The Halos Must Make a Sacrafice...

I recently posted the question the First2Third.net Facebook Friends and Twitter Followers:

Would you sacrifice Peter Bourjos' at bats for Mark Trumbo's at bats?

Jam Eson on Facebook: No.
Mitul on Facebook: Go with jumbo trumbo, we need power.
CoachTom966:  I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Mark Trumbo hit 29 Home Runs last year.  No doubt about it, if he plays everyday Trumbo could probably exceed that number.  So the question isn't Trumbo for Bourjos, because either way Trumbo should be in the line up.   The question is should Trumbo take at bats away from someone in the outfield or third base.

Here's specifically what I'm thinking.  Vernon Wells has proved over his past few starts in Center Field that he can still handle playing in the middle.  Mark Trumbo makes better sense in the outfield than he does at Third Base.  Playing the hot corner has netted 3 errors for Trumbo.  It's obvious that the better solution for Third Base at this time is Maicer Izturis, batting over 400 and solid D.  So what it comes down to is, who benefits the offense more... Izturis or Bourjos?  Petey has speed and causes chaos on the base path.  But Maicer has wheels to and can grab a bag.  Maicer can also get on base.  And Maicer has proved to be more clutch at getting a hit.  By moving Bourjos into that elusive 4th OF spot, gives plenty of rest to the likes of Vernon and Torii, it gets Trumbo in the lineup.


Trumbo needs to play every day, in the outfield.  This will hurt Bourjos at bats, but will better the team.  


What do you think?

Are the Angels Heating Up?

This was originally an article that I was going to write after the Angels bested the Nationals last week.  But not having the time to finish it, might have made for a more interesting article.  The Angels offense has finally started to match the pitching efforts of Weaver, Haren, Santana, Piñeiro, and Chatwood.  However,  lets strip away some of the hyberbole, these wins have come at the expense of the Nationals a .500 team at Best, The Dodgers, who are in last place in the NL, and the Detroit Tigers, who are four games above .500.

Sure the Halos are tied for 1st Place with the Texas Rangers in the American League West.  The question I have been pondering for the past few days is this a new Angel team, or is this merely the benefit of feasting on a beleaguered set of opponents.  Hopefully the old cliche winning breeds winning, but this isn't the Red Sox, Yankees, or the Rangers.  There is still a lot that needs to be proved.  But the question is, our the Halos Heating up?

Obviously Vernon Wells has been on fire, so much so I picked him up in my fantasy league and he has just been tearing the cover off the ball.  Is he worth what he's being paid... no.  But he certainly has made this Halo Team better. Torii Hunter moved to the second spot in the batting order makes the team better.  The entire team has been benefiting from Wells' hot bat.  You look at a guy like Borjous who is back to hitting .266. 

To be frank, it really doesn't matter if this is a product of weaker opponents or if the Halos have found "it."  As long as the hit parade keeps coming and the pitchers keeps putting up strikeouts, who cares?

Let's go Halos!

Tyler Chatwood, Jordan Walden, & Peter Bourjos Autograph signing Sat May 21st

Come meet all three Angels on Sat May 21st from 11-12:30! Each small autograph will be $20 each or get all 3 for just $50! Large items will be $30 each. PSA will be on hand to authenticate your item for just $8 each. You will be able to take pictures with the players and wish them luck :) We will be pre selling autographs and packages for this event. If you cant make it let us know and we can get a item signed for you!

 

Time & Date

Saturday, May 21 · 11:00am - 12:30pm

 

Location

The OC Dugout

1238 S. Beach Blvd. Ste J

Anaheim, CA

 

Matthews to take a bite of the Big Apple!

It was never Gary Matthews Jr.'s fault the Angels over payed for him.  Bill Stoneman always had a way of signing talent that never lived up to the expectations of the Halo Faithful.  Does anyone remember when the Angels front office went out and signed a fat, aging first baseman... Cecil Fielder.  Then attempted to right the ship by signing a fatter more aged first baseman... Mo Vaughn.  In that situation, it didn't work out.  Well Stoneman signed GMJ for far more money than he should have.  With numbers that may have been inflated with banned substances.  Tony Reagins attempted to right the signing of his former mentor Stoneman.  And he did, because Torii Hunter was great.  But what to do with Stoneman's little mistake.

The idea so far had been to play him as a 4th Man.  He would come in when needed.  And he was overpaid, but he did his job and with few complaints.  He looked great with Hunter was out with injury.  But GMJ wanted out.  And said so at the end of the season.

"I don't expect to be back; it's time to move on," Matthews said. "I'm ready to play for an organization that wants me to play every day. This organization has other plans, and that's OK."

And when many of the Angel faithful saw Matthews heading for Atlanta, Reagins managed to send Matthews to the New York Mets, got a choice reliever in Brian Stokes, and it only cost the Angels $21MM!  The price was high, but it was the only option the Angels had.  Matthews got what he wanted, out of the franchise.  The Angels got what they wanted, the ability to keep another AAA on the depth chart, be it Peter Bourjos, Chris Pettit, or Terry Evans. And even managed to strengthen one of the few weakness the Angels of 2009 had. Good move for Matthews, but a better move for the Angel's Front Office. So long Matthews!

If we took a Halladay...

If we took a [Halladay]
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice

If the Angels would have made that deal for Halladay they possibly would have given up some of the Halos' Top Prospects: Trevor Reckling, Peter Bourjos and a combination of Joe Saunders and Erick Aybar or Mike Napoli. If we took a Halladay, The Angels would have made their way to another AL West. If the rotation was Halladay, Weaver, Saunders, Santana, and Kazmir and if they pitched on all cylinders with no injuries the Angels would make the ALDS and ALCS their bitch! And probably won the World Series. But, those are a lot of big Ifs.

Looking back at it now, I'm glad we didn't. Halladay immediately agreed to a contract extension with the Phillies once he was traded. And I'm sure Halladay will impact their playoff hopes again in 2010. And so the Angels were left out of the Halladay sweepstakes. On the outside looking in. And this tends to happen every year. I tend to fall in love with the idea of the Angels making a trade to bring a true front of the line ace to Anaheim and bring the Halos back to the World Series. Last year it was Jake Peavy and this year it was Halladay. Now I've got my hopes for Matt Cain.

Ultimately the Angels are going to continue to develop starting pitching with guys like Reckling, Trevor Bell, Anthony Ortega, and whomever they manage to bring up. And with all the draft picks the Angels accumulated this off-season I assume they'll go after pitching.