It feells really good to go up by 6 game at the All-Star break It feels better to have stolen a game from the team chasing us.
I posted this in the MLB trade rumors and news thread...but its obviously quite relevant here: * Francisco Rodriguez Will Test The Market Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez plans to file for free agency, though he didn't rule out re-signing with the Halos. Kurt Streeter named several contracts that might be used as comparables for K-Rod: Mariano Rivera: three years, $45MM ($15MM per year) Francisco Cordero: four years, $46MM, fifth year club option ($11.5MM per year) Joe Nathan: four years, $47MM, fifth year club option ($11.75MM per year) It seems clear that K-Rod will set a new record for relievers in terms of total contract value. He'll probably want $13-15MM per year over four or five seasons. Will the Angels pay up? Will his price be artificially high if he sets a new saves record?
I dont think anyone should pay a closer that much money. I wouldnt give him more than 12 mil a year. Take it or leave it Frankie. He may be the best closer in the game but I think Shields or maybe even Arredondo can step right in as the closer. K-Rod makes every game interesting and likes to walk the lead off man which drives me crazy. Save the money and get a power hitter.
Man was Cordero overpaid. Frankie will probably get a bit more than Nathan but less than Rivera. 4 years 48 mill with an option for 5 seems more than generous on the Angels part. They offered 3 years and 34 million, so they cant be too far apart. If he will only take 5 years at 15 mill+ a year they might have to move on, but I hope it doesnt come to that.
Uh...why does either one deserve the shot? Frankie is arguably in the middle of one of the best seasons a closer has had, ever. Rivera I can see because the game is at Yankee stadium. Papelbon doesnt really have an argument imo. He should pitch the 7th, Frankie the 8th Rivera the 9th. I wouldnt be too upset if Frankie didnt pitch though, giving the guy some rest works for me. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/news/story?id=3488087
I think Papelbon should look at where the game is being played and Rivera's NUMBERS and shut the **** up. Mariano is having an Eckersley type season statistically. Sure, he has less saves then both Papelbon and K-Rod but saves are an overrated statistic. Rivera's ERA is 1.06 (a ridiculous statistic) which is over a FULL RUN better then either of them with roughly the same innings pitched (Mariano has a very small advantage in IP). It's Rivera's game to save and there is no debate.
I agree this team has underachieved, though it's possible to argue that the pitching has overachieved while the offense has underachieved. I think if the offense gets hot at the right time though we're definitely good enough to win it all imo. http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels17-2008jul17,0,4184097.story
You sweep, I'm swept. You won the division in the last week and a half, it's all over. I blame Huston Street. He blew three wins in that span. The lead would be around 3 or games if he wasn't dragging his gas can to the mound with him. Call up the kids, play the hell out of them, see you in 2009.
Such arrogance. We need home field, or for the Yankees to surge, TB to stay strong and for Boston to miss the playoffs http://www.boston.com/sports/baseba...07/20/halos_will_find_way_to_fade_in_october/
I wouldn't expect anything less from Dan Shaunsessy. But I do have to agree with him a bit. As a Sox fan, the Angels don't scare me in the playoffs in the same way I'm sure Angel fans aren't scared of the Yankees in the playoffs.
I totally agree, I think we are 9-0 in our last 9 playoff games vs the Angels. Pretty hard to say "well this is the year", when people say that every year and then they fade. If Reagins doesn't make a move this year for a bat, then come playoff time what has really changed. Stoneman was a moron, every year he had a great team, and plenty of trading chips and he refused to make a big trade now all of those high rated prospects with great value, just about all are just average players.
Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera, Kotchman and Kendrick with a year more experience, Santana, Saunders and Garland, Arredondo, hopefully the team being healthy and hitting up to their potential at the right time, which is really all it takes. 2 of those "average players" were all-stars. Kendrick has hit .330 since last year and Kotchman is a gold glove 1B in the making. You had our number the last two times we met up in the playoffs. But you'd had our number during the regular season in recent history as well, and that history helped you get swept in Anaheim and got you all of 1 win in Boston. Boston is definitely the biggest obstacle in the Angels way of making it to the world series, but I think the reverse is true for Boston as well. If Boston can reverse 100 years of losing, I think the Angels can manage reversing an 11 game streak
Yeah I do find it interesting that the Angels haven't had a home grown power hitter since Salmon/Anderson/Edmonds/Glaus and also a lot of their top prospects (which many of the scouts around the league absolutely loved) like Brandan Wood, Dallas MacPhelson, etc never really panned out. Make you wonder a little if it's something the player development is doing or if maybe it just shows you how hard MLB is compared to the minor leagues. The Angels seem to always have a lot of the NL type small ball players with little pop (hey it works for them though). By the way I think the Dodgers are falling into the 'Stoneman' trap, having a ton of good prospects but hanging on to them too long where they lose all value.
The way the Sox have owned us in the playoffs,I'm looking forward to facing them once again this year.I've always believed that to be the best you have to beat the best. I've been harping(no pun intended) for my Halos to deal for a bat before the trade deadline the past 3-4 years,but I don't feel as strongly about it this year because of the addition of Hunter.Would I like to see the Angels to pick up someone like Teixeria(sp?) from Atlanta,sure you bet.I'd trade Kotchman & /prospect for Mark in a heartbeat.
Tex would sure look better in the 3 hole than Maicer. Maicer batting 3rd doesnt make much sense to me. I guess he's good with RISP but it's still sad that he's our best option. I'd rather see Vlad hitting 3rd with Hunter batting cleanup. Or try Kendrick at 3, or 2, and have Kotch in the 3 spot.
That was ugly lol. Nice to Mathis coming through 2 days in a row. We're getting a lot of HR production out of our catchers, even if the average isnt great. Mathis is good with RISP though, he's just terrible in all other situations... I'm really glad we didnt trade Kendrick in the offseason. Guy is a stud. If he can develop his power a bit more to get around that 12-15 HR mark he'll be a great 2B for the next decade. Oh, and Frankie picks up save #42.
Angels v Sox round 3. Weaver has been pretty bad in his career vs Boston, hopefully he has his A game tonight.
The offense is finally starting to hit a bit of a stride it seems. http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels29-2008jul29,0,6674471.story
I havent been paying attention to what he's been doing in AAA, but it's good to know his stock is going up. Might be a good time to unload him.
i actually bet my dad 5 dollars the angels would make it to the world series...so i have to root for you guys
Thought Lackey was going to do it last night. Still a great performance. Team shouldnt be afraid of Boston come October. Dominating them in the regular season has to do something for your confidence.
Yeah I agree but I think if they were matched up the Angels will still be a little worried about playing the Sox simply because of the past few years. But yeah it's got to give them tons of confidence. It will be interesting to see a playoff series against the 2 teams again. Hopefully the Angels will carry over the hot streak into NY this weekend.
Despite the regular season success we've had vs you guys I still know you're our biggest competition in the AL. Anything can happen, it just depends which team is hot at the end of the year. I think the Angels are clearly a better team than last year, but it might not mean much in a few months. Looking forward to October.
Seriously the Angels better keep this up for the next 4 games. Tip my cap to the Angels, they flat out dominated the Sox this season so far.
Wow, I'm kind of shocked by this. Guy is this mad at Scioscia because he was benched against lefties early in his career? Get over it lol. Hopefully what the 2nd half of the article hints at with Tex not being a good club house guy in Texas isnt a problem. I think the Angels clubhouse has enough good guys to keep him in line for a couple months. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angfyi30-2008jul30,0,3484740.story
So did I lol. I know Kotchman was mad he'd get benched against lefties, but Scioscia hasnt really been doing that to him much this year so I figured it was a non-issue.
