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In this feature article at LA Angels Insider.com, columnist Brent Hubbard examines the career path of incumbent Angels shortstop Erick Aybar.

After posting a stellar campaign in 2009, Aybar took a step backward in his development as a big league player. The Angels are in need of a serious offensive upgrade on the diamond wherever they can get one. No job should be considered secure outside of Kendry Morales at first base and Torii Hunter in right field heading into the 2011 season.

The Angels still need a leadoff hitter and there are players around the league who could fit the bill in the No. 1 spot and at short.

As the Angels attempt to recover from a sub-par 2010, many areas will have to be improved, particularly offense. One would probably identify outfield defense, leadoff hitter, third base and front of the ‘pen as issues areas that need to be improved.

Most offseason-related stories have focused on Tampa Bay free agent Carl Crawford as the ideal fit in Anaheim. And indeed he would be. Yet Crawford has a preference for more than just In-N-Out…he has a preference not to be the leadoff hitter.

And while this writer is fully in favor of obtaining a player such as Crawford, I think he is better suited to be the No. 2 or No. 3 guy in the lineup, leaving a hole at the top of the order.

Erick Aybar was supposed to be the solution. Coming off a great 2009, he was expected to transition seamlessly to the top of the order, replacing the departed Chone Figgins.

It didn’t work out that way.

This article continues at LA Angels Insider.com

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Adrian Beltre will be the third-most sought-after free agent position player this offseason, but may provide the best value to whoever signs himt.

Beltre declined his player option for 2011, after a 2010 season in which he made $10 million while delivering 7.1 WAR. On top of his defense, which is always stellar at third base, Beltre has rediscovered the batting stroke that eluded him during his entire five-year tenure in Seattle.

In 2004, after a season in which he hit 48 home runs and was worth 10.1 WAR, Beltre inked a five-year deal worth $64 million to play for the Mariners. His time there was miserable, however, and Beltre fled to Boston last winter.

The decision was a good one: Beltre should now receive a deal in excess of four years and $45 million. Still, given his undervalued and unmatched defense at the hot corner, the team who signs him will be getting a bargain.

Which team will that be? It’s impossible to say right now, but here are all 30 teams, ranked in order from least to most likely to sign Beltre.

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Pitcher Scott Kazmir, the once-prized prospect, has fallen upon some hard times, posting atrocious statistics in 2010. 

A nine win and 15 loss campaign was very reminiscent of Yankees starter A.J. Burnett, with his 10 wins and 15 losses.  Deep down, Burnett still has that ability, that “gunslinger” mentality, as well as an arsenal of pitches that, when on, are as good as anybody’s in the game. 

Kazmir, on the other hand, has been on a free-fall for the past two plus seasons.

Between 2005 and 2008, Kazmir could have been considered a top-five lefty in the game.  He posted nearly 10 strikeouts a game, relying on a mid-nineties fastball and a devastating slider that had batters spinning like tops. However, injuries have depleted the lefty, and exposed some major weaknesses. 

Injuries and a lack of aggressiveness have always been two flaws focused on by scouts.  Injuries will happen, but his unwillingness to be aggressive, obviously hidden by his “stuff,” is now looked upon as a deterrent and cannot be ignored.

Kazmir has always walked a lot of batters, but now the lack of velocity is accentuating his inability to throw strikes at inopportune times, resulting in some very ugly numbers. 

In the last two years, his hits per nine innings have risen to 9.48, while his WHIP has peaked at 1.58. 

This, of course, leads us to the root cause: A decline in velocity. 

A once-dominant fastball (93.7 mph) and slider (84.0 mph) have turned relatively common, now clocking in at 90.5 mph and 80.9 mph, respectively. 

This, of course, does not bode well for one with a history of shaky control. Once able to dominate with a change of speeds, Kazmir now has to creep closer to the strike zone, where all the damage is being committed. 

According to FanGraphs, Kazmir’s O-contact percentage is at its low point of 24.2 percent, meaning batters are not fooled by what he is tossing up to the plate. 

On the other hand, his Z-contact percentage has hit an all-time high of 87.9 percent (2009, 86.4).  Z-contact percentage is defined as Percentage of times a batter makes contact with the ball when swinging at pitches thrown inside the strike zone. 

In other words, batters are teeing off on all pitches, regardless of speed, location, and variety.

In spring training, it will be very interesting to see what the Los Angeles Angels plan on doing with the former first-round pick. 

Kazmir has one year left on a guaranteed contract worth $12 million for the upcoming 2011 season. 

They can’t just release him, but can they use him as trade bait? 

All signs point to no. 

Turning 27, Kazmir should be entering the prime of his career.  He really has nothing to lose at this point, except maybe a non-existent starting rotation spot. 

We have witnessed the lack of confidence that the World Champion San Francisco Giants had in Barry Zito; is that where Kazmir is now headed?  Will he be used in mop-up duty, or in meaningless mid-June games? 

I, personally, cannot wait to see what happens.  He was a first-round pick for a reason, and has performed like one for the most part.  Now it is time to prove all the writers wrong, disprove all scouting reports claiming he is washed up, and rewrite the book on his career. 

A true pitcher will learn from this and become better.  Kazmir must learn how to pitch effectively, hit his spots, get ground balls, and get the job done.

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective

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It feels like Howie Kendrick has been considered a potential sleeper for the past 10 years.  While it hasn’t quite been that long, as we enter 2011, his age 27 season, the time has finally come for Kendrick to either put up or shut up.

Known as a high-level average guy in the minor leagues, he has perpetually disappointed since making his debut.  Unfortunately for owners, 2010 was no exception:

658 at Bats
.279 Batting Average (172 Hits)
10 Home Runs
75 RBI
67 Runs
14 Stolen Bases
.313 On Base Percentage
.407 Slugging Percentage
.313 Batting Average on Balls in Play

His average was supposed to carry him into stardom, having hit .369 in 290 AB at Triple-A in 2006.  However, you have to realize that the number was based on an incredibly unrealistic .409 BABIP.

In other words, he never stood a chance of matching that type of mark in the Major Leagues.  It was simply impossible.  When you take that aspect of his game out of play, there really is little to get excited about.

While we may want to think Kendrick will add strength, his 6.9 percent HR/FB rate in 2010 is basically a mirror image of his career mark through parts of five seasons (7.0 percent).  Yes, he showed more in 2009, when he posted a 12.2 percent mark, but that is looking more and more like the outlier.

As it is, he barely hits the ball in the air enough to think that even if he posts a better HR/FB, that it’s going to make a major impact.  Last season he posted a 28.1 percent fly ball rate, right along with his 28.5 percent career mark.

With 52 HR in 1,618 minor league career at bats and 32 HR in 1,935 major league career at bats, the truth is in the numbers.  He just is not a big-time power threat.  If he added strength, he could maybe top out at 20, but 15 seems like a much more realistic maximum.

He also is not a big-time threat to steal bases.  His career high is 25, coming all the way back in 2005 when he split time between High-A and Double-A.  In the major leagues, his best mark was last season’s 14 (in 18 attempts).

Unless there’s a dramatic change, you’re looking at a guy who is right around a 15 SB second baseman.

So, you have a player who could go 15/15, which certainly has value. Of course, given his history, it’s just as likely that he falls short there.

He spent a lot of time hitting second, which you would think would bring a lot of opportunities to score runs.  Of course, you need to get on base often for that to happen.  With a meager 4.3 percent walk rate (and a career 3.8 percent mark), his skill set just doesn’t justify him hitting second.

Chances are the Angels address that in the offseason, meaning his potential value is likely going to fall.  He’s not an RBI machine and if there is less opportunity to score runs, its just not a good mix.

The bottom line with Kendrick is that he’s more of a last resort option as a 2B and much better suited to be a middle infielder.  He doesn’t do anything exceptionally well at this point.  A modest average, a little power, a little speed and some run production.  Sounds like a player to target, huh?

What are your thoughts of Kendrick?  Could this be the year he breaks out?  Or, do you side with me and consider him over-hyped in the past?

Make sure to check out our review of other players who struggled in 2010 and their prospects for a rebound:

• Beckett, Josh
• Greinke, Zack
• Hill, Aaron
• Lind, Adam

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

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LA Angels Insider.com is pleased to feature Angels’ rookie reliever Michael Kohn as a guest blogger.

My path to the Big Leagues was different than most. For most of my college career, I played shortstop having always been a position player.  But things changed during my senior year at College of Charleston.

At practice one day, I asked my coach if I could take the mound and throw a few pitches.  They thought I was joking at first but then figured they’d give me a shot.  After throwing about 10 fastballs, they walked over and asked me when was the last time a radar gun had clocked me. I told them I was around 86mph during my sophomore year of high school.

The coaches laughed telling me that I had just thrown 95mph. From that point forward, I was a pitcher going on to throw 11 innings as the closer during my senior year.

Article continues here at LA Angels Insider.com

You can also listen to Kohn talk about his rookie year and the post-season with AM830’s Roger Lodge in our Interview Archive section.

Michael Kohn is a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In his first season in the Majors he appeared in 24 games posting a 2-0, 2.11 ERA record with 20 strikeouts in 21 innings.

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The 2010 MLB postseason has been defined by a few old faces and a whole lot of new ones. The regular season awards voting should follow the same trend.

Veterans like Roy Halladay, C.C. Sabathia, and Albert Pujols are sure to garner the attention of some voters, but a yet-unheralded group of youngsters is likely to steal many of the accolades the way they stole the show in the regular season.

One of those youngsters is Peter Bourjos.

The 23-year-old outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is one of the brightest young stars the game had to offer this season and is in every way deserving of his first Gold Glove award.

How good is he? In his major league debut, Bourjos replaced Torii Hunter, the reigning nine-time Gold Glove center fielder, forcing him to permanently shift to right field.

Bourjos’ defense was nothing short of outstanding, and much of it came as a direct result of his incredible speed. His lone error in 51 games at the big league level came when he overran a ball most outfielders would never have reached in the first place.

Carl Crawford, Brett Gardener, Juan Pierre – none have anything on Bourjos’ fleet feet.

And speed is just the beginning. Bourjos also displayed an arm that is as strong as it is accurate.

The Angels as a team lead the majors in outfield assists with 16. Bourjos had 10 of those, throwing out more base runners by himself than 18 of the 30 teams in baseball. Again, in just 51 games.

However, there are those who will see Bourjos’ limited playing time as a vice rather than the virtue it should be. With fewer opportunities to prove his worth, players like Crawford, Ichiro Suzuki, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz will get more attention from voters.

But games played isn’t always a determining factor in handing out awards, least of all the Gold Glove. Let’s not forget Rafael Palmeiro, who’s Midas mitt in 1999 came after appearing in just 28 games at first base.

As is the case with so many Gold Gloves handed out, Palmeiro’s defensive award was more likely a result of his offensive statistics. And it is here that Bourjos is lacking.

A .204 average in 181 big league at-bats won’t jump out at any voters, no matter the award.

Perhaps, though, we are on the cusp of major changes in major league award voting. Just look at the American League Cy Young debate.

Zack Greinke tied the record for fewest wins from a Cy Young winner (16) in 2009 and this year, Felix Hernandez could set a new all-time low. Despite winning 12 games, there is an enormous groundswell of support for the Mariners ace who finished second in strikeouts and lead in nearly every other major pitching category.

If the honor of best pitcher can be bestowed on a man who headed up a last place team and lost nearly as many games as he won, surely Bourjos can overcome the “mid-season call-up” label and earn his rightful place among the game’s best fielders.

Ichiro is a lock to repeat as a Gold Glove winner, but the other two spots are still up for grabs at this point.

By virtue of Bourjos replacing him, Hunter will certainly be left out for the first time in a decade, leaving the remaining gloves to be spread between Hamilton, Crawford, Gardener, possibly B.J. Upton, and, with a little luck, Bourjos himself.

A new era is dawning in baseball. The stars of old are starting to fade and new ones have begun to shine in their place. Elvis Andrus is better than Derek Jeter. Matt Cain can outduel Roy Oswalt.

And Peter Bourjos is faster, stronger, and more accurate than nearly every one of his peers.

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When the Los Angeles Angels decided to perform housecleaning within their scouting department, they fired one of the most respected members of the scouting fraternity in all of baseball. Today, that man has a new job.

Eddie Bane, who was dismissed by the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 30, was hired today by the Detroit Tigers and will join their pro scouting department.

The housecleaning of the scouting department by the Los Angeles Angels not only included Bane, but three regional scouts as well.

Bane’s firing by the Angels was immediately called into question, with many media publications speculating whether or not there was a rift that developed between Bane and Angels GM Tony Reagins.

In Bane’s tenure as scouting director for the Los Angeles Angels, Jered Weaver, Nick Adenhart, Jordan Walden, Michael Kohn, Mark Trumbo and Hank Conger were all drafted as a result of Bane’s recommendations, and the signing of 1B Kendry Morales was his responsibility as well.

Bane’s overall philosophy with the Angels was to draft and sign the best players available, and no one can argue that he didn’t accomplish that.

At no time during Bane’s tenure with the Angels did he have a higher pick than No. 12 in the first round, and in three separate years, he had no first-round selection at all.

The Arizona Diamondbacks thought so highly of the Angels pitching prospects that they offered Dan Haren in exchange for those prospects, and the Kansas City Royals thought the same when they traded Alberto Callaspo to the Halos.

Doesn’t sound like a man who wasn’t drafting properly to me.

When interviewed by the Orange County Register back on Sept. 30 about Bane’s dismissal, Reagins said that philosophy had nothing to do with the dismissal and called it a business decision.

“There was definitely no personality conflict,” Reagins said. “I have great respect for Eddie and what he’s done in this organization. But you have to make difficult decisions in this business sometimes.”

Difficult decisions? Yes, but the decisions should also be smart ones. This one doesn’t qualify. And the Detroit Tigers will be big beneficiaries as a result.

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Josh Hamilton homered twice against the Yankees, putting the Texas Rangers one win away from the World Series.

Listen to Josh talk about the Rangers, Vladimir Guerrero, Nolan Ryan, his faith and off-the-field battles in this interview with LA Angels Insider.com’s Jeff Biggs, recorded just before the 2010 All-Star Break.

Josh Hamilton has carried his monster 2010 season (.359 32 Home Runs 100 Runs Batted In .633 slugging percentage) into his first career post season.

The American League Most Valuable Player candidate has his team on the verge of their first World Series appearance in franchise history.

The Rangers, lead by team president, former Angels great Nolan Ryan beat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games to reach the American League Championship Series.

Former Angel great Vladimir Guerrero, is on the cusp of reaching the World Series for the first time in his career, despite making the postseason with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in five of the six seasons he played for the franchise. In 846 games with the Angels, Guerrero batted .319 with 173 home runs.

Click here to listen to LA Angels Insider.com’s Interview Archive Section for Josh Hamilton – Podcast.

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Once again, Los Angeles Angels‘ highly touted prospect Brandon Wood is proving he can master the art of hitting at the minor league level. Problem is, it doesn’t resonate at the major league level.

Wood, who struggled mightily with the Angels and lost his third-base job in July, was named player of the week by the Arizona Fall League by hitting .444 with a double and 8 RBI in his first week with the Mesa Solar Sox.

Wood, who was drafted by the Angels in the first round of 2003 amateur draft, was given the third base job this spring by Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

In his first three months of the season, Wood hit .169 with just 3 HR and 12 RBI before finally being benched by Scioscia in favor of 3B Alberto Callaspo, who was traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Angels in mid-July.

The Angels have given every indication that they’re not quite willing to give up on Wood just yet, given their request that Wood continue playing during the offseason.

However, patience will wear thin in the Angels front office quickly if Wood can’t figure out major league pitching this coming spring.

The Angels have already made it clear that they will be active in free agent acquisitions this offseason, and although they haven’t specifically said they are going after third basemen, they will jump if the opportunity presents itself.

While it’s great news that Wood is showing signs of life this fall, the Angels will be looking for signs of life come April.

For continuing updates on the Los Angeles Angels, follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

Read Doug’s complete selection of articles on Celebrity Athletes at Green Celebrity Network.

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For the first time in three years, the Los Angeles Angels will not represent the AL West in the postseason. 

Despite returning six starters on offense, the Angels stumbled to an 80-82 record in 2010 as they ended up in third place in the West behind both the Rangers and A’s, marking the team’s worst finish since 2003.

The free agent losses of Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero created voids at the top and in the middle of the Angels’ order that were never filled. The loss of Kendry Morales (.291, 11 HRs, 39 RBI in just 51 games), who broke his leg celebrating a game-winning grand slam on May 29th, robbed the Angels’ lineup of its premier bat, creating another hole in an already-weak Angels lineup. 

A prototypical Angels offense relies on speed, getting on-base, and timely hitting; this year’s Angels followed none of those three guidelines.

For the first time since 2001, L.A did not finish in the top three in the majors in stolen bases, ending up 11th, a career-low for the Angels under Mike Scioscia. 

Even though the Angels finished third in on-base percentage last season, they fell to fourth-worst in the majors in 2010, just ahead of the fearsome Pittsburgh offense. 

Behind only the Yankees in RBI in 2009, the Angels fell to 19th in that category this year, devoid of a 100-RBI player for only the second time in the last decade. 

Priority number one of the 2010 offseason for owner Arte Moreno has to be resuscitating an abysmal offense via an influx of speed and power.   

When healthy, Mike Butcher’s pitching staff was one of the lone bright spots during an otherwise disappointing season. 

Led by ace Jered Weaver (13-12, 3.01 ERA), the Angels featured four starters with earned-run averages under 4.00. Coupled with Weaver, Ervin Santana (17-10, 3.92 ERA) helped anchor a rotation that ranked among the league’s best; from innings 1-6, Angels starters had the third-best ERA (3.96) in the AL. 

The mid-season acquisition of Arizona ace Dan Haren bolstered a staff that already had high hopes for the 2011 MLB season. After toiling away in the Midwest for 2.5 seasons, Los Angeles seemed to breathe new life into Haren, who ended the year on a four-game winning streak, finishing with a 5-4 record and a 2.87 ERA in 16 starts for the Halos. 

If GM Tony Reagins can find good value for a No. 5 starter in this year’s free agent pool, then the Angels’ rotation could challenge those of the Rays and the A’s for American League supremacy.

The bullpen remains a concern for Mike Scioscia, especially the closer position. With no definitive closer since the departure of Frankie Rodriguez, the Angels handed the reigns to the talented, yet volatile Fernando Rodney, after trading incumbent closer Brian Fuentes to the Twins in late August.

Among all major league teams, the Angels ranked in the bottom 10 in ERA from the seventh inning on, highlighting the late-inning struggles of a bullpen that quite simply couldn’t finish games. After Rodney ended the year with only 14 saves in 21 chances, the Angels will look to retool their bullpen if they hope to compete in 2011. 

In order to return to dominance, the Angels must load up on offense and boost a porous ‘pen this offseason. 

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