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Slider Key to Santana Victory, More Who's on First.  Halolinks.

Santana shuts down Royals - Wichita Eagle
On Monday, specifically, Yost pointed to Angels starter Ervin Santana, and a killer slider, in explaining the loss. Nothing more. "I'm going to tell you right now," Yost declared, "that is the best slider we've seen all year. His slider, I don't know if you call it devastating, but it was just short of devastating.  If we had somebody else besides Santana throwing that slider today, there's no telling what would have happened. But he matched up with a guy who had a nasty slider." "That's the best I've seen Santana," first baseman Billy Butler said, "and I've had quite a few at-bats against him. He was changing speeds and keeping us off-balance. I got into a count where I was looking for it and still couldn't hit it."  Santana gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings before Kevin Jepsen and Scot Shields closed out the Angels' third straight victory and fifth in six games. They made it look easy — like (almost) always. The Angels won nine of 10 games last year between the two teams and are 36-12 against the Royals since the start of the 2004 season. That includes a whopping 24-6 domination at the K.

I sometimes like linking to the other team's local newspaper to get a different take on the game.  In this article, the Royals were very impressed with Santana's pitching, specifically his slider.  Santana limits the Royals to one run in seven - Ervin Santana holds the Royals to one run in seven innings, striking out six.  Here are some other video highlights: Rivera lifts a solo shot in the second inning - Juan Rivera blasts a solo shot deep to left to give the Angels an early lead in the top of the second inning.  Izturis hits a solo shot off the foul pole - Maicer Izturis belts a solo home run off the left-field foul pole in the third inning to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.  Napoli belts a two-run homer in the eighth - Mike Napoli lifts a two-run home run just over the center-field wall to give the Angels a 7-1 lead in the eighth.


MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK (sorry Kendry)...

Star-divide

Angels-Royals Preview - FOX Sports on MSN
What is a pattern is Brian Bannister (4-3, 4.70 ERA) making a quality start. Despite matching a season high with nine hits allowed, the right-hander won his third straight outing in Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Red Sox. Three relievers followed Bannister with three perfect innings. "That's how it's supposed to look," said Bannister, who is 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles. "I was able to give a quality start and some good arms came out of the 'pen and did their job." Bannister will try to win four consecutive starts for the first time since Aug. 17-Sept. 2, 2007. The Angels will counter with Joel Pineiro (3-5, 4.95), who has a 14.59 ERA while losing his last three road starts. The right-hander was solid in his last outing, throwing six innings of two-hit ball in Wednesday's 6-5 win over Toronto, but he walked three of his season-high four in the second inning as the Blue Jays scored three times. "It's weird, because I wasn't getting hit around. It was just the walks,''  Los Angeles has won 27 of 36 in Kansas City since the beginning of the 2002 season.

In other words, the Angels have only lost 9 times in 8 years.  PWNED.

 

Losing Kendry Morales isn't Los Angeles Angels' only concern -  FOX Sports on MSN
Yes, the Angels need a first baseman. But they also need better production out of every other infield position, left field, right and designated hitter – not to mention a more consistent rotation and significantly improved bullpen. "I’m not sure even with Kendry Morales they were as good as they thought they were," one American League general manager says. The best solution for the team might be to find a short-term backup catcher and continue using Mike Napoli at first and Bobby Wilson at catcher until Jeff Mathis returns from a broken bone in his right wrist. Such a plan would leave the Angels flexible enough to make other moves – say, for a starting pitcher or bullpen help.

There are many Angels trade rumors swirling about.  I've read the club may look into trading for Paul Konerko, Lance Berkman, or Mike Lowell (see below).  Or sign one of the free-agent leftovers such as Jermaine Dye or Carlos Delgado.  I've got an idea (and I'll continue to beat this dead horse), trading for Juan Pierre now even more sense than when I brought it up (many times) this spring?  Instead of signing a player like Dye to play first base, who has almost zero experience at that position, how about trading for Pierre?  Put him in left and have Juan Rivera take over for Morales.  Trading for Pierre will fill two Angel needs; 1)  Improve their outfield defense.  Okay, we've all heard how crappy Pierre is on defense, but the stats don't back that up.  At least not this season.  This may be far fetched, but according to Fangraphs, Pierre is having a better season defensively (in every category) than highly touted Franklin Gutierrez, and rates second in the major leagues in Ultimate Zone Rating.  2)  Improve their batting order by replacing Aybar at the top of the order.

Mike Lowell makes sense for Angels - Truth & Rumors
While the Red Sox seem not to, the Angels may now have room for Mike Lowell. Whether [Kendry] Morales plays again this year, the Angels are staring at a gaping hole at first base, which is where Lowell enters the equation.

If not my man Pierre, this probably makes the most sense.

On Angels' Kendry Morales walkoff home run celebration injury - Joe Posnanski - SI.com
High school boys, on average, watch more television and are more likely to spend three or more hours on a computer than high school girls.

Yeah, I know.  The above quote has nothing to do with Morales, celebrating, or injuries.  But I just wanted to say I have no idea why high school boys watch more TV, but as far as the 3 hours on the internet?  I think it might have something to do with naked women.  Just a hunch.  Anyway, read the article, as with most Posnanski article, you'll enjoy it.

Oswalt ejected in opener vs. Nationals - astros.com
Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt was ejected in the third inning of Monday's 14-4 loss against the Nationals by home-plate umpire Bill Hohn for arguing balls and strikes. He was ejected after throwing a close 2-2 pitch to Josh Willingham that Hohn called a ball. Oswalt said something to Hohn as he walked toward the mound and was quickly ejected.

Another crappy umpire being a crappy umpire story.  What's interesting about this is the above link is from the MLB site.  It doesn't mention anything about Oswalt not yelling at the umpire, and mentions Oswalt was ejected for yelling at the umpire.  What it doesn't state is Oswalt was yelling at himself, and was telling the umpire he wasn't talking to him when he got ejected.  Watch the video in the link.

Gross robs Laird of a home run in the third - Video - MLB.com
Gabe Gross robs Gerald Laird of a home run as he leaps over the left-field wall to make an amazing catch in the third inning

Nice catch.

What's it like to be Bryce Harper? -  Yahoo! Sports
What it’s like to be Bryce Harper is to seek the longer challenge, to wish for the game to go through – rather than around – him. He’s so sure he can do this that he won’t allow it to go any other way. Maybe he’s the best prospect ever, or the second best, or barely on the list, whatever. It doesn’t matter. We know there haven’t been many like him, not at 17. We know that guys like this – boys who become men, early – more often go off to play football or basketball. We know that sometimes baseball picks the boy, not the other way around. They are the special ones.

Has anyone heard of this Bryce Harper kid?  Sounds intriguing.

Bugs & Cranks " Our Flag Never Looked So…
That’s Tom Helmer (left) and Hall of Fame baseball writer Tracy Ringolsby (right/cowboy hat) of Fox Sports Rocky Mountain showing their overwhelming patriotism before today’s game.

Yikes.

June 1 - BR Bullpen
1925 - Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees pinch-hit for Pee Wee Wanninger, beginning his streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive games. The next day, first baseman Wally Pipp showed up with a headache, and Gehrig took over.
1975 - California Angels Nolan Ryan's 100th career victory was a memorable one as he beat the Baltimore Orioles ,1 - 0 and tied Sandy Koufax's big league mark by pitching his fourth no-hitter.
1995 - In the amateur draft, the California Angels selected first pick Darin Erstad. He will sign for a $1.6 bonus, the highest signing bonus to date.
Happy b-day...
1941 - Dean Chance, pitcher; All-Star
1942 - Ken McMullen, infielder

Who's getting laid?  Mike Napoli, that's who:

Los Angeles Angels
Erick Aybar, SS 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 .243
Maicer Izturis, 3B 5 1 1 1 0 1 2 .237
Bobby Abreu, RF 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 .275
Torii Hunter, CF 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 .270
Hideki Matsui, DH 5 0 0 0 0 2 3 .229
Juan Rivera, LF 3 2 1 1 1 1 0 .228
Mike Napoli, C 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 .271
Howard Kendrick, 2B 4 0 2 2 0 1 1 .261
Michael Ryan, 1B 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .174
    Robb Quinlan, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 38 7 11 7 3 8    
Batting
2B - Erick Aybar (11, Hochevar), Bobby Abreu (16, Soria), Mike Napoli (10, Hochevar), Howard Kendrick (12, Hochevar)
HR - Maicer Izturis (1, Hochevar), Juan Rivera (7, Hochevar), Mike Napoli (8, Marte)
RBI - Erick Aybar (8), Maicer Izturis (11), Juan Rivera (22), Mike Napoli 2 (19), Howard Kendrick 2 (29)
2-OUT RBI - Juan Rivera (10), Howard Kendrick 2 (9)
SB - Mike Napoli (3, 2nd base off Hochevar/Kendall), Howard Kendrick (5, 2nd base off Hochevar/Kendall)
Team LOB - 7
Fielding
DP - Napoli-Kendrick
Kansas City Royals
Scott Podsednik, LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .295
Mike Aviles, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .314
David DeJesus, RF 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .290
Billy Butler, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .342
Jose Guillen, DH 4 0 1 0 0 3 2 .250
Alberto Callaspo, 3B 4 1 3 0 0 1 1 .296
Mitch Maier, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .264
Yuniesky Betancourt, SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
Jason Kendall, C 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .287
Totals 34 1 8 1 0 11    
Batting
2B - David DeJesus (15, Santana), Alberto Callaspo 2 (16, Santana, Santana), Jason Kendall (10, Santana)
RBI - Jason Kendall (11)
2-OUT RBI - Jason Kendall (6)
SB - Alberto Callaspo (3, 2nd base off Santana/Napoli)
CS - David DeJesus (3, 2nd base by Santana/Napoli)
Team LOB - 6
 
Los Angeles Angels
Ervin Santana (W,5-3) 7 7 1 1 0 6 0 3.43
Kevin Jepsen 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.30
Scot Shields 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 6.48
Pitches-Strikes - Ervin Santana 101-67, Kevin Jepsen 11-10, Scot Shields 17-11
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Ervin Santana 7-7
Batters Faced - Ervin Santana 27, Kevin Jepsen 3, Scot Shields 4
Kansas City Royals
Luke Hochevar (L,5-3) 7 9 5 5 2 7 2 5.10
Victor Marte 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 5.79
Joakim Soria 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.75
Brad Thompson 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.13
Pitches-Strikes - Luke Hochevar 106-65, Victor Marte 21-11, Joakim Soria 19-13, Brad Thompson 1-1
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Luke Hochevar 7-7, Victor Marte 1-2
Batters Faced - Luke Hochevar 32, Victor Marte 5, Joakim Soria 3, Brad Thompson 1
 
Game Information
Attendance - 24651
Game Time - 2:39
Temperature - 79
Umpires - Home - Brian Runge, First Base - Mike Winters, Second Base - Hunter Wendelstedt, Third Base - Mike Estabrook
Poll
The Angels next move should be...
Sign Delgado or Dye to play first base.
82 votes
Trade for Paul Konerko
43 votes
Trade for Lance Berkman
46 votes
Trade for Mike Lowell
22 votes
Trade for Juan Pierre
17 votes
Nothing. We will win with what we got.
184 votes
Other (comment below)
9 votes

403 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  75 comments

Comments

Adam LaRoche might be worth looking into

He’s not on the same level as a Konerko or a Berkman, but he’s cheap and pretty good

Oswalt.

We can manage with an average offense, but we can’t win without a respectable rotation. Oz, Weave, Santana, and Pinero would be nice in a 7 game series.

Pierre isn’t that bad; I could see it’d work, but he still has an unfriendly contract, no? Trade or no trade, this is still a very productive club.

In a trade

For Lowell, Konerko, LaRoche, Berkman, or whoever, the key is that the Angels refuse to part with any decent prospect. A team trading a player to us should expect nothing more than partial salary relief. Because if they ask for anything more than that, our move should be to look to Dye/Delgado where it will only cost money.

But I don’t think any move like this is necessary. I’m fine with Napoli playing first as soon as Mathis is ready to catch.

Wait, your magic solution is to trade for a leadoff hitter who currently is sporting a .304 OBP?

This helps us how?

Just looked up Aybar too - his OBP is .316.

So, Aybar, who definitely is not a good leadoff hitter, is still better than Pierre.

Could Go Up

Aybar’s low OBP is largely a product of his subpar batting average. If he had eight more hits this year, he’d be hitting .282, which is about what we all thought we could expect from him. Those extra eight hits would also bring his OBP to a respectable .351. Not fantastic, but about what he did last year. If Aybar’s were hitting .312, where he finished last year, his OBP would be all the way up to .377. Bottom line: he’ll be fine if he can just hit better. Easier said than done, but it has been done.

If you brought Aybar’s BABiP up to his career number, .314 from .292, you’re only adding three more hits, which gets you up to a .329 OBP. Aybar’s walk rate is okay; it’s not great, but it’s way above anything else he’s put up in his career. The problem is that Aybar gets a lot of value from putting balls in play (given his speed and bat control) and it seems like his desire to increase walks is also leading to an increase in SO’s (which are way up).

The other main problem is that his line drive rate is down by 20% from the last two years. He’s just not hitting the ball hard. No triples this year against nine last season. Plus, as fast as he is, the guy is not a good baserunner. 7 out of 12 on stolen bases, plus several outs on the bases.

All that said, if Aybar’s LD rate returns to normal and his luck improves on balls in play (those two things go hand in hand), he can bring his OBP up to league average or slightly better.

Also, no Juan Pierre please.

Interesting

Where do you find BABiP and LD rate, incidentally? I don’t know enough about those measures to know what’s good, or what can be expected (what were his #s in those categories last year, which was his first truly full season?), but the bottom line is clear: Aybar has seriously underperformed this year, but there’s reason to believe that he can perform better than he has, enough so that he’d certainly be adequate as a hitter.

Now, as for his baserunning…he hasn’t really shown that he can do any better. Simply being fast obviously isn’t enough. I’d be curious, though, how many of his CS are actually pickoffs. I suspect most of them.

Yes this is true

but nothing will stand in the way of Wi and his irrational man-crush on Pierre.

Magic?

If I were to suggest a magic solution it’d probably be something like Lou Gehrig taking over first base.

I realize (as dmhead as suggested) my man-crush on Pierre might be irrational, but I’m just trying to look at things a little differently. I don’t think any of the solutions are good (i.e., Delgado, Konerko, Napoli, nothing).

Great! You want a dead guy (Gehrig) to play first base for us. How is that an improvement?

Granted we’ve had a third-baseman (Wood) who has pretty much played like a walking corpse this year.

Hey, in Wi's defense a dead guy wouldn't be much worse in the leadoff spot than Pierre.
You're fucking with me right?
No, I think he's saying it's a bad idea in a comical tone.

Don’t know how you could confuse that with, uh….

The best thing about Pierre

would be that he could work with Aybar and others
on improving their base-stealing, like he did with Figgy.

well, it would probably bring in a number of new fans. zombies are hip right now.

Does Magic play baseball?

I thought he was strictly basketball

Should be: "Lookin' like a fool with YO pants on the ground."

Sorry for being such a grammar Nazi.

We should do nothing for now. We’ve all wanted to see what Napoli can do with like 500+ ABs and now that chance is upon us. Let’s see if we really do have that 30-40 HR guy ready to take our DH spot and play catcher and 1st. I don’t think this team can really afford to give up too much more out of it’s regular starting core. Short of a cheap signing for Dye or Lowell if he gets released, I don’t think we’ll do much.

Totally agree

There isn’t much value in giving up prospects for a 1B trade that may or may not really help us. particularly if we can pick up Dye or perhaps a released Lowell if push came to shove and we really had to make a move.

Right now, it makes much more sense to see how Napoli does, whether Wood/Matsui/Rivera can turn it round, or Frandsen/Trumbo/Conger step up.

We’ll sit tight, not many trades are going to get made now anyway, but if a great opportunity arises hopefully we’ll be in on it. If it makes sense.

haha, disagree...it's "foo"

“Lookin’ like a foo wit yo pants on da ground”

I pity da foo who don't know it's "foo"!
Regarding Ervin Santana

This is great news about his slider (I think I read reports earlier in the season that it was a bit flat) and absolutely critical to his success. When he is hitting 93/4 mph with his fastball and locating it in the K’zone (also getting early strikes) his slider just devastates. As KC found out yesterday. Good stuff.

Delgado

I think best bet sign Delgado for the rest of this season might cost $1.5mil still has some pop and if Kendry can’t make it back for the playoffs gives the Angels a nice option at 1b

However he wouldn't be able to play for a few weeks probably even if we signed him right now.

He would have to get back in shape and do a little spring training in the minors probably for a week.

Does anybody know what Carlos Delgado has been doing the past six months

For all we know he’s been polishing of twelve packs and looks like Mo Vaughn by now

anyone know whats left on lowell's contract?

There’s no way the sox just release him.if anything they keep around for depth. I know they’d like to move him but I’m sure they’ll want more than just salary relief, right?

The first thing I thought of when Kendry got hurt was if Jermaine Dye was staying in shape? He would likely only command a minor league contract for the near minimum right? I know his experience at first is extremely limited but his bat could be a huge help. The angels could sign him on the cheap and maybe let him duke it out with Rivera over who plays a better first base. the lesser of the 2(defensively at first) just goes to left field. I would prefer this over mathis bat in the lineup.

Lowell is owed $12 million and has basically asked for his release

Kremlin Leak

If that happens, he’ll pretty much sign anywhere for MLB minimum, which is $400,000 – basically the same we are paying Wood to do nothing so far. I saw somewhere else that supposedly the Angels and Twins are his top choices. This is the only way I’d take him. I don’t want to give the Red Sox a single ’effin thing.

Trade

Assuming the Angels were willing to take on the rest of his contract (they could and should), I would think he could be had for a low-level prospect. He’d be the best option. Plus, if Kendry makes it back this year, Lowell could always slide back over to 3B.

What if...

…we take on Lowell’s salary in exchange for Lackey dressing in drag for the duration of Boston’s visit here later this summer?

That’s worth $12 million to me.

LOL!

I’ll chip in to help raise funds!

But only if he wears one of the old AAGPBL uniforms.

(see “A League of Their Own” for uniform details)

Why would we, after being outbid on free agents for fear of a contract becoming a mistake, take on a player and his contract that had proven to be a mistake?

Lowell is hitting .239/.329/.358. If you don’t have a minor leaguer or a reserve who you could stick in and have perform this poorly, you don’t have any business considering your team a contender.

And If we really wanted to get a guy with a fancy, famous name who clearly can’t hit instead of play someone like Naps at 1b after Soth’s and Hatcher’s lovechild Mathis comes back, why not Darin Erstad.

He can’t hit, just as Lowell can’t, but at least he’s our guy.

Limited Risk

This is the last year of his contract. He can play either first or third. Those #s this year are over a paltry 67 AB. Just a year ago, he was .290/.337/.474, with 17 HR.

The claim that “Lowell can’t hit” is a tenuous proposition.

Yeah but the priductuon of 80 year olds tend to fall off a cliff.

The claim that he’ll match last year’s production is also a tenuous proposition.

split the difference

First off, honestly, I’m not sure that the Angels do have anybody they can call up who’ll put up those #s [Napoli could, and I’d be perfectly happy to see him given the job until he proves he can’t do it].

The difference between last year’s BA for Lowell and this year’s is a measly 4 hits. If one of those 4 hits were an HR, he’d basically have the same line as last year. Slightly more regular playing time might help him increase his production ever so slightly, which is really all that he’d need to do.

I agree that if the Angels have someone capable of doing that, there’s no need for a trade. I’m just not sure that, RIGHT NOW, there is such a person (apart from Napoli).

Lowell also has postseason experience, if that matters.

AGE-IST!!!!
Racist!!! Hostility Abounds!!!
Imposter!
Lackey!
Now, you're getting mean.

Henchman!

I really dont wanna see any prospects go

but this would make sense.

So you don't want a bat that is doing great in the lineup? Instead you would want a guys in there that hasn't played since last year?
i realize mathis was hitting well before he got hurt...

… But I don’t think I’m the only one here that thinks mendozathis will soon reappear upon return from the DL. So if you are asking me if I’d rather have Dye over Mathis? I’ll take Dye, especially if he’s in great shape and could be had cheaply. Of course, JD could be lounging back eating cheesy poofs and working on his retirement belly for all I know.

I think Jermaine Dye is on his Playstation. . .

. . .playing “MLB 2008: The Show,” reliving the past when he still could actually play.

I guess the main point im trying to make...

… Is that I don’t think angels are in any position to make a trade, and if Jermaine Dye is a healthy and cheap option… I say why not?

Thats what we thought of mathis coming into the season as well.

I just say you want Dye don;t expect him to do anything before the allstar break. We need someone now not later.

Really though I say we just do what we are doing and keep rotating it between Napoli and Ryan

No way the Sox DFA Lowell. End of Story.

Will not happen. They will let him sit on the end of their bench pissed off. He would have to pull a Manny to get out of Boston (be a distraction to his team and be a jerk), all things which I doubt he will do.

The Red Sox are not running a charity. They want to be nice to Lowell and nice to the Angels, so they do the right thing and release him, so he can sign with us. Personally, I wish the world worked that way, because I would really like it if someone gave me ten grand, just because they are cool with me.

Didn't Delgado just have another hip surgery in February?

Seems pretty quick for a return to the Carlos Delgado people are familiar with. He says he’s eyeing a return in July, but he’s had 2 hip surgeries in a year.

If that's true, then a 10-foot pole might be in order.

http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2010/04/carlos_delgado_visits_mets_say.html

“It soon became clear that Delgado never fully recovered from his hip injury last year. He said his hip bothered him during winter ball, which prompted him to have the second surgery in mid-February.”

I don't care if Delgado didn't have surgery, he is done.

If the Mets drop you you are radioactive.
Signing Delgado is the worst idea since Greedo shot first

I pick the worst weekends to disappear.

I feel really out of the loop now.

So did I miss anything interesting? ; )

Mike Napoli became our primary first baseman, but other than that, no.
and should stay "our primary first baseman"

It’s a no brainer—with Ryan and possibly Q set to back him up if needed
Mathis will be fine, and thus our conundrum of whether to start Mathis over Naps (and you know who Soth will pick) at catcher is resolved; unfortunately a solution rendered possible only due to Kendry’s injury.

yeah right!

I’m not that gullible. The next thing I know you’re going to tell me Morales hurt himself celebrating, we won with two walk-offs in a row, and we’re on a 3 game win streak and poised to take 1st place in the AL west soon.

How 'bout this?

I turned 25, lost my camera and phone, got them back from two different places, didn’t die and somehow made it into work on time and not down several hundred bucks today.

Which is more believable? And a question to you old timers – what milestone birthdays are left after 21? The last 4 have seemed like re-runs…

We're you in Vegas?
No, just stayed in SD

About two years ago, I realized there’s no reason to blow a ton of cash on a birthday with no significance. Also, had I been in Vegas when I found out about Kendry, I probably would have died.

Answer to the birthday question: NONE.

They just seem to come more frequently. 27 is about as memorable as 36 or 47.
I keep looking for the button to shut off the damn time machine…but I appear to have mis-placed that too. Then I go looking for my glasses only to find an hour later they’re propped on top of my head.
Yup…all down hill from here on…

Damn

I hate it when I’m right about the future.

Life begins and ends at 21.
Those were the days my friend

We thought they’d never end

I would say 30

is the worst because if you do really stupid things at 29 ‘You are still in your 20’s" but 30? you are just an immature lout.

50 is clearly the worst

People start dying…

W6G

We Will Win Without Wood With Gazoo

5-1 since Izzy came back from the DL
5-0 in the games he started
11-5 overall in games he’s started this year
not to mention that 18-3 run last year when he took over at 2b when Howie was sent down

Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don' make.

I’d hate to see us lose part of our lineup and most of our minor league stars to nab a veteran player on the decline, or one who ‘might’ have a good partial season with us.

We’ve made it through hardships before and we’ll do it again. Only move I’d like to see would involve strengthening our bullpen without losing too much. That doesn’t sound too realistic though.

This road should be a good measure of the post-kowbell Halos, and our ability to scale the team in a beneficial manner after unforeseen circumstances.

Napoli and Wood should be given first cracks at first base

preferably in that order. If neither of them can handle it, I’d take a long look at Carlos Delgado. He could be had for a low-risk, one year deal… why not? He’s a lefty presence with a high OBP and good power. 2 years ago, the guy hit 38 homers… he’s still got it.

Napoli always goes for homerun or nothing

on the field and with the ladies.

Our move should be to keep Napoli at 1st- he is too valuable an offensive weapon to use the way he is
But don't you think we need the defensive brilliance of Q??!!!

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