Bottom line, Brandon Wood is either being blocked by guys with less power or maturing into the roll of a lifetime. This dude is one of our top prospects. He has shown he can cut the Ks to Troy Glaus levels and adjust to the majors. He plays 3B and SS just fine, no flash, but no fury either.
He could be some good, cheap pop for years to come and he will only turn 24 in March, so those of you who thinkhe is a bust are just tired of hearing baout him for so long without any big league results - and those were hinted at when he competently handled things down the stretch for the ailing Angels infield.
On the other hand, Wood could be packaged for a marquee player from a team whose owner maybe lost his ass in the stock market last week and needs to cut salary more than he wants to win.
Is Wood the next Glaus-DeCinces or is he just a good piece of TRADE BAIT?
0 recs | 50 comments
KEEP HIM
for the love of God, keep him!!
I’m calling it… he’s putting up Longoria-like numbers next year as our starting third baseman/shortstop.
heck, Aybar is more of trade bait than Wood right now.
We NEED to get this guy in there EVERY DAY and completely commit to him, even when he hits a mild funk (which will inevitably happen). the results will be there!
howiestheman - October 18, 2008
I am so completely with you on this
After the last stint of big league playing time he had in Sept. I am more commited then ever to seeing this kid in out starting lineup ON OPENING DAY.
halofan4life - October 18, 2008
3rd
Four Ts - October 19, 2008
Hard Call
I think the best thing Wood has going for him is his youth. Other than that, we really don’t know what will become of Wood. He blew it pretty hard early on but looked solid upon his second call up. I think he could do us some good but on the flip side, does anyone really REALLY miss Glaus? If that is what we expect to become of Wood then I would say shop him around in a package and see what you can get. If not, then we got a young prospect that has the potential of working into an everyday player.
Here is question: Who out there, if anyone, would you give up Wood for?
The answer to that question might help solve what exactly we should do with him.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - October 18, 2008
Yeah, I miss Glaus
Angels third basemen over the last four seasons:
BAvg/OBP/SLG: .266/.326/.371
Runs: 248
RBI: 236
HR: 37
Troy Glaus over the last four seasons:
BAvg/OBP/SLG: .261/.356/.500
Runs: 312
RBI: 362
HR: 122
I know he was expensive, but you don’t think those numbers could have helped us out the last few seasons? He’s been pretty healthy too, with 630+ plate appearances in three of the four years.
I agree with giving Wood his shot next year, but man do I miss Glaus.
Gorbachav5 - October 20, 2008
The only reason to NOT miss Glaus (as a player) was his injuries...
If Wood stays healthy and there is no reason to think otherwise…I will take him as our full-time SS or 3B.
K3YEROUT - October 21, 2008
Wood needs his chance
i think Wood needs to get his chance. he has too much potential to use as trade bait. I would just stick him at SS in ‘09 and see what he can do. i would love to trade for Glaus and bring him back home. Maybe trade Aybar and a young reliever for him? what do u think? i remember the 1 of the major reason why they let him walk was because of his injuries. if you check out since he left he hasn’t really been injured so i think he might be worth bringing back. Have any of you checked out D-Mac this year. he tore up AAA again for the Marlins, he might finally get his chance to prove if he can play at this level with the Marlins next year.
HALO_86 - October 23, 2008
Keep him.......Sheriff Woody is ready to REACH FOR THE SKY
25+ HR’s next year if the Angels Stick with him through the GOOD and the BAD. I can bet he will lead the team in HR’s next year (Without TEX of course).
acuda27 - October 18, 2008
Angels 2009 starting 3rd basemen
UCIHalo - October 18, 2008
Keep Wood.
Trade Aybar.
Chzburger Jones - October 18, 2008
exactly
vlad IS my man - October 18, 2008
I agree.
Wood shouldn’t be blocked by Aybar for another day.
snowhor - October 19, 2008
Soy Woody
Woody Woody Woody. Me gusta mucho. I want to give him more at bats so keep him.
teopeht - October 19, 2008
Glaus-DeCinces
…I remember it like it was yesterday.
Drunk out of my mind. Possibly 18 or 19 (28 now).
My buddy Tommy was dating Amy, Doug’s daughter. We go bowling at Fountain Bowl. Get tossed, drive back to Amy’s house (im guessing Irvine or Copa De Oro, thinking back..hell, it had a gate, and all of South County had gates to keep our kind out of there).
I remember the circular trophy room. The signed Ali gloves. The shit-ton of memorabilia. And the dread that Doug would wake up and whoop our ass.
We all eventually parted ways, like friends do. Amy began to date Troy. Tommy did his thing. I went to college.
Those few moments were precious, f’d out in south OC. Damn, time flies.
clover_black - October 19, 2008
Wood needs to play
We know he’s going to struggle with the strikeouts and may even hit in the .230-.240 range his first year, but he plays solid defense at SS and 3B, has power, is young, and overall can be more of a presence in the lienup than either Figgins or Aybar ever could.
If players like Mathis and Matthews can get umpteen chances to play regularly, Wood deserves a shot.
stolenbases - October 19, 2008
Wood is middle of the road right now
If he is going to become something, he is not worth a trade. If he is not going to become something, then he is worth it.
Look for Wood to be here in 2009. It’s his last shot. I am not going to make a prediction. It’s all on him.
vladtheimpaler - October 19, 2008
Last chance?
The guy is 23….let’s talk in a few years if we are still asking these same questions…
K3YEROUT - October 21, 2008
It is sad
that if we do not trade aybar or izzy he will not play unless figgins moves to left. I personally think and agree with everybody else he needs to play. Every where he has gone he has produced. If you give him the at bats he will adjust and will hit and produce. I love the kid, he is my new favorite player so I would for them to trade him. They’ve talked about it for what 3 4 years now. I do not see it happening. But, if for some god awful reason they do trade him they would get a type A starter for him. If they do trade him it would be in the Peavy deal which I would not want them to do. Go Wood 2009!
angelskid2210 - October 19, 2008
Trade him only if..
it’s a Kotchman for Teixeira type deal and be damn sure we sign the stud we just traded for before the end of the season. Otherwise he gets his first full season starting in 09 !
Dono Romantico - October 19, 2008
What about a trade with the cubs for aramis ramirez
the cubs could desperately need an OFer, probably need a pitcher and wood could replace Aramis.
How about something like Moseley/Green and Figgins/Wood and like PJ Phillips for Aramis
anaheim angels - October 19, 2008
Wood will put up something close to Ramirez's numbers
maybe not the RBIs, but you get my point. AND he’s younger, cheaper and under team control.
if it’s Figgins, eff yes. if it’s Wood, eff no.
howiestheman - October 19, 2008
I agree
that Wood probably will struggle in his first year but he’s never going to get better unless he gets regular ABs and his ability to play both SS and 3B gives us flexibility, namely to bench Aybar. Also, if Aybar is benched you can move Izzy to 2nd and bench Kendrick. You can pencil in Izzy for 2 months as the starting 2nd baseman anyways thanks to Kendrick’s pathetic hamstring.
Chzburger Jones - October 19, 2008
KEEP HIM!!!
With Teix not guaranteed to be back and Kendrick being garbage in the post season I say keep him and move Aybar to second and make Wood your everyday shortstop. He showed he has the leather to be an MLB shortstop and all the scouts say he has an Evan Longoria type bat. I want a player like that on my team.
Skizoss25 - October 19, 2008
take a look at Longoria's numbers this year
i wouldn’t be surprised one bit to see Wood, if given every day playing time, put up numbers very, very close to those.
howiestheman - October 19, 2008
BA is probably higher than Wood will manage, but I am with you...
Link
Tell me none of you would want these numbers???
K3YEROUT - October 21, 2008
that's what i'm saying!
i’ll give you the BA in his first year, but i wouldn’t be surprised to see him throw up a .260/.340/.530 line with ~30 HRs.
howiestheman - October 21, 2008
I see Wood
as Troy Glaus 2 electric bugaloo but with much better defense. But that’s a good thing…
Chzburger Jones - October 19, 2008
Too late to trade him
you have to keep him because he has lost a lot of value in the last two years.
NewportHalo - October 19, 2008
The one argument I can think of
to trade Brandon Wood now is that if we start him and he ends up being a bust, then what is left over of his once amazing trade value is now gone but if we aren’t blown away by a deal for him then I think it’s a risk worth taking and even if he sucks in his first year that doesn’t mean he won’t get better.
Chzburger Jones - October 20, 2008
As I've Suggested Before...
Chone in LF, GA primarily DH with Vladdy, move Figgy to right when GA plays the field, let Wood take over at 3B. You’ve got to break in this young infield of the future sooner or later, let’s get it going from Day 1 in 2009 and give it a real shot. There’s enough depth on thea team, and enough weakness in the division (barring CC and Peavy joining the Rangers) that the Angels can give these guys time to gel as a unit. In five years, when Vladdy, GA, and Hunter are all gone, this should be the core of your team, with Wood hitting .270-290 and knocking out 25-40 HR each year while putting up 150 or less SO’s (that would be good enoughf or me).
With power at a newfound premum, a power hitter should be a core component of your lineup, and unless you get a tremendous offer for Wood, you better keep him.
Kernel - October 20, 2008
this whole scenario is a lot better
if GA just isn’t in it.
but i do agree with you… it’s time for the Angels to commit to their young players, ESPECIALLY one with as much power as Brandon Wood.
you think the Rays were thinking, “Man, if only we could trade out this Longoria kid for someone who was a little faster and hit singles!”???
i didn’t think so.
howiestheman - October 20, 2008
Bah
Give me GA in any scenario. I’d rather see him stay an Angel. Let Rivera walk and try to dump GMJ when his NTC runs out.
Gorbachav5 - October 20, 2008
The NTC is not our problem with dumping GMJ.
It’s the lack of production and high cost employ him that causes other teams to not want him. Why focus on the NTC? That’s the least of the problems with his contract.
snowhor - October 20, 2008
Agree with this.
And if our goal is to get better, GA shouldn’t be back.
If our goal is the same type of shitty offense with the nice feeling of having a long-time Angel aiding in the out-making, then GA will be back.
snowhor - October 20, 2008
GA is not our problem
Look at how many games Mathis, GMJ, Rivera, Izturis, Aybar, and Sean Rodriguez started and you’ll find the bulk of our problem. At least Aybar and Izturis play good defense, so that somewhat excuses them.
No, GA is not a premium left fielder, but he’s better than the other internal options, and the external options would all be too expensive to allow us to also sign Teixeira, which should be our number 1 priority.
I’m all for the nice feeling in this case. This is entertainment after all, and I don’t see why a full season of Teixeira, development from Wood, and a lack of playing time from Mathis and GMJ can’t give us the offense we need when our pitching staff is so good.
Gorbachav5 - October 20, 2008
RE: He's better than the other internal options
we don’t know that because of the mindset that you follow…. the entire organization has it. we never play the younger guys, so we never actually know what they’re capable of. And before you know it, you’re the Yankees… old, overpaid players and your young guys have no experience.
I would place a lot of money on the fact that Morales could (and should) put up numbers BETTER than GA in a full season.
howiestheman - October 20, 2008
You beat me to it. Morales is the answer in left provided we are able to keep Tex at first.
snowhor - October 20, 2008
If we aren't able to keep Tex
We wind up in the same spot – play Morales at first and sign someone like Dunn or Manny Ramirez who can rotate with GA between DH and left field.
Like I said, I understand GA isn’t lighting the world on fire offensively, but there are other, better changes we can make before we get rid of him. When you add in the sentimentality aspect, it’s a no-brainer, IMO.
Gorbachav5 - October 20, 2008
If Tex isn't back, that makes it even harder to keep GA.
We would then have to make up for the loss of Tex, meaning we’d need someone like Manny or Dunn, or someone via a trade if we’re worried about high priced free agents and losing draft picks. And this person should never be allowed to be taken out of the lineup in favor of GA. As for the DH spot, I’d say that should primarily be Vlad’s.
I guess what we’re really disagreeing about is taking GA over Rivera. I’d side with Rivera, as I think GA is a shell of his former self and JR has a better upside. And JR would likely be cheaper, allowing us to afford Tex or one of those other players mentioned above.
snowhor - October 20, 2008
JR has more upside?
The guy’s 30. He’s not getting much better, if at all. And he gets on base even less than GA (which I know you thought was impossible, but it’s true!). And he plays worse defense. Sorry, I’m not seeing Rivera being nearly as good as GA now, and not likely to get there. Rivera is a decent fourth outfielder at this point (he was good a couple years ago), who was pressed into starting duty this year because GMJ turned out to be awful.
Based on what GA’s shown lately, he can be a league average hitter. If we don’t get Tex, you sign an outfielder who rotates between left and right to spell GA and Vladdy in the OF. I have no problems with that (other than no matter what we do, we’re not going to have great defense in the OF, that’s pretty much a given).
Gorbachav5 - October 20, 2008
So you think the 36 year old with a lifetime OBP of .327 is likely to get on base more often that the 30 year old with a career OBP of .331?
Granted, if you look at last year, GA put up better overall numbers than JR. But, if you look at the past few years, I think JR’s 2006 numbers represent what he’s capable of considering his age and the notion that 2006 was the last year he was fully healthy or wasn’t fucked over by Sosh with playing time.
If given the opportunity to play regularly, I believe JR probably won’t match the .887 OPS (a number higher than any year in GA’s career – though he did reach .886 once), but he’ll be above GA’s .758 of this year. Though GA did hit .828 last year, the two previous years were .743 and .756. I think that .758 this year is what we can expect from GA at this point in his career.
I’d take a shot on the cheaper 30 year old, but I understand wanting to keep GA for sentimental reasons. I just don’t think doing so allows us to get better offensively while taking a chance on JR gives us that potential.
snowhor - October 20, 2008
Keep GA at all costs and sign Edmonds for sentimental value
Even if it means blocking our prospects or anyone with more upside since we all want to see GA reunited with Jim Edmonds and get 2800 hits and 300 home runs as an Angel and see Edmonds try for 400 homers even if it means more first round exits or not making the playoffs at all.
stolenbases - October 20, 2008
Oooh, and add Erstad. We'll party like it's 1999.
And there will be someone on the team with worse hamstrings than HK.
snowhor - October 20, 2008
Trade Morales for him
That way you save a bunch of money by not signing Tex and you have your new first basemen. While you are at it, bring Adam Kennedy aboard and put him on 2nd. Trade Figgy for Kennedy which would allow you to package Kendrick along with Napoli for Bengie Molina.
stolenbases - October 21, 2008
i hear Eckstein might be available
and I don’t think Alex Ochoa is doing anything these days…
howiestheman - October 21, 2008
lol
stolenbases - October 22, 2008
So play Morales in right
DH Vlad and play GA in left. I never said we can’t play Morales – I think we should. Rotate him between left and right, DHing Vlad and GA with Hunter in center, GMJ/Willits on the bench and Rivera on another team.
As for the team never playing young guys – we played Kendrick, we handed the catching to Mathis and Napoli a year ago, we started Kotchman – there are plenty of young guys this team has played. I think Wood should have been given the starting shortstop position this year, but at the very least next year. GA is better than GMJ and Rivera, and other than Morales (who I agree we should play) there are no better OF prospects to replace him with.
Gorbachav5 - October 20, 2008
I think I might take you up on that wager...
290/15/85 is the bar we are measuring against.
Downing Rules - October 22, 2008
A better bar to measure by would be .293/.325/.433 for an OPS of .758.
This measures GA’s true production. And given regular playing time, Morales should be able to match that. And he’ll do it for 600,000 versus the few million Arte’d have to pay GA.
snowhor - October 22, 2008
Wood plays 3B next year
Move Figgins to LF. and Morales is the DH. The real key is getting Tex resigned. And as far as GA, he is one of my all time favs, but he isn’t the player he was. Case in point: the warning track flyout in Game 2 was a HR a four years ago. The Angels need to move on.
eastcoastAngel - October 20, 2008
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