Well now it is time to start a new thread for the new season for my favorite baseball team. The 2008 one was fun, but it is time to move on. Anyway, this will start with a link to Yahoo's preview of the AL West. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...ug=ti-alwestpreview020609&prov=yhoo&type=lgns In summary the Angels seem to be the division favorite, more or less as a default team.
We're looking at Dunn at the moment. While not Teixeira he is a very good offensive player who will be much cheaper.
Dunn would be a good fit since he won't have to play defense though he isn't exactly a consistent batter and whether pitchers will continue to walk him with Guerrero and Hunter remains questionable.
As for the Donkey (Dunn's nickname), I do like him as a player. However, he really does not fit the Angels player profile that they like. He is a very poor defensive player. He is not a god runner. As for his offensive skill set the only two Angels players in this millenium with a somewhat similar hitting style were Tim Salmon and Troy Glauss (possibly Mike Napoli is showing some of those signs). Both Glauss and Salmon made contact much more frequently than the Donkey. The Donkey has a lot more power than Salmon, and a bit more than Glauss had at his peak.
Abreu signs 1 year 5 mil dollar deal with Angels! http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090210&content_id=3816686&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp
It sucks as M's fan to watch teams that are better than us go out and make better moves than us... How are we going to score runs next year? But the FO sits on their hands like always.
Article about how the Abreu signing might open up some trade possibilities for us. http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2009/02/11/some-angels-could-fit-as-trade-bait/13648/
I have to say what cracked me up is that they think someone will take Matthews silly contract when players better then him like Abreu and Dunn were stuck taking 1-2 year deals at below market value.
I agree. I think the theory behind trading GMJ makes sense for the Angels (obviously) but we'd never find a taker, even if we ate most of that deal. Just have to pretend the deal is for 20 mill and not 55 and it's not so bad lol.
I'm still upset we couldn't sign Tex (assuming we were ever a real option for him) this off-season.But what I don't really understand is why we didn't go after Manny.It's not like we don't have the pitching to win a WS(NOW!).I think Vlad only has 3 "productive" years left,so signing Manny for 3 would've made sense to me.IDK??? on a side note...I like the fact Bobby will provide some "pop" from the left side of the plate.A big need imo with GA's departure. LET'S GO HALOS !!!
Well last year it was the de-facto AL West thread. It coud be again in 2009. However this is first and formost an Angel thread. As the creator of this this thread, and as someone who was born the same week the Angels started (April 1961), it is primarily an Angels thread.
Another blog/person talking about dealing Matthews. I can see him having value but not w/ that contract. We'd have to get little to nothing in return and eat the lions share of that deal. Might be worth it though lol. but im not holding my breath. http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/02/abreu-dunn-fallout.html And an article on the Abreu signing. http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/02/abreu-dunn-fallout.html http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels-baseball14-2009feb14,0,5769465.story
Projected lineup and some thoughts on the team heading into Spring Training. I'd be looking for a 5th starter I think. Moseley scares me...hopefully Adenhart can be ready sometime soon. http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseb...s-spring-training14-2009feb14,0,3943505.story
Really bounced back from a poor season the year before. I don't doubt the talent of the pitching staff but I do when it comes to infield hitting. If Jared Weaver can make a similar breakout, Angels have a staff to die for.
Brian Fuentes The side-winding southpaw is coming off perhaps his finest season. He had 30 saves in 34 opportunities (.882 success rate) in 2008 with a career-best 2.73 ERA. Fuentes' second half was as dominant a stretch as he has enjoyed in his career. He nailed down all 16 of his save attempts with a 1.75 ERA, holding hitters to a .156 batting average, with 45 strikeouts (against 11 walks) in 25 2/3 innings. Fuentes' secondary numbers for 2008 mirror Rodriguez's. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound native of Merced, Calif., had 82 strikeouts against 22 walks in 62 2/3 innings, holding hitters to a .205 batting average. K-Rod had 77 strikeouts against 34 walks in 68 1/3 innings, limiting hitters to a .216 average. http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ne...t_id=3831808&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana ...that's pretty impressive...I wasn't aware Brian Fuentes' numbers were this good.
Here is an updated article, on the two unsettled posistions on the team. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_11759156?source=rss
Well it looks like GA has finally found work http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...bYF?slug=ap-braves-anderson&prov=ap&type=lgns Now according to an Atlanta report, forwarded to the OC Register, that GA's deal will be for $2.5 million, which equates to an 82% drop from what his Halo option would have been worth for.
Got my 13 game ticket plan today, cant wait for the season to start. Package includes: Boston Detroit Toronto Seattle X2 Colorado Baltimore Texas X2 Yankees Tampa Bay Oakland White Sox
Article on how the economy isnt hurting the Angels. No excuse to let Lackey walk then! http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseb...onomics26-2009feb26,0,6017837.story?track=rss
He can walk right onto my team anytime he wants. The guy is possibly the most underrated pitcher in baseball, I'll be shocked if LAA lets him go.
The thought of him helping Boston beat us in the playoffs again makes me ill. I'm w/ you though, I cant see him going anywhere (knock on wood...)
Considering I hate anything Boston, NY gets the slight nod. But unfortunately, it's like deciding between cutting a finger or cutting a toe off.
Going to suck seeing OC in an A's uni. The A's will have a dangerous lineup, hopefully a pitching staff that no one can name is their undoing Could be a good divisional race if they live up to that potential; and can sustain it for 162 games.
It could be. At times it gets frustrating reading and listening to the SABRmetric community, and the ESPN group, who over the decade have heavily endorsed Oakland and diss the Halos.
I'm reading Money Ball atm and keep thinking they're overstating its greatness. The A's had a good run w/ it, but based on what I've read so far you'd think Billy Beane was God and how the Angels play is for idiots lol. I'm not finished w/ it yet, so we'll see. It is an entertaining book either way.
Somewhat of a story is Vlad admitted that he's actually 34 years old instead of 33 as listed. Also it looks like LAA is talking to Lackey about a multi-year deal.
Haha yeah I agree, he looks like he's in his early 40's and walks like he's in his 80's. If anything it helps the Angels with leverage to resign him if they choose to.
Oh-oh This looks like a big problem http://fromthedugout.freedombloggin...cial-santana-word-is-sprained-ligament/16845/
We cant afford to lose Santana. The back of the rotation is already a bit thin so if he goes down for any stretch we might be in trouble. Any idea what the normal recovery time from a sprained ligament like this?
In case anyone missed it Santana is starting the season on the DL. They expect him and Escobar to join the rotation in May. Hopefully Moseley and Loux (most likely) can be serviceable until then.