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Type A/B free agent rankings

November 9th, 2009, 2:38 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

Elias Sports Bureau (keepers of all things statistical) has released its official rankings of this year’s free-agent class.

Free agents ranked in  the top 20 percent at their position by Elias are considered Type A free agents. Players ranked in the 21-40 percent range at their position are Type B free agents.

This is important for one reason — compensation. This can have a big impact on a free agent’s attractiveness to suitors (and how anxious their former team is for them to leave).

A team losing a Type A free agent receives two draft picks as compensation – either the first- or second-round pick of the signing team (depending on that team’s record the previous season) and a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds.

A team losing a Type B free agent receives just one sandwich pick as compensation.

This past June, the Angels had five of the first 48 picks in the draft including two first-rounders thanks to compensation for losing free agents Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez and Jon Garland last winter.

They could be in for a similar windfall next June with potential departees John Lackey, Chone Figgins and Darren Oliver ranked as Type A’s and Vladimir Guerrero a Type B.

Teams have to offer arbitration to their free agents in order to receive compensation. That deadline will come along in December.

Here are this year’s Type A and B rankings. Keep in mind that some players have contract options which might keep them from becoming free agents:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • Boston Red Sox • Chone Figgins • Dodgers • Garret Anderson • John Lackey • Kelvim Escobar • New York Yankees • Oakland A's • Seattle Mariners • Texas Rangers • Vladimir Guerrero | 4 Comments »

Early odds for 2010 World Series

November 5th, 2009, 3:13 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

For what it’s worth (not much), here are the odds to make the 2010 World Series, via www.Bodog.com.

New York Yankees 11/4
Boston Red Sox 13/2
Philadelphia Phillies 9/1
Los Angeles Angels 10/1
St. Louis Cardinals 10/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 11/1
Chicago Cubs 15/1
New York Mets 15/1
Tampa Bay Rays 15/1
Atlanta Braves 18/1
Colorado Rockies 18/1
Chicago White Sox 22/1
Detroit Tigers 25/1
Florida Marlins 25/1
Minnesota Twins 25/1
San Francisco Giants 25/1
Texas Rangers 25/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 40/1
Cincinnati Reds 45/1
Milwaukee Brewers 45/1
Oakland Athletics 45/1
Cleveland Indians 50/1
Seattle Mariners 50/1
Toronto Blue Jays 60/1
Baltimore Orioles 75/1
Houston Astros 75/1
San Diego Padres 75/1
Kansas City Royals 100/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 100/1
Washington Nationals 100/1

Posted in: Angels • Boston Red Sox • New York Yankees • Oakland A's • Seattle Mariners • Texas Rangers | 2 Comments »

Here’s the free-agent shopping list

November 5th, 2009, 10:21 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

Today is the first day eligible players can file for free agency. They have 15 days to file. Until those 15 days are over, players can only negotiate with their most recent team.

Here is the full list of 183 eligible players (with some players’ eligibility contingent on contract options):

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Posted in: Angels • Boston Red Sox • Dodgers • New York Yankees • Oakland A's • Seattle Mariners • Texas Rangers | 1 Comment »

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 »

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 »

Bit by bit, inch by inch ….

September 30th, 2009, 5:40 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

ANAHEIM

… Mike Scioscia is revealing his pitching plans.

Today’s revelation? John Lackey will make his scheduled start tomorrow but it will be a shortened appearance.

That will give Lackey at least five days’ rest before a Game 1 start next week against the Red Sox — which Scioscia is still not ready to confirm.

Scott Kazmir will start Saturday with Jered Weaver likely to go Friday and Joe Saunders on Sunday. That would set up the playoff rotation as expected — Lackey and Weaver for Games 1 and 2 at home, Kazmir and Saunders in Games 3 and 4 in Boston.

Tonight’s lineups:

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins

SS Erick Aybar

CF Torii Hunter

DH Vladimir Guerrero

LF Juan Rivera

1B Kendry Morales

2B Maicer Izturis

RF Gary Matthews Jr.

C  Mike Napoli

RHP Matt Palmer

RANGERS

DH Julio Borbon

3B Michael Young

LF David Murphy

1B Hank Blalock

2B Ian Kinsler

RF Nelson Cruz

SS Elvis Andrus

C  Ivan Rodriguez

CF Craig Gentry

LHP Derek Holland

Posted in: Angels • Boston Red Sox • Chone Figgins • Erick Aybar • Gary Matthews • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • John Lackey • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Maicer Izturis • Matt Palmer • Mike Napoli • Mike Scioscia • Scott Kazmir • Texas Rangers • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero | Post a Comment »

Angels begin pre-playoff shuffle

September 29th, 2009, 5:57 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

ANAHEIM

Midway through last night’s division-clinching celebration, Scott Kazmir said Angels manager Mike Scioscia came up to him and told him he would not be starting today’s game.

Sean O’Sullivan is taking Kazmir’s turn tonight. Jered Weaver won’t start as originally scheduled tomorrow either as the Angels start to shuffle their rotation in preparation for the playoffs.

Anything beyond that, though, Scioscia is guarding like a state secret.

“We’re looking at a couple things,” he said today, reaching for his go-to response when he doesn’t want to answer a question.

He did say each starter would get one more outing this season — though that might come “piggybacking” on another starter making a shortened start.

“There’s a lot of things we’re considering and as things start to clarify by the end of the week we’ll have everything announced,” he said.

Enlightening, huh?

One thing could be clarified as early as tonight. If the Red Sox win or the Angels beat the Rangers, the Red Sox clinch the wild card. 

Here’s my look at how the playoff roster could shape up.

Tonight’s lineups with Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera, Erick Aybar and Kendry Morales getting the first of what figures to be rotating days off:

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins

LF Reggie Willits

RF Bobby Abreu

DH Vladimir Guerrero

CF Gary Matthews Jr.

2B Howie Kendrick

1B Robb Quinlan

SS Brandon Wood

C  Jeff Mathis

RHP Sean O’Sullivan

RANGERS

DH Julio Borbon

3B Michael Young

LF David Murphy

CF Marlon Byrd

1B Hank Blalock

2B Ian Kinsler

RF Nelson Cruz

C  Ivan Rodriguez

SS Elvis Andrus

RHP Scott Feldman

Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Brandon Wood • Chone Figgins • Erick Aybar • Gary Matthews • Howie Kendrick • Jeff Mathis • Jered Weaver • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Mike Scioscia • New York Yankees • Reggie Willits • Robb Quinlan • Scott Kazmir • Sean O'Sullivan • Texas Rangers • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero | Post a Comment »

Everybody loves … clinching

September 28th, 2009, 5:39 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

ANAHEIM

The stress of being one game away from clinching the division title clearly has the Angels on edge. Several of them spent the hour before batting practice today sprawled out on the couch in the home clubhouse watching first “America’s Funniest Home Videos” then “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Name the Raymond episode and you win brownie points (not redeemable for actual brownies).

By the way, those flu-like symptoms that forced catcher Mike Napoli to stay behind in Texas last week have now hit Jeff Mathis, limiting his availability.

The Rangers could be eliminated from both the  AL West and wild-card races tonight.

Tonight’s lineups:

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins

RF Bobby Abreu

CF Torii Hunter

DH Vladimir Guerrero

1B Kendry Morales

LF Juan Rivera

2B Maicer Izturis

C  Mike Napoli

SS Erick Aybar

RHP Ervin Santana

RANGERS

LF Julio Borbon

3B Michael Young

RF David Murphy

CF Marlon Byrd

DH Hank Blalock

2B Ian Kinsler

1B Chris Davis

C  Ivan Rodriguez

SS Elvis Andrus

RHP Tommy Hunter

Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Chone Figgins • Erick Aybar • Ervin Santana • Jeff Mathis • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Maicer Izturis • Mike Napoli • Texas Rangers • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero | 10 Comments »

Angels v. Rangers: When will it end?

September 28th, 2009, 5:09 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM
Backstroke or butterfly for Torii Hunter this year?

Backstroke or butterfly for Torii Hunter this year?

ANAHEIM

When the Angels left Texas a week ago, there was reason to believe the division title would be wrapped up before the Rangers made their final visit to Anaheim this week.

It hasn’t worked out that way  — but it’s closer. The Rangers arrive tonight needing to sweep the series from the Angels to keep the race alive.

Here are the pitching matchups for the four-game series:

Tonight – Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.46) vs. Tommy Hunter (9-4, 3.67)

Santana has a 6.67 ERA in 16 career starts against the Rangers.

Tuesday — Scott Kazmir (9-9, 5.06) vs. Scott Feldman (17-6, 3.90)

Kazmir has a 2.01 ERA in his first five starts with the Angels but only one win. They have scored a total of eight runs while he has been on the mound in those games.

Feldman has a club-record 12 wins on the road this season for the Rangers.

Wednesday — Jered Weaver (15-8, 3.84) vs. Derek Holland (8-12, 6.14)

Weaver has lost his past three starts, allowing 10 runs in 19 1/3 innings.

Holland threw a four-hit shutout in Anaheim back in August.

Thursday — John Lackey (11-8, 3.77) vs. Kevin Millwood (12-10, 3.75).

Lackey has turned in two poor outings in his past two starts (11 runs on 17 hits in 11 innings), one against the Rangers. But things will be decided by the time he takes the mound Thursday — right?

So ... which pitcher will be on the mound when the Angels clinch the division title?
View Results

Posted in: Angels • Ervin Santana • Jered Weaver • Joe Saunders • John Lackey • Scott Kazmir • Texas Rangers | Post a Comment »

Magic number watch: 4

September 24th, 2009, 3:53 pm by MARK SAXON, OCREGISTER.COM

The Rangers got pounded, 12-3, in Oakland today.

That means a combination of Angels wins and Rangers losses totaling four will let the Angels clinch the AL West.

My guess: the bubbly flies Sunday.

Posted in: Angels • Texas Rangers | Post a Comment »

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