Monday, June 11, 2007 |
Pickoff Moves
The Bogus Redemption Of Mickey Hatcher
Now that the Angels are scoring runs by the bushel basketful against a National League Comical Division team, the Times' own Ben Bolch reviews Mickey Hatcher's work and declares it fit for prime-time:So, what do you have to say about Mickey Hatcher now?Well, of course now's the time to come out and say such stuff, yet for an offense as batting-average-dependent as the Angels', the ultimate problem comes when or if the team stops hitting for power and/or getting on base. That is to say, none of this undercuts the basic issues I've had all along with the Angels' offensive contruction: hit the ball hard, preferably out of the park, and take a lot of walks, and you'll win (or at least, you won't be able to blame the offense). Hitting with RISP is the point, of course, but minus the baserunners to knock in (which you get by having high-OBP players), the whole charade collapses.All the Angels hitting coach who was excoriated on radio talk shows and Internet message boards earlier this season has been hearing recently is the crack of his team's sizzling bats.
After batting .315 with 12 homers and averaging six runs during a 10-game homestand, the Angels packed even heavier lumber for their interleague trip. They scored 10 runs Friday and then piled it on again Saturday night with a 9-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
The appearance of this piece means Steven Smith has gotten even more intolerably smug than usual, getting sucked into the "true fan" nonsense that always ends up with the writer so labeled and everyone else not. But what of it? None of it detracts from my larger point made this time last year: Hatcher is a figurehead for those things ailing the Angels' offense. Firing him, and him alone, wouldn't have cured the Angels' fixation with posting slap-hitting middle-infield types at third (admittedly a function of the team's inability to keep their third basemen healthy, or at all), or letting career Angels get starting jobs instead of better, younger players. The problems are systemic, and start with the notion that the organization can't develop young players who walk a lot.
Cranky Santana
Bitch, bitch, bitch:"Are you guys happy now?" Santana said to reporters gathered around him in the clubhouse after the Angels' 9-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, prompting one to retort, "Are you?"Well, if you put it that way, I'm not happy, either. After all, Santana figures he's 5-0."No, I'm not," he said without elaborating.
...
"It's nothing different," he said. "But you guys don't remember that. You guys only remember the bad things."
Pay-Rod To The Angels?
Oh, pshaw, Filip:It is very hard to come up with a logical case for A-Rod staying in New York, from his point of view. There is a big check, plus warm weather and an adoring fan base sure to be waiting for him on a contender in Anaheim. Why would he want to remain here, with the fickle fans and with the manager who batted him eighth and with the prying tabloids and with the shortstop next to him who is forever the face of this franchise?The chances of him leaving his natural home in New York are between nil and zero. Would the third time be the charm in the AL West? Probably not.This is no easy sell, but that doesn't mean the salesmen should stop pushing. There are necessary phone calls to be made from Cashman to his feisty agent, Scott Boras. Maybe even George Steinbrenner himself could pick up a telephone to congratulate Rodriguez on his current run. Boras may say that Rodriguez is focusing only on this season, but anybody will take the time to accept a few pats on the back and promises of an extension to come.
Combustable Cabrera
Oh, boy:Cabrera, though, wasn't about to talk about anything. One day after Ervin Santana expressed displeasure about being asked about his road woes, Cabrera turned even uglier.I just can't be mad at Cabrera, not after the way he's played this year.He launched into an expletive-laced tirade aimed at reporters who dared to ask him about the misplays.
"You're wasting your ... time with me," said Cabrera, who misplayed two balls in one inning on the last homestand. "Get ... out of here."
Cabrera added more as he left the clubhouse.
"Write whatever you want," he said angrily.
Roster Notes
- Those still steaming about the Jason Bulger for Alberto Callaspo trade may get some solace in that the former Angel prospect fell for the hidden ball trick. (Hat tip: S.I. Weisman.)
- Jay Witasick will likely sign with the Devil Rays.
- Jamey Wright is expected to return to service Saturday. "Wright got knocked around for six runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings at Triple-A Sunday," snarked Rotoworld, "so he's in midseason form."
- The A's have called up Kurt Suzuki and traded reserve catcher Adam Melhuse to Texas for cash to make room. The A's plan on Suzuki playing more often than Melhuse; since both he and Kendall are righties, this won't be a straight platoon, but the way I read this, the A's figure Suzuki and Kendall playing 50-50 (at least) will be a better offensive mix than Kendall limping to the finish with the .194 average he's got now.
Labels: angels, athletics, devil rays, injuries, mickey hatcher, rangers, yankees
too bad Stephen Smith has to carry that chip on his shoulder and is too blind to see the Achilles heal in his writing. if he'd just keep his arrogance to himself, he'd be in the top tier of Angel bloggers, but as it remains, i can barely stand to read him, despite his insights (today he picked up a notable pice of news about Jose Arrendondo being 'suspended').
Hopefully we can get Matt Harvey signed. It's June and the division title can't be won this month, so that's the most intriguing story to me as we roll into Summer.
Finally, despite the absence of the Highlanders and 49er's, i love the fact two Big West teams are heading to Omaha with what looks to be two Pac-10 team too.
the organization can't develop young players who walk a lot.
The organization has just developed Mike Napoli, Casey Kotchman and Reggie Willits. You're just wrong.
And you were wrong last year (or at least prematurely skeptical) when you said several times that the team can't develop young hitters of any variety.
Which is not to say you don't continue to have a good point. It's just that your absolutist (if sporadic) pessimism has led you down some silly paths, too.
The Angels are not unaware of the value of someone who can take a walk & run up pitch counts. I've heard Scioscia, Stoneman and even Hatcher all say as much, during this season. (And I've heard their stats-analyst guy say the same thing during a spring training interview.)
The fact that Reggie Willits quickly was allowed to lap Tommy Murphy & unseat Shea Hillenbrand; and that Napoli vaulted past Mathis, says to me that at the leat they are not hostile to the skill.
Again, that doesn't mean they don't unduly exalt RISP & discount bad strike-zone judgment in the minors. But it does mean that they are able to develop and appreciate young players who draw walks.
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