SB Nation User Blog: wumbug

Our guys in Winter Leagues

wumbug — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:17:32 -0000

A cursory look at our guys in the Winter Leagues in the Domican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico calls to my attention these players. Maybe I missed some.............maybe I didn't.............I ~~didn't~~ did finally check out the Arizona Fall League.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Oriente de Estrellas

Gigantes del Cibao

Tigres del Licey

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Caneros de los Mochis

Francisco Rodriguez

Venados de Mazatlan

Freddy Sandoval

Miguel Gonzales

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes

Juan Rivera

Tigres de Aragua

Abel Nieves

Tiburones de La Guaira

Francisco Rodriguez

Anthony Ortega

Caribes de Anzoategui

Amalio Diaz

Bravos de Margarita

Kasey Olenberger

Maicir Izturis

Terry Evans

Aguilas del Zulia

David Austen

PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas

Wil Ortiz

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Scottsdale Scorpions

I'm pulling for SANTANA

wumbug — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:03:04 -0000

I don't usually find heart-tugging articles in the LA Times about the Angels, but this one made me happy.

After watching his his 28 wins during his '05 and '06 seasons, I was a solid Ervin Santana fan. His SO's were tracking those of Kelvim Escobar until he was sent back to AAA. It hurt me and grated on my guts watching his troubles last season, and then reading what I thought were fairly ignorant, know-it-all comments regarding his pitching abilities. I live in a world where I long ago learned how incredible it is that so many people are allowed to roam the streets unattended, much less pass judgement on a phenomenal talent wearing my uniform while trying to find his way through an armed mine field standing in the batter's box in a major league baseball game.

Tomorrow's game against Kansas City is the third time this season that Magic Santana will be called upon to begin a series on the road for the Angels. He made us proud both in Texas and Detroit over the last few weeks. His 5-0 record also includes a win in Minnesota, and against Seattle and Oakland (Hey, not bad). He pitched a pretty good game against Cleveland too, only to have our bullpen give up the game.

With Lackey and Escobar out, I find myself anxious for the next starts by Santana and Saunders, believing our chances for wins are great, but also hoping to prove everyone wrong for having given up too soon.

GA-itis

wumbug — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:37:45 -0000

I like looking at MLB stats to see just how we stack up. Seeing GA's BA dip to .228 is eye-catching to say the least.

After seeking out our "good guys" at the top of the stats pages, I find it surprising to see some other household names that have often been mentioned on this site with GA-itis, and even worse.

Let's have a rousing round of applause for Johan Santana.

Arredondo Has 3 Saves in 3 Appearances

wumbug — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:47:31 -0000

with the AAA Salt Lake City BEEs after their fourth straight win over the Dodgers AAA Las Vegas affiliate....... He finally gave up a hit tonight in a scoreless ninth inning, his first in three outings.

I'm a little fascinated with Arredondo's story because he was a shortstop-turned-closer who had made it to AA Arkansas before being demoted back to A Rancho Cucamonga for insubordination, arguing with his manager on the mound.

He certainly had a decent spring, but was shipped out to minor league camp along with the very early cuts. When all the dust settled, he shows up on the AAA Salt Lake City roster, has 3 saves in 3 appearances in 4 games........and who knows where he's going from here?

Is Arredondo trade bait,......or is he (eventually) our next closer? Certainly we need more time to see what he does long term in Salt Lake City (if he stays there after the Angels send down Bulger or O'Day), but I find myself hastening to read the box score of the BEEs' games to see what he has done.

AAA Salt Lake City Roster Announced

wumbug — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:42:03 -0000

Finally! It wasn't up at 6:00 AM this morning.

Jose Arredondo made the team.....at least temporarily. So did Shane Loux.

Giancarlo Alvarado is new to me.

Bradley Coon is the third outfielder.

Calling Mickey Mantle Fans

wumbug — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:34:24 -0000

Don't know how long this has been up. But if this collection of photos doesn't get your heart pumping, you're dead.

Hernandez and Morneau ready for the Angels

wumbug — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:37:47 -0000

Don't know if this was on the news, but I felt like clapping after reading of the feat. While playing in our younger days and having accomplished such, most of us would have loudly proclaimed, "I'm ready!"

Hernandez will be the opening day pitcher against the Angels next Monday.

Incredibly entertaining story

wumbug — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:53:00 -0000

I just found the following story about Bo Bolinsky and his early escapades with a gullible Dean Chance. I don't know why the story was written. Evidently, it's written by Steve Travers. For any curious, long time Angels' fan, this is an incredibly entertaining story.

AR Sports Writer Steven Travers has written extensively on sports figures, and especially those who starred for West Coast teams. This article is excerpted from his "A Tale of Three Cities: New York, L.A. and San Francisco in October of '62."

http://www.american-reporter.com/3,381W/57.html

They're talking about us....Oh, My Goodness!

wumbug — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:29:16 -0000

Blocked Prospects.

Did someone mention Chase Headley?

Blocked Prospects indeed. Some of these comments are interesting. Some are sheer ignorance. (Maybe I shouldn't say that......some views are a bit slanted.)

I'm resistant to trading Juan Rivera for almost anyone that I think we might reasonably receive.
Most of their comments refer to Willits.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/03/blocked-prospec.html#comments

Let's conjecture.

wumbug — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:06:10 -0000

Garret Anderson and Juan Rivera are free agents at the end of the 2008 season. Who starts LF in 2009?

Frankie KRod is a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. Considering we have Bulger, O'Day, and Arredondo in the wings, not to mention Shields and Speier, who closes for the Angels in 2009?

Chone Figgins, debatably is a free agent after 2008. (Some say "Not Yet"....the PE stated "Yes".....Cot's says "4.145 years of service as of end of 2007.....He's been pretty regular for 5 seasons beginning in 2003:

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=408210&statType=1

Anyway, accepting that Aybar or Izturis wins the SS gig with Wood playing 3B, where (or, what position) does Figgins play in 2009?

Jon Garland is a free agent after the 2008 season. Considering we've got Lackey, Escobar, Santana, Weaver, Saunders, Adenhart, & Nick Green available (and each earning less than $9.5MM), will Garland (earning $12MM this season) be extended for 2009?

Gary Matthews Jr's 5-year contract has a no trade clause through the 2009 season in which he earns $10MM. With the fates of Rivera, Willits, Haynes, Evans, Bourjos, and Petit yet to be determined, will GMJr see 2010 in an Angels uniform?

Rob Quinlan, bless his heart, has been a great team player for the Angels since coming up in 2003. His contract ends after this season. According to Cot's, he has 4.040 years major league service as of the end of 2007. Considering the players-in-waiting (Morales, Izturis, Sandoval, SRod), will he be traded, allowed to leave as a free agent after the season, extended to continue as a role player, or DFA'd?

Kendry Morales has lots of plus-power offensive potential from both sides of the plate. However, there are several others who play positions where he might fit, who have considerably better defensive skills while matching his offensive production. He's only 24 years old. Is he a perpetual off-the-bench player, trade bait, or are we just coddling him until he can become a full time DH?

Reggie Willits, Nathan Haynes. Tell me?

Third Base. We've already offered Adenhart, Mathis, & Kendrick for Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers have two years to sign him to an extention before he's a free agent at age 26. In the event he doesn't fall in our laps as a free agent at that time, and if Figgins or Wood isn't playing 3B for us, WHO......who else might we legitimately target as the "Big Bat" we've craved to play 3B?