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.

It is much to soon to call this season done!

This division is Texas’s to lose. Neither Oakland nor LAnaheim is a good team. The Angels might try to spend the money to fill some holes, but I think they have just too many. I doubt Oakland has the money to fill any of their holes. The best strategy may be to try to get a little better, and hope that Texas collapses.

--BaseballMusings.com

Along with surrendering the American League division to the Texas Rangers, this clever writer from Baseball Musings also managed to create a clever little nickname for our beloved Halo Franchise, LAnaheim. Counting the Halos out now would be a terrible decision.  Lets just pretend that the last two years, didn't exist.  So the Angels GM Tony Reagins hasn't spent the past two years acquiring high caliber talent before the trade deadline, like trading for Mark Teixera or Scott Kazmir.  Or lets pretend that the last two years, the Angels haven't won the division, over coming injuries.  Why not forget about Mike Scioscia being one of the best managers in baseball.  In fact, lets just forget about ever positive motion the Angels have made.  

Forgive me if I don't buy the media hype proclaiming this as the year Texas wins the division.  These are the same talking heads that proclaimed Seattle would win it all last year and would win it all this year.  How are these Seattle predictions working out?  Before you get all worried about Cliff Lee joining the Ranger's pitching staff keep this in mind, Seattle had Lee along with King Felix and still couldn't manage to be contenders.  Cliff Lee, although a phenomenal pitcher, can't pitch every day and hasn't pitched particularly well in Texas.  The Ballpark in Arlington is a hitters park and as the summer heat gets hotter, well, Texas pitching has a way of withering.  Not to mention that the Rangers gave up there everyday young 1st Baseman and are relying on Chris Davis... who isn't exactly setting the World on Fire.  I will admit... Vladimir Guerrero looks totally rejuvenated in Texas... but he is a bit injury prone.  Same with Josh Hamilton. 

I won't try to pretend to understand the Pythagorean or try to explain strength of scheduling, but what I saw out of our Halos last night reminded me of last year's squad.  Hit the ball and score.  As the infamous "Wonder Dog" Rex Hudler would say... another lousy single.  A couple of lousy singles led to "Just Another Halo Victory" last night.  They won't all be that easy, but if the Angels can continue with the same principles... there will be a showdown in the American League West. 

Go Halos

Former Angel, Casey Kotchman is a Mariner?

Joining former Angel Chone Figgins in the land of Grunge Music and Over Priced Coffee,  is first baseman, Casey Kotchman.  Poor guy, I kind of feel bad for him. In less than 3 years was traded to Atlanta for Teixera, traded to Boston for LaRoche, and now being traded to Seattle for Hall.  This marks the third former Angel favorite in recent years to play ball in Seattle, with Jarrod Washburn being the other.  Kotchman gives will enhance the defense for the Mariners especially at first. Defense and a few silly faces is all Kotchman brings to the table.  It was Kotchman inability to play offense that made him expendable in the Mark Teixera trade. 

So the Mariners defense at first has maybe slightly improved over Russel Branyan.  Kotchman had a hard time staying healthy playing in Anaheim, a lot like Branyan.  But Russel Branyan had much better offense.  Then again, being a left handed hitter could help Kotchman's offense numbers playing in Safeco.

Again the Mariners make a move that makes sense on paper.  This move will help their pitchers ERA, but I still don't know how they are going to outscore teams.  Especially power teams that can take one pitchers mistake and turn it into a run.  I like Hernandez and Lee, but the rest of Seattle's rotation isn't really impressive.

You have your fear, which might become reality; and you have [Matsui], which IS reality.

It was announced on December 14th that the Angels were in serious negotiations with Hideki Matsui.  Matsui coming off a World Series MVP award was looking for a new home, when it was announced that the Yankees wouldn't be bringing him back.  All of the speculation was Matsui would only be interested in playing for a city with a large Asian population and an American League team, which could allow him to DH.  This led many to think that the MVP would be playing in Seattle, Oakland, or L.A.  Fortunately for the Angels, Matsui filled a lot of holes on and off the field.

It was apparent that Vladimir Guerrero wouldn't be coming back.  And the sport of baseball has been growing internationally for years.  Their are many Japanese players in the Majors.  But very few are of the status of Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and the newly acquired Hideki Matsui.  Rev Halofan of HalosHeaven brought up a good point in his article entitled Hideki Matsui Signing a Goal of Angels President John Carpino.  Rev goes on to mention Billboard advertising was another bonus to signing Matsui. 

The minute that Arte Moreno purchased the then Anaheim Angels from the Disney Corporation and wanted to take the Angels to the next level.  Shortly after the purchase, there was free-agent spending, a name change, lower beer prices, and 5 American League West Championships Titles.  A Matsui signing opens up a window to fans of baseball in Japan who still idolize Matsui, perhaps new revenue streams.  Or what I'm sure would make Uncle Arte happiest, a legion of fans in Japan wearing Angel Red Hats, television broadcasting rights, and maybe an opening day game in Japan.  

On the field Matsui is a true professional, or in other words, he won't swing at pitches in the dirt.  He's patient and will draw a lot of walks.  He also has a lot of power and can help drive in a lot of runs.  Matsui will add international star power to the Halos.  Off the field, the Angels will take advantage of the larger fan base.  More revenue streams.  This move will make the team better, immediately.  If Bobby Abreu's approach helped the players last year, Matsui's approach will help the team this year.  Sure I'll miss Vladimir Guerrero.  But I'm already picturing the the sound guy at the stadium ripping the soundtrack to Kaiju daisenso and animations on the scoreboard with Matsui's face photo-shopped on Godzilla and Matsui will be shooting lazer beams out of his eyes and breathing nuclear fire through the cities of opposing teams.  And when the spectacle is over on the score board, Matsui was crush a ball to the Angels Bullpen with Matsui doing his job and being professional

This is the end... my dearest Figgins.

Sure is as good as any time to lament on the lore of Chone Figgins and how is infectious smile always beamed a ray of hope, even on the darkest Halo day. Figgins had been apart of every team that made the post season this decade. He will not easily be replaced as a player or a team mate. And no one should begrudge a guy who gave it all for the Angels, even if he is taking a huge pay day from a division rival. I certainly don't blame a guy for taking care of his family.

Good luck to Chone Figgins. Everyone at "Team The Diamond Aces" will miss you.

Fortunately, arbitration was offered to Figgins, along with John Lackey. I briefly touched upon the players who weren't offered arbitration in my post titled No arbitration asked orgiven. But here is the silver lining. A 18th Draft Pick from Seattle, that is if the Mariners do not sigh a high ranked free-agent, plus a sandwich pick. That would give the Angels a two picks in the 1st round. Seattle's 18th and the Angels 31st. Plus as I brought up on Knocking on Wood? MLB are you serious?the Angels have internal options at third base. Brandon Wood, or in a pinch Maicer Izturis can fill in at 3B.

Personally I'm glad that Figgins ended up on the Mariners. I thought he was going to go to New York. The Mariners require a lot of work to become a threat to the Angel franchise. Figgins helps, but he doesn't answer all the questions. By signing with the Ms, the Angels get a better pick in the draft.

Were you surprised that the Ms signed Figgins? Who will play 3B for the Halos next year? Leave a comment and tell me what you think.