Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Like the rest of their division, the Angels are average. They're in the middle of the pack in hitting and pitching, barely over .500, yet just 3.5 games behind the first place A's, but also just 2.5 games ahead of the last-place M's. Ho hum.
If there's anything compelling about this Angels team, which is enduring Vlad Guerrero's least productive season since he was a 21-year-old rookie with the Expos in 1997, it's the glimpses into their future this season has brought. Jered Weaver, Howie Kendrick, Kendry Moralis, Mike Napoli and tonight's starter Joe Saunders have all made their major league debuts this season, though with varying success.
As for Saunders, he's made three starts since being called up to replaced the injured Bartolo Colon in the rotation, each of them nearly identical to the next. Here's his average line: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 5 K. He did something like that against Cleveland, Oakland and Texas in his first three starts, winning each. Tonight, however, will be his first major league road start. It will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old lefty from Falls Church, Virgina responds to his first appearance in Yankee Stadium.
Cory Lidle, meanwhile, will be making just his second start as a Yankee, both coming in home pinstripes. In his last, eight days ago, he held the Blue Jays to one run on a solo homer by rookie Ryan Roberts, allowing just three other hits, walking two and striking out five in six innings on a brutally hot afternoon (the box score temperature was 97 degrees and you know it was well into triple digits on the field). With the weather having cooled nicely (beautifully, in fact, current temp is 77 with a soft breeze), the hope is that Lidle can go deeper tonight. After all, it only took him 80 pitches to get through those six innings last week.
Los Angeles de Los Angeles de Anaheim
2006 Record: 59-56 (.513)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 59-56 (.516)
Manager: Mike Scioscia
General Manager: Bill Stoneman
Home Ballpark (2005 Park Factors): Angel Stadium (96/96)
Who's Replaced Whom?
Current Roster
1B – Casey Kotchman (L)
2B – Adam Kennedy (L)
SS – Orlando Cabrera (R)
3B – Maicer Izturis (S)
C – Jose Molina (R)
RF – Vladimir Guerrero (R)
CF – Chone Figgins (S)
LF – Garret Anderson (L)
DH – Juan Rivera (R)
Bench:
R – Tim Salmon (OF)
R – Robb Quinlan (IF)
L – Curtis Pride (OF)
R – Michael Napoli (C)
Rotation:
R – Jered Weaver
R – John Lackey
R – Ervin Santana
L – Joe Saunders
R – Kelvim Escobar
Bullpen:
R – Francisco Rodriguez
R – Scot Shields
L – J.C. Romero
R - Brendan Donnelly
R – Hector Carrasco
R – Kevin Gregg
R – Chris Bootcheck
DL: R – Bartolo Colon, L – Darin Erstad (OF), L – Casey Kotchman (1B), L – Dallas McPherson (3B)
Typical Lineup
S – Chone Figgins (CF)
S – Maicer Izturis (3B)
R – Orlando Cabrera (SS)
R – Vladimir Guerrero (RF)
R – Juan Rivera (DH)
L – Garret Anderson (LF)
R – Howie Kendrick (1B)
L – Adam Kennedy (2B)
R – Jose Molina (C)
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Craig Wilson 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Sal Fasano C
Nick Green 2B
Chone Figgins CF
Maicer Izturis 3B
Orlando Cabrera SS
Vladimir Guerrero RF
Garret Anderson DH
Juan Rivera LF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Robb Quinlan 1B
Mike Napoli C
I assume they picked tonight because there's a southpaw on the mound.
Even though I've only been there once, I sometimes refer to myself as "Los Angeles Kyle of Phoenix"
San Francisco to Oakland and Downtown L.A. to Anaheim take about the same time during rush hours.
I have no idea how long it would take to go from Midtown Manhattan to East Rutherford to go watch the New York football teams.
>> Jorge Posada is out of the lineup to get a little rest. The trainers also suggested that Robinson Cano get a little break to make sure his hamstring is OK. . . . Hideki Matsui's next examination is not until Monday. There had been reports it would be today but something literally got lost in translation. . . . Gary Sheffield was on the field before the game and took some throws at first base. Interesting. <<
In other news Tubby Wells got out of the 1st at the Fens without giving up a run.
Awesome.
I'm gonna go with the 5th based on our performance so far.
Its time to move Jason to cleanup, and ARod to 5th.
I also hate Chone Figgins.
See, this is why I hate the Angels. Because some .700 OPS douche like a Garret Anderson, or Adam Kennedy, or Maicer Izturis will always kill us. Guys with OPS like those aren't supposed to kill us. If it was Vlad, whatever, but it's some of the worst players in the league.
Oh damn, I do NOT want a repeat of Saturday.
I can't understand why the Angels aren't in 1st in that weak division with the young pitching and semi-effective offense.
Joe Saunders is PITCHING A PREFECT GAME. Joe Saunders is PITCHING A NO-HITTER. Joe Saunders is PITCHING A SHUTOUT. Joe Saunders is PITCHING A QUALITY START.
There, that should jinx him.
70 We've been off for a week. Well, a rookie lefty put us in a slump, another one will pull us out.
And in walks Sidney Ponson. Goodnight everyone!
He gave up on the game (Not like what stupid FANS like me do, when we SAY something like "screw this") and took out Lidle at 79 pitches down 3-1 into the 5th inning. Pure idiocy, unless Lidle is injured.
And now this game really is pretty much done. (Unless Lidle is injured) Screw you Joe, and a big Screw YOU to the offense for a week of horrible baseball.
The reply on 9 certainly made it clear that A-Rod didn't get his body in front of that ball. Oh well.
Of course, he wasn't pitching that good either. But Sidney Pontoon?
I say even, just because Abreu's at-bats take forever.
At least the Columbus Clippers are winning. Though this year, never underestimate their ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Hmm. The other manager was just ejected. And Carlos Pena struck out, stranding Bubba Crosby on 2B.
I'm not knocking him badly. Just that he's had a lot of these bad at-bats, as has A-Rod. We need those two to consistently produce. And they can't do that. Consistency is the key with them. They give us a game or two where they hit then go to sleep for a couple of games, then back on. It's rather frustrating.
Why did we get him again?
I predict no runs and some combo of a dp and k. Damon doesn't even get to bat.
But he should have been out. They missed a very catchable pop up.
Maybe this will be a turning point...
1)Taking Lidle out after 4 IP, 3 IP. WTF? That made NO SENSE!
2)Bottom of the 7th, enough said.
But let Robby rest. We'll need him down the stretch.
Besides, as Yu-Hsing has pointed out, Robby hits great with bags empty, but not so good with RISP. He's kind of like the anti-Cairo.
In fact, Nick Green and Robby Cano have almost identical BAs with RISP.
Every Yankee has a tattoo that says Shields beyotch.
Here's a look at how he's shut us down:
2004 -- 2-0, 0.00 era, 4g, 8.1 ip, 5h 2bb 7k, 1.61 bavg
2005 -- 7g, 7.1 ip, 0.00 era, 4h 2bb 6k .160 bavg
2006 -- 2g, 2.2 ip, 1h, 1bb, 1k, .125 bavg (coming into tonight.)
And, like clockwork, he gets a bunt dp. Crap.
Greem was bunting for a base hit. Not a bad idea. Bad execution. Worse running by Zappa. Killed a rally.
172 Yep, ever since Mora did that stupid tag and fall on him last Saturday.
167 I don't take too much stock on those numbers. How many ABs are we talking about here? Cano is simply a better hitter than Green, and it's a favorable RHP/LHB match up. I would look more at Cano's numbers versus RHP.
When there are runners on, pitchers don't give him anything to hit. But he swings anyway.
I don't understand why Cairo's numbers are so much better with runners on, though.
I'm still pissed that we came into this game with a 3 game lead and not 5 or 7 as it should've been.
I'm actually not all that against the sac bunt in that situation, though. green just didn't get the bunt down.
Also, think they respect Melky these days? F-Rod comes in to face him.
I just loath the Angels.
All this wailing over the demise of the Red Sox is waaaay premature. Especially with the Yanks soiling it up this week.
How many guys have an OBP .157 pts higher then their BA?
I am so glad I was out to dinner during that 7th. I think I would have smashed my TV in. Someone send Joe a copy of any book based on statistical analysis.
Giambi has become completely one dimensional it seems. Its out, walk or HR. He has 86 hits, 33 of which are HR.
I think they see it as a challenge. Hitting the other way would be giving in.
And oh yeah, we lost to the Angels, again...
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