SB Nation User Blog: jjackflash

Angels Rookie Hazing Pics?

jjackflash — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:55:50 -0000

Angels Rookie Hazing Pics?

Do we have any update on the Angels' rookie hazing? Today, the L.A. Times had pictures of the Choakland Ass' rookies in drag. Where are our halos? Pattimelt?

HK-47 - done for the year?

jjackflash — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:31:55 -0000

HK-47 - done for the year?

Within this notebook is the suggestion that Howie Kendrick might not make it back for the playoffs. This is very discouraging news, to say the least.

Halos Add Another Arm

jjackflash — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:59:56 -0000

The Angels called up RHP Kevin Jepsen from AAA SLC, which was eliminated from the PCL playoffs yesterday. I believe Jepsen was on the Olympic team. He has a pretty good K-rate; apparently, injuries have held him back a bit.

Adenhart to SLC; Arredondo Returns

jjackflash — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:46:32 -0000

Within the linked article, we learn that Nick Adenhart was sent back down to SLC following last night's win and Jose Arredondo was recalled. Arredondo has been putting up good numbers for the Bees this year. This will be his second stint with the big club this spring, although he has yet to take the mound in a regular season game. The article doesn't say how long he can expect to remain in Anaheim, but another roster move will be necessary before tomorrow's contest because...John "Big Thunder" Lackey will be making his long-awaited 2008 debut tomorrow night!

Now Available...

jjackflash — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:56:30 -0000

Derrick Turnbow, former Angel farmhand, who comes complete with 15.63 ERA and 3.95 WHIP in 6 1/3 IP this year (6.13 in the last three years), has been designated for assignment by the not exactly pitching rich Milwaukee Seligs...er, Brewers. Remember when fans were furious that the Angels let him go? Umm...yeah. In 10 days, he could be had for the major league minimum! Any takers? Perhaps he should go back to using steroids. He could be the next Eric Gagne. Oh, wait...

6th Most Valuable

jjackflash — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:17:50 -0000

Forbes magazine has just issued its list of MLB team valuations. Arte's team came in 6th, at a cool $500 million. Not bad; I believe he paid under $200 million when he purchased the team in 2003. The top-5 were the usual suspects: Bronx Skankees, Queens Mets, Chowds, Wrigleys and the Brooklyns. Note that all of the teams ahead of the Angels own their stadiums (actually not sure about the Mets), and so there's a good bit of land value in each of those.

Scot Shields Set to Return

jjackflash — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:50:03 -0000

Scot Shields is apparently ready to come off the DL when eligible today. Frankly, I'd be wary about bringing the guy up after only one inning in the minors.

Rich Thompson's implosion last night makes him the most likely to be demoted to the SLC Bees (or whatever they're called these days). Thompson has done nothing in his admittedly limited major league experience to justify his presence. He has pitched 7 2/3 innings; 3 2/3 have come against Texas, and he's allowed 9 ER in that time (including last night).

Putz on DL after Jack

jjackflash — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:42:12 -0000

OK, so I'm still giggling about the possible headline after last night's Rangers-Mariners game (Hamilton Scores Game Winning Jack Off Putz), and I noticed that the M's supposed King of Closers is now on the DL with a ribcage injury. I think that's already one more major injury than the M's suffered all last year.

Opening Day Roster

jjackflash — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:14:17 -0000

The Halos have finalized their opening day roster. Biggest surprise, IMHO, is Jason Bulger. The guy had a fairly middling spring, but I guess they decided to go with him rather than add another guy to the 40-man, which probably would have been Nick Adenhart. Plus, this way, Adenhart gets to pitch every 5th day, which is important for his continued development.

We also see that Darren O'Day and Rich Thompson made the team; no real surprise there, as they both had solid springs. During the broadcast tonight, it was intimated that Shields may be back off the DL as early as the home opener, so one of those three may be headed back to SLC within the week. Also, Bootcheck is supposedly ready to start throwing again, and could be back before the end of April as well.

I'm disappointed that Kendry Morales didn't make the team; I really don't think Robb Quinlan is better, except that Quinlan provides more defensive versatility, and I guess that's important. As expected with the departure of Nathan Haynes, Reggie Willits made the team.

Positional Battles

jjackflash — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:43:46 -0000

Well, the Angels are now about 1/4 of the way through Spring Training and though Opening Day is still more than three weeks away, things are starting to come into focus in the battle for what figures to be three available spots on the Halos' 25-man roster.

Barring any injuries, the team figures to open the season with the following.

Pitchers (11): Lackey, Weaver, Garland, Saunders, Santana, Rodriguez, Shields, Speier, Oliver, Moseley and ???.

Catchers (2): Mathis & Napoli.

Infielders (6): Kotchman, Kendrick, Aybar, Izturis, Figgins and ???.

Outfielders (6): Anderson, Hunter, GMJr., Guerrero, Rivera and ???

That means there's a spot for one relief pitcher, one infielder and one outfielder; however, the battle for the last spot in the bullpen is the most intriguing.

Despite a slow start and a mediocre 2007, Robb Quinlan figures to claim one of the final two spots for position players. Quinlan offers flexibility in his ability to handle all four infield and outfield corners; he's a "vehtrun," and he's out of options. If he doesn't make the roster, he's probably gone. I can't see the Angels discarding him this early in the season.

Nathan Haynes figures to claim the other position spot. In addition to his ability to play all three OF spots, Haynes provides speed off the bench, and quietly established himself as the Angels' alternative hitting coach last year. Plus, Haynes is also out of options.

Thus, Quinlan and Haynes probably beat out the other contenders, chiefly Kendry Morales (who's probably better off playing every day in SLC than sitting on the bench in Anaheim) and last year's rookie sensation Reggie Willits. Willits, with his versatility and OBP, would be a better choice, but other factors will conspire to relegate him to a role at AAA to start the season.

This brings us to the mound, where Chris Bootcheck's strained oblique opens up a spot, and the competition appears to be wide open. The leading contenders are Jason Bulger, Jose Arredondo, Rich Thompson, Darren O'Day, Matt Wilhite, and Alex Serrano.

The first three are already on the 40-man roster, but there's room for one more as the Angels have only 39 players listed.

So, who will it be? Conventional wisdom says it's Bulger, who already has some big league experience and posted a phenomenal K-rate at SLC last year (13.58 k/9). But check out O'Day and Wilhite, both of whom have been getting regular work this spring and have pitched quite well. O'Day has a much more impressive minor league track record; moreover, he's a sidewinder. Guys like that tend to find their niche in the game as long as they can throw strikes. See, e.g., Chad Bradford.

Prediction: Darren O'Day