Friday, September 03, 2004
Takin' On Water
No one said a pennant race was easy. The Angels were the first team to spring a leak in the chase for the playoffs, falling behind the other two teams--Oakland and Boston--all three vying for those last two spots in the playoffs. Winning 10 of 14 usually isn't a problem, but Oakland and Boston are both even hotter, so the Halos now find themselves 4 back of the Elephant Men and 4.5 back of the Red Sox. And while the Angels will spend Labor Day weekend battling the Tribe, I'll be relaxing out at sea--uh, okay, actually out at lake, but now you'll at least get all the water references. That's right--I made sure no one told me that a pennant race wasn't easy.
KingFish Outta the Water Indefinitely
Tim Salmon hasn't really been much of a factor all season long. In less than 200 ABs, he's only managed to pop two dingers, drive in 23, and hit a measly .253. The last time he appeared in 3 straight games was back in July. That doesn't mean the Angels won't miss him. He's one of those vet guys that others look to and his locker will be empty until possibly as late as Opening Day 2006. Salmon says he won't retire, although I can't imagine that those 45% of ESPN AL owners that still have him are expecting much when he does return. It's a bad way to spend the declining era of your career. Unfortunately, like teammates Troy Percival and Aaron Sele, we may have seen the best days of his career come to a close. Speedy recovery, KingFish.
KingFish's Replacement? KingCat!
The right-handed power bat off the bench will now fall into the even older hands of Andres Galarraga. AG hit .304 in 25 games at AAA with 4 HR and 19 RBI. There is no question that this is a great story for the Big Cat, but don't get excited about much fantasy value. With Glaus back and only capable of DHing, it's very unlikely that Galarraga will get any significant PT. Same goes for fellow call-ups Casey Kotchman and Shane Halter (but then, you probably already knew that about Halter). Halter's overcome some adversity and his story is good as well but fantasy value is absolutely nil. As for Kotchman, he's got the future. There's just nowhere for them to play at this point--which, of course, is a good problem to have. Being 4 games outta the playoffs? Not a good problem to have.
Washburn Set to Splash Saturday; RO Out to Sea
Wash is still on target to start Saturday's game in Cleveland. According to the team's website, his bullpen session on Wednesday went fine and he's ready to go for the time in almost six weeks. And in a move that makes my head spin, Scioscy has decided to move Ramon Ortiz back into the bullpen instead of Sele. I'm not gonna go through the numbers again because I've done it twice before. Sele has about as much business starting over Ortiz as I do. I don't get it and I'm not gonna waste my breath this time.
More Fish in the Sea?
The fantasy trading deadline has passed, and if you haven't gotten on the Add Troy Glaus wagon by now, well, sorry, we're almost completely full up. Are there any more Angels waiting in the wings that could give your team a jolt? A few weeks back, I suggested dropping Robb Quinlan because he wouldn't be back this year. That remains true for now, but not from lack of trying on Quinlan's part. He's stepping up his rehab, trying to make it back in two weeks or so. Sure, that only leaves two weeks to produce (and that after being out a while), but keep him in mind as a last ditch, Hail Mary-type play. If he does return, it's likely Scioscy would let him have some ABs. Otherwise, Kotchman and Galarraga allow the best (albeit small) opportunity for pleasant surprise.
The Undertow of Erstad's Success
Despite my frequent protestations to the contrary, Darin Erstad has put together an impressive year, hitting .319 to date with 14 SB and adequate R and RBI totals to help your team in an OF slot (Enjoy it this year though--in '05 he'll only be 1B eligible). Perhaps benefiting from DE's success the most (other than the man himself) is Chone Figgins. Moved to the 9 hole when Scioscy reshuffled the lineup to optimize the streaking Erstad, he reawakened his recently dormant speed, hitting away from the big bats of Guerrero, Anderson, and Guillen. He swiped 3 bases in the first 9 games after stealing as many in almost a month hitting 2nd. His average at the bottom is .340, which is the spot where he's consistently performed the best. Keep Figgins in the game from here on in.
Sailing Away
John Lackey has a 2.422 K/BB ratio this year, which is very solid and only second in the rotation (and just barely) to Kelvim Escobar by .004, whose K/BB is 2.426. He's 2nd on the team in wins to Bartolo Colon, who's had the benefit of almost 2 more runs of support per 9 innings for the season. A case could seriously be made that JL's been the best starter the Angels have had this year (although I'd place him just behind Escobar--that's right, ahead of Colon). While 11-11 with a 5.12 ERA is nothing to shout about, he's had a little bad luck this year. He's been torched on the road, but 1/3 of his road starts have come in the hitter's paradises of TEX, TOR, and CHW. He's also still 25. His K/BB has risen each year too. Time for respect. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
KingFish Outta the Water Indefinitely
Tim Salmon hasn't really been much of a factor all season long. In less than 200 ABs, he's only managed to pop two dingers, drive in 23, and hit a measly .253. The last time he appeared in 3 straight games was back in July. That doesn't mean the Angels won't miss him. He's one of those vet guys that others look to and his locker will be empty until possibly as late as Opening Day 2006. Salmon says he won't retire, although I can't imagine that those 45% of ESPN AL owners that still have him are expecting much when he does return. It's a bad way to spend the declining era of your career. Unfortunately, like teammates Troy Percival and Aaron Sele, we may have seen the best days of his career come to a close. Speedy recovery, KingFish.
KingFish's Replacement? KingCat!
The right-handed power bat off the bench will now fall into the even older hands of Andres Galarraga. AG hit .304 in 25 games at AAA with 4 HR and 19 RBI. There is no question that this is a great story for the Big Cat, but don't get excited about much fantasy value. With Glaus back and only capable of DHing, it's very unlikely that Galarraga will get any significant PT. Same goes for fellow call-ups Casey Kotchman and Shane Halter (but then, you probably already knew that about Halter). Halter's overcome some adversity and his story is good as well but fantasy value is absolutely nil. As for Kotchman, he's got the future. There's just nowhere for them to play at this point--which, of course, is a good problem to have. Being 4 games outta the playoffs? Not a good problem to have.
Washburn Set to Splash Saturday; RO Out to Sea
Wash is still on target to start Saturday's game in Cleveland. According to the team's website, his bullpen session on Wednesday went fine and he's ready to go for the time in almost six weeks. And in a move that makes my head spin, Scioscy has decided to move Ramon Ortiz back into the bullpen instead of Sele. I'm not gonna go through the numbers again because I've done it twice before. Sele has about as much business starting over Ortiz as I do. I don't get it and I'm not gonna waste my breath this time.
More Fish in the Sea?
The fantasy trading deadline has passed, and if you haven't gotten on the Add Troy Glaus wagon by now, well, sorry, we're almost completely full up. Are there any more Angels waiting in the wings that could give your team a jolt? A few weeks back, I suggested dropping Robb Quinlan because he wouldn't be back this year. That remains true for now, but not from lack of trying on Quinlan's part. He's stepping up his rehab, trying to make it back in two weeks or so. Sure, that only leaves two weeks to produce (and that after being out a while), but keep him in mind as a last ditch, Hail Mary-type play. If he does return, it's likely Scioscy would let him have some ABs. Otherwise, Kotchman and Galarraga allow the best (albeit small) opportunity for pleasant surprise.
The Undertow of Erstad's Success
Despite my frequent protestations to the contrary, Darin Erstad has put together an impressive year, hitting .319 to date with 14 SB and adequate R and RBI totals to help your team in an OF slot (Enjoy it this year though--in '05 he'll only be 1B eligible). Perhaps benefiting from DE's success the most (other than the man himself) is Chone Figgins. Moved to the 9 hole when Scioscy reshuffled the lineup to optimize the streaking Erstad, he reawakened his recently dormant speed, hitting away from the big bats of Guerrero, Anderson, and Guillen. He swiped 3 bases in the first 9 games after stealing as many in almost a month hitting 2nd. His average at the bottom is .340, which is the spot where he's consistently performed the best. Keep Figgins in the game from here on in.
Sailing Away
John Lackey has a 2.422 K/BB ratio this year, which is very solid and only second in the rotation (and just barely) to Kelvim Escobar by .004, whose K/BB is 2.426. He's 2nd on the team in wins to Bartolo Colon, who's had the benefit of almost 2 more runs of support per 9 innings for the season. A case could seriously be made that JL's been the best starter the Angels have had this year (although I'd place him just behind Escobar--that's right, ahead of Colon). While 11-11 with a 5.12 ERA is nothing to shout about, he's had a little bad luck this year. He's been torched on the road, but 1/3 of his road starts have come in the hitter's paradises of TEX, TOR, and CHW. He's also still 25. His K/BB has risen each year too. Time for respect. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
