How is one to measure the depth of the Angels AT EVERY POSITION on the field? Without claiming any stat-expertise, I have devised this way:
First, I list the depth as the team itself has it listed on its team web site. Let's take them at their word.
Second - I list the 2007 season OPS+/ERA+ for players 31 and over. They are italicized. These numbers are most likely to drift down each season from here on out
Third - I list the career OPS+/ERA+ of the players 30 and under. For players under 27, I bold - these career averages could still go up, this player has not necessarily reached his ceiling. For players 27-30, there is no bold or italics.
In other words: Bold may not have reached their peak, Not bold can be expected to play at about the ceiling they have established, Italics will decline, with only the rate of that decline to be determined.
OPS+ is a baseline of 100 = League Average.
Starting Pitching
J. Lackey - 116
K. Escobar - 134
J. Garland - 106
J. Weaver - 137
J. Saunders - 97
E. Santana - 92
1B
C. Kotchman - 99
K. Morales - 86
R. Quinlan - 101
2B
H. Kendrick - 99
M. Izturis - 90
E. Aybar - *
C. Figgins - 99
3B
C. Figgins - 99
D. McPherson - 96
M. Izturis - 90
SS
E. Aybar - *
M. Izturis - 90
B. Wood - *
LF
G. Anderson - 114
G. Matthews - 93
R. Willits - 95
J. Rivera - 110
R. Quinlan - 101
N. Haynes - *
CF
T. Hunter - 122
G. Matthews - 93
R. Willits - 95
N. Haynes - *
RF
V. Guerrero - 147
G. Matthews - 93
R. Willits - 95
N. Haynes - *
J. Rivera - 110
DH
J. Rivera - 110
R. Willits - 95
R. Quinlan - 101
G. Anderson - 114
V. Guerrero - 147
C. Kotchman - 99
D. McPherson - 96
Bullpen
F. Rodriguez - 188
S. Shields - 118
J. Speier - 103
D. Oliver - 121
C. Bootcheck - 96
D. Moseley - 104
J. Bulger - *
R. Thompson - *
* - too few career innings/AB to be meaningful
TEN THINGS THAT JUMP OUT:
- For us to dominate, Howie and Kotch MUST produce.
- SS could be a black hole, production-wise.
- That outfield will decline because of age and the Angels are banking that it will be a slow escalator down instead of a balcony.
- Ditto the late relief.
- Good young starting pitching is the franchise life raft if things get rough, the team foundation if we are running on all cylinders.
- Is it scarier to think that we won the division because of Darren Oliver or that it was ever in doubt because of Scot Shields?
- Does the Gary Matthews Jr. signing look even stupider today than it did a year ago?
- Would life be perfect if Kendry Morales played 3B?
- We used three home-grown players and two free agents to add six of the players to this list: Kimera Bartee yielded Chone Figgins, Ramon Ortiz brought us Dustin Moseley, Orlando Cabrera brought us John Garland and Jose Guillen brought us Maicer Izturis and Juan Rivera. And Alberto Callaspo brought Jason Bulger.
- Six Free Agent Acquisitions: Kelvim, Vlad, GMJ, Torii Torii Torii, Speier, Oliver