Friday, June 25, 2004
Lakers/Clippers Play 3 This Weekend/Balk Rule
Okay, yeah, I'm still thinking about the draft last night. But the LA Clippers of baseball are not who some might think, but the do share the same colors. The Clippers last saw the playoffs in 1997. The Dodgers last saw the playoffs in 1996. The Lakers last won a title 3 seasons ago. The Angels last won a title 2 years ago. Now, I know that the Dodgers have 5 World Championships to the Angels one, but I'm talkin' about the present people, and right now the Dodgers are the closest thing that baseball has to the Clippers. Live with it, Dodger fan. If not for Gagne, you'd have about as many stars as the Clippers too. Now watch all the Dodger fans e-mail and threaten my life. At least there'd be a little heat in this rivalry for once. Right now? About as much as Clips/Lake Show.
Tim Hudson, You Just Balked? What Are You Gonna Do?
"I'm goin' to Disneyland!" Hudson accused Scioscy of playing "Mickey Mouse baseball" after he alerted an ump to Hudson's "double-stop" technique in the stretch, resulting in a balk soon after. How did Scioscy respond? He cracked a joke and then praised Hudson on his talent. Now who looks like Goofy? I'm not in favor of getting rid of the balk rule, a la Bill James in an recent ESPN chat, but it's clear there needs to be some enforcement or alterations to the deal. It's confusing and it's way too vague. I mean, come on, what is that fake to third, throw/fake to first thing? That's gotta go. If I wanted to see a pitcher dance, I'd watch a KoolAid commercial. Do I have a solution? No, but I'm not paid to do that kind of thing. I'd feel bad if I were though.
Bullpen Clears Throat, Doesn't Cough
The Angels bullpen has the 3rd best ERA in the AL and the 2nd best K/BB ratio in all of MLB (behind only HOU) at 2.48. They've pitched 230 innings and fanned 230 batters. Yet for some reason the NC Times had an article yesterday declaring the bullpen "cough[ed] up the lead and the game". I don't think I'd imply that it was entirely the bullpen's fault. I'd be more apt to blame that the Angels .264 average and .315 OBP against LHP this season--particularly when that lefty is Mark Mulder. I'm not sayin' the NC Times is wrong, I'm just sayin' that fault is not entirely with the bullpen. Shields made basically one bad pitch. In related news, Percival, K-Rod, Shields, Donnelly, and Ortiz (if he goes back to the pen) will all help out your fantasy team quite a bit.
Percival on the Cusp
Troy Percival threw a simulated game and continued his campaign to skip a minor league rehab stint before returning to the bullpen. It appears as if he'll win that battle and be back as early as tomorrow. What does that mean as an owner of K-Rod? Well, with Dotel going to Oakland, and Lidge becoming the closer in Houston, it means that you probably have the best set-up man in baseball now. Sorry. What's interesting is that another candidate for that position could come from the same team. Brendan Donnelly has thrown one bad pitch since returning from that long stint on the DL. It left the yard, but otherwise, he looks strong. Is there any chance Percy wouldn't close? I'd say there's a better chance of trading him. Takers? Only the White Sox would need him, but I don't see it.
Log Jam
We knew this could happen. Garret's healthy. DaVanon's hot. Salmon's back. For some reason, the Angels signed Raul Mondesi and he's determined to come back. Who plays? Right now it appears to be a platoon at DH between DaVanon and Salmon--one that's strange considering Salmon is 0-for-the-season against lefties. But like Percival, Salmon is an icon vet. You think he won't get his cuts? DaVanon should play, at least until he proves he can't, but Salmon still has pop in the bat too. It's a good problem to have for the actual team, a bad one for any of you who own anyone but the regulars. Don't expect Anderson, Guerrero, or Guillen to sit much--one, because they're good, and two, because Guillen tends to throw heavy things when not penciled in the lineup.
Stars Literally on the Rise?
Dallas McPherson's in his first game at AAA Salt Lake: 3-3, with a 2B and a HR. This doesn't bode well for patience in the front office. He was even intentionally walked in his first game at AAA! Please, let the man take his time. Sign Boone. Leave Figgins at 3B and replace him with Amezaga in the late innings with a lead. Don't bring up Dallas. . .yet. It will help if he gets significant time at Salt Lake. Of course, Stoneman and Moreno probably have little thoughts about what I say. In other AAA news, Kotchman will almost certainly get the call back up if Erstad is DLed now that Percival is back.
Fun With Numbers
Chone Figgins is hitting .583 this season with an 0-2 count. Only twice has he not at least worked one ball in the count before striking out. Ten of his 19 stolen bases have come during day games. May not sound interesting, but the Angels have only played 16 day games. Vlad has swung at the first pitch in 26% of his ABs. Honestly, I thought it would be more. The Angels have 67 SB, 6 more than anyone else in the majors, despite not having anyone with 20, while each of the next 3 teams in line do. Kelvim Escobar has struck out almost 29% of all Oakland batters he's faced in '04, yet he still has a 5.40 ERA in three starts against them. Opponent are batting .459 against Aaron Sele in his first 15 pitches. Yikes. Okay, time to put the abacus up. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Tim Hudson, You Just Balked? What Are You Gonna Do?
"I'm goin' to Disneyland!" Hudson accused Scioscy of playing "Mickey Mouse baseball" after he alerted an ump to Hudson's "double-stop" technique in the stretch, resulting in a balk soon after. How did Scioscy respond? He cracked a joke and then praised Hudson on his talent. Now who looks like Goofy? I'm not in favor of getting rid of the balk rule, a la Bill James in an recent ESPN chat, but it's clear there needs to be some enforcement or alterations to the deal. It's confusing and it's way too vague. I mean, come on, what is that fake to third, throw/fake to first thing? That's gotta go. If I wanted to see a pitcher dance, I'd watch a KoolAid commercial. Do I have a solution? No, but I'm not paid to do that kind of thing. I'd feel bad if I were though.
Bullpen Clears Throat, Doesn't Cough
The Angels bullpen has the 3rd best ERA in the AL and the 2nd best K/BB ratio in all of MLB (behind only HOU) at 2.48. They've pitched 230 innings and fanned 230 batters. Yet for some reason the NC Times had an article yesterday declaring the bullpen "cough[ed] up the lead and the game". I don't think I'd imply that it was entirely the bullpen's fault. I'd be more apt to blame that the Angels .264 average and .315 OBP against LHP this season--particularly when that lefty is Mark Mulder. I'm not sayin' the NC Times is wrong, I'm just sayin' that fault is not entirely with the bullpen. Shields made basically one bad pitch. In related news, Percival, K-Rod, Shields, Donnelly, and Ortiz (if he goes back to the pen) will all help out your fantasy team quite a bit.
Percival on the Cusp
Troy Percival threw a simulated game and continued his campaign to skip a minor league rehab stint before returning to the bullpen. It appears as if he'll win that battle and be back as early as tomorrow. What does that mean as an owner of K-Rod? Well, with Dotel going to Oakland, and Lidge becoming the closer in Houston, it means that you probably have the best set-up man in baseball now. Sorry. What's interesting is that another candidate for that position could come from the same team. Brendan Donnelly has thrown one bad pitch since returning from that long stint on the DL. It left the yard, but otherwise, he looks strong. Is there any chance Percy wouldn't close? I'd say there's a better chance of trading him. Takers? Only the White Sox would need him, but I don't see it.
Log Jam
We knew this could happen. Garret's healthy. DaVanon's hot. Salmon's back. For some reason, the Angels signed Raul Mondesi and he's determined to come back. Who plays? Right now it appears to be a platoon at DH between DaVanon and Salmon--one that's strange considering Salmon is 0-for-the-season against lefties. But like Percival, Salmon is an icon vet. You think he won't get his cuts? DaVanon should play, at least until he proves he can't, but Salmon still has pop in the bat too. It's a good problem to have for the actual team, a bad one for any of you who own anyone but the regulars. Don't expect Anderson, Guerrero, or Guillen to sit much--one, because they're good, and two, because Guillen tends to throw heavy things when not penciled in the lineup.
Stars Literally on the Rise?
Dallas McPherson's in his first game at AAA Salt Lake: 3-3, with a 2B and a HR. This doesn't bode well for patience in the front office. He was even intentionally walked in his first game at AAA! Please, let the man take his time. Sign Boone. Leave Figgins at 3B and replace him with Amezaga in the late innings with a lead. Don't bring up Dallas. . .yet. It will help if he gets significant time at Salt Lake. Of course, Stoneman and Moreno probably have little thoughts about what I say. In other AAA news, Kotchman will almost certainly get the call back up if Erstad is DLed now that Percival is back.
Fun With Numbers
Chone Figgins is hitting .583 this season with an 0-2 count. Only twice has he not at least worked one ball in the count before striking out. Ten of his 19 stolen bases have come during day games. May not sound interesting, but the Angels have only played 16 day games. Vlad has swung at the first pitch in 26% of his ABs. Honestly, I thought it would be more. The Angels have 67 SB, 6 more than anyone else in the majors, despite not having anyone with 20, while each of the next 3 teams in line do. Kelvim Escobar has struck out almost 29% of all Oakland batters he's faced in '04, yet he still has a 5.40 ERA in three starts against them. Opponent are batting .459 against Aaron Sele in his first 15 pitches. Yikes. Okay, time to put the abacus up. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
