Los Angeles Angels Notes
The Angels will pay $11 million to Gary Matthews Jr. this season even though he's not playing for them
The Blue Jays flipped Mike Napoli to the Rangers for Frank Francisco. Who would you rather have as your closer? Frank Francisco or Fernando Rodney? I really wouldn't want either but for now the it looks like the Angels are stuck with Rodney.
For what its worth - Baseball-Reference.com lists Andre Dawson as the most similar batter through age 31 season to Vernon Wells. In his age 32 season Dawson left his Canadian team (the Expos) and exploded for his new team hitting 49 HR with 137 RBI (both led the league) for the Cubs. Could Wells have a similar rebirth with the Angels? Winning an MVP like Dawson may be asking too much for Wells but I do think Wells could be a sleeper.
Also for what its worth - Baseball-Reference.com lists Dontrelle Willis as the most similar pitcher to Scott Kazmir. That's not a good thing.
Unless he has a monster season I'm guessing the Angels won't pick up Kazmir's $13.5 million option for 2012. Combine that money saved with the $11 million coming off the books for Gary Matthews Jr. and it looks like the Angels will be active in the free agent market come wintertime. Prince Fielder? Heath Bell? Jonathan Papelbon?
Chris Lynch's slanted view on sports, politics and entertainment. Please send thoughts or comments to chris.lynch@gmail.com
Showing posts with label Scott Kazmir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Kazmir. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday Morning Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations from a Sunday morning.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. No beer? This is so sad." I agree. What's minor league baseball without beer? (As an aside - Stan Grossfeld always seems to come up with these great stories)... Truth in advertising? Not so much in this case... Just saying but the Josh McDaniels situation is very similar to the way things were going for Bill Belichick in Cleveland. A quarterback controversy and people complaining that the coach is not ready and in over his head. Sure the situations aren't exact but still close enough for me to mention it... Interesting - winners wear red... The Scott Kazmir trade was a salary dump pure and simple. In eight starts since the All-Star break, Scott Kazmir was 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA. He was helping the Rays win games and remain competitive. However, the sad truth is that the Rays are 10th in attendance among 14 AL teams - an average of 24,169 fans. The last-place Orioles have outdrawn the defending AL champs! They just couldn't risk Kazmir not playing up to his contract so they had to dump him in order to use their slim resources for more pressing players like Carl Crawford... In order to get to the Angels - the Red Sox had to pass over Kazmir. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when the Boston front office was weighing the option to claim Kazmir... Today would have been Ted Williams' 91st birthday. It disgusts me that his head and body remain in frozen "biostasis" limbo... Today is also Celtics' great Robert Parrish's 56th birthday. Happy birthday Chief...
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations from a Sunday morning.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. No beer? This is so sad." I agree. What's minor league baseball without beer? (As an aside - Stan Grossfeld always seems to come up with these great stories)... Truth in advertising? Not so much in this case... Just saying but the Josh McDaniels situation is very similar to the way things were going for Bill Belichick in Cleveland. A quarterback controversy and people complaining that the coach is not ready and in over his head. Sure the situations aren't exact but still close enough for me to mention it... Interesting - winners wear red... The Scott Kazmir trade was a salary dump pure and simple. In eight starts since the All-Star break, Scott Kazmir was 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA. He was helping the Rays win games and remain competitive. However, the sad truth is that the Rays are 10th in attendance among 14 AL teams - an average of 24,169 fans. The last-place Orioles have outdrawn the defending AL champs! They just couldn't risk Kazmir not playing up to his contract so they had to dump him in order to use their slim resources for more pressing players like Carl Crawford... In order to get to the Angels - the Red Sox had to pass over Kazmir. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when the Boston front office was weighing the option to claim Kazmir... Today would have been Ted Williams' 91st birthday. It disgusts me that his head and body remain in frozen "biostasis" limbo... Today is also Celtics' great Robert Parrish's 56th birthday. Happy birthday Chief...
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I was busy at work and honestly I was in a funk blogging wise. I just didn't have the interest to post anything. Anyone who blogs knows that funk... Brandon Marshall is a dope. Don Banks was spot on with his assessment of the situation. If I were the Broncos - I'd publicly announce that the first team to pony up a first round draft pick can have him and I'd keep Marshall suspended until a team came up with the trade. What team would want to purposely invite this cancer of a player into their lockerroom? Chances are barring a serious injury to a team's number one receiver Marshall could stay home the whole season... Happy 140th birthday to the Mt Washington Cog Railway. I've climbed Mt Washington a few times and have also taken the Cog. Lots of fun... Scott Kazmir was supposed to be the Rays ace this year. Instead he gets traded because he sports a 6.00 ERA. Just saying but if Kazmir was a hitter people would be blaming his regression on PED's.... Nothing explains how dumb ESPN can be better than their fascination this week with the word "schism". It seems nobody at ESPN had ever heard that word before and "giggle, giggle" it sound just like jism. Some of the people laughing at the word supposedly have journalism degrees. Their alma maters must be so proud...
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I was busy at work and honestly I was in a funk blogging wise. I just didn't have the interest to post anything. Anyone who blogs knows that funk... Brandon Marshall is a dope. Don Banks was spot on with his assessment of the situation. If I were the Broncos - I'd publicly announce that the first team to pony up a first round draft pick can have him and I'd keep Marshall suspended until a team came up with the trade. What team would want to purposely invite this cancer of a player into their lockerroom? Chances are barring a serious injury to a team's number one receiver Marshall could stay home the whole season... Happy 140th birthday to the Mt Washington Cog Railway. I've climbed Mt Washington a few times and have also taken the Cog. Lots of fun... Scott Kazmir was supposed to be the Rays ace this year. Instead he gets traded because he sports a 6.00 ERA. Just saying but if Kazmir was a hitter people would be blaming his regression on PED's.... Nothing explains how dumb ESPN can be better than their fascination this week with the word "schism". It seems nobody at ESPN had ever heard that word before and "giggle, giggle" it sound just like jism. Some of the people laughing at the word supposedly have journalism degrees. Their alma maters must be so proud...
Monday, July 07, 2008
Tampa Bay Rays Starting Pitching
The Boston Red Sox are very careful about overworking young pitchers. You can see this in how they are handling Clay Buchholz. The Yankees are treating Joba Chamberlain in a similar manner. I was curious about how the Tampa Bay Rays pitching will look at the end of the season and if possibly - overwork could be a factor down the stretch. Here's what I found.
James Shields is on pace to pitch 215 innings - the same as he did last season.
Andy Sonnanstine is on pace to pitch 201 innings this season - also the exact same number as he pitched in 2007 (MLB and minors combined)
Edwin Jackson, however, is on pace to pitch 192 innings. Jackson has never pitched more than 161 in a season.
Matt Garza is on pace to pitch 168 innings when the most he's pitched in the past is 135.
Scott Kazmir is on pace for only 133 inning because he spent so much time on the DL to start the season. His arm should be relatively rested and I'd guess he'll end up with much more than 133 innings but well shy of the 206 he pitched last year.
Fatigue probably is a concern for the Tampa front office in regards to both Jackson and Garza. David Price will probably be called up to give Jackson or Garza some rest but injury to one of the Rays starting pitching could be a huge issue. That's why I expect them to be active in the trade market for a starter like a Randy Wolf or possibly Rich Harden.
It should also be noted that going into today - Tampa Bay has played 11 more home games than road games so far this season. The Red Sox have played 9 more road games than home games. I've said it before - but when that even out - the Red Sox will be back in first place.
The Boston Red Sox are very careful about overworking young pitchers. You can see this in how they are handling Clay Buchholz. The Yankees are treating Joba Chamberlain in a similar manner. I was curious about how the Tampa Bay Rays pitching will look at the end of the season and if possibly - overwork could be a factor down the stretch. Here's what I found.
James Shields is on pace to pitch 215 innings - the same as he did last season.
Andy Sonnanstine is on pace to pitch 201 innings this season - also the exact same number as he pitched in 2007 (MLB and minors combined)
Edwin Jackson, however, is on pace to pitch 192 innings. Jackson has never pitched more than 161 in a season.
Matt Garza is on pace to pitch 168 innings when the most he's pitched in the past is 135.
Scott Kazmir is on pace for only 133 inning because he spent so much time on the DL to start the season. His arm should be relatively rested and I'd guess he'll end up with much more than 133 innings but well shy of the 206 he pitched last year.
Fatigue probably is a concern for the Tampa front office in regards to both Jackson and Garza. David Price will probably be called up to give Jackson or Garza some rest but injury to one of the Rays starting pitching could be a huge issue. That's why I expect them to be active in the trade market for a starter like a Randy Wolf or possibly Rich Harden.
It should also be noted that going into today - Tampa Bay has played 11 more home games than road games so far this season. The Red Sox have played 9 more road games than home games. I've said it before - but when that even out - the Red Sox will be back in first place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)