Tag: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels’ Playoff Hopes Still Alive, but Fading Quickly

The month of August has not been kind to the Los Angeles Angels.

Heading into their weekend series with the Baltimore Orioles, the Angels are 10-12 for the month and losers of seven of their last 10 games.

Traditionally, August is the “make or break” month for teams who are still in contention for the postseason.

After the July 31 trade deadline, where contending teams look to bolster their rosters in order to improve their playoff chances, those same teams use August as the month to make their push and decide their fate.

After starting the month 6-4 and sweeping the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series, the Angels have since gone 4-8, failing to win any series and falling further back in the AL West standings to the division-leading Texas Rangers.

While a number of factors have contributed to their dismal month thus far, one that clearly sticks out is their bullpen.

With the fourth worst bullpen ERA in the American League at 4.29, Angels relievers have struggled. RP Francisco Rodriguez failed on two occasions to hold leads in the Orioles’ sweep of the Angels in early August, and normally reliable Kevin Jepsen failed to hold a lead in Boston on August 18.

In the early to mid 2000s, the Angels bullpen was the cream of the crop in the American League, with the best ERA out of the bullpen from 2002-04. Manager Mike Scioscia was masterful in pulling the right strings to protect late-inning leads and had the talent to pull it off.

Those days are apparently gone, as evidenced by the team’s current struggles.

Another major culprit has been the bottom of the Angels’ batting order. Combined, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup are hitting a paltry .211 for the season, a full .033 below the league average.

While these spots in the batting order in the American League are typically reserved for players less adept at the plate, fairly automatic outs are certainly not what the Angels had in mind for players manning these slots in the batting order.

For the Angels to have any hope of postseason glory in 2010, these two important aspects of their game must improve dramatically. If recent performance is used as an indicator, their hopes will turn into despair.

You can follow Doug on Twitter @desertdesperado.

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Carl Crawford Says Los Angeles Angels Are an Option in 2011

Tampa Bay Rays star Carl Crawford talks about his All-Star experience with Torii Hunter in his ear about playing in Anaheim.

He speaks about his pending free agency and if the Angels would be a team he would consider signing with.

Crawford is one home run away from becoming just the eighth player since 1900 with 100 home runs, 100 triples, and 400 stolen bases. Crawford is the exact type of dynamic offensive player the Angels could use.

Click here to listen to Carl Crawford discuss his future.

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Mark Trumbo: LA Angels Insider Podcast

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Triple-A first baseman Mark Trumbo talks about his breakout season.

Through 124 games for the Salt Lake Bees, Trumbo is batting .290 with 29 HRs and 101 RBI with a .906 OPS. Trumbo also gives his take on the jump from AA to AAA, Peter Bourjos’ promotion, his AAA All-Star appearance, and a potential promotion to Anaheim in September.

Click here to listen to Mark Trumbo – LA Angels Insider Podcast

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Brian Fuentes Should Remain a Los Angeles Angel

In 2009, Brian Fuentes led the Major Leagues in saves with 48. Granted, they weren’t all pretty and Angel fans still remember the fastball that Alex Rodriguez belted out of Yankee Stadium in the ’09 ALCS; but overall Fuentes has been a solid closer for the Angels.

Just one season later, with the Angels at a mediocre 60-61, Fuentes has just 23 saves. He also has finished just 31 games in 2010. Fuentes contract includes a vesting option for 2011 if he finishes 55 games.

With just 41 games remaining, a lackluster offense and relievers setting him up who are not getting the job done it seems Fuentes is headed towards free agency. With an ERA presently at 3.22 and a WHIP of 1.16, plus being left handed he is likely to have quite a few suitors.

So in the offseason of 2011, not only will the Angels have to take a hard look at upgrading their core of set up men, they may also need a new closer. Those returning next season the Angels are going to have to right their ship or the 2011 club may have the same bullpen issues they do in 2010.

Click here to continue Brian Fuentes Should Remain an Angel

Eric Denton is the head writer and content editor for LA Angels Insider.com

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Kaleb Cowart: LA Angels Insider.com Podcast

On Monday, the Halos agreed to terms on a $2.3 million deal with Kaleb Cowart. Cowart was named the 2010 Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year. The high school pitcher and switch-hitting third baseman hit .654 with 11 home runs, 55 runs scored, 59 RBI, and 36 stolen bases (in 36 attempts) at Cook County.

In this edition of LA Angel Insider Podcast, Cowart talks with Jeff Biggs about his decision to sign and start his professional baseball career. Cowart is expected to join the Angels’ Arizona Rookie League team.

Click here to listen to Kaleb Cowart – LA Angels Insider Podcast

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Bobby Wilson Blasts Two Homers, Los Angeles Angels Beat Blue Jays

Angels catcher Bobby Wilson was not a surprise starter on Saturday evening given his success in battery combination with starting pitcher Ervin Santana.

Wilson entered the game with only two major league home runs on Saturday and belted a three-run blast early on to boost the Angels chancing of taking game two against the Toronto Blue Jays. The score was 5-0 after the home runs by Bobby Wilson and Hideki Matsui, who smacked the ball out for the first time in a month.

The Jays would have only one run on the board headed to the bottom of the sixth inning when Bobby Wilson benefited from an errant call in a series of questionable decisions by home plate umpire Joe West.  Wilson returned to the plate after the foul ball and crushed his second home run of the game to roaring applause from Angel Stadium.

Cecil was removed from the game after the run-clearing hit by Wilson, and the Angels were on their way to cutting the Texas Rangers lead in the AL West to 7 1/2 games assuming Boston would finish Texas having had the lead. 

With the two hottest bats of the Angels out of the lineup in Maicer Izturis (.391 BA this week) and Juan Rivera (.329 BA over last 30 days), solid starting pitching and brilliant defense from speedster Peter Bourjas in center field helped the lead the Angels to even the weekend series with Toronto.

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LA Angels Insider Podcasts: Dean Chance

The first Cy Young award winner in Angels history Dean Chance is the focus of this edition of LA Angels Insider Podcast.

Chance was the winner of the 1964 Cy Young Award back when the award was only given to one pitcher n a season. Dean led the American League in wins (20), innings pitched (278?), and earned run average (1.65, which is still a franchise record). He was also third in the American League in strikeouts, with 207. Chance pitched 11 shutouts that season, winning five of those by a 1-0 score.

Chance talks to Jeff Biggs about his time with the Angels, what Los Angeles was like in the early ’60s, playing in Chavez Ravine, his teammate Bo Belinsky, and former Angels owner Gene Autry.

Click here to listen to LA Angels Insider.com Podcast – Dean Chance

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With Nothing To Lose, Angels Should Play Brandon Wood

It’s rare that you read anyone advocating for a .167 hitter to return to the lineup, but in the case of Brandon Wood the Angels should give him another chance.

With the acquisition of Alberto Callaspo it is likely that the Angels will stick with him as the starting third baseman over the next couple of seasons. However, when the Angels needed to call up an extra reliever last week they chose to send down utility man Kevin Frandsen and keep Wood around. The move makes sense on a practical level. Frandsen can go back to the minors, while Wood is out of options and the Angels would risk losing him to another team.

So the question is worth asking, if Wood is valuable enough to the organization that they are choosing to basically play with a 24-man roster (Wood has appeared only once since July 20) why are they not using him?

Click here to continue Play Brandon Wood at LA Angels Insider.com

Eric Denton is the head writer and content editor for LA Angels Insider.com

 

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Fantasy Baseball Forecast: Week 19’s Two-Start Pitchers & More..

The season is long and right now it’s coming down to the wire for the top owners in their respective leagues.  These few players that are poised for either a huge week or a week you will want to avoid.  Pay attention, this could mean winning or not winning your league.

Start ‘Em:

 

Bill Hall | Boston Red Sox | 2.1% :  Take a walk on the wild side with this streaking player.  In his last 15 games Hall has crushed 4HRs with an OPS of .979.  In the next week he’ll be playing at both Yankee Stadium (Number one HR factor field) and the Ballpark in Arlington (Number two HR factor field), two of the best places to hit for power.

 

Chris Johnson | Houston Astros | 52.5% :  Chris Johnson has been hotter than the sun over the last two weeks.  While he probably wont be able to maintain these astounding numbers, he will most likely be able to post large numbers for the upcoming week.  Five of the six starters that Johnson will face are right handers.  Hitting righties is Johnson’s strength: .364 avg. 1.000 OPS in 107 ABs.  He also has 4HRs and 20RBIs against righties as well.

 

Jon Jay | St. Louis Cardinals | 7.8% :  Since his call-up, Jay has been a pure hitter.  He’s been raking ever since and has yet to stop.  In his 32 ABs this year against the Reds and Cubs Jay is hitting .406 with an OBP of .441.  Unfortunately, Jay is mainly a three-trick pony depending on how many categories your league has.  He can typically be expected to help in average, on-base, and runs.

 

Sit ‘Em:

 

Jay Bruce | Cincinnati Reds | 76% :  Bruce’s upcoming stretch against the Cardinals is going to be brutal for his owners.  Bruce’s career numbers against the Cardinals are: .199 avg, .259 OBP.  Not to mention he is currently on a long cold streak, hitting .188 over the last 30 games.

 

Jack Cust | Oakland A’s | 10% :  Jack Cust and the rest of the Oakland A’s have the worst schedule for power this upcoming week.  They will be playing at Safeco and Target Field next week.  These two fields are the third-worst and worst fields for homeruns.  Cust has also slowed down as of late, hitting .222 over the course of the last seven games.

 

Two-Start Pitchers To Use:

 

Max Scherzer | Detroit Tigers | 86% :  Scherzer has been fairly dominant as of late.  Fantasy players should look for him to continue this dominance through his upcoming two-start week.  His first start comes against the Rays at home.  Scherzer is 6-2 at home this season and has a 2.90 ERA since the All-Star game.  Further supporting his start, the Rays are hitting .091 (2 for 22) against him for their career.  Scherzer has pitched against the White Sox twice this year with fairly strong numbers.  In the 14 innings against them Scherzer has a 3.14 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP and a K/9 ratio of nine.

 

Ervin Santana | Los Angeles Angels | 86.8% :  Santana has been on a skid as of late but he should be able to correct this with his upcoming two starts.  His first opponent is Kansas City then Toronto, both starts coming at home.  In a combined 33.1 innings this year against both teams Santana has 2.47 ERA and a 3-1 Win-Loss record.  In over 250 ABs, the players of both teams have a combined career batting average against Santana of .255.

 

Two-Start Pitchers To Avoid:

 

Jair Jurrjens | Atlanta Braves | 77% :  Jurrjens has pitched with mixed success since coming back from the DL this season.  Now is not the time to take a chance on the two-start opportunity he faces this upcoming week.  His career against the Dodgers goes to the tune of a 4.03ERA, a 1.61 WHIP, and a .284 BAA.  Meanwhile, the heart of the Dodger’s order (Ethier, Kemp, Loney) have a collective career .360 avg. against Jurrjens.  Jurrjens has faced the Astros a limited amount and has not done much better.  His ever descending GB/FB rate should put his start in the Band Box of Minute Maid Park.

 

Edwin Jackson | Chicago White Sox | 40% :  Jackson’s two-start week is bound for disaster.  His first start is against Baltimore, at Baltimore.  Normally Baltimore is not much of a threat, but in three starts at Camden Yards Jackson has a 6.48 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.  His next start against his old team the Tigers at his new home at U.S. Cellular Field.  At U.S. Cellular Field Jackson has a career 4.88 ERA 1.63 WHIP, and players are hitting .301 against him.  Fantasy owners have to also take into account that U.S. Cellular Field is the second-most homerun friendly park in existance.

 

Hind Sight:

 

For curiosity sake, here is how last week’s predictions held up through games as of 8-6:

 

Start ‘Em:

 

Jorge Cantu: One for four.  Played in only one game.

 

Josh Willingham: .357 avg. .438 OBP, 0R 0HR 1RBI.  The hitting is great, but there is more to fantasy than two categories.

 

Rajai Davis: .200 avg. .273 OBP, 3R 1HR 2RBI

 

Sit ‘Em:

 

David Wright: .063 avg. 1 for 16 as of print time.  Gotta pat myself on the back for this call.

 

Matt Kemp: .400 avg. .471 .OBP, 2R 1HR 3RBI.  His 5-5 game inflates last week’s line

 

Carl Crawford: .125 avg. .222 OBP, 2R 0HR 2RBI.  The Runs and RBI are decent, but Crawford should be held to higher standards.

 

Pitchers:

 

Travis Wood: 7IP 2H 0ER 1BB 4K

 

Mat Latos: 6IP 4H 2ER 2BB 6K

 

All Statistical Information was obtained through ESPN.com

 

Written exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com by James Bryce.  James is a Grad student at UCSD and is currently in his 13th year of fantasy sports.

 

Got a two-start pitching candidate for week 19?  
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix

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MLB Fantasy Baseball Post ASB Positional Ranks: Catcher

 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


LA Angels Insider Podcasts: Rob Goldman (Author and Angels Historian)

Jeff Biggs speaks with author and Angels historian Rob Goldman. Goldman’s ties to the Angels go back more then three decades, and include stints as team batboy in the mid-70s and visiting clubhouse attendant.

Rob talks with Jeff about Jim Fregosi , Nolan Ryan , Jim Abbott , Reggie Jackson, and Bo Belinsky . In the second half of the conversation, Rob and Jeff talk about his new book, “Always An Angel,”   co-written and focusing on former Angels outfielder Tim Salmon , as well as his previous book about the history of the ball club called “Once They Were Angels .”

Click to listen to LA Angels Insider Podcast : Rob Goldman

Click here to read our review of “Always An Angel: Playing The Game With Faith and Fire .”

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


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