for so long. I couldn’t believe how much better Cabrera was defensively. He would get to balls Eckstein never could, and what really separated him was that he could make the throws to get the outs too. Then we let Aybar take the reins, and his range surpassed even Cabrera. There are few shortstops in the game with Aybar’s range and quickness. I’d love to see an adjusted metric that factors in errors on balls that are already tough outs.
Time after time I’ve seen Aybar bobble a ball and get an error on a play where not even a handful of shortstops can even get to the ball he just fielded. Or even times where he makes a spectacular play and he throws the ball off balance for a wild throw and an error. He needs to learn when to throw and when to just hold onto it.
His Achilles heel, however, has been his lack of focus on routine ground balls. That’s what he is reffering to. For all his defensive prowess, he really needs to learn to focus on those routine plays.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 6, 2012 1:02 PM PST up reply actions
It's hard to drive slow
that’s why there is so many accidents in parking lots.
Aybar plays so amped for the tough play when he is cheating out of position, that when the easy one shows up, he just over runs it. But not that often.
He is just easy to hate on with all that smiling he does, anytime, all the time.
Haren and Aybar
"Ballplayers play baseball. Hrrmmmff." -Jose Mota
by Fred Fredrix on Jan 5, 2012 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Wife, Oprah, B Walters...
How bout: Cher, Charo, Joan Rivers?
Representing the Angels in Sin City.
by maze88 on Jan 5, 2012 2:44 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Coochie Coochie!
Your Angels: Telling Pythagoras to go to hell since 2004.
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Jan 5, 2012 3:08 PM PST up reply actions
Make out with Larry King for 10 minutes.
Or Jamie McCourt for 20.
YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....
Shriver, Ellen, Serena...
Representing the Angels in Sin City.
by maze88 on Jan 5, 2012 6:22 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Howie and Haren at this point.
I may be able to be convinced Erin above Haren if he does what he did at the end of the year all year and shows consistency.
by MoralesHomers on Jan 5, 2012 3:26 PM PST up reply actions
Nothing against haren but if its one or the other and Ervin shows the consistency id rather have the younger arm. Don’t get me wrong though I do like Dan Haren.
by MoralesHomers on Jan 6, 2012 12:51 AM PST up reply actions
They both fall into the "who you gonna get instead?" bracket.
Who’s a better 2B year in year out? Cano? Brandon Phillips? How about better short stops? We all know they’re out there, but they cost as much as Jose Reyes, and while Aybar’s not as good a hitter, he’s better defensively and isn’t Ozzie Smith week with the bat.
You can’t eat filet every night. sometimes you have to settle for a really really good burger, and that’s OK. If we can do what Nate said and use the Torii/Bobby money plus the fact that we won’t have to pay big for our LF or CF for a while after this season may allow us to upgrade at third.
Though Callaspo’s a pretty tasty serving of fish and chips.
Tim Salmon + Yankee cap = HOF.
by gitchogritchoffmypetis on Jan 5, 2012 12:34 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
+1
You know I’ve always stood up for my homie Howie. And Aybar has improved beyond what I expected. Neither of them show any signs of getting any worse than they have been. Lock ’em down! That will ensure that we have top-tier players at 1B, 2B, and SS for years to come.
Where were you on December 8th, 2011 - Pujols Day?
by Rally Manatee on Jan 5, 2012 1:50 PM PST up reply actions
Think Howie is the guy to keep
feel if he hits in front of Albert he will be a monster
RIP Nick Adenhart
I think you're a little biased.
But I think you’re right.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 5, 2012 5:05 PM PST up reply actions
Why not sign both?
Why are some of you making it sound like it’s an either-or scenario. Nothing in the article says that.
BTW, I like this trend in baseball – re-signing players before they get to test free agency. More players are sticking with 1 team for most of their careers. It’s getting to be more like the olden times.
Where were you on December 8th, 2011 - Pujols Day?
It may not be either-or...
But with Santana and Haren hitting FA one year behind them it might be… I hope we can keep em both!
Porque no los dos?
If the Halos don't care about the way they play, then why should I?
by red floyd on Jan 5, 2012 2:57 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
..
jk
Your Angels: Telling Pythagoras to go to hell since 2004.
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Jan 5, 2012 3:11 PM PST up reply actions 5 recs
You've never seen those stupid Old El Paso commercials?
If the Halos don't care about the way they play, then why should I?
I prefer the one where they raise the little boy up on their shoulders for coming up with the flat-bottomed taco shell.
Your Angels: Telling Pythagoras to go to hell since 2004.
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Jan 5, 2012 6:21 PM PST up reply actions
Ah yes. The authentic taco.
I know that not having a flat-bottomed taco shell has kept me up many a night. I’m glad we had our top scientists and engineers tackling the problem.
YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....
It's a sports blog, that's what we do.
Over half the crap we discuss is entirely hypothetical.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 5, 2012 5:06 PM PST up reply actions
Man, I love Olden.
And Greg Odin.
Tim Salmon + Yankee cap = HOF.
by gitchogritchoffmypetis on Jan 5, 2012 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
The only difference between Greg Oden and Kendrys Morales is
Kendrys never had pictures of his schlong leaked on the internet.
Your Angels: Telling Pythagoras to go to hell since 2004.
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Jan 5, 2012 6:34 PM PST up reply actions
...Yet
Tim Salmon: The once and future Kingfish.
by Teixeira Who? on Jan 5, 2012 6:57 PM PST up reply actions
If I had to choose between the two (not suggesting that is the only option - but rather an interesting exercise)
I would probably go for Aybar. I reckon Aybar’s skills would age better than Howie (although Howie is the better hitter currently and probably in the future). His plate discipline still troubles me.
I also believe it would be easier to replace Howie at 2B (for example with Jean Segura, Amarista, Lindsey). It would be far harder developing or signing a solid defensive SS who has league average offense.
by TheQuestforMerlin on Jan 5, 2012 2:59 PM PST reply actions
Walk the elephant and pitch to the giraffe
Wait, what was the question again?
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" ~Groucho Marx
los dos
It’s like choosing between your children… but harder
i have a trumboner.
by truhalo on Jan 5, 2012 4:19 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
trade them for evan Longoria
The neighbor is a cranky irish expat. He if wanted no snakes, he shoulda stayed in Ireland.
-Moondoggy
angels
good idea
"id take 5th Dimention Wormhole Rivera over Wells any day of the week"
-clover_black
by the king of CERA on Jan 5, 2012 5:02 PM PST up reply actions
Kendrys Morales off topic
This Pio Deportes dude is saying that depending on Kendrys meeting in Vail he may retire if he has to have another surgery done…I have a hard time believing that but screw that guy if he is just spewing rumors
#Breaking: Kendrys Morales is considering retirement as he meets with Dr. In Colorado. If he gets bad news from the ankle specialist (cont)… he may retire. He doesn’t want to do another surgery. This all according to a source familiar with his thinking.
IF this happens (God, I hope it doesn't) then the batting order should be seriously tweaked...
Instead of
1) Bourjos
2) Kendrick
3) Pujols
4) Morales
5) Hunter
6) Trumbo
7) Wells
8) Ianetta
9) Aybar
We should roll this way:
1) Bourjos
2) Callaspo
3) Kendrick
4) Pujols
5) Hunter
6) Trumbo
7) Wells
8) Ianetta
9) Aybar
Obviously, in the first version Trumbo would play third (yes, I know that is a big if), and in the second version Trumbo is the DH and Callaspo is at third… The first version is clearly preferable but the loss of Morales forces this change I think…
Still not a bad lineup
This trumbo thing worries me a bit but again we are talking about a report from Pio Deportes….He was the one who said Longoria was not happy at all so take it with a grain of salt haha
Holy shit that is depressing
Don’t retire Kendrys! We can wait!
Tim Salmon: The once and future Kingfish.
by Teixeira Who? on Jan 5, 2012 5:13 PM PST up reply actions
If there can only be one
It would have to be Howie. We need his bat. I’d hope we could use our shiny new TV contract to keep both though. Otherwise someone is going to point at the Pujols contract and say see! You spent too much!
And we will then reply “hey, we still got Pujols!”
"How much more could you possibly need? I never played this game for money purposes, I played it for love and for championships."
---Jered Weaver.
but but but
giving Pujos and Vernon billions and billions of dollars means Arte can’t afford to pay anyone else!
"You realize that Ive been posting on AN since 07 on this name and I am one of the most rec'ed posters there right?" - Some tool named Designatedforassignment from Athletics Nation
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