... The Angels Look Tremendous...

Hearing from a bunch of Cactus League scouts and evaluators that the Angels look tremendous.

--Buster Onley

I believe the last time I was this confident of an Angel team, I believe Vladimir Guerrero was still on this team.  Obviously everybody's Uncle Arte Moreno went out and made more of a splash this off-season than any fan could have anticipated.  The Angels signing/trading for Albert Pujols was a pipe dream that I had for a long time, but never did I really think that was going to happen.  But then again I never thought the Angels would have at least 3 legitimate Aces in the starting rotation, with a no. 2 guy who pitched a no hitter last year.  I never thought that the Angels would go into the season with the kind of depth they have.  And frankly, I'm still not sure how it'll all gel over 162 games.

It seems like Alberto Callaspo might be loosing his starting position to Mark

Trumbo, which in itself sounds a bit ridiculous.  Lil Albert had a good season in 2011, a .298 Batting Avg., he legged out 23 doubles, ripped 8 bags, drove in 6 over the fence and even managed to have 46 RBI with only 475 at bats.  The guy replacing him isn't a slouch although his batting average is much lower his production over all is much higher.  29 Home runs is nothing to balk at.  But still, Callaspo, who's had a pretty solid spring is essentially going to be an off the bench player.  And a lot of people thought Trumbo was trade bait. 

Looking at this line up is sick.  Especially with the news that Mr. Kendrys Morales has finally found his way back into the Angels line up. Well maybe he has exactly made his way back into the line up yet and maybe Kendrys 2-5 against a combo of AA & AAA players doesn't mean a ton, but I'm under the impression that when Morales gets out their on the field and you bat him near either Trumbo or Pujols, you're going to see a masher.  IF this Halos line up stays healthy and IF there is no regression, you can see a guy like Wells rebound huge in 2012.

No World Series Ring was won in November or December.  But These Angels look good.  Even Buster says so.  With that being said...

Go Halos

The Angels DFA Brandon Wood.

Just ran into Brandon downstairs & wished him the best wherever he ends up…really, really good dude & someone I want to see succeed.

--Victor Rosas

I can remember, thinking back to two years ago, sitting at Angel Stadium on an usually hot Spring day.  The Angels were taking on the hated New York Yankees.  I was so confident in the work Kendrys Morales had put in and was hoping that Brandon Wood would follow suit.  I particularly wasn't to thrilled with Eric Aybar and remember thinking that I was hoping that Wood would eventually take over at short-stop for Aybar.  The couple I sat with were huge Angel fans, but didn't know much about Wood.  I leaned over to my friends and told them, "Watch this... Brandon Wood is my guy."  And believe it or not, Brandon Wood went deep against the Yankees, (I believe it was Sabathia, but I'm not sure.)  

When push comes to shove, the Halos didn't make the playoffs last year.  And although Brandon Wood doesn't take the sole blame, the writing was on the wall when the Angels made the trade for Alberto Callaspo.  There isn't room on this team for players who cannot perform.  I am one of those guys who always thought that Brandon Wood was destined to be great for the Angels. However, of all of his opportunities, he hasn’t really produced at a major league level. I didn’t want to see him go, but realistically the Angels weren’t going to keep a guy who provides so little offense to the team.  With Wood’s departure, I hope he can land on a young team that will be competitive in the future and allow him to be a cornerstone of a successful team.

Go Brandon Wood.

Go Halos

Angels' Third Base Internal Options for 2011

Listening to sports talk radio or visiting baseball rumor sites and it seems like people forgot where the Angels were prior to the 2002 World Series Championship Season.  The Angels did lose out on their alleged first choice free agent Carl Crawford to hated rivals Boston Red Sox.  In fact the Red Sox's great improved their team this off-season by free agency signings and a blockbuster trade with the Padres that landed them Adrian Gonzales.  Seemingly, the 2nd Choice Free Agent for the Halos is Adrian Beltre.  The Former Los Angeles Dodger, Seattle Mariner, and Red Sox has put up pretty good numbers in both offense and defense.  Will he radically change the team?  No, but his offense would be a god-send for a team who had trouble scoring last year.  

But the rumors have it that Beltre's demanding agent Scott Boras will only allow his agent sign for at a six year deal, which the Angels are too particularly found of.  As the sands fall through the hour glass and the free agent market becomes more and more bleak, what do the Angels do if they can't land their 2nd Choice?

As some have reported the trade market is down right now as well and the Angels might not have the prospects (not named Mike Trout) to land a big trade.  So what is a franchise to do?  Forgotten are the upgrades made to the pitching rotation and forgotten is the raw power of Kendry Morales.  

Scenario #1 

Do nothing.  Callaspo was a decent option at third base.  Reagins made the trade to bring him back to the Angels family last season.  Getting acclimated to return to the Angels might have just need some time.  Now with half a season under his belt and a full spring training with the Halos might prepare him for better year with the Angels.  Any upgrade in performance would benefit the Angels woes at 3rd.

Scenario #2

Brandon Wood had a real bad year last year.  But also was under a lot of pressure to perform.  Perhaps another go behind third might get him right.  Wood had some big shoes to fill last year with the departure of Figgins.  But maybe Wood can find his bat?  Maybe his short time in the Arizona Fall League helped him to regain his confidence.  Maybe every day at bats might get him going again.  The Angels must find some value in Wood, otherwise he might have been designated for assignment in lieu of Kevin Frandsen.  

Scenario #3

This one is my favorite option.  Long before Kendry Morales ever hit a home run in Anaheim, he was taking fielding at 3rd, 1st, Left, and Right.  Perhaps moving Morales to the hot corner is what the Angels need.  By moving Morales to Third Base, you also free up a spot at First base for Mike Napoli.  Napoli was the best fill in option at first when Morales was injured.  And although Napoli would probably prefer to be the every day catcher, its obvious that Mike Scioscia sees him more as a back up.  And with the emergence on Hank Conger whom could earn the starting catcher spot and provide some Napoli like power into the line up, who could blame him.  And with this line up you can still use a platoon of Juan Rivera & Bobby Abreu at LF/DH.

Scenario #4

Would involve elevating Mark Trumbo to third base.  Most of his background is at first, but putting him at third might be the quickest way to get him a look at the Major League Level.  Putting Trumbo at third might re-create a Brandon Wood like environment or might allow him to blossom.  This option is about as much of a roll of the dice as would be playing Wood. 

Ultimately I see the Angels signing Adrian Beltre.  And I also forsee Mike Napoli playing on another team next year.  But all I want for Christmas is Mike Napoli in the line up.

Angels become active in the trade market.

Yesterday I started to write about whom I thought would be moved and what trades I could guess would be coming our way.  I wasn't really expecting to hear the Angels wanted Alberto Callaspo, let alone made the trade for him.  Now truth be told, 3rd base was probably our biggest liability in the infield.  The Brandon Wood Experiment didn't exactly pan out.  Kevin Frandsen had looked really good at third, but has slowed down as of late.  And then the often injured Maicer Izturis, who is off the DL this week it just too much of a health risk to expect everyday production from.  Alberto Callaspo expected to debut for Halos tonight, was traded to the Angels for SOS, Sean O'Sullivan and Will Smith, not the Fresh Prince.  Smith is a minor leaguer who didn't look to contribute to the teams success this season, however SOS just pitched a gem of a game in New York earlier this week and looked to be starting in lieu of the injured Scott Kazmir.  

Callaspo certainly won't single handily win the World Series for the Angels, but he does bring some stability at third.  He hit 73 RBI and 11 Home Runs last year.  And has already hit 8 HR thus far.  Callaspo is no stranger to the Angels as he was originally drafted by the team.  
 

The true question is which piece falls next.  With Napoli's hot bat, I doubt 1st base is an area Tony Reagins is focusing on.  And with the way the Halo Bullpen has looked this season, maybe that will be the next area the might Reagins will improve on.  Needles to say, the trade deadline is rapidly approaching.  Will this be the year that Reagins doesn't make a big name trade or has Reagins mastered the persona of a Ninja just waiting to make his next move surprising the most hardcore Angels Fan.  

Go Halos