A Christmas Present for Ranger Fans
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 25, 2009 1:12 PM CST
84 comments
The Angels sign Fernando Rodney...and are done for the offseason?
The Angels have agreed to a deal with Fernando Rodney, the right-handed reliever formerly with the Detroit Tigers, according to ESPN’s Enrique Rojas. The deal is reportedly for two years, $11 million.
If this is accurate, the Angels’ payroll is now at roughly $113 million, same as last year. The Angels’ front office has previously said payroll would probably not increase this offseason, so — until we hear otherwise — that’s your 2010 Angels.
It is important to note that Rodney isn't very good. And if the Angels, as indicated above, are done, they've essentially swapped out Vlad Guerrero, Chone Figgins, John Lackey and Darren Oliver for Hideki Matsui and Fernando Rodney.
I can live with that. There has been some thought that the Angels weren't going to stand still, they would make moves to increase the distance between them and the Rangers and make it that much harder for the Rangers to make a push in 2010.
But if this is "your 2010 Angels," then that's cause for some optimism.
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That is a good gift
LAA has certainly taken a step back this offseason. Seattle may have moved up to our level, but LAA has defintely dropped back.
Merry Christmas, y’all
Go Rice Owls!
They still have....
Abreu, Morales, Rivera, Hunter….i’m still worried about them. Kazmir will be good in their rotation as well, and Weaver is still getting better.
I think everyone is still worried about them
but they have obviously not improved the team this year. They may have taken a slight step back. As presently constructed, I believe they are a 87-90 win team. I think we have currently have a team in that area as well. Should be a great race
"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto
by Michael Cave on Dec 25, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
I'm not too worried about a 34 year old Hunter and 36 year old Abreu
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Weaver
I don’t think he’s getting better. He’s the same guy he’s been since he came to the majors.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 25, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions
+1
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Dec 25, 2009 6:59 PM CST up reply actions
His stats seem to be improving to me
I know these arent “advanced” stats, but he is still a really good pitcher. I’d take him.
by nathanbaum09 on Dec 25, 2009 8:55 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think anybody was arguing that.
by brettgardner on Dec 25, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions
Really?
Seems like Adam was arguing he has been the same player and isnt improving any more. Maybe I cant read. Distinct possibility.
by nathanbaum09 on Dec 25, 2009 9:00 PM CST up reply actions
Well
No, he was arguing that. I meant nobody was arguing that he was bad or that anybody here wouldn’t take him.
by brettgardner on Dec 25, 2009 9:07 PM CST up reply actions
ah
gotcha. good point. i guess that was just in context of my original post. regardless of whether he is or is not getting better, he is still someone we need to be worried about next year on a still very good team.
by nathanbaum09 on Dec 25, 2009 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
His ERA last year was basically the same as his career ERA
His best season, in terms of ERA, was his rookie year, but his peripherals have been static throughout his career.
I don’t think there’s any evidence he’s improving.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 25, 2009 9:09 PM CST up reply actions
ok fine
but there is also no evidence that he is going downhill either.
by nathanbaum09 on Dec 25, 2009 9:12 PM CST up reply actions
No one said that he was.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"Don't let the haircut fool you. I'm exceedingly wealthy." -Bill Gates.
by thedirkatron on Dec 26, 2009 4:22 AM CST up reply actions
I dont think there is a player in MLB
Who doesnt exhibit one of those four characteristics.
There are very few if any. Pujols is the only one I could say for certain.
by nathanbaum09 on Dec 25, 2009 8:57 PM CST up reply actions
OMFT
He is the greatest baseball player that ever lived. Shame on you for sullying the name of Laird. We are all better for having watched him play.
"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"
you don't understand that the NBA sucks?
"When you play happy, good things will happen"-Elvis Andrus
by pblack on Dec 25, 2009 6:20 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
You should watch more sports
then you would get it.
"When you play happy, good things will happen"-Elvis Andrus
I see.
Well, your opinion is very well-respected around here and by me personally, so I’ll certainly take it under advisement. Thanks!
by brettgardner on Dec 25, 2009 6:58 PM CST up reply actions
You're welcome
I am so glad I could be of help to you.
"When you play happy, good things will happen"-Elvis Andrus
OT (sort've)
A bunch of the Celtics came on the Haunted Mansion yesterday. I was the person that had to escort them on and seat them.
I didn’t recognize everyone. Definitely no Garnett, and no Pierce unless I missed him. Ray Allen’s family is loud as hell, though (sweet, but loud). There was one single old white dude who had trouble stepping on to the belt, I have no idea who he was or what his connection to the Celtics is (he was wearing a Heat jacket). I think he got on with Rajon Rondo’s family.
Anyway, I posted this to ask: is spending your day at a theme park really the best way to prepare for a big game?
I don't think you have to spend every hour preparing.
Especially since these poor bastards have to entertain us on Christmas.
by brettgardner on Dec 25, 2009 7:51 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe you're right.
I think it’s been proven before (though I’m not sure if here) that my emotional demands on my sports teams are probably far from healthy.
I approve of this signing
Because it doesn’t really make the Angels much better. Oliver or Rodney? Is there really enough of a difference that it matters? It looks like the Angels could be headed for 3rd place this year in the west.
salary difference
Oliver = $3.5 MM / 1 year
Rodney = $11 MM / 2 years
Rodney is a thrower. Darren Oliver is… well… Darren Oliver.
Salaries don't matter for wins and losses
Otherwise the Yankees would win every year.
by Mark from OC on Dec 25, 2009 7:42 PM CST up reply actions
Believe it or not. There are some Halo fans that are happy with Rodney.
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
yeah
i hear he’s pretty good with the battle rifle
whatever
he’s a corpse humping bastard.
by macromorgan on Dec 25, 2009 11:46 PM CST up reply actions
I like that...
…even if Oliver’s option kicks in, Rodney will be $2.5 million more expensive in 2010 and $2 million more expensive in 2011, and yet Rodney doesn’t improve the Angels over Oliver. Rodney pitched a couple more innings than Oliver last year, but has fewer strikeouts and a lot more walks.
Rodney's a weird pitcher
I wouldn’t want a guy who walks that many, but his GB and LD rates are sexy as hell. If he was younger, he’d be quite a commodity as teams lined up with ideas of solving his control problems.
As is, he’s a mediocre reliever and I’m glad the Angels bit on him.
All the more reason
To get a high (or at least higher)-ceiling DH.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
So now Seattle is #1 and LA #2
But then again we are a young team with lots of upside, maybe we will have some guys hit their stride this season and we come out at #1 ., let’s hope.
I doubt the Angels are done
I’d say, just like in our case and really most teams out there, to wait until spring training before coming close to making any judgment calls.
But then again, what the hell else are we gonna talk about on here in the meantime?
Merry Christmas
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
oh and my fiance' bought me a house for her gift to me.. heh.
Well I’m still going to help and such but she put down the down payment and such.
I got a bunch of redeemable ranger tickets for any game
I’ll be getting a couple of Angels games in with those.
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
Angels might be
Playing it by ear. Waiting a couple months into season and seeing how things shake out. Then decide if they need to make a move.
"There are two girls that can take a pounding!" Tom Grieve
by Spadedsnake on Dec 25, 2009 7:16 PM CST via mobile reply actions
I doubt you doubt it..
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
I doubt you doubt that I doubt that
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
Mrs. Doubtfire was on last night ..
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Dec 26, 2009 9:04 AM CST up reply actions
is it wrong to think Sally Field is still hot?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 26, 2009 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
yes.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"The purpose of life is to have a fucking good time." - Albert Ellis
then I don't want to be right
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 26, 2009 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
I dunno about hot,
but still cute.
"Ho visto il tuo agire, non solo rendono per me. Basta un sacco di fluff".
is it wrong to think robin williams in drag is hot?
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 26, 2009 6:23 PM CST up reply actions
I don't necessarily know that the Mariners are the favorites in 2010. . .
. . . but their fans have to be going out of their minds this off season, right?
I'm still going out of mine...
RICH F’ING HARDEN!!!
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 26, 2009 12:55 PM CST up reply actions
OT: check out T.R. Sullivan's piece
Imagine – having to learn to live. You go, Katie Brownfield!
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on Dec 25, 2009 8:11 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Appears that I'll be moving to the Bay area in May...
really looking forward to catching some Ranger games against the “4th place” A’s, and I’d like to see some Giants games as well.
Currently I’m in the OKC area, so I’ll probably be able to catch more games in San Fran (than driving from here to Arlington)… not to mention I’ll be able to get the MLB package without having to worry about blackouts.
So I’m ready for the 2010 Ranger season, regardless of what moves everyone makes. Anyway, Merry Christmas all.
Football=Fling... Baseball=Relationship
You'd still have to worry about blackouts
If you live in the Bay Area, if the Rangers play the A’s then the game will be blacked out through mlb.tv or MLB Extra Innings. That’s only 19 such blackouts a year, but still. Also, not every A’s game is on TV.
Rodney anecdote
He’s not great, but he is the kind of pitcher that last year’s Ranger team would make look great. He doesn’t throw strikes consistently, but if you keep swinging at stuff outside the zone, he’s very hard to hit. I think I remember him making the Rangers look pretty bad last season. Hopefully next year we have a little more patient lineup that makes him throw strikes.
What a drag it is being broke.
In addition
to losing those guys and not doing much to replace them, they will likely have to fight through a regression from their league-high .326 BABIP. They arent a bad team. They should have enough pitching to resist any serious losing streaks, but it wouldnt surprise me if they were just an 80-win team.
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 26, 2009 4:21 AM CST reply actions
Angels as an 80 win team...
Working of the assumption that team ‘BABIP’ can be used to analyze team performance and make a judgement on regression:
Angel BABIP 2002: .307 Season Record: 99-63
Angel BABIP 2003: .294 Season Record: 77.-85
Angel BABIP 2004: .315 Season Record: 92-70
Angel BABIP 2005: .297 Season Record: 95-67
Angel BABIP 2006: .304 Season Record: 89-73
Angel BABIP 2007: .320 Season Record: 94-68
Angel BABIP 2008: .302 Season Record: 100-62
Angel BABIP 2009: .326 Season Record: 97-65
Not a whole lot of variation (or strong correlation from BABIP to wins) there, if you expect a regression from .326 to .300 is somehow going to turn the Angels from a 95 win team into an 80 win team i’d like to see the calculation.
The Angels are a team that are built upon hitting (singles etc). Of course their team BABIP is going to be high. Just like how Jeter’s or Ichiro’s is high and doesn’t regress to a .290 – .300 mark.
Also of note, just because we (yes, i’m an Angel fan! With a healthy respect for the Rangers) haven’t gone out and signed every tom, dick and harry doesn’t mean we are not doing too much to replace departing players.
Figgins is being replaced internally (Brandon Wood – top prospect – or Macier Izturis – a clone of Figgins from a couple of years ago, a super utility player with a lot of talent) and at the top of our line-up by Erick Aybar or Macier Izturis.
Scott Kazmir played a grand total of 6 games last year for us. Effectively a ‘new’ signing, with just as much injury concern, high potential and inability to get out of the 6th inning as Rich Harden. But both positive signings. We also hope for improvement from Santana who was injured and ‘not right’ for most of last year.
Matsui replaces Vlad. Fernando Rodney and Scot Shields (back from injury) replace Darren Oliver and Replacement Level Player.
Inaction on the free agent market doesn’t necessarily mean we are in line to regress or that we haven’t gone out to fix holes. We have just done it quietly and under the radar. I would be very surprised if we turn out to be a 80 win team.
by TheQuestforMerlin on Dec 26, 2009 6:12 AM CST up reply actions
While I agree that regressing to 80 wins
Is too optimistic from a Rangers perspective and that internal options should be included in noting offseason moves (though one needs to understand the incredibly high variance they bring-hi Chris Davis). Still, I disagree with most of what you wrote.
Trying to show some sort of correlation (or lack thereof) between BABIP and wins is silly. BABIP is a tool that shows a component of hitting, it doesn’t take power, contact rates or even the entire pitching side of it into account. It’s not a surprise at all, especially over that small a data set.
Though some players can, it would be unrealistic to expect a team as a whole to maintain that high of a BABIP from year to year. Which is another way of saying that the Angels aren’t likely to have 9 guys hitting .300 in August next year. The pitching may improve upon last year, especially in the bullpen, to help cancel that out to some degree though.
You don’t get to count Kazmir as a new addition as he pitched part of the season for you last year. Sure, you get to factor in a full season, but we’re shocked that the Angels didn’t get in on Halladay, Lee, Lackey, OR Harden. That, really, is the point of the post: That considering the options available, this seems to be about as good as the Rangers could have hoped for (at least for the 2010 season).
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Dec 26, 2009 10:04 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Agree to some degree
I agree with your assessment. If I was the Rangers I would be fairly optimistic too. You’re a good, young side with the potential to improve a good deal. If injuries stay away from your key players. I’m much more bullish on your chances to win the AL West than the Mariners.
My point was to debunk the BABIP/wins relationship as well, which the previous poster suggested might be the case. Its not really a handy stat in any case. And I got a bit taken a back by an 80 win projection (even if it was on the optimistic side for a Rangers fan).
Although I disagree with your point about maintaining BABIP rates. As a team we seem to be able to maintain a high BABIP rate from year to year as I posted. Which is consistent with the type of players we have, as such I wouldn’t expect us to post a BABIP of .280 or so.
In any case, I just wanted to highlight that the Angels are not as bad as some people might suggest, not to dampen Rangers optimism for the 2010 season. But we have made good moves and continue to develop our players with relative success.
I wish we had been in on Lee. Not worried about Lackey (a 5 year contract will come back to haunt Boston). Toronto asked for too much for Halladay from us it seems. We weren’t prepared to give up our immediate future. I like Harden a lot, but we have our own version in Kazmir. Sometimes you miss out however and thats how the cookie crumbles.
by TheQuestforMerlin on Dec 26, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
you're the champs until proven otherwise
I just like to think, with both of our teams on an even playing field regarding health, we’re going to make the move this year.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 26, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
Agree
If another team is going to do it, I would bet on the Rangers. Hopefully we can both stay injury free and fight it out at the top.
I think the Mariners have a way to go, and have been really overhyped due to some – admittedly – good moves by Jack Z. They need offense/production (‘middle of the order’ bats) and a fourth and fifth starter to step up. You guys have far more SP depth than the Mariners. One injury to Rowland-Smith/Hernandez/Lee and they’re in trouble.
Oakland are just bringing up the rear at the moment. Even further away from contending. However with good young players coming through.
by TheQuestforMerlin on Dec 26, 2009 1:11 PM CST up reply actions
Naturally it will be hard to correlate BABIP and winning percentage. The same can be said for a number of stats (home runs, batting average, errors, etc.), but it doesnt mean that a year-to-year change in the quantity for one of those stats won’t have an impact on the team’s propensity to win.
My original point is that with the additions and departures made so far, the angels look to be, at best, about as good as they were last year – and that their performance last year was exaggerated slightly by luck in BABIP, which is likely to regress some. Maybe 80 wins is on the pessimistic pole of things, but when you consider they had a Pythagorean win projection of 92, its not totally inconceivable that they might get there.
Your point about BABIP and the Angels’ penchant for grinding out infield singles is well-taken, and its one Ive made before. But with Figgins leaving, that ability is likely to wane somewhat. Id predict their BABIP to be somewhere in the .300 to .310 range – roughly middle of the pack.
I’m not gonna poop on other team’s prospects, but I think it is asking a lot for all of those young guys to approach their ceilings next year. If Wood bursts onto the scene and Izturis repeats what he did last year, and some other things fall into place, the lineup could be potent again. Don’t forget that Hunter posted a career-best wOBA last year, one that exceeds his career wOBA by almost 40 points. For a 34 year old, that isnt likely to be repeated.
The pitching will be good, but the 2010 angels are not going to score 880 runs.
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 26, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
I do agree to degree, regardless of our little discussion on the importance (or not) of BABIP I personally feel the Angels are roughly a 90-95 win (although I hate quantifying teams this way, as it reduces so many variables and components). Of course injuries or just plain ‘poor’ years may affect certain players.
Regarding our team, I agree that Hunter probably won’t be as good. I am very aware how well he performed last year, as one of the most valuable CF in the majors.
Aybars true talent level is just emerging. Put it this way, i’m hopeful he can continue to improve by refining his strike zone and taking more pitches. He showed glimpses of following the same career path offensively as Figgins last year. Izturis is underrated and remarkably consistent. GIven a full season (if we give him one) he could post really good numbers for a middle infielder. Great K/BB ratio, good strike zone judgement, hits for average, a little bit of pop.
Kendrick finally showed signs of getting it post the all star break last year: .358/.391/.558. So who knows with him. We’re hopeful.
And so on. Basically i’m fairly bullish with our team.
by TheQuestforMerlin on Dec 26, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions
Relievers being relievers
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rodney have a better year than Oliver.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Well...
considering he’ll be paid at least $2 million more next year, you’d hope so.
by ghostofErikThompson on Dec 26, 2009 7:38 AM CST up reply actions
I don't understand how the Angels have about the same payroll as last year...
Just at a glance, they shed about $45M (Figgins… $5.775M; Guerrero… $15M; Lackey… $10M; Oliver… $3.665M; Escobar… $10M).
And they only added about $16M (Abreu increased $4M; Rodney for $5.5M; Matsui for $6.5M) in new siginings…
Do they have a lot of deferred money contracts or something? I know some players will get raises, etc…. but $30M worth?
What am I missing?
Football=Fling... Baseball=Relationship
kaz increases $2 million, santana $2.2, rivera $1. and then a bunch of guys are hitting arbitration.
according to biz of baseball, it’s 8 guys total. some of them (saunders, weaver, kendrick) could be looking at big pay increases. you’re right, its kind of surprising for them to shed that many contracts and not shrink payroll, but it’s the slow creep of having a lot of guys at that stage of their careers where salaries are on the rise.
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 26, 2009 6:21 PM CST up reply actions
Lets look
Hunters salary increases by 0.5 million
GMJ by 1 million
Abreu got a 4 million dollar raise from 09
Fuentes goes up 0.5 mil
Kazmir increases by 2 mil from 09 plus the Angels only paid roughly 1/3 of his 09 salary so you can figure it goes up from 2 mil (their 09 portion) to 8 mil so a 6 mil increase
Ervin Santana increases by 2.2 mil
Shields a 0.35 mil increase
Rivera a mil increase
Napoli will probably get a mil increase at least in arb
Izturis probably the same as Napoli
Saunders, Kendrick, Weaver and Aybar hit arbitration for the first time
Willits and possibly Mathis are arb eligible (unsure on exact service times)
So not counting the first time arb guys thats about 17.5 mil in increases plus the 12 mil in new signees (Rodney and Matsui)
Their 4 first time arb guys will probably total 10 mil roughly which equals up to almost 40 million. Add in the 5.25 million they owe Justin Speier and its pretty close.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Excellent... thanks for the breakdown!
I wish my salary was going to “get a mil increase at least in arb”.
Football=Fling... Baseball=Relationship
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