The 100 Greatest Angels: # 7 Troy Percival

by Rev Halofan on Feb 23, 2006 12:18 AM PST in Top 100 Angels (2005)

#7 Troy Percival, RH Reliever

Troy Percival's franchise records for Angel pitchers with a minimum of 500 Inning Pitched:

Saves: 316
Games Pitched: 579
Adj. ERA+: 156
K/9: 10.43
WHIP: 1.101
Fewest Hits Per 9IP: 6.03
Games Finished: 466

ERA of 2.99 as an Angel ranks 3rd in franchise history
K/BB Ratio of 2.69 is also 3rd best all time for an Angel pitcher.

What is your favorite Troy Percival memory?

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That in the most important series of his life

He suddenly started throwing a circle-change, to devastating effect. What kind of nutbag introduces a pitch in the World Series? And then abandons it?

by mattwelch on Feb 23, 2006 7:18 AM PST reply actions

tell me more

set up the story man!

by atomburn on Feb 23, 2006 11:47 AM PST up reply actions

... I don't remember it 100%, beyond the fact that it was either Game 6, Game 7, or both, and he got at least one key strikeout on a 3-2 changeup. A pitch he's maybe thrown 100 times in his career....

by mattwelch on Feb 23, 2006 10:27 PM PST up reply actions

found something on Game 2 of the ALCS that year...

But, although the save was recorded in the ninth inning, it was earned in the eighth. With two on and two out and the tying run at the plate, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia summoned Percival to replace Rodriguez, veteran heat replacing rookie heat. Percival won, without heat.

The batter was a pinch-hitter, Bobby Kielty, an old friend from Riverside. Kielty's father was one of Percival's teachers at Moreno Valley High School. Kielty took a 97-mph fastball, took a 98-mph fastball, fouled off a 97-mph fastball, fouled a 98-mph fastball. Percival then caught him looking at a changeup, clocked at 86 mph, for strike three and an end to the inning.

Percival throws a changeup about as often as the fans here shut up.

"Changeup, split, forkball, whatever you want to call it," Percival said. "Depends on my grip. I make it up every time."

by atomburn on Feb 27, 2006 9:56 PM PST up reply actions

Percy

My favorite Percival moment was early in his career, when he was a set-up man for Lee Smith. I remember one particular close game when Percy came in and struck out the side in the 8th, only to watch Smith come in in the 9th, load the bases, and somehow, miraculously, manage to get the win anyways. Everyone in the stands was crying "Keep Percival in the game" throughout that grueling 9th.

Fast forward to 2004. I was at a game where Percy came in to close in the 9th (after a stellar Frankie 8th), only to load the bases and somehow manage to hold on because of great defensive plays (assist by Vlad, for one). At that point, the whole stadium was saying "Keep Frankie in the game" throughout the 9th.

"Driven in to right-center field... Erstad says he has it..."

by mheumann on Feb 23, 2006 7:27 AM PST reply actions

Mo vs. Percy

I'll remember this exchange and the chuckle I got when the Halos took the title a few months later:

Vaughn on Percival: "Who the ... is Troy Percival? ... He hasn't done ... to lead them anywhere. I got hardware. I got playoff appearances. I got an MVP. I've been to the playoffs twice. What the hell has he done?"

Vaughn on the Angels: "Ain't none of them done a damn thing in this game, bottom line. They ain't got no flags hanging at ... Edison Field, so the hell with them."

The outburst was touched off by an article in The Times on Sunday, in which Percival said, "We may miss Mo's bat, but we won't miss his leadership. Darin Erstad is our leader."

by Hap on Feb 23, 2006 8:50 AM PST reply actions

2002 ALDS, Game 2

Anyone remember this?

After not being used early in game one, Percy comes in with 2 out in the 8th and two runners on in Yankee stadium.

He proceeds to bean Soriano on the first pitch, which I guess wasn't good but just seemed so badass.

Percy then proceeds to strike out Jeter on a called third strike.

It was the first Angel playoff win of 2002.

by michaelcham on Feb 23, 2006 9:49 AM PST reply actions

This might be higher than I rated him

Which is surprising, since he's one of my probably three favorite Angels of all time. Until AJ Shappi makes it, he might be the last Highlander in the majors for a while.

by LA Seitz on Feb 23, 2006 10:28 AM PST reply actions

Exact Match

You ranked him 7th.

by Rev Halofan on Feb 23, 2006 12:04 PM PST up reply actions

OK

Thought I had him eighth, but I guess not.

by LA Seitz on Feb 23, 2006 12:34 PM PST up reply actions

Ranking

I believe I also ranked him 7th.

by Jack Frost on Feb 23, 2006 4:31 PM PST up reply actions

Go Highlanders!

As a UCR alumni (three times over), I'll cheer Percy for his whole career. Not only did Troy go to UCR, but his mom still works there!

"Driven in to right-center field... Erstad says he has it..."

by mheumann on Feb 23, 2006 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

Class of '95

He was gone right before I got there.

by LA Seitz on Feb 23, 2006 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

High School

Go Vikings...I missed Percy by 3 years at Moreno Valley High.

by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on Feb 23, 2006 5:41 PM PST up reply actions

Favorite moment

Game 7 02 WS, 2 outs in the ninth...need i say more

He went where no Angel had ever gone before closing...closing out a World Series

Percy Fountain, spitting water out of his mouth while running from the bullpen..Went hand and hand with Halo victories for a long time!

Is Frankie that stupid to be late to Spring Training two years running....Visa Shmiza, get yo ass to camp!

Halo Fever P239

by P237 on Feb 23, 2006 11:36 AM PST reply actions

Ah...

the man for whom a four run lead was not safe. He certainly brought a level of anxious excitement that I don't really look for in a closer to games.

by Jim @ Halos Heaven on Feb 23, 2006 2:12 PM PST reply actions

mostly toward the end

before his "oh my god we've only got a 3-run lead" era, he was intimidatingly efficient. i mostly remember him squinting toward the plate to read the signs (which must've sent shivers down the spine of many batters who might've thought "is this guy trying to play me, or is his eyesight really that bad?"--didn't matter whether it was or not), and then burning a 98mph comet that most batters waffled at.

by yeswecan on Feb 23, 2006 2:24 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, but three or below usually was

He had a habit of getting knocked around when it wasn't a save situation, but get him in a 1 run game, and he was usually money.

by LA Seitz on Feb 23, 2006 2:34 PM PST up reply actions

Percival

For Percy the first batter was usually the key. When he got the first guy he would usually have a 1,2,3 inning, but if he was a bit wild and walked that lead-off batter, you'd just go "oh no." It seemed like all of his poor outings would start off with walking the lead-off man, and I agree with the comment above that it seemed to happen more when the Angels had a three run lead than when it was only a one run lead.

In the final analysis, Percy proved his greatness by coming through in the "big" games. He was seven for seven in save opportunities in the 2002 playoffs, so he got the job done when it counted and when the Halos needed him most. That strikeout of Jeter in Game 2 of the ALDS was just an awesome moment, and Jeter just stood at the plate in disbelief. I actually watched the final inning of that game at a high end sports bar in West Covina, and jogged out of there shouting and whooping it up. To me, that Game ranks among my favorites all time, with the comeback and the back to back jacks by Troy and Garret. It was a fabulous game.

by Jack Frost on Feb 23, 2006 4:46 PM PST up reply actions

The best part...

of that Jeter moment was Jeter's insistence that he would get the call because he's a Yankee and the Yankees always get the calls. When the call was strike and he was out, he looked honestly perplexed: "Me lose? Duh?"

Frankly, the Yankees haven't been the same since!

"Driven in to right-center field... Erstad says he has it..."

by mheumann on Feb 23, 2006 4:54 PM PST up reply actions

has there ever been a strike...

that the Yankees didn't swing at? Especially Jeter.

by thewebb on Feb 23, 2006 5:13 PM PST up reply actions

No Kidding

It goes back to Paul O'Neill, the whining about every strike call. Jeter is the worst offender they have right now, especially on the outside corner. If he didn't take that fastball knee-high and away to right field so frequently, his whining about every strike there might be sincere.

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. -Gene Mauch

by Chronicles on Feb 24, 2006 12:41 AM PST up reply actions

a la

Steinbrenner's comments this week guaranteeing a World Championship for the Bronx Bitches. Dumbass just jinxed his team. Just more New-York-o-centric elitist blubberings.

by Higz on Feb 23, 2006 5:17 PM PST up reply actions

the funny thing is...

I just don't see how the Yankees '06 team can be better than their '05 team. Damon's good, but pitching wins the titles. All their old pitchers are one year older and they added some middle relief, but none of the middle relievers are much (if any) better than Tom Gordon.

by thewebb on Feb 23, 2006 5:20 PM PST up reply actions

yeah, exactly

it's almost as if they think they'll win because the baseball gods could never let the Yankees go longer than 5 years without winning a title...NOT THEM! NOT THE YANKEES! They're the chosen ones!

by Higz on Feb 23, 2006 5:27 PM PST up reply actions

I saw the Yankees fall in '02 and '05

Very satisfying memories, both.

by mattwelch on Feb 24, 2006 10:45 PM PST reply actions

How sweet it is!

The Angels have won four post-season series. I have attended the clinching game of all four. Last October when the Angels eliminated the Yankees I looked down from my perch in section 507 and bit into an apple I brought with me to celebrate with (picture a healthy version of Red Auerbach). I have eaten thousands of apples (I used to live in an apple orchard near Kulu/Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India), but that was the best apple I had in my entire life. The Angels are only the second team to knock off the Yankees in two consecutive (appearances, not years) post season series (the 1921 and 1922 NY Giants being the other). Let's make it a hat trick and knock off the Yankees again in October 2006!

by Yetijuice on Feb 27, 2006 10:57 AM PST reply actions