AL West Preview From an Angels Fans Perspective

Not a single regular season pitch was even thrown and already I was in panic mode. The problem being the fact that knowing who was going to be throwing that first pitch, and many, many subsequent pitches, had been thrown (pun intended) into some serious and ever increasing doubt. We knew for sometime that Kelvim Escobar was going to have plenty of time to update his Myspace page early in the season, but the disturbing news that he has a tear in his throwing shoulder that may end his season completely, and possibly his career, had cast an Ervin Santana shaped shadow over the Angels’ long-term season goals. Couple this with John Lackey’s triceps injury that will keep him from even picking up a baseball for two to three weeks and that shadow may turn into a full-blown eclipse. Oh, and just a little side note, Scot Shields will begin the season on the DL also. Awesome.

Like any clear thinking American sports fan I reacted to this news by doing what comes naturally. I freaked out. When I came to three days later, I realized I needed to look at the situation a little more rationally. How are they going to weather this April storm and where will they be by the time we see those May flowers I’ve heard so much about? The Angels pride themselves on depth, a justified self-congratulations. But you don’t just pick up 18 game winners off the scrap heap. Fortunately for the Angels, their scrap heap is loaded with potential classics (is there a more frightening word in the American sports lexicon than “potential”?).

Ervin Santana. The mere mention of his name causes a torrent of conflicting emotions for this Angels fan. So much potential (there’s that word again), so much fear (for me). In light of the current situation I’d settle for ¾ of the 2006 Santana. Just give the lineup a chance to make things interesting. Let’s just start there. In the sage words of Dr. Leo Marvin, baby steps. He has the physical skills to be very good, even to something approaching great, the question is whether his head will be screwed on right to make that happen. Some have made the suggestion Ervin should only pitch at home given his ridiculous home/road splits (For his career - Home: ERA – 3.14, WHIP – 1.17, Away: ERA – 7.14, WHIP – 1.63), though Scioscia has, rightfully, nixed any such idea.

Dustin Moseley will be filling the final spot in the rotation, a role he filled rather ably at points last year. But last year he was filling holes left by far less talented pitchers than either Lackey or Escobar. So while he may perform courageously in the interim this season, no one’s expecting him to make us forget who we’re really missing. If Moseley does falter, the Angels have a potential ace waiting in the wings (OK, that pun was not intended) in Nick Adenhart. He was up and down this spring, but definitely showed flashes that make Angel fans smile to themselves in their sleep.

Now we know who will be carrying the torch in our 1-2’s absence, but that shadow still looms. Is it enough to still win the division? Only time will tell for sure—duh—but I submit that the division title is still very much the Angels’ to lose. Let’s take a look at the facts.

Texas doesn’t even enter this conversation. Let’s talk about that. They did nothing in the offseason to improve their perennial weakness, starting pitching. They did add Josh Hamilton to the OF, so I guess the old “we’ll bludgeon our way to a pennant” strategy still holds sway in the Ranger front office. Oh, those Texans. In a way it’s almost loveable.
Threat assessment: none.

Oakland on the other hand did make some major moves. Unfortunately for the A’s faithful they involved trading away all of their good players. As an Angels fan, I was obviously thrilled. I do not bow to the altar of Billy Beane and his sabermetrics mumbo-jumbo. (Before you Rob Neyer reading Athletic supporters dismiss me as a backward mystic who believes mathematics to be some sort of wicked sorcery spawned by Lucifer himself, let me assure you my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek. Everyone knows math is very useful for calculating batting average.) However, he does have an uncanny ability to occasionally turn what looks like a pile of nothing into something, which always makes me nervous. I mean any guy that can win a division title with Scott Hatteberg on the roster, let alone as a starter, must be doing something right, right? That said, it would take a wizard of Gandalf the Grey proportions to turn this year’s pile into anything significant. The only way they can remotely threaten the Halos this season is if Harden and Crosby can somehow remain healthy for the duration, which, as any self-respecting baseball fan worth a strained Harden oblique can attest, is a physical impossibility. Even if that were somehow possible, the odds would still be something akin to those of Jeremy Giambi teaching sliding practice at A’s camp next spring. If you want to hear me anxiously worry about Oakland as contender, come back in two years…when they’re in Fremont.
Threat assessment: minimal.

Seattle looked like they were for real last year until a colossal late season collapse which, not coincidently, began with a sweep at the hands of the Halos at Safeco. If all the Angels were a picture of perfect health, I wouldn’t be worried much at all, but given the current state of affairs I’m just a touch concerned. Just a skosh, a smidgen really. The M’s have a solid rotation and a strong bullpen, and though their lineup is decent the team is not without question marks. Can Miguel Batista really win 16 games again? Is King Felix finally ready to ascend the throne? Can Richie Sexson rebound, and by rebound I mean hit .230? And perhaps most importantly, how the crap is he making $3M more than Ichiro!? Top to bottom the Angels’ lineup is much stronger and the fact that just about everyone coming off their bench could start for a fair amount of big league teams, including pretty much all of those in the National League, bodes well for when the injury bug bites. Tell me, who would you rather have coming off the pine Juan Rivera or Charlton Jimerson? Actually, now that I think about it, I may opt for Jimerson just so I can hear if the P.A. guy can say his name without snickering.
Threat assessment: moderate.

Of course all of this depends on Lackey coming back by mid-May, Santana not completely imploding, Moseley/Adenhart being at least somewhere north of terrible, the rest of the rotation (Weaver, Saunders, and Garland) performing up to expectations, and Reggie Willits not putting banana peels and ball bearings in front of every other outfielders locker in an attempt to injure them thus increasing his playing time and removing the looming fear of being sent down to AAA and having to ride smelly buses and eat at Chick-Fil-A after getting a taste of the Big Show last season.

But what fun would baseball be, or team blogs for that matter, if everything was a done deal before the season started? Well, if it meant the Angels would always win the division, then I guess that would best be characterized as awesome.

Tis the season

There is nothing better than the smell of freshly cut grass and hotdogs. It is the sign that spring is here. Generally speaking, there is a huge lull from after the Super Bowl until March madness. That is generally the time when I really begin to get uber excited about baseball season!!

This year is quite different for me as a fan. I am honestly hard pressed between being super stoked and super bummed all at the same time. I am super stoked because for the first time since '93, I don't have to deal with having one Barry Lamar Bonds. That is a huge relief. For the first time in 6 years, I don't have to feel guilty about loving the Gigantes! I can actually just enjoy watching the Giants reek!

That brings me to the part about being way bummed. This is the first year that it has hit me that I am basically a West version of a Royals fan (I can't believe I just said that). My team is already 50 games under .500 and the season hasn't kicked off yet. The way I see it though is that I can Gigantes tickets whenever I want at rock bottom prices!

Still though, the baseball fan that I am is excited to sit back on a warm summer night with a Mt. Dew watching some baseball with Kruk & Kuip or Miller & Morgan, or anyone for that matter. I can't wait to hear take me out to the ball game and someone saying, "Play ball." It should be awesome to see and it should be an exciting season. I guess since my team is down I will just jump on the anti-Yankeees, Dodgers, Bosox band wagon and ride that baby all the way through the fall classic!!

Tony Gwynn Jr.

Here's a very cool article about Tony Gwynn Jr.'s hit off Trevor Hoffman last year that helped bump the Padres out of the playoffs. Gwynn has known Hoffman since he was a kid and practically idolized him. Pretty good stuff.

Steroids Erases Memories

No, not the user's memory, the fan's. Great column from Bill Simmons this week on the topic. Read him here and then read me here:

The memory that I keep thinking about, through all this steroids crap, is McGwire's 62nd. I'm not a Cardinals fan, but I'm a baseball fan and the numbers and the history mean something to me. So I remember being very excited to be able to witness this moment. I was at my parents house with my dad, my uncle, both huge baseball fans, and my cousin who was probably about seven. When Big Mac came up, I remember my uncle saying to him, "I want you to watch this so you'll remember it." I remember it so clearly. The ball uncharacteristically barely clearing the wall, Mac almost missing 1st base, the awkward, yet special moment of McGwire and Sosa hugging and doing Sammy's chest thump, peace thing, McGwire's son coming out to greet him and then Mac paying his respects to the Maris family. It was a great moment and until recently a fond memory. Now I don't know how to feel about it. Looking back, we should have known something was up with those two, but at the time, whether willfully or not, we ignored the signs and just drank in that sweet moment, the kind that makes us all love sports so much.

This is actually an email I sent to the Sports Guy after reading his column.

The State of the Giants

December 13th, 2007

The San Francisco Chronicle

"The Giants, in their first significant move to shape a team without Barry Bonds, signed free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand to a five-year, $60 million contract on Wednesday.

For that significant investment, in both years and dollars, the Giants have secured a fifth-place hitter, an All-Star, a Gold Glove center fielder and, equally important, a personable and emotional leader who will be asked to infuse the clubhouse with the "warrior mentality" that manager Bruce Bochy complained it lacked last season."

What's everyone thoughts about the signing and about what else the Giants should do to improve the team for next season. I for one feel that given the market, and what Rowand was expected to get from other teams ($70-$80 for 5 years), $12 mil a year isn't too bad. I've liked the guy since he was on the White Sox and his full speed collision with the center field wall in Philadelphia is still fresh in my memory and is one of my favorite catches. of all time The Giants obviously need a lot of work after finishing in last place, but at least with the Rowand signing, Sabean is refusing to listening to anymore trade proposals for our two studs, Lincecum and Cain. I feel that they should try to fill the 3B hole through trade or a non-tender player (take a chance on someone cheap), sign another veteran for the bullpen and let most of the kids play and learn as they go. I think with our core of pitching we will bev ery, very good in a few years. We can always supply the offense with a bat or two through free agency next year and the year after when the market is different. I have patience and I except the Giants to suck for a while, but if we let the kids play and build over the next few years instead of trading away our young talent, then we can be competitive, and possibly win a championship. Pitching wins championships, not a super offense (ie Yankees). Anyways, enough of my ranting, what are your guys thoughts???

Curt Schilling's Blog

Anybody ever read Curt Schilling's blog? I've only read one post (he's voting for John McCain), but he's a pretty good writer. Is it weird for a professional athlete to have a blog? Check it out.

Angels Workin' It

Well my boys' new GM has been busy. This is so odd. In all his years Stoneman made I think one trade of any significance, and that was a deal he really had to do (Jose Guillen for Juan Rivera & Macier Izturis). I don't think he was a bad GM, just a little...dull. This new guy Tony Reagins seems eager to put his stamp on things. He's made a couple big splashed already. Here's how I grade them.

Orlando Cabrera for John Garland - B

I was disappointed at first, but this is really a pretty good move. Cabrera had a pretty good year last year at the plate for him, won the Gold Glove at short, and was a team leader in the clubhouse, but he probably hit his peak. His glove will be good for a few more years, but I doubt he'll hit that well again. Garlands no ace, but he's not supposed to be. He'll make a very good back-end of the rotation guy, his numbers have been a little better than league average, and he gives the Halos a plethora of solid starters. They can use that in a trade or go into the season with a contingency in case of injury. Not a bad position to be in, especially considering what kind of money even mediocre pitchers are getting. I'll miss OC, but like a great man once said, its business, not personal.

Signed Torii Hunter for 5 years, $90M - C+

This definitely makes the Angles better this year and probably the next. I think they overpaid some and I'm a little concerned that in years four and five of this deal we'll have an average centerfielder who bats .265, 16 HR, 84 RBI and makes about $18M a year. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong. But, if the Angels win the World Series somewhere in there I won't mind it so much.

The next item on the shopping list is Miguel Cabrera. Now that would be a nice Christmas present. The price is steep, reportedly up-and-coming hit machine Howie Kendrick, catcher Jeff Mathis, either Joe Saunders or Ervin Santana, and top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart. A tall order, yes, but probably worth it given Carbrera is only 24 and supposedly just entering his prime! It was said the teams had reached a deal on two occasions only to have the Marlins up the ante at the last minute. Most of the ESPN analysts I've heard today expect some deal to be worked out. Which would make the '08 Angels lineup look something like this:

1 - Chone Figgins - 2B

2 - Gary Matthews - DH/LF/RF

3 - Vladdy - RF/DH

4 - Miguel Cabrera - 3B

5 - Torii Hunter - CF

6 - Garret Anderson -LF/DH

7 - Casey Kotchman - 1B

8 - Mike Napoli - C

9 -Macier Izturis/Eric Aybar - SS

John Lackey

Kelvim Escobar

Jered Weaver

John Garland

Joe Saunders or Ervin Santana (whichever one isn't traded for Cabrera)

K-Rod

Scot Shields

Justin Speier

Not too shabby. Oh, and apparently they're eyeing Johan Santana also. I have no idea what they would have to part with for him, especially if they get Cabrera. Should be interesting.