"Good job Scotty, but I'm taking you out."
"All I've done is warm up!"
I spell relief, H-a-l-o-l-i-n-k-s:
Mark Saxon continues his look at the 2012 Angels with this post about the bullpen: Position previews: Relievers - ESPN Los Angeles. Nothing new here, but he does mention Scott Downs, "Downs is among the most underrated pitchers in the major leagues, in part because of his middle-innings role and in part because of his upper-80s fastball. In three of the last four seasons, he has had a sub-3.00 ERA. In two of those seasons, it has been under 2.00. His WHIP the last two seasons has been around 1.000. Right-handed hitters batted .214 off him last year. Lefties hit .179." I know perception and reality seldom are the same, but my perception of how the Angels used Downs last season was one of wasted opportunity. If I remember correctly, there were a couple games where the lefty threw less than 10 pitches. One key to an improved season by the Halo pen may be the better and more frequent use of Downs.
Within this post, Alden Gonzalez answers Angels fans' questions in the final offseason Inbox - angels.com. IT looks like the Angels are no longer looking at free agent relief options. ""We didn't feel like the opportunity existed to find the right piece for us, where we were," general manager Jerry Dipoto said Saturday. But he also noted that in Spring Training, with basically all 30 teams conducting in-house competitions in the bullpen, relievers have a tendency to become available on the waiver wire." Or in other words, the only addition we can look forward to are other teams' cast-offs?
Here's an interesting article from Bill Plunkett, Angels cashing in on exciting off-season moves - The Orange County Register about the effect of signing Pujols and Wilson. "According to the team, ticket sales for the Angels' 15 spring games at Tempe Diablo Stadium are trending 24 percent ahead of 2011 with five of the games already near sellouts – Friday March 9 against the Padres, Saturday March 10 against the Giants, Friday March 16 against the Indians, Saturday March 17 against the Brewers and Sunday March 25 against the Rangers. The Angels sold out just two of their Cactus League games last spring."
According to this post, 2012 Amateur Draft Order - MLB Daily Dish, the Angels' surrender their first round pick (#19 overall) to the Cardinals for signing Pujols and don't have a pick until the second round.
Mailbag: Will Angels have Kendry-Albert 1-2 punch? - NBC Sports. "And no individual comeback may have more importance than that of Kendry Morales. If he's the middle-of-the-order, left-handed threat he was in 2009, the Angels' lineup takes on a far more dangerous look"
This entertaining Jeff Sullivan post made the rounds yesterday: The 10 Worst Swings Of The 2011 Season - Baseball Nation. "My definition of a bad swing is not a swing where the hitter trips and falls or lets go of the bat or something. Rather, I'm looking for swings at pitches the furthest away from the strike zone. Swings that were poorly conceived. Swings where the hitter falls or lets go of the bat are bad swings, too, but they're not bad swings for our purposes. There isn't data for sloppy or mechanically improper swings. There is data for swings at wild pitches." But how could a post about bad swings not include this dandy, nutbuster by Erick Aybar:
The OC Register's Sam Miller also writes for Baseball Prospectus: Pebble Hunting: Watching the Worst Game of 2011 - Baseball Prospectus. This is a funny post, but the quote I'm highlighting here is this comment, "I was thinking of cancelling my subscription to BP, but the last couple months of reading your work has completely changed my mind." Nice job, Sam.
Another Baseball Prospectus post: Wezen-Ball: Robot Umpires in 1939 - Baseball Prospectus. "From a 1939 "Popular Science" spread called "New Inventions in the Field of Sports: Novel devices provide thrills for players and spectators, and give aid in practice"
Report: Gwynn having surgery to remove tumor - CBSSports.com. "Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn was scheduled to have surgery on a cancerous tumor in his right cheek...He's blamed the cancer on his smokeless tobacco habit. Gwynn used smokeless tobacco for his entire 20-year big-league career and beyond. However, he said he has not used since his 2010 surgery."
Jose Guillen Wants To Play Again - MLB Daily Dish. "According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, former major league player Jose Guillen is attempting a comeback to the major leagues after skipping the 2011 season to recover mentally and physically. The former outfielder will turn 36 years of age in May, and has been training in his native Dominican Republic to get back into shape, reports Rojas."
But I have a vague sense from watching the games last season that Downs looked shakier when he had to sit a half inning and then come back out.
I also got the sense that Scioscia was trying not to Scot Shields his arm into oblivion (“Scot Shields” is being used as a verb there). I thought he could have been used a bit more, but it’s also possible that he would have been less effective with less rest.
25% ticket sale upswing year over along with new sell outs.
This is the value that Pujols brings to the table.
We’re going to see a lot of sold out games down in Anaheim this year, and to a greater extent, sell outs at our road games. This guys pays for himself. I mean he’s no Jeff Mathis but it’s obvious he creates new revenue streams.
I don’t think those dipshit mainstream writes mentioned this when harping about how the Halos had spent to much or that the contract was too long.
I said before, even if Albert is playing games from the press booth in five years it’ll still have been worth it as long as we can get a ring or two out of it and further establish ourselves as a perennial winner and big market franchise.
there is no way in hell this franchise survives having the best player of our generation on its roster for so long. As we all know, the only teams that can withstand the drag of having Hall of Famers on their rosters are the Red Sox and Yankees.
Or at least he looked that way at the end of last year. Bullpen arms are a quirky thing. I would rather let the team get establshid and find out if they need another one than trade a Morales/Trumbo/Abreu and give up offensive depth.
Downs probably should have been the closer last year
He probably should be this year as well, and maybe every year until someone proves to be better. Walden has some impressive skills, but he’s still pretty raw.
Downs is the best reliever in the bullpen. I’d much rather have him as the guy Scioscia is willing to turn to to put out the fires than just be pidgeon-holed in the ninth inning. Downs seems to be the one bullpen guy Scioscia will have some flexibility with. I think he’s much more valuable in that role.
You don't think Downs has been pigeon-holed as a setup man?
Scioscia is a role player. If he’s shown any flexibility lately, it’s because he didn’t have guys who fit his predetermined mold. With Rodney out of the picture now, it will probably be business as usual in the late innings. In that case, I’d rather see Downs throw 10 pitches to get three outs in the ninth than in the eighth.
In an ideal world, Downs would be used for the most critical stretch of the game; be it the 7th, 8th, or 9th. If the bottom of the order is due up in the 8th, Downs would close, and so on. Sosh doesn’t manage that way, though.
As far as last year, Downs should have saved some games. Leaving Walden to face the meat of the order in a close game was risky and often cost us.
I think Scioscia showed, especially later in the season (but before being out of contention) that he was willing to bring in Downs in high leverage situations that may not have fit the proscribed 8th inning role.
Downs’ game logs don’t really show that. His seventh-inning appearances came mostly toward the beginning of the year, when Scioscia still hadn’t realized that Rodney wasn’t any better pitching during the 8th inning than he was at pitching the 9th. There were also a couple weeks when he went easy on Downs after rushing him off the DL. Aside from that, he pretty much got just a few situational opportunities against lefties. I suppose we’ll see, but before 2011, Scioscia had a ten-year history of predictable bullpen management, so it will be awhile before I’m convinced that he’s changed his ways for good.
Weird, awkward, boring games like the Tigers game Sam wrote about are my favorite kind to half follow all day.
Nothing better than a 3:05 PT Angels at Royals game that lasts 4+ hours that you watch on TV til you have to put it on in the car on the way to work then follow it alternately online and on the radio as you deliver pizzas which ends in a 4-3 extra innings, stumbling, get-us-out-of-here win. It’s what makes baseball the best of all sports.
Yep. You had me going.
Rock Island Line - February 15, 2012
I bought it hook, line, and sinker.
wspaniel - February 15, 2012
Eff men, haha. He had me going for a second.
I was laughing so loud afterward I think I might get written up.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
i said a cuss word
out loud
Rev Halofan - February 15, 2012
I have no evidence to prove this
But I have a vague sense from watching the games last season that Downs looked shakier when he had to sit a half inning and then come back out.
I also got the sense that Scioscia was trying not to Scot Shields his arm into oblivion (“Scot Shields” is being used as a verb there). I thought he could have been used a bit more, but it’s also possible that he would have been less effective with less rest.
Gorbachav5 - February 15, 2012
good verb, good usage of it
Downs was so good that Scioscia got a little protective there. No September ScotShieldsing that I recall.
Rev Halofan - February 15, 2012
Don't we have to give Texas our 2nd rounder for signing CJ?
V-Hawk Angelorum - February 15, 2012
I think they get a supplemental round pick
angelsownredsux - February 15, 2012
Screw Texas, don't give them shit.
snowhor - February 15, 2012
not no more.
mustang6944 - February 16, 2012
Wasn't the Aybar nut swing from the final series of 2010?
I remember it being a fitting metaphor for that entire season.
Commander_Nate - February 15, 2012
I believe so.
~MMP~ - February 15, 2012
Also, I didn
~MMP~ - February 15, 2012
't even question the Mathis addition to the Lyle Spencer article.
I just rolled my eyes, thought “Oh Lyle” and moved on.
~MMP~ - February 15, 2012
Scott "Damages" Downs
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
He looks like the spawn of
Mark Wahlberg and Tom Hanks. So odd.
cath619 - February 15, 2012
Mmmm,
have you been reading my diary?
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
Very impressive cmparison
Its too close to be a coincidence
King Weaver - February 15, 2012
Timothy Hutton.
red floyd - February 15, 2012
Yeah, as far as I can tell it's just this picture.
Otherwise, he looks like Timothy Hutton.
cath619 - February 16, 2012
Isn't that "Leverage"?
red floyd - February 15, 2012
Oh yeah. Good call.
That’s what I get for making a joke about a show I’ve never watched. Actually, I’ve never watched Damages OR Leverage.
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
25% ticket sale upswing year over along with new sell outs.
This is the value that Pujols brings to the table.
We’re going to see a lot of sold out games down in Anaheim this year, and to a greater extent, sell outs at our road games. This guys pays for himself. I mean he’s no Jeff Mathis but it’s obvious he creates new revenue streams.
I don’t think those dipshit mainstream writes mentioned this when harping about how the Halos had spent to much or that the contract was too long.
I said before, even if Albert is playing games from the press booth in five years it’ll still have been worth it as long as we can get a ring or two out of it and further establish ourselves as a perennial winner and big market franchise.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
Man, you is crazy.
there is no way in hell this franchise survives having the best player of our generation on its roster for so long. As we all know, the only teams that can withstand the drag of having Hall of Famers on their rosters are the Red Sox and Yankees.
gitchogritchoffmypetis - February 15, 2012
I see the Angels looking for reliever part way through the season
and by then they will have a clear idea of which position players are healthy and/or expendable.
river-z - February 15, 2012
Going to the game on March 17th. Tickets on my coffee table.
hauldog - February 15, 2012
Take me with you,
I’m kind of funny and I won’t eat much.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
but how much do you drink?
hauldog - February 15, 2012
As of late, none at all.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
cheap date!
hauldog - February 15, 2012
Definitely not an easy one
Maybe if you wear some Axe
eyespy - February 15, 2012
I'm going to the game on March 10 against the Giants.
This month is taking forever, I can’t wait.
lifegrind - February 15, 2012
going on the 10th as well. the countdown has begun....
DanishThunder - February 15, 2012
Making my first ever trip to ST for the games on the 9th and the 10th
can’t wait for March to hurry up and get here…
trojanangelfan - February 15, 2012
My parents tried to order tickets for that game the day after they went on sale.
Too late. They’re having to Stubhub it. The good news is that they’re paying for me and the grandkid to come along.
Brew Angel - February 15, 2012
Love that Aybar GIF
Almost as much as this…
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<img src=“”http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk60/Fi5er/?action=view¤t=sexson.gif" target="_blank">
Funke5ive - February 15, 2012
Banned.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
The funny part about Sullivan's Worst Swings list was that all of them were check swings...except for Vlad.
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
Well, and the dude who was just trying to prevent a failed hit-and-run, but the only true, honest hack at a pitch was from our beloved Vladdy.
I miss seeing shit like that…kinda.
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
He hacked with the best of them.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
I will never forget the time Vlad got a hit off a pitch that bounced in front of the plate.
river-z - February 15, 2012
I loved the homeruns he hit that would have bounced into the catcher's glove
Gorbachav5 - February 15, 2012
^THIS!^
Howie's Batting Title - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Would Eck's legendary fouloff of a pitchout make that list?
red floyd - February 15, 2012
No.
But Mike Laga hitting a foul ball out of Busch Stadium would.
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
Exhibit A in The People vs. The Hit-And-Run
Suboptimal - February 15, 2012
or maybe the two Pujols at bats in the World Series
hauldog - February 15, 2012
If only Scioscia could bring a career .328 hitter to the plate every time he wanted to hit and run
Suboptimal - February 15, 2012
If he really called them himself that could be a problem.
hauldog - February 20, 2012
Never
Forget
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
reply
fail
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
Hey Mayhem,
Thanks again for that info on the Kindle!
Howie's Batting Title - February 15, 2012 via mobile
No problem. Hopefully it got you laid.
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
Ha! I won't see her until this weekend..
But it damn well better!!
Howie's Batting Title - February 15, 2012 via mobile
That was freakin awesome
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
Cassevah > Bullpen Arms Available
Or at least he looked that way at the end of last year. Bullpen arms are a quirky thing. I would rather let the team get establshid and find out if they need another one than trade a Morales/Trumbo/Abreu and give up offensive depth.
JeffJoiner - February 15, 2012
Yup,
I think we have enough on paper right now to stay in 1st place up until the ASB, solely on our potential offensive prowess.
If it looks like we’re going to need an arm to substantiate our playoff run I’m sure there will be options when that time comes.
RexTookMyStash - February 15, 2012
Downs probably should have been the closer last year
He probably should be this year as well, and maybe every year until someone proves to be better. Walden has some impressive skills, but he’s still pretty raw.
Suboptimal - February 15, 2012
I'm rooting for Walden, but I have no faith in his abilities to consistently close games.
Would be stoked if he proved me wrong.
Mayheminthehood - February 15, 2012
No way
Downs is the best reliever in the bullpen. I’d much rather have him as the guy Scioscia is willing to turn to to put out the fires than just be pidgeon-holed in the ninth inning. Downs seems to be the one bullpen guy Scioscia will have some flexibility with. I think he’s much more valuable in that role.
Gorbachav5 - February 15, 2012
Rec'd.
snowhor - February 15, 2012
Downs is the best reliever but i'd rather have him come in during high-leverage situations
than lock him into a 9th inning role that might not be as crucial
river-z - February 15, 2012
so what i'm saying is that i agree
river-z - February 15, 2012
Agreed.
And Rec’d.
JeffJoiner - February 15, 2012
You don't think Downs has been pigeon-holed as a setup man?
Scioscia is a role player. If he’s shown any flexibility lately, it’s because he didn’t have guys who fit his predetermined mold. With Rodney out of the picture now, it will probably be business as usual in the late innings. In that case, I’d rather see Downs throw 10 pitches to get three outs in the ninth than in the eighth.
Suboptimal - February 15, 2012
Good point on Sosh
In an ideal world, Downs would be used for the most critical stretch of the game; be it the 7th, 8th, or 9th. If the bottom of the order is due up in the 8th, Downs would close, and so on. Sosh doesn’t manage that way, though.
As far as last year, Downs should have saved some games. Leaving Walden to face the meat of the order in a close game was risky and often cost us.
JeffJoiner - February 15, 2012
No, I don't, honestly
I think Scioscia showed, especially later in the season (but before being out of contention) that he was willing to bring in Downs in high leverage situations that may not have fit the proscribed 8th inning role.
He was fairly flexible with Downs.
Gorbachav5 - February 15, 2012
Downs’ game logs don’t really show that. His seventh-inning appearances came mostly toward the beginning of the year, when Scioscia still hadn’t realized that Rodney wasn’t any better pitching during the 8th inning than he was at pitching the 9th. There were also a couple weeks when he went easy on Downs after rushing him off the DL. Aside from that, he pretty much got just a few situational opportunities against lefties. I suppose we’ll see, but before 2011, Scioscia had a ten-year history of predictable bullpen management, so it will be awhile before I’m convinced that he’s changed his ways for good.
Suboptimal - February 15, 2012
Depending on how the Brewers are doing in July
K-Rod might be available on the trade market.
Y’know, I’m just sayin’….
Brew Angel - February 15, 2012
holy god aybar...
sit back a little haha
nselbe7 - February 15, 2012
Weird, awkward, boring games like the Tigers game Sam wrote about are my favorite kind to half follow all day.
Nothing better than a 3:05 PT Angels at Royals game that lasts 4+ hours that you watch on TV til you have to put it on in the car on the way to work then follow it alternately online and on the radio as you deliver pizzas which ends in a 4-3 extra innings, stumbling, get-us-out-of-here win. It’s what makes baseball the best of all sports.
Halowitz - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Just a game
that is another part of your “whole” day long
eyespy - February 15, 2012
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