Halos Heaven

we will win with what we got

i didnt really want the angels to do anything. i felt like last year was out of character for us. do you think the redsox would give us kotchman back if we gave them gmj or quinnlan? cash? i can’t look at him wearing that uniform.

NW angels Fan - July 31, 2009 reply

Too bad for Casey

Sorry to see him in Boston, especially b/c he won’t be playing much. I thought for sure that he would be moved again by the Sox, but alas, he is stuck there for the time being. As for bringing him back here, we are set at first base. Kendry has been a revelation at the plate, constantly improving and growing as he sees more and more major league pitching. His defense has been much better than advertised as well. I can’t see any situation that would make me choose Casey over Kendry. Kudos to the organization again for making the Tex move last year and seeing the potential in Morales if he didn’t stay.

We will win with what we’ve got.

Rycat512 - July 31, 2009 reply

I know

KMo is the man. and it ended up being a great move. it would just be nice to have kotch as a back up or to dh every once in awhile. it just sucks that hes on the roid sox

NW angels Fan - July 31, 2009 reply

It does suck

Rycat512 - July 31, 2009 reply

The problem as we all know, is the postseason.

We will be going up against true #1’s and 2’s, Can we still score 6,7,8,9, runs? Then in the late innings our bullpen will have to succeed. It is not realistic to be so optimistic in thinking that all of a sudden they will perform in the most pressure packed situations. Bulger? Jepson? Speier?( he was so shat he didn’t even make the PS roster last season, does he look much better this year?).

Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - July 31, 2009 reply

maybe not score 7 runs a game

but we did beat all of these studs this year already

Beckett
Wakefield 2X (All Star!!)
Sabathia 2X
Greinke
Felix Hernandez
Washburn (maybe not a stud, but having a great year)
Bedard
Billingsley
Lincecum

Good point

Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - July 31, 2009 reply

We will win with what we've got

I’m glad we didn’t give away anyone. We have a great team, why mess with it? And the bullpen is coming around too, so things are looking good

Bummer about Kotchman though. Unfortunately, now I have to boo him.

ryanb517 - July 31, 2009 reply

We will win with what we got.

Toronto can DIAF.

moosemastr - July 31, 2009 reply

we might make the playoffs with what we got

but beat both the Yanks and Red Sox in the playoffs with this pitching? I don’t think so.

Yanks, definitely, Sox, maybe

Lots of baseball left to play.

moosemastr - July 31, 2009 reply

For the playoffs, a team needs 3 reliable starters.

Do we have 3 reliable starters? No. We have 2 (Lackey, Weaver). I hope for sufficient improvement from Santana or Saunders to provide a 3rd decent arm. I just don’t see Loux, Palmer, O’Sullivan, Ortega, or anyone else that can be a reliable 3rd starter.

Who would not want a 5th starter right now that holds an 8-1 record?

seriously

I agree...

…but Palmer seemed to be getting progressively worse as a starter (without looking at his stats…this is from memory).

That is fine, I am happy to be a Matt Palmer fan all by myself.

I will be looking forward to watching him pitch tonight when Santana can’t make it past three innings.

princeton11loveshalos - July 31, 2009 reply

love the palmer magic too

he’s awesome

you're not alone

I’m a Palmer fan too

That's when he's at his best

coming out of the Pen

I didn't say I' m not a fan of his...

…I’m more a fan of the team’s success than of any individual player. If he can get the job done, great. Do you agree though that he was getting progressively less effective as a starter?

It seemed to me he was an unknown commodity when he was first recalled from the Bees. Once he was scouted for a few games, our opponents had a better handle on his tendencies, adjusted, and ere more successful hitting against him.

I’d be happy for Matt to have continued success. It’d make a good story…“30 year old rookie cast aside by the Giants wins important playoff game for the Angels”. I just don’t anticipate that level of success for the guy.

Palmer was'nt given the chance to be a regular starter

because Saunders and Santana had not yet imploded. You can’t bounce a pitcher back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen and expect perfect consistency. Now he is there to come to Saunders and Santana’s rescue every time they screw up. I see Palmer back in the regular rotation soon.

You may prove to be correct.

My guess is O’Sullivan will be given priority for the 5th starter, with Palmer being used for long relief.

I really hope not

He’s been extremely lucky to have only one loss, he’s been better out of the bullpen. I’d keep him there.

me!!

considering he has very little to do with that record

he gets the most ridiculous run support

And the Angels are scoring about nine runs every game, not just when Matt pitches.

And boy did we fix it

I loved the G-Unit that year
Troy Glaus
Vladimir Guerrero
Garret Anderson
Jose Guillen

Along with a great 2nd half by Bart & an under-rated year by Escobar

That really was a fun team to watch, thanks Guillen for screwing that up

If we'd stayed something like healthy at all that year our offense

would have been unstoppable. G-Force was an AWESOME concept.

True

But when they were healthy…. :)

That was the G-Force, not the G-Unit.

red floyd - July 31, 2009 reply

comfortable...

i’m comfortable with the current roster, but we’ll need the guys to step up down the stretch, namely the starting pitching. if Ervin can find any sort of form and Joe gets a little better, i like their chances. it’s just tough because a number of teams got a lot better at the deadline, and it’s tough to see that while the Angels just stood still…

ghsu - July 31, 2009 reply

I disagree

As posted, we won 100 last year and had an early exit in the first round. Our pen is awful, or lets say shaky, poor middle relief and if we had Halladay then we have a #1 and #2 who are studs.

Ca1IFORNIA ANGELS - July 31, 2009 reply

We will win with what we got.

We’re loaded. No weak position.

cj1646 - July 31, 2009 reply

except starting pitching and the bullpen

Brian S (brianguy) - July 31, 2009 reply

Starting pitching?

?????

cj1646 - August 1, 2009 reply

good point

this has been my thinking all along. your writeup helps confirm it. but if the right deal ever comes down, take it.

otherwise, why go through the whole Mark Texieira thing all over again?

I can't believe nothing happened though

It’s so ridiculous that the Angels were in NO way involved with trades this season. We may be good enough to win it all but, in the end, everybody still thinks we’re a franchise thats afraid of giving up prospects.

We could have proved them wrong by getting Halladay, but no. Of course not.

They better figure out what to do with Woody and Figgy next season, that is if they do resign Figgy….They better.

Just all this time we’ve spent, keeping up with ALL of those dumb rumors, hoping that we would get an ace. And what happened? Absolutely nothing.

Bothers me.

I don't think it's fair to say we weren't involved, just none worked out.

I’m sure the front office went into trade talks with a plan of what we were willing to give up for what we’d be receiving. If nothing comes from talks that fist within those parameters, the smart thing to do is walk away.

snowhor - July 31, 2009 reply

We Will Win With What Got

Especially with Torii and Vladdy coming back!

angelfandad - July 31, 2009 reply

the postseason

is such a crap shoot. remember jeff weaver won a game in the world series after being god awful the entire year? whos to say saunders or santana can’t do the same? i don’t think beckett or sabathia don’t exactly scare me this year. it really is all about who gets hot down the stretch so i’ll roll the dice with what we have.

NW angels Fan - July 31, 2009 reply

I got jack shit off my sources except ...

Jays wanted Kendrick, Weaver and Izturis.

Too much. IMO

highlandhalo - July 31, 2009 reply

interesting, I guess Weaver would had been the deal breaker?

though, with this combination, Figgy could have moved to second base, Wood to third base, and SRod as the back up at 3b and 2b.

tanana40 - July 31, 2009 reply

They didn't want Wood?

Wow. I’d have given them Saunders, Kendrick, Izturis, and Mathis For Doc. Pretty fair.

Hell

Throw in Aybar.

Weaver is too much.

and a pony.

red floyd - July 31, 2009 reply

What kind of abnormal animal is that?

And those kids who had their own ponies, I hated those kids. In fact, I hate anyone that ever had a pony when they were growing up.

Fan Since 1981 - July 31, 2009 reply

Awwwwe

did someone want a pony from Santa and didn’t get it?

My pony comment is a word-for-word quote from Seinfeld

I was curious if anybody would pick up on it.

Fan Since 1981 - July 31, 2009 reply

Definitely not me

hated the show.

Who figures an immigrant is going to have a pony?

Why would anybody come here if they had a pony? Who leaves a country packed with ponies to come to a non-pony country?

turs12 - July 31, 2009 reply

It is all about the pure bred pretty miniature ponies here.

I got it. Nice

W6G

Monkeyspanked - July 31, 2009 reply

Wont win with this

I will not drink the punch….

Sorry but John Smoltz won because the Braves went and got guys like Grissom (trade) and McGriff (trade) signed FA and added some players from within the system. Good thing the Braves didnt pass on a deal for a little know single A player. By the way I think the Tigers lost to the eventual WS Champs the Minn Twins in the worst to first year

Angel Aviator - July 31, 2009 reply

Almost worst to first

Twins finished 2nd last in the AL West in 1986. Won the West in 1987 with just 85 wins. They weren’t that good; the Twins allowed more runs than they scored that year. The Tigers won a robust 98 games and were 8-4 against the Twins in the regular season.

XYZ123 - July 31, 2009 reply

Good. At least I'm not alone.

Maybe I’m just disappointed and it’s clouding my judgment, but I don’t think the Angels even have the division wrapped up, let alone any play off wins. Halladay would have been great at the right price, but are you telling me Jarrod Washburn isn’t better than Matt Palmer? Or George Sherrill isn’t better than Kevin Jepsen, or Justin Seier, or Jason Bulger? How about John Grabow? Isn’t he at least better than Rich Thompson, or Rafael Rodriquez, or Bobby Mosebach, or some other AAA farmhand who keeps showing up in games?

I love the Angels, but I think their hitting is a bit fluky and over their heads at the moment. The hitting isn’t going to continue to support the poor pitching. Wasn’t just about a month ago we all called him Failbar? Now, Erick Aybar is untouchable to a lot of you. What happens if he goes back to being the player he was in March/April (.245) or June (.256)? Or 2008 where he posted a .314 OBP?

Now that the front office hasn’t done anything to improve the club, I’m just hoping the pitching does come around. Saunders is just going through some mid-season funk, Santana figures out that he can throw his slider and not re-injure his elbow, and Arredondo can regain his confidence and return to dominating opposing hitters.

Maybe w6g

If you look there has been a record of very high scoring games across the AL all year.

I think it has a lot to do with poor and unlucky starts by teams’ pitching in general. It is even more obvious all the trades and focus on trades for pitching between teams this deadline.

thank you

very well articulated and i agree with everything u put

Tell me, were you drinking the punch last year when we got Tex like everyone said we needed to?

I admit it

I was two-fisting the punch from gallon jugs.

Teixeira made the Angels better, it wasn’t his fault they lost.

So in your opinion, as long as we make the shortsighted move, it's OK if we lose?

I guess that’s consistent atleast. Me, I think that like another poster said farther down, the playoffs are a crapshoot, it’s who gets hot at the right time. Given that info, I’d rather have as many chances as possible, as opposed to 1 or 2 slightly increased chances.

How was Teixeira a short-sighted move??

Casey Kotchman and Marek were important pieces to long term success? Kotchman is so good, he was traded today for LaRoche who had just been traded for Hunter Strickland and Argenis Diaz.

So yeah, I’d rather go all-in pre-flop with AA than trying to catch a straight on the river.

Good poker analogy

Aybar missing that bunt was like Quad Aces losing to a royal flush

Yes, because in his case Reagins (you know, the guy you keep saying screwed up?)

had a BACKUP PLAN. It’s name was Kendry Morales, and it turns out to have been a much better plan than we had any right to expect it to be.

Tell me, if we traded away Aybar, Wood, Saunders, and O’Sullivan, and Halladay DIDN’T win us a ring, what was the back up plan? Sean Rodriguez, Maicer Izturis, and oh hey, we’re out of pitchers. Oops. Guess we better go trade away more of the farm or hope to hell Reckling and Bell are ready for the bigs! /sarc

Yeah, pass.

Not to mention

Maicer Izturis would be on the DL at some point in time. Whose coming up to back up Sean Rodriguez when he’s filling in?

Hanley Statia. Be still, my beating heart.

Why do you keep putting trades in my mouth?

I’ve NEVER said anything about trading Aybar, Wood, Saunders, and O’Sullivan for Halladay. I’d have been happy with Saunders, Wood, Mathis and a minor leaguer (as I wrote earlier today). Which of those players are vital to the Angels future? Saunders who slots into a 3rd or 4th starter? Oh, maybe Wood who hasn’t done anything in his limited time in the majors. You must be thinking of Mathis and his sub-.200 average. Yeah, CERA wins you pennants!

I’ve been advocating improvements, not ravaging an already “soft” minor league roster.

And by the way, where did I say Reagins screwed up? I kind of enjoyed discussing this with you, but you’re pissing me off by putting words in my mouth. Either discuss what I write or STFU.

I'm talking about what it would have taken to GET Halladay, not

what I would like to have given up. That is the rumored trade we were given by Riccardi. That is what I assume you mean when you say you wanted Halladay. I apologize if this is incorrect, and I’m not trying to put words in your mouth. For the record, I’d have done Saunders, Mathis Wood and someone like Bourjos. But I don’t think Riccardi would ever have taken it.

As for the other moves you’ve talked about, I never thought we’d get Sherill, we already have two lefty late inning guys in OIiver and Fuentes. The M’s would have made us overpay for Washburn even more than the Tigers did, us being an interdivisional rival and all. I don’t even know who Grabow is, to be honest. Fact is, Heath Bell was probably our best bet for relief help and I’d guess the Pads wanted more than he was worth to us.

As for why we didn’t get Lee…My honest answer is that Shapiro must have wanted Knapp REALLY badly, because I can’t see Reagins refusing to part with someone like Torres, Bobby Wilson and S. Rodgriguez, which is a better package than the Indians ended up with. You can’t fix stupid.

Just an aside, apparently the Pods wanted SOS, Dondo, AND S-Rod for Bell.

So I’m just as glad that didn’t happen.

If that's true, I agree with you.

The problem in judging these things

YOU think that our prospects comprise a better package than what their prospects comprise, but obviously THEIR scouts and staff thought differently.

We overvalue our own propspects. Everyone does. Other teams spit on some of our players.

Then we'll just have to show them they're wrong.

I agree

but I don’t agree with people blaming Reagins because other team’ scouts don’t have wood for Wood alone.

...Um, agreed?

Check me if I’m mistaken, I think I’ve been defending Reagins from all comers over, like, 3/4 of the website today. :P

I don't think you've been defending Reagins

as much as defending your opinion. You’ve stated the Teixeira deal was bad, but that’s a deal Reagins made at this time last year.

You’ve only defended him when his actions agreed with your position.

No. I stated the Teix deal didn't WORK...and that

therefore it was unlikely trading for ANY one player would magically hand us the playoffs. Let me be clear, that was a great move, if for nothing else than clearing the way for Kendry to dominate. I’M saying trust Reagins if he decided to stand pat. He has good reasons for doing so, I’d bet.

Totally agree

The farm is not deep at the higher levels; many of the players in SLC today are nothing more than “organizational guys”. They’ll get a cup of coffee now and then with the big league club, but will never be everyday players.

Ninja’s hands were tied because the there’s a lack of talent on the farm. Boston did great today and they still protected their top ranked talent.

I have no problem with Ninja not pulling the trigger.

mustard_man - July 31, 2009 reply

Exactly right

Me, I think that like another poster said farther down, the playoffs are a crapshoot, it’s who gets hot at the right time.

Think of a team in Anaheim in 2002. Not even close to being the best team in MLB, but certainly the winner of the World Series.

2002 ngels

Best Pythagorian record.

Really? I didn't know that.

They all peaked at the same time

A mutual orgasm of baseball ecstasy. On paper, though—that place where baseball isn’t played—the Angels weren’t close to being the best.

So are you saying they were "lucky"?

rspencer - July 31, 2009 reply

Nope. Just awesome.

Keeping humping your crapshoot theory Billy Beane

99 wins. One of the best records in the second half

I think they were close to being the best

4th most runs. 6th in OPS. 6th in OBP. 7th in SLG. Oh and they were #1 in BA

4th in team ERA. 4th in BAA. 5th in QS. 3rd in BP ERA. 8th in starters ERA

They look pretty damn good to me. Not sure what you were watching.

You're discussing the results

I’m discussing the personnel. Big difference.

Short sighted?

We got good value for Kotch, and the pitcher we traded was garbage. The ATL seemed to love Kotch…………

So since we did not win it all, improving at the deadline is a bad idea?

At around 1:10, ESPN was reporting rumors of Halladay..

being traded to the Angels for Saunders and others.

Man, my hopes were up.

clover_black - July 31, 2009 reply

It is a little disappointing we didn't do ANYTHING

but what will happen come October if we’re winning thanks to guys like Aybar, Kendrick, Weaver, Saunders REALLY stepping it up or having 5+ rbi games or pitching lights out? Then we’ll be thanking our lucky stars we DIDN’T trade them.

Just baseball, I guess.

lightupthehalo - July 31, 2009 reply

Then again

Who’s to say Halladay wouldn’t win us game 7?

Chance or destiny?

Yup, exactly.

I’m hoping that my scenarios are what we see happen rather than yours :)

lightupthehalo - July 31, 2009 reply

Haha

Me too

You say Ninja...

I say turtle.

The fact that Tony Turtle couldn’t do one single thing to improve the club, given our glut of middle infielders and solid catching depth, says something unfortunate about Reagins’ business acumen. He’s just not up to playing with the rough boys.

I’m not talking Halladay— I’m talking the Dodgers nabbing Sherrill for close to nothing, the Sox pulling in V-mart and Kotch without shedding any of their most coveted prospects.

We may win with what we got, but it’ll have to be with our offense alone. It blows me away that he couldn’t flip an S-rod, Mathis or Bourjos for a set-up man. Other GMs got more for less.

Turks Teeth - July 31, 2009 via mobile reply

yeah well

you cant judge until the season is over. what if we win a world series on the back of some heavy contributions from arredondo or a clutch hit by mathis or wood?

even if we dont, ive always felt like in 2009 we’re playing with house money. we’ve gone through so much im just thrilled to be where we are. no need to blow it up in a trade

ihearhowie2.0 - July 31, 2009 reply

I'd like to see another GM construct a team that can lose it's best hitter for 3 months, it's second

best hitter for a month, it’s set up man, a promising rookie pitcher, it’s ace for 2 months, it’s #4 for 2 months, and still be playing .600 ball at the trade deadline. I’d like to watch them TRY.

all of that is fantastic

but it doesnt translate to playoff success

Doesn't it? We'll see.

We've seen.

1 year. When we made the big trade everyone demanded at the deadline,

the one that absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, made us the favorites. Lets see what happens when we stick with the team we’ve got.

It is the end of July, check you calendar.

The pitching has until like tomorrow to get it together. Fine if they do, I really hope they do, but if not don’t look for more than winning the AL West at the very most if we are lucky and manage to beat the Rangers at the end.

We'll make it. This team hasn't let death or injury stop it.

Can’t see why they’d be bothered by something like not making a trade.

im just saying including all the amazing things the gm has done in the past

hasnt translated into anything

also i give credit to the players for the .600 ball, not the gm becuz its not exactly like our depth (gmj, willits, mathis) has lead the charge

and seeing all of our home grown pitchers outside of the ace struggle this season, im not so sold on the turtle

Yeah, it's not like he got one of our best deals EVER last season.

Who’s Bobby Abreu, anyway?

im not saying he hasnt done anything

im just saying most of the credit goes to the players

Most of the credit goes to the players, no matter what.

On what team is this NOT true? 0_o

I am also an optimist, this team has overachieved beyoned anyones expectations, very similar to our world series team. In the playoffs all you need is timely hitting (Angels got that down better than anyone) and some quality pitching….. (Lackey is coming around, Weaver has thrown some gems, and Santana/Saunders have a long time to figure it out)

robi s - July 31, 2009 reply

I think I already gave up on this season officially not too long ago. So, this is all bonus time anyway. At this point, though, my updated guess is that they make the playoffs, but lose in the first round to the Red Sox. I hope we can face the Red Sox in the playoffs, though, and take them out in some glorious fashion. It would certainly exorcise some demons for me, personally.

Can I ask why you gave up?

It was looking pretty bleak, no relief corps (we were calling them the arson squad). Where were you? ;)

Sleeping, more than likely. :P

we got the big bat last year

and that didn’t work out either.

S-Rod, Mathis or Bourjos....

Are just not that good. It’s not reasonable to expect Ninja to put a bow around a box of crap and sell it as a dozen roses. Let’s reverse the argument: if Mathis, S-Rod or Bourjos were on another team – and we needed a no-hit catcher or middle infielder or no-power outfielder, would we trade for these guys?

I highly doubt it…..

mustard_man - July 31, 2009 reply

We Will Win With What We've Got

highlandhalo - July 31, 2009 reply

AWWWWWWG

Is what the title spells.

Sounds a lot like UGH

I gotta agree, as a long time angel fan. It’s only been recently that the Angels have actually decided to play the trade/FA game. The Angels have always done it with our own system players. It won us a word series.

Our team is full of clutch offensive players that have been the highest scoring in the league. We have the most come from behind victories.

However, I was like many of you, and realy wish we got some bullpen/SP help. It didnt happen. But that is not going to rock my faith. Santana and Saunders will get their head in gear. Jepsen will earn our adoration. Loux wont be such a doormat.. Fuentes will continue his league leading saves count and Palmer will continue to be our luck charm. Not to mention Rivera, Hunter, and Vlad will come back strong!

A sad day for this years angels yes, but look at it this way, our future remains bright this season and years to come!

robi s - July 31, 2009 reply

?????

“The Angels have always done it with our own system players.” WOW I don’t see it that way.

Hapyorange - July 31, 2009 reply

always should be "once"

Yeah

Autry loved FA’s. System hasnt always been our way

linkbruin - July 31, 2009 reply

going in my sig

JoseGuillenSux - July 31, 2009 reply

Not sure if this was mentioned...

But the Doyle Alexander trade was in 1987. They lost to the Twins in the playoffs.

Gorbachav5 - July 31, 2009 reply

Playoff success

Is a complete crapshoot. The Angels were one missed bunt and one bonehead pitch by K-Rod away from that being a completely different series.

The Angels can win with this team. Could it be better? Sure, but i’s not worth mortgaging the future. Reagins didn’t find a good trade, so he passed. Nothing wrong with that.

Gorbachav5 - July 31, 2009 reply

We will win with what we got

red floyd - July 31, 2009 reply

i dont feel good about a 1 run lead in Fenway in October

with our current bullpen.

that’s my stance.

howiestheman - July 31, 2009 reply

Since I wouldn't feel comfortable with a 1 run lead against Boston period,

I’m not sure how anyone, even Doc, would have changed that.

We're gonna be fine

Weaver has had a haircut. Lackey is more interested in pitching than hitting batters. Ervin Santana is an enigma who can be awesome. Joe Saunders may be struggling but he will get through it. I like O’Sullivan as a No. 5 right now.

On the offensive side … shit we get Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter back this month. That does not suck. And HK is finally knocking the cover off that ball.. Aybar is a GG SS,

Let’s get this done second half, and Casey can enjoy missing the playoffs.

highlandhalo - July 31, 2009 reply

I think we are hampered by Vlad hogging the DH if he comes back as the team goes.

We would get much more out of Napoli and even GMJ DHing the rest of the season.

how do we get more out of napoli as the dh?

allowing mathis to be in the lineup boosts our offensive production?

http://salamato.com/images/bb2.jpg

No, Mathis' better CERA (alleged) will negate the need for as many runs.

Downing Rules - August 1, 2009 reply

We will win with what we've got

… At least I hope so, I can’t stand another unsuccessful playoff year.
At least wood is still a halo

trojanangelfan - July 31, 2009 via mobile reply

Wx6G

Figgi4life - July 31, 2009 via mobile reply

OT

But early 80’s era Sean Penn is a spitting image of WTY.

clover_black - July 31, 2009 reply

Reagins on am 830 right now 3:20pm

he's gone

http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07/halladay_wouldnt_come_to_texas.html

We will win with what we got, and the Rangers will not...

and I’m glad to see Halladay not in Texas too.

ChinoM01 - July 31, 2009 reply

Link.

ChinoM01 - July 31, 2009 reply

We are a stable team, and we will win with what we got!

I ’aint worried.

PieceOfAase - July 31, 2009 reply

Stable...except for all the injuries.

mustard_man - July 31, 2009 reply

I don't disagree... but...

Why does Reagins look like a fool coming out and saying he wanted to make a big deal at the deadline. The guy couldn’t trade his way off of a used car lot.

ScottD00 - July 31, 2009 reply

Peavy was the last straw with me.

Sure he is on the DL now but how valuable would he be next year if Lackey walks away?

Peavy

After watching him disintegrate over the past two seasons, I am glad we didn’t pull the trigger on that one.

I think Kenny Williams will live to regret this one, since his team is now on the hook for Peavy’s deal.

Peavy did approve it ?

yes

He had to

Otherwise, no deal.

That's why I asked

Didn’t think you would jump the gun, but people are slightly off today.

Thanks for the info

Explain to me

I would love to know why you think Reagins is so terrible at making deals. The 2 major trades I can think of that he has made, Kotch/Marek for Tex & Cabrera for Garland, worked out quite well for the Angels. Those players we received contributed to our continuing success and the players who we lost were replaced with others that have been more then adequate. Those players he hasn’t traded (Kendrick, Weaver, Saunders, Morales, Napoli, Wood, SRod to name a few) have had varying degrees of success at the major league level, but most have also contributed to the Angels winning ways.

Rycat512 - July 31, 2009 reply

Fans are always going to find something to bitch about.

With Stoneman, it was always “he never makes a move at the deadline.”

Ninja came on board and made a move right away and everyone was “see, that’s how you do it, Bill.”

Now, one deadline passes and it is like “Tony cannot make the move when the team needs it … what a slouch!!!”

Myopic.

Besides which...

It isn’t as if the Angels can’t get any more players through trades. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a starter with a big contract slide through waivers for the Angels to pick up (the Yankees would need that player, too, but their better W-L record would work against them in this case). I know I keep bringing up Arroyo and Harang, but the Reds are on a high-speed toboggan ride to nowhere and to unload the salary of one of those two pitchers would provide the Angels with a solid #3 while Saunders and Santana relearn how to pitch.

There are plenty of deals after the waiver deadline. They’re just a little more complicated.

We Will Win With What We Got?

HH’ers, Rev Halofan is going all Jim Jones on us right now. Don’t drink the punch I think there is something in it. LOL

at the bottom of your cup of kool aid there is something...

…a ring.

DRINK!

I will go back and look in the trash. Hopefully I will find it before I croak!

They give rings out for winning your division?

62 + playoffs...

hang tight, haul. There’s room for you on the wagon. Don’t fall off, my friend.

Thank you for the spot

But what is this all about?

I think I already gave up on this season officially not too long ago. So, this is all bonus time anyway. At this point, though, my updated guess is that they make the playoffs, but lose in the first round to the Red Sox. I hope we can face the Red Sox in the playoffs, though, and take them out in some glorious fashion. It would certainly exorcise some demons for me, personally.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jul 31, 2009 5:03 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions 0 recs

:) Call a spade a spade!

Just having some fun

I am not giving up but to be blunt I do not envision a long run into October. We will be there though

Actually, though…I have faith that the Angels will win it all if they don’t play the Red Sox. But, I WANT THEM to face the Red Sox and finally get over that hump. So, yes, there can still be rings in the kool aid. Giving up earlier this season was not in my usual character; however the circumstances that faced this team were so large. They must be playing inspired.

I do agree that Speier, Bulger and Jepsen is a serious gamble, but let’s see what they can do. Sounds like Mike and Tony believe in them.

Downing Rules - August 1, 2009 reply

Just checked some stats

Guess who Doc Halladay has the worst ERA against,

Texas, Oakland, Boston

minimum of 25 innings pitched.

Split W L ERA
Texas Rangers 7 7 5.36
Oakland Athletics 6 4 4.54
Boston Red Sox 13 12 4.33
Total 26 23 4.65

W L ERA
Everyone Else 104 40 3.08

Who was it again that we needed to get Halladay to beat?

Wow

That is some good research. Amazing. Thanks!

one of these days I'll figure out how to paste in a data table..

solid work

I really thought / expected the Angels to get some relief pitching, but alas…here we are
quick question – how are deals made after this deadline (i heard something about waivers)

Scotty G - July 31, 2009 reply

Yeah, but...

I posted this earlier this month:

If the season were to end today, the Angels would be hosting the New York Yankees (wild card), while the Red Sox would play the Tigers. In a 5 game division series, the Angels would feature a starting rotation of Halladay/Lackey/Weaver matching up to the Bomber’s Sabathia/Burnett/Pettitte. Over the last 3 seasons (2007-2009), Halladay has gone 7-1 against the Yankees, with an ERA of 2.58 in 83.2 innings. Additionally, if the series were to go further than 3 games, Halladay’s second start would be in New York where he’s compiled a 2.27 ERA with a 2-1 record.

Once the Angels beat the Yanks, most likely they’d be facing the Red Sox again, but this time in the ALCS. Halladay has been somewhat inconsistent against Boston, going 4-5 with a 4.13 ERA since 2007. However, last season Halladay posted a very good 2.56 ERA, winning 3 of 5 decisions.

who cares about the Yankees

we OWN them. CC and Pettitte have been our bitches this year.

3-2 vs the Red Sox is ok, but not worth mortgaging the future.

Saunders is 4-1 vs Red Sox 3.25 ERA

Weaver is 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA

Don’t get be wrong, Halladay is a fantastic pitcher, but the Jays were being unreasonable in their ask.

that is the bottom line

I agree with that.

I was just pointing out some more stats.

Wish we would have done SOMETHING

It didn’t have to be a sell the farm for Halladay deal but added another small piece like a middle reliever would have been a nice touch. I don’t think Sherrill was the right guy for us because we didn’t need another lefty/closer but why not someone like Matt Capps considering the Pirates were having a free sale? I do like the fact that we are actually in a divisional race this year (quite a good one actually) and if we do make the playoffs then we should remain sharp unlike when we went in basically untouched last season.

turs12 - July 31, 2009 reply

Sometimes

Doing nothing is something.

The great Branch Rickey used to say, “The best deals you make are often the ones you don’t make.”

Instead of eliminating some of the talent we’ll draw upon in 2009-2012, we kept it. That isn’t bad.

He also said better to trade one year early, than one year late

He also said “there’s a sucker born every minute.” Oops, different guy.

:D

There is a reason Capps wasn't traded

He is terrible!

6.75ERA, 1.78 WHIP .328 BAA

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/31/wood-on-salt-lake-shuttle-again/32109/

Angels optioned Brandon Wood back to Triple-A

Fan Since 1981 - July 31, 2009 reply

the showcase over?

Scotty G - July 31, 2009 reply

trade deadline over.

And Jeff Mathis has a sore back.

The dangers of being a wing man

Sometimes the friend is fat

Quote of the week!

PieceOfAase - July 31, 2009 reply

reagins is on am 830 again

w/phizzzzzz

Here's what it comes down to for me

Other than Cliff Lee, is there anyone out there that I would have wanted to get that was moved? Maybe Sherill, but that’s it (and remember that we smoked his ass earlier this year).

I’m very happy with the composition of this team. I’m happy with our abundance of quality infielders. I’m happy with our starting rotation (some rough spots here lately for Saunders/Santana…but I’m confident they’ll come around). I’m happier with our pen lately. Bulger and Jepsen have pitched better lately and DO has been a stud, and except the last two outings, Fuentes has been RAWRRAWRRAWR outstanding.

Bottom line — W6G

Sosh on am830 next 4:35pm

never heard sosh cry before

"I like our team."

Just read that the Padres wanted

Dondo, SOS and S-Rod for Bell

Epic Dean - July 31, 2009 reply

**** them.

That was quite a bit.

Of course it was

There was no necessity for them to trade Bell in the first place. For them to trade an effective, affordable player like Bell, the other team would have to drop their pants. A package of O’Sullivan, Arredondo and Rodriguez would equate with the sound of the buckle hitting the linoleum.

While it would have been nice to add Bell to the bullpen, it could never have justified that pricetag.

When did we start going all Billy Beane with the playoffs are a crapshoot?

I can’t disagree more with this statement.

linkbruin - July 31, 2009 reply

go play craps with your life savings for a week

and get back to me!