Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Hey all, how's it going? Long time no talk huh? I just had some things to get off my chest regarding the 2007 season and the Chuckster was gracious enough to lend me this blog to do so. I hope everything is going well with all of you. I'll break this post down into three sections: Predictions, Performance, and Future. Without further ado...

Predictions

In the spirt of fairness, I'd like to address some of my personal predictions that I made before this season started. In the offseason my two huge gripes were the offense and Gary Matthews Jr's contract. With hindsight being 20/20 and all, I feel confident saying that I was wrong about the offense but right about Matthews. So let's scope those two issues out.

Performance

Let's start on the positive note: the offense.

I must say that looking at the runs scored I'm still a bit perplexed. My pre-season prediction was 748 runs. I came to this conclusion because simply we didn't have the ability to score runs in bunches with the combination of our low on base percentage and anemic power. So what's changed?

After reviewing the team statistics for the AL, the answer is on base percentage. The Angels are currently 4th in the AL in runs scored, only the second time since Mike Scioscia has been here that they've been above 7th of 14 teams. What's more, the Angels are also 4th in the AL in on base percentage. A breakdown of Scioscia's tenure is listed below:

2000 - 7th in Runs Scored, 6th in On Base Percentage.
2001 - 12th in Runs Scored, 9th in On Base Percentage.

2002 - 4th in Runs Scored, 4th in On Base Percentage.
2003 - 11th in Runs Scored, 8th in On Base Percentage.
2004 - 7th in Runs Scored, 6th in On Base Percentage.
2005 - 7th in Runs Scored, 9th in On Base Percentage.
2006 - 11th in Runs Scored, 10th in On Base Percentage.
2007 - 4th in Runs Scored, 4th in On Base Percentage.

Who can deny the relation at this point?


So why was I wrong? I didn't think this team had any chance to make as drastic of an improvement with the bats as they have in one season. How did it happen?

Chone Figgins - .341 batting average?
Who
knew? His career high to this point is .296, so it's been quite the leap. But his refined approach (and likely a fair share of luck) is to thank. He has been the absolute engine of this team for months now. Like a hurricane churning over warm water, Figgy has driven our offense. Amazing.

Reggie Willits - It seems most want to write him off because he's struggled a bit in
recent months. But even struggles included, many teams would like a 26 steal .394 OBP guy at the top of their order. We just have the luxury of playing him down on the bottom because Figgins has been so phenomenal.

These two players have had massive beneficial effects on the offense. Honorable mentions for the OBP category: Kendrick and Kotchman. They are each marked improvements over their predecessors at their respective positions, though their contributions have been dampened by injury.

And I can't forget the man in LF. In the absence of the legitimate power bat I think we
still need, Garret has looked like the Garret of old. That Yankees game was fun, huh?

Now that's over, the negative. Matthews' recent stats:

2005: .255/.320/.436/.756
2006: .313/.371/.495/.866
2007: .255/.324/.424/.748

In 2005, no one regarded Matthews as anything more than a capable 4th outfielder. Yet here we are paying for 2006 performance and getting 2005 4th outfielder performance instead.

People laud his glove, I just don't think he's the bee's knees after watching him all season. Statistically, he's having his best season with the glove. It would be an outright lie to say he isn't a sizable improvement over our defensive situation in CF last season. Still, he's prone to his fair share of boneheaded plays. He's unrealistically aggressive on unreachable balls off the wall, and he gets WAY too much credit for robbing 3 homers a year. It's cool, but it doesn't define his defense.

If defense was the goal, we could have had the best CF in baseball, Willy Taveras, for practically nothing. And he's hit well to boot (even if it's in Colorado). And if trades are out of the question, I said at the beginning of the year I would have been fine with giving Willits or Figgins the job until 2008. I still stand by that. (Come on, Willits isn't *THAT* bad with the glove. He made a great catch in the gap just the other day).

Future

I have to say that it looks bright. The direction this offense was taking for several seasons was downward, but they've turned it around this year.

I don't think Figgins is a .340+ hitter. With his new approach (thank you Nate Haynes), I think realistically he can hit somewhere in the .310-.320 range. WIth his speed that makes him quite a produtive player.

Garret's production should be viewed as a pleasant and welcome surprise rather than being relied on for a repeat in 2008.

But I'll leave this long winded post on a final topic: Bill Stoneman. I'm not Stoneman's biggest fan. I still think his refusal to land an impact power bat in the middle of the lineup is ridiculous. Even with our success, this lineup would be that much better if we had a difference maker in the middle. And I think the strategy of signing slowing veterans for huge contracts with the attitude that if they don't produce Arte will just eat the contract is dangerous and cavalier.

But Stoneman has produced. I just can't deny it. He's a genius with the pitching staff, he's conservative with the development of the youngsters, and he doesn't re-sign unproductive veterans. Most of all, he wins wins wins.

Stoneman deserves that extension.

Now let's kick some ass in the playoffs.
Love to hear what you think!

Tagged: , , , ,

2 comments:

Chuck Richter said...

Good all around article Jeremy. I couldn't agree more on the on-base pct. point you bring up.

It's no coincidence that in 2002 & 2007 we're ranked high in OBP and runs scored and yet those were the Angels best two seasons under the Scioscia/Stoneman regime.

I think the overall future of the team: Morales, Kotchman, Kendrick, Napoli, Willits and even Wood and Pettit, both of whom showed improved plate discipline this year in the minors, will only improve upon the OBP ranking we've seen this year.

GMJ, just pray he can find the seats 25+ times while scoring 100 runs and stealing 20+ bags while continuing to play stellar defense in the OF.

Barry said...

Nice work JW! Welcome back...

Copyright © 2013 Los Angeles Angels Blog | AngelsWin.com

AngelsWin.com is the unofficial website of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Our comments and views do not express the views of the major league club or anyone affiliate with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  AngelsWin.com blog content, articles and opinions are provided "as is" and without warranties of any kind.  We disclaim warranties, express or implied, including warranties for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness, availability, security, compatibility and non-infringement.  Blog material, articles and other information furnished or supplied by you to AngelsWin.com become the ownership of AngelsWin.com for use at our discretion.  Your use of AngelsWin content is at your own discretion and risk. We do not warrant that any content here be error free that access thereto will be uninterrupted or errors will be corrected. We do not warrant or make any representations regarding  the use of any content made available through AngelsWin.com  You hereby waive any claim against us with respect thereto. AngelsWin.com may contain the opinions and views of other members and users. We cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy or veracity of any content generated by our members and other users. The content of AngelsWin.com is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Such content is not intended to, and does not, constitute legal, professional, medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Reliance on any information appearing on AngelsWin.com is strictly at your own risk. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in, or accessible through, the AngelsWin.com without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer or professional licensed in the recipient's state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.