When a star player goes out for any length of time, the trade suggestions pop up. Understand that the Angels have Kendry Morales under club control for 2011, 2012 and 2013. It should be expected that he will recover and even if he does not play the rest of this season, that there is no need to get any player like Adrian Gonzalez, et cetera, for a long-term basis.
The Angels have a multitude of options to cover the 1B position. None of them are preferable to Kendry, but some will do in a pinch... and this is the pinch. The Angels will likely use what they have until Brandon Wood's return. Wood returns from the Disabled List on June 9. He is the most likely solution. Until then there will probably an undramatic callup like Robb Quinlan from AAA who may not even see playing time. Kevin Frandsen and Michael Ryan make the most sense to replace Kendry on the field and in the lineup (though not in Morales' 4th/5th spot in the batting order) in the conservative realm of Angels management until then.
While the excitement of fans over the possibility of Mike Napoli returning to 1B for the first time since A-Ball or of a rental trade with the White Sox for Paul Konerko, the Angels want to know they gave Brandon Wood his shot to be a major league regular before they either jettison or Quinlan-ify him, and Kendry's absence opens the path for him quite clearly to play everyday regardless of production.
Mark Trumbo will have to wait and anyone expecting Hank Conger to get at the plate with a Napoli move to 1B should understand that 22-yr old Conger is not even on the 40-Man roster yet. Don't forget Howie Kendrick's extended stint at 1B in the second half of 2006... there are possibilities everywhere one turns - not the greatest replacement for Morales, but at least league average and not involving the costly possibilities of a trade for a position that will be Kendry's the day he is healed, rested and ready.
No matter how urgent the situation may appear, it would go against the way the Angels have done business for a decade to play their tune of musical chairs at anything but a moderate pace.
0 recs | 67 comments
Yep
I think you are right. Q or someone until Brandon comes back.
Go Brandon!
vladtheimpaler - May 30, 2010
Brandon has to go alright...
Right off the team…worst everyday player in the majors
Halopauly - May 30, 2010
Because the thing to do with talented young players who are struggling is to DFA them
You’re a real smart one.
mattwelch - May 30, 2010
I'm not sure *what* they should do with him.
He wasn’t making any progress playing every day. Our best hope is that he “finds himself” while he’s on the DL.
Robviously - May 30, 2010
Thank you.
Clutch - May 30, 2010
I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks letting him go screams
Dante Bichette
halofan4life - May 31, 2010
I scream "Colorado" when hear Dante Bichette.
Downing Rules - May 31, 2010
I would also add Bobby WIlson to that list. Remember he has played some first including in the games heading up to the playoffs last season
TheAngelsColts - May 30, 2010
Excellent, rational post.
This sucks but gutting our system or trading players for a 60-day fill-in at first-base is just stupid.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 30, 2010
That-sentence had a-lot of-hyphens.
haloduck - May 30, 2010
All of which are grammatically correct, I think.
first-base is debatable, I guess.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 30, 2010
There's a promotional opportunity here
“Come out to The Big A this Wednesday for the Kendry Morales’ Bobble-Leg night giveaway!”
Zoe Necrosis - May 30, 2010
Funniest post...
Ever!
Halopauly - May 30, 2010
Terrible idea,
you’d show up to the game and only get a post card.
krush40 - May 31, 2010
Title of post card says:
“Wish you were here in this sweat shop making these damn gnomes”
Downing Rules - May 31, 2010
I agree, we should and can replace from within and wait this out. I was at the game and you talk about going from a high to a low.
It was kinda like game 6, only in reseve and in a much more compressed amout of time,(so maybe it was not like game 6).
salmonforever - May 30, 2010
I agree trading for an expensive 1B is not the solution
But calling our current options “at least league average” is stretching the definition. We had two infielders paying at or above league average – Maicer and Kendry. Now we have one.
If the Angels are going to put a streak together and compete, it’s going to have to be on the strength of the pitching. Good thing Saunders seems to have fixed himself. Now let’s see about Kazmir. Pineiro has been as expected. Weaver has been sensational and only giving up a few too many homers keeps me from saying the same about Ervin. Ervin is working fast, throwing hard, and throwing strikes, and when he can do that he’s pretty damn good.
RallyMonkey5 - May 30, 2010
Angels have plenty of upside left on offense
Kendrick, Aybar, Wood, Matsui, all grossly underperforming where they’ll like end up. And though I have lost all faith in the bullpen, surely they’ll have to do better than now, right?
mattwelch - May 30, 2010
K-Rod II
looked good last night. Of course, it WAS the Mariners.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 30, 2010
I won't say lost all faith in bullpen...they just need to start throwing strikes and let the defense play too
K3YEROUT - May 30, 2010
Lineup
Maybe it’s just wish-casting on my part to see Napoli borrow a 1B mitt. Right now it doesn’t work since we need Naps behind the plate. But once Mathis comes back I assume Scioscia will want to play him, we’ll have a need for a power hitting bat at 1B, and Napoli, currently on a pretty good hitting tear, itching to play. Too logical maybe?
An alternative is Juan Rivera at first (infield experience – 1 game at 1B and 1 at 2B in 2008) playing first, Matsui in left, and Napoli as the DH. Playing Frandsen at 2B and Howie at 1B is an acceptable solution. A big dropoff in power but this will increase the team’s OBP, and that is always welcome.
Finally, how about negotiating to use the DH in national league parks as interleague starts up? Then have Napoli or Matsui as the DH with Brandon Wood at 1B batting 9th. Here’s the conversation:
Sosh: I know it’s NL rules, but I’m asking you to let me use the DH.
NL manager: Do I get to use the DH too?
Sosh: No, you still bat your pitcher.
NLM: What do I get out of the deal then?
Sosh: I’ll put Brandon Wood in the lineup batting 9th.
NLM: Ok, deal.
RallyMonkey5 - May 30, 2010
Rec'd
This made me LOL.
halofan4life - May 31, 2010
I think Lance Berkman is gonna happen
he would only be here for the rest of the year, is capable of producing, and by all means is on the trading block.
Brandon Wood is not the answer in my opinion. His ultimate best case scenario looks less and less stellar as time goes on and might not be worth the trouble of him hitting .200 over 500 ABs to find out.
ihearhowie2.0 - May 30, 2010
Thanks Rev
for righting something smart and realizing that trading people would just end up like Tex and they will leave like he did.
DAD OF VLAD - May 30, 2010
We need pitching, not a 1B power hitter.
Can Erstad come back and be a bench player? :(
SenorChuckles - May 30, 2010
This thought has crossed my mind too...
K3YEROUT - May 30, 2010 via mobile
Because we need more players who can't hit for shit?
snowhor - May 30, 2010 via mobile
he can be our Ken Griffey Jr.
SenorChuckles - May 30, 2010
Quinlan-ify ......
Always good to add a new word to my vocabulary. In the meantime, Sosh has some issues to deal with at 1st and the team will now have to show what kind of heart they really have. I don’t think Matsui can play the field everyday, his knees and body probably won’t stand up and then the Angels would have yet another on the D.L. party list.
steelgolf - May 30, 2010
Every ab the Angels give Q from this point on
has to be considered one of the worst playing time decisions in team history.
There are guys the Angels can play that have upside, that could surprise us. There are guys that won’t light the world on fire but can at least hit a little and play solid d.
Then…… there is Q. The guy has shown for 3+ years that he should be nowhere near a ML park unless he’s taking Amanda out on a date night.
3 horrible seasons on our bench…..
A 176 average in Spring Training this year in over 50 abs.
And then his abs this year in AAA he’s only put up a 645 OPS.
Now maybe if he was fast….. but he isn’t….
Now maybe if he was a plus defender…. but he isn’t…..
So Tony and Soth, Play Napoli, play Wilson, play Ryan, play Aldridge, play McAnaulty, play Frandsen….. just whatever you do, for the love of all that is Angels baseball please please please don’t play Q.
MH252525 - May 30, 2010
According to the O.C. Register . . .
Mike Napoli has a couple of first-base gloves w/ him today.
https://twitter.com/OCR_DanWoike/status/15051494640
G Abbes - May 30, 2010
Mike Napoli is the best option until Wood returns...and probably after that too
Rivera would probably be next on my list. They are both big, slow guys who hit for power, which is typically what you want at 1st.
Nap’s done the job before and we’ve always wanted to see what he can do with a full season of AB’s. Here’s our chance to find out. If it works out, then he becomes a much more valuable player to our lineup and in any future trade negotiations.
Commander_Nate - May 30, 2010
In an earlier tweet
he asks if the Angels could afford to trade Conger, Reckling, or Trout?
TROUT? Hell no! He’s destroying the Midwest League as an 18 year old. The sky is the limit for him and you don’t trade that away for a rental player.
Robviously - May 30, 2010
Give Frandsen the time
Dude’s been pretty darn solid. I was worried about how to fit Izzy and Frandsen in the lineup, and now we can do it.
That being said, this is where our season finally collapses, or we gut it out.
Kernel - May 30, 2010
Mike Napoli to Start at First Today
https://twitter.com/OCR_DanWoike/status/15052674985
G Abbes - May 30, 2010
OMG...and Matsui in LF today...
Today could be worst defensive team we have EVER fielded!
K3YEROUT - May 30, 2010 via mobile
this is the smartest thing the Angels could do shortterm
Well played Soth!
MH252525 - May 30, 2010
Agreed.
I usually have problems with what Scioscia does with line-ups and who gets to play, but I love this move.
I won’t have a right to bitch if it doesn’t work.
Robviously - May 30, 2010
Im worried about Defense right now though.
TheAngelsColts - May 30, 2010
Sweet
Obviously not a fan of Matsui in the OF, but I guess thats because Rivera is out of the lineup perhaps? Anyway, Napoli at first is an interesting and good move. As his bat has been hot.
TheQuestforMerlin - May 30, 2010
Does anyone think napoli is gona play shitty D at 1B?
aldo H - May 30, 2010
Possibly
~MMP~ - May 30, 2010
He has the basic skill set.
First base requires being able to catch well. The key is keep his foot on the bag. This gives the Angels teh best chance of keeping a power bat in the line-up every day. And we now have a new rally cry. WIN IT FOR KENDRY!!!
firebird81 - May 30, 2010
YES...
but you got any better idea besides gutting our system for a 60-day fill-in at 1B like your genius of a post last night?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 30, 2010
dam i dont remeber everyone crying wen we trade for Teixera
aldo H - May 30, 2010
Wow, forget a couple of letters there, buddy?
First of all, we traded for Teixeira for Kotchman and ONE minor leaguer. In case you haven’t noticed, Kotchman isn’t even hitting over the mendoza-line. And what if we did trade for an Andrian Gonzalez type, what happens if Kowbell returns?
The angels will wait it out before they make any kind of deal. If we are in the cellar by August, then whats the point? If Wood picks it up offensively, then whats the point? If Kowbell makes a speedy recovery and looks like he’ll be back sooner than later, then whats the point?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 30, 2010
He'll probably be fine defensively.
After a few games.
Robviously - May 30, 2010
Napoli
might adjust to 1st base like Erstad did. He does have enough skill to play 1st, it’s not like he’s being asked to play SS or anything like that.
phoenix15 - May 30, 2010
True but I would have thought Wilson would play 1st instead of Napoli because of more recent experience. He also did well.
Oh well I was wrong Nap. is starting at 1st.
TheAngelsColts - May 30, 2010
If Napoli plays 1B, he can play every day.
And we’ll need his bat in the lineup every day.
Robviously - May 30, 2010
Well we will find out today cause that is where he is.
True would be nice to have Mathis come back and be able to play Napoli and Mathis. THough I worry Napoli is going to struggle some at first over there.
TheAngelsColts - May 30, 2010
Here is a non ridiculous trade idea
Ty Wiggington from the Orioles. He is not a superstar but do you guys see how he’s been hitting for the O’s? It wouldn’t take any more than a mid level prospect to get him
ryanfea - May 30, 2010
WIthout Morales
Napoli’s bat everyday could be the factor that decides if the Angels are going to stay in the chase. 3.5 games back isn’t that much. When Mathis returns, a Mathis/Wilson catching staff could hold down the fort until Morales’s return.
phoenix15 - May 30, 2010
Napoli will be fine at 1B for 90% of his fielding attempts.
It’s the 10% that will be an adventure…digging out low throws from SS and 3B, 3-6-3 DP attempts, charging bunts, knowing when to field a ground ball in the hole between 1st and 2nd and/or when to leave it ti the 2B man, and so on.
The fine tuning of those skills only come with experience at the position. Howie Kendrick did will for the most part at 1B, but I recall some failures in these situations. I suspect it will be equally challenging for Napoli.
sothball - May 30, 2010
digging out low throws...
ugh, I dont even want to think about it. He can’t even do that properly as a catcher…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 30, 2010
Well for the most part he is good at blocking which is the closest to digging them out he has to get there.
TheAngelsColts - May 30, 2010
first thing I thought was-----oh God Frandsen is going to be throwing at him......
firebird81 - May 30, 2010
Rivera is in RF, Abrew is DH
Fred Fredrix - May 30, 2010
How about Jorge Cantu?
Could use him to play 1B and 3B
310Angel - May 30, 2010
cantu?
Cannot?
jjackflash - May 30, 2010
Sigh...
A walk off single would have been sufficient Kendry. lol
muddybox - May 30, 2010
silver lining?
well…i was thinking about it last night and thought kendry is up for arbitration this year and he switched over to boras. if there’s a silver lining to his injury is that boras will have just that much less leverage to bump up his arb for this year. regardless of how he was playing before the injury…
we could be paying k-mo for a little less down the road…maybe it’s wishful thinking, but hey, gotta see the silver lining to this accident…
btw, can’t wait to see who steps up in his place…the team always seems to rally around things like this…(as i’m typing this matsui goes yard to RF) haha..
thenextlevel - May 30, 2010
i like the wiggington call...
he’s in the last year of a contract for only 3.5 mill, baltimore will probably only want a mid-level prospect, as of right now based on the current elias rankings the o’s wouldn’t get any compensation for him if he departed after this year, he played well for joe madden in tampa a few years ago, so he’s familiar with a similar type system that the halos use. or we could see if shea hillenbrand is still available, we called on him after rivera broke his leg.
thejd - May 30, 2010
Konerko, if anyone.
they can use his glove, but I still insist on this team to focus on getting a pitcher before the deadline.
SenorChuckles - May 30, 2010
What does acuda27 think of all this/
red floyd - May 30, 2010
He's crying at his Kendry altar.
halofan4life - May 31, 2010
Why not Bobby Wilson for Mike Lowell?
Boston was willing to do it for Max Ramirez in the off season, and they aren’t using him.
Gives them a catcher they can use in the future since Tek and VMart are free agents and lets them unload Lowell. Let’s Angels free up that spot on 25-man roster (3 catchers) and have a stop gap for 1B/3B for the time being. Call up Budde until Mathis is ready.
I’m not sure what the salary situation was on the BOS/TEX trade before it got cancelled, but I’m sure thats just minor details. Throw in a non-star pitching prospect and let them pay part of the salary.
krush40 - May 31, 2010
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