OK, this may be a long one. Everyone here keeps talking about a certain month or a last half vs first half, when spouting Napoli’s stats. It goes deeper than that, as I’ll try to explain. I put Vlad’s and Nap’s Game Logs ( from www.baseball-reference.com ) for the year 2009, side by side.

Here are the important dates to consider. Vlad was out on the DL twice, from 4/16 thru 5/24, and from 7/8 thru 8/3. During Vlad’s 1st trip, Napoli did not DH until 5/1, and then he DH’ed a total of 9 times until Vlad came back. On Vlad’s 2nd trip to the DL, Naps 1st time to DH was 7/10, and this time he DH’ed 7 times. ( Late in the year Naps had 4 DH Abs, late in games after we had already won the division title.)

During the time he was DH’ing, Naps was catching in about half the games, and DH’ing the other half. Napoli’s total DH splits were .359 BA, .431 OBP, .594 SLG, and 1.024 OPS, and when Vlad came back – the time Napoli started playing less than half the games, and didn’t DH anymore – Naps was at .293 BA, .373 OBP, .533 SLG, with 16 HRs and 43 RBIs.

Once Vlad returned Napoli was played very sporadically, and his offense sputtered to being awful. In looking at these numbers, it is obvious to me, that with regular playing time, Napoli is a star – a legitimate force in the lineup. When he plays sporadically, he goes downhill fast. Here’s a glaring example. Napoli started 100 games this year, ( at least 1/3 in the last 2 months of the year, so declining.) where his stats were quite acceptable. During his STARTS his stats were .278 BA, .356 OBP, and .504 SLG.

Something that dragged all his numbers down, was his PH appearances, where he was 1 for 11. Look at his season numbers and realize the effect that 1 for 11 had on his totals. Obviously Napoli is NOT a good PH’er.

Here’s something else interesting. From the time Scioscia finally decided to DH Naps, in those 2 stretches of time, including the games he caught, the team was 29-9. THAT, my friends is a good case for making Napoli the 60-80% DH next year, and an excellent reason to let Vladdy walk away.

I also looked up the team’s record again, in games where Vladdy started. Up until the last 5 games of the year, when we were playing loose, having won the division, the team was 42-41 in Vladdy’s starts. THAT, my friends is an even better reason to let Vladdy walk away.

Based on the possibility of playing regularly, DH'ing 4 games and catching one, I can see Mike easily getting 600 ABs, and accumulating totals like .280 BA, 35+ HRs, 90-100 RBIs, .400 OBP, and .550 SLG %. ( He also walks more, and strikes out less, when he plays regularly.) Thanks for reading.

Why are the Angels just barely a .500 team with Vlad in the lineup? 

You can go long sample - the season - for a 37-36 team record in Vlad's 73 starts, or you can go recent sample - the last 19 games he has started - when the team was 10-9.  Long, or short, it is still just barely .500 ball.  For those who wonder how the team does without Vlad as a starter, that record is now 45-19, in 64 games.  That is a pretty big sample size, and a pretty big difference.

( Update, as of 9/26:  The team is now 44-44 in Vlad's starts - under .500 since the original post.  In games Vlad didn't start?  46-20.  Vlad's last 34 games = 35 for 134, .261 BA.  Definitely NOT "cleanup" hitter numbers! )

Another thing that keeps coming up, is the present team-wide slump of most of the other players.  Almost as if they are negatively impacted by Vlad's presence in the lineup.  A lot of people pooh-pooh that suggestion, saying that it's poppycock - or worse.  Why then, is it not poppycock that most of management and players feel strongly that Bobby Abreu is a positive influence on the rest of the team, frequently naming him as a major reason for the team's success, so far this year?  It seems irrational, to me, to embrace the concept for one player, but to throw it out, for another.

The team now has 25 games remaining, including 7 with Texas.  If we only win 50% - 13, we will end the season with 94 wins, which should be enough.  On the other hand, if we play .500 ball against everyone else, and Texas plays us as well as they have previously, we may have a little problem.  I'll go on record to say right now, if we play .500 ball, or less, and do not make the playoffs, presumably because Vlad was in the lineup - especially batting cleanup - for these final 25 games, somebody might have a little 'splainin' to do, Lucy.

( Update, as of 9/26:  Eight games to go - all we need to do is play .500 ball.  Four measly wins.  I hope we do it. )

Let's hope something starts to change, whether it's Vladdy playing better, or Scioscia moving him down a peg or two or three in the lineup, or some other combination of things.  And hopefully pretty soon - this next 4 weeks is probably going to go by pretty quickly.  Let's go Angels!