Slugging Catcher Claimed Off Waivers
I was alarmed  last week when I saw Mike Napoli’s name among the list of players placed on waivers by the Angels. So when he was claimed this weekend by the Red Sox I had even more cause for concern.
While most sources are reporting a deal for Napoli (to the Red Sox or anyone else) this season is unlikely, I still find it alarming that the Angels are even considering parting ways with Naps. The two sides have to strike a deal today (August 30th) or Napoli will likely remain an Angel, at least for the [...]

Since the Angels will be seeing former ace John Lackey tonight for the third time this season, I thought it might be interesting to look at players that left the Angels this season for greener, or not-so-greener pastures. The list of names is a bit of a long one, including the former ace and World Series Game Seven Winner, the person most considered the Face of the Franchise in recent years, as well as the Halo’s 2009 MVP and one of the best arms in the pen. Mixed into that group were people that had some potential but never [...]

Since I was interested to hear what people would think of my Crazy Suggestions, I linked to the post on the Angels message board I post on to get some reaction over there. Needless to say, there was plenty of criticism, and most people thought it was at best overreaching. Fair enough, and I know I thought as much as the ideas were spinning in my head, but why call them crazy suggestions if they’re not, you know, crazy? Anyway, since I know only a few of my readers are from the message boards, I thought I’d give the rest [...]

Ok calm down before you start questioning my sanity and “journalistic credibility”.. I didn’t say that.
No, it was not me who referred to Scott Kazmir as a potential Cy Young candidate it was your boy Mike Scioscia.He was quoted yesterday saying:
“We’re talking about a guy that, if he pitches to his potential, will be a Cy Young candidate,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “This season hasn’t gone as scripted, but he has never given up, and you saw that again (Saturday @Detroit).”
Really Mike?! I mean yes Kazmir showed much improved velocity, and he was finally able to put hitters away with 2 [...]

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 60-48 (6 GB)
C Alberto Rosario H-AB 8-16 Avg .500 HR 1 2B 1 3B 1 RBI 3 R 3 SB 0 CS 1 K 0 BB 2
Rosario struggled earlier this year in Double-A hitting .193 over 51 games. Since being demoted to Single-A he is hitting .416, and already has 5 more hits in 77 fewer AB. Rosario is also showing power that he has never shown before, he has hit 4 HR for the Quakes in just 23 games; he has a total of 1 HR in his previous 302 games.
OF Mike Trout H-AB 7-22 Avg [...]

Lack Of Team Speed  Key Reason For The Angels Demise 
Options options options. There are many factors we can point to in order to understand the Angels sub par 2010. We’ve seen underachieving seasons from guys who were thought to be key contributors; Hideki Matsui, Bobby Abreu, Juan Rivera, Scott Kazmir, Brandon Wood, Scott Shields, to name a few. A horrible bull pen. Spotty defense. A lack of hitting with RISP and the list goes on. 
But from a team make up perspective one thing we haven’t heard mentioned enough is the Angels sudden lack of team speed. I think we all expected [...]

I’m calling these crazy suggestions, because they’re things I’ve only been thinking about for a couple hours, and I don’t know how willing the front office will be to do most, if any of them. Still, at least at the moment, I think they’re a few moves we could make that could go some distance towards improving the team. Some of it will be contingent on the front office opening their wallets, which they haven’t always been willing to do, and some of it will demand a little creative thinking on the part of Scioscia and the front office, but [...]

…And believe it or not, his name is Torii Hunter. I’ll be the first to admit I was completely and utterly shocked by everything surrounding this movie. First, the fact that Scioscia would have the clear thinking to actually make a movie like this and turn Bourjos into the Angels’ new CFer, and secondly that Hunter would take it so incredibly well. Quoted in the L.A. Times Blog The Fabulous Forum, Hunter said:

Salt Lake City Bees 56-53 (4.5 GB)
OF Peter Bourjos H-AB 9-31 Avg .290 HR 2 2B 3 RBI 5 R 8 SB 0 CS 1 K 6 BB 2
Bourjos regressed this week, hitting only .290. When hitting .290 is a regression you know you are doing pretty good, Bourjos raised his average by 60 points in the month of July. Bourjos finally got called up to the big leagues and will instantly improve the outfield defense. Bourjos needs to improve his walk and strikeout rate if he wants to bat at the top of the lineup; he has walked less this year and struck out more.
1B/RF Mark Trumbo H-AB 13-29 Avg [...]

Much of the coverage surrounding the acquisition of Dan Haren, and the subsequent departure of Joe Saunders, was centered around who “won” the trade. That is, which team received the most value in the swap of players. Lost in some of that shuffle, it seemed to me, was any real analysis of what Haren’s presence, and Saunders disappearance, does to the Angels rotation. After the jump, we’ll fix that oversight.