Darin Erstad went 1-for-14 during his rehab, and then he actually took himself out of a game. As Scioscia put it, "For Erstad to take himself out of a game, it's significant." He is hurt, and we may not see him for the rest of the season.
Question: Is this the proverbial "blessing in disguise"? Reluctantly, I think so.
We can talk about the Intangibles that Erstad brings: his clubhouse leadership, his work ethic, etc. But given his diminishing contributions on the field, I think it's best to give his job to a Morales or a Kotchman. And that's coming from a big Erstad/Intangibles fan. I mean, shit, Erstad's PHIL rating is through the roof! haha.
The Angels face the potential of Erstad being out the rest of the season, when he will become a FA. What should the Angels do with its longtime clubhouse leader?
0 recs | 67 comments
erstad
Here are the problems for erstad1B: Morales - a legit power hitter, taking him out of the lineup would be a shame, and it would be hard for him to DH with salmon and anderson taking these duties for the time being.
Kotchman - Most likely our everyday first basemen for the next couple years if he actually recovers from mono. While his hitting style is different than morales (i think mo has more pop), this is the guy that has been on our depth charts since he was drafted.
CF:Figgins - Sure, we all get nervous when a fly ball comes to him, but he has the speed and can move on the basepaths. He's my pick to be the fixture in CF for the years to come, if mcpherson and kendrick can prove themselves.
Murphy - He's flashed the leather and robbed a home run, his bat will come around but i don't see him being an everyday player until 2008, or 2007 if anderson can't play the field anymore.
Basically, Erstad is where salmon was at this point in 2004(coincidenitally with the same amount of time left on his contract as salmon did at the time), and he is bruised, broken, and unable to hit.
I mean, sure Erstad is good at the rbi groundout, otherwise known as the "productive out" by hatch and scioscia, but i have to unfortunately say that Erstad is dead weight on our team, and he is only going to hurt our depth by being on our bench. The problem is that I don't even want to think about giving Ersty the DFA, even if he has had only one truly productive season on the Angels, his scowls will warm my heart any day.
jtkelly86 - June 8, 2006
Simple
Tell him to get surgery now, invite him to spend the rest of the season in the clubhouse while rehabbing, lending his intangibles & support without actually having to hurt the lineup with his bat. Then, with as much grace & thanks as possible, kiss him goodbye, or offer him a $500,000 contract to be a bench player while the youth movement rolls on.The 2007 lineup should look like this:
C: Napoli/Mathis
1B: Kotch
2B: Kendrick
SS: Cabrera
3B: D-Mac/Quinlan
LF: Garret/Rivera
CF: Figgins
RF: Vlad
DH: Morales
That's both pretty good and pretty cheap. We've got $30 million coming off the books (Erstad, Alfonzo, Weaver, Kennedy, Yan, etc.), no F.A. needs for the rotation ... so either the extra money should be spent on Vernon Wells types, putting Figgy back into his Rover role, or Stoneman should package some spare shortstops, AAA SPs, prospects and whoever the hell else for Miguel Cabrera.
mattwelch - June 8, 2006
agree pretty much entirely....
Love the Vernon Wells and/or Cabrera ideas. If Florida is smart they won't trade Cabrera for ANYTHING. We need stud outfielders if anything. Would love to see Figgins back in the rover role. The reason he was voted team MVP was his versatility. Stick him in one spot and he's very average, sad to say.I know you love Kotchman, but I'd be fine with Morales at 1B for years to come and trading Kotchman for help elsewhere. I like Kotchman, his attitude, his glove, his price tag, etc. I just don't think his ceiling is that high. 15 HR 1st basemen that don't bring speed to the table aren't a huge commodity in this day and age.
Sometimes stud prospects can almost handicap you a little, although it is a nice problem to have. For instance, there's almost no doubt that we'd be better off THIS YEAR with the Hillenbrand/McPherson/Kendrick package than we are with Kennedy/McPherson/Quinlan, but if we do this trade we risk stunting McPherson's growth as a player.
I personally would like to see McPherson get as many ABs as possible this year against righties and lefties, even though I have no doubt in my mind we'd be better off in '06 with Hillenbrand taking alot of those at bats and playing somewhere on this team every day.
The GM job is a tough one. Even tougher on good teams with great prospects. I'm just glad we're in this situation unlike the past Angels teams.
thewebb - June 8, 2006
Wells
Vernon Wells would be great to have but he's under contract through 2007, and I have a feeling the Blue Jays would be very reluctant to trade him, considering they plan on contending in the next few years and he only makes about $5.5 million.There's not all that much good stuff available next offseason. Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano might be the best available power hitters, but neither of them would help out the team OBP much.
I'd trade Brandon Wood and whatever other young players the Marlins might want and try to pry Cabrera away from them.
Dogman - June 8, 2006
Thar she blows
Vernon Wells. Matt's white whale.And no, I don't care if it's not an exact literary parallel.
LA Seitz - June 8, 2006
Roster
If Kendrick hits even .300 for us, wouldn't it be better to get him in now and let get used to MLB. Rather than wait until next year and have the growing pains then. I would really like to see both Aybar and B. Wood play for us in the future. I am not a big fan of Figgins anymore or Izturis. An as much as G.A. has meant to the Org. his big contract impeads a lot of growth. My heart of hearts line-up would look something like this:1B Kotchman
2B Kendrick
SS Wood/Aybar
3B D-Mac/Wood
Lf Morales/D-Mac/Mathis
Cf Murphy
Rf Vlad/D-Mac
C Napoli/Mathis
DH Whoever is not in the field.
I had heard or read that D-Mac had played outfield somewhere in his past.
higdog - June 8, 2006
if we go all young...
we will not win this year.We're better off working them in a player or two at a time to keep the good mix. There is absolutely no reason to replace a guy like OC at this point.
thewebb - June 8, 2006
I hear you
Your right, the chances of us winning this year go down if we bring in more youth. But just for giggles why not struggle this year and get it out of the way. The way our farm system is going, we might be bringing up impact players every year for the next couple of years.higdog - June 8, 2006
Is it me
Does it seem when Hud talks about the rookies, that his comments seem a little more pointed. He talks a lot about " Major League Hitters Up Here "or something to that effect when a veteran gets a hit or productive out?
higdog - June 8, 2006
Hud was the 25th man on the roster
many times and had to fight off rookies. He is obviously still bitter towards young talented prospects.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
Molina
We signed him through next year so I'm guessing he'll be #2 catcher next year, and should be.thewebb - June 8, 2006
Ehhhhhh
The Dodgers did that youth movement crap and it was miserable. It was so bad they had to go out and sign more free agents than anyone else in baseball. Now they are a winning team again with a mix of veterans and young players... which we already have right now.Anaheim of Anaheim - June 8, 2006
When?
A simple question: when?scareduck - June 8, 2006
I think
We badly need a big bat in the outfield for next season, and if we need to give up one or more of out rookie infielders, so be it. Apart from Gorneault, we don't seem to have any outfielders knocking on the door.As Matt points out, we will be freeing up $20m plus, and assuming Bart is fit, will have no need to find a starter.
Cabrera would be a huge signing, and worth giving a lot for.
UK Halo - June 8, 2006
yes he would...
but if we just opened up the vault to sign a free agent like Wells and didn't have to give up prospects, I like that idea too.With that said, Cabrera may be the best hitter in the game not named Pujols for the next 10 years and will fill in that 'superstar that carries your team' role after Vlad retires/gets injured very nicely.
thewebb - June 8, 2006
Ersty...
I agree with everyone above me here... Ersty is more or less done. It sucks, but get him some surgery, let him play injured clubhouse inspiration/intagible guy.Let the youth movement go into effect, but still keep a few veterans around, as the Rooks gotta learn from somebody.
I told someone early this year when I heard Ersty was gonna be playing CF, he wouldn't make it to the All-star break without going on the DL... well, it looks like it's pretty bad now...
Jeff
sipperphoto - June 8, 2006
One Correction
Erstad's contract expires at the end of this year, not 2007.But I agree that his lingering injury problems may ultimately benefit the team, because it prevents Scioscia from wasting a spot in the lineup on a guy who we know will be unproductive, rather than giving a chance to a younger player who might be productive. This year is about player development as much as anything else...really, sort of like the A's last year. The Angels aren't too far out of it & could still take the division, but it's patently obvious that it's time to start integrating the yunguns into the lineup to find out if they're going to make it here and whether they have trade value as ML-ready players.
jjackflash - June 8, 2006
thanks for the correction
i've edited the story. can't remember why i thought he was on the payroll through '07...yeswecan - June 8, 2006
We can have the best of both worlds
I think the team can contend this year with out selling the farm. With the AL west being what it is, its could take only 90 wins to get into the playoffs. Our pitching should be able to carry us to that mark, and if Stoneman figures out he's not in Montreal anymore, and deals prospect or two for a bat, you never know. As for Ersty, you have to be able to seperate the man and the player. He's been overrated for a long time. He does play great defense, but he strikes out to much, and lacks 1b/of power even when he's healthy. I am also a huge fan of aqcuiring Cabrera, a superstar in the making, worth almost any of our prospects. I wouldnt be opposed to packaging Aybar/Saunders/Kotchman. He's worth it to me.rjcicc - June 8, 2006
Since you all complain about Hatch & Mike...
how about a coaching position??ladybug - June 8, 2006
not happening
Scioscia's got at least 2 years of immunity left from the 02 WS. I altough I don't think he's the biggest problem right. Although he overmanages sometimesrjcicc - June 8, 2006
well then, how about kicking out
Phys...it could be the Hud & Ersty showladybug - June 8, 2006
Verbosity
Yeah, Erstad is famous for his verbosity.ValisJason - June 8, 2006
LOL...kind of what I was thinking.
ladybug - June 8, 2006
Or..
Phys and Hud are eating dinner at restaurant when Hud drops his stupid ball and in an attempt to catch anything round, Ersty races to catch the ball. He sumersaults through the restaurant, knocks into a retaining column holding the building up. This causes the building to callapse killing everyone. Ideally Hannity and Combs would be doing a live version of their shit spewing show at the rstaurant. The're identities would not be known for weeks, oddly no one would notice.rjcicc - June 8, 2006
Rory and Terry
Have them each do the radio and tv sides of the broadcast...problem solvedhigdog - June 8, 2006
less bloody
I thought the Dog and his best freind weren't being picked up this year? Was that just a rumor?rjcicc - June 8, 2006
Next year
We will be having the same Ersty conversation only we will be talking about GA.higdog - June 8, 2006
<chills>
i hope you're wrong, but i think you may be right...yeswecan - June 8, 2006
Wayne
loves his ol' cadillac.cupie - June 8, 2006
your preference
is the escalade, right?yeswecan - June 8, 2006
With spinners
cupie - June 8, 2006
every team goes through it
Bernie in NY .....there's more I swear.rjcicc - June 8, 2006
Speaking of GA
What about him for a hitting coach?higdog - June 8, 2006
please no
I love GA, but I don't think I've ever seen a player put up better numbers in spite of himself. Take GA's talent and Erstad's competitiveness and voila, it's Ken Griffey Jr!If he's hitting coach our entire team is stepping into the dugout before their swing (1st base dugout for lefties and 3rd base for righties). It has worked for GA, but only because his talent level is rediculous.
thewebb - June 8, 2006
great bio on Darin
this is your life Erstyladybug - June 8, 2006
Deadspin
has some info/speculation concerning the redacted names in the Grimsley affidavit.Link:
http://www.deadspin.com/sports/baseball/so-weve-got-some-affidavit-names-179400.php
G Abbes - June 8, 2006
i dont give a damn
about jason grimsley. he knows he's a horrible baseball player, so he just wanted to get attention by ruining other people's lives and careers. i'm not going to give him that attention. he's jose canseco status: loser.angels4adam - June 8, 2006
then why are you posting?
cupie - June 8, 2006
J-someone or other
I read through the affidavit. There was one name where the first letter of the first name wasn't completely blacked out; it was a J.Someone could probably figure out some of the names based on the context and the amount of space taken up by the letters in the names.
jjackflash - June 8, 2006
I
I have been, to this point, against players who use steroids and the like. But now it just seems mean spirited or a mini-witch hunt. I dont think a ball player using steroids makes him a criminal.I think the government is going a little overboard.
higdog - June 8, 2006
criminal
Uh, yes, it absolutely makes him a criminal, literally. Steroids are proscribed drugs under federal law. Possession is a crime. However, not sure if the same holds for HGH, but I bet it does.ValisJason - June 8, 2006
HGH IS LEGAL
with a prescription ... like viagaraRev Halofan - June 9, 2006
erstad in the line up
erstad is in the 3 hole tonight for slc so maybe hes tryin to make a go of it? he's also in center as well.rowast - June 8, 2006
Erstad 0-1
Howie 1-1 w/ a RBI now hitting .400.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
Erstad 0-2 (1-16)
Howie 2-2 2B RBI now hitting .404.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
that guy
is unrealhathaway93 - June 8, 2006
Erstad 0-3 (1-17)
Howie 2-3 2B RBI now hitting .401.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
i think
erstad went 0-3 at rancho so you can add that to his totals and make it 1-20hathaway93 - June 8, 2006
I did.
riktermiller - June 8, 2006
Erstad 0-4 (1-18)
His ankle has to be the cause of this. I know I give him tons of shit but he is a better hitter than this. I hope he is not handed the starting job if he decides he ready to rejoin the Halos.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
scratch that 1-4
Willits thrown out at home. The rest of the post still applies.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
Howie 3-4 2 2B RBI now hitting .405
riktermiller - June 8, 2006
Time to
Bring him up and insert him in the lineup. They brought up Kendry when he was on a hot streak. Why not Howie. Put him at DH/2nd and sit Salmon for a couple weeks.higdog - June 8, 2006
HK
He isn't getting cheap hits either...higdog - June 8, 2006
why would we do that?
what has salmon done wrong? maybe trade ak and play him at 2nd..but not sit salmon for him, i doubt he would out-produce the king fishhathaway93 - June 8, 2006
True
Salmon has done nothing wrong...just trying to find a spot without trading AK.higdog - June 8, 2006
I wouldn't be that hard.
Salmon has been great given the circumstances but he isn't setting the world on fire. In any scenario Salmon wouldn't sit for an extended period of time but split at bats. However, I wouldn't start fucking with the roster while the club is playing well. Including demoting Lil' Weav.riktermiller - June 8, 2006
HK
Given the Molina, Glaus track record, I thought a two week spot where HK could hit everyday would be an interesting idea.higdog - June 8, 2006
Howie 3-5 Erstad 1-5
riktermiller - June 8, 2006
Trading Kennedy
The only problem with trading Kennedy is...who do you trade him for?1b is a lock with Morales and eventually Kotchman if he isn't traded.
2b goes to HK by next season if not sooner.
Cabrera is one of the most valuable SS's in MLB when you take into account his bat AND glove (with Wood knocking on the door for for 08 or 09).
3b is McPherson's unless we decide to gived up on him just as he is starting to come into his own.
RF is Vlad.
CF is Figgins because there is nowhere else to play him.
LF/DH goes to some combination of Anderson, Morales, Salmon and Rivera
Our only real need is a solid veteran reliever and I haven't heard of any being available.
akathelorax @ Halos Heaven - June 8, 2006
Who says
he has to be traded for major league players? How about an OF prospect?The Angels don't have to play Figgins in CF (or anywhere else) if they can get a better one. They don't have to play McPherson or Figgins at 3B if they get someone appreciably better.
I agree that you really can't knock GA out of the lineup, not at his salary, and at least not this year.
A useful arm for the bullpen would also be nice.
jjackflash - June 8, 2006
Figgins
You're right about Figgins and McPherson, but who are we going to get to replace either of them? Figgins is already playing at a very high level (yes he could improve in several areas, but who would be better?). As far as McPherson goes...who do you get to replace him? He is just now getting comfortable again and he could turn into a 50 HR guy that we have under our control for the next 5-6 years.I am totally against trading Kennedy for prospects. That is exactly what this team does not need. We need to upgrade what we have now and not obtain more prospects to clog up the 40 man roster so that we lose guys like Jenks and Turnbow. Not that I disagree with dropping those guys from the 40, but we have don't want to keep losing quality prospects...
akathelorax @ Halos Heaven - June 8, 2006
maybe
we could get 2 or 3 single a or rookie ball prospects that are young and can be helpful in 3 or 4 years down the line..our low minors are mostly awful hitting teamshathaway93 - June 9, 2006
One more on 6-6-6
We were playing the "Devil" Rays and the "Angels" won!SocalAngelFaninOC - June 8, 2006
AAA
Watching the game on "Game Day" SLC seems good at getting the big inning. Also it seems throughout the Angels minor league system they like to hit and run with the 9 & 1 spot. Seems like we could do it on the big club, but our #1 doesn't always cooperate.higdog - June 8, 2006
Erstad
I know he's a great team guy, but I hope in the nicest way, that he can't come back.higdog - June 8, 2006
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