Halos Get it Done in Taiwan

It sounds as if the MLB All-Stars who played in the MLB-Taiwan All-Star Game just crushed the opposition.  Back in January 2010, I made the case for the Angels to start paying attention to the Taiwan market.  When the Halos signed Joel Piñeiro, I wanted them to pursue Chien-Ming Wang (glad I'm not the GM.)  Not just because of what I thought Wang could offer the rotation (which wasn't much), but because Wang was/is revered in his native Taiwan.  Taiwan loves baseball.  And this group of MLB Players going to Taiwan is great for developing the sport, getting more fans interested. I'm not sure how being crushed by the superior league of All-Stars helps... but it certainly brings a greater awareness.  

And if you're like me... going through some baseball withdraws,  you can watch the full games of the MLB-Taiwain series, on MLB's website with a valid MLB.TV account. 

Life after "The Dirtbag".

Jered Weaver

Shortly after the 2010 Major League Baseball season ended, talk spread like wild fire that Jered Weaver's management were already in talks with the Angel Front Office about a new contract.  Prior to the Opening Day 2011 festivities at Angel Stadium, Arte Moreno expressed that the Angels have intent on re-signing Weaver and didn't expect a home town discount.  

But does that fit with the current Angels Front Office operating model?  The Angels over the year haven't exactly been known to pay the big bucks on their own players who reach free agency.  They were outbid by the Mariners and the Red Sox for Figgins and Lackey (although both were probably for the best,) and didn't even attempt to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero or Darren Oliver.  And lets not forget after the 2008 season, Arte was very vocal about re-signing Mark Teixera and was outbid by the Yankees.

The Red Sox and Yankees both have the money and the need of a pitcher the caliber of Jered Weaver.  Could you imagine a one two pitch of Sabathia and Weaver or rotation of Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, and Weaver?  I hope that Jeff Weaver's years in New York left a bad enough taste in the mouth of the Yankees that they won't consider his little bro.  As seen by Cliff Lee, money isn't always the determining factor of where a player ends up, but not everyone is Cliff Lee.  

Weaver had emerged as the ace of this team even before Lackey fled to Fenway.  Weaver became a leader on the pitching staff after the passing of Nick Adenhart.  Jered was elected to the All Star Game last year, but could not pitch.  Weaver led all of Major League in strikes outs in 2010 with 233, just edging out the Cy Yong Award winner, Felix Hernadez.

Deciphering Weaver's next move is a lot like listening to the Clash.  "Should I stay or should I go now."  The Angels have a great relationship with the Angels but not so great with his agent.  The Owners has said he wants Weaver to stay, Weaver has said he wanted to stay, but he even alluded to on the Petros and Money Show interview from Fox Sports Radio, that he wasn't sure he'd be back in 2012.  

Replacing Weaver isn't going to be easy.  When you look at the young bucks of the Halos Rotation, you realize Chatwood baring any injury will be a real good pitcher for the this team.  Haren and Santana are both locked up for the 2012 seasons and have options for 2013.  Piñeiro will more than likely reach free agency after this season, although he is having a pretty good year and miracle withstanding, Kazmir will not return to the Halos in 2012. 

The team traded away a couple of potential starters last year in Sean O'Sullivan and Tyler Skaggs.  Trevor Bell is currently in the bullpen, but hasn't been all that impressive.  Two top pitching prospects currently in AA are Garret Richards and Trevor Reckling.  But jumping from AA to the Majors is a big leap.  I'd like to tell you life after the Dirtbag will be fine.  But I'd rather make a final plea to the Halos Front Office to re-sign Weaver.  

Go Halos 

It seems the grass isn't the only thing getting trimmed down in Tempe Arizona.

It seems the grass isn't the only thing getting trimmed down in Tempe Arizona and I for one couldn't be happier.  Obviously there is always a learning curve in baseball and during Spring Training that curve is extended at times to include fringe players who may or may not make it to the team.  Unfortunately some of the players over the years you start to grow fond of.  It was no surprise that on Monday guys like Brad Con or Efren Navarro would be re-assigned to the minor league roster.  And you had to know top prospect Trevor Reckling would be securing a spot in either Salt Lake City or at the very least with the Travelers, the Angels AA club.  But you hear about guys like Trevor Bell and Will Smith who down the road look to at the very least join the ball club in Relief pitching roles.

Today the Angels sent another seven packing and honestly, it was time.  The team's 3-9 record is the Worst in the Cactus League and second worse in all of Spring Training.  I guess that's why they don't have a championship game for Spring Training.  Although these games have no meaning in the Wins and Loss column it is certainly away to see where certain players will be slotted in the upcoming year.  With that said, familiar faces to the Angels bullpen, Bobby Mosebach, the Other Francisco Rodriguez, and Rich Thompson are all heading back to Minor League Roles.  The Catcher of the Future Hank Conger is also heading back to the Minors, most likely Salt Lake City.  As we say good-bye to these fringe players, let us remember that the season is less than 20 days away and the Halo faithful are looking forward to another American League Western Division Championship.

Go Halos!

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.

Read My Lips, No New Free-Agents!!!

Originally posted at HalosHeaven

The void that will be created with the departures of John Lackey, Chone Figgins, Darren Oliver, and Vladimir Guerrero will be felt long after they sign new contracts with their new teams. Lackey is a true number one Ace, Figgins is a true lead off hitter and has great defensive skills, Oliver isn't only a lefty specialist, and Vladimir was the face of the franchise. But like Tony Reagins said on the Drive yesterday, you have to take the emotion out of the business decisions.

We Will Win, With What We Got or Lightning Strikes Twice.

Last year the Halosphere was bent because Mark Teixera took his U-Haul to New York for a big payday. Some of the Fan Faithful believed in the unproven Kendry Morales. And that investment paid in dividends. Could Brandon Wood produce similarly to Morales? Wood has nothing left to prove in minors. Given an opportunity of having regular at bats and every day play, perhaps he could put together a good season. And if his defense isn't as great as we were once led to believe or his offense never gets started, he can always be platooned with super-utility player Maicer Izturis.

What about Sean O'Sullivan, given a chance to shine could he become the John Lackey of 2002? And with a rotation of Weaver, Santana, Saunders, Kazmir, couldn't the Angels survive with a pitcher like O'Sullivan or Matt Palmer, Trevor Bell, Dustin Moseley or maybe even Anthony Ortega? Those 5 guys gave us 22 wins last year. With Vladimir Guerrero gone, our Designated Hitter position becomes a platoon position. It allows Bobby Abreu to take a day or two off, from the field. Giving playing time to Gary Matthews Jr. or Reggie Willits. And when days Abreu is in the outfield, Napoli could share time at DH keeping his bat in the line up, which when hot is a nice bat to have.

But why scrimp in save in 2010?

According to MLBTradeRumors, 2011 will see nearly 30 pitchers who will be available to file for Free Agency. Some of the names available in 2011 will be Josh Beckett, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Ted Lilly. Let alone All-Star catcher Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols.

What better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's existence than to break the bank for a Lee or Halladay and a Mauer or a Pujols.

The Angels can Win With What We Got

Milestones... What a week!

Would you believe after the tragedy involving Nick Adenhart earlier this year and all the injury woes, that the Angels would set atop of the American League with the 2nd best record in MLB. With a roster that costs fractions of what the Yankees have the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are playing six hundred baseball.

Vladimir Guerrero has been a little of an enigma this year. After experiencing some injuries on the bench, Vlad is back and swinging the bat with ferociousness. His power is not only luminous, but down right intimidating. #27 hit home runs #399 and #400 all but guaranteeing his ticket will be punched to Cooperstown. However, there is still some debate on whether Vlad will be returning at the end of the season. How the heck can you not re-sign this guy? I hope the Angels re-sign him, but I guess the business of baseball takes precedent.

Ervin Santana not only has been battling injuries but also battling his propensity to just not pitch well. Since making his debut, Santana too has had a mysterious side. I have glossed the young man, Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. And as to the benefit of the Angels, Dr. Jeckyl took the mound Tuesday Night against the Tampa Bay Rays. Voodoo (as he is often referred to on the Premier Angels Baseball blog, Halos Heaven), pitched a 3 Hit, Complete Game Shutout against the very dangerous Rays. With the Angels having as many pitching woes as its faced and not being able to cash in on a starting pitcher before the trade deadline, the Angels look to move forward and to paraphrase the Rev. Halofan, ...Win With What We Got.

The final Milestone for this week is the 13th starter for the Angels this year. Trevor Bell is the grandson of the late Bozo the Clown. Bell who is the protege of Mark Langston had a pretty good outing against the Rays on Wednesday's day game. Off the top of my head can I name the 13 starters of the year?

In no particular order; Jered Weaver, Nick Adenhart, Joe Saunders, Dustin Mosely, Ervin Santana, John Lackey, Shane Loux, Matt Palmer, Anthony Ortega, Darren Oliver, Sean O' Sullivan, and Trevor Bell. Wow, I'm quite impressed with myself. Bell was impressive too. He gave up a couple of runs, but never looked out of the game. Never looked shell shocked. And Kevin Jepsen got the Win.

The Angels play Baltimore Orioles today. And lets see if they can break more milestones.

We Say Goodbye to a Friend

Justin Speier, who warmed the hearts of America on a Fox Broadcast reading the line up cards in the same vein as Harry Carry was released last night. It wasn't a salary relief move. The Angels will eat his remaining contract.

The former Marine was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1995. And played for six other clubs before joining the Angels in 2006. Unfortunately Speier's flashes of brilliance were to few and far in between. Watching him pitch, was often like watching Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, one game he'd have a 1-2-3 inning. And the next night he'd give up three Home Runs in an inning.
Like on Friday, August 7th against the Texas Rangers. When the Angels were still very much in the game. Speier faced Teagarden who homered to deep left, Andrus who grounded out to shortstop, 42 Year Old Vizquel (who hadn't hit a homerun since 2007), and Young who homered to deep center, before for the remainder of the line up to ground out.

From all accounts, Speier is a good guy. He would be the first guy out of the bullpen if a fight broke out. Which is exactly what happened during the infamous incident where Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Becket tossed a ball at Bobby Abreu after time out had been called. When the benches cleared, it was Justin along with Torii Hunter along with Mickey Hatcher who were ejected.

The release of Speier doesn't come as much as a surprise. His struggles are well documented in Angel Fandom and surely were causes of many dogs getting kicked or beers being drank. Even durning the playoffs last year, Speier didn't make the playoff roster in favor of rookie Kevin Jepsen. The California native's release makes room for todays starter Trevor Bell. Although I will miss Speier's team first mentallity and over all "good-guyness" I won't miss his pitching. So as always, best of luck to Justin Speier. I will root for you until you face the Angels again. And then I will boo. Boo unmercifully.