5 Game winning streak ends with a blown save in the 9th!

On a night to commemorate the ever improving Erick Aybar with a Bobble Head, the Angels lose and it was a bit of a heart breaker.  Jered Weaver carried a one run lead into the eight inning.  Smart base running with Aybar and a timely hit Abreu gave the Halos a 1 run lead which was followed up with Morales Home Run driving in Matsui.  The night was looking great.  Even Jason Bulger looked good in the eight, holding the advancing Tigers.  But with the Ninth inning came chaos!

It was well documented that Mike Scioscia was going to put Fuentes out there.  It was no surprise to anyone, well at least not to me.  I even added Fuentes to my fantasy baseball team, because I expected him to be plopped right back into his closer role.  Scioscia is well known for his loyalty to his guys.  Fuentes who was the league saves leader was expected to close out this one run game.  However, Fuentes also blew a lot of saves last year.  And he did it again.  I feel for the guy.  He is coming back from an injury and just didn't look like he was right.  Maybe a few more bullpen session in Rancho could have helped.  It doesn't the fans frustration with Fuentes, when Rodney has just had 5 scoreless 9th Innings in a row.  I kept thinking that although Fuentes blew the save, maybe he'd set himself up for a relief win, by getting out the inning.  And a case of a bad swing at a bad pitch just so happened to work out in the favor of the Tigers.  Fuentes job at closer is secure for now, but I think the Angel faithful believe Rodney would have closed it out. 

The Wild Ride with the Angels Bullpen -- Or how Fernando Rodney saved the day!

The Angels rotation took a lot of abuse before the season even started.  The media was doubting the intestinal fortitude of the Halo Starters.  It was like Lackey was the straw that stirred the drink of the Angel's slingers.  But now that Lackey is gone, the Halos are done, no number one, etc. etc. etc.  Weaver has gracefully accepted the role of leader coming out of the rotation.  But a big surprise has been  Piñeiro .  But in the last couple of starts each pitcher has looked dominant.  Its very early in the season, but the Angels are looking like a Diamond full of Aces.  Weaver had a good start in Toronto, followed by Saunders and Santana.   Piñeiro starts it off against Detroit and Kazmir comes out looking pretty good through six.  Perhaps the rotation isn't as much of a concern as the media all lead us to believe.

However Kazmir win last night was nearly tainted at the hands of the bullpen.  Kazmir was charged the runs that Shields allowed.  Palmer didn't look much better.  And Jepsen had me worried.  But when Rodney stepped in the ninth it was all business.

Speaking of Rodney, it was Tim Dierkes of MLB TradeRumors who said that The Angels signing Fernado Rodney was one of the 10 Worst Free Agent Signings Of The Offseason. At the time many of the Angel faithful, myself include, understood this to be an insurance policy in case Brian Fuentes fell back into his familiar funk from last year. Spring opened up and Fuentes looked great. Opening Day, Fuentes looked great. And since his injury, Rodney has covered the closer spot and successfully closed 5 of 5 games. Not only the 5/5 closes, but each one of them were shut outs. Rodney even has a hold, from Opening Day and a win against Oakland. The only bad outing Rodney had was against the blow out against the Twins, where he was charged with the loss.  I am beginning to think that the closer position might be a shared spot between Fuentes and Rodney.  And that could save the Angels big cash, from Fuentes option investing.  Only a month or so into the season, but that Rodney signing is looking as impressive as the Piñeiro and Matsui signings this past off season.

Angels, Tigers Discuss Granderson Trade

MLBTR is reporting that the Angels and Tigers are discussing a Granderson Trade.

The Angels and Tigers have discussed a trade for center fielder Curtis Granderson, according to Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Davidoff says the Halos would use Granderson in left field and either shift Juan Rivera to DH or trade him. In my opinion, the Angels could fill several needs cheaply for the Tigers with players such as Mike Napoli and Brandon Wood. Davidoff adds that the Yankees "think very highly" of Granderson and the Cubs are "expected to inquire."

Granderson has always played well in Anaheim. But he is far from a complete player. He has good defense but his offense is sub-par. He does have good speed, but his OPS is much to low to be a lead off hitter. And he doesn't hit well against Lefties.

The move at the very least is interesting. But I can't see the Angels trading either Wood or Napoli for a player who is similar to a younger Gary Matthews Jr. Before Tony Reagins makes a move, our outfield is slated to look like Juan River (LF), Torii Hunter (CF), and Bobby Abreu (RF). With Matthews scheduled to be the 4th man. If Matthews moves, then Willits is promoted to the 4th man. That means The Angels still have an abundance of outfielders.

Preferably the Angels, if they are going to make some trades, should look to trade for another starting pitcher. Considering John Lackey isn't likely to return. There is a lot of IFs this off-season and it looks like we'll be waiting to January to see how it all works out.

The Angels go with a Four Man Rotation in the ALDS.

Recently over at Halos Heaven I brought up the question of, Do we go with a 3 Man or 4 man rotation in the Playoffs. The shape and color of the playoffs look like the Red Sox will win the Wildcard, which sets up New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers in the First Round. And the Angels taking on the familiar Red Sox in the opposite side of the bracket. If our first round match up is Boston, we have to consider what our staff has done against Boston. Last night John Lackey gave the Angels a pretty good outing in Fenway, where he's been known to struggle. Saunders gets a start in Fenway tonight and he has won his last 4 Starts. And Kazmir is reported as pitching well in Boston. Obviously our pitching staff has been getting better and better. In the playoffs are we better using a three man rotation or four? And who starts and who goes to the bullpen.

With home-field advantage going to the Angels, obviously match-ups should play a greater role. But with 4-5 above average pitchers, who goes where?

The Angels need a pitching staff who doesn't have the same demons of our past. A pitching staff who will show no fear against the hated ones. Our starting 4 Man rotation should be Kamir, Saunders, Weaver, Lackey and send Ervin Santana in as a late inning reliever. I would also suggest giving Lackey the more favorable starts in Anaheim as opposed to Fenway. Lackey hasn't performed well against Boston. 3 Wins, 7 Losses, and an ERA of 5.25. Kazmir is 8-7 against the Red Sox and has an ERA of 3.59. Saunders has had 4 Wins, 1 Loss and an ERA of 3.25. Ervin Santana vs. Boston is 1-2 and has an ERA of 5.67. Weaver's career is 2-2 against Boston and has a cool 3.99 ERA. Kazmir is unaffected by the Green Monster mystique. He's also had post season success against the Red Sox, by shutting out the Sox for 6 Innings at Fenway. Weaver who has pitch his best year thus far defeated the Red Sox in Fenway, coming out of the Bullpen. Weaver and Kazmir would be my choices for match ups in Fenway. Depending on Saunders next two starts can help shape where he goes in our rotation.

In a Best of 5 Series I'd go

Game 1 of the ALDS in Anaheim
Jered Weaver

Game 2 of the ALDS in Anaheim
John Lackey

Game 3 of the ALDS in Boston
Scott Kazmir

Game 4 of the ALDS in Boston
Joe Saunders

Game 5 of the ALDS in Anaheim
Jered Weaver