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The Top 3 Questions Angels Fans Should Be Asking

Johnathan Kroncke — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:29:07 +0000

There are always warning signs to addiction.

Addicts often experience mental and emotional instability, changes in physical appearance, and a sudden rejection of family or friends.

Fans, then, are addicts.

First and foremost, we are fanatics, the root of the term “fan.” We cheer wildly in large groups of strangers for players most of us have never met. We dress up in costumes like children on Halloween to show our team pride.

And, for a brief few hours, we push away everything in our world that doesn’t revolve around that day’s game.

Friends, family, work? All an after-thought.

However, in our nearly uncontrollable fanaticism, many of us also forget to truly examine our passions, to compare the fantasy in our minds with the reality on the field and see if they match up.

This offseason, the scuttlebutt surrounding the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has centered almost exclusively on the starting pitching, with a slight foray into third base.

Now, that is not to say that these issues do not have their place in our minds, because they do.

The moment John Lackey and Roy Halladay were out of reach, Angels fans were immediately critical of the front office and horribly afraid for the future.

Months later, many are still questioning who will step into that all-important “ace” role.

A few have also wondered what kind of player Brandon Wood will be as he enters his first full season as the Angels’ third baseman.

However, these are not the only questions we should be asking. Or rather, they are only a part of the larger questions that we as fans must keep in mind for the season to come.

Here are the top three questions the Angels will have to answer in 2010.

How Will Nick Adenhart Be Remembered This Season?

This might not seem like the most burning question facing the Angels in 2010, but it may be more important than some realize.

Following Nick Adenhart’s death, fans watched helplessly as the Angels drifted through the first two months of the season, their head slung low along with their spirits.

They played 159 games with a black patch over their hearts to honor their fallen comrade.

That is a lot of grief to be carrying around.

Even before Adenhart was killed, players were already sporting memorial patches in honor of longtime Angels advisor Preston Gomez.

Now, here we are in February, and Angels owner Arte Moreno continues to sport a No. 34 button (Adenhart’s uniform number) on his jacket at the Spring Training facilities in Tempe, Arizona.

At last check, the fan memorial set up in Adenhart’s honor outside the home plate gates at the Big A remains untouched.

It is difficult for a team to perform well with such heavy hearts, and it wasn’t until manager Mike Scioscia snapped them out of their funk that the Angels finally got their act together last season.

And although nearly a year has passed since then, many players are sure to be dealing with the losses in some way.

Jered Weaver, the consensus pick to claim the No. 1 starter’s role, was a good friend of Adenhart and began inscribing his initials on the back of the mound before each start.

What good will it do him to pitch another season with Nick’s ghost staring from the outfield fence again?

Adenhart’s memory will forever live on in the hearts of his teammates and of the fans who were lucky enough to see him pitch. But it’s time to lay the patches and murals on the field to rest.

Instead, let’s retire his No. 34 and add it to the memorable Angels of the past out in the right field pavilion. There it will stand alongside names like Nolan Ryan and Jackie Robinson, a just enshrinement after an unjust demise.

Those feelings of anger and loss still linger, but players and fans alike must be allowed to move on.

Can This Angels Squad Withstand Another Year of Injuries Like 2009?

Both Lackey and Ervin Santana began last season on the disabled list. Santana would make a return trip shortly after his season debut.

Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero both missed July with various ailments while Joe Saunders followed suit in August.

Fortunately, the Angels survived their downfalls, thanks in large part to an offensive surge the likes of which this organization has never seen.

That, and the adequate replacements who filled in for their injured counterparts.

Unrecognizable players like Matt Palmer and Sean O’Sullivan became household names when they took over on the mound. The rookies combined for 15-4 record.

Others, however, were not so remarkable.

Anthony Ortega suffered an embarrassing rookie debut, and Trevor Bell wasn’t much better.

This season, Palmer will assume the long-relief role out of the bullpen. The rest will likely begin their years at Double- or Triple-A, the only safety net this team has should any of its starters fall.

At the plate, guys like Kendry Morales and Bobby Abreu stepped up big time in the absence of big bats. But in the field, it was Gary Matthews, Jr. who held it down with the glove while Hunter healed.

Without Matthews, the Angels will look to Minor Leaguers like Terry Evans, Chris Pettit, and Peter Bourjos to provide support.

Barely a career Major League start between them, it’s anyone’s guess how they will perform should the Angels chronologically impaired outfielders and DH succumb to their age.

Is This Team Built To Go Deep In The Postseason?

Once again, the Angels have put together a fine cast of characters for us fans to enjoy during the long haul of the season.

But the playoffs are a whole different animal.

The Angels starting rotation might turn out to be the best, top to bottom, of any team in the regular season. Filled to the brim with solid arms and sound minds, there doesn’t appear to be a weak link in the bunch.

There also doesn’t appear to be a true No. 1 starter, either.

What the Angels will feature in 2010 are five No. 2’s and 3’s. Good pitchers who can give you six or seven quality innings, but none who can dominate on a consistent basis.

In the playoffs, that’s exactly what you need: one or two arms that can take over a game and hold their opponents down under pressure.

Weaver looks like he has the most potential to be that guy, but right now he’s still a question mark. What he becomes remains to be seen.

The Angels will also run out a nice, balanced offense this year. Plenty of speed mixed with a little power that should serve them well over a 162-game season. Like it does every other season.

And like every other season, that offense continually falls short in the playoffs.

Fans will forever love Scioscia’s aggressive style of play, running at every opportunity and taking the extra base when it’s there. But come October, your team has to walk tall and carry a big stick.

Just ask the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, who featured a very similar type of offense over the last two years: an overwhelming amount of power mixed with a little timely speed on the base paths.

That’s it. No outlandish steals of home, no relying on going first-to-third with every baserunner.

Just pure power hitters who can drive the ball into the gap or over the fence.

Last year, Morales became the Angels’ go-to guy for power after he cranked 34 balls out of the yard and drove in over 100 runs. This year, the team hopes he can repeat those numbers, but his bat alone won’t be enough to get back to the World Series.

The Angels will also be looking at Wood to not only replace Chone Figgins, but become the legit big league power threat he’s shown glimpses of in the Minors.

So far, he’s only shown his big, loopy swing that produces more strikeouts than anything else.

Newly signed DH Hideki Matsui, who was apart of that Yankees juggernaut from a year ago, will be also be looked at to repeat his 2009 performance of 28 home runs and 90 RBI, though the right field porch in Anaheim is far less welcoming than in New York.

Juan Rivera, who popped 25 big flies last season, and Hunter, who hit 22, should both be contributors this season as well, Hunter in particular if he can stay healthy.

And if all those pieces fall into place, along with Erick Aybar staying healthy and Howie Kendrick staying productive, the Angels will be right back where they were last season: in line for another divisional title, and another postseason disappointment.

If so, us fans will be left with those same signs of addiction, mental and emotional instability chief among them.

Top 10 Angels Prospects To Watch for In 2010

Johnathan Kroncke — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:23:56 +0000

The East Coast is frozen solid. The South has been hit everything from floods to blizzards. The Pacific Northwest is soaked torrential downpours.

Here in the Southwest, we call that baseball weather.

The weather outside might be frightful for the rest of the country, but down our way it just means Spring Training is right around the corner.

Out in sunny Arizona, pitchers and catchers have already arrived en masse to gear up for Cactus League play, and over the next couple of weeks, the slow trickle of position players will quickly become a steady stream into camp.

In fact, Spring Training is really a collusion of two different camps.

On the one hand, teams have their starters and veterans. Guys who sport guaranteed, multi-million dollar contracts and, barring serious injury, a spot on the Opening Day roster. The only thing they need to worry about is getting in shape for the long season ahead.

Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu will not be fighting for a job in Tempe this year.

On the other hand, Terry Evans, Ryan Budde, and Trevor Bell will.

This Spring, the only starting position battle yet to be locked up on the Angels roster is third base, and Brandon Wood has been all but handed the job. Instead, managers and coaches will be using the time to anticipate which of their Minor League stars will make it in the Majors, and when.

The Angels in the outfield are starting to show some age, the infield’s future remains murky, and there is still no clear-cut No. 1 pitcher or catcher.

Now is the time for the Halo youth to shine.

Say what you want about the importance of Spring Training numbers. What matters is how these youngsters perform against big league talent in front of their big league managers.

Today’s Spring standout could be next year’s All-Star MVP.

Take a look at the top 10 Angels prospects to keep an eye on in 2010. First up, starting pitchers…

SP Trevor Reckling

The 6′1” lefty has been on the Angels’ radar screen the past two seasons—and he’s only 20.

Despite never appearing at any level higher than Double-A, Trevor Reckling is already considered the best starting pitcher in the Angels’ organization and is on the fast track to make his big league debut sometime in the next two years.

He is said to feature a stellar curveball/changeup combination to go along with his firm fastball, all of which benefit from Reckling’s unusual rocking motion in his delivery, giving him a high release point and a tough downward angle on his pitches.

Apparently, the motion works.

In 2008, he recorded 28 consecutive scoreless innings and has produced a sub-3.00 ERA in every year of his professional career but one.

Last season , Reckling posted a 2.93 ERA in just over 135 innings with the Arkansas Travelers.

The one knock against his game is that he can be wild at times, a bigger indication that he is young rather than unskilled.

Because of this, Reckling should be headed to Triple-A Salt Lake to start the season. His natural abilities aside, he needs the experience at a higher level before he joins the big club.

But that day is coming, and I believe sooner rather than later.

If the Angels’ pitching staff has another year of injuries and poor play, look for Reckling to get an early call-up. Otherwise, his best chance to make the squad might be in 2012, when the Joel Pineiro and Scott Kazmir deals expire.

SP Sean O’Sullivan

Sean O’Sullivan made his Major League debut in 2009, and not a moment too soon.

By mid-June, the Angels were well back of the Texas Rangers in the standings and playing like it. But a fiery speech by manager Mike Scioscia and an injection of young blood proved to be just what the doctor ordered.

The Angels came roaring back, in part because of the efforts of players like O’Sullivan, who helped round out a beleaguered starting rotation that had been physically beaten and emotionally drained.

O’Sullivan went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his first three starts, including seven innings of one-run ball in his debut against the San Francisco Giants.

From there, the league seemed to figure him out and he wound up with ERA just shy of 6.00, but by then the foundation had already been laid.

The 22-year-old righty gained a lifetime of experience last season when he helped his team bounce back from the dark days of Nick Adenhart’s death and the mediocrity that followed to become champions of the AL West.

Despite coming in at 6′2”, 230 pounds, though, O’Sullivan still has some room to grow.

If he can learn to spot his pitches and use his size to generate more power on his fastball, we could be looking at the solid middle reliever of the future, or perhaps even a No. 4 or 5 starter.

SP Anthony Ortega

Coming into last season, Anthony Ortega was said to be the next best pitching prospect for the Angels, after Adenhart and Reckling.

But in three games at the big league level, he never made it past the fifth inning and surrendered 13 runs in just 12 innings pitched.

Nerves were clearly an issue last season and if he can overcome the mental block of failing in his first effort, Ortega may turn out to be a valuable piece in the Angels’ rotation.

Since making his professional debut at the age of 20, Ortega has absolutely sprinted through the Minors, posting a 2.52 ERA in five starts after being promoted to Triple-A in 2008.

To be honest, his path is reminiscent of Adenhart’s just a year earlier. Adenhart had quickly earned the title of top Angels prospect and was given a shot at the Major League level in 2008.

He failed spectacularly and struggled throughout the rest of the season in the Minors. The next year, however, he had a fabulous Spring Training broke camp with the big club after injuries sidelined John Lackey and Ervin Santana.

Before the tragic accident that took his life, Adenhart tossed six shutout innings against the Oakland A’s, showing the poise of a much older pitcher.

Now is the time for Ortega follow in his footsteps and prove his worth to the Angels this spring. If he does, he will certainly be on the short list of starting pitching alternatives this season.

SP Trevor Bell

Much like Ortega, Trevor Bell had an unfortunate introduction to the Major Leagues.

He was unable to live up to the hype around him and despite winning his second start, he finished the season with a 9.74 ERA, surrendering more runs than innings pitched.

But also like Ortega, not to mention O’Sullivan and Reckling, time is on Bell’s side.

At just 23, Bell is well on his way to making the Angels’ roster sometime in the near future.

Apart from his shaky debut, Bell dominated in the minors last season, posting a combined 2.70 ERA with 89 strikeouts in just 22 games in Double- and Triple-A.

At the big league level, Bell’s breaking pitches seemed to flatten out and his fastball, though stout, was often left over the heart of the plate.

Spring Training will be a huge test for the lanky right-hander. Scioscia, pitching coach Mike Butcher, and the rest of the Angels brain trust will be looking for Bell to improve his stamina and maintain consistency over the next month of play.

With several young, strong pitchers ahead of him at both the Major and Minor Leagues, Bell may not have the opportunity to become the next big thing in the Angels’ rotation.

However, a solid late-inning relief spot a la Scot Shields is not out of the question.

And now, from pitchers, we look at their battery mates…

C Ryan Budde

It’s been three years since Ryan Budde impressed anyone offensively. Yet, he has earned Major League call-ups in each of those three seasons.

From 2008-09, he’s had five at-bats against big league pitching and absolutely nothing to show for it, save for two strikeouts last year.

But then, offense has never been a priority for Scioscia, at least out of the catching position.

No, the most important attribute for a catcher in his eyes is defense. At Salt Lake last season, Budde threw out potential base-stealers at a phenomenal 42 percent clip and turned 10 double plays while making just eight errors.

If he wants to make the Major League roster, however, he’ll have to show dramatic improvement at the plate this spring.

Budde is a career .234 hitter in the Minor Leagues and with very little power. With the Angels, he bats .130 and slugs just .174.

Yet, as I said before, he continues to see time, however limited, at the big league level.

This spring, pay as close attention to his performance as the arbitration proceedings for Jeff Mathis. If he and the Angels remain at odds, this season might be his last in Anaheim, opening the door for Budde to take over the backup duties.

All he has to do is be impressive in Spring Training.

C Bobby Wilson

Bobby Wilson is in much the same boat as Budde. Both are more talented behind the plate than they are next to it, sporting a strong throwing arm, a decent glove, and a disappointing bat.

Unlike Budde, however, Wilson’s disappointing offense does not extend into the Minor Leagues.

In 97 games at Triple-A last season, Wilson batted .271 with eight home runs and 55 RBI. Very impressive, especially considering he was called up to the Majors several times, throwing off his timing when he got sent back down.

Wilson also gunned 38 percent of would-be base-stealers at Salt Lake while committing two fewer errors than Budde.

Again, his potential shot at the big leagues may hinge on the outcome of Mathis’ negotiations. Scioscia is certainly a fan of defense, but the Angels will not overpay for a one-dimensional backup.

If 2010 is indeed Mathis’ last season in Anaheim, look for Wilson to be the man to take his place.

Until a better option comes along, or is revealed in Spring Training, Mike Napoli looks to have the starting catcher’s job fairly well locked up, giving Wilson a limited window to squeeze his rather bulky frame through.

As with every prospect, spring will be key for Wilson to finally secure a spot in the Majors.

C Hank Conger

At the tender age of 21, Hank Conger is easily the most interesting catching prospect to come along for the Angels in quite some time.

A former first round draft pick for the Angels back in 2006, Conger had a truly impressive season at Double-A last year when he batted .295, belted 11 homers, and drove in 68 RBI—all while playing in 123 games.

Durability is clearly no concern.

Neither are strikeouts, of which he only had 68. By comparison, Napoli fanned a total of 103 times in 114 games with the Angels.

Conger has yet to play at the Triple-A level, which is where he is likely headed when Spring Training ends.

If he maintains the high degree of performance he’s shown throughout his professional career, he’ll no doubt be given a shot as a call-up this season, and could make the Major League roster out of camp by next year.

The only area of his game that could use improvement is his defense. Conger threw out 30 percent of runners on the base paths last year, but made 14 errors behind the plate.

I sense that high number has a lot to do with Conger’s low age, but it remains an area he’ll have to work on this year.

And if he does, watch out, Nap.

Now, on to the infield…

INF Freddy Sandoval

Last year, this spot might have been occupied by Sean Rodriguez.

But after he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Scott Kazmir and Brandon Wood was picked to take over third base for a departed Chone Figgins, Freddy Sandoval has risen to the top of the infield depth chart.

In five seasons at the Minor League level, Sandoval has spent the majority of his time at second and third base, not exactly the most vacant positions on the Angels’ roster.

However, third base may be his position of the future.

Wood is going to be given every opportunity to secure the third base job long-term. From my vantage, that just means he has every opportunity to fail.

Wood looks like former Angels bust Dallas McPherson with half the power and twice the strikeouts. It shouldn’t be long before he is removed from the hot corner in favor of a player with real talent as opposed to potential.

Right now, Sandoval is all potential, but this spring is his chance to show what kind of talent he really has.

He was a .300 hitter last season at Triple-A, mostly singles and doubles. What he lacks in power, he makes up in speed, swiping 12 bags in just 67 games in Salt Lake.

In only 11 games with the Angels in 2009, Sandoval managed to smack a double and flash some leather with a couple of sparkling defensive plays.

At 27, Sandoval is nearing the now-or-never period in his career. Fortunately for him, the only man standing in his way is the most overrated prospect in club history.

When Wood is benched, listen for two in-house names to take his place: Maicer Izturis, and Freddy Sandoval.

Finally, let’s turn to the outfield…

OF Chris Pettit

As I alluded to early on, the Angels in the outfield are starting to get up there in age.

Both Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu are over the age of 35, and neither is guaranteed to be with the team after the 2012 season.

Juan Rivera, the youngest of the bunch, will be 31 this year and has already been dangled in numerous trade rumors to fill other holes on the team.

If there is an area to break through on this Angels squad, it is the outfield.

If there is a man to do it, it is Chris Pettit.

Pettit has been a force at the plate throughout his career in the Minor Leagues. He hit .321 at Triple-A last season, pounding 30 doubles and eight home runs while driving in 58 RBI.

He also threw in 18 steals for good measure.

In 2009, Pettit saw 10 games at the big league level and managed to stroke two singles.

This spring, he’ll look to improve on that mark and prove to Scioscia that the Angels won’t need to look for replacement outfielders any time soon.

Pettit won’t make the big club when they break camp. Reggie Willits, who is out of options, and Robb Quinlan will almost certainly be warming the bench and spelling the outfielders when they need a break.

Look for Pettit to make an impact as a call-up later this season. That is, as long as his spring goes as planned.

OF Terry Evans

At 28, Terry Evans is out of options, meaning if he doesn’t make the Angels’ Opening Day roster, he’ll be made available for other teams to claim.

This poses an interesting scenario for the Angels, who are likely all set in terms of outfield backups. Willits and Quinlan look to once again be the go-to guys whenever Abreu, Hunter, and Rivera need a rest.

If that is the case, Evans will have to outperform his big league counterparts this spring, a task he is more than capable of.

Evans hit .291 in Salt Lake last year with 26 homers and 90 RBI, earning himself a spot on the Minor League All-Star team. He also performed admirably at all three outfield positions.

In seven at-bats at the Major League level, he had two hits, including a solo big fly.

At 28 years of age and all out of options, Evans needs to break through now more than ever. Unfortunately, he has two stellar veterans and two capable backups to get past. And he only has a month to do it.

Like Evans, though, Willits is also out of options. And while he’s been a fan-favorite since his ascension in 2007, he has failed to latch on as a consistent name on the Angels’ roster.

Willits’ game is simply too limited. He’s a slap hitter who relies on speed, but isn’t on base enough to be effective with it.

Evans’ job this spring will be to hurdle the diminutive Willits and claim a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Again, it’s a tougher assignment than it sounds, but one that Evans should be able to handle cleanly.

Jered Weaver Leads Race for L.A. Angels’ Ace in 2010

Johnathan Kroncke — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:25:02 +0000

With pitchers and catchers due to report to Spring Training this week, the race to find the next ace for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is about to heat up.

Typically a strength in Anaheim, it was the Angels’ pitching staff that set an ominous tone at the start of the 2009 season.

John Lackey injured his shoulder just weeks before Opening Day. Ervin Santana was sidelined after straining his forearm early on in Spring Training. Kelvim Escobar, in his haste to fill the Angels’ rapidly depleting staff, suffered further setbacks in his recovery from shoulder surgery.

And of course, barely three games into the year, rookie stud Nick Adenhart was killed in a tragic drunk driving incident.

Questions hung heavy alongside grief around the mound at the Big A.

This year, the grief has subsided but questions still remain.

Lackey returned last season to anchor an Angels staff that essentially lacked a fifth starter for much of the year. He was so successful, in fact, the Boston Red Sox rewarded him with a brand new five-year deal this offseason.

With their ace on his way to Fenway, the Angels were involved in numerous trade and free agent rumors throughout the Winter Meetings and beyond.

But despite making a very public push, Angels GM Tony Reagins failed to acquire either Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, the two biggest names on the trade block. It wasn’t until mid-January that he was finally able to strike a deal with what looks to be the next best option.

Joel Pineiro, a key part of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation last year and a veteran of the AL West after spending several seasons with the Seattle Mariners, will return to the American League to round out the Angels’ starting staff.

Now, with a veteran hurler thrown into a decidedly youthful mix headed up by Jered Weaver, the Angels look to sport one of the strongest starting rotations top to bottom in all of baseball.

Take a look at how the how the Angels’ starting pitchers will shake out in 2010.

1. Jered Weaver

In 2008, after yet another injury to Lackey, the Angels handed Opening Day honors to a 25-year-old Weaver.

The responsibility may have been too great as Weaver lost to the Twins in Minnesota, but the move showed just how highly thought-of he was in the eyes of Angels brass, who picked the youngster over veteran and World Series champ Jon Garland.

This time around, Weaver is two years older, two years wiser, and has established himself as a legitimate, front-of-the-rotation threat on the mound.

Despite his 6′7” frame, he lacks an overpowering fastball, which tops out at a meager 90-91 MPH. Contemporaries like Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander routinely hit those speeds with changeups.

But what Weaver lacks in power, he makes up for in intelligence and mound presence.

His delivery is a study in the art of deception. Winding up, Weaver is all arms and legs as he comes off the mound, hiding the ball behind his lanky body until just before the moment of release.

In doing so, he takes full advantage of his bland fastball by sneaking in his plus off-speed pitches to keep hitters off balance.

Like Lackey before him, Weaver is also an intense competitor who has learned to harness his emotions and use them to bear down when times are tough on the field.

He showed uncommon poise in the face of adversity in 2009, and walked away with career highs in wins (16), strikeouts (174), complete games (4), and shutouts (2).

Weaver is the ideal candidate to lead this Angels rotation, not just in 2010, but potentially for years to come.

2. Scott Kazmir

After featuring a nearly endless string of substitutes and rookies at the No. 5 spot, the Angels finally made a move to bring strength and stability to their rotation.

In mid-August, they acquired Kazmir, ace of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Despite being just 25 years old at the time of the trade, Kazmir is an unquestioned veteran in the Major Leagues, including leading his squad to its first AL East championship, American League championship, and Word Series appearance.

Kazmir struggled mightily with Tampa early in 2009, but was a revelation for the Angels during his brief regular season stint out West, though his playoff performances were far less impressive.

His fastball lost some zip last season, but it remains the centerpiece of his repertoire, which also features a revitalized slider.

Ironically, the only knock against the left-handed pitcher is his tendency to throw too many pitches.

Kazmir often hits the century mark on his pitch count by the fifth or sixth inning, putting more pressure on the Angels’ bullpen to pick up those crucial outs in the middle of games.

Given Kazmir’s age, however, there is plenty of time for him to improve on all aspects of his game. And under the watchful eye of pitching coach Mike Butcher, who worked with Kaz for a season in Tampa, he’ll look to do just that.

3. Ervin Santana

This was an extremely difficult decision. The No. 3 spot in the rotation is hardly the most critical, but with two former All-Stars and a talented veteran in the mix, it was tough to leave anyone out.

In the end, it came down to which man had the best stuff, and when he is on, Santana is one of the best pitchers in the game.

In just his second start in the Major Leagues, Santana hurled a five-hit, complete-game shutout of the eventual World Series champion Chicago White Sox.

Since then, however, he has struggled to find consistency on the mound, often having one good game then one bad, one memorable month then one to forget.

In 2008, it looked as though he had found his stride, making his first All-Star team and pitching admirably for much of the season. But a forearm strain delayed his 2009 debut and when he finally made it back to the mound, it took him weeks before he was effective again.

This year, barring any setbacks in Spring Training, look for Santana to return to his All-Star form.

His fastball routinely reaches 95-96 MPH and is backed by a devastating off-speed combination reminiscent of Francisco Rodriguez. The only question left to be answered is how his mental status will hold up through the season.

If he can repeat his 2008 performance, Santana could easily move up the pitching depth chart, and fast.

4. Joel Pineiro

The veteran righty who first made a name for himself with the Seattle Mariners has finally returned to the AL West.

After Halladay and Lee, Pineiro was the best name left on the pitching market and the Angels did well to secure his services. Injuries hampered much of his career with the Cardinals, but in 2009 he showed what he can do with a clean bill of health.

Pineiro accrued a 3.49 ERA, his highest mark since 2002 with the Mariners, and picked up 15 wins, one shy of his career best in 2003.

He also featured the best ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio in the Majors last year, a result of his newly acquired sinking two-seam fastball that has turned him into a contact pitcher.

Despite moving back to the offense-heavy American League, Pineiro’s ability to force opponents to hit the ball on the ground should prove effective with the Angels’ stellar defense there to back him up.

But perhaps his greatest asset to this team will be his experience. Pineiro has been on good and bad teams, pitched injured and healthy, and helped multiple squads reach the postseason.

No matter what situations may arise for this mostly young pitching staff, Pineiro will be there to help guide his new mound mates through thick and thin.

5. Joe Saunders

It seems odd that the man who opened the 2009 season for the Halos should be relegated to the fifth spot just a year later.

But rest assured, his placement is more of a testament to the overall strength of this rotation than a personal knock against Saunders.

Coming off an All-Star year, Saunders was nearly flawless over the first month and a half, including an incredible 1-0 victory over Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals.

However, it proved to be a cruel summer for Saunders. He spent the next three months searching in vain for the form he began with, and it wasn’t until late August that he would find it.

The key to Saundo’s game is pinpoint accuracy. His stuff isn’t the most overpowering or most deceptive in the league. But when he spots his fastball and is able to work in his change and curve, there are few in the league who are tougher to face.

When he doesn’t, the big lefty’s pitches tend to hang over the middle of the plate. Last year, those mistakes lead to a career-high 29 home runs surrendered.

Again, though, much of that failure came in those long summer months in the middle of the season.

Like Santana, if he can find the consistency he showed in 2008, Saunders will be a major threat to invade the top of this rotation.

Gary Matthews, Jr. Headed to New York, Angels ‘Stoked’

Johnathan Kroncke — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:54:06 +0000

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim got a long-overdue lesson in math this week. They learned about the age-old principle of addition by subtraction.

It’s simple. All you have to do is subtract $21 million of useless player from the payroll and you’ll wind up adding emotional stability and tangible worth to your squad.

On Friday, the Angels put their lesson to good use when they sent reserve outfielder and resident malcontent Gary Matthews, Jr. to the New York Mets, agreeing to pay more than $21 million of the remaining $23.5 million left on his contract.

It’s not often you see a team is willing to pay a player that kind of money just to go away, but in this case, it’s a welcome sacrifice.

Like the Seattle Mariners with Adrian Beltre, the Angels got suckered into offering Matthews, Jr. a huge contract after he had a career year with the Texas Rangers in which he batted .313, smacked 19 home runs, and made his first All-Star team.

And just like Beltre, he never came anywhere close to repeating it.

Matthews, Jr. failed to bat higher than .252 in his three years in Anaheim and pouted like a child when Torii Hunter took his place, making him the Angels’ most expensive and sullen bench warmer.

He also served to keep up-and-coming outfielders like Terry Evans and Chris Pettit stuck in the minors, no room left on the roster for both prospects and Gary’s ego.

Now, with GMJ in NY, the Angels will have a shot at maintaining a positive attitude in the clubhouse while giving their young guys some big league experience.

For their part, the Mets relinquished Brian Stokes, their 30-year-old relief pitcher who was expected to compete with former Angel Kelvim Escobar for the setup role in New York’s bullpen.

Stokes appeared in 69 games for the Mets last season, striking out 45 batters while walking 38 across 70 1/3 innings and racking up a 3.97 ERA.

In the Angels bullpen, Stokes is going to have to work hard for playing time.

The setup/closing duties will likely be spread between Brian Fuentes, Scot Shields, Kevin Jepsen, and recent acquisition Fernando Rodney, depending on performance, while Matt Palmer and Jason Bulger are primed to shoulder the middle- and long-relief load.

Backing them up will be a host of minor league starters and relievers looking to break through, including Rafael Rodriguez, Rich Thompson, Sean O’Sullivan, and Trevor Bell.

But hey, it’s always better to have too many players than too few.

After a disturbingly quiet offseason, it’s nice to see the Angels killing two birds with one trade: dumping a player with a bad attitude and a worse contract, and addressing lingering issues after an unusually poor season from the bullpen.

Apparently Gary Matthews, Jr. was of some use after all.

L.A. Angels Swing Into New Season With New Faces and A New Lineup

Johnathan Kroncke — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:36:35 +0000

GM Tony Reagins says his Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could still make a move or two this offseason, noting the team’s lingering need for a fifth starting pitcher and a utility man off the bench.

Like most of what he and his predecessor Bill Stoneman say, this sounds like another half truth.

The Angels do indeed need have a few holes to fill in their lineup. But by now, there are fewer players left to fill those holes in any substantive way. Those who might, like Ben Sheets, have already been dismissed by Reagins.

In all likelihood, the starting 2010 Angels have already been scouted, signed, and allotted parking spaces at the Big A.

The only thing left for Reagins and the rest of the staff to do is put those Angels in order.

For that reason, I humbly present to you, dear reader, my ideal batting order for the 2010 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

3B Maicer Izturis

We’ve only hit the lead-off spot and right off the bat, we’ve got our first controversy.

With the departure of Chone Figgins, it seems most cannot wait to crown Brandon Wood the next Troy Glaus. I, on the other hand, can’t wait for Wood to be bench after he reveals himself to be the next Dallas McPherson.

The sooner manager Mike Scioscia starts Izturis, the better. And it shouldn’t take more than a month or two before Wood’s poor play forces the Angels’ hand.

Those who have read my past work will know I am an ardent anti-Wood activist. He is a strikeout machine with a looping and only a decent glove. His skills, or lack thereof, belong in Salt Lake, not Anaheim.

Izturis, on the other hand, is as steady at the plate as he is in the field. His graceful athleticism will serve him and the Angels just fine at the hot corner, while his careful eye and switch-hitting bat make him an ideal candidate for the lead-off spot.

Make no mistake, whether or not Wood breaks camp as a starter, Izzy will take over the job by summer at the latest.

RF Bobby Abreu

No surprise here. Abreu proved the biggest free agent steal of the decade last season, batting .293 and finishing second on the team with 103 RBI and 30 stolen bases.

A veteran with a little age on him, his first home run didn’t come until almost two months into the season. But when all was said and done, Abreu had smacked 15 big flies out of the two-hole, a bit under his career average, but not so much that you’d notice.

Both his keen ability to provide offense without much power and his left-handed bat in the second spot in the order helped balance the Angels’ lineup and became an invaluable part of their success in 2009.

However, the 35-year-old’s greatest asset turned out to be his ability to mentor younger players like Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, teaching them the finer points of working counts and getting better pitches to hit.

For his efforts, the Angels rewarded Abreu this offseason with a new two-year deal, including a club option for 2012.

CF Torii Hunter

The No. 3 spot in the Angels’ order had been filled by the sizable bat of Vladimir Guerrero for the last five seasons. With him gone, it’s time a new veteran right-hander took his place.

Unlike Big Daddy, Hunter brings power to the lineup but with a calm demeanor and a far more disciplined sense of the strike zone.

Torii’s story last season was one of career highs and crushing lows. The unquestioned MVP of the American League through the first half of the season, he was well on his way to career highs in every major offense category.

But playing the game as hard as he does eventually takes its toll. After two major collisions with outfield walls (in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and San Francisco facing the Giants), Hunter was forced to miss nearly all of July with a strained muscle in his abdomen.

Hunter finished the year with solid numbers across the board, including a career-high .299 batting average, and helped lead the Angels to a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS when he belted a three-run homer in Game 1 halfway up the rock pile in center field.

Some might feel his place in the order should go to a younger or more prolific bat. I say his veteran leadership and consistent offensive abilities make him the perfect choice to bat third in 2010.

Besides, he should see plenty of good pitches batting in front of…

1B Kendry Morales

If Abreu was the best deal to go down for the Angels last year, then Mark Teixeira was the best to fall through.

Tex had a great season for the New York Yankees and was an integral part of their World Series run. But out West, Morales made every Angels fan scratch their heads and ask, “Tex who?”

Although not technically a rookie, Morales went from up-and-coming prospect to legitimate big league star in 2009, when he lead the Angels with 34 home runs, 108 RBI, and finished second to Aybar with a .306 batting average.

The switch-hitting Cuban’s status as an offensive force to be reckoned with was crystallized on Aug. 28, when he lead his squad to a tremendous come-from-behind victory against the Oakland A’s with five base hits, including two home runs, two doubles, and six RBI.

That month, Morales belted 10 homers and drove in an astonishing 33 runs, making himself a real contender for the AL MVP.

He eventually finished fifth in the voting, losing out to Twins catcher Joe Mauer.

Batting clean-up behind Hunter, Morales will be primed to make his first All-Star game—coincidentally being held in Anaheim—and should be the subject of MVP talks for years to come.

DH Hideki Matsui

Following on the heels of Abreu’s success, the Angels took a chance on another 35-year-old power hitter this offseason, signing Matsui to a one-year deal.

Matsui, the World Series MVP for the Yankees in 2009, has been hampered by knee injuries in recent years and is no longer able to play the outfield. As a full-time designated hitter, the Angels hope to keep Godzilla roaring healthy.

In New York last season, he batted a respectable .274 and showed resurgent power, popping 28 homers and driving in 90 runs while playing in 142 games.

Now, his age and his health are all factors that will play a part in determining how much power Matsui ultimately displays for the Angels, but none will have a greater impact than the change of venue.

Matsui is one of the many left-handed hitters who not only benefited from Yankee Stadium’s notoriously short right field porch, but also its ridiculous jet stream that seemed to aid so many balls over the wall in right-center.

By contrast, Angels Stadium is historically more of a pitcher’s park, and its 18-foot wall in right field might limit Matsui’s home run total in 2010.

Be that as it may, though, Matsui is a talented veteran who can still drive the ball, bringing home the table-setters and big bats in front of him, and he is not afraid to work counts or take walks.

LF Juan Rivera

Poor Rivera, his must feel a little like Rodney Dangerfield this offseason: He never gets no respect, no respect at all.

After batting .287 and posting career highs in home runs (25) and RBI (88) in his first year as a starter with the Angels, Rivera has been the subject of multiple trade rumors, most notably with the Atlanta Braves in exchange for starting pitcher Derek Lowe.

Nevertheless, he remains in Anaheim. It would seem the reports of his imminent trade are greatly exaggerated, but the fact that they exist at all is indicative of his status in the Major Leagues.

Rivera is a solid and serviceable player, not a dynamic star like Hunter but not a bust either. He led the team in grounding into double plays with 19—not the kind of statistic players usually want to excel at—but performed admirably in most other categories.

His offensive statistics are neither shocking nor easily dismissed, and he should be able to continue that steady pace of driving in runs from the sixth spot in the order, cleaning up whatever the bats in front of him might miss.

C Mike Napoli

Since his first Major League at-bat against Detroit in 2006, when he left lofted a high fly ball just beyond the reach of Curtis Granderson, Napoli has been a power-hitter.

The problem has been sustaining that power.

It was difficult to know exactly where to place Napoli in this mock lineup. He has enough power to hit higher in the order, but his stunningly inconsistent efforts at the plate force his name down to No. 7.

Napoli can look red hot for weeks on end, driving in runs like he’s playing with a beach ball and a tennis racket. Then suddenly and without warning, all of that talent simply disappears and he is left flailing around like a newborn baby.

Personally, I think his bat is a manic depressive.

Still, Napoli should continue to earn more starts than his light-hitting counterpart Jeff Mathis, who has never finished a season with a batting average higher than .211.

Inconsistently good is better than consistently bad.

For all his highs and lows throughout the year, Nap has produced nearly identical back-to-back seasons with 20 home runs, around 50 RBI, and a batting average just above .270.

If the Angels give him another 110-120 starts, 2010 should be no different.

2B Howard Kendrick

Like Napoli, Kendrick also suffered from a dramatic swing in offensive production in 2009. But unlike the power-hitting catcher, Howie’s inconsistencies were fairly…well, consistent.

Through the first half of the season, Kendrick struggled mightily at the plate and was less than impressive in the field. The same could be said for the rest of the Angels squad.

By June 11, Scioscia had seen enough.

Following a passionate and fiery players-only meeting in which he threatened firings and demotions all around unless the team improved, Sosh sent Kendrick back to the minors to work on his swing.

Whether he actually worked on his swing or Abreu’s lessons finally sunk in—or the sudden demotion simply scared him straight—when he rejoined the Angels nearly a month later, Kendrick was a changed man.

He went on to hit .387 in July, .328 in August, and .391 in September, raising his lowly season average by 60 points to a formidable .291.

It’s tough to know which Howie will show up in 2010. Will we see the talented youngster with the quick bat who can drive balls the opposite direction? Or are we in for another season of injuries and poor performances?

No one can say, and it is for that reason that he remains eighth in the batting order, the final righty in the only streak of batters in my lineup who swing from the same side of the plate.

In the future, Kendrick might be best suited as a No. 2 hitter, or even as a lead-off man. For now though, there are too many questions surrounding his consistency and too many bats in front of him.

SS Erick Aybar

No Angel improved as drastically from one year to the next as Aybar did in 2009.

He reached career highs in every single offensive category, including triples (9), doubles (23), and RBI (54), all while batting a team-leading, career-high .312.

Just like Kendrick, the start to his season was forgettable to say the least. But, through new found patience at the plate—thanks in large part to Abreu’s tutelage—Aybar became a dynamic force in the Angels’ lineup.

Most have the little switch-hitter batting lead-off in 2010, and they may ultimately be proven correct. Scioscia clearly loves having a speedy, versatile player at the top of his lineup who can get on base and create havoc. And, at least to start, Izturis will probably be backing up Wood at third base before he replaces him entirely, so Izzy won’t be in every game.

To my mind, though, it is better to have a player like Izturis to lead off, someone who is smooth as silk with a bat and cooler than the other side of the pillow in pressure.

A better rally starter, you’ll never find.

Aybar, on the other hand, can actually be more exciting than Izzy, but has never been able to maintain that spark.

Even after studying at Abreu U, he might still be more effective and less damaging at the end of the order, where his missteps are more easily hidden and he can still serve as a dual lead-off threat with Izturis hitting behind him, so to speak.

So there you have it, perhaps not the names some of us were hoping to see in the lineup, but in an effective order that should produce runs and cause nightmares for poor fielders and pitchers alike.

Los Angeles Angels Broadcaster Rory Markas, 54, Dies

Johnathan Kroncke — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:11:02 +0000

Another Angel has been given his halo far too soon.

Rory Markas passed away at his home in Palmdale. He was 54.

Markas spent the last eight years as the primary radio and television play-by-play man for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He also called games for USC’s men’s basketball team and served as a reporter for FOX 11 KTTV in Los Angeles.

From 1994-97, Markas lead the radio broadcast team for the Los Angeles Clippers. Certainly, he was a true broadcasting veteran and lent his voice to several different sports realms.

But to listen to him, you always knew baseball held a special place in his heart. Markas called Angels games with the barely contained enthusiasm of a child.

He brought a unique sense of excitement and, perhaps more memorably, humor to the game.

Whether on television with Mark Gubicza or the radio with longtime broadcast partner Terry Smith, Markas loved to poke fun at his sidekicks, his dry wit permeating nearly every inning.

During one summer’s day game against the Texas Rangers, Smith relentlessly commented on the visiting pitcher’s size. “He’s just gigantic,” he’d say. A pitch later, “Boy, he’s huge.”

He refused to let up. After a few more remarks, Smith prompted his radio partner, “Doesn’t he look big to you?”

“Gigantic,” Markas quipped. You could almost hear his wry smirk.

Markas particularly loved to needly his television partner, Gubicza, especially when he could do it while ad-libbing some goofy promotion at the ballpark.

Often, while reading the script for the latest video player on MLB.com, Markas would slip in a verbal barb that would leave Gooby red-faced with laughter.

“Now you can pause, fast-forward, rewind, and edit out Gooby’s comments!”

Markas also enjoyed mocking the odd stadium giveaways he’d have to promote on air.

“I just can’t believe it folks. Floppy hat night is almost here.”

However, humor always only spoke to his broadcasting abilities, never for them. Above all, Markas was great at creating drama and capturing the moment for all who listened.

During the Angels’ incredible World Series run in 2002, he spent the playoffs in the radio booth. And though Tim McCarver and Joe Buck led the broadcast on FOX, it is Markas’s call of the final out of Game 7 that will live in the hearts of Angels fans forever.

“Fly ball, center field. Erstad says he’s got it. Erstaaaad….makes the catch! And the Anaheim Angels are the CHAMPIONS of baseball!”

Gives me chills just typing it.

Markas was also the comforting voice many Angels fans turned to after the tragic death of Nick Adenhart. His touching tribute before the team’s next game against the Boston Red Sox, as well as his heartfelt send off after the Angels’ cathartic victory, connected the team to its fans.

We all knew we shared the same pain inside because Markas shared his on the air.

This offseason, Markas and Gubicza were made the lone broadcast team for FOX Sports West’s coverage of Angel baseball. What happens now remains to be seen.

The likely candidate to step in might be Steve Physioc, the longtime voice of the Angels who, along with his partner Rex Hudler, was let go during the offseason.

Whoever takes the reigns, though, there will never be a replacement. Given the chance, Markas would have been as beloved in Anaheim as Brickhouse in Chicago or Harwell in Detroit.

From now on, as was the case for the last eight seasons, every Angels win will forever be “just another Halo victory.”

What Free Agents May Come: Are the Angels Saving for the Future?

Johnathan Kroncke — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:21:44 +0000

It is only late December, and already the offseason for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim feels like it’s winding down.

Most of the big fish that dominated the post-Word Series headlines have already been caught and what remains is little more than bait for future trade hooks. Two monsters still lurk the depths, but each appears to be circling one lone lure, searching for another to compare it with.

Matt Holliday and Jason Bay have received sizable offers from the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets respectively, and no team has been reported to match either.

The Angels were once targeted as a key player in the Bay sweepstakes, but chose to turn their focus on pitching, which is to say they went full bore after Roy Halladay and came up empty-handed.

As for Holliday, the closest the two sides have come to negotiations was when a fan near the on-deck circle in Anaheim asked the then-Oakland Athletic what kind of contract he wanted. Holliday told him he was looking for a six-year deal.

End of negotiations.

The wealth of this offseason seems to be just out of the Angels’ reach. According to one O.C. Register estimation, the team payroll has already reached the previous season’s mark of around $113 million, suggesting the Halos may have finished they’re holiday shopping early this year.

Sure, an after-Christmas sale might catch their eye here or there, but for all intents and purposes, the Angels seem to be content with the moves they have—and have not—made.

At least for now.

Arte Moreno may not be as reckless and carefree with his fortune as the Steinbrenner family, but he is no Donald Sterling either. Moreno puts a quality product on the field year-in and year-out, and the Angels have been competitive ever since he’s come aboard.

With that in mind, dear readers, I submit to you that our owner is not so much tightening his purse strings to save a few bucks this season as he is saving a few to spend next season.

The 2010 crop of free agents is an intriguing one, to be sure, and next offseason should prove to be an ecstasy-fueled rave compared to this year’s formal garden party.

And among the several hundred names likely to be floated around at the 2010 Winter Meetings, there are three that immediately stand out from the rest: Cliff Lee, Brandon Webb, and Carl Crawford.

Two pitchers and an outfielder—the same positions the Angels have been lobbying to fill all winter. Interesting, no?

Now, many of the players on next year’s free agent list are likely to either sign extensions with their current team, or else be traded at the July 31 deadline. Squads with big name players on the move usually don’t let them walk without some type of compensation.

Sometimes, however, they do. Just look at the aforementioned Holliday and Bay.

I believe Lee will join their ranks.

It was an utter shock to see the Seattle Mariners jump into the Lee-Halladay cluster-trade at the last second, and no one was more surprised than Lee himself. With only one year left on his current contract, he’s already told the press that he’ll likely test the free agent waters next year.

Barring any outlandish offers from the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, the Angels will certainly be in the hunt for the former Cy Young Award-winner.

Brandon Webb, another Cy-guy, was already talked about this past year as a potential trade piece come mid-season.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are the proud new owners of a young stud of a pitcher after they acquired Edwin Jackson from the Detroit Tigers last month. His youth, talent, and relative cheap price, coupled with the ace abilities of Dan Haren, could make the injury-prone Webb expendable.

Webb was limited to one start last year because of injury. He threw four innings of six-run ball on Opening Day and hasn’t touched the mound since.

Prior to 2009, Webb has never had an ERA above 3.60 for a season and threw less 200 innings just once—his rookie season.

The guy is a dyed-in-the-wool ace and if the D-Backs don’t intend to compete for his services on the open market, they will have to deal him next July. If that happens, expect the Angels to be major players.

As for Crawford, I just don’t see him staying with the Tampa Bay Rays beyond this season. He is too good and will command too much money for his current squad to even be competitive in the negotiations.

Rest assured, when he comes off the books in November, everybody will be clawing and scratching to get a piece of him. In fact, his impending freedom could be one reason the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels are all balking at giving big deals to Holliday and Bay.

Sure they have power and bring a certain intimidation to any lineup, but they are not the all-around, five-tool dynamos that Crawford has proven himself to be over the last seven seasons. And he’s only 27.

The three-time All-Star is a solid .300 hitter with surprising pop (15 home runs last year), a good glove that can adapt to any outfield position, a decent throwing arm, and speed to make Chone Figgins look like he’s standing still.

The Angels are already a bit logjammed in the outfield as it is, so in order to pick up Crawford, they’d have to do a little shuffling. Juan Rivera, for instance, could either be used in a trade—perhaps for Brandon Webb—or he and Bobby Abreu could split the designated hitter duties between them.

Whatever they choose to do, it will be worth it to bring Crawford out West. His unique skill set is far too rare to pass up and the Angels should make every effort to acquire it.

Two more interesting free agent possibilities to consider for next year: Scot Shields and Maicer Izturis. Each will be over 30 by the end of next season and may not be in the Angels’ future plans.

Shields is coming off major knee surgery and will have to compete with Fernando Rodney, Brian Fuentes, Kevin Jepsen, and Jason Bulger for significant playing time. Given his history, he should continue to be a key piece in the Angels’ bullpen, but he’ll face plenty of competition.

Izturis, meanwhile, will have an easier path to staying in Anaheim. He has proven to be an invaluable backup at shortstop, second base, and third base, and will compete for the starting job at third with the highly overrated Brandon Wood.

Although Wood will be given every chance to make it as a starter in this league, I fully expect Izzy to take over the hot corner by no later than mid-June.

So there you have it, a plethora of pleasing possibilities to ponder beyond the present. As I like to say, why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?

Moreno might look a little soft now, but he and GM Tony Reagins surely have their eyes on the future.

The Day the Angels Stood Still: A Look At Back L.A.’s Black Monday and What Lies Ahead

Johnathan Kroncke — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 07:15:39 +0000

Roy Halladay is in Philly. John Lackey is in Boston.

Now is the winter of the Angels’ discontent.

Just days after baseball’s Winter Meetings ended, after which GM Tony Reagins claimed his team had laid “groundwork,” the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim watched their hard work melt away like snow in the coming spring.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, or if you’ve just been living under a baseball-free rock, let’s recap the events of the Angels’ Black Monday:

Lackey Signs with Boston

The ace of the Angels’ staff, and winner of the World Series-clinching Game 7 back in 2002, agreed to a reported five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Red Sox.

Under normal circumstances, we fans might thank Big John for all his hard work and wish him happy trails. But this situation is far from normal, and far from forgivable.

Despite numerous offers from other teams, as well as an ardent stance that his contract should dwarf that of A.J. Burnett, Lackey signed with the Angels’ fiercest postseason rival and for the exact same amount as the Yankee’s starter.

Has he no shame? No honor, no sense of dignity?

The Red Sox have beaten a Lackey-led Angels squad for nearly a decade, including taking three of four playoff bouts. The last team he should’ve considered going to this offseason was the one that humiliated him time and again.

However, according to his own press conference, Lackey “always wanted to come [to Boston]” because the Red Sox give him “a chance to win.”

Well in that case, I’d be happy to take the Word Series ring that he apparently doesn’t have, along with the bonuses he earned from reaching the playoffs and the ALCS in 2004, 2005, and from 2007-2009.

In addition to getting slapped in the face by Lackey’s quotes to the Boston media, the Angels also lost the opportunity to re-sign their dominant righty, further widening the hole at the top of their rotation.

Halladay Heads to Philadelphia

The ink on Lackey’s contract hadn’t dried before the Angels missed their best chance to replace him when Roy Halladay was dealt to the Phillies as the centerpiece of a monster, four-team deal.

The loss of Lackey was bad enough, but losing out on the best pitcher in the American League as well was just too much.

Halladay was the Angels’ No.1 priority this offseason, but Reagins failed to meet the seemingly reasonable asking price of GM Alex Anthopoulos and the Toronto Blue Jays.

After the details were worked out and the names were agreed upon in the blockbuster trade, which also involved the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, some in Toronto were upset by the outcome.

One writer claimed the Blue Jays actually got less than they were asking from other suitors. Presumably, then, the Angels ultimately made a better offer than the Phillies and still got shut out of the deal.

To simply be outbid for a big name like Halladay is one thing. But to find out you won the auction and still don’t get the prize bull is more crushing than being hit by an actual bull.

Seattle Adds Cliff Lee to List of Offseason Acquisitions

The possibility of a third team being brought into the Halladay hoopla was barely a rumor, and the availability of Cliff Lee was less than that.

Somehow, though, the Seattle Mariners got tipped off and jumped at the chance to help out the Phillies by acquiring the former Cy Young Award winner.

Meanwhile, the Angels sat by and watched their division rivals grow ever stronger.

The Mariners already stole away Anaheim’s super utility man Chone Figgins. Now, they have the best one-two punch in the game with Lee and Felix Hernandez anchoring the top of their rotation.

Rock bottom is a college education and Seattle has clearly taken the lesson to heart and once again become a serious player in the AL West.

The Angels, on the other hand, look complacent by comparison after winning their division three years in a row and five of the last six.

Godzilla Invades Anaheim

Fortunately, the news on Monday wasn’t all bad. The Angels managed to sign World Series MVP Hideki Matsui as their new DH.

Of course, the move could easily be taken as a joke given the day’s events. Matsui is a solid hitter with some power left, but his signing is a pathetic response to the utter decimation of the Angels’ offseason plans of obtaining a top-flight pitcher.

Matsui in Anaheim may also be a sign of the Angels’ intentions going forward. Unless they are able to trade Juan Rivera—perhaps to Atlanta for Derek Lowe—it is highly unlikely they will make any sort of effort to bring Jason Bay out west.

So there you have it. A perfect storm of horror and dread that struck both fans and management alike.

Clearly, the Angels felt they had the inside track to acquiring Halladay (remember all that “groundwork” talk from Tony?), and even if they couldn’t trade for their first choice, they could always sign their second in Lackey.

It must’ve been shocking to lose both at once, like being mugged by two separate assailants.

However, when a team gets burned this badly, you have to wonder: How much was out of their control, and how much was entirely their fault?

If Halladay was indeed the primary focus of the Angels this offseason, then what “groundwork” did they claim to lay at the Winter Meetings? It couldn’t have had anything to do the Blue Jays because Reagins clearly didn’t listen to a word Anthopoulos was saying.

Toronto announced it was more interested in prospects than Major League talent, but in their reported three-player package for Halladay, the Angels included two Major Leaguers in Joe Saunders and Erick Aybar.

Another rumored offer replaced Aybar’s name with Mike Napoli, the Angels’ starting catcher.

It’s little wonder, then, why Anthopoulos didn’t approve the trade. When the Blue Jays made their requests, the Angels covered their ears and pretended not to hear.

Again, we can only assume they weren’t at all worried about falling out of the Halladay deal as long as they had Lackey to catch them. It would seem they never expected Lackey not to be there, a horrible misstep by any standard and matter the brass must address—publicly.

It’s high time the Angels big wigs—Reagins, owner Arte Moreno, and even special adviser Bill Stoneman—come out from behind their veil of silence and remind the fans that this is not the end.

No, they don’t owe anyone any sort of explanation for anything they have or haven’t done. But a gentle reassurance that contingencies are in place and plans are in motion would be nice.

As it stands, many fans fear the team won’t stand a chance of defending its AL West crown.

Seattle is improving by leaps and bounds while the Texas Rangers are certainly on the rise with the additions of Chris Ray and Rich Harden, to go along with several young stars in the making, both on the mound and in the field.

The Angels have stood still long enough this winter. Now they must get moving if they want to have any hope of keeping pace with the other teams in their own division.

Lackey Takes Red Sox Deal – And a Midnight Train Out of Anaheim

Johnathan Kroncke — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:37:05 +0000

John Lackey pitched the first game of a double-header between his Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park back in 2007.

The Angels’ ace had looked good, dominant even, all season long. But that just wasn’t his day.

After surrendering five runs in the first inning, Lackey walked off the back of the mound and muttered to himself, glaring up at the outfield bleachers and shaking his head as he did: “F*** this place.”

That was then. This is now: John Lackey is the newest addition to the Red Sox’ parade of aces.

On Monday, Lackey reportedly agreed to a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $85 million.

My, how things change.

It seems like only yesterday that Angels fans were marveling in joyous disbelief at Lackey’s 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball against the Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS.

The Sox had trounced the Halos in every postseason meeting beforehand, but Lackey set the tone for a three-game sweep of Boston that this team and its fans won’t soon forget.

At least, we won’t forget the sweep. We may, however, discard our feelings for Big John.

Some might have us believe that professional sports is just like the mob. It’s not personal, it’s just business. Lackey isn’t out to hurt the Angels, he was just looking for the best deal.

But there is a serious flaw in that argument because, you see, for fans, it’s always personal.

We invest our emotions in our players. We pay our hard-earned money to scream and cheer and see them do what they do best. We revel in every win, and we reel in every loss.

And for four of the last six years, we reeled with the Angels as they feel time and again to the Red Sox in the playoffs.

Sure, the team finally broke through to beat Boston this season, and Lackey was a big part of that. But that’s not the point.

To see him don the uniform of perhaps our fiercest rival over the last decade will be more than sickening. It’ll be a slap in the face.

When you do indeed leave Anaheim, John, you better do it Baltimore Colts-style—in the middle of the night and in one fell swoop. No coming back for little trinkets you might have missed, no long goodbye’s or tearful departures.

Get your stuff and get out.

There is something to be said for loyalty, and I’m sure I speak for most of the Angel faithful when I say we are appreciative of the work he’s done here for us. But loyalty is not a one way street.

How about showing a little loyalty to the team and the fans who made you what you are today? How about showing a little more character than simply taking the money and running?

Mark Teixeira did the same last year. Now he gets booed at the Big A every time he steps to the plate. And he was only with the team for three months.

Lackey’s been here since 2002.

What kind of reception can he expect when he returns to Anaheim bearing the word “Boston” across his chest?

Of course, Lackey’s slinking away to the frigid northeast isn’t entirely his doing. After all, it was up to the Angels to at least make the effort to keep him.

These offseason negotiations for Lackey, as well as the amount he’s reportedly signing for, only serve to highlight a deep flaw in the Angels’ way of thinking.

Like amateur stock traders, they put all of their eggs in one basket. In this case, the basket was in the shape of Roy Halladay.

One way or another, the Angels are going to need another starting pitcher before the 2010 season begins. But instead spreading the wealth around a little and taking a serious look at multiple candidates, this team went full bore after Halladay while relegating everyone else to the back burner.

Now it seems they’ve missed the boat on both.

With a reported blockbuster, three-team deal in the works between the Mariners, Phillies, and Blue Jays, the Angels have lost out on Halladay and Lackey, as well as a surprise newcomer to the trade block in Cliff Lee, who will likely go to Seattle.

This is what happens when players forget where they came from, when teams undervalue their free agents, and overvalue their prospects.

Angels’ Arredondo Misses 2010 Season, Bullpen Looks Bleak

Johnathan Kroncke — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:47:04 +0000

When Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings got underway on Dec. 7, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were said to be serious contenders in the bidding war for outfielder Jason Bay.

By week’s end, Bay remained unsigned and Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters his team had “more pressing needs” to address.

Scioscia may have meant a new starting pitcher, but he might as well have been talking about his bullpen.

On Friday, the Angels announced reliever Jose Arredondo will undergo Tommy John surgery in January and miss the entire 2010 season.

Arredondo exploded on the Major League scene in 2008, going 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA as a rookie. His blazing fastball hard breaking stuff lead many to label him the second coming of Francisco Rodriguez.

But in 2009, Arredondo was plagued by elbow issues, which may have contributed to his miserable 6.00 ERA and eventual demotion to Triple-A.

The Angels’ bullpen has a whole struggled throughout the majority of the season, with injuries to Arredondo and Scot Shields, and poor performances from Justin Speier, Brian Fuentes, and in the early goings, Jason Bulger.

Bulger bounced back to finish the season strong, but Speier and Fuentes—who admittedly lead the Majors with 48 saves—had a hard time keeping men off the base paths.

In Speier’s case, his failures became too much for the team to endure and he was released after surrendering three home runs in one inning to the Tampa Bay Rays.

And therein lies the Angels’ most “pressing need.”

Despite owning one of the worst bullpen ERA’s in baseball—a rare and disappointing feat in Anaheim—the Angels have yet to be linked to any trades or free agent signings regarding relief pitchers.

Instead, they seem to be counting on guys like Shields to come back from injury and the rest to rebound from what they hope were “off” seasons.

Bulger, Kevin Jepsen, and Darren Oliver where the only relievers who stepped up in the second half and pitched well in their respective setup roles.

But Oliver, one the Angels’ many free agents, is being courted by more than just the Angels and it may take more than previously thought to lure him back. Without him, Bulger and Jepsen remain the only reliable non-starters left.

Still, that is just the tip of the iceberg. The Angels will have to do more than re-sign Oliver if they want their bullpen to have any hope of returning to its former glory.

The problem, of course, is that with all of their attention fixed on Roy Halladay and John Lackey, the Angels have already missed the boat on several strong relievers.

The Florida Marlins traded Matt Lindstrom, who struggled in 2009 but had sparkling numbers the two previous years, to the Houston Astros while the Atlanta Braves pawned off closer Rafael Soriano on the Rays.

Oft-injured J.J. Putz has also signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox. Sure, his health is a little spotty, but when he’s right, he can be dominant.

Now George Sherrill, former Baltimore Orioles closer-turned Dodgers setup man, is apparently being shopped by L.A., making him the best available reliever.

If that rumor is true, the Angels should jump all over him.

L.A. of A. already expressed interest in Sherrill at last season’s trade deadline, before Baltimore shipped him to Chavez Ravine, where he was lights out in Dodger blue.

There is no reason to think he couldn’t do the same in Angel red.

Whatever the Angels do, though, they’ll need to do it quickly. Negotiations with Halladay and Lackey are going to take weeks before anything gets done. They are, after all, the biggest names on the market.

In the meantime, the Angels need to focus on securing lesser-known relievers who will be able to hold leads for those big name starters.

While Chone Figgins Heads North, Angels’ Future Goes South

Johnathan Kroncke — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:34:49 +0000

The thrill is gone. At least in Anaheim.

Chone Figgins, the spark plug for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, has left sunny Southern California behind in favor of the soggy skies of Seattle.

Well, that, and a four-year contract reportedly worth $36 million.

Shocking as it may be to some—and it certainly is to me—Figgins has traded in his halo for the drab blue/green garb of the Seattle Mariners, a divisional rival of the Angels and one that looks to improve dramatically next season.

According to Mariners officials, the deal will not be finalized until Monday, but for all intents and purposes, the lightning bug that sparked the Angels’ offense has jumped ship to sport a sailor’s moniker.

Ironic, no?

Figgins’ departure is unfortunate for a number of reasons.

First, and perhaps most obvious, the Angels will now have to attempt what so many teams failed to do over the last eight years: contain the little spitfire!

Figgins has proven himself to be one of the most dangerous leadoff men in all of baseball and in 2009, he only got better.

With age—Figgins is 31—has come a further understanding of the delicate art of setting the table.

Apart from a .298 batting average, the second highest of his career, Figgy finally learned to be patient at the plate, resulting in a team-high 101 walks.

He also lead the Angels, and finished third in the league, in stolen bases with 42.

Guys like Kendry Morales, Bobby Abreu, and Torii Hunter had tremendous seasons offensively. But make no mistake, each was heavily influenced by the presence of Figgins in the lineup.

Merry Christmas, Ichiro.

Not mention, his sparkling defensive abilities and cannon throwing arm make Figgins as lethal in the field as he is at the plate.

However, facing their former friend is by far the least of the Angels’ worries now. With their sterling third baseman and sparkling leadoff hitter gone, who will they get to replace him?

Brandon Wood figures to be the frontrunner for the job at the moment, but I’d sooner root for Figgy in Seattle than stand to see Wood in Anaheim on Opening Day.

The magic of his improved defense and power in the minors has proven to be nothing but smoke and mirrors in the pros.

Wood is a minor league star and a Major League bust.

His offensive prowess at Triple-A has never and will never translate to the bigs; the difference in pitching talent is simply too great and he does not have the discipline or the swing to compete.

Sadly, this is not a popular opinion among big league squads, most notably the Angels.

Wood’s particular brand of offensive charm has endeared him to the brass in Anaheim, who seem dead set on making Wood a starter, as evidenced by their attitude toward re-signing Figgins.

If General Manager Tony Reagins really wanted him, he could have had him.

Figgins, like most of the Angels’ free agents, expressed a clear desire to return to Anaheim, where his style of play fits perfectly with Manager Mike Scioscia’s aggressive run-and-gun nature.

But no. We have Brandon Wood, the second coming of Dallas McPherson with twice as many strikeouts.

Truly, we are blessed.

Now, that’s not to say Wood is entirely useless or that he’ll never pan out. Many take a much more compassionate approach and feel that he just needs consistent at-bats in the Majors before he comes into his own.

But sometimes compassion can get you killed. Especially in sports.

Wood has a penchant for striking out, and that sorry trait will only be made worse with the added pressure of replacing Figgins as the starter.

Expect Rory Markus and Mark Gubicza to use the word “pressing”…a lot.

If this team wants to have any chance of competing in its own division, nevermind the American League, the first thing it has to do at the upcoming Winter Meetings is find a new third baseman.

The Angels could solve their third base problem in-house, of course, but they seem content using Maicer Izturis off the bench as a middle infielder.

Mark DeRosa, then, could be a viable replacement at the hot corner.

DeRosa has hit well and defended better with every team he’s been on. Like Figgy, he’s got the ability to play multiple positions, and unlike Wood, he’s shown consistent power throughout his career.

If the choice is a swing-happy prospect who couldn’t hit a Major League pitch if you paid him—and they do—or a solid veteran with some pop and previous experience in the AL West, I’ll take the veteran any day.

Wood’s value, now more than ever, lies in his worth as a trade piece.

The Angels’ are not the only minds Wood has fooled. Indeed, teams across both leagues are enamored with the deceptively powerful righty and often include his name in trade talks.

With any luck, the Angels will wise up and deal Wood now, while he’s still young (25 at the start of next season) and brimming with “potential.”

Losing Figgins was a terrible mistake, but relying on Wood to take his place would be worse.

The only potential the slender farmhand has is to help fill holes on the Angels’ roster.

L.A. Angels Share Postseason Success with Adenhart Estate

Johnathan Kroncke — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:58:06 +0000

At times, it seems the sporting world is built entirely on cliches.

On any given episode of SportsCenter, you’ll hear a veritable bottomless pit of inane comments: We’re taking it one game at a time; it was a team effort; we need to bring our A-game tonight.

Clichés are omnipresent in every major and minor sport imaginable, and each is less interesting and more meaningless than the last.

However, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have restored significant meaning to one cliché that is horribly overused but often unappreciated: There is no “I” in team.

On Monday, the A.L. West division champion Angels elected to give a full share of their postseason earnings to the estate of former teammate Nick Adenhart.

The decision was simple, but the meaning is profound.

Only three days into the 2009 season, Adenhart, the Angels’ top pitching prospect in their farm system, was killed by a drunk driver just hours after tossing six shutout innings against the Oakland A’s in what was to be the best outing of his career.

It was a crushing blow, one the team nearly failed to recover from.

But the very thing that nearly cost the Angels their season became the inspiration for their resurgence.

Players wrote tributes to Adenhart on the sides of their caps and before each of his starts, Jered Weaver etched his late pal’s initials on the back of the pitching mound.

At home and on the road, Adenhart’s jersey hung in the dugout during games, and the Angels always set aside a locker for their fallen comrade.

At the Big A, fans built a makeshift memorial in front of the main entrance. In the outfield, a mural captured Adenhart’s image from his final and most successful outing.

When the Angels clinched their third consecutive divisional title, they danced, shouted, and celebrated with Adenhart’s jersey, dousing it in beer and champagne the way they would have if their old teammate still filled it.

And when they advanced to the American League Championship Series, they understood it to be the work of everyone involved.

Everyone, including Adenhart.

Despite appearing in a single game back in April, he was as much apart of the team’s success as anyone else and the Angels never forgot it.

Adenhart’s presence was a constant mainstay in the Angels’ clubhouse and will likely to continue to be for years to come.

Halladay To The Angels Is Just What The ‘Doc’ Ordered

Johnathan Kroncke — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:49:06 +0000

Roy Halladay’s pitch hand is strong.

So strong, in fact, he’s got practically every team in the Majors falling all over themselves to make sure it belongs to them.

Top prospects, proven starters, first born children—all being offered up like sacrificial lambs to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Halladay’s unique services, but one team has emerged as a potential front-runner.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim worked their little wings off trying to secure a trade for the Doc last season, and were said to be among the closest to getting it done, but former Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi demanded too much and the Angels settled for Scott Kazmir instead.

Good thing “former” is now part of his job title.

With the bullheaded Ricciardi gone, the Angels once again find themselves the lead dogs in the hunt for Halladay, and this time around the price is just right.

This, thanks to Halladay’s recent comments about his status with the Blue Jays.

Last offseason he was quoted as saying he wanted to stay with the only team he’s ever known, if at all possible.

This year, Halladay is “not interested” in returning Toronto once his current deal expires after the 2010 season.

Where once the Blue Jays had the upper hand and could demand the sun, moon, and stars for their ace, now the sky has fallen and Toronto must accept a much less-desirable deal than originally planned.

Halladay has to be moved now that he’s made it clear he won’t re-sign with the Jays. The longer they wait to move him, the more value they risk losing.

That said, Toronto still has the pick of the litter as far as interested teams are concerned, and there is no shortage of them.

The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers have all been linked to Halladay trade rumors at one point or another.

But from this rich and storied crowd, the Angels have emerged as the likely destination for the Doc, and for a number of reasons.

First, and most importantly, it looks like the Angels are going to be in need of a No. 1 starter.

Staff ace John Lackey is expected to command top dollar as the best starting pitcher on the free agent market, and has been courted by several of the above-mentioned teams, along with the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers.

Certainly, the Halos would like to hang on to their horse, the man who cemented the team’s first World Series title as rookie. But as the days and weeks wear on, the prospect of Lackey returning to Anaheim seems less and less likely.

A replacement will almost definitely be needed, and as replacements go, you can’t do much better than Halladay.

The Angels also have what Toronto is looking for—A stable of promising young talent to help bolster the Blue Jays’ farm system, along with several replaceable starters.

Among the many rumors that have sprung up about a package deal from the Angels, the following names have been mentioned as potential pieces: Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, Terry Evans, Brandon Wood, Peter Bourjos, Hank Conger, Jordan Walden.

These are the players that continue to be mentioned, and there isn’t a single one the Angels couldn’t live without.

Toronto has apparently backed off Erick Aybar—whom the Angels balked at when Riccardi demanded he be part of any trade discussions during the season—and instead is rumored to be looking for three or four prospects to go along with a starting pitcher.

Of those players discussed, Saunders is about the only one who the Angels probably shouldn’t give up.

Left-handed starters are infinitely more valuable than their righty counterparts, and Saundo has the stuff and the demeanor to be effective in this league for a very long time.

That is not to say that Santana is any less talented, but Toronto will justifiably need someone to replace Halladay on its staff. If the have to part with one, it should be Santana.

The rest of the prospects are a grab bag. The Blue Jays should simply reach into our minor league system, pull out a few of their favorites, and get this deal over with.

The Angels are very deep in the outfield, and may get even deeper with the possible acquisitions of Curtis Granderson and/or Jason Bay. That eliminates any need for Evans or Bourjos in the near future.

Wood is a strikeout machine with Major League bust written all over him. Yet somehow his minor (league) achievements at the Triple-A level still manage to dazzle teams looking for more power from their infield.

If the Jays are foolish enough to ignore his big league failures and focus on his insignificant numbers in Salt Lake, fine. He’s gone.

Walden has been talked about as one of the Angels’ finest pitching prospects, but he is still at least one or two more seasons away from being a full-time starter at the Major League level.

By then, the Angels would be looking to three-peat as World Series champs, far too busy celebrating Halladay’s consecutive Cy Young Awards to even remember they had Walden in the first place.

Pitchers like Roy Halladay don’t come along everyday. In fact, his brand of complete-game wonderment hasn’t been seen since the days of Bob Gibson and Catfish Hunter.

The Angels shouldn’t be looking to empty their reserves every time a big bat or a crafty arm hits the market.

But Halladay is a unique property, and when someone of his ilk is available, teams are be happy to take the punch to their farm system and then ask for more.

Dallas McPherson finally finds a home…in Oakland

Joey Kaufman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:47:52 +0000

All Angel baseball fans remember Dallas McPherson. McPherson was the stereotypical “can’t miss” prospect, who posted video game-like numbers in the minors – a combined 40 home runs at AAA Salt Lake and AA Arkansas in 2004 – yet failed to produce when called up to the big leagues. The 6′4″ hard-hitting third baseman from North Carolina still remains a sore spot for most of the Halos Nation for it was McPherson, who caused the organization to let 2002 World Series MVP Troy Glaus walk at the end of the 2004 season due to McPherson’s potential as a power-hitter.

But in the end, Angels management made a rather unfortunate decision after McPherson spent most of the next three seasons on the disabled list before being let go by the organization in December of 2007. After leading the minor leagues with 42 home runs as a member of the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2008, it now appears as if McPherson may finally have found an opportunity to get a second crack a big league stardom.

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Angels’ heated divisional rivals, the Oakland Athletics, have signed McPherson to a minor league contract, in which the 29-year-old will compete for the A’s vacant third base job during spring training.

While I’m certainly glad to see him finally getting a second shot at the big leagues, I can’t help but wonder whether McPherson has been fated to be a thorn in the side of the Angels organization.

Mike Scioscia’s Emotional Season Ends with Manager of the Year Honors

Johnathan Kroncke — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:29:12 +0000

Mike Scioscia added one more piece to his incredible 2009 season: He is your American League Manager of the Year.

A more appropriate choice there never was.

In a rollicking, emotional season filled with tragedy and triumph, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 97 games and another divisional crown, thanks in large part to their sound-minded skipper.

Scioscia’s award-winning fate was sealed on Sept. 28, when his Angels clinched their franchise record third consecutive AL West division title.

They would go on to sweep the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the New York Yankees in a tough battle for the AL Championship.

But by that point, any postseason accomplishments were just the icing on the cake of a truly improbable season.

Few managers, if any, have had to face the trials and tribulations Scioscia was confronted with this season.

Fewer still could persevere.

Scioscia and the Angels began the 2009 season already two steps behind their competition when staff ace John Lackey and former All-Star pitcher Ervin Santana both landed on the disabled list in spring training, delaying their mound debuts for over a month.

Co-ace Kelvim Escobar, once considered an Opening Day replacement for Lackey, suffered setbacks in his recovery from shoulder surgery and was relegated to the bench yet again.

But the worst was still to come.

Barely three days into the season, and just hours after tossing six shutout innings in the best start of his big league career, rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver.

The car he was traveling in was struck in the middle of an intersection. Two were dead on scene. Adenhart died a few hours later after being rushed to a nearby hospital.

His death shook the baseball fraternity as teams gathered all over the country to watch the news coverage and mourn one of their own.

For the Angels, the pain would last deep into the middle of the season.

By June 11, they were playing listless, uninspired baseball. A .500 record to their name and looking far worse, they languished in second place, five games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers.

That is, until Scioscia took his team to task.

Threatening to send veterans to the minor leagues and start rookies in their place, he led the Angels out of their two-month funk and inspired a campaign to play for Adenhart, rather than without him.

Suddenly, the Angels were working together as a team, believing they could overcome any adversity as they marched in lockstep behind Scioscia.

The Angels went on to set franchise records in a number of categories, including come-from-behind victories, as well as a Major League record for the most players with 50 or more RBI (11).

But being an effective manager has as much to do with crisis management as it does dealing with various personalities in unpredictable situations—and there was no shortage of those for the Angels.

Unshakable though, Scioscia’s steady hand kept his team focused and motivated, particularly when the Angels were battling with the Rangers for control of the AL West.

In late June, center fielder Torii Hunter and designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero each suffered injuries that put them on the sidelines for over a month.

This was the second DL stint for Guerrero, and it looked like the Angels might lose their edge in the division with their big sluggers on the mend.

Fortunately, new sluggers took their place.

Scioscia’s careful guidance and faith in his players allowed Kendry Morales to have perhaps the most surprising year of any player in the Majors, filling the void at first base left by Mark Teixeira and leading his team in both home runs (34) and RBI (108).

At no point in the season was his impact felt as greatly, or needed as much, as in the absence of Hunter and Guerrero.

Bobby Abreu, a veteran to the game but a newcomer to the team, also factored in huge during that time, and indeed throughout the season.

He seemed to do as much coaching of the hitters as Mickey Hatcher, but it was his breezy acquisition of Scioscia’s run-and-gun style of play that helped the Angels reach the postseason.

Scioscia’s Angels have made postseason appearances six times in his decade of service, three of those leading to berths in the AL Championship Series, and once leading them all the way to the organization’s only World Series title.

The Angels have become a powerhouse in the AL West and a perennial contender in the American League since Scioscia took over in 2000.

Prior to his reign, the team had only been to the playoffs three times in nearly 40 years and had never reached the World Series. Their past mediocrity has only been matched by their current success, and it can all be attributed to Scioscia.

His name has become synonymous with present-day greats like Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox and may one day be honored among the best of all time.

Mike Scioscia’s ascent from the darkest depths of tragedy to the heavenly resolution of a fifth divisional title in six years is one for the ages.

The Angels suffered through death, absorbed multiple injuries, used no less than 14 different starting pitchers, and still came away with a dominating season.

Manager of the Year is the least Scioscia’s accomplishments deserve.

The only question now is, who can compete with him for Manager of the Decade?

Granderson Stealing Spotlight from Angels’ Biggest Needs: Pitching, Catching

Johnathan Kroncke — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:49:52 +0000

Baseball’s hot stove season is finally in full swing, and rumors are flying out of the ballparks of every contender in both leagues.

From the Big A, reports are swirling in left field, where the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may make a significant upgrade with the potential acquisition of Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers.

In return, the Tigers are looking for a package that could include Brandon Wood, Maicer Izturis, Chris Pettit, and Jose Arredondo.

As Jim Rome would say, this deal seems like “the biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind.”

Replaceable infielders, minor league prospects, and a shaky reliever for one of the most electrifying outfielders in the American League? Where does Tony Reagins sign?

Granderson adds speed to the outfield and power to the lineup, and the Angels finally put their log-jammed minor league system to good use.

However, there is a downside.

The deal would be a promising one, and would help fill the void left by Vladimir Guerrero at designated hitter/fourth outfielder. But DH is not the Angels’ most pressing issue, and giving up those prospects might hinder the team’s ability to address greater needs.

John Lackey, the Angels’ ace and No. 1 starter, is testing the free agent market for the first time in his career and will be asking for a sizable chunk of change.

He has expressed his interest in returning to Anaheim, but that sentiment is only as meaningful as the girth of the Angels’ offer to him.

If the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, or New York Mets outbid us, even by a little, we can kiss the big Texan goodbye.

The other area the Angels should improve upon is one that was ignored all season long, but has finally hit a tipping point: catching.

Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis are each able catchers in their own ways, but both have faults that far outweigh their better qualities.

Napoli’s power is dazzling but far too inconsistent, his bat going from hot to cold quicker than a muscle relaxing patch. Add to that his inaccurate throwing arm and below-average defensive abilities, and Nap is just not suited for the starting roll.

Mathis has the glove to keep his job as a backup, but a career .200 batting average with little power, if any, will prevent him from ever starting for any team.

Both also strike out an alarming rate, stranding runners on base and killing rallies dead in their tracks.

The solution? Bengie Molina.

Call me crazy if you want, but rest assured, I’m crazy like a fox.

No, Molina is not the sexiest free agent on the market and his return to Anaheim would be a shock. But take a closer look at his numbers and consider the impact his signing would make.

Our boy Bengie batted .265 in 2009, with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. That’s a dying quail away from Napoli’s .272 average, and while the homers are a push, Nap drove in 26 fewer runs.

Not surprising, considering Molina’s numbers with men on base. He reached a career high with 11 sacrifice flies—eight more than Napoli—and had 35 fewer strikeouts despite his nearly 100 more plate appearances.

A former two-time Gold Glove winner with the Angels, Molina’s bulky frame would be a welcome sight behind the plate again, blocking balls and throwing out 10 percent more would-be base-stealers than Napoli for his career.

Short discussions and a two-year deal later, fans would welcome back the eldest flying Molina brother with (very) wide open arms.

With Mathis’ defensive skills securing his job as backup, the move would free the Angels up to trade Napoli, who generated some interest around the non-waiver trade deadline this year.

And where better to send him than Toronto?

The Blue Jays have all but publicly announced that they will not be bringing Rod Barajas back and have been rumored to be looking for a new starting backstop.

Can anyone think of any other trades the Jays might be involved in?

That’s right, this is all part of another ploy to bring Roy Halladay to the Big A. And we have what they need.

Napoli can take over the starting catching job for the Jays, Gary Matthews, Jr. can replace Alex Rios’ speed in the outfield, Brandon Wood can fill the shortstop role vacated by Marco Scutaro, and any two pitching prospects from the Angels can replenish Toronto’s minor league system.

If they are indeed looking for another starter to replace Halladay in the lineup, as some have suggested, then I’m willing to part with Ervin Santana as well.

True, his departure would create another gap in the rotation, but consider your starting four if the deal was made: Halladay, Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, and Joe Saunders.

With that stellar starting four, the Angels could easily plug one of their remaining prospects into the No. 5 spot, or sign a lower-priced free agent.

Ben Sheets, for example, is looking to make a big comeback, but his recent injury struggles have made him a less-desirable—and thus, cheaper—candidate.

If, after all of that, the Angels have enough left over to make a play for Granderson, then by all means go get him. He is a unique talent with incredible attributes that will make him valuable for years to come.

But he should not be the team’s top priority at this point.

The Angels are looking at a very precarious offseason, and right now their future could be tipped in either direction.

Wait too long and too many free agents might slip through their fingers. Act too quickly and opportunities yet to be revealed may be out of reach before they even appear.

It’s easy to get caught watching those rumors fly like moonshot home runs, and I may sound like a slackjawed fan in the bleachers. But the numbers are solid and the moves are sound.

The Angels need to understand their most pressing issues and address them while they still can.

Gary Matthews, Jr.: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

Johnathan Kroncke — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:45:18 +0000

Hardly a week had gone by since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were eliminated from the playoffs before they hit their first offseason obstacle.

His name is Gary Matthews, Jr.

In what will likely be an emotional and turbulent offseason for the Angels, who saw no less than three star players and several more reserves filing for free agency already, the team’s chief concern has become a bench player who is still under contract for two more years.

Perhaps, though, that is why Matthews chose to make his irritating move now.

The starting outfield for the Angels is already set, but the team did have three outfielders enter the free agent market this week in Vladimir Guerrero, Robb Quinlan, and Reggie Willits.

Guerrero may be offered a contract, but it likely won’t amount to much and expectation are that he’ll be flailing away for a new club next season.

Quinlan has been a fine reserve off the bench, but his defensive abilities are somewhat limited and the Angels have plenty of young talent coming down the outfield and infield pipes—where Quinlan serves as a backup.

As for Willits, he is out of minor league options this year. That means that, if the Angels were to re-sign him, he would have to make the Major League squad out of Spring Training or else be released.

Given the circumstances, and the number of prospects waiting in the Angels’ wings (too easy), we’ve probably seen the last of “Three-and-Two” Willits at the Big A.

It’s possible Matthews has taken a look at all of this and decided to strike while the iron was lukewarm, figuring he can for the Angels’ hand before the ink is dry on any new contracts.

Juan Rivera, Torii Hunter, and the newly re-signed Bobby Abreu occupy the starting spots in the outfield, but the Angels have often forsaken a traditional designated hitter in favor of rotating a fourth outfielder in and out of the DH position, giving the starters a break on defensive.

If Matthews could accept that kind of a role, instead of a traditional starting spot in the field, the Angels could be sitting pretty come 2010.

His numbers weren’t stellar on offense, but many of his 50 RBI came in critical, late-inning situations where they either tied the score or put the Angels ahead. For a .250 hitter, he proved the difference in several tight games.

Unfortunately, ol’ GMJ seems to think himself too good for a rotating outfield role.

He has been demanding a starting job since Spring Training of last season and it looks like he won’t settle for anything less.

But Matthews fails to understand that baseball is not a democracy, it’s more like indentured servitude with a little capitalism thrown in for good measure. He has no more right to demand playing time from the Angels than I do.

His offensive production doesn’t support this prima donna attitude either.

Matthews had just 316 at-bats this year, but managed to strike out nearly 100 times while popping only four home runs, and while he did have some timely hits with runners in scoring position, it’s hardly enough to justify his incredulity.

Not to mention, if he does indeed want to be traded, all of the whining and crying can only serve to hurt his image.

Teams will put up with a certain level of immaturity from players, as long as they produce. Jose Guillen and Milton Bradley are unconscionable pains wherever they play, but they still manage to play because they drive in runs.

Matthews doesn’t share that same level of talent with a bat and thus does not enjoy that same level of forgiveness from front offices.

Teams are also less likely to make a decent offer if they know a trade is coming out of necessity rather than desire.

If Matthews keeps running his mouth to the press about how unfair life is, the Angels will have fewer and ultimately less appealing trade options, and may ultimately be forced to keep him.

Considering the uncertainty of the future of the Angels’ bench and outfield in the years to come, it might behoove them to keep Matthews around for the duration of his contract. He has big league experience, is still an adequate defender, and runs the bases well—when he gets on.

However, if the Angels choose to trade him they need to do it quickly, and one destination stands out above the rest: Toronto.

Everyone and their mother’s agent knows the Toronto Blue Jays are going to entertain offers for ace right-hander Roy Halladay this offseason. The team brass was clearly upset about not moving him at the trade deadline last season, and showed it by firing the general manager.

The Angels were involved in those trade talks in July, and now they may be in need of another starting pitcher if John Lackey signs elsewhere.

They could offer Matthews, who would replace Alex Rios in left field, along with any two pitching prospects in the minors. If that’s not good enough, toss in Brandon Wood to replace Marco Scutaro at shortstop.

The Jays would be crazy not to take that deal, but if they decline, so what? The Angels can only stand to gain from making that offer, and lose nothing if it doesn’t work out.

Matthews doesn’t have to be moved the way Guillen did after the 2004 season. He can easily be worked into the Angels’ plans for next season, and since he is still under contract for two more years, the team isn’t worried about trading him to get some value before he becomes a free agent.

About the only thing they can’t do is bench him for another season. He is making far too much money to just rot away in the dugout.

Either play him in some sort of four-outfielder package, or trade him and unload that salary.

Los Angeles baseball stars apply for free agency

Joey Kaufman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:58:27 +0000

On a day in which the Angels announced that starting outfielder Bobby Abreu would return to the club, the organization also learned that they will be in fierce competition with other organizations to resign some of their other players, who declared for free agency earlier today.

The Halos’ ace John Lackey, who happens to be the top starter in this year’s market, officially filed for free agency today along with reliever Darren Oliver and infielder Robb Quinlan. Third baseman Chone Figgins is expected to follow suit as well.

The team just north on the interstate-5, the Dodgers, received news that infielders Ron Belliard, Orlando Hudson and Doug Mientkiewicz and pitchers Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and Eric Milton, had all filed for free agency.

According to the Los Angeles Times, today was the first day of a 15-day window in which players can file for free agency. They are unable to negotiate with other teams until the window closes.

Bobby Abreu Resigns with The Angels: One Big Free Agent Down, Three to Go

Johnathan Kroncke — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:59:59 +0000

The most exciting event in baseball happened in the last 24 hours.

That’s right, Bobby Abreu resigned with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim!

Let’s face it, I care more about my dog’s opinions on philosophy than the achievements of the New York Yankees. Congrats to them on a great year and all, but I can’t wait to beat them next season.

On the other hand, Abreu signing a two-year extension for $19 million with a club option for 2012 is truly thrilling, especially for Angels fans.

The conclusion of the World Series on Wednesday night marked the beginning of one of the toughest offseasons for the Angels in recent memory.

Four key players in Abreu, Chone Figgins, John Lackey, and Vladimir Guerrero all entered the free agent market the moment the Yankees clinched their 27th championship.

Unfortunately, the buzz around the organization is they’ll likely only resign two of those players, maybe three if the circumstances are right.

If that’s true, Abreu was a pivotal name to bring back and should help alleviate some of the Angels’ offseason stress.

Abreu batted .293 last year, and was second on the team in RBI (103; Kendry Morales had 108) and stolen bases (30; Figgins had 42). He also swung at .556 clip with four walks and two doubles in the Angels’ three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS.

But his greatest impact on this team cannot be quantified in stats.

Despite winning three more games in 2008, the Angels were a better team in 2009, thanks almost entirely to Abreu’s tutelage. When he joined the Angels in Spring Training, he brought along his years of experience and his patient approach at the plate.

The Angels took to his teachings like a duck to water.

Suddenly, guys like Morales, Howie Kendrick, and Erick Aybar were working counts, taking walks, and swinging at better pitches—a shocking and welcome sight, to say the least.

The result? The Angels lead the league in team batting average and average with runners in scoring position, were second in runs scored, third in on-base percentage, and fourth in slugging.

Abreu also seemed to have success bringing his calm demeanor from the field to the dugout and the clubhouse.

Search player quotes all you like, but you won’t find a negative word said about the once-and-future right fielder.

In fact, the Angels appeared to really come together this season as a team, feeding off Abreu’s positive energy and working together as one. This was especially meaningful after the tragic death of Nick Adenhart rocked the Angels’ clubhouse.

Throughout the season, though, the team’s focus never strayed, they never turned against one another when things got bad, and they never gave up when they were down.

The offseason is just one day old, and the Angels have promises to keep and miles to go before they sleep. But today, they have one less thing to worry about.

Bobby Abreu was a great signing last year—the steal of the offseason to some—and his resigning should prove equally valuable.

Angels Get Yanked From Playoffs, Fans Suffer 5 Stages of Sports Grief

Johnathan Kroncke — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:10:36 +0000

The Angels had a tough time against the Yankees' offensive power.

Well, it’s finally over.

After 171 grueling regular and postseason games, after all of the ups and downs, tragedies and triumphs, the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim are getting a preemptive jump on the offseason.

It’s not the Angels’ fault, per say. I cringe to even think it, but though the differences were minor, the New York Yankees were simply the better team, throughout both the regular season and the American League Championship Series.

The starting pitching was fairly evenly matched, but they featured a dominant lefty in CC Sabathia whom the Angels couldn’t touch, while we countered with a sure-fire klutz in Scott Kazmir.

Seriously now, did have one solid inning this postseason?

The Yankees’ bullpen was a bit shaky in the series, but the great Mariano Rivera picked Angels batters apart and helped bolster their creaky relief core.

Meanwhile, the Angels chose to stick with Brian Fuentes, a closer who looked like his mission was actually to blow every save he was handed this year, and just failed 48 times.

More than anything though, the difference between these two teams was the power. Up and down the Yankees’ lineup, guys were belting home runs with ease.

On our side of the dish, it was a struggle just to get the ball out of the infield for everyone who wasn’t named Jeff Mathis.

Now, some fans have taken the Angels to task for their lack of offense and surprising number of defensive miscues, blaming them for the series loss instead of congratulating the hated Yankees.

It’s a reasonable argument, no doubt. The Yanks only mustered four runs in each of the first three games, two of which we had the lead in, but only once did we walk away with a “W.”

The Angels’ glove-related gaffs certainly played their part in this series, but I’m not so sure these fans are in their right minds.

No, I’m not saying they’re crazy, just in mourning.

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the wood for the trees, just as it’s difficult to accept the truth about your team when you’re suffering through “The Five Stages of Sports Grief.”

Allow me to explain:

Shock

The first and most striking stage, symptoms of shock generally start to show just as the final seconds are ticking off that vile game clock. Or, if you’re a baseball fan, as the final out is being cradled in your enemy’s glove.

We sit slack-jawed and dumb-founded, staring stupidly at our televisions as if we’re searching for some unseen flag or penalty, some official ruling that would force the to game continue in our favor.

While this is generally the shortest stage, beginning just before the end of the game and clearing up by the time the post-game interviews are over, Angels fans had a much more prolonged experience.

For us, shock symptoms set in the moment Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar forgot how to catch a pop-up.

That frightening blunder, more common to elementary school playgrounds than professional ballparks, allowed a run to score in the first inning of Game One and set the tone for the defense.

Throughout the rest of the series, we watched in horrified amazement as Maicer Izturis threw a ball into centerfield, Mike Napoli bounced a throw into second base on a pitch-out, and Kazmir lobbed an easy out over the first baseman’s head. Even Torii Hunter made his first error as an Angel.

Our shock lasted far too long, but once it mercifully ended, it was immediately followed by…

Anger

That’s right, anger! What else?!

That raging, boiling, lava-fueled hatred that you just can’t hold in any longer so you start blaming everyone in sight including your dog who had to get up and go outside during the eleventh inning of Game Two so you weren’t there to see Fuentes give up that bomb to A-Rod because if you had been in your seat the mojo wouldn’t have shifted and we could have won the game…feeling.

I…sense I’ve gone too far.

So I’ll reel it back a little, as I imagine many Angel fans have done over the last few days. That self-righteous bitter taste has started to fade from our mouths and we no longer want to kill the athletic trainer for not wearing a rally cap at the end of Game Six.

In fact, we feel so bad for wanting to kill…well, anybody, that when the anger subsides, all we’re left with is…

Depression

Aside from the final stage (which we’ll get to in a second, so don’t read ahead!), depression can be the longest and most difficult stage, and is often accompanied by a sense of helpless confusion.

Like a drunk stumbling through some lost and forbidden alleyway, we find ourselves wondering aloud, “What’s this? How did I get here? It can’t be…”

It seems like the Angels just went through the offseason.

We just finished losing out on the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, and watched both Francisco Rodriguez and Garret Anderson trudge off to the murky waters of the National League.

Now we have to go through it all again. More free-agent messes, more filling holes on the roster, more losing longtime Angels we may never see in the Big A again.

How can we be back here so soon? Why is this happening to us?

“Well,” we tell ourselves, “it’s not happening ‘us.’ It’s happening to all of us. Unless your team wins the World Series or Super Bowl every single year, you’re going to have to deal with the letdown of not reaching that ultimate goal.

“Every fan goes through these hard times at some point and survives. Just look at Cubs fans!”

Eventually, with the help of loved ones, counselors, and our faithful dog who forgives us for turning on him, we get through it.

And with that acceptance comes…

Recognition

This is where the healing truly begins.

Suddenly, we stop blaming random pets, mystic forces, or inanimate objects for our team’s failure and instead focus on all of the good that came out of the season.

Any Angels fan who can’t step back and recognize what a tremendous season they had is a fool.

Just look at what this team had to overcome: replacing Teixeira with an unproven rookie at first base, losing Ervin Santana and John Lackey for the first month and a half of the season, the Nick Adenhart tragedy, losing Vladimir Guerrero for a month, a bullpen that couldn’t hold a lead against little leaguers, losing Guerrero (again) and Torii Hunter for 30+ days in the middle of the season, and having to face the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

When you really take it all in, that was quite the year.

And the Angels still won a third straight division title and, even better, we swept the stinkin’ Red Sox right out of the postseason.

Alright, we may not have played up to our abilities in the ALCS, but like I said, the Yankees were clearly the better team and we have to give them their due.

That said, there’s still one more stage of grief that all fans pass through, and that’s…

Loathing

The shock has cleared up, the anger has subsided, the depression has itself been depressed, and we certainly recognize both our faults and our opponents’ strengths.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t still hate them.

I don’t know about you good folks, but I’ll be rooting vehemently for the Philadelphia Phillies in this Word Series, and it’s got nothing to do with my love for the city of brotherly love.

I have no more connection to the Phightin’ Phils than I do my can opener, but any enemy of the Yankees is a friend of mine.

So it was with great glee that I watched the Phillies silence those Bronx bums in Game One. I can only hope Pedro Martinez picks up where he left off with Red Sox and dominates New York again tonight.

As I said, I’ve accepted that the Yankees are better than the Angels this year, and I am so proud of my boys for getting as far as they did and pushing the ALCS to a hard-fought Game 6.

This isn’t about that bitter taste I got after we lost. It’s about pure, unadulterated fandom.

In terms of sports fanatics (the root word of “fan”), if the Angels are good, the Yankees must inherently be evil.

And so Angels fans look on, comforted by our recognition, but warmed by our fiery hatred.

Go Phils!

Let the Conspiracy Theories Fly…

Joey Kaufman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:02:41 +0000

Tonight’s Game 6 of the American League Championship series between the Angels and New York Yankees is just under thirty minutes away from getting under way, but according to the Yankees page on MLB.com, the outcome of the remaining two games of the series has already been determined. Bill Shakin of the Los Angeles Times pointed the noticeable advertisement promotion earlier today:

The site proclaims: “Congrats New York Yankees! 2009 American League champs”

That’s the banner ad, beneath which MLB is selling Yankees gear affixed with the World Series logo, including T-shirts for $24.99, caps for $35.99 and fleece for $69.99.

While it may have been nothing more than a glitch in the system, the bottom of the line here is that major league baseball’s online staff made a huge public relations gaff. In an era, where conspiracy theorists, are quick to point out the league’s bias towards popular east coast teams such as the Yankees, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox, this does little to refute rumors of the perceived favoritism towards these clubs, especially when many feel as if the Yankees’ batters have received a more generous strike zone from the umpires in this series. If anything, it is certainly going to rile up the Angels’ fanbase.

ALDS Game 5: Angels Win Thriller Over Yankees Despite Scioscia’s Questionable Calls

Johnathan Kroncke — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:40:10 +0000

Mike Scioscia did his very best to manage his way out of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Scioscia, manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, actually dealt not one, but two near-fatal blows in Game Five of the 2009 ALCS against the New York Yankees.

The first came when he removed starter John Lackey with two outs in the seventh inning and the bases loaded.

With the Angels up 4-0, lefty Darren Oliver entered the game, forcing Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira to bat from his typically less-productive right side.

He ripped the first pitch he saw for a bases-clearing double.

The Yankees went on to score three more in the inning and take 6-4 lead. Incredibly, their bullpen refused to hold down the Angels, who regained the lead with a three-run inning of their own.

Jered Weaver was masterful in the top of the eighth, going one-two-three to preserve a slim 7-6 lead for the Angels. Efficient with his pitches and dominant in his execution, Weave was a lock to close out the game in the ninth.

But Scioscia wouldn’t have it.

No, Weaver doesn’t have a “closer” label next to his name on the roster.

Instead, Sosh brought in Brian Fuentes, the soft-tossing oft-inaccurate closer who has already recorded a blown save in this series, to face the heart of the Yankees’ order.

That blown save also came with a one-run lead, and against the best of the Bombers no less.

Fuentes has shown a stunning inability to perform under pressure, despite his league-leading 48 saves during the regular season, and had no business being in this game. Weaver was the easy choice to close out Game 5 and send the series back to New York.

To his his credit, Fuentes did get the job done, but not before he sent a few fans with shaky hearts to the hospital.

After getting the first two outs, he intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez, wise move considering it was A-Rod that belted a game-tying home run off Fuentes in Game Two. He then proceeded to walk Hideki Matsui, hit Robinson Cano, and go 3-2 on Nick Swisher with the bases loaded.

Swish popped up, simultaneously ending the game and getting Scioscia off the hook for his inexplicable managerial blunders.

There was no viable excuse for bring Fuentes into the game, just as there was no excuse for taking Lackey out.

Big John is as tough as starting pitchers come and even when he got into trouble by loading the bases with one out, he still bared down and got Johnny Damon to hit a shallow fly ball out.

Had Scioscia left his ace in the game, Teixeira might have still driven in a run or two, but the idea that Lackey would’ve given up six runs the way his bullpen did is unthinkable.

The same goes for Weaver staying in to close the game.

Time and again, we fans have had to sit and watch Fuentes put men on base and give up runs with disturbing regularity. His job title might be closer, but it’s a dream to imagine him being anything more than a lefty specialist, good for one or two left-handed batters in an inning and that’s it.

Weaver mowed down the Yankees in order in the eighth and, being a starter, is perfectly capable of throwing more than one inning.

This should have been his game, whether or not Scioscia will admit it. Unfortunately, the only bad omen about this momentous win is that Sosh will think his moves were justified.

Given the opportunity in Game 6, he will make all of the same mistakes and anyone who thinks differently needs only to look at Game 4 of last year’s ALDS.

Down two games to one in the first round against the Boston Red Sox, the Angels had a shot to tie up the series when Kendry Morales doubled to lead off the top of the ninth inning.

Knotted up at two runs apiece, Scioscia chose to bunt pinch runner Reggie Willits to third. I wouldn’t have, but hey, that’s just me.

The problem came when Scioscia tried to bunt again.

Erick Aybar was told to squeeze-bunt the run home, a move that only works when you’ve caught the opposition off guard, but the Sox were ready for it.

When Willits broke for the plate, Aybar whiffed on the bunt try and Boston catcher Jason Varitek tagged the runner out easily.

Scioscia’s move was immediately questioned in the post-game press conference, but the steady-handed manager stuck to his guns and promised that if he had it to again, he’d make the same decision.

It’s a nice sentiment, but a foolish error.

Mike Scioscia is widely regarded as one of the game’s finest managers. His calm demeanor and sound baseball mind make him the ideal leader in any clubhouse, and the Angels are incredibly lucky to have him.

But, like the Angels themselves, he is not without his flaws.

Over-managing in the dugout is a critical mistake that always—and I repeat, ALWAYS—leads to bad things on the field.

It’s one thing to lose to a better team, and I still believe the Yankees are exactly that. It’s quite another to lose because your coaching staff can’t keep it’s hands off the lineup card.

Fortunately, the Halos staved off elimination and forced a Game Six back in New York.

If they want to have a shot at a Game Seven, however, Scioscia has to recognize the difference between meddling and managing, and let his players do what they’re paid to do: Play!

Angels Calling on the Kingfish

Joey Kaufman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:39:12 +0000

With tonight’s must-win game against the New York Yankees taking place in Anaheim at Angel Stadium, the Angels have called upon legendary slugger and 2002 World Series hero Tim Salmon to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5.

Salmon, the star of the Angels’ first World Series victory in club history back in ‘02, presently remains the team’s all-time leader in home runs and Halos Heaven.com also ranks him as the greatest player in franchise history. He is highly regarded for his two home runs – one the game-winner – in an 11-10 victory over the San Francisco Giants, in Game 2 of the 2002 World Series.

Clutch hitting like Salmon will be needed if the Angels plan on winning tonight to force the American League championship series back to New York, where they will need to win to additional games if they plan on advancing to the World Series.

Sporting News: Scioscia A.L. Manager of the Year

Joey Kaufman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:20:23 +0000

While it may not be a great time to be affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels, as the Halos presently trail the New York Yankees three games to one in the best of seven American League Championship Series, there is reason for fans, players, and executives alike, to be proud of manager Mike Scioscia. Yesterday, Sporting News named Scioscia its American League manager of the year.

The Sporting News noted that Scioscia was more than deserving to get the honor after leading the Halos to a 97-65 regular-season record and their fifth AL West title in the past six seasons. Their first round sweep of the Boston Red Sox made the decision to bestow him with such an honor even easier.

“After the Nick Adenhart tragedy, it was very tough for us,” said Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu in the Sporting News’ article. “Mike understood that and didn’t talk a lot about our play for about two weeks. Then he said, ‘We are going through a horrible time, but we have to go out and play the game. So let’s enjoy playing and get back to our normal routine.’ He not only kept us together but he helped bring us closer together as a team.”

ALCS Game 4: Halos Get Hammered, But It’s the Fans Who Suffer

Johnathan Kroncke — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:58:08 +0000

The role of fan may be the toughest in all of sports.

As our teams go, so do we. And when things go wrong, we can only gnash our teeth and slam our couch cushions and suffer the inability to do absolutely anything about our team’s performance.

Alas, if only the remote in our hands was a bat.

Blowouts are the worst of all. At least in a close game, there is always a glimmer of hope that our boys will succeed, even without our help.

But watching your favorite squad get squashed is like sitting ringside while some hulking prize fighter scores an early round knockout over your best friend, only to watch him continue the beating after the bell has rung.

We want to jump in and prevent the massacre, but we know we can’t.

So it was on Tuesday night, when I watched my beloved Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play tomato can to the fleet-footed, swift-handed New York Yankees, who’ve been using the ALCS like a tune-up for their imminent World Series championship bout.

On Tuesday night, the Yanks trounced our helpless Halos 10-1 on the strength of pitcher C.C. Sabathia’s second dominant outing in the series, and Alex Rodriguez’s continued brilliance at the plate.

And as fans, all we could do was look on in agony.

We saw Sabathia’s pitches clear as day, his tailing fastballs and drooping sliders that consistently ended up out of the zone. But we hold no bat to swing, only that same bloody remote.

Like a dugout-bound bench player, we are forced to watch our players flail away at balls outside or in the dirt. The difference is our bench is made of plush stuffing and microfiber.

We have no hope of ever having any measurable effect on the game, and the fact that we are at home during the game makes it all the more frustrating.

Those fortunate 45,000-plus in attendance at Angels Stadium could add something to the mix. Attendees can always scream their hearts out to provide their team with moral support, or at least a little constructive ballpark criticism.

“Swing the damn bat, Bobby!”

You know, like that.

But those of us who weathered tonight’s storm from the suffocating isolation of our living rooms had no one to scream at but our family members and our television sets. Hi-def really brings the game to life, but no matter how loud I shriek, the realistic players on screen don’t seem to hear me.

It makes it all the more discouraging to watch those same realistic players fail in such unreal fashion.

Being a fan is an incredibly taxing experience, both mentally and emotionally. We invest so much of ourselves in our team that when they turn out to be just as flawed and human as the rest of us, well, we take it personally.

To see the Angels go belly up like they have this series is disheartening, to say the least.

They were the second-best team in the American League, and arguably in all of baseball. The Yankees certainly seem to be the better team, but right now it wouldn’t take much to knock the Angels out of the playoffs.

In every at-bat, with every pitch in Tuesday’s troubling defeat, they looked scared. They looked frightened, never believing for a moment that they could actually take the Yankees in this game, to say nothing of the series.

If that’s true, then the Angels truly don’t deserve to win. As I’ve pointed out before, this ALCS match-up has always been about mindset, who thinks they have what it takes to win it all.

As fans, we naturally have a bias toward our team. However, those of us who are also students of the game understood going into this series that, while the Angels would probably lose, they had all the necessary tools to pull out yet another postseason upset.

Unfortunately, no one told the Angels.

After a lengthy 162-game season, any reasonable fan would’ve judged the Halos a worthy adversary for the evil empire, but that ultimately evil would prevail. That said, reasonable fans would’ve also predicted a heavyweight slugfest when these two teams eventually squared off in the playoffs.

Instead, we’ve been witness to a demoralizing beat down of a truly talented but ultimately flawed team.

Angel players and fans alike were energized by the incredible extra-inning victory over the Yanks in Game Three, and we mutually hoped that the win would bring about a shift in momentum in the series.

We were sadly mistaken.

The brutal nature of Game Four stung deeper than any other loss could have. Had the Yankees won a nail-biter that came down to the final innings, we could have tipped our caps to a better squad and slept like babies.

But the nine-run drubbing we sustained on Tuesday left no doubt the Angels are simply no match this year for a bigger, stronger, and more mentally stable Yankee lineup.

It’s just too bad Major League umpires aren’t more like boxing referees.

Tim McClelland could have shown some mercy and stopped this bout.

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