AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Agree with ufs. Figgens was replaced because of his poor defense. Fast yes. No other redeeming qualities. I have seen speedy outfielders that still stunk defensively. Matthews is an upgrade. At least he's better than his father (defensively) and Figgens. Last years Angels were horrid defensively. This years won't be good. Just better than last year. As in an earlier post I made Kendrick at 2b will be an immediate upgrade over Kendrick at 1b where he might have been the worst I've seen since F. Thomas attempted to play the field.
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by Vander:
Agree with ufs. Figgens was replaced because of his poor defense. Fast yes. No other redeeming qualities. I have seen speedy outfielders that still stunk defensively. Matthews is an upgrade. At least he's better than his father (defensively) and Figgens. Last years Angels were horrid defensively. This years won't be good. Just better than last year. As in an earlier post I made Kendrick at 2b will be an immediate upgrade over Kendrick at 1b where he might have been the worst I've seen since F. Thomas attempted to play the field. Don't forget the Angels were a very good fielding team until last year. Casey Kotchman is very solid at IB he could get 500 AB's. Kendrick is a 2B, last year he play very well at 2B. I could see Figgins being traded if he has problems at 3B. Brandon Wood could be the Angels 3B for the next 10 yrs .
Texas Rangers with Ron Washington as manager could become more of a runining team. Kenny Lofton 30 sb's?
Agree with ufs. Figgens was replaced because of his poor defense. Fast yes. No other redeeming qualities. I have seen speedy outfielders that still stunk defensively. Matthews is an upgrade. At least he's better than his father (defensively) and Figgens. Last years Angels were horrid defensively. This years won't be good. Just better than last year. As in an earlier post I made Kendrick at 2b will be an immediate upgrade over Kendrick at 1b where he might have been the worst I've seen since F. Thomas attempted to play the field. Don't forget the Angels were a very good fielding team until last year. Casey Kotchman is very solid at IB he could get 500 AB's. Kendrick is a 2B, last year he play very well at 2B. I could see Figgins being traded if he has problems at 3B. Brandon Wood could be the Angels 3B for the next 10 yrs .
Texas Rangers with Ron Washington as manager could become more of a runining team. Kenny Lofton 30 sb's?
Jim Ferrari
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
John, you should have read yahoo answers more closely. A's had a 3.60 bullpen ERA.
Did someone talk to me about errors? I don't dignify that with responses.
Did someone talk to me about errors? I don't dignify that with responses.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by bjoak:
John, you should have read yahoo answers more closely. A's had a 3.60 bullpen ERA.
You're right... I used the MLB links and they didn't work.
The espn link worked.. 3.60 to 3.78
Same amount of IP, Angels had 49 more K's, 14 less bb, and BAA 10 points less, so much better whip too.
They are both good.
John, you should have read yahoo answers more closely. A's had a 3.60 bullpen ERA.
You're right... I used the MLB links and they didn't work.
The espn link worked.. 3.60 to 3.78
Same amount of IP, Angels had 49 more K's, 14 less bb, and BAA 10 points less, so much better whip too.
They are both good.
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Lost Sailor
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Must have been away someplace - what makes you think the Texas pitching staff can hold the other team to just seven runs? Well.. you may have a point there. I forgot they don't have that anchor Rogers anymore...
Been way too long at sea....
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Edwards Kings
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by Captain Hook:
quote:Originally posted by Lost Sailor:
Man, I just don't see Anaheim doing it. Rotation? Lackeys a #1, but not sold on the rest. Colon is out, Jered Weaver is having recurring arm troubles, and Santana/Escobar are mediocre pitchers to me. Their saving grace is their bullpen, which is real good even with the loss of Donnelly, but they're going to have a lot of work to do this spring.
Lineup: Who are you scared of ourside of Vlad? Garrett? Matthews? Juan Rivera has some pop, but he's also out for a while. I mean, Hillenbrand and Izturis in the power corners? Im not sold.
Give me Texas. Let them win every game 8-7. Offense had an off year in 2006 all around, from Tex to Young to Blaylock to everyones draft day darling Wilkerson. They'll rebound in 2007 and take the pennant in the weakest division in baseball. Must have been away someplace - what makes you think the Texas pitching staff can hold the other team to just seven runs? [/QUOTE]Actually, its the bar-be-que you can get around Arlington that will make the difference!
The Texas SP is their weakest point, I grant you, and pitching generally wins divisions. Texas is going to have to rely on young McCarthy and Tejeda (I have no idea who the 5th starter will be) to pick up the slack from Padilla and Millwood (who are good, not great). In the end, I think they will have enough pitching to win those 6-5, 8-7 ballgames, make the playoffs where you can get by not needing a fourth or fifth starter. I just do not think LAA or OAK have enough offense and will be on the wrong side of too many 1-2 and 3-4 ballgames. I do not think Seattle has enough of anything.
It could be KC vs TB in the ALCS for all I know, but I think Texas will take this division in spite of itself.
[ February 23, 2007, 06:24 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]
quote:Originally posted by Lost Sailor:
Man, I just don't see Anaheim doing it. Rotation? Lackeys a #1, but not sold on the rest. Colon is out, Jered Weaver is having recurring arm troubles, and Santana/Escobar are mediocre pitchers to me. Their saving grace is their bullpen, which is real good even with the loss of Donnelly, but they're going to have a lot of work to do this spring.
Lineup: Who are you scared of ourside of Vlad? Garrett? Matthews? Juan Rivera has some pop, but he's also out for a while. I mean, Hillenbrand and Izturis in the power corners? Im not sold.
Give me Texas. Let them win every game 8-7. Offense had an off year in 2006 all around, from Tex to Young to Blaylock to everyones draft day darling Wilkerson. They'll rebound in 2007 and take the pennant in the weakest division in baseball. Must have been away someplace - what makes you think the Texas pitching staff can hold the other team to just seven runs? [/QUOTE]Actually, its the bar-be-que you can get around Arlington that will make the difference!
The Texas SP is their weakest point, I grant you, and pitching generally wins divisions. Texas is going to have to rely on young McCarthy and Tejeda (I have no idea who the 5th starter will be) to pick up the slack from Padilla and Millwood (who are good, not great). In the end, I think they will have enough pitching to win those 6-5, 8-7 ballgames, make the playoffs where you can get by not needing a fourth or fifth starter. I just do not think LAA or OAK have enough offense and will be on the wrong side of too many 1-2 and 3-4 ballgames. I do not think Seattle has enough of anything.
It could be KC vs TB in the ALCS for all I know, but I think Texas will take this division in spite of itself.
[ February 23, 2007, 06:24 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by Edwards Kings:
I just do not think LAA or OAK have enough offense and will be on the wrong side of too many 1-2 and 3-4 ballgames. How is the TEX offense so much better then the LAA offense that it overcomes LAA P depth.
Lackey-Millwood
Escobar-Padilla
Santana-Tejeda
Weaver-McCarthy
Saunders - ???
Colon - ????
That's an incredible advantage, especially at 3-4-5.
Napoli-Laird who has the advantage?
Vlad- Tex who has the advantage?
Kendrick- Kinsler ditto
Young-Cabrera Young, but Cabrera is awesome fielder
Lofton-Figgins?
Wilkerson-Catalnotto-Cruz to GAnderson, Matthews, Kotchman where's the advantage?
Hillenbrand to Blalock ????
If TEX even has a hitting advantage, how is it even close to the LAA P advantage?
I just do not think LAA or OAK have enough offense and will be on the wrong side of too many 1-2 and 3-4 ballgames. How is the TEX offense so much better then the LAA offense that it overcomes LAA P depth.
Lackey-Millwood
Escobar-Padilla
Santana-Tejeda
Weaver-McCarthy
Saunders - ???
Colon - ????
That's an incredible advantage, especially at 3-4-5.
Napoli-Laird who has the advantage?
Vlad- Tex who has the advantage?
Kendrick- Kinsler ditto
Young-Cabrera Young, but Cabrera is awesome fielder
Lofton-Figgins?
Wilkerson-Catalnotto-Cruz to GAnderson, Matthews, Kotchman where's the advantage?
Hillenbrand to Blalock ????
If TEX even has a hitting advantage, how is it even close to the LAA P advantage?
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Edwards Kings
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
I already conceded that SP is the Texas achilles heal, but stand by my contention that Millwood and Padilla are solid. Texas does not have a Lackey, who is a star, but Escobar is not necessarily known for his health, Weaver is in long toss, and Santana (whom I think soon could be a star) is still a work in progress. This could be his break-out year, but maybe not. He is only 24.
On the batting, in 2006 Texas had a higher team batting average, 11% more RBI's, scored 14% more runs, had 16% more doubles, and 26% more home runs. Angels stole more bases. Yipeee!
For 2007, Texas has lost Lee and Mathews. That will hurt their numbers for sure. A healthy Wilkerson, Blalock getting back on track (someone to watch in spring training), and 150+ more AB's out of Kinsler plus Lofton's speed and BA can make up for a lot of that.
I expect LAA to make up some of the ground,not necessarily with Matthews, but the Hillenbrand additon plus more Kendick will certainly be pluses.
If the contest comes down to the differnce between Napoli (good power the 20% of the time he catches up to it) and Laird, it will be too close to call because neither are necessarily "carry the team" talent.
Don't get me wrong. I like LAA and OAK. I think that for both the AL and NL West it will be a case of again who blinks first.
On the batting, in 2006 Texas had a higher team batting average, 11% more RBI's, scored 14% more runs, had 16% more doubles, and 26% more home runs. Angels stole more bases. Yipeee!
For 2007, Texas has lost Lee and Mathews. That will hurt their numbers for sure. A healthy Wilkerson, Blalock getting back on track (someone to watch in spring training), and 150+ more AB's out of Kinsler plus Lofton's speed and BA can make up for a lot of that.
I expect LAA to make up some of the ground,not necessarily with Matthews, but the Hillenbrand additon plus more Kendick will certainly be pluses.
If the contest comes down to the differnce between Napoli (good power the 20% of the time he catches up to it) and Laird, it will be too close to call because neither are necessarily "carry the team" talent.
Don't get me wrong. I like LAA and OAK. I think that for both the AL and NL West it will be a case of again who blinks first.
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
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Liquidhippo
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
I have to agree with bjoak. For some reason, the Athletics are underrated every year. They've got solid starters and a solid 'pen. Their offense is adequate. Plus, Billy ALWAYS makes sure that they'll contend. He makes the right moves at the right time.
Angels - Overrated....again. Not bad, just overrated. Escobar's knees are a concern. Weaver is very good, but not as good as last year, plus he'll miss a few starts. Colon is done, Santana's future looks bright but he's still inconsistent. Anderson and Vlad are in decline. Matthews won't repeat his career year. Nevertheless, they'll still finish second because the division is so weak. Could they win the division, of course, but I'd tag them as a 5-1.
Texas - I love their offense, but having great sticks has never been enough for the Rangers in the past, it won't be enough this year. They have 2 mediocre starters at #1 & #2 and then it starts to get ugly quick.
Seattle - I love their defense, that's about the only good thing I can say. Oh, and Putz is pretty good, but their rotation 2-5 is horrible, absolutely atrocious. Until they get some real starters(besides Felix) nothing else will matter.
1 - Oakland
2 - The Los Angeles Marketing Experts of Anaheim
3 - Texas
4 - Seattle
Angels - Overrated....again. Not bad, just overrated. Escobar's knees are a concern. Weaver is very good, but not as good as last year, plus he'll miss a few starts. Colon is done, Santana's future looks bright but he's still inconsistent. Anderson and Vlad are in decline. Matthews won't repeat his career year. Nevertheless, they'll still finish second because the division is so weak. Could they win the division, of course, but I'd tag them as a 5-1.
Texas - I love their offense, but having great sticks has never been enough for the Rangers in the past, it won't be enough this year. They have 2 mediocre starters at #1 & #2 and then it starts to get ugly quick.
Seattle - I love their defense, that's about the only good thing I can say. Oh, and Putz is pretty good, but their rotation 2-5 is horrible, absolutely atrocious. Until they get some real starters(besides Felix) nothing else will matter.
1 - Oakland
2 - The Los Angeles Marketing Experts of Anaheim
3 - Texas
4 - Seattle
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
A's are underrated every year...
Frank Thomas carried them last year. He's gone.
Chavez, Crosby, Ellis, Bradley, Harden, Kotsay (lesser extent) all are health concerns every year.
Who is their 5th starter? Kennedy?
Haren is only reliable starter.
They could finish 4th as easily as they could finish 2nd.
Frank Thomas carried them last year. He's gone.
Chavez, Crosby, Ellis, Bradley, Harden, Kotsay (lesser extent) all are health concerns every year.
Who is their 5th starter? Kennedy?
Haren is only reliable starter.
They could finish 4th as easily as they could finish 2nd.
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Liquidhippo
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
In my humble opinion, the points that UFS brought up, most of them strengthen the A's case in my mind. A guy with a 2.31 ERA as a 5th starter, not too shabby. I'd take him over the other #5 starters in the division.
Plus, all of these health concerns, practically the worst case scenario played out last year, and they won the division. We saw the downside, and they still won 93 games.
Losing Thomas will hurt, and they're certainly not a lock, but I still tag them as the favorite.
Plus, all of these health concerns, practically the worst case scenario played out last year, and they won the division. We saw the downside, and they still won 93 games.
Losing Thomas will hurt, and they're certainly not a lock, but I still tag them as the favorite.
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by Liquidhippo:
In my humble opinion, the points that UFS brought up, most of them strengthen the A's case in my mind. A guy with a 2.31 ERA as a 5th starter, not too shabby. I'd take him over the other #5 starters in the division.
Plus, all of these health concerns, practically the worst case scenario played out last year, and they won the division. We saw the downside, and they still won 93 games.
Losing Thomas will hurt, and they're certainly not a lock, but I still tag them as the favorite. LOL... This is fun...
They won 93 games because Thomas carried them big time. They need someone to step up like that again. They were hot when Frank was hot, which was most of the second half.
Kennedy 2.31 ERA with no starts in 2006.
Kennedy with 4.45 ERA in 8 starts (of 19) with OAK in 2005, and 7.04 ERA in 16 COL starts in 2005.
Maybe there's a reason he didn't start last year?
I pray that he starts. He's 0-8 with a 6.34 ERA in 9 starts vs LAA.
In my humble opinion, the points that UFS brought up, most of them strengthen the A's case in my mind. A guy with a 2.31 ERA as a 5th starter, not too shabby. I'd take him over the other #5 starters in the division.
Plus, all of these health concerns, practically the worst case scenario played out last year, and they won the division. We saw the downside, and they still won 93 games.
Losing Thomas will hurt, and they're certainly not a lock, but I still tag them as the favorite. LOL... This is fun...
They won 93 games because Thomas carried them big time. They need someone to step up like that again. They were hot when Frank was hot, which was most of the second half.
Kennedy 2.31 ERA with no starts in 2006.
Kennedy with 4.45 ERA in 8 starts (of 19) with OAK in 2005, and 7.04 ERA in 16 COL starts in 2005.
Maybe there's a reason he didn't start last year?
I pray that he starts. He's 0-8 with a 6.34 ERA in 9 starts vs LAA.
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Liquidhippo
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by Liquidhippo:
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
Thankfully, Greg's flight was delayed and we didn't get to the game until the third inning...
J Kennedy 1 2-3 6 4 4 2 1 0
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
Thankfully, Greg's flight was delayed and we didn't get to the game until the third inning...J Kennedy 1 2-3 6 4 4 2 1 0
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sportsbettingman
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AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
I'll hoist one up for you two...Cheers!...I'm jealous. Arizona in March is awesome!
~Lance
~Lance
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."
~Albert Einstein
~Albert Einstein
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
They won 93 games because Thomas carried them big time. They need someone to step up like that again. They were hot when Frank was hot, which was most of the second half. As previously noted, half-way to normal Chavez and Piazza easily replace Thomas' numbers. But you are clearly not as interestd in objectively evaluating the situation as in picking your team to win, so you will never see it past a positive Angels outcome. The fact of the matter is the division sucks and both teams are essentially the same as when the A's came out better last year. You should pray for the Angels to pick up a good 3B. That makes them the favorites.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
What if Wood starts there?
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by Vander:
What if Wood starts there? The guy who hit .276 with 25 homeruns in the homer/hit happy Texas League last year? I wouldn't throw him away as a prospect quite yet--in fact, I'm pretty sure he'll do something as a major leaguer--but I wouldn't view him as a panacea for the Angels' woes at any position where they are desperate for a replacement. I also think that the recent trend of just plugging a player into a position he never played before is a good idea experimentally, but it is not always going to work out (the fact that Wood played a few games there as a rookie notwithstanding).
What if Wood starts there? The guy who hit .276 with 25 homeruns in the homer/hit happy Texas League last year? I wouldn't throw him away as a prospect quite yet--in fact, I'm pretty sure he'll do something as a major leaguer--but I wouldn't view him as a panacea for the Angels' woes at any position where they are desperate for a replacement. I also think that the recent trend of just plugging a player into a position he never played before is a good idea experimentally, but it is not always going to work out (the fact that Wood played a few games there as a rookie notwithstanding).
Chance favors the prepared mind.
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by UFS:
quote:Originally posted by Liquidhippo:
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
Thankfully, Greg's flight was delayed and we didn't get to the game until the third inning...
J Kennedy 1 2-3 6 4 4 2 1 0 [/QUOTE]We got out of town just in time....
J Kennedy 2 8 5 5 1 0
quote:Originally posted by Liquidhippo:
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
Thankfully, Greg's flight was delayed and we didn't get to the game until the third inning...J Kennedy 1 2-3 6 4 4 2 1 0 [/QUOTE]We got out of town just in time....
J Kennedy 2 8 5 5 1 0
AL West: Can The Angels Return To The Top?
Originally posted by UFS:
quote:Originally posted by UFS:
quote:Originally posted by Liquidhippo:
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
Thankfully, Greg's flight was delayed and we didn't get to the game until the third inning...
J Kennedy 1 2-3 6 4 4 2 1 0 [/QUOTE]We got out of town just in time....
J Kennedy 2 8 5 5 1 0 [/QUOTE]He's improving....
J Kennedy 3 2-3 7 4 4 2 1
quote:Originally posted by UFS:
quote:Originally posted by Liquidhippo:
Ok UFS,
I'll wager you one Corona that Kennedy has a better winning % than you predict.
Thankfully, Greg's flight was delayed and we didn't get to the game until the third inning...J Kennedy 1 2-3 6 4 4 2 1 0 [/QUOTE]We got out of town just in time....
J Kennedy 2 8 5 5 1 0 [/QUOTE]He's improving....
J Kennedy 3 2-3 7 4 4 2 1