Angels camp tour: Halos hope missing ace is right under their nose - MLB - CBSSports.com
"We've got five guys who are pretty good," said Jered Weaver, one of those five. "We've got five guys, where I'll want any of them out there."
Spring training games aren't as meaningless as they may seem - Sky Andrecheck - SI.com
Some initial evidence is striking: Of the 20 best spring training teams since 2003, 16 outperformed their PECOTA projections, indicating that there might be reason to give spring records a second look. Putting both a team's PECOTA projection and its spring training record into a statistical model, we can test this theory out more rigorously. Does a team's spring training record really tell us anything? Surprisingly, it does.
Seattle Mariners need more than Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins - Tim Marchman - SI.com
The Mariners were outscored by 52 runs last year. Run differential tells a bit more about a team's quality than winning percentage does, so in truth Seattle needed to make some improvements just to hold its ground this year. The significant thing about their winter may be that they didn't really make those improvements.
Angels' solid rotation is cause for optimism - latimes.com
"We might not have a bona fide No. 1 guy like CC Sabathia or Josh Beckett, but we have five bona fide No. 2 guys," Joe Saunders said. "And when you have that kind of consistency and talent in your rotation, it's going to be a good, fun year."
Los Angeles Angels Baseball Team Report and Insider Pitch - FOX Sports on MSN
At this time a year ago, manager Mike Scioscia was talking optimistically about having his deepest bullpen ever heading into the 2009 season. It didn't work out that way. The Angels' bullpen depth "evaporated" (in Scioscia's words) with an injury to Scot Shields and the regression of Jose Arredondo. This year, Scioscia is optimistic again with Shields returning from knee surgery and Fernando Rodney added in free agency.
Versatile Izturis a valuable asset - angelsbaseball.com
"Everything I've had to work so hard at, it just comes naturally to Izzy," Figgins, now with the Mariners, said last season. "He can do anything. It's like he came out of his crib playing baseball. That's why I call him 'The Natural.'"
There's been a couple recent posts that have sparked some interest...at least for me. RedFog's post asking the question "Why do you care about baseball?" and Jeff Sullivan's "I'm Overwhelmed" over at Lookout Landing. In a round-about way, the Sullivan post answers why I care about baseball.
Each day I typically follow the same routine; a quick update on HH for anything I have ongoing, and then a trip around the internet looking for Angels news or some other interesting baseball news. What supposed to be a quick time-waster before getting into the shower, always ends up being a trip that I have to pull myself away from so I can make lunch for my daughter. One site sends me to another, each link directs me to a "this will be the last one and then I REALLY have to get something done" post. There's always something interesting going on, there's always someone writing the best article I've ever read. Before long I have open tabs spreading across the top of my browser, and a hungry little girl pulling at my sleeve.
0 recs | 24 comments
These posts never fail
to get me pumped for the team, especially during the spring. So much optimism.
Damn, I’m geeked.
rmhalofan - February 22, 2010
WiHF
Did you read Sickels’ “Get off my Lawn”? I found it very interesting…And yes, somewhat true
Figgi4life - February 22, 2010 via mobile
Yes I did
It was very interesting, and I agree with what he wrote.
WiHaloFan - February 22, 2010
Joe Saunders will have the most wins
While Jared Weaver will have the better season.
ryanfea - February 22, 2010
I think this is evidence of how good of a team we have
when i voted (for Saunders by the way) Pineiro was in last place in voting… Even if all the projections from all the stat heads are correct and he regresses a lot he would still be a #3 guy on most teams in the MLB, the fact that he is our #5 and we still think he might win 12-13 games is a testament on how good our team really is right now.
I think sometimes we can all lose sight of that because we look at an individual move and not the overall effect to the team
The Angels are in good shape
Sinatrasratpack - February 22, 2010
Love the title
We do have five quality no. 2s or kings as the title stated. I want to see thay kazmir deal pay off this year.
Anaheim71420 - February 22, 2010
Kazmir will be a beast for us
mark my words
2pintsofbooze - February 22, 2010
At least...
4 Kings, and a Deuce will beat a 2 Pair of Aces. I’m quite alright with that.
Obscurity - February 22, 2010
Isnt 2 pair of aces the same as 4 aces?
which would of course beat 4 Kings………….but might get you a bad beat jackpot :-)
norcaliangelsfan - February 22, 2010
I'm retarded, of course. Just completey remove the 2 from there.
Obscurity - February 22, 2010
I was going to post a link to the Marchman column last weekend
I simply got too busy, but it was a great antidote to all those who are busy making hosannas to the Mariners for their offseason. Yes, picking up Lee was a big deal, but he’s there for only one season, which makes this all pretty much make-or-break for 2010. I don’t see them having the offense to make good on the pitching of Felix and Lee, much less the poor saps who will fill out the 3-4-5 in the rotation. If it is up to Milton Bradley to make up for the lost power of Branyan and Beltre, then the Ms are in trouble.
George Kaplan - February 22, 2010
Don't forget Byrnes and Garko, who are just POISED to explode this year
And of course Kotchman, who will be great defensively and have a breakout power season in one of the most pitching-friendly parks in the league.
Commander_Nate - February 22, 2010
Oh come on!
This is completely wrong, I mean it doesnt even make sense! Garko has never shown the ceiling to even….. oh wait sarcasm.
Icwatudidthr
PhiSlamma - February 22, 2010
Jeff Sullivan wrote an article that touched on some of the points brought up in the article.
Link
Janic - February 22, 2010
Touched on yes, but didn't really refute.
Commander_Nate - February 22, 2010
Not much to refute.
Although the headline and conclusion makes sense, Marchman spends the bulk of the article marching through the same old off-season cliches that have since been proven inaccurate. I’m about as sick of these articles as much as I imaging some folks around here are sick of articles praising the Mariners.
ThundaPC - February 22, 2010
Good article.
Something else to watch for in 2010; the spread between the Mariners’ ERA and FIP. The Mariners allowed the fewest runs in 2009 despite ranking only 9th in FIP. I don’t think anything has been so dependent on leather since the 1975 Chrysler Cordoba.
XYZ123 - February 23, 2010
You asked for it
red floyd - February 23, 2010
George sums it up nicely
To echo those thoughts, the M’s have a dynamic 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation, as well as at the top of the lineup. But the rest of the roster is………………well, we’ll find out.
XYZ123 - March 8, 2010
Extremely excited for this season
Why can’t it be April yet? :( :( :( :(
Also, Jered Weaver took on that #1 role when Lackey was on the DL. Won’t be surprised if he takes up that role again.
Slyintine - February 22, 2010
The more i think about it, the Mariners remind me of the mid 70's Angels
speed, adequate defense infield, an aging sluggers, a bad apple, no power, and 2 great starters.
2010 Mariners equal the mid-70s Angels; that gets them to about 75 wins.
Rex Fregosi - February 22, 2010
Tanana and Ryan and 2 days of cryin'
Teixeira Who? - February 22, 2010
Rotation...
I’m guessing Weaver gets the opening day start and then Scioscia will alternate lefty, righty, lefty… So – Weaver, Kazmir, Santana, Saunders and then Pineiro. Saunders against other #4’s? Sign me up for that. I’ll take Saunders to win the most games.
True Grich - February 22, 2010
Kazmir
will win the Cy Young. I’m only half kidding.
Teixeira Who? - February 22, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Halos Heaven to post a comment.