Kuzul

With Kendry Morales’ season officially coming to an end, it’s interesting that there hasn’t been more focus put on Mark Trumbo, the Angels’ slugging first base prospect at Triple-A.  While Trumbo isn’t the same player Morales is, he certainly has the potential to be a contributor in the middle of the Angels lineup.

Let’s take a look at his production through Thursday:

242 At Bats
.285 Batting Average (69 Hits)
16 Home Runs
55 RBI
38 Runs
2 Stolen Bases
.327 On Base Percentage
.554 Slugging Percentage
.308 Batting Average on Balls in Play

Given the BABIP, the average is very realistic.  He doesn’t strikeout an outrageous amount (22.3% thus far, 20.3% for his career entering the season), which is generally a concern for big-time power hitters. 

If you wanted to nitpick, you can point to his inability to draw many walks (15 this season). However, prior to his season-ending injury, Morales had walked just 12 times in 193 AB.

He’s a career .272 hitter, but a lot of that is due to hitting .224 at Single-A in 2006.  Since then, he’s never hit below .273 in a season.  If he continues hitting for that type of average, with the power he possesses, he’s going to have value.

Yes, he’s playing in the Pacific Coast League, so the 16 HR has to be taken with a slight grain of salt.  In 2009 he struggled somewhat with the power (15 HR in 533 AB at Double-A), but he hit a total of 32 HR between Single & Double-A in 2008.

He’s not an extreme fly ball hitter, as you can see by his fly ball rates the past three seasons:

• 2008 – 41.8%
• 2009 – 33.6%
• 2010 – 38.1%

Clearly, the 2009 season stands out like a sore thumb, which helps to explain his drop in power. 

While he was ranked outside of the organizations Top 10 prospects by Baseball America prior to 2010, he was #8 prior to the 2009 season.  At that time, they said:

“Trumbo has plus power, and when he gets his arms extended he can crush the ball. He has made a conscious effort to be less pull-conscious. He doesn’t strike out excessively for a slugger. He has a strong arm, especially for a first baseman.”

While there are questions about his glove, which may explain why the team hasn’t turned to him yet, there’s no questioning the power.  At some point in 2010 there’s a good chance that the Angels bring him up to play first base or provide a little extra power from the DH spot.  When that happens, he will be a viable option in deeper formats if you need some home runs and RBI. 

What are your thoughts on Trumbo?  Could he be a viable fantasy option?  How much power could he provide?

For more prospect reports, you can check out the following articles:

• Dustin Ackley
• Yonder Alonso
• J.P. Arencibia
• Jake Arrieta
• Phillippe Aumont
• Josh Bell
• Jason Castro
• Starlin Castro
• Allen Craig
• Aaron Crow
• Kyle Drabek
• Todd Frazier
• Christian Friedrich
• Jeremy Hellickson
• Daniel Hudson
• Jay Jackson
• Desmond Jennings
• Mike Leake
• Martin Perez
• Buster Posey
• Gaby Sanchez
• Carlos Santana
• Michael Saunders
• Anthony Slama
• Brett Wallace

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While Angels’ southpaw Scott Kazmir struggled with a 7.20 and 5.97 ERA in April and May respectively, the 26-year-old has seemingly salvaged his season with a deceiving June.

In 23 innings (four starts) this month, Kazmir is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA. What most fail to see is his 1.35 WHIP and 13/15 K/BB ratio, both of which raise red flags.

Fantasy managers have been gushing over Kazmir’s stuff since he was seemingly stolen from the Mets in the 2004 Victor Zambrano trade . The then Tampa Bay pitcher made his major league debut later that season and has disappointed ever since.

In 943 career innings, the 2002 first-round pick owns a walk rate of 4.09. After showing signs of improvement in recent years, Kazmir has left fantasy managers disgruntled once again, posting a 4.58 BB/9 in 72 2/3 innings this season.

Further, Kazmir’s career WHIP is a whopping 1.39, a number that will continue to hamper the Texas native. His Kyle Davis-like WHIP of 1.51 this season makes him useless in most leagues.

Kazmir’s high strikeout totals, which used to be a strength, have now become a weakness. After topping out with a 10.41 K/9 in 2007, Kazmir’s strikeout rate has dropped to 9.81 and 7.15 in recent years, before plummeting to a below league average 6.07 in 2010.

As if that’s not enough to scare fantasy managers away, Kazmir’s xFIP (5.37) and declining average fastball velocity suggest his fantasy value should be no greater than Felipe Paulino’s .

With five-plus major league seasons under his belt, (only two of which he’s topped 160 innings) it’s safe to say Scott Kazmir is one of the most overrated players in fantasy baseball. If you’ve been the unfortunate owner of the former pitching prodigy, deal him away for the freshest mound of cow pies you can find. They won’t win you any games, but at least this pile of dung won’t send your ERA and WHIP through the roof.

Original Article: FANTASY BASEBALL INSIDERS

If you read this article posted back in March, you know why it’s important to keep an eye on your league’s waiver wire as save opportunities get shuffled around major league bullpens.

• Just last week, Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls (who saved 24 games in 2009) was relieved of his duties after converting just 12 of his 16 save opportunities with an 8.46 ERA in 22 1/3 innings thus far.

Teammate Aaron Heilman earned the four-out save Saturday night against Detroit, but not before allowing two hits and a run to score. The 31-year-old, who has 11 saves in his eight-year career, has allowed a run in three of his last five appearances.

While Heilman is now the favorite to close games in the desert, he’ll be on a short leash. All closers have value, but this one comes with an elevated risk.

• Angels’ closer Brian Fuentes allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in a non-save situation Saturday against the Cubs. Through 17 1/3 innings this season, Fuentes has allowed five homers and owns an embarrassing 6.23 ERA.

Despite this, Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia issued a vote of confidence to the struggling closer. From the Orange County Register :

“I don’t think you’re going to look at a reliever’s ERA and grade him out on how he’s doing – especially in a short relief role like Brian’s,” Scioscia said. “A couple bad outings and it’s going to take a long time to get that ERA back where it needs to be.”

Fernando Rodney is the guy to own should Scioscia change his mind, as he converted all five of his save opportunities in place of the injured Fuentes earlier this season. Rodney’s peripherals , however, suggest he’s been the receiver of some good luck.

Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on this situation, but Fuentes remains the best long-term option for saves.

• As of Friday night, Manuel Corpas owned a sparkling 2.37 ERA and had converted nine of 11 save opportunities for Colorado this season. After allowing eight runs in two appearances this weekend against Milwaukee, however, his ERA has ballooned to 4.19. Despite this, Rockies’ manager Jim Tracy said he wouldn’t rush Huston Street back into the closer’s role upon his expected return from the DL on Tuesday.

Still, it’s expected that Corpas will relinquish the ninth-inning duties after Street turns in a few good outings. Street, who turns 27 in August, has recorded 129 saves and a 2.91 ERA since his major league debut in 2005, and is the guy to own looking forward.

• Orioles’ reliever David Hernandez converted on his first two save opportunities in Alfredo Simon ’s absence, but failed to record his third after allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with a 2-1 lead Friday night against the Padres.

Simon (who is 7-for-8 in save opportunities this year) closed Saturday night and appears to be the favorite in Baltimore from here on out. While Simon (just like Heilman ) has value, he comes with a great deal of risk.

First of all, he pitches for baseball’s worst team and therefore won’t be provided with many save opportunities. Second, his 13/9 K/BB ratio in 15 innings thus far suggests his 3.60 ERA isn’t exactly legit. While Simon does feature a mid-90’s fastball/mid-80’s splitter combo which has produced a ground ball rate of 61.7 percent, he doesn’t have the typical swing-and-miss stuff you’d expect from a closer. The 29-year-old is the guy to own, but his long-term value is quite cloudy.

Here’s the updated Closer’s Corner as of Monday. The second column lists the current closer, while the third column features a backup option worth owning.

Be sure to check back next Monday for another Closer’s Corner update!

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: FANTASY BASEBALL INSIDERS

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Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ Prospect Report:

• 2010 MLB Draft: When Will Bryce Harper Become Fantasy-Relevant?
• Mike Stanton’s 2010 Fantasy Value
• Does Rangers’ Justin Smoak Have Fantasy Value in 2010?
• Does Mets’ Ike Davis Have Fantasy Value in 2010?

More from Fantasy Baseball Insiders:

• Why Stephen Strasburg Is Already A Top-10 Fantasy Pitcher (VIDEO)
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• Buy or Sell: Troy Glaus
• Buy or Sell: Pitcher’s Edition
• Padres’ Kyle Blanks, Reds’ Drew Stubbs Headline 2010 All-Breakout Team

More 2010 Fantasy Baseball Insiders Player Projections:

• Mat Latos
• Cole Hamels
• Livan Hernandez
• Mike Pelfrey
• Delmon Young
• Drew Stubbs
• Nolan Reimold
• Jay Bruce
• Geovany Soto
• B.J. Upton
• Shin-Soo Choo
• Matt Wieters

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Riding an eight game winning streak with all eight wins coming on the road, the Texas Rangers have taken the largest division lead in baseball (3.5 games) over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West. They hold the fourth best record in all of baseball.

Still, the division seems like it will come down to the last week of the season with a two team race between the Rangers and Angels. The Angels have won the AL West crown in five of the last six season. Texas still has to overcome some demons of their past if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

This division no longer looks as mediocre as it did 30-40 games into this season because of the hot play by both the Rangers and Angels lately. I expect the team that wins this race to make some serious noise in the playoffs.

Let’s run down the parts of the division race that will decide who wins the division when we reach October.

Pitching Rotation

The starting rotation used to be the strength of the Angels and the main weakness of the Rangers. However, that disparity in staff ERA that we have become so accustom to seems to be leveling out this season.

The starting rotation’s ERA for both teams is nearly identical to this point in the season. The Angels have posted a 4.24 starting staff ERA while the Rangers linger a hundredth behind at 4.25.

Finally, pitching has arrived in Texas. Possibly the best off-season signing for any team this year was Colby Lewis joining the Rangers rotation. Coming back from a two year stint in Japan, Lewis is 7-4 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 93.2 innings. He is leading the solid, but not spectacular Rangers rotation.

CJ Wilson is looking fine in the second spot in the rotation with a 3.41 ERA and near career low 1.23 WHIP. Past him, Texas has had some injury concerns with Derek Holland and poor performances from Rich Harden and Scott Feldman. However, the depth in the minor league system and at the major league level have allowed the Rangers to weather that storm.

Looking ahead, the Rangers seem to have a fairly solid rotation of Lewis, Wilson, Feldman, Hunter and Holland/Harden. If they can all perform to their talent level, the Rangers could be sporting a top 3-5 rotation in the AL.

The Angels have also got some disappointing efforts from their rotation. Apart from Jered Weaver, who looks like a bonafide ace, and Ervin Santana, no other member of the Angels starting staff has posted an ERA under 4.45. This is a far cry from past seasons, which had rotations headed up by John Lackey and Bartolo Colon.

The Angels rotation has stayed completely in tact from the beginning of the season with just one spot start from Matt Palmer thrown into the mix. The main issue here is performance. They need Scott Kazmir, Joel Pineiro and Joe Saunders to pitch more successfully, like they have in recent seasons.

Whichever team finds themselves with better bounce back performances from the back of their rotation will probably find themselves with a division championship when October rolls around.

Health

We all know about the terrible injury to Kendry Morales that has hurt the Angels offense dramatically. Erick Aybar also went down with a awkward looking leg injury about a week ago and has yet to return to the lineup.

Losing those two key members of their lineup for an extended period of time can’t be good for LAA’s offensive production of the future. However, they don’t seem fazed by it right now. The Angels are currently playing their best baseball of the year, even with those two key injuries they have sustained on offense.

The other side of the coin is a completely different story. As stated earlier, each member of the Angels rotation has made each one of their starts except for one late spot start from Matt Palmer. The whole rotation can’t stay this healthy all year, can it?

Coming into the season, injury risk was a big concern for the Rangers. The biggest concern, Rich Harden, has been very healthy this year, but his performance has left a lot to be desired.

Other players like Nelson Cruz (two DL trips already), Josh Hamilton (only one healthy year out of three big league seasons), Vladimir Guerrero (can his old body hold up?) and Ian Kinsler (bum ankle) have serious injury concerns as the season moves along.

The Rangers bullpen has also been fairly overused this season, especially near the back end where the power arms are located. Could we see a couple of them fizzle out at the end of the season?

Schedule

This is a very key aspect of the division race. The Texas Rangers are in a ridiculously soft spot of their schedule right now, as they only face one team above .500 (the Angels) all the way until the All-Star Break.

The script flips after the break because they will face a stretch where they play 23 out of 42 games on the road. This includes 19 games against division rivals and 19 games against the top three teams in the AL East and the two best teams in the AL Central.

The Rangers obviously have to face some very tough teams in August and September and also play a lot on the road at the end of the year (20 of last 32 games are on the road). They must pick up their play in that time if they want to earn the division title.

The Angels have a lengthy 12-game home stand coming up next, including nine tough games against Texas, Los Angeles and Colorado.

Opposite of the Rangers final stretch of games, the Angels will finish the year easily against well under .500 teams in September, except for match-ups with Tampa Bay and crucial head-to-head match-ups with the Rangers.

Head-To-Head Match-ups

Besides the starting rotation, this is probably the biggest factor that will decide the race. The Rangers and Angels have only played twice this season (Rangers lead series, 2-0), so they have an astonishing 17 head-to-head games left.

When these two teams duke it out, all bets are off. They will be playing a lot of key games around the trade deadline and late in September.

Those games will be some of the best games in all of baseball to watch at any time during this season. These two teams don’t like each other at all. With a playoff spot on the line, expect the intensity to be ramped up to an all-time high.

Trade Market

Which team will be able to make the right move when the trade deadline rolls around?

The Angels will probably be in the market for a starting pitcher to help the front of their rotation because of the poor performances from Kazmir and Saunders.

Another position they will be looking to help out is first base. Mike Napoli is filling in at the moment. However, if LAA could go out and pick up someone like Paul Konerko for the stretch run, the race for the title could be flipped on it’s head.

The Rangers are currently bankrupt and owned by the MLB. However, it is looking more and more likely that the sale will be done by the trade deadline. Boy, would that help the Rangers out a ton.

The organization is currently ranked as having one of the best minor league systems in all of baseball, so the ammo to make a big time trade is certainly there.

The big name pitchers on the market like Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee and possibly Dan Haren each have a shot at landing in Texas when the trade deadline passes. A trade of that magnitude would represent a huge shift in the balance of power in not just the AL West, but the entire AL.

Bottom Line

This race is going to be a really fun one to watch, especially with all of the key head-to-head match-ups that we will see late in the season (seven games between the two teams in September and October).

It’s hard to tell who will win the division as we currently see the two teams constructed right now. After the trade deadline, there will be a much clearer view on how this race will play out.

As evidenced by past Angels teams, you can never count LA out of the division race. However, this Texas team seems just a little bit different from the ones that have trotted out there the last 10 years without winning a division title.

I can’t wait to see how this plays out!

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Houston Astros’ first baseman Lance Berkman has told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan that waiving his no-trade clause in a potential deal to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was not an “automatic yes.”

“That would be a long, hard thought. Especially because I’d rather go east than west. “

“It would have to be a contender. There is absolutely no way I would consent to going somewhere that didn’t have a good chance not just to get to the playoffs, but to win the whole thing. That would be consideration No. 1.”

Not only would the Angels have to be in a better position in the standings for the Berkman to consider coming to Anaheim, the financial obligation ($8.5 million still due in 2010, $15 million option for 2011 or $2 million buyout) is probably too steep for the Angels to take on. Especially if the Astros are looking for the Halos top prospects in return for the 34 year old who is admittedly “not having a great year .”

From the Angels’ point of view, Berkman would be nice a bat to have in the lineup for sure, but they don’t really have a place to play him. With Jeff Mathis days away from returning, Mike Napoli will likely assume most of the first base duties for the remainder of the season.

Manager Mike Scioscia stated to Fanhouse’s Tom Krasovic that the Angels are not interested in a rental player at first base.

“At this point, it would be a piece that you bring in that would help you past this year— make you better for the future also, I think that’s a deal that would be very attractive to [the front office]. “

It’s not out of the question that the Angels will be fine at first with Napoli possessing 30 home run potential power. However, with Erick Aybar ‘s knee injury, Angels regular third baseman Maicer Izturis being placed on the disabled, Brandon Wood ‘s offensive struggles, and Kevin Frandsen not being established as an everyday player in the majors, it would be in the Angels’ best interest to look for a third baseman instead of a first baseman.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

There has been no easier out for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in recent memory than Brandon Wood.

His abysmal campaign of striking out, popping out, and failing to provide any degree of meaningful offense is no less a hindrance to the Angels’ success than a brick wall between third base and home.

In 125 at-bats this season, Wood has hit .152 with two home runs, one double, seven RBI, and a whopping 36 strikeouts.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 25, more likely due to his distinct inability to produce at the plate than his purported strained hip flexor.

After a week’s rest and recuperation, he marched out to the minors on a brief rehab stint to test his body—and his mind.

But Triple-A was no kinder to the troubled third baseman.

A career .284 hitter in the minors, Wood batted nearly 100 points below that mark in 13 games with the Salt Lake Bees. He managed just one home run in 51 at-bats, 17 of which resulted in strikeouts.

However, despite his failure to improve his performance at any level, the Angels were forced to make a decision on Wood’s future this week. Players on the DL can only spend a maximum of 20 games in the minors before their big league clubs must either call them up or re-evaluate their injured status.

Wood was called up.

He avoided striking out in his return to the Angels’ lineup Tuesday, but his offensive production was just as limited, grounding out weakly twice and flying out to center.

He has not given the Angels any reason to keep him around and at this point there’s no reason to expect that he ever will.

Wood has had ample opportunities to prove his worth in the big leagues, and so far all he’s proved is he doesn’t belong.

It’s time to make a change. Particularly in light of Kendry Morales’s devastating injury.

When the Angels stud first baseman broke his leg and ended his season, manager Mike Scioscia told the press his team would not settle for a mercenary to stand in for the next three months.

Instead, he and general manager Tony Reagins will look for a player to help out beyond this season.

Read: Someone who can fill in at first this year and take over third in the future.

As Scioscia clearly stated, this team will not settle for a player who’s impact only extends to the offseason. The Angels are on the hunt for a versatile infielder with some pop in his bat and an adequate glove.

Kevin Frandsen (.377), Mike Napoli (.249), Maicer Izturis (.233), and Michael Ryan (.205) have all played the substitute role at both corners with aplomb, but none has been able to lock down their respective spots for the foreseeable future.

Frandsen has exhibited no power whatsoever and his defense is highly suspect anywhere he plays. Napoli’s streaky hitting and inexperience at first make him just as much of an asset as a liability.

Izturis is far more valuable when he can be moved around from position to position. And Ryan, well, he suffers from a little of each of the above symptoms.

With Wood back to the bigs, the Angels will almost certainly return to their nice-guy tactics, giving him every possible chance to break out of his funk and live up to the hype that’s surrounded him for so long.

But they are fooling themselves if they try the same approach and expect a new outcome.

Wood will fail as surely as the Angels are already thinking about replacing him.

And although the key to this organization has always been its ocean-like depth on the bench and in the minors, this year they just don’t have the pieces to cobble together another championship season.

If the Angels expect to contend this year, both in the division and in the playoffs, they must add depth.

To do that, they must first eliminate Wood’s shallow reservoir of talent from their roster.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Joe Saunders undoubtedly went into Monday night’s start against the Milwaukee Brewers feeling good. He had won back-to-back starts for only the second time this year, and in his last six starts he had gone 4-1 with 2 complete games (both against Oakland, one a shutout). Coming back to the Big A, Saunders was set to square off against a Brewers team that was sitting 11 games under .500, with the 18th ranked batting average in MLB.

Those good feelings did not last long. Saunders gave up five runs in the third inning (the big blow coming from Ryan Braun’s booming grand slam), and six runs overall in an unimpressive 5.2 inning performance. He took the loss—his seventh—as the Brewers cake-walked to a 12-2 victory.

As Saunders lights the candles on his 29th birthday cake today, he must be puzzled by his 2010 season.

His record currently sits at 5-7; those seven losses tie his career high (both 2008 and 2009), and it is only June 16th. His ERA is 4.70, which is not too far away from last season’s 4.60 (but quite higher than his career 4.28 mark). His WHIP is 1.49—his career high was 1.52 back in 2007 (in only 18 appearances).

Most troubling of all is Saunders’ control. In 2010 he is averaging 3.9 walks per nine innings, far above his career mark of 3.0. Furthermore, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is an alarming 1.03 (38 strikeouts compared to 37 walks). This number, more than any other, should be cause for Angel fans to be concerned.

While Joe has never been a “strikeout pitcher,” he has always been a pitcher who strikes out many more than he walks. His career K-to-BB ratio is 1.66, and in his All-Star campaign of 2008 the ratio was 1.94 (103 K’s to 53 BB’s). He is currently projected to walk 89 batters this season, which would be 25 more than his career high of 64 last season. At the same time his strikeout projection is just 92. He has never struck out less than 100 batters when making at least 30 starts.

Overall, Joe Saunders’ 2010 season has been  inconsistent. He has been brilliant at times—his 2 complete game victories over Oakland, one by shutout, attest to this. Joe was nearly as brilliant in Toronto on April 17th, when he threw 8 innings and gave up just 2 unearned runs in beating the Blue Jays’ booming bats.

However, Saunders has logged several forgettable 2010 starts as well. Of his 14 starts, Joe only has six quality starts. In seven of his starts he has failed to throw six innings, in three of those he failed to throw five. This is uncharacteristic of a pitcher upon whom Mike Scioscia has been able to rely for over 185 innings each of the last two seasons (198 in ’08, 186 in ’09).

The reason for Saunders’ inconsistency is unclear. Last year’s struggles were rightfully blamed on a sore shoulder (you’ll remember Saunders went on the disabled list with shoulder trouble, and after returning was dominant down the stretch for the Halos). This year, to date, no mention of physical problems has been made. Joe’s fastball velocity is not abnormally off. He has never been a very hard thrower to start with.

Location could certainly be a cause of Joe Saunders’ trouble. For a pitcher like Saunders, who relies on pitching to contact and hitting spots with differing speeds, a loss of command can be deadly. The high walk rate and low strikeout-to-walk ratio this year both lend credence to the idea that Joe’s command has been lacking at times this year.

The gopher ball has been an enemy of Saunders’ in years past, and this year proves to be no exception.

After giving up a career high 29 round-trippers in 2009, the left-hander is serving them up at a similar pace this season. He currently projects to surrender 24 homers—fewer than last season, but higher than any other year. When Saunders does not give up a homer in a start, he is remarkably more effective. Below are his 2010 numbers this year in games where he surrenders a longball, compared to games where he does not:

1 HR allowed (or more): 6 G, 30 IP (5 IP/GS), 46 H, 32 R, 32 ER; 0-5, 9.60 ERA, 2.10 WHIP, 5.1 BB/9

0 HR allowed: 8 G,54.1 IP(6.8 IP/start),43 H, 16 R, 12 ER, 5-2, 1.99 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.31 BB/9

These lines look like two different pitchers. One is an All-Star, the other would struggle to keep a job in the big leagues.

There is no question that the home run ball is trouble for any pitcher, but for Joe Saunders it means the difference between quality pitching and an early shower. The control issue comes up again when looking at these lines as well. Saunders is walking two more batters per nine innings in games where he gives up a homer.

The solution for Saunders seems clear from this data, and it is not a novel solution either: throw strikes and keep the ball in the yard.

Mike Butcher needs to work with Joe Saunders to figure out if there is a flaw in Joe’s delivery, or if any kind of adjustment can be made to improve his control. When he is on his game (as the numbers above bear out), Joe Saunders is an All-Star lefty who can anchor any rotation in baseball. When he is not on his game, however, it is unlikely he will be able to gut out a win.

There is another disparity to consider which is rather surprising: Joe Saunders has pitched remarkably better on the road in 2010. While Angel Stadium is considered a neutral park (even favoring pitchers in night games), this has not been the case for the Virginian lefty:

Saunders at Home in 2010 (8 starts): 1-6, 6.75 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 8 HR, 44 IP

Saunders on Road in 2010:(6 starts): 4-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 2 HR, 40.1 IP

Article continued at LA Angels Insider.com

Ryan VanderYacht is a feature columnist for LA Angels Insider.com    

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Who’s on first? Who cares?

The timeless Abbott and Costello comedy bit about baseball has become a real-life drama for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Since Kendry Morales’ break heard ’round the world on May 29, fans and baseball pundits alike have wondered aloud in a unified voice: Now what are they going to do?

But the answer may not come as quickly as some have anticipated. And it may not be the one most would like.

Morales, the Angels’ rising superstar first baseman, was leading his team in batting average, home runs, and RBI before he broke his left leg celebrating a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners. He underwent season-ending surgery on Thursday.

Without their biggest offensive threat, the Angels looked dead in the water, a pitiful end to a struggle-filled season.

Except that it wasn’t.

In the wake of that devastating injury, new players have done a miraculous job filling the void and, incredibly, the team is playing its best baseball of the season without its best player.

Without Morales, the Angels are 8-3 with 81 runs scored in that time. Names like Mike Napoli, Robb Quinlan, and Michael Ryan have become synonymous with clutch-hitting and timely quality at-bats.

And don’t look for that to change any time soon, especially with Jeff Mathis’ imminent return to the lineup in the next week or so.

When that happens, he will likely resume his starting catcher duties, leaving Napoli and his big bat to take over at first base, with Bobby Wilson backing up both men.

That may not be the most threatening lineup in the league but it will suffice for the time being, and that’s really all the Angels need.

The question for this team isn’t “who’s on first,” but rather “who’s going to help us the most?”

The next three to four months will be tough without a significant threat like Morales to anchor the offense. However, as manager Mike Scioscia pointed out to the press this week, this team is not interested in a short-term rent-a-player.

The Angels already suffered through one of those when they acquired Mark Teixeira at the trade deadline in 2008, and the breakup after was messier than either side had hoped.

This time around, they’ll be looking for a player that can help in the future, and that means potentially addressing the other huge hole in their infield: third base.

Morales’ injury was a disaster, but Brandon Wood has been a catastrophe.

His sub-.200 average, non-existent power, and astonishingly high strikeout rate forced the Angels to place him on the 15-day DL in hopes that he just needed a little time to get his head right.

So far, nothing has changed.

Wood’s rehab stint in Triple-A is going about as well as his major league tryout this season. He’s not hitting, he’s not walking, he’s not even making contact with the ball.

At this rate, by Spring Training he’ll be milling around local beer leagues.

In the meantime, the Angels are stuck using subs to fill in at the hot corner. Kevin Frandsen and Maicer Izturis have both done well so far, but neither appears to be the third baseman of the future. Or even for the rest of this season.

Frandsen’s defense leaves much to be desired and Izturis, while smooth as silk in the field and clutch at the plate, is far more valuable as an everyday utility player, bouncing from position to position as the team sees fit.

To fill their needs, the Angels may try to kill two birds with one trade.

Despite the dynamic offense that Paul Konerko or Lance Berkman could bring to a roster, they are fairly limited on defense, solidly anchored to first base. That might be okay this season, but remember, the Angels are looking to the future.

Morales’ defense has improved by leaps and bounds and, barring any contractual power plays from agent Scott Boras, he will remain the Angels’ starting first baseman. It is unlikely the team will look to acquire anyone for him to compete with.

A guy like Mike Lowell probably fits better with what the Angels are trying to do.

His numbers aren’t too spectacular this season, most due to his limited and inconsistent at-bats, but he is still a highly coveted threat in the middle of any lineup and his glove is stellar at both first and third.

Of course, the Angels are not going to want to give away too much talent to a team they regularly face in the playoffs, a point that will certainly affect any future trade talks.

Still, something has to be done. And with the July 31 trade deadline slowly approaching, GM Tony Reagins will have to make his move soon. 

The only question is which corner of the infield he’ll move toward.

The Angels have been able to beat up on the weaker sisters of the league (Royals, Mariners, A’s) without their brightest star, but a replacement will have to be found before tougher competition risks turning the lights out on this season.

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Almost certainly the worst job Major League Baseball teams ever did of handicapping baseball talent happened in the 1975 Draft. It was a bad, bad draft on many levels.

The first player selected was my all-time biggest draft bust: Danny Goodwin. Adding to the fact that this was the second time Goodwin was the first player selected in the draft, he was also given what was then almost certainly a record bonus for a drafted player of $125,000.

The last of the great bonus babies, Rich Reichart, received $200,000 from the then California Angels in 1964 after a frenzied bidding war, which was the impetus for the teams to adopt a draft of amateur players to prevent competitive bidding. In 1965 the first No. 1 selection, Rick Monday, received a $100,000 bonus, which likely stood as the record until Goodwin surpassed it in 1975. Once the owners had gotten used to the idea that no one could bid against them for the top players they drafted, bonuses for top overall picks quickly dropped to the $65,000 to $75,000 range.

What makes the 1975 Draft special is that the picks didn’t get any better after Goodwin when Mike Lentz, Les Filkins, Brian Rosinksi, Richard O’Keefe, and Butch Benton rounded out the top six picks. Ever heard of any of them?

The first pick to really amount to anything was catcher Rick Cerone, taken with the seventh pick by the Cleveland Indians. Cerone had a long major league career, but he wasn’t really much of a hitter except for one good season with the New York Yankees in 1980. I remember during his playing days being of the belief that Cerone milked that one good year for a much longer career than he in all rights deserved.

The picks didn’t get much better after Cerone. Clint Hurdle was taken ninth by the Kansas City Roylas while Dale Berra was selected at 20 by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The first really great player selected was Lee Smith by the Chicago Cubs in the second round at 28. Carney Lansford was taken in the third round with at 49 by the Angels.

Rounding out the top 100 players selected that year, in terms of players who eventually amounted to something, were Frank Pastore (46), Don Robinson (68), Paul Moskau (70), Jason Thompson (75), Dickie Noles (84), Jim Beattie (91) and “Sweet” Lou Whitaker (99th).

That’s a weak, weak Draft.

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With the Washington Nationals’ publicity machine on overdrive, baseball in D.C. could be at an all-time high.

Bryce Harper, as you all know by now, is christened as the next, next, next big thing.

Stephen Strasburg and his 14 strikeout debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates lived up to everything it was meant to be and more!

Obviously, two No. 1 picks will get the glory, we all know that, but what about the guys getting drafted in the 20th, 30th, and 40th rounds.

Myself, being from Canada and going to school in Nebraska from 1997-2001, I thought baseball in Canada had reached its pinnacle during those years. Yet in 2010, baseball in Canada is still growing, not yet reaching its ceiling.

There is the stigma that if you do not go to a big time Division I NCAA school, no one— let alone Major League scouts—would find you.

Luck for the baseball world, “bird dogs,” scouts, and anyone affiliated with MLB, NCAA, NAIA, or independent baseball will locate skill when necessary.

In 2010, technology is at its peak (for now).  We have up-to-the-second updates, news is at our fingertips, and Twitter and Facebook is used by nearly everyone located on planet Earth.

What does all this mean?

A Pensacola Pelican, a member of the Indy American Association, with 4.1 innings under his belt was taken by the Los Angeles Angels, with pick number 624.

To quote one of the all-time baseball movies starring baseball enthusiast and indy team owner, Kevin Costner, “If you build it, they will come.”

In this instance, “If you pitch, they will come,” and find you!

Kevin Johnson, has just completed his senior season with NCAA Division II University of West Florida—and Kevin Johnson is a good pitcher!  How good?

In his four years of high school, he compiled a 34-2 record with a career ERA of 0.77 and a single season record of 0.34!

All-Conference selections during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Alabama Southern Community College signified a time for better competition.  Follow that up with a 13-6 record, nearly 200 innings pitched, a 4.15 ERA, and compiling 148 strikeouts with West Florida.

Obviously, every player hopes to get drafted. In actuality, it’s a numbers game.

Have you caught a scout’s attention? Are your numbers so mind-blowing, that you can’t help but get drafted?

So many imperatives play a factor in this process that when you hear your name called it is relief, it is excitement, it is years and years of work that have paid off, leaving you where you started; with another challenge!

For Kevin Johnson, is MLB glory in his future? We may not know for five or 10 years.

However, scouts’ projections are not always right.

A 62nd-round pick might turn out to be the most prolific hitting catcher in our or any generation—Mike Piazza.  Maybe you can be a Craig Breslow, a 26th-round pick that has now appeared in 180 games and pieced together a career ERA under 2.80.

According to Johnson, he will continue to impress with what got him the attention of the Angels and probably many others.

“It’s going to be a different atmosphere because it’s going to be out in Arizona,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been to Arizona before, so I’ll have to adjust to it. It’s going to be a fun experience. As long as I throw strikes and let the defense work, I think I can move up in the organization.”

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective.

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