the Angels

[longshot7]

They lost 2 of 3 to Detroit at home and now they're gonna lose 2 of 3 to Cleveland at home. They're getting demolished by the Jndians right now. What is up with them?

[whitesoxfan99]

They lost 2 of 3 to Detroit at home and now they're gonna lose 2 of 3 to Cleveland at home.  They're getting demolished by the Jndians right now.  What is up with them?

 

They're in first place but happened to not play real well for a stretch. It happens

[witesoxfan]

They're in first place but happened to not play real well for a stretch.  It happens

 

You mean like the best team in baseball losing a series to a last place team?

[CWSGuy406]

You mean like the best team in baseball losing a series to a last place team?

 

It seems like me and you are the only two people who don't think their starting pitching is all that great...

[WHarris1]

It seems like me and you are the only two people who don't think their starting pitching is all that great... 

You're talking Angels right?

If so I agree.

[witesoxfan]

Colon is pitching alright, and Escobar is solid. But I look at see Washburn, Byrd, and Lackey, and see 3 mediocre pitchers. Washburn is pitching over his head right now, and Byrd and Lackey are not that good.

 

It is just one of the reasons I hated their offseason so much. Instead of keeping Eckstein for $3 mill, you non-tender him and sign Cabrera for $3.5 mill more per year. And you sign Steve Finley for 2 years at $8 mill per, which again, does not make much sense to me...the guy is coming off a career year at like 39, and you give him $8 mill per? And then instead of using that money on the s*** mentioned above, you should bring in a guy like Pavano, Clement, Pedro, or RJ, and then worry about other, less protruding needs.

 

Does Pedro-Colon-Escobar-Washburn-Lackey not just look outstanding? Hell, even Colon-Clement-Escobar-Washburn-Lackey looks acceptable, and better than the garbage rotation they have now. If you sign Clement, you still the money to even get Finley if you want him that badly...you just still have to hang onto the underrated David Eckstein over the overrated Orlando Cabrera.

[Chisoxfn]

They lost 2 of 3 to Detroit at home and now they're gonna lose 2 of 3 to Cleveland at home.  They're getting demolished by the Jndians right now.  What is up with them?

As an ANgel fan...they aren't very good. They will make the playoffs solely because they are playing in a crappy division, aside from that they are just an average team.

 

And they looked like s*** today, it made me want to puke out there...luckily it was a lovely day though.

[Chisoxfn]

Colon is pitching alright, and Escobar is solid.  But I look at see Washburn, Byrd, and Lackey, and see 3 mediocre pitchers.  Washburn is pitching over his head right now, and Byrd and Lackey are not that good.

 

It is just one of the reasons I hated their offseason so much.  Instead of keeping Eckstein for $3 mill, you non-tender him and sign Cabrera for $3.5 mill more per year.  And you sign Steve Finley for 2 years at $8 mill per, which again, does not make much sense to me...the guy is coming off a career year at like 39, and you give him $8 mill per?  And then instead of using that money on the s*** mentioned above, you should bring in a guy like Pavano, Clement, Pedro, or RJ, and then worry about other, less protruding needs.

 

Does Pedro-Colon-Escobar-Washburn-Lackey not just look outstanding?  Hell, even Colon-Clement-Escobar-Washburn-Lackey looks acceptable, and better than the garbage rotation they have now.  If you sign Clement, you still the money to even get Finley if you want him that badly...you just still have to hang onto the underrated David Eckstein over the overrated Orlando Cabrera.

Don't get me started, every game I go to I b**** about there s***ty pitching and s***ty lineup. They are a great defensive team with a good closer, aside from that they are pretty lousy. Oh ya Vladdy is the shiznit. And anyone that ever wanted Cabrerra can have him, he sucks ass. I didn't even like Eckstein but I'd rather have him then Orlando.

[witesoxfan]

As an ANgel fan...they aren't very good.  They will make the playoffs solely because they are playing in a crappy division, aside from that they are just an average team.

 

And they looked like s*** today, it made me want to puke out there...luckily it was a lovely day though.

 

I'm not sure I'd right them into the playoffs yet. The A's offense is not hitting near where it can and has before. I expect that to improve as the year goes on. I also expect the pitching to be a little worse, but it will still be solid throughout the year.

 

You also have the M's, whose offense looks decent this year, and if the pitching staff comes around, they could be a very dangerous team as well.

 

That division could be a crapshoot all the way through the season...will be interesting to see who ends up winning it, because you know if the A's are close, Beane is gonna try and add a piece to the puzzle.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

I don't think it will be that close, I think once Fins gets going that the Angel O will help out that staff and cruise to a 7-8 game division win

[DonkeyKongerko]

Meh, their pitching wasn't so great in 2002 either. Their bullpen was.

[Chisoxfn]

I'm not sure I'd right them into the playoffs yet.  The A's offense is not hitting near where it can and has before.  I expect that to improve as the year goes on.  I also expect the pitching to be a little worse, but it will still be solid throughout the year. 

 

You also have the M's, whose offense looks decent this year, and if the pitching staff comes around, they could be a very dangerous team as well. 

 

That division could be a crapshoot all the way through the season...will be interesting to see who ends up winning it, because you know if the A's are close, Beane is gonna try and add a piece to the puzzle.

No, the rest of the division is weak. Its right there with the NL West as the worse division in baseball. Thats right the AL Central is better cause both the Twins and Sox will be making the playoffs.

[longshot7]

Don't get me started, every game I go to I b**** about there s***ty pitching and s***ty lineup.  They are a great defensive team with a good closer, aside from that they are pretty lousy.  Oh ya Vladdy is the shiznit.  And anyone that ever wanted Cabrerra can have him, he sucks ass.  I didn't even like Eckstein but I'd rather have him then Orlando.

 

I totally disagree about Cabrera. I watched him play a lot so far this season and I like his defense way more than Eckstein's. His range is phenomenal.

 

Their offense is horrible right now tho. Vlad & GA are awesome, but Finley has started slow and they're getting almost NO production from C, 3B, or DH. It also seems like they've forgotten baseball fundamentals (like moving runners over, sacrificing, and bunting.) I have a theory that Scioscia takes naps during games.

 

And their rotation is very suspect. Colon has been mostly terrific this year, but after his great start, it looks like Washburn is coming back to earth. Escobar is good - but almost never gets the run support he deserves. Lackey is awful and Byrd is mediocre at best. This is where they need to upgrade the most - hopefully way before the trading deadline.

[qwerty]

I totally disagree about Cabrera.  I watched him play a lot so far this season and I like his defense way more than Eckstein's.  His range is phenomenal.

 

Their offense is horrible right now tho. Vlad & GA are awesome.

 

Eckstein's range factor is actually higher than cabrera's this season and career wise eckstein's range factor is better than cabrera's.

 

I will never understand how every one use to say anderson was so underated. When you are mentioned as unerated every day looks like to me you are overated. Does a guy with a career obp of under .330 and ops of .805 qualify him to make ten million a year?

[Spiff]

The Angels' pitching sucks but who exactly should they have signed this year? Should they have outbid Arizona for Russ Ortiz or outbid the Mets for Pedro? There's no way that would have been smart. Maybe if they had thrown a ton of cash at Jon Lieber or El Duque they'd be in a bit better shape but who knows if those guys would have signed there.

 

If Texas's bullpen gets it together they'll hang in it but I fully expect LA to cruise by default.

[longshot7]

I will never understand how every one use to say anderson was so underated. When you are mentioned as unerated every day looks like to me you are overated. Does a guy with a career obp of under .330 and ops of .805 qualify him to make ten million a year?

 

Interesting about Eckstein. Hmmm.....

 

But about GA - with his power numbers and considering that he was the Angels MVP pretty much every year until last year - I don't find it hard to see why he wouldn't be worth the $10 mil contract he has, considering the market when he signed it & who else makes that kind of money. He might've even made more if he tested free agency - he's a SoCal guy & just wanted to stay in Orange County.

 

Just checked the stats. From 2000-03, he never hit less than 28 hrs and 116 rbi's. Not bad.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Eckstein's arm is actually a little bit better than I thought

[KWs OK for Me]

And to add to things Escobar is making his second trip to the DL with a bone spur in his right elbow (throwing arm)

[longshot7]

And to add to things Escobar is making his second trip to the DL with a bone spur in his right elbow (throwing arm)

 

I know. They're lucky they're in a weak division this year.

[shakes]

If Texas's bullpen gets it together they'll hang in it but I fully expect LA to cruise by default.

 

I also think Texas will make a run in the division, as usual I just don't think their pitching will hold up in the end.

[southsider2k5]

I also think Texas will make a run in the division, as usual I just don't think their pitching will hold up in the end.

 

That July, August, September heat down there just saps players strengths. Texas is notorious for falling apart late in the season, and I really believe that is why.

[witesoxfan]

Not that the A's are at record wise where they were in 2002, but the A's did start that season out 25-28 after May, and they ended up winning 100+ games.

 

Then again, a 20 game win streak in August will help that

[Whitewashed in '05]

I will be going to Anahiem to see the sox there!!

[Chisoxfn]

I totally disagree about Cabrera.  I watched him play a lot so far this season and I like his defense way more than Eckstein's.  His range is phenomenal.

 

Their offense is horrible right now tho.  Vlad & GA are awesome, but Finley has started slow and they're getting almost NO production from C, 3B, or DH.  It also seems like they've forgotten baseball fundamentals (like moving runners over, sacrificing, and bunting.)  I have a theory that Scioscia takes naps during games.

 

And their rotation is very suspect.  Colon has been mostly terrific this year, but after his great start, it looks like Washburn is coming back to earth.  Escobar is good - but almost never gets the run support he deserves.  Lackey is awful and Byrd is mediocre at best.  This is where they need to upgrade the most - hopefully way before the trading deadline.

Agree with you on the pitching and Cabrera's defense. However, Cabrera gets all this love but he's nothing offensively. He's quite one dimensional and I wouldn't pay what they did for a one dimensional ballplayer.

 

To go along with what you say though, Scioscia has quickly lost his managerial skills. IT all started last year in my book and I've noticed the demise more this year. Like the time he had Erstad steal 3rd in the 1st inning with no one out, 2 on, and Vladdy up at the plate with a 2-0 count. Oh did I mention Pudge was the catcher.

[Chisoxfn]

The Angels' pitching sucks but who exactly should they have signed this year?  Should they have outbid Arizona for Russ Ortiz or outbid the Mets for Pedro?  There's no way that would have been smart.  Maybe if they had thrown a ton of cash at Jon Lieber or El Duque they'd be in a bit better shape but who knows if those guys would have signed there.

 

If Texas's bullpen gets it together they'll hang in it but I fully expect LA to cruise by default.

Instead they threw like 18 million at Finley/Cabrerra and then 5 mill at Byrd. I don't really have a problem with Byrd but I did and still do have a problem with Finley/Cabrera.