Wednesday, June 30, 2004
This Just In. . .Bartolo Colon is Fat
Woo. News flash. First it was just bad luck, then it was the ankle, now he's fat. It's amazing what happens when someone with a baseball background and ESPN attached to their sound byte opens their mouth and says something. Hey, I agree with Dave Campbell. It's time it was said. Is it going to make a difference? Not according to the Angels. Scioscy in the LA Times: "Could Bart lose 5 or 6 pounds? Sure. . .You're talking a handful of pounds. Not 20 or 30 pounds." Your managing skills are better than your math, Skip. Jarrod Washburn: "I don't think he's fat." Yeah, Wash, and I don't think you've been incredibly lucky with all your run support. Look, I know they're just standing behind their guy, but when the doors shut, they need to tell him the truth.
The media guide has him listed as 240. Okay. Whatever. Then I would like to be listed as play-by-play guy for KCAL while we're makin' up stuff. Colon even finally went the excuse route, saying his ankle still isn't 100%, anything to make people quit talking about his gut. The stats (ERA, .BAA): April: 4.06, .268. May: 6.37, .289. June: 7.99, .324. That's called a trend. Here's a thought. There wouldn't be so much pressure on that ankle if he weighed less. It's like walking around carrying a lead tube around your waist. BC, man, the time is now. Atkins, Subway, South Beach--it doesn't matter, but nothin' else is working, so don't tell me losing weight isn't a great idea. I bet Bill Stoneman can think of 51 million reasons to start counting your carbs.
MVP
I'm starting early this year. For me, AL MVP isn't even close right now. Third in average, one behind the HR lead, five back from the RBI lead. It's ridiculous to think that Guerrero doesn't have a shot at the Triple Crown. He'd be the first in 37 years. Yaz was the last to do for the BoSox. It doesn't matter if the Angels lose every game the rest of the year, if Vlad does it, he's the MVP, regardless of the other numbers. That's probably obvious, but the voters tend to ignore losers. The Halos should be there so it won't matter, but with Vlad projecting back to double digit SBs, any deal to get him will help you. I would trade anyone for him. That's right. Anyone. Pujols. Bonds. Beltran. Proabaly even A-Rod. Why? He doesn't walk as much as any of them, giving him more mashing opportunities.
The Fast Corner
With Boone going to the Tribe, and Glaus basically gone (probably for good from ANA), Chone Figgins is now officially the Halos 3B for the rest of the year. With his offense, Scioscia has nowhere else to put him and keep him in the lineup everyday. He'll pretty much bridge the gap until McPherson is called up--which could be next week or late next year. Figgins is safe to play every day now, and if you can take the hit to your power numbers, Figgins will keep lighting up the board with runs, SBs, and average. Who wouldn't with Vlad, Garret, and Guillen directly behind them? Not to sell him short though, Figgins is a very good player who's just finally getting his chance. Cool part? He's slugging well over the league average at .461. Eleven doubles and triples will do that.
Post-Closer Depression
You picked up or traded for K-Rod for the saves. Why wouldn't you? I did it. Percival is back and has officially been given has post back at closer. Should we moan and wail and beat our collective chests at this injustice? Nah. We still have the best middle reliever in the game. Here's something to shout to the rooftops--right now he's tied for 20th in the AL in strikeouts. He's a reliever, people. Everyone ranked above him has thrown a minimum of 40 more innings than him. Forty. The ERA is 1.06, the WHIP is 0.87, the BAA .171--we have absolutely nothing to complain about (not that we were). His K/9 is just a little over 14 right now. There are only three higher and they've thrown less than 15 innings combined, so small sample size. The K in K-Rod could also stand for King.
Ortiz Out of Bullpen or Out of Town?
Ramon Ortiz wants a trade again. He doesn't want to sit in the bullpen every game. He says Scot Shields has bad breath. Honestly, the man just wants to start. He oughta be. Sele, and his giant paycheck will fold, I think, soon enough. Bill Stoneman, if he has a clue, probably realizes this. He just can't say it. I think Ortiz will be back in the rotation soon enough, which is why I'd be surprised if the Angels trade him. Too bad the Mets or Orioles don't want Sele. But hey, if they get desparate enough, you never know. Ortiz isn't wonderful (I've ripped him plenty for now), but he's better than Sele and should be in the 5 hole. Right now, he's easy to get for spot starts in mixed leagues (1%). I wouldn't be shy about picking him up should he get the starting call again.
Odds and Ends
Dallas McPherson has 5 HRs in 25 ABs so far at AAA Salt Lake. I'm largely in favor of waiting, but how long will the Angels wait? I can't think it would be much longer than September. He could get called up for some work then. Stay tuned. . .The last week before the break could be big for Halo bats. They'll be in US Cellular and Skydome. Balls could be flying all over the place. . .Another bad Colon stat. He's 7th in the AL in most pitches per inning pitched (17.1). You know, maybe it's just burnout. He's thrown almost 220+ innings the last three years. . .Check out Halo Daily (halodaily.blogspot.com) and Inside the Halo (insidethehalo.blogspot.com) for updates. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
The media guide has him listed as 240. Okay. Whatever. Then I would like to be listed as play-by-play guy for KCAL while we're makin' up stuff. Colon even finally went the excuse route, saying his ankle still isn't 100%, anything to make people quit talking about his gut. The stats (ERA, .BAA): April: 4.06, .268. May: 6.37, .289. June: 7.99, .324. That's called a trend. Here's a thought. There wouldn't be so much pressure on that ankle if he weighed less. It's like walking around carrying a lead tube around your waist. BC, man, the time is now. Atkins, Subway, South Beach--it doesn't matter, but nothin' else is working, so don't tell me losing weight isn't a great idea. I bet Bill Stoneman can think of 51 million reasons to start counting your carbs.
MVP
I'm starting early this year. For me, AL MVP isn't even close right now. Third in average, one behind the HR lead, five back from the RBI lead. It's ridiculous to think that Guerrero doesn't have a shot at the Triple Crown. He'd be the first in 37 years. Yaz was the last to do for the BoSox. It doesn't matter if the Angels lose every game the rest of the year, if Vlad does it, he's the MVP, regardless of the other numbers. That's probably obvious, but the voters tend to ignore losers. The Halos should be there so it won't matter, but with Vlad projecting back to double digit SBs, any deal to get him will help you. I would trade anyone for him. That's right. Anyone. Pujols. Bonds. Beltran. Proabaly even A-Rod. Why? He doesn't walk as much as any of them, giving him more mashing opportunities.
The Fast Corner
With Boone going to the Tribe, and Glaus basically gone (probably for good from ANA), Chone Figgins is now officially the Halos 3B for the rest of the year. With his offense, Scioscia has nowhere else to put him and keep him in the lineup everyday. He'll pretty much bridge the gap until McPherson is called up--which could be next week or late next year. Figgins is safe to play every day now, and if you can take the hit to your power numbers, Figgins will keep lighting up the board with runs, SBs, and average. Who wouldn't with Vlad, Garret, and Guillen directly behind them? Not to sell him short though, Figgins is a very good player who's just finally getting his chance. Cool part? He's slugging well over the league average at .461. Eleven doubles and triples will do that.
Post-Closer Depression
You picked up or traded for K-Rod for the saves. Why wouldn't you? I did it. Percival is back and has officially been given has post back at closer. Should we moan and wail and beat our collective chests at this injustice? Nah. We still have the best middle reliever in the game. Here's something to shout to the rooftops--right now he's tied for 20th in the AL in strikeouts. He's a reliever, people. Everyone ranked above him has thrown a minimum of 40 more innings than him. Forty. The ERA is 1.06, the WHIP is 0.87, the BAA .171--we have absolutely nothing to complain about (not that we were). His K/9 is just a little over 14 right now. There are only three higher and they've thrown less than 15 innings combined, so small sample size. The K in K-Rod could also stand for King.
Ortiz Out of Bullpen or Out of Town?
Ramon Ortiz wants a trade again. He doesn't want to sit in the bullpen every game. He says Scot Shields has bad breath. Honestly, the man just wants to start. He oughta be. Sele, and his giant paycheck will fold, I think, soon enough. Bill Stoneman, if he has a clue, probably realizes this. He just can't say it. I think Ortiz will be back in the rotation soon enough, which is why I'd be surprised if the Angels trade him. Too bad the Mets or Orioles don't want Sele. But hey, if they get desparate enough, you never know. Ortiz isn't wonderful (I've ripped him plenty for now), but he's better than Sele and should be in the 5 hole. Right now, he's easy to get for spot starts in mixed leagues (1%). I wouldn't be shy about picking him up should he get the starting call again.
Odds and Ends
Dallas McPherson has 5 HRs in 25 ABs so far at AAA Salt Lake. I'm largely in favor of waiting, but how long will the Angels wait? I can't think it would be much longer than September. He could get called up for some work then. Stay tuned. . .The last week before the break could be big for Halo bats. They'll be in US Cellular and Skydome. Balls could be flying all over the place. . .Another bad Colon stat. He's 7th in the AL in most pitches per inning pitched (17.1). You know, maybe it's just burnout. He's thrown almost 220+ innings the last three years. . .Check out Halo Daily (halodaily.blogspot.com) and Inside the Halo (insidethehalo.blogspot.com) for updates. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
