Angels Questions
by Rev Halofan on May 3, 2010 11:45 AM PDT
in Angels News
I believe that Mike Scioscia is auditioning the cast in their current roles and will adjust accordingly. That is about all I know. Maybe you can answer these questions for us all...
- Wouldn't Bobby Abreu be a better leadoff option than Erick Aybar?
- Hideki Matsui personifies constipation on the basepaths. Wouldn't it better serve us to bat him 5th?
- Did you know that Juan Rivera has the most Plate Apperances of any active Angel? Not a jump up and down thrill for a fan.
- Would we be better served by dropping Scot Shields into the Matt Palmer mop-up role and putting Palmer in AAA for emergency starts here?
- Should Mike Napoli's catching take any blame for the poor starting pitching?
- Will Torii Hunter ever make an over-the-wall takeaway catch again?
- What will Kendry Morales do sooner: hit 5 HRs or take 5 pitches?
- Did Reggie Willits kinda get good again?
- Are the Tigers really that good or are we really that bad?
- Is a platoon of Maicer Izturis and Howie Kendrick more logical an option than one of Izzy and Brandon Wood?
- I can see Joel Pineiro being in a slump, but what went wrong with Joe Saunders?
- Do Scott Kazmir and Jered Weaver need to man up and throw a strike to protect their precious pitch counts or are their nibbling ways that rarely see the 7th inning inextricably linked to their greatness?
- Is Fernando Rodney just awesome or totally awesome?
- Does Ervin Santana have that killer instinct or just that maiming instinct?
- Will you allow your Angels Garden Gnome unsupervised toybox time alone with your daughter's Barbie doll? You have until the May 25 stadium giveaway to decide, if she is not going steady with your Aybar bobblehead by then.
I think we need Shields and Palmer as mop-up...
send Q to SLC.
Downing Rules - May 3, 2010
Willits is no Bourjos and he wasn't ever "good"
Napoli seems to be pressing out there behind the plate and is certainly to blame for a portion of the starting staff’s troubles.
I’m tired of watching Shields try to figure it out during important game situations. He must throw awesome bullpens.
Wytelitning - May 3, 2010
How is Willits' .118 average "good?"
101halo - May 3, 2010
Oh, maybe you mean that he's not as ancient as our other slow-ass outfielders.
101halo - May 3, 2010
I disagree with the general disparaging of Willits.
Willits knows he is not, nor will ever be a power hitter. So he concentrates on everything else. He’s great defensively in the outfield, he’s fast on the bases, and is patient enough at the plate to get a walk as often as anyone else gets a hit. I remember his first year in the line-up the entire staduim would chant his name when he came up to the plate. And like every person who’s ever played the game, the more playing time you get, the better you get (with some exception).
The question that interests me most is the Napoli question. Is he affecting the quality of the pitching?
agent_99 - May 3, 2010
I haven't been thrilled with Napoli's pitch calling and defense.
But, I saw the HR’s surrendered by Pineiro on Friday night. Pineiro wasn’t close to hitting the target Napoli was providing. Can’t blame that on Nipples.
sothball - May 3, 2010
True.
Ultimately, the pitcher’s got to make his pitch.
agent_99 - May 3, 2010
Wouldn't Bobby Abreu be a better leadoff option than Erick Aybar?
Um… Hello! Thanx, I thought I was the only one thinking that. #53 has great plate discipline, can still rip off bags and has plenty of tactical wisdom. Aybar’s great, but I would think that Abreu was a closer match to replace Figgy. Any thoughts?
3rd Echelon - May 3, 2010
The only problem with Chupa leading off.
Is it takes away from his RBI opportunities, which Chupa is better suited for than Aybar.
b0rd3rline - May 3, 2010
Matusi is a tank in a nascar race
just wont work
DAD OF VLAD - May 3, 2010
Agree on Abreu hitting 1st
Aybar is killing the team by leading off.
Maybe a shuffle like this might work
1. Blobby
2. HK47/Mice tits
3. K-mo
4.Torii
5. Gojira
6.Rivers
7.Naps
8.Wood/mouser
9.Aybar/boy-king
blochead - May 3, 2010
Enough is enough, already
The_Legend_Of_Wilfong - May 3, 2010
Shields is breaking my heart.
agent_99 - May 3, 2010
Bob was an animal.............
unlike Shields at the momement.
norcaliangelsfan - May 3, 2010
Shields forever
the last of member of 2002 must stay forever
DAD OF VLAD - May 3, 2010
Does that make Figgins
diarrhea?
ttsec - May 3, 2010
I want Izzy to play more........
but not at the expense of Wood.
What about a rotation of all 3 2B, SS, and 3B positions? Play each one day a week and give the other guys a day off?
I dunno.
norcaliangelsfan - May 3, 2010
I like that
that does sound pretty good
kbrown2225 - May 3, 2010
Lots of great questions with many great answers
I just hope Soth & Company are working hard to hammer out answers to these glaring questions and issues that are facing us. Namely, addressing our bullpen issues. After Rodney and Jepsen play 80 games a piece they just might not have anything left in the tank for the playoffs.
I’m hoping everyone comes around though as the, ’it’s only April,’ excuse has worn thin and is no longer applicable.
RexTookMyStash - May 3, 2010
Aybar is "not the finished product yet"...
as Soth has stated. However, hes going to be a Halo for awhile so why not groom him as a leadoff batter this year for future years?
Furthermore, I think Aybar hasn’t done terribly thusfar. For instance, as of Friday he lead the team in runs scored (15), is second in walks (10) and has extended his at-bats (averaging nearly four pitches per plate appearance).
How bad can Aybar do? Probably not any worse that Figgy in ’06 or ’08.…Aybar has won over the past two years the role of being our everyday SS and now he is seen as the future of the Halos leadoff spot…just give him time…or at least until Bourjos makes the team ; )
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 3, 2010
WTF is up with that Shields comment?
You may have noticed that Shields has an ERA nearly double that of Matt Palmer, despite the latter pitching more than twice as many innings.
scareduck - May 3, 2010
whie flag of surrender
down by 5 in the 6th or later just roll scoty rubber arm out there instead of shooting your bullpen wad
Rev Halofan - May 3, 2010
fail...
prolly even after tonight"s post-birth abortion
Downing Rules - May 3, 2010
Abreu Leadoff?
Abreu is an RBI m-a-c-h-i-n-e averaging over 100 RBIs a yr for the last 7 years.
You do NOT want (waste) that guy to leadoff. In fact, I would rather see him bat third behind the other Howard.
SocalAngelFaninOC - May 3, 2010
Is RBI legitimate
Isn’t that statistic more a function of who is getting on base in front of him?
Abreu’s getting on base more often will improve the RBI numbers of the guy behind him. Besides simply getting Bobby more at bats, may improve his counting stats.
And to the person who suggests that Aybar is the lead-off man of the future. Isn’t Napoli the Clean-up hitter of the future, we should be playing him there.
Barca - May 5, 2010
Great Q's Rev!
One in particular caches my eye, Bobby Abreu at leadoff. There’s no doubt in my mind he’d be good there, but isn’t the Angels problem hitting with RISP? Getting into scoring position hasn’t really been the problem.
I say we stick with Aybar at leadoff because he’s only going to get better. Also, once Izzy’s healthy again, he’ll take a chunk of PT away from Kendrick and Wood, and Izzy could handle the leadoff spot as well.
Next season, if we still don’t think Aybar’s cutting it, we do one of two things. Open up the pocketbook for assumed 2011 Yankee Carl Crawford, or promote Peter Bourjos. Or possibly both.
Halowood - May 3, 2010
Regarding leadoff batter
I think Aybar is the better choice, batting Bobby first is going to hurt us in the long run because it is going to drop Abreu’s rbi numbers…regarding platooning yes Izzy can play third base just fine and I would like to see him and Howie in the game (also Mighty Mouse needs more playing time period in my opinion)
kbrown2225 - May 3, 2010
Questions about relief pitching
Soth acknowledges the overuse of Bulger, Jepsen, Rockin Rodney, and Fuentes; and we know that Stoked and Shieldsy aren’t up to snuff:
1. Isn’t F-Rod (Francisco Rodriquez II) still with the team? I don’t recall him being sent down, but he must have been or Soth would have used him. But I thought we were carrying 12 pitchers?
2. We need another reliever or two; therefore, Q has to go back and we should add
either:
a. Rodriguez, Thompson or Kahn, etc. (or somehow two, w/2 catchers are on the DL)
b. SOS—especially since we need so much long relief help these days. His numbers aren’t great in AAA, but he has had success up in the bigs.
c. Whomever else besides SOS down there who can be counted on to throw more than one inning at a time.
Raaddad - May 3, 2010
yes
1) F-2 is in Salt Lake
2a) Thompson is kicking the most ass of any of these named
2b/c) They want SOS stretched as a starter only
Rev Halofan - May 3, 2010
Thompson seems to suffer from "Wood syndrome" though
Kicks butt in AAA; struggles in the big show.
Still worth another look. Of course, all those guys are positioned for one inning only I beleive.
Raaddad - May 3, 2010
Yes however....
Jason Bulger also suffered the same fate until we brought him up for a full season. Then he became pretty darn good, I think most of those guys are just looking for their shot.
Halowood - May 3, 2010
My answers
1. Bobby would hit where ever he was in the lineup, but I believe Soth has him in just the right place. Maicer would be my preference for lead-off hitter.
2. Matsui can run slow as long as he hits as far as I am concerned. He still runs better and faster than Vlad did so that is an improvement.
3. Juan Rivera needs to start squaring up the ball more.
4. No. Matt Palmer is doing a pretty good job but we need two mop-up guys. Shields is not the one. Man I wish Shields had’nt blown that game in Detroit.
5. No. It is not Nap’s fault pitchers can’t locate a pitch. Don’t believe everything Napoli haters tell you.
6. Torii will make spectacular catches again, but I don’t really think he is completely healthy. He always seems sore in the muscles.
7. Kendry will probably hit 5HR. Let Kendry swing away, more kowbell the better.
8. I think Willits is getting kind of good. I would be amazing to see what he could do with regular plate appearances. He is serviceable in the field.
9. I think the Tigers are good and lucky. They got a great start out of Bonderman who we beat last time, and a career stellar outing from Verlander who we also beat last time. Our pitchers had unlucky one or two disaster innings that cost us games. I have noticed this a lot lately where really good pitchers are having these horrible single innings allowing enough runs that their offense just can’t over come and they lose games. Just like Santana last night for the Mets as a glaring example.
10. No. We need hits and runs. Kendrick and Izturis playing more than Wood on a daily basis is what we need.
11. I don’t know what is wrong with Saunders but he needs to figure it out soon.
12. I think Kaz and Weaver should just keep doing what they do and we should not nit pick that much.
13. Small sample size. So far he is pretty awesome.
14. Killer instinct.
15. It is not what you know about Garden Gnomes, it is what you don’t know. They are always sneaking around when not being watched so who knows what they pick up from where (Garden Gnome from “The Amazing Race”) or who. Barbie is a slut and Lindsay Lohan learned all her bad habits from her. So Barbie and the Angels Garden Gnome are going to sneak around and do dirty things whether it is allowed or not. I would never let Barbie near the Aybar bobble head doll even to just say, “Hello.”
44FAN - May 3, 2010
I believe RedFog is an Angel Garden Gnome expert of sorts
(the picture was worth 1000 words)
Perhaps he should be approached for his expertise in this area.
Raaddad - May 3, 2010
WEATHER REPORT FOR TONITE'S GAME AT FENWAY.
SCATTERED THUNDER SHOWERS THIS EVENING
30% CHANCE OF RAIN ALL WEEK @ THE FENS
angelfan1954 - May 3, 2010
Rain is just what we need to cool off the red hot red sox.
RexTookMyStash - May 3, 2010
REV HALOFAN
The pregame picks for tonight’s game are CLOSED and the game HAS NOT STARTED YET. It is not allowing me to make picks. What’s up with that?
44FAN - May 3, 2010
I was just going to ask the same question.
bc56274 - May 3, 2010
This really sucks.
44FAN - May 3, 2010
It tells me the game has started and the bets are closed
hauldog - May 3, 2010
it has been closed for over half an hour when I looked at 3:37
44FAN - May 3, 2010
Anything to keep 44FAN from continuing to kick our butts!
The Raaddad Plan: take a mil away from the top 2 scorers and distribute equally among the havenots
Raaddad - May 3, 2010
+1
Revolution
then we could spread it among the Rebels and chop the heads off the Avators of our enemies and Fuentes for good measure.
DAD OF VLAD - May 3, 2010
Hey, Fuentesaurus isn't the problem now--let's not burn everyone
(Btw, Vlad looks suspiciously like a baby Garden Gnome…
but don’t tell him I said so…;)
Raaddad - May 3, 2010
If anyone done not want that GNOME i got a place next to my nightstand set for it
Scare the wife to wake up to other then me
DAD OF VLAD - May 3, 2010
my take
1.yes
2.yes
3.rivera will have one good month
4.Shields should be released, Palmer can battle for 5th spot w/ Saunders
5.Someone is asking for too many fastballs in a row, not sure if it’s the pitcher or the catcher, but the pitches are pretty obvious. Napoli has no arm and no bat right now
6.Tori smiles a lot, is gifted a gold glove every year, and Scioscia lets him bat 3rd … leaping catches aren’t required anymore.
7.Kendry swinging is better than whoever is batting behind him gidp
8. Willits is awful when he is forced to swing. He is not a great outfielder, at least not in left or right. I must have missed when he got good over the last 2 years?
9.Tigers are a better team right now, and probably better on paper too.
10.Kendrick is better than Izturis and Wood, if he wasn’t he’d be on another team.
11.Saunders is not a good pitcher, just isn’t as lucky as he has been in previous years. He can still shut down teams with terrible offenses, as sooner or later he can find 3 people to get out without too much damage.
12.Weaver and Kazmir are fine, although i wish kazmir could find 3 more mph that he lost.
13.fernandizzle has been legit. I enjoy when they bring him in.
14.ervin had killer instinct when he could throw 96 and he didn’t have to change the way he throws his slider
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - May 3, 2010
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