Fist bump baby, fist bump.

At this point in the season though, bad decisions are magnified to the nth degree, and skipping Ervin Santana‘s last start so he could pitch in Texas while allowing C.J. Wilson to remain on his regularly scheduled days could be Mike Scioscia’s biggest mistake.

Big Erv’s 2012 can easily be summed up in one word, inconsistent. He was not our best option at the beginning of the season, but was victimized by severe bad luck (I’m sure you also remember his string of bad starts where the Angels offense decided that winning the Golf way was the way to go). He’s been decidedly bad for the balance of the season, with enough decent to outstanding starts to convince Scioscia to keep him in the rotation and move Jermoe Williams to the bullpen when the rotation got crowded.

Since hitting rock bottom on July 21st when he gave up six runs in 1.2 innings, we have seen, not much better, but a much more serviceable Ervin Santana. It might not save him from having his option declined, but he has most certainly earned his regularly scheduled starts.

The straight edged racer has been a completely different set of “what the hell is going on with this guy” talk. He started off the year as billed after signing a five year $75 million contract. After his June 26th start he was 9-4 with a 2.36 ERA, the dominant left handed starter the Angels have needed since Joe Saunders was shipped to the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren Trade. Then, 11 straight starts without a registering a win. Dan Haren received a lot of attention for his inability to do anything right on the mound at this time, but C.J. was just as unreliable. He would have games where he gave up three runs, followed by a game where he’d give eight runs. For a pitcher that prides himself on his “Throw Strikes” mantra, C.J. has been in what seems like an endless string of 3-2 counts when he least needs to be, and getting burned in that moment.

But that is not what we are here talking about, so let’s just look at the here and now provided by these two pitchers. Since baseball is a game of “what have you done for me lately,” let’s just see who has been here for us lately.

Ervin Santana:

Wow. The man of a million different interests seems to no longer be interested in being a serviceable starting pitcher. The Angels have an even .500 record in his 12 starts since July 28th. His ERA has risen an entire run during that span. And, I’m not an expert or anything, but I’m gonna guess it’s all the walks and hits that Mr. Wilson has been giving up. And it was just a mere 11 days ago when C.J. couldn’t even get out of the third inning. What has Wilson done for us lately? He’s been lucky. Only twice has he gotten to the seventh inning or later, making himself an automatic bullpen drain. Yeah, that same bullpen that I personally would rather not see enter into any games early over the next five games.

Ervin should start over C.J. right? Wrong. According to this report on the team’s official site, Ervin was given “extra rest,” allowing him to go against the Rangers tonight and quite possibly close the book on his 2012 season (and maybe even his Angels career). C.J. took the mound against Felix Hernandez earlier this week, and will make his next scheduled start per the rotation setup. The plan apparently is to have Santana available to come out of the pen as a long reliever during the season’s final series against the Mariners (Probably on the day that C.J. pitches).

What would I have done? Not only would C.J. get skipped because I, simply put, cannot trust him right now, but I would have sandwiched Dan Haren in between a Three headed monster of Jered Weaver, Zack Greinke and Ervin Santana (all going on short rest). Shoving every single chip I’ve got into the pile. There’s no time for feelings at this point in the year, and I completely understand sending Ervin out against Texas, but at the same time, I’m not trusting an unreliable pitcher to take the hill either when the games mean as much as they do right now.

Mike Scioscia has made a couple of glaring mistakes this year, but this one right here, might be the one that I actually deem to be “inexcusable.”

Contemplating your future Butch?

July was not very pretty, but the team’s offense scraped and clawed out some wins despite a couple of unreliable starters and an entire bullpen corp seemingly hell bent on giving games away. August on the other hand has been an absolute disaster. So far in August we are 5-13. We’re better than the Astros, but my nephew’s coach pitch team would give that team a run for their money. I’m going to throw an arbitrary 90% (Because arbitrary is fun) of the losses onto the heads of the pitching staff. Dan Haren has been terrible. Zack Greinke looks more like a journeyman than an Ace. Ervin Santana is slowly turning it around (I hope). C.J. Wilson has both forgotten how to win and throw strikes. Even our beloved Jered Weaver got lit up by the Rays this past weekend.

And our relievers? Oh dear. They rank, for the month of August, dead last in WAR (-1.1), FIP (5.29), ERA (7.23), LOB% (57.9%) and HR/9 (2.25). And they are next to last in HR/FB (19.2%) and GB% (36.5%). The starters also come in last in WAR (-1.1), FIP (5.64) and HR/9 (1.91). And next to last in ERA (6.51) and HR/FB (18%). Atrocious numbers, across the board for any Angel that steps onto the mound with the exception of Kevin Jepsen. Yeah, I didn’t think I’d say that either. Even Ernesto Frieri has regressed since his unbelievable start as an Angel. Our offense is averaging five plus runs a game this month, but we have only managed five wins thanks to what the pitching staff has done.

What does this have to do with Mike Butcher? Well, during the Mike Scioscia era, two things have defined his best teams. Defense, and an incredible bullpen. during his tenure he has had two pitching coaches, Mike Butcher, and Bud Black. If you ranked the bullpens for those 13 years by WAR, it would look like this:

2004 – 8.6
2003 – 6.0
2006 – 5.9
2005 – 5.7
2002 – 5.1
2007 – 4.7
2008 – 4.6
2001 – 4.4
2009 – 3.6
2000 – 2.6
2010 – 2.1
2011 – 1.7
2012 – 0.6
(Full stat board here)

Of those thirteen seasons, you don’t get to a team with Butcher as pitching coach until number six. And no, bullpens are not built like lineups and starting rotations are, by trying to make them top heavy with the best talent. The best bullpens are usually made up of the least likely people (see Brendan Donnelly). If a pitching coach, like a hitting coach, is as benign as most believe, then there is no reason why between these two coaches there is as big a difference in production as we see between these two.

And it’s hard for me to blame Scioscia on this one with his bullpen selection when his choices are crappy, crappier and crappiest. Unless, of course, he brings in Takahashi. Nobody could make that guy a good pitcher.

From my perspective, Butcher, like Hatcher, is not good at his job. I would personally offer ten million dollars to both the Padres and Bud Black just so he could get his hands on this staff. In May, Hatcher was sent packing after years of futility from our offense. That move seemed to work out pretty well. Butch, I think it’s time for you to hit the bricks sir. Don’t let the door hit ya’ where the good lord split ya’, we hope you enjoy this cheesy gold watch as a parting gift.

The addition of Albert Pujols has the Angels sights set high. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The addition of Pujols alone will transform the lineup in short order. In 2011 the offense was below league average in runs scored. Reasonably, one would expect the offense to at least move across the average threshold with the most potent bat of the last 10 years (and one of the greatest hitters of all-time) now in the fold. There is other reason for optimism too. The return of Kendrys Morales is one of the major keys for the club this season. He was only able to play in 51 total games the past two seasons due to a freak ankle injury. He showed in his breakout 2009 campaign that he has the ability to form a pretty good 3-4 combination with Pujols. The team also has Howard Kendrick coming off the best season of his career, the steady Torii Hunter, and Peter Bourjos, off an underrated year, in the lineup. General Manager Jerry Dipoto made a nice move in acquiring catcher Chris Iannetta from the Colorado Rockies; he should be able to provide a lot more offense out of the position than last season. After a dreadful 2011 season, the realistic (only?) direction for Vernon Wells to go is up. Manager Mike Scioscia has options as the roster has some excess at the corner infield spots and the outfield. Mark Trumbo, who hit 29 home runs in his rookie season last year, will see time at a number of positions including third base. The addition of Pujols and Morales’ return mean that Bobby Abreu is relegated to the bench and top prospect Mike Trout is stuck in the minor leagues, at least for the time being.  The Angels have the potential to be a top 10 run scoring offense in 2012.

Really, the strength of the Angels is starting pitching (the bullpen should be at least adequate too). The starting rotation is strong one-through-four with Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Wilson. In Weaver, Haren, and Wilson, Anaheim arguably has three of the top five starting pitchers in the American League from 2011. Whether that is true or not, they certainly have three of the top ten starting pitchers in the American League today. The fourth starting pitcher, Santana, is coming off a solid season and back-to-back years with 30+ starts and 200+ innings. If he is able to maintain that level the Angels will be in great shape through their front four. The major area of concern for the team is the fifth spot in the rotation and a lack of viable options. Jerome Williams and Garrett Richards are still battling (and will likely battle through a considerable chunk of the season) for the final spot. With such a strong front of the rotation, the fifth spot does not need to be excellent but merely not terrible. The problem may come if there is an injury to Weaver, Haren, Wilson or Santana.

The Angels have the makeup of a team that is ready for big things. They have two shiny new toys added to a roster that had some things going for it already. One cannot draw many conclusions from exhibition games but in the recent Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, sort of the unveiling of the 2012 team in front of the hometown fans, the Angels outscored their “cross-town rivals” 21-10 in three games, winning two in fine fashion. Again, not much can be taken from exhibition games. Nevertheless, the Angels look ready for what may be a special 2012 season.