54 games in the book is 1/3 through the season. At 26-28 the Angels are 2.5 games behind Texas and Oakland in the Al West. If you were the Angels' parents and they brought home this report card, would they get a whippin?
Bobby Abreu ... Grade: B- ... The glove is below average but you have had some key contributions with the bat. Funny about all the talk from last year about magically being able to help you teammates take walks, it has all disappeared though.
Erick Aybar ... Grade: C ... You are not a good a leadoff hitter and your fielding is a step off from last year. When you get one we win and when you don't we don't. That is half Scioscia's fault and half yours, but you are doing nothing about the half that is yours.
Trevor Bell ... Grade: C- ... If this is as good as you get you would get a D- but there was that strikeout looking of Evan Longoria that still makes you a bit of a teacher's pet.
Ryan Budde ... Grade: F ... The one game you started we lost because of you.
Jason Bulger ... Grade: D+ ... There are moments. They are few and far between, but there are moments where the room for improvement suddenly opens and you wobble a baby step forward. Hopefully you can lunge on ahead in the 2/3 of the season that awaits you.
Bobby Cassevah ...Grade: D- ... Thankfully you were never put in a game with anything on the line.
Terry Evans ... Grade: C- ... Whenever Wee Reggie muffs a catch we wonder how you would be bobbling that very ball.
Kevin Frandsen ... Grade: C- ... You provided some Wood relief until you actually started having to make the damn throws.
Brian Fuentes ... Grade: F ... We'd be talking scheduling a parent/teacher conference if this were an actual school.
Torii Hunter ... Grade: B- ... Those hot streaks with the bat have helped mask your fading defense.
Maicer Izturis ... Grade: C ... You only look great this year compared to your peers, alone you are behind what a student of your skillset should be producing.
Kevin Jepsen ... Grade: C- ... Some moments of beauty and genius are shrouded in the darkness of blowing a few good leads wide open. We'd be above .500 if you pitched to your potential. It is not entirely your fault that Scioscia trusted you with protecting late leads, but it IS mostly your fault because, hey, you blew them!
Scott Kazmir ... Grade: F ... You may take down Tony Reagins before you're through.
Howie Kendrick ... Grade: C- ... You get extra credit for a walk off homer and a walk off bunt, but your glove is starting to fade and you still chase the low and away garbage all too often to be taken seriously.
Jeff Mathis ... Grade: incomplete ... Your wrist fracture saved your shoulder from having to carry any of this season's blame.
Hideki Matsui ... Grade: D+ ... Old man take a look at your knees, they're a lot like paper maché...
Kendry Morales ... Grade: B+ ... Too bad you will not be joining us for summer session
Mike Napoli ... Grade: B+ ... Let's hope your recent improved performance is headed upward to a plateau and is not a spike.
Matt Palmer ... Grade: D ... Nice knowin' ya...
Joel Pineiro ... Grade: C- ... If the teams was graded on a curve, you'd have an A... pretty sick, eh?
Robb Quinlan ... Grade: incomplete ... This ain't kindergarten you are in the wrong room...
Juan Rivera ...Grade: C- ...Your fielding is a tick above mediocre this season which makes you the glove of all gloves this year.
Fernando Rodney ...Grade: B- ... They say you are getting lucky with the way you are passing your exams but until you actually gack up more games like Jepsen and Fuentes you're looking good.
Francisco Rodriguez ...Grade: incomplete... So far so good, but we need to see more.
Mike Ryan ...Grade: incomplete... but you get an A in not being Wood.
Ervin Santana ...Grade A-... A little hot streak this month could put you in the All Star Game!
Joe Saunders ...Grade: D-... The worst part of it is that you help the PECOTA scum stay smug.
Scot Shields ...Grade: F... Do you need an engraved x-ray of Mo Vaughn's knee to convince you to retire?
Brian Stokes ...Grade: D+... you only avoid an F because you saved Arte 10% on the Gary Matthews contract.
Jered Weaver ...Grade: A ... You are putting it all together at the exact moment everyone else lets their's fall apart. Bummer, dude.
Reggie Willits ...Grade: C+... You've done better than I would have wagered and the overachieving cannot continue so I have just sat back and decided to enjoy what you bring to the table, David Eckstein style.
Bobby Wilson ...Grade: C... Forever linked with confirming Mark Teixeira is a jerk is a career highlight.
Brandon Wood ...Grade: F... Some would have expelled you by now.
0 recs | 102 comments
Here's my review of the team at the 1/3 point. It is short and to the point...
Ok, except for you Jared…
K3YEROUT - June 1, 2010
only good thing about that picture:
Texas and Oakland are walking down the street this way.
Rev Halofan - June 1, 2010
and after he is done plugging the leak in the gulf
John Lackeys gapping open mouth will close this hole too
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
oh, and pretty accurate synopsis Rev...
I woulda given Juarning Track a D+ instead of the C- cuz his fielding has gagged along with his bat this year (Boston game comes quickly to mind as well as misplaying a ball in the corner into damn near inside the park HR).
Eybar gets a C- in my book…
Kendry had an A- in my book right up til Saturday when he dropped about 2 grades for textbook stupidity…as in they had to rewrite the textbook because of him!
And I know full well I am picking nits here…your thoughts are pretty accurate!
Lastly, I think you should have reviewed Soth and Ninja at the same time. Soth has made me say WTF more often than normal but still ok. Ninja gets downgraded heavily for the whole Daren Oliver fiasco. I can live with the rest…including Vlad. Who knew?!
K3YEROUT - June 1, 2010
agree with juan
his unclutchness is almost legendary.
clover_black - June 2, 2010
Yeah, Juan’s been absolutely terrible with the glove, including the game he cost us in Boston. He spins around on every fly ball over his head.
Somehow, though, he’s our best defensive outfielder…
Gorbachav5 - June 2, 2010
every time i start ot believe in Willits
he muffs one and every time i give up on Juan he has a solid game.
Actually Matsui has been fine in limited action but with no real challenging flies.
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
Good evaluation Rev
Spot on. If Rivera is our best defensive OF, that is very sad. I don’t think it’s true though. If Torii were playing in a corner, I think he’d be fine, he just doesn’t have the speed to play center any more. Now we wait for Peter Bourjos to learn to hit – may not be too long if Rivera keeps up the sub .300 OBP. Bourjos moving Torii to left upgrades two defensive positions.
BTW, Baseball-reference is now doing the calculations daily for my wins above replacement metric, and after Monday Ervin was the top pitcher in the American League. Weaver was right behind him. Kind of surprised me that Ervin edged Weaver but he has racked up more innings, going deeper into games. Pre-season it was said that we didn’t have any aces, just a rotation of #2 and #3 starters. Looks like we got ourselves a pair of aces. Too bad the rest of the staff has gone the other direction.
RallyMonkey5 - June 2, 2010
RM5..
Very cool.
Also, looking at the Player Value—Batters WAR calc for Juan, Torii and Bobby (and Hideki) gives some good insight into the outfield problems. You can kinda get away with having a slow OF if those players are overcoming their fielding downsides with the bat. None of them are accumulating the WAR values to compare well to last year – or their respective careers.
LAASurfin - June 2, 2010
is that a short cut to CHINA?
DAD OF VLAD - June 2, 2010
Brandon Wood
Is in currently in Detention.
Funke5ive - June 1, 2010
Felt more like suspension...away from school, home playing with his friends, ps3, etc
K3YEROUT - June 1, 2010
Pretty generous with some of those C's....
The OC Disorder - June 1, 2010
tony reagins
would almost be getting by in special ed.
clover_black - June 1, 2010
HARSH
I mean we’re still only a couple games out of first place, and with how bad we’ve been, that gives me hope that the Angels will pull this one out. The end of June comes and us and Texas are suddenly above .500 and are neck and neck and Oakland begins to fade, the end of July rolls around and we’ve got an uncomfortable 3 game lead, the end of August rolls around and it’s 5 games and then September comes and we turn on the after burners.
Halowood - June 2, 2010
Oh and PS, this team hasn't even reached it's full potential with personnel yet.
Yeah the bullpen stumbles a little bit. But, I would be willing to venture a guess that before the season is over:
- Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Rodriguez, Bobby Cassevah, Rich Thompson, of these guys, ONE of them will figure it out and pull a Jason Bulger.
- Fuentes will find some kind of a groove.
- Jepson will find his groove.
- Bulger will rediscover himself
- Shields will become useful again
- Michael Kohn will be promoted and save the 7th inning for the Angels.
Halowood - June 2, 2010
i did not grade
on wishful thinking
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
+1
K3YEROUT - June 2, 2010
LOL yeah that's probably for the best.
Halowood - June 2, 2010
"Shields will become useful again"
Are you watching the same Shields I am? He’s done, dude.
A Bulger resurgence? More probable. Shields- nope.
hk47 - June 2, 2010
This is the same thinking that i read about all off-season. Best case scenarios.
The only reason we still stand a chance is this weak division of ours.
Wally's World - June 2, 2010
grades are in hindsight
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
our shit-sandwich of a division shouldn't factor in to how grades are given out.
clover_black - June 2, 2010
true
it is an in house scoring method
eyespy - June 2, 2010
And we're not grading on the curve
rspencer - June 2, 2010
Pretty good assessment. Rivera’s fielding is the only thing I can quibble with.
Here’s the question: how much blame do we heap on the teacher (Scioscia) and the Principal (Reagins)? I’m not sure there’s much Scioscia can do, but Reagins needs to re-write that entrance exam.
Gorbachav5 - June 2, 2010
Congratulations Mark. The McGuire triplets...I'm sorry this just cracked me all the way up and I had to post it somwhere.
LINKIE (oh, and Mom/Stephanie is HOT follow link for photo…traded in the old one for this one…whoa)
K3YEROUT - June 2, 2010
Oh, and...in case you need more of Stephanie
LINKIE
K3YEROUT - June 2, 2010
eh
storebought tits, thunder thighs will bloat a month after she stops swimming two miles a day and when her looks go and she stops turning heads she will get a cougar face lift and screw the pool boy for validation and then all you end up with is a blonde joan collins and chlorine on your pecker.
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
Where do I sign up?
WiHaloFan - June 2, 2010
I’ll take it
princeton11loveshalos - June 2, 2010
47 years old with triplets.
Gives a whole new meaning to PED’s.
wumbug - June 2, 2010
B+
I will take that, and my mom will be proud of me.
44FAN - June 2, 2010
And I love putting up 0’s on the board,
44FAN - June 2, 2010
Kendrick C-
LOL
2nd on the team in rbi
Don’t worry little howie, your teacher just hates you
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - June 2, 2010
OPS+ is 81
league average is 100. C+ is average. a pure stat head prof would have given him a D-
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
which explains why Aybar got a higher grade
it’s ok, Howie is learning about being held down by the man at home too
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - June 2, 2010
superior D of Aybar
Howie’s range seems to be possibly contracting.
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
aybar's d?
he’s got a negative rating
.968 fielding percentage to go with it.
aybar’s been the worst player on the team, all things considered.
fielding, fail
running, fail
reaching base, fail
hitting baseball, fail
driving in runners, fail
we know your dog’s name is aybar teach, scioscia’s got some lovable pets too.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - June 2, 2010
Hard to drive in runs when you either leadoff a game or hit behind Brandon Wood
Epic Dean - June 2, 2010
OR it's hard to drive in runs
When you go 6/38 with risp
&
0/16 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs
Rally Killer?
but yeah, that darned brandon wood really threw a wrench into Aybar’s performance.
QOL
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - June 2, 2010
Willits gets an extra credit A+ for some balls-out diving outfield snags
but a couple of F’s for blown plays as well
(like the one that rolled between his legs for a triple—ouch…)
Raaddad - June 2, 2010
Was thinking about saying you are being a little harsh
However, we do have too many underachieving for no good reason. Get it together Angels.
vladtheimpaler - June 2, 2010
Here's an idea. BOBBY ABREU at 1B?
Slot Rivera over in RF where he’s always belonged and put Willits or Ryan out in LF. Our defense becomes much better……
Halowood - June 2, 2010
Has Bobby played first?
What about Wood? I was figuring he’d be given a chance at first.
vladtheimpaler - June 2, 2010
Well we need some sort of offense
Wood just has shown no glimpse that he can provide it. I mean Ryan has shown great promise, and with Willits, at least he gets on base, plays good D and can swipe a bag or lay down a bunt.
Halowood - June 2, 2010
that is why I was surprised that Frandsen has gotten a low grade
He has hit when given the chance and his defense is BETTER than Wood’s. Why not winning a gold glove of at the hot corner. His bat and better glove than wood, should have gotten him a higher grade. c+ or B-
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
bobby has a hard time catching a baseball
not sure 1st is a comfortable spot for him or his mental naps
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - June 2, 2010
He has a hard time with pop flies lol
Halowood - June 2, 2010
Defense
I imagine Wood Wood be a good defensive first baseman. Can’t believe I’ve been sticking up for Wood lately. But I wouldn’t mind seeing him at first for awhile when he comes back. 1st is more of an " I can concentrate on my offense" position.
vladtheimpaler - June 2, 2010
Morales and Napoli getting the same grade?
Respectfully disagree. Forget about how hot Mike’s been in may, His April doesn’t even come close to Kendry’s and both of their Mays are fairly even. Napoli get’s a B- and Morales gets an A-.
Teixeira Who? - June 2, 2010
On the season
Napoli’s rate stats are better than Kendry’s. By a pretty good margin in slugging percentage. Add that to wearing the tools of ignorance (even if he’s mediocre back there) and Napoli has been our best player. Kendry gets points for being in the lineup every day until Saturday.
RallyMonkey5 - June 2, 2010
Mediocre?
I see him blocking lots of balls in the dirt, and people love to quote cather’s ERA, however I rarely see a catcher calling for a ball 2 feet outside the strikezone. That is the pitchers fault. I think Mediocre is the wrong word. Average defensively, but All-Star with the bat (Only Mauer is a better offensive catcher)
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
Agreed...
and he didn’t get many starts in April. Consistent playing time in May has brought the results I expected, and then some. My only fault with Napoli is his inability to come through in the clutch. I figure if there’s a runner on 2nd or 3rd, he’s just about sure to strike out looking.
thetooth - June 2, 2010
Forgot to add...
… that I hope his “clutchness” improves as he gains experience.
thetooth - June 2, 2010
Damn Saundo.
if only the jays accepted the Aybar, Saundo, Bourjous offer. I hate you Halladay, you and all your Mormonism. You go ahead and keep Glenn Beck. I got animosity towards the Jays management as well.
SenorChuckles - June 2, 2010
that was a rumor
never confirmed, can’t grade a student based on what was rumored to have been in his term paper…
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
but it was widely believed that the offer was true, no?
SenorChuckles - June 2, 2010
There was also talk that it was Aybar, Weaver, Bourjos.
It’s likely that the Angels were willing to offer Aybar, Saunders and Bourjos, but the Jays wanted Weaver instead.
~MMP~ - June 2, 2010
And I think Reckling's name came up in there at some point
~MMP~ - June 2, 2010
to tell you the truth...
I just remember those 3 names, and everyone else was speculated by us fans or the media. I thought this would be the perfect time to trade Naps.
SenorChuckles - June 2, 2010
Mister Rev
You do realize with the grades you have issued make this Angel team a D team. With that said I would agree with your assessment. I may not agree with some of the individual reports, but the truth of the matter is there is a serious issues that need/must be addressed in order for the 2010 Angels to be considered a solid team
Angel Aviator - June 2, 2010
I'd put the team grade closer to C or C-...
…which about matches their current 26-28 win/loss record.
I agree there are some seriuos issues that need to be addressed. The 2 main issues are getting some of the offensive under-performers (Aybar, Rivera, Matsui, Kendrick, Wood, and even Arbeu) to pick up the pace, and for someone in the bullpen to remember how to pitch…and quit walking so damn many batters!
sothball - June 2, 2010
C still equals average?
With the team currently sitting at 2 games below avg at the point of Revs assessment I think he is spot on with the teams over all ability to perform day in day out. When a club has as you stated 6 everyday starters not playing well there is issues. A good solid team has the ability to pick up a player that is struggling for a few weeks, but when a club as a whole struggles there is the common thought that the team as a whole isn’t as good as some were lead to believe (punch drinkers).
I myself stated before that I did not see this club being a team that would be able to get more then 5 games above 500 on the season. If they do get to say 84-78 I think they will have overachieved or it will be because the AL West is so so very bad!
With that all said it doesn’t mean I don’t root for the team I have been rooting for since day one way back in 72. I will be rooting them on always……just not big into drinking colored water
Angel Aviator - June 2, 2010
Poor Weaver
Keeps running into the aces. Faces Zack G next.
TheAntiSox - June 2, 2010
Judging by fantasy points, Zack hasn’t been too much of an ace this year.
Dontbatvlad4th - June 2, 2010
well thats assuming you count W
which his team hasn’t provided for him
princeton11loveshalos - June 2, 2010
Well
That’s why he started the season opener. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to shut down KC.
dmhead - June 2, 2010
I don't think WTY minds.
wumbug - June 2, 2010
Accurate Scores
I would have been interested to see your grades on management.
Dontbatvlad4th - June 2, 2010
D
or maybe D+
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
Abreu’s grade should be lower, he isn’t hitting as much and striking out too much
Bulgers grade is a little rough too since he had a bad April but a really good May.
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
He has struck out LOOKING at a much more alarming rate this year
24 K’s looking out of 44 total K’s in 2010; 4.6AB’s per strikeout.
35 K’s looking out of 113 total K’s in 2009; 5.0AB’s per strikeout.
His “Strikeouts-Looking” percentage is 55%. His career average is 31%.
SOURCE
With that, I’d give him a lower grade, as well. He needs to be more protective with 2 strikes.
Downing Rules - June 2, 2010
Since you're a Rev...
shouldn’t this be more of a judgement or inquisition rather than a report card?
Commander_Nate - June 2, 2010
i was raised
by nuns
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
So was Dinah Brand
in Hammett’s Red Harvest.
She too turned to a life of crime and degradation
Raaddad - June 2, 2010
Next grading period,
please use something different than a school “report card” scale.
I would prefer movie reviews.
For example:
“Brian Fuentes is like ‘The Human Centipede,’ gross everywhere.”
He receives 1 star out of 10.
“Bobby Abreu is like ‘Cool World,’ nice soundtrack but no substance.”
He receives 4 out of 10.
Chompo - June 2, 2010
"Bobby Abreu is like ‘Cool World,’ nice soundtrack but no substance."
Holly Would say that about Chupa
red floyd - June 2, 2010
Biggest problems of the year so far
#1-Walks from starting and bull pen
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
it formatted the numbers for me should be 1-5 not 1,1-4
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
I hat SBN formatting it took out the percentage signs and numbered the list for me and did it wrong
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
I like this.
1) Figgy
2) K-Rod
3) Figgy
4) Lackey
Problem solved
Wally's World - June 2, 2010
Have you been watching "head case" KRod this season...
…fastball blowing in there at 89, getting in fights with the blowpen coach, his numbers are good, and he is a walking drama queen. I, for one, do not miss him.
Lackey’s numbers: ERA 4.95 / WHIP 1.66; BB 32 / K 39 in 67.3 IP…yeah, he would fit right in our rotation alright! No thank you! Don’t miss the mouth-breathing Gomer one bit!
K3YEROUT - June 2, 2010
Oh, and Figgy... LOL
He is UP TO .217 these days…
K3YEROUT - June 2, 2010
Two Appeals
Ironically, I’m advocating grade appeals for two members of the beleaguered bullpen: Kevin Jepsen and Brian Fuentes.
Jepsen: has appeared in 23 games thus far, and has pitched scoreless baseball in 18 of those, or 78%. That’s C+/B- territory. The 24 Ks in 18 2/3 IP is impressive. Give him a B-.
Fuentes: it hasn’t been pretty, but look at his game logs. He has failed to do his job only three times out of 13 appearances, and one of those fails really belongs to Abreu (dropped fly ball on 05/26), and the Angels won that game anyway. He has been better than the bullpen as a whole. It’s fun to bash the guy, yeah, but if you look at the actual results, he gets a C. Surprised the heck out of me, actually. When I started to write this paragraph, I was going to advocate for a D+ but on careful review, he breaks into C territory.
jjackflash - June 2, 2010
how many times did we win despite Fuentes?
His ERA is horrid and if you don’t like that stat try the eyeball test—-does Fuentes’s stuff look like it is hard to hit?
Does it look as if hitters are just missing crushing the ball? Does it look as if hitters are scared or eager to face him? Does his salary play into his low grade? If you took a poll would most teams want him as a their closer? IF you took a poll within HH, would we rather have him be a darren oliver type lefty specialist,and have us go get another closer?
Now does his ONLY 3 blown saves seems so good?
No he AT MOST deserves an D-, but F is good
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
ERA?
Really? Your primary argument is based on ERA, compiled in a whopping 12 2/3 IP? And if he pitches scoreless baseball over the next three innings, I assume you’d give him an A based upon a 2.29 ERA, right?
Rebuttal #2: Does Jamie Moyer’s stuff look like it’s hard to hit? Has it looked hard to hit for the last 10 years?
Take a look at what he’s actually done. How does he get a non-passing grade? How many losses can you pin on him? Looks are important, but results also matter. He deserves a passing grade. Results alone gets him a C, lowered to a C- because he makes you reach for the Mylanta. I’ll give you that. But a passing grade nonetheless.
jjackflash - June 2, 2010
+1
Downing Rules - June 2, 2010
grades not purely statistical
there has been a letdown factor in Fuentes that needs to be factored in. Purely subjective of course, but that is what professors are for.
Rev Halofan - June 2, 2010
We'll be replaced by robots soon
along with the umpires
Raaddad - June 2, 2010
Need Insurance
Time to call Old Glory.
jjackflash - June 2, 2010
Where's Sam Waterston when we need him?
red floyd - June 2, 2010
plus he throws like a girl
Wally's World - June 2, 2010
I thought that was Johnny Damon?
Looks like Jesus, throws like Mary.
red floyd - June 2, 2010
and your rebuttal is based on what if's?
So yeah if he throws scoreless innings for the next 50 appearances and lower’s his ERA to .10 he will win the Cy young.
Yes I was basing it on 12 and 2/3 innings because THAT IS WHAT HE HAS PITCHED.
Sinatrasratpack - June 2, 2010
Seriously?
Are you being deliberately obtuse? Do I actually have to trot out the words “sample size?” 12 2/3 IP is really pretty meaningless. The point is that two bad outings over 12 innings is going to leave you with bad numbers. But just a couple of more good appearances change those numbers drastically. He has not been leaking runs in every single appearance. In fact, MOST of the time, he has been effective.
I assumed that was obvious.
jjackflash - June 2, 2010
Grading
Look, a player who gets the job done most of the time doesn’t deserve a failing grade, particularly on a team where so few really shine (perhaps I grade on a curve).
jjackflash - June 2, 2010
No
Being Obtuse would be coming back on this thread and pointing out his ERA and WHIP went up not down, on his next appearance. but I am sure that you will point out that “He got the save didn’t he?”
Sinatrasratpack - June 3, 2010
Budde also caught Weaver's first start against the Mariners
~MMP~ - June 2, 2010
My 1/3 season grade A+
for screwing up my life
thanks for nothing ass holes
GO ANGELES
now win again
DAD OF VLAD - June 2, 2010
dad of Qlad
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - June 2, 2010
GRADES are bad for self esteem
Lets replace them with Smiley Faces.
SMILEY FACES FOR EVERYBODY!!!
The Clyde - June 3, 2010
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