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Archive for the 'Francisco Rodriguez' Category

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Bloggers like Mike

November 17th, 2009, 5:42 pm by Mark Whicker, ocregister.com

I don’t know how I missed this. but on Nov. 9 the Sports Bloggers’ Nation came out with its American League Manager of the Year poll, , and SBN says Mike Scioscia is the winner. On Wednesday, the BBWAA concurred and gave Scioscia his second such award.

"that was strike 4"

"that was strike 4"

There were two voters from one AL blog per city, presumably, and they voted for three managers, just as the writers do.

 

1. Scioscia, 72 (9-8-3)
2. Ron Gardenhire, 61 (9-5-1)

3. Don Wakamatsu, 47(6-3-8)

4. Joe Girardi, 24 (2-4-2)

5. Ron Washington, 21 (1-4-4)

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Posted in: Francisco Rodriguez • Mark Teixeira • Mike Scioscia | 2 Comments »

End not the desired result, but far from one predicted by many

October 25th, 2009, 10:38 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

new-bloom-mug-for-ocrcom10Wow. I bet some of you never thought it would end this way.

Surely, the Angels would’ve been swept by the Boston Red Sox in  the first round of the playoffs again.

In July, there was no way the Angels could cope with the improved Texas Rangers.

And, in April, all those Oakland Athletics ALCS Angels Yankees Baseballoffseason moves clearly indicated a changing of the guard atop the AL West (just ask PECOTA).

Even before then, the Angels’ fate was sealed when Mark Teixeira and Frankie Rodriguez got away (there might be some truth about Teixeira, since he finally got a big hit for New York — but not $20 million worth more than the year Kendry Morales had).

The Angels somehow overcame the devastating loss of Nick Adenhart, and got this far.

Their season finally ended on a cold Sunday night at new Yankee Stadium, when New York finally closed them out in Game Six and earned its first World Series berth since 2003.

And, it might mean saying goodbye to Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins (right), John Lackey,  Bobby Abreu and others.

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Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Boston Red Sox • Chone Figgins • Darren Oliver • Former Angels • Francisco Rodriguez • John Lackey • Kendry Morales • Mark Teixeira • New York Yankees • Nick Adenhart • Oakland A's • Texas Rangers • Vladimir Guerrero • | 11 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 »

K-Rod gets slammed by Nationals youngster

September 30th, 2009, 6:17 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

new-bloom-mug-for-ocrcom1This just in, for the particular attention of those who have fussed, fretted and whined over Brian Fuentes’ frailties en route to Mets Nationals Baseballanother Angels’ AL West title:

Former Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez suffered his seventh blown save of the season when Washington scored five runs off him in the ninth inning Wednesday.

The deciding blow in Washington’s 7-4 victory over the New York Mets was a two-out grand slam by the Nationals’ Justin Maxwell, his fifth career major-league homer.

It was the seventh homer allowed by Mets closer in his first National League season; Rodriguez, above right, allowed a total of seven in his final two Angels seasons. He has 34 saves, but also a 3.72 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

This is not a knock on the Angels former closer, who set a major-league record with 62 saves last season. Stuff like this happens to closers; sometimes it takes a year to even out (see Lidge, Brad). Rodriguez, an All-Star, is still one of the best in the game; he might as well have a few off-games, because the rest of the Mets certainly have done so.

I just think it’s funny that Fuentes, who has saved 46 but blown 7,  has caused so much hand-wringing by everyone except Mike Scioscia. And isn’t it weird, how the Angels closer always seems to have the most saves?

Posted in: Angels • Brian Fuentes • Former Angels • Francisco Rodriguez • Mike Scioscia • • | 7 Comments »

How should Angels set playoff roster?

September 21st, 2009, 10:25 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

It’s that time of year again when Angels manager Mike Scioscia channels Jim Mora when anyone mentions the ‘P’ word.

“Playoffs?!?!? Is that what we’re talking about — playoffs?!?!?”

Reluctant as their manager is to admit it publicly, the Angels are all but certain to win their division for the fifth time in the past six seasons and qualify for the playoffs for the sixth time in the past eight years.

That means it will soon be time to set their post-season roster.

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Posted in: Angels • Brandon Wood • Francisco Rodriguez • Jose Arredondo • Justin Speier • Kevin Jepsen • Mike Scioscia • Reggie Willits • Robb Quinlan | 5 Comments »

See who is playing well: It’s as easy as WBC

September 10th, 2009, 6:00 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

The much-maligned World Baseball Classic has been blamed for every injury suffered since by any of its participants.US Venezuela World Baseball Classic

Yes, the Mets had the most players in the WBC, and their roster has been decimated by injuries. But am I supposed to believe getting hit in the head by a Matt Cain fastball in August has anything to do with David Wright playing for Team USA in March?

Despite the handicap of playing in the WBC, Miguel Cabrera (Venezuela) and Derek Jeter (Team USA) will finish in the top three for American League Most Valuable Player — if one of them doesn’t win it over Joe Mauer (who wasn’t on the U.S. roster).

That’s Cabrera on the right, before he put on his Detroit Tigers uniform.

Those two aren’t the only two WBC players to have survived the injury bug and thrive. It’s nearly impossible to even cut it to a 25-man roster, even excluding Wright, who is back from his concusssion and doing well except for not hitting home runs.

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Posted in: Bobby Abreu • Francisco Rodriguez • World Baseball Classic • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Growing it at home

August 31st, 2009, 9:50 am by MARK SAXON, OCREGISTER.COM

A lot of the people who deserve credit for the Angels’ success over the last eight years get almost none of it.lackey

A key reason the Angels have been so competitive under Mike Scioscia is the steady stream of homegrown pitching talent coming from their system. It started with Ramon Ortiz, then went to John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez. Later, it was Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders. Now, we’re seeing Kevin Jepsen and (maybe) Jose Arredondo start to figure it out.

Handing out giant contracts to free-agent pitchers is a great way to weigh down a franchise (right, Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt?).

Lackey’s milestone Sunday was a good indicator. From Elias:

Since 1973, four pitchers who made their big-league debuts with the Angels went on to win at least 100 games (Lackey, Frank Tanana, Mike Witt and Chuck Finley). Only one other teams has had more homegrown 100-game winners: the Toronto Blue Jays, with Jim Clancy, Dave Stieb, Jimmy Key, Pat Hentgen and Roy Halladay.

Posted in: Angels • Arte Moreno • Former Angels • Francisco Rodriguez • John Lackey • Mike Scioscia | Post a Comment »

Schaudenfrankie

August 7th, 2009, 10:08 pm by Sam Miller, The Orange County Register

Francisco Rodriguez just gave up a walk-off grand slam to Everett Evereth Everth Cabrera and the Padres. Cabrera was 0 for 3 with three Ks coming into the at-bat. That’s Frankie’s fifth blown save in his last 13 attempts.

Frankie’s got a 3.31 ERA, and his peripherals (K’s, walks and home runs allowed) suggest he’s actually closer to a 4.00 pitcher right now.

Posted in: Francisco Rodriguez | 28 Comments »

HoJo motivates woeful Mets simply by being honest

July 29th, 2009, 7:00 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Mets Marlins Spring BaseballAt least someone in the New York Mets organization knows how to motivate players.

And Howard Johnson didn’t even have to take off his shirt.

On Friday, the Mets hitting coach — pictured visiting with former Angels manager Cookie Rojas – said the hitters in New York’s patchwork lineup were “just not good enough.”

Since Saturday, New York has outscored Houston and Colorado by a combined 29-9  in four consecutive victories, two each over the Astros and Rockies, to rekindle New York’s playoff hopes.

Coincidence? Probably. These things are usually cyclical, and the Mets were going to get hot again, at least short-term.

Suddenly, the Mets are winning so handily, they haven’t needed a save from Francisco Rodriguez in the streak — although the ex-Angels closer mopped up in the ninth Saturday and Monday.

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Posted in: Former Angels • Francisco Rodriguez • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

K-Rod also had confrontation with Mets exec Bernazard

July 23rd, 2009, 5:30 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

my-mug219It seems Tony Bernazard doesn’t hassle just the Mets’ Double-A players.Red Sox Mets Baseball

All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez told the New York Post on Wednesday that he had a recent confrontation with New York’s vice president of player development.

K-Rod declined to give details of last week’s incident in Atlanta, but let’s just hope Bernazard kept his shirt on this time.

He allegedly stripped down and challenged several Double-A Binghamton players to fight him two weeks ago.

Rodriguez, who set the major-league single-season saves record in 2008 with the Angels, reportedly was upset because  Bernazard was browbeating K-Rod’s fellow Mets relievers.

K-Rod has converted 23 of 26 saves, but has not had an opportunity since the All-Star break. He has a 1.81 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a .174 BAA. He also pitched a scoreless inning for the NL in the All-Star Game.

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Posted in: Angels • Former Angels • Francisco Rodriguez • • • • • • • • • • | 8 Comments »

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