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Archive for the 'Brandon Wood' Category

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One reporter’s take on the Angels and free agency

November 21st, 2009, 11:32 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Baseball free agency is upon us, and since it’s a weekend, it’s not surprising it’s off to a slow start.

The Angels’ stated stance seems to be making a choice between John Lackey or Chone Figgins; hoping to bring back Vladimir Guerrero for a good price; and looking for, in Arte Moreno’s words to the Los Angeles Times, “a power bat, a starter and another bullpen guy.”Angels White Sox Spring Baseball

Here’s my take on that, point-by-point:

– Lackey has been a solid No. 1 for the Angels, and should command a huge contract simply via the timing of his free agency. If all reports are somewhat accurate, he is way too pricey to come back to Anaheim.

In my opinion, the Angels have a viable No. 1 on the premises, but are reluctant to even address that because they have three more seasons worth of Jered Weaver contracts to negotiate with Scott Boras (more on this later).

– Figgins, right, has to be a Top Five attraction on the overall board, because he can help a club in so many ways (everything except power). If the five-year, $50 million tag is accurate, it is not too much for his value somewhere, but it is here.

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Posted in: Angels • Arte Moreno • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Brian Fuentes • Chone Figgins • Darren Oliver • Erick Aybar • Ervin Santana • Howie Kendrick • Jason Bulger • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • John Lackey • Jose Arredondo • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Kevin Jepsen • Maicer Izturis • Mark Teixeira • Nick Adenhart • Scot Shields • Scott Boras • Scott Kazmir • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero • | 4 Comments »

Angels’ focus should be on Morales and Weaver

November 17th, 2009, 3:45 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Interesting to hear the Angels aren’t entering the Matt Holliday race — not that, given the claiming price, it made any sense for them in the first place.

Holliday and Jason Bay might be the two best hitters out there, but they are left fielders, not likely Hall of Famers, and make much more sense in the current economy to the teams that play in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.Angels Red Sox Baseball

And neither one is Mark Teixeira, although surely that is how they will be portrayed on the market.

It is also interesting to learn the Anaheim club’s priority is to retain John Lackey and/or Chone Figgins, especially given the dollar amounts floated so far in the free agency “anything but money discussed” period that ends Friday.

If it’s true that $72 million was not enough for Lackey in the first place, and that Figgins is looking for a five-year, $50 million package, the Angels would be better served to look elsewhere. 

In the organization, for a start.

It would probably serve the franchise’s interests (and the fans’) better if multiyear yet cost-effective deals could be done with right-hander Jered Weaver and first baseman Kendry Morales, similar to the one that was struck before last season with right-hander Ervin Santana.

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Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Chone Figgins • Ervin Santana • Howie Kendrick • Jeff Mathis • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • John Lackey • Kendry Morales • Maicer Izturis • Mark Teixeira • Mike Napoli • Scott Kazmir • Sean O'Sullivan • • • | 9 Comments »

Sorry, Brandon Wood

November 9th, 2009, 11:53 am by Sam Miller, The Orange County Register

Jon Heyman’s latest for Sports Illustrated has news on two Angels free agents:

“A source familiar with the Angels’ talks with Lackey last spring said they offered less than $40 million over three years as an extension on top of this year’s $10 million salary, which would seem to be nowhere near the ballpark that Lackey, 31, seeks now. … the right-hander is expected to shoot for more than twice that, i.e. a $100 million deal.”

And,

“The Angels might re-sign Chone Figgins for third base. But if they don’t, they are expected to consider Adrian Beltre.”

That offer for Lackey certainly looks like a lowball bid, though in a volatile economy one can’t blame the Angels for being cautious. But if, as Heyman says, the Yankees are going to make a run at Lackey, it’s almost unfathomable that the Angels will increase their offer enough to outbid New York.

As for Beltre — I like Beltre a lot. There probably aren’t 10 players in the game who save more runs with their glove than he does. It just makes any fan wonder why the Angels would be so intent on finding alternatives to Brandon Wood, who is out of options and must be on the Major League roster this year if he’s to stay with the organization.

For what it’s worth, Brandon Wood’s 2009 was almost identical to his 2008. His home runs and walks were down a bit in Salt Lake, while his contact rate and doubles were up. Translated to the majors, his Triple A stats really aren’t anything special. He again struggled in a very small Major League sample. I don’t know what sort of scouting reports they have on him lately, but if the Angels didn’t think he was ready in 2009, they could reasonably draw the same conclusion for 2010.

Presumably, they aren’t envisioning a big position switch. That means that either Wood still isn’t very good (which would be a bummer) or he is and the Angels are wrong about him (which would also be a bummer). Or they have something else in mind to make use of their infield depth.

Previously:

Posted in: Angels • Brandon Wood | 7 Comments »

Abreu return a good sign for the Angels

November 5th, 2009, 12:35 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

The Bobby Abreu signing is a win-win for the Angels and their right fielder, who tested the free-agent market last winter and wound up signing late for a big pay cut.

It might be the only free-agent signing by the Angels this winter, although I would expect some other moves to be made.bobby-abreu-on-saturday

With Abreu back, the Angels are in pretty good shape to repeat as division winners if:

– Scot Shields comes back healthy.

– Brandon Wood is half as good as he’s cracked up to  be.

– Ervin Santana bounces back, and is a solid No. 2 in the rotation to Jered Weaver’s No. 1.

Otherwise, the Angels could roll out a lineup and a pitching staff better than any in the American League West right now.

I know that’s not good enough for many, but there’s always the age-old philosophy that some of the younger players (Aybar, Kendrick, Morales, Saunders, Arredondo) will get better with each year of seasoning.

Sort of like Andre Ethier and  Matt Kemp. Or like Chone Figgins did.

Scott Kazmir might gain consistency, too, although that’s one of the reasons he’s in Anaheim and Sean Rodriguez belongs to Tampa Bay.

Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Chone Figgins • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • Scot Shields • Scott Kazmir | Post a Comment »

This winter will be a season of change for the Angels

November 2nd, 2009, 11:37 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Some observations, and questions that I hope will be answered during this baseball winter ….

– The Angels outfield/designated hitter spots will look different in 2010. Torii Hunter will be in center, and Juan Rivera will play left — and likely, DH more.91788303NM090_New_York_Yank

But Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu will be free agents, and Gary Matthews Jr. has asked out. Unfortunately, at this point the most likely one of the three to be on the Angels in 2010 is Matthews.

– Chone Figgins’ free agency likely opens up third base for Brandon Wood. Here’s hoping that means a full spring training, and then several months’ commitment to let Wood settle in. He won’t get a season-plus like Mike Schmidt did, but that was a long time ago.

– Scot Shields’ return to health should be an enormous boost for the bullpen. So would a decision to not retire by Darren Oliver. And Brian Fuentes, the most-maligned 50-save reliever in major-league history, will know the American League hitters better this time around.

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Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Brian Fuentes • Chone Figgins • Darren Oliver • Erick Aybar • Ervin Santana • Gary Matthews • Howie Kendrick • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • Juan Rivera • Mike Scioscia • Reggie Willits • Scot Shields • Scott Boras • Scott Kazmir • Tony Reagins • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • | 7 Comments »

Where does Wood fit in 2010 plans?

October 28th, 2009, 10:58 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

ANAHEIM

The coming of Brandon Wood has been foretold in story and blog for years now (but not song yet, I don’t think). Earlier this season, Angels manager Mike Scioscia and GM Tony Reagins each had the same thing to say — that Wood’s “time” would come … but it wasn’t here quite yet.

Wood (still only 24 after a third season split between Triple-A and the majors) reaches a crossroads this winter. While the potential for change in the Angels’ roster this off-season is great, Wood is out of minor-league options — which means he cannot be sent to the minors next season without clearing waivers first (highly unlikely).

So where does Wood fit in the Angels’ plans for next season?

“We’ve internally talked about this for a long time. I’m sure there’s a decision that has to be made with a lot of guys,” Scioscia said Tuesday. “He’s absolutely ready for the opportunity much like Kendry Morales was.

“Now I’m not saying he’s going to put up Kendry’s numbers. But as far as where he is and what he’s going to accomplish playing at a level outside the major leagues is not going to move his career forward. … Just because you’re ready for the challenge doesn’t mean you’re going to jump in and hit 34 bombs and drive in 105 runs or whatever (as Morales did in his first full major-league season). That’s not what we’re saying. What we’re saying is right now he’s ready for that challenge.

“The next growth stage is going to be major-league experience for this guy and eventually he might be like Howie (Kendrick) — struggle, figure it out and take off. He might be like (Erick) Aybar — play okay, figure it out and get to your level. Maybe he’s like Kendry Morales and, boom, it clicks and he does what Kendry did. We don’t know. We don’t have a crystal ball. But right now he’s not going to get any better outside of seeing major-league pitching and starting to adjust from that. So, yeah, he’s ready for that challenge. But there’s a lot of things obviously moving forward this winter that are out of his control.”

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Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Chone Figgins • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Mike Scioscia • Uncategorized | 26 Comments »

Game 4 summary: Simply too much Sabathia for Angels

October 20th, 2009, 8:40 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Joe Buck’s constant fawning over Joe Girardi decisions would have been fine Tuesday night — if only the Fox play-by-play man was talking about Game 3, and the Yankees manager’s bullpen strategy.

Not even this helped (Getty Images)

Not even this helped (Getty Images)

It’s Girardi’s bullpen, and he knows best how to use it. If he doesn’t think David Robertson is a good matchup for Howie Kendrick, he has much more insight into it than I do. Plus, Robertson is only 24 and coming off a September injury.

But Buck lauded Girardi more than once during Game 4 for starting CC Sabathia and, apparently, having Alex Rodriguez batting fourth.

Sheer genius, that.

Buck and partner Tim McCarver later applauded Sabathia for appearing like he was ready to pitch before the game. If the lefty had looked otherwise, it would have been a big story.

The Angels for the most part did not look good against baseball’s highest-paid pitcher.

Santana Sabathia was particularly dynamic against the top of the Angels batting order. As Buck noted, Sabathia was still clocking 94 mph in the eighth. It was too much for Chone Figgins, Bobby Abreu, and Torii Hunter.

They were a combind 0 for 10 in the 10-1 loss that puts the Angels’ season on the brink.

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Posted in: Angels • Brandon Wood • Chone Figgins • Ervin Santana • Jeff Mathis • John Lackey • New York Yankees • Scott Kazmir • Torii Hunter • • • • • • | 21 Comments »

Why it is so amazing the Angels are where they are

October 13th, 2009, 11:05 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

new-bloom-mug-for-ocrcom4Not to go totally negative on some Angels fans in these hours of elation over the sweep of Boston, and anticipation of another showdown with the Yankees, but:

–  The Angels are where they are today, despite not firing Manager Mike Scioscia for the horrid lineup cards he writes, some of which include Jeff Mathis. And, horror of horrors, some of his lineups have Vladimir Guerrero batting fourth.

Mathis

Mathis

–  The Angels are where they are today, despite not firing hitting instructor Mickey Hatcher, who has apparently been holding the Angels back all these years (and playoff trips). They must not have listened to him this year.

– The Angels are where they are today, despite losing Mark Teixeira and Frankie Rodriguez to free agency, and Tony Reagins making those questionable signings of Brian Fuentes, Bobby Abreu, Darren Oliver and Juan Rivera.

– The Angels are where they are today, despite not trading for either a “big bat,” or Roy Halladay (by the way, which team that traded for a big bat is still in the playoffs?).

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Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Brian Fuentes • Chone Figgins • Darren Oliver • Erick Aybar • Former Angels • Francisco Rodriguez • Jeff Mathis • Kendry Morales • Mark Teixeira • Mickey Hatcher • Mike Scioscia • Tony Reagins • Vladimir Guerrero • • • | 12 Comments »

Abreu joins exclusive company (lineups)

October 2nd, 2009, 6:19 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

OAKLAND

When Bobby Abreu steps into the batter’s box in the top of the first inning tonight, he will be stepping into a pretty impressive club.

It will be Abreu’s 150th game of the season. This is the 12th consecutive season Abreu has played at least 150 games.

Only four other players in baseball history can match that — Willie Mays (13 seasons, 1954-66), Billy Williams (12 seasons, 192-73), Pete Rose (12 seasons, 1969-80) and Cal Ripken Jr. (12 seasons, 1982-93).

And Abreu still needs just one stolen base to reach 30 for the season and become only the second player in Angels history to steal 30 bases and drive in 100 runs in the same season. Bobby Bonds had 41 steals and 115 RBI in 1977.

Erick Aybar (bruised right hand) and Howie Kendrick (staph infection, right knee) are unavailable tonight but Angels manager Mike Scioscia said both would probably play tomorrow.

Tonight’s lineups:

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins

RF Bobby Abreu

CF Torii Hunter

DH Vladimir Guerrero

LF Juan Rivera

1B Kendry Morales

C  Mike Napoli

SS Brandon Wood

2B Freddy Sandoval

RHP Jered Weaver

A’S

3B Adam Kennedy

CF Rajai Davis

C  Kurt Suzuki

DH Jack Cust

1B Daric Barton

2B Mark Ellis

LF Eric Patterson

RF Matt Carson

SS Cliff Pennington

LHP Gio Gonzalez

Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Chone Figgins • Jered Weaver • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Maicer Izturis • Mike Napoli • Oakland A's • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero | Post a Comment »

Santana odd man out for playoffs (lineups)

October 1st, 2009, 2:25 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

ANAHEIM

Angels manager Mike Scioscia finally confirmed today that the Angels’ post-season rotation is set and Ervin Santana will “most likely” go to the bullpen for the first-round series against the Red Sox.

After John Lackey makes his final tuneup start today, it will be Jered Weaver’s turn tomorrow, Scott Kazmir Saturday and Joe Saunders on Sunday. Santana will pitch out of the bullpen once during the weekend series in Oakland.

Scioscia said he reserves the right to “tinker” with that setup if necessary — but that’s not likely at this point. Look for Lackey and Weaver in Games 1 and 2 next week, Kazmir and Saunders in Games 3 and 4 (in Boston).

This is what Santana had to say about pitching out of the bullpen in the post-season (look for more at www.ocregister.com later).

“If we win the World Series it’s not going to say who was in the bullpen and who was starting, is it?”

Today’s lineups (with a post-game rally set for approximately 6 p.m.)

ANGELS

SS Maicer Izturis

CF Reggie Willits

1B Kendry Morales

DH Vladimir Guerrero

LF Juan Rivera

3B Brandon Wood

C  Jeff Mathis

2B Freddy Sandoval

RF Terry Evans

RHP John Lackey

RANGERS

LF Julio Borbon

SS Elvis Andrus

RF David Murphy

1B Andruw Jones

2B Ian Kinsler

DH Chris Davis

3B Omar Vizquel

C   Taylor Teagarden

CF Craig Gentry

RHP Kevin Millwood

Posted in: Angels • Brandon Wood • Ervin Santana • Freddy Sandoval • Jeff Mathis • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • John Lackey • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Maicer Izturis • Scott Kazmir • Texas Rangers • Vladimir Guerrero | Post a Comment »

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