Angelswin.com Interview with Angels' President Dennis Kuhl

Interview conducted by Chuck Richter

I had the chance to chat over the phone with the Angels team president Dennis Kuhl yesterday and we talked about several items that pertain to Angels Baseball, the business side and got to know the man behind the scenes that makes the experience for Angels fans all the more enjoyable.

On behalf of everyone at Angelswin.com, I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to conduct this interview with us.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - So, Dennis, let’s start off with a little background on Dennis Kuhl and how you and owner of the Angels Arte Moreno met.

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - Arte and I attended the University of Arizona together. We were fraternity brothers in Tucson. Arte and I became friends and ended up in the billboard business together, working together for 30 years. Arte sold the business, I stayed on for a while and Arte was looking for something to do. He was always a tremendous baseball fan. Even in college, we played on pick-up teams, C League teams; anything that had to do with baseball, we both enjoyed it. We’d go to games, we’d go to Anaheim and watch ball games or spring training games at Hi Corbett Field (in Tucson). We always loved it and Arte had the opportunity to buy a team. We had worked together for years and we’d become friends. I was fortunate to have Arte ask me if I would help him come down and run the team. I said absolutely, a dream come true.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - What has it been like working for Arte Moreno over the years?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - One of the things about Arte that I really admire is that he’s a real visionary. He looks out 4-5 years. He has a vision of what he wants things to look like, how he wants the team to look. He's a great visionary. Myself and John Carpino — he's another one of us who worked in the billboard business and we worked together for years. We brought him down to be in charge of marketing. He’s one of the most creative guys I’ve ever known — John and I are the guys that have to put Arte's vision to work on a day-to-day basis. He’s already thinking what do we have to do next. What do we have to do three years from now? How do we want to look? Guys that are successful are good visionaries. Working for Arte for so many years you understand that. You almost know what he’s going to do after working closely with him for so many years.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - What are Dennis Kuhl’s responsibilities as the Angels Team President?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - As team president I oversee everything that doesn't happen between the white lines. That means marketing, community affairs, all of the concessions, all the ticketing, all of the financials, all of the personnel, all of the sponsorships — anything that it takes to run a business. It’s about generating revenue, watching your expenses and trying to bring a profit to the bottom line. I’m very fortunate that Arte lets me in on what’s going on the baseball side. Tony does a great job, we all communicate daily. We all have an open policy here; everybody talks.

When you have 40,000 people come into your home every night, you want to make sure they’re taken care of, they’re fed, they’re parked and they’re having a good time. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re building that same experience. That’s watching your concessions to make sure they’re affordable, that's making sure you have the right merchandise, the right food, affordable pricing, you’re selling tickets, bringing groups in, doing all the stuff in the community that you need to do, doing outreaches, selling your sponsors, all of your signage throughout the stadium, merchandise sales in the team store, all of that on the business.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Wow you have your hands full, huh?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - I do have my hands full. It’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge. Every day there is another challenge out there to make the Angels experience even better.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - True, like every good job or challenge, it’s good to have surrounded yourself around solid people.

A: (Dennis Kuhl) – That’s right and when you have somebody like Arte, you know his direction, it’s a lot easier because you know what he wants and how he wants to go with it. He’s really a perfectionist, he really is and we always move forward. We know that and we always move forward.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Do you see AM 830 KLAA Angels Radio as a success after a year of being on the airwaves? Anything new in store for AM 830 in 2009 or beyond?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - We see all of that as moving forward, every day getting better and better. That’s a new project that I’m overseeing. It’s been a real interesting experience for me because it’s something that I’ve never done before. But when you put the right people in the right positions. it makes it a lot easier. I feel like we’ve been fortunate. I’m real happy with the talent, like Jeff Biggs, Roger Lodge and Dave Smith — I think they’re good. I think we have a long way to go, but we’re making headway. Our deal with KFWB is something new and exciting because we want to make sure everybody can listen to the station. It’s just another outlet for us. I think everyone wishes they could broadcast their own games.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Yeah, it has been a pleasure working with Paul Sakrison and Julio Morataya at AM 830. By the way, we’re all thankful for your interest in our content that we’ve supplied for the AM 830 Website going on a year now.

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - Thank you for the content, it’s great. It just enhances everything. I like the idea. The big thing now for a Website to work is that it needs content — and good content — and that’s what you’ve supplied for us. It helps both of us out.

Julio has been after me for bringing him on. I love Julio Morataya’s ideas; he’s very creative. Radio is about promotion and promoting your radio station. They've taught me a lot. They work with anybody, Paul and “Pollo,” the guys, they share ideas together, the guys come up here and say, “We got this great idea, what do you think?” I say, “Let's go, let’s make it happen.” So, just great guys to work with.

Q: (Angelswin) - A couple Tuesdays ago, we had two of our writers Adam Dodge and Eric Denton on the air live with Jeff Biggs and they had a great time on Angels radio.

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - Jeff Biggs is a great guy, isn’t he? I really, really like Jeff. He does a really good job at 830. He has a tough job sometimes at night with some of the testy callers. He had one guy on last night and I said, “Come on, Jeff, get him off the air.” (laughs) Radio has been a real treat.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Can you measure how successful the name change has been in terms of increased revenues?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - Well, no you really can’t measure that yet. It’s tough to measure something like that. We just feel it has opened doors for us from the standpoint of it has gotten us larger accounts. We feel that we’ve gotten our name on the map. It is going to take a long time. To me, it’s all about building the brand. We’re more concerned with building the “A,” the color red and “Angels.” That's what we’ve focused on since we’ve got it.

I look at brands out there all the time. The Yankees have one of the greatest brands; they’ve never changed their uniforms, they’re the same all the time. I just think they’ve done a tremendous job with their brand. The Dodgers and Lakers have a great brand; I watched them and see how they’ve branded their name. It just takes a long time. It didn’t happen overnight for the Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers or Lakers. It didn’t happen overnight, it takes a lot of years to build your brand.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - How does Angel merchandise sales rank in relation to the rest of Major League Baseball? What are the annual sales in dollars?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) – We’re right up there in the top-10 from what I understand, from the information I’ve received.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - What has been the impact of the recession on advertising, corporate suite renewal and season ticket renewal and how will this affect the Angels 2009 revenues?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) – Well, you know, (sigh), we feel very confident that the people have supported us very well here in Orange County and our sales are — we’re going to see a little bit of an effect, but we’re real optimistic that we’re going to do real well this year from that standpoint. To give you an idea about sponsorships, instead of having one or two huge sponsors, we’ve had to work harder at going out and finding four to five more sponsors. It’s just you adapt to the economy and you adapt to what is going on. We will do things, we will really work hard on group sales to fill the stadium, we’ll work hard on anything else we can to get people to come see a game. It is going to affect everybody and I think the biggest thing I hear out there is that people are just being cautious right now. But a baseball game is a fun thing to do, it's a family thing to do and I still think that people love the game so much that they’ll come out. Maybe they won’t come out 10 times a year, but they’ll come out eight times a year.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Especially coming after a 100-win season. You know, spring training comes around and the excitement is in the air, they just can't wait for the season to start and get out to the ballpark.

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - I know, it's just amazing that it renews the passion every year and baseball to me is a year-round sport because you talk about it. There is no other sport like it. My dad and I would sit down and talk — my dad was a St. Louis Cardinals fan and I just love listening to the radio when we go back to Illinois and the passion that the St. Louis Cardinals fans have. And they talk about it all year long. Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter, all of those guys.

People, when I'm out speaking, they’ll say, “I just want to let you know I’m a Dodgers fan,” and I say, “That’s great. Look, if you're a baseball fan, that’s what counts.” We want to make sure that the kid that’s 5 years old, he’s going to be 7 years old, then 13 years old, then 18 years — that’s where we’re going to build up that image. You become a fan of the team and you follow that team through good times and bad times. I grew up back east and I followed the Yankees. I still follow the players; I check out the starting lineups, I have a bunch of Baseball Digest books. I like to read these old baseball books to see how this guy turned out or what happened to that guy; he was a can't miss, he was a phenom. This game is so much fun to follow; so much fun. Even during our Angels Tonight program, the people want to talk. Last year, the guys said they did OK when we first introduced it, but now there are callers on hold before Angels Tonight goes on the air. The people want to talk baseball. How’s Kendry doing? How’s Escobar doing? It just amazes me how knowledgeable these people are about this sport. I love it.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Any stadium renovation plans? Any chance of team opting out of lease in 2016?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) – We’re always looking at new ideas, new processes. We don’t have anything on the drawing board right now. We spent a lot of money on the scoreboard, new seats. It takes a lot of money to maintain a stadium this size. We do a lot of maintenance work year round. Right now, we’re trying to clean it up for the All-Star Game in 2010 to look sharp. I can't wait. As far as the lease, we haven’t gotten that far. That would be something you’d have to talk to Arte about. Right now, I’m just trying to run the day-to-day business.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - If approached, would Arte consider working on bringing football to the Orange County/L.A. area?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - Arte gets approached on a lot of things and I can tell you right now that Arte’s focus is baseball. He’s a fan first and owner second. I've been out with him drinking some beers and we talk baseball for hours. Just look up in the suite and we’ll be talking baseball during the game; sometimes in the wee hours in the morning. It is so much fun to be up there and second guessing Mike Scioscia during every game. It is so much fun.

Q: (Angelswin.com) – Speaking of the games, let’s talk Angels Baseball on the field now. I’m sure you’re pleased with the signing of Bobby Abreu, that it will put to rest the Manny to Anaheim rumors. What does Dennis Kuhl think of the Angels chances in 2009 with the team that’s in Tempe right now?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - Yes, it will. But you know Dave Smith, he’ll still bring Manny up. He won’t let that die. Every morning when I come to work, “What about Manny Ramirez?” — he’s too much. He’s a great guy.

Bobby Abreu makes us better. He’s got a great attitude, he fits into the team really well, great work ethic. I love his plate discipline very much. Getting on base before the big guys, and he can run, fits right into Scioscia's mold. He loves guys that can get on base and run.

As far as 2009, you know everybody keeps saying “we need a bat, we need bat.” I’m telling you, I think it’s time that one of our young guys breaks out and has a big year. I don’t know which one it’s going to be, but it’s time. Look at our lineup, Chuck, it’s a nice start with Figgy, Abreu batting second, Guerrero, Hunter and Morales fifth, some nice sticks in there, Juan Rivera and Mike Napoli. I think Rivera is going to have a huge year for us. I think Howie Kendrick strokes the ball very well. He’s a great kid. He’s a fine ball player. We got two great shortstops in camp, too.

Q: (Angelswin.com) – We’re set to air Angelswin.com’s “Top-50 Greatest Moments in Angels Baseball” on AM 830 this spring. What has been Dennis Kuhl’s Angels Greatest Moment you’ve witnessed as a fan since you’ve been president of the team?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - My greatest moment is the first time as team president on Opening Day. I was down on the field and I’m saying to myself, “I’m standing here on Opening Day as part of a Major League organization — it doesn’t get any better than this.” Next time it will be when we win the World Series again. That will be my next greatest moment. Last year was great — 100 wins. That was great. We have a strong pitching staff. I can’t wait for opening day, just like the rest of the fans. Same for Arte.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Now that Garret Anderson and Francisco Rodriguez have left via free agency, two of the fans’ favorite players, John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero, are in the final year of their contracts. How important is it to the Angels to sign these two All-Stars to an extension going forward?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - You know, that decision and those decisions are made by Tony Reagins and his staff. They evaluate and make recommendations to Arte. Boy, Guerrero, I feel like he’s been here forever. He’s been here since I got here. Same with Lackey, he’s been here since before I got here. I think they both have enjoyed their stay here and I believe they want to stay on as Angels to finish their careers. Tony, coaches and scouting, they make those determinations.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - One of the most respected men, with more than 30 years in the Angels organization and friend of mine, Tim Mead, must be a pleasure to work with on regular basis. Was Tim a valuable resource to both you and Arte on the history of the franchise because of his tenure in the organization?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) – He’s our archive guy. Every time we have a question on a player or anything, we go to Tim and Tim doesn’t even have to look it up. He knows. He has a wealth of knowledge. You’d never meet a nicer guy in your life. Sometimes I tell him “You’re too nice.” (laugh) He’s been unbelievable with handling the alumni, unbelievable with all of the milestones and knowing the players. He’s a great asset. He’s so involved with the community; he’s loved by everybody here. He’s a true Angel.

Q: (Angelswin.com) – Let’s wrap this up with a little bit about Dennis Kuhl the person. What does Dennis Kuhl like to do for fun when he’s not working?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - I love to ski. I still play baseball, hardball, in a senior league every Sunday. I figure if I can still do it, that’s great. My release is whenever I can get out to the mountains, the snow. You’re by yourself and it’s quiet. It energizes me. On Sunday, we play baseball. All of us are Angels fans. We talk Angels baseball all through the game. Sometimes I bring my radio and we’ll listen to the game while we’re playing. It’s loads of fun. You know, play on Sunday and get out of bed on Wednesday.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - What are your favorite sports teams not named the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - My No. 1 team I follow besides the Angels is the University of Arizona basketball and football teams.

Q: (Angelswin.com) - Favorite beer?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) - I can’t tell you that because I have too many beer sponsors. I drink them all. Let’s put it this way: I never had a beer I didn’t like.

Q: (Angelswin.com) – Let’s wrap this up. Last question: What would you like to say to the daily readers and contributors of Angelswin.com, who will be reading this interview?

A: (Dennis Kuhl) – We’re all looking forward to a great season. We love our fans; fans are number one. I wish I could go around and thank them all for their support. It’s really great when I can go out to the ballpark and see smiling faces, kids smiling. We’re fan strong, that’s what we are. Everywhere we go in Orange County or Los Angeles, people love the Angels and that makes me feel good.

This concludes our interview with Dennis Kuhl, to which now after our chat is known by me as Dennis "Cool".

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Angels in the Outfield

By Eric Terrazas - Angelswin.com Columnist

As they gear up for the 2009 season, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfield will sport a mostly familiar look. Two major changes, however, took place during the offseason.

One of those changes was the departure of longtime left fielder Garret Anderson. After 14 plus seasons, the Angels bid adieu to Anderson, who holds club records in several categories, including hits (2,368), RBI (1,292) and games played (2,013).

The other significant change was the recent signing of veteran Bobby Abreu, who comes from the New York Yankees. The left-handed hitting Abreu, who batted .296 and collected 20 home runs and 100 RBI last year, should bolster the Angels lineup. Abreu, who stole 22 bases in 2008, will give the Angels some speed on the base paths, as well.

Abreu, who has played mostly right field in his 13-year big league career, is expected to play left field for the Angels. That might bring about an adjustment period for Abreu, who has played only 16 games in left. The last time Abreu played left field was in 1997 when he was a member of the Houston Astros. Abreu, a 2005 Gold Glove winner, made just two errors and recorded 10 assists last year.

Patrolling center field will be Torii Hunter, who will begin his second season with the Halos. Hunter did not miss a beat defensively in 2008, committing no errors and winning his eighth career Gold Glove.

Hunter, however, experienced an offensive dip last year. After batting .287 with 28 homers and a career-high 107 RBI with Minnesota in 2007, Hunter fell to .278, 21 HR and 78 RBI.

Another player looking to rebound offensively is right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who batted .303 and collected 27 homers and 91 RBI last season. While those numbers would be good for most players, it represented somewhat of an off-season for the eight-time All-Star. For the first time since the 2003 season, Vlad missed out on both an All-Star selection and the 100-RBI mark.

An offensive recharge from both Hunter and Guerrero would make the Angels lineup that much more fearsome.

Juan Rivera also returns to the fold. Rivera, who recently signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract, will probably see time at both left and right field. He also figures to receive his share of DH at-bats. The Angels would love to see Rivera regain his 2006 form, when he contributed a .310 batting average, 23 homers and 85 RBI. Rivera, who missed most of the 2007 season with a broken leg, batted .246 and delivered 12 home runs and 45 RBI last year.

Gary Matthews Jr. and Reggie Willits are the two other returners. Matthews’ availability for the 2009 opener is in limbo after he underwent surgery in October to repair the patella tendon in his left knee. Matthews, who is entering the third year of a five-year, $50 million deal, batted .242 and recorded eight home runs and 46 RBI in 2008. He saw action at all three outfield positions last year, contributing six assists, but making eight errors. The Halos are hoping a healthier Matthews can make a difference.

Willits will also look to earn playing time. After enjoying a solid 2007 season (.293 batting average, 74 runs and 27 stolen bases), Willits got caught in a numbers game last year. In 82 games, he batted .194 in just 108 at-bats and finished with seven RBI and two stolen bases. Like Matthews, Willits saw time at all three outfield positions.

With Abreu adding to a talented cast, the Angels’ outfield figures to be one of baseball’s best. If this group of Angels stays healthy, they should cause plenty of problems for opponents.

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Have Bat, Will Travel . . .

By David Saltzer - Angelswin.com Columnist

Let’s face it, as an Angels fan, this hasn’t been the most exciting offseason of the 21st century for our team. But, all of that could change if the rumor mill is true.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Angels are expected to sign Bobby Abreu to a one-year contract "by the start of spring training Saturday." The newspaper reports that Abreu is scheduled to undergo a physical exam Wednesday and the Angels are expected to waive Nick Green to make room on the 40-man roster. A native of Venezuela, Bobby Abreu carries a potent left-hand stick—something that the Angels definitely need.

Ideally, a #2 hitter should have a blend of speed and power with a high OB%. This gives the leadoff hitter time to try and swipe a base or get knocked into scoring position for the heart of the order. Typically, left-handers make the ideal #2 hitter because they get a bit of an advantage to pull the ball when the leadoff hitter is on-base. We haven’t had a hitter like that in many years, and, the offense has suffered as a result.

Abreu fits our need for a #2 hitter perfectly and makes our lineup much stronger. He provides a great blend of speed and power (stealing over 20 bases for the past 10 years in addition to hitting 15 or more HRs for the past 11 years) who would fit into “Angels=style” baseball. He could rotate between both LF and RF and take a share in the DH spots.

With Abreu in our lineup, we finally have that offensive bridge between Figgins and Vlad that would make the top of our order click as a unit. The heart of the order becomes much more settled with Hunter, Morales and Napoli. And the bottom of the order settles down with Rivera, Wood and Kendrick.

According to the Angels’ front office, they want to “let the kids play.” Odds are that means we will be breaking in 2 players (my bet is that both Morales and Wood earn starting jobs during Spring Training) into the lineup. The best way to do that is to take the pressure off of the younger hitters by having productive and established hitters to shoulder a good portion of the load. By signing Abreu, we would be giving our kids every chance to succeed rather than throwing them into a sink-or-swim environment (as we have often done to rookies in the past). We could afford to give Wood and Morales a guaranteed half a season each to develop rather than having to make constant lineup changes if they struggle.

Last year, we all saw how our Vlad become much more beastly with the addition of Teixeira. Well, adding Abreu will have a similar (although not quite as dramatic) effect on Vlad as he will have more ABs with men on base and in scoring position. With Abreu behind him, Figgy should return close to his 2007 performance. A resurgent Figgy means that Wood and Kendrick would see better pitches hitting in the bottom of the order. And, Morales is much more likely to succeed when batting between Hunter and Napoli with an improved top and bottom to the order.

In the Scioscia era, we’ve had to cobble together some strange lineups to essentially force square pegs into round holes—especially when it has come to our #2 hitter. But, all of that could change for 2009 with the addition of Abreu added to the top of the order. The stability that he would bring to our lineup would pay dividends far greater than just a 1-year contract. Signing Abreu would make 2009’s lineup much better as well as making our kids better for the future. And that makes signing him a good deal.

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Seven Sluggers of Anaheim

By Chuck Richter - Angelswin.com Executive Editor

There has been much talk this offseason about the Angels' lack of offensive production heading into the 2009 season — specifically home run production — after losing Mark Teixeira to the New York Yankees in free agency. While I don't believe the 2009 Angels will come close to the 1927 Yankees club tabbed as "Murderers' Row," I do believe many have overlooked the amount of power this offense is capable of generating in 2009, something that has been missing throughout the lineup since the 2004 club. Fans have been itching for another season like '04 or a power packed lineup like the 2000 Halos, when third baseman Troy Glaus led the American League with 47 home runs, Mo Vaughn clubbed 36, Garret Anderson walloped 35 and Tim Salmon rounded the bases 34 times. And if that wasn't enough power for you, Darin Erstad added 25 homers from the leadoff spot, just for good measure.

The 2009 Angels won't bat .307, slug .489, score 975 runs or outscore their opponents by a record 376 runs like the 1927 Yankees. But what they can do is provide some over the fence power and it's entirely possible that the seven players I'll feature here could hit at least 20 home runs or more in the coming season. At the very least, they each have that kind of potential.

Could the Angels be the first team since the 1996 Orioles, who totaled 257 homers, to include seven players with more than 20? The O's players that accomplished that feat were: Brady Anderson (50), Rafael Palmeiro (39), Bobby Bonilla (28), Cal Ripken, Jr. (26), Chris Hoiles (25), Roberto Alomar (22) and B.J. Surhoff (21). Home run totals are down compared to those days, as the juiced ball and athlete seems to be a thing of the past. Featherweight types like Brady Anderson aren't likely to tattoo 50 balls over the fence anymore, either. But while the Angels won't come close to surpassing the Orioles' 257 in 1996, they can certainly match their other feat by boasting seven players with twenty home runs or more in the lineup. It is not out of the realm of possibility and it's what I'm going to focus on here in this column.

First off, let's look at what could be the Angels opening day lineup when they take the field against the Oakland A's on April 6.

I see: Chone Figgins in left field and leading off; Erick Aybar at shortstop hitting second; Vladimir Guerrero, getting a good share of time at DH when he's not in right field, batting third; Kendry Morales at first base and cleaning up; Howie Kendrick at second base, hitting fifth; Michael Napoli behind the dish and in the sixth spot in the lineup; Torii Hunter in center field, hitting seventh; Juan Rivera in right field and hitting eighth; while former top prospect, the power hitting Brandon Wood mans the hot corner and bats ninth. The Angels have indicated they're going to give Wood every chance in spring training to make the ball club and if it happens, most likely at third base, we'll see Figgins move to left field.

Now that we have a lineup in order, or at least the players that will start out of the gate, I'm going to break down the Seven Sluggers of Anaheim and show that this feat is attainable — and prove that I'm not on drugs or writing while intoxicated. We'll exclude light-hitting speedsters Figgins and Aybar, who I believe will hit at the top of the lineup in '09, as they won't provide double digit numbers in home runs.

Vladimir Guerrero: With 11 straight seasons of 25 or more home runs, Vlad is a shoe in for at least 25, if not a lot more coming off knee surgery. Vlad has said he feels great and is ready for the 2009 season. We think he's going to have a big one with the Angels in the last year of the contract he signed in 2004.

Kendry Morales: Personally, I like Morales in the cleanup spot, but Mike Scioscia is the guy who makes up the lineup card before each game. Morales thrives in clutch situations, He hit .438 with RISP in 2008 (in the minors), clubbing 12 doubles and hitting seven home runs in 96 at-bats in which runners were in scoring position. He hit .316 with two walk-offs when it was "close and late" in the game. No matter where Morales hits, he's sure to provide some power this year for the Halos. Morales has power from both sides of the plate. He hit 16 home runs in the minors in 2008, in just 338 at-bats. Morales showcased that power this winter in the Dominican League when he hit eight home runs (in the Dominican regular season) in just 26 games. There is no doubt in my mind that Morales will be one of seven that clubs at least 20 home runs for the Halos in 2009 given a full season of at bats.

Howie Kendrick: While Kendrick has just 12 home runs in 945 Major League at-bats, scouts believe his bat is quick enough to generate power in the 15-20 range with a full season of play. Kendrick's problem thus far in the big leagues is that he's yet to put together a full campaign of more than 340 at-bats, failing to avoid the injury bug. Kendrick isn't a slap hitter, either. Those doubles he hits to the wall and off it will eventually turn into more home runs. In 469 at-bats between High-A and Double-A ball in 2005, Kendrick hit 17 home runs. In 290 at-bats in Triple-A (2006), Kendrick smashed 13 home runs, adding 4 more after getting a promotion with the big league club that same year, to total 17 home runs in 500-plus at-bats.

If Kendrick is healthy this season and he shows more selectiveness at the plate, hitting 20 home runs would not be out of the realm of possibility.

Michael Napoli: Napoli has always had light tower power, hitting 29 home runs in 2004 and 31 home runs in 2005 while in the minors. Last season, in just 227 at-bats, Napoli reached the 20 plateau for home runs, sharing starts with Jeff Mathis and seeing some time on the DL. Napoli showed the Red Sox and all who watched the '08 ALDS what kind of power he has, launching two monstrous home runs over the green monster against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett. Napoli also ended the season batting .453 with an eye-popping 1.414 OPS over the final month of the season. Rather than riding the pine when he needs to rest his knees this season, I believe Scioscia will get Napoli's bat in the lineup at DH to provide more power in the lineup, possibly giving him a shot at 30 home runs if he gets at least 400-plus plate appearances.

Torii Hunter: With the exception of his 2005 injury-riddled season that cost him 200 or so at-bats, Hunter has hit at least 20 or more home runs since 2001, smashing 21 last season. The most home runs Hunter has hit was 31 in 2006. I believe Hunter will flourish by moving down in the lineup, hitting behind players that can hit for average in Guerrero, Morales and Kendrick while Napoli will take a walk if he's not given something he can drive at the plate. This should give Hunter some RBI chances down in the order and less pressure to perform in the middle of the lineup. Hunter should have another 20-plus home run season regardless.

Juan Rivera: All Juan Rivera needs is a full season of at-bats to show that he can be a productive slugger at the Major League level. While injuries and platoons have mostly kept Rivera from putting up big numbers, in 2006 he showed why he was the Yankees' No.1 prospect nearly a decade ago, when he hit over .300 with 23 home runs in just 448 at-bats. There is no doubt in my mind why Garret Anderson isn't coming back for the 2009 season — two words: Juan Rivera! Rivera will not be platooned and should see time in left field, right field and at DH. If he stays healthy for the entire 2009 campaign, Rivera should provide some power near the bottom of the lineup.

Brandon Wood: The Angels' first-round pick in the 2003 draft was none other than high school senior Brandon Wood from Horizon High School in Phoenix, Ariz. Wood will celebrate his 24th birthday on March 2, not too far from where he grew up in Scottsdale. Wood will be engaged in an all-out effort to convince the Angels' powers-that-be that he is ready for his first full season in the majors as a slugging third baseman or perhaps even as a shortstop.

While Wood hit just .200 with the big league club in 150 at-bats and often struggled to make contact (147 strikeouts in 2008), he hit more over the fence than anyone in the organization, launching 31 dingers in Triple-A and another five with the Angels. The .970 OPS he put up in the minors is reason enough to be excited after Wood was shuffled between Salt Lake and Anaheim all season, never getting consistent at-bats to get in any kind of a groove while with the big league club.

Wood got an opportunity for more sustained at-bats last September with injuries to shortstops Aybar and Maicer Izturis and he made the most of it, batting .256 with four homers and 11 RBI in 86 trips to the plate. Wood should be given the opportunity to play the entire season in the big leagues and if he impresses in spring training, it'll happen. Look for Wood to hit in the .240-.260 range, strike out 120-150 times, but provide at least 20 home runs for the Halos if given a full season of at-bats for the Angels.

As a side note: Youngsters like Sean Rodriguez, Matt Brown and Freddie Sandoval, should all of them make the club out of spring training, can similarly provide some pop off the bench, giving the Angels an even more power-packed roster going into the 2009 season.

Conclusion: Angels fans want an Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu, and it certainly wouldn't hurt to sign one of those players, both of whom can provide some power and get on base. But when you consider the Angels need to keep Figgins to lead off and get Brandon Wood in the lineup, combined with leaving the DH spot open for Guerrero and Napoli and to rest other regulars throughout the season, I doubt such a free agent signing is going to happen.

The 2009 Angels will likely never be mentioned in the same breath as the 1927 Yankees or a lineup that reflects a "Murderers Row" of sluggers. The 2009 Angels probably won't mirror the 1996 Orioles, either, when they totaled 257 home runs. But the Angels will boast a solid pitching staff and knock some balls out of the park on their way to claiming yet another AL West Championship and hopefully, like the '27 Yankees, sweep the National League representative in the 2009 World Series.

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Angelswin.com interview with PE.com Michael Becker

Interview conducted by Chuck Richter - Angelswin.com Executive Editor

We recently caught up with the Angels beat writer for the Press Enterprise and PE.com. Michael Becker took over the job from Matt Hurst late in the 2008 season after Matt took a job with up the coast. We found out that Michael is an avid reader and fan himself of Angelswin.com, so we thought we'd hit him up to get his thoughts on a variety of items, while getting acquainted with the Inland Empire's source for Angels Baseball for Halos fans in Riverside & San Bernardino counties, as well as all over the interwebs on PE.com.

Q: Angelswin.com - When did you start covering the Angels with the Press Enterprise and how did that come about?

A: Michael Becker – First of all, Chuck, I appreciate you having me on here. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it right now – I’m a big fan of what you guys do over at Angelswin.com. And I’m sure many of my peers on the beat would say the same. It’s a great resource.

I started covering the Angels in August of last year. My predecessor, Matt Hurst, took a great job at UC Santa Barbara as a sports information director. I speak to him often. He lives near the beach with his wife. He doesn’t regret the move for a minute.

I had just finished a summer stint in the news department at The Press-Enterprise when I got a call from our sports editor asking if I had any interest in pursuing the job. To be honest, at that time, I didn’t. I had covered baseball at previous stops and summer internships – some Yankees and Mets at the Star-Ledger in New Jersey, some Dodgers for the LA Times – and knew with some certainty I didn’t want to become a baseball beat writer.

But I decided to take a chance, more as a challenge than anything else. And what do you know? I’ve grown to really like it. Appreciate it. Not a day goes by when I’m not humbled, but I’ve definitely grown as a reporter and a writer. Plus, I’ve had a lot of fun experiences in my brief time on the beat.


Q: Angelswin.com - As a journalist covering and blogging for the team, do you find yourself rooting for the club?

A: Michael Becker – No. What we do is provide an objective and responsible look at the ball club, and I’d like to think our readers both appreciate and respect that. There are dozens of avenues, as you know, for an Angels fan to find views and opinions that represent their fandom. And there are news sources that play it straight. I believe fans appreciate having that distinction available.

But we are human. We root for storylines. People. 1-2-3 ninth innings when up against deadline.


Q: Angelswin.com - When I was a kid and teenager rooting for the Halos I didn't see many Angels fans in the Inland Empire, caps were mostly blue or purple and gold. Now, after the Angels have won the World Series in 2002, have you seen an influx in the fan base in the IE and does Arte do a good job marketing the "Angels" brand in Riverside and San Bernardino county?

A: Michael Becker – I can only speak to the time I’ve been in Riverside, which has been from 2006, but I’ve noticed a ton of Angels support here in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. I know it’s easy for those from the OC to forget about life east of Green River Road., but we’re not far from Angel Stadium.

I’ve had conversations with a lot of people who grew up Angels fans because it was easier to travel to Angels games than it was to Dodger games. That makes a lot of sense. And that’s how these allegiances are built. I see Angels caps all over the places. Tons of decals on car windows.

There used to be an Angels billboard down the street from the office, which I presume was Arte’s doing. But they don’t really need to sell the brand out here because there’s already some pretty fervent support. Which I can only hope translates to fervent readership.

I know the Press-Enterprise is sometimes considered the red-headed step child when compared to the Big Boys (the OC Register and LA Times). And that’s something we’re honestly trying to change. I think our blog ((http://blogs.pe.com/prosports/mlb/angels/)) is something that gives us an advantage over some of our competition. It allows us to post information immediately and maybe provide some interpretation and analysis. We have the same access as the other papers. The same opportunities to report the news.

Right now there are four media outlets – ourselves included – that cover the Angels at home and on the road. And I wish we had more papers able to travel. It’s great for the fans to have options. I liken it to the airline industry. You’ll have your people who fly exclusively Delta or United. But if they’re interested in the lowest fairs, they’ll fly Southwest. They want a TV in the headrest? They’ll fly JetBlue. I feel like my job is to let fans know there’s another voice out there, and provide them a reason to read.


Q: Angelswin.com - Let's talk Angels Baseball. Do you think the Angels are rebuilding on the sly? Obviously the AL West is a weak division. If they tried to play the lineup they have on paper a couple of years ago they wouldn't be competitive.

A: Michael Becker - Well, first of all, I know a certain AL West manager who would take exception with your claim that the division is weak. Mike Scioscia has said repeatedly that the division is tougher than people realize.

As for rebuilding, I can’t say. Is it still rebuilding if they win the division? Or is it only rebuilding if the Angels struggle this season? I think the term is pretty loaded, if only because it’s been misused by a lot of media folk.

I will say this: I don’t think the team looks as it as a rebuilding effort. What they will cop to is promoting from within, which is something they’ve done in recent years with great success.


Q: Angelswin.com - Are you getting the feeling that fans are upset that we're not even considering Manny or Dunn?

A: Michael Becker - That’s not the sense I get. Think about it: You could be a Dodgers fan still waiting for Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras to make a move.


Q: Angelswin.com - What does Michael Becker think the Angels strengths and weaknesses are going into 2009?

A: Michael Becker - It’s pretty obvious that the pitching staff can be tremendous while the lineup may need some help. Those, of course, will be the main storylines heading into the season. The success of Kendry Morales will be the real X-Factor. His domination in Winter Ball makes it even more interesting.


Q: Angelswin.com - Who do you feel the Angels toughest competition will be in 2009 coming from the AL West?

A: Michael Becker - I can see Oakland making a run – at least at the beginning of the season. Their farm system is phenomenal, as evidenced by their Pacific Coast League title. They’re young and hungry with a couple of key veterans, Giambi and Holliday, thrown into the mix. That’s a position that will suit them well.


Q: Angelswin.com - If Michael Becker was GM for one day with the green light from the owner to spend whatever it takes to improve the club, what moves would you make?

A: Michael Becker - Oh boy, that’s a tough one. I’m going to have to defer to Tony on this one. I have a hard enough time hitting two deadlines on a nightly basis to worry about someone else’s job. Hopefully you won’t hold it against me.

Angelswin.com - fair enough!


Q: Angelswin.com - Nearly two weeks ago we posted our Top 50 Prospects list, selecting Hank Conger as the Angels #1 prospect. Have you had a chance to see him play and what are your thoughts about Hank and the farm system?

A: Michael Becker - I haven’t had a chance to see Hank play yet, but, of course, I’ve heard nothing but good things. By the time I was promoted to the beat, the California League season was coming to an end. So I didn’t get an opportunity to head over to Rancho last year. But I’m sure I’ll get the chance at some point this season.

Last spring I covered high school baseball, so I have a pretty strong knowledge of the high school scene. Tyler Chatwood, who was picked by the Angels in the second round, was our San Bernardino County Player of the Year. I saw him play extensively and wrote a feature story about him last spring.

Kyle Skipworth, the No. 6 pick overall, was our Riverside County Player of the Year. So that gives you a sense of our area in terms of baseball talent. I’ve got a pretty good working knowledge of the area, and some strong relationships with a lot of the high school coaches, so hopefully that can serve our coverage well.

As for the Angels farm system, I’ve been impressed. I thought Brandon Wood and Sean Rodriguez did a phenomenal job, defensively especially, in the final month of the season while Aybar and Kendrick were out with injuries. I’m really looking forward to Spring Training so I can get a better look at a lot of these guys.

I’ll be packing your prospect list in my suitcase, believe me.


Q: Angelswin.com - Last year we had the Tampa Rays, who is your pick to surprise the Baseball world with a solid season, from worst to first, but not necessarily a World Series berth like Tampa.

A: Michael Becker - Get ready to read a lot of stories this spring about the Next Tampa Bay Rays. And it will be laughable. I wish sports fit into such convenient little tags. I’d make our jobs so much easier. But as you know, it doesn’t work that way. Tampa Bay didn’t sprout up over night. So to answer your question, I don’t see any team doing what it did last year.

That being said, I maintain that Oakland will have a strong year if their young kids start humming. And Detroit could be a team that goes from worst to first, if only because I find it hard to believe they can get any worse.


Q: Angelswin.com - Do you think there should be a salary cap in Baseball?

A: Michael Becker - I don’t. I think the lack of a salary cap is what makes a story like the Rays that much more special. I think it allows for varying approaches, which is healthy for the game. What is not healthy is having perennial losers, aided by miserly owners, who have no shot of winning a World Series.

Sure, revenue sharing helps somewhat. But I do think there’s a solution we’ve yet to achieve. I can’t purport to be smart enough to figure that out.


Q: Angelswin.com - Finally, what has been the craziest experience in the world of journalism that you have experienced in your career as a reporter?

A: Michael Becker - I’ve had so many great experiences in such a short amount of time. I’ve been truly blessed to have some great mentors and friends who have helped me in this business. I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to publicly thank them. Guys like Chico Harlan, who covers the Nationals for the Washington Post. Adam Kilgore, who covers the Red Sox for the Boston Globe. We went to school together at Syracuse and we each started covering baseball last season. Both of them have been great sounding boards in addition to wonderful friends. Eli Saslow, who covers politics for the Washington Post is another mentor and friend. And there are others who know who they are.

But personally, I’ll share a story from my first week on the Angels beat. It was my third day on the beat and I was sitting in the Angels dugout during batting practice. I really didn’t know many people at that point and it was a pretty overwhelming experience. I had interviewed Torii Hunter the day before and it came up in the conversation that I was new to the beat. We exchanged some small talk by his locker and that was it.

So I’m sitting there, in the dugout, taking this all in, when Hunter comes by for a drink of water. He sees me and stops. “Hey, how’s it going for you so far?”

Frankly, I’m impressed he remembered, and I wouldn’t have blamed him if he hadn’t. When I told him I was still trying to get my bearings, he told me not to worry. "That’s how I felt my first month here in Anaheim,” he said. “I’m a 10-year veteran and I still felt like a rookie out there. It’ll get better, man, trust me.” And then he went back out to shag fly balls. That was an experience that stuck with me. Torii, by all accounts, is one of the nicest guys in baseball, but the compassion and empathy he showed that day is something I’ll never forget.

I really appreciate the opportunity to introduce myself to the Angelswin.com community. Any questions, comments, suggestions, heck, even criticism, don’t hesitate to email me at mbecker@pe.com. I try to be as accessible and interactive as possible. I look forward to meeting everyone in good time.

Thanks.

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Casey Kotchman: Our forgotten future star

By J. Northrop ("Angelsjunky")

Amidst all the obsession over the Two Miguels and other trade possibilities, it seems that many have forgotten that the Angels have a collection of promising young hitters, some of whom--such as Howie Kendrick and Casey Kotchman--have gone beyond the level of "potential" into "actual." To provide an alternative for those that tire of the endless cycling of the same old trade rumors, here is a discussion of our first baseman of the next decade, Casey Kotchman.

Promising Beginnings: Excellence and Injury

It wasn’t that long ago that Casey Kotchman was one of the most exciting prospects in Angels history. I remember the excitement among fans when he slipped to the Angels in the 13^th pick of the 2001 draft; it was as if the baseball gods had smiled upon us, granting us our most fervent wish. And the 18-year old Kotchman rewarded us immediately, with 20 hits in his first 37 at-bats in Rookie ball.

The following year Kotchman hit .281/.390/.444 in 81 games at low-A Cedar Rapids: a strong performance but nothing awe-inspiring. Yet in 2003 he really came alive, hitting .350/.441/.524 in 57 games at high-A Rancho Cucamonga: excellent numbers, especially for a 20-year old. In 2004 he was even more dominant, but this time in AA and AAA, where he hit .368/.438/.544 in 28 games and .372/.423/.558 in 49 games—numbers that, from a 21-year old in the high minors, promised future stardom.

Yet a nagging worry never left us, for Kotchman seemed to be prone to various injuries. However, it was hard not to be optimistic about a player that hit .372 in AAA at 21 years old (even if in only a third of a season). Kotchman’s 2004 call-up seemed pre-mature, as he struggled to the tune of .224/.289/.276 in 38 games. But he was only 21! So we looked forward to next year, when he would (supposedly) begin a long career as our starting first baseman, a new and improved version of once-beloved Wally Joyner.

But it wasn’t to be—the job was handed to Darin Erstad, who while of Gold Glove defense—at 1B or CF—simply was not worthy to man first with his mediocre bat. Many fans were disappointed because Kotchman was undoubtedly the future at first base. Kotchman’s performance in AAA was, while decent, rather disappointing: he hit .289/.372/.441 in 94 games. However, hopes were still high—it was not uncommon for a young player to get a taste of the big leagues and, upon being sent back to the minors, to languish, as if they were merely biding their time, awaiting the opportunity that was a guarantee.

Casey Arrives (Sort of)

Kotchman was called up in the second half of 2005 and was a factor in the Angels stretch drive, hitting .278/.352/.484 in 47 games, finally displaying some major league power with 7 HR. Going into spring training of 2006 he was—finally (and perhaps a year too late)—a lock for the job. He tore the cover off the ball that spring, hitting .421/.450/.702 in 21 exhibition games. Finally Casey had arrived.

But, once again, it wasn’t to be. For about a month Kotchman was terrible, hitting .152/.221/.215 in 29 games, until it was determined that he had mononucleosis and was shelved for the year. Fans were distraught; it was the final straw (or almost). At the beginning of 2007, despite still being only 24, Kotchman’s stock had dropped drastically. Trade rumors swirled, yet thankfully avoided, especially given that his perceived value was lower than it had ever been. He was deemed “injury-prone” in the fine tradition of another talented young first baseman, Nick Johnson, who also experienced great success in the minors at a very young age—with a .525 OBP (!) in AA at age 20. Like Kotchman, Johnson was terrible in his first call-up (at age 22); since he made the majors for good in 2002, Johnson has played in 129, 96, 73, 131, 147, and 0, missing all of last year. Let us hope that Kotchman does not follow a similar pattern.

2007: Casey Arrives (Again)

Anyways, 2007 was a make-or-break year for Kotchman, at least in the minds of the more quick-fix-minded, bloodthirsty fans. Again, despite his performance in the minors and his relative young age, most people did not expect Kotchman to amount to much, at best another Sean Casey (life-time .301/.366/.450—solid, but nothing special for a first baseman). The most many hoped for was for Kotchman to remain healthy.

Through April, Kotchman hit .265/.337/.446, nothing special but at least he was playing. We crossed our fingers, hoping that he was just rusty—he had missed almost all of 2006 with a debilitating illness, and his spring numbers had been very good. Then in May he came alive, hitting .363/.435/.575, a line straight out of his minor league career. Finally, it seemed, Casey had arrived (again!). He continued to hit well through June, hitting .290/.371/.516. Yet then he got injuried—not for long, but after returning he slumped. But in July and August he put up at least decent numbers, hitting .270/.317/.392 and .286/.345/.403 respectively. The main concern was that his power had vanished—at one point between July and September he went two months without a home run. But in September he came alive again, hitting .299/.424/.478, finally blasting two home runs in the final week of the season.

Casey finished the year with a .296/.372/.467 line in 137 games, a season that should be considered a success. He seemed to follow a distinct pattern: He would slowly warm up and then hit very well until getting injuried. When he came back, he had trouble re-adjusting and would take time to warm up. Hopefully this pattern will be rectified—or at least shortened—with experience.

There is a lot to like about Kotchman’s first full season. When he was healthy and warm, he was a terrific hitter. During about a month stretch in May and June he had 37 hits in 24 games, including 12 multi-hit games, when his season numbers stood at .333/.411/.556 through June 16th. But then he got injuried and missed a week, after which he went 0-18 in his first five games back. The issue, in other words, is not talent—for Kotchman can hit. What he needs to learn is consistency and to quicken his return to timing, things that good hitters learn over time.

Kotchman also stayed healthy for most of the season, only missing a couple weeks worth of games scattered throughout the season. It also seemed that Scioscia protected him, giving him more days off than normal.

Some quibble with the fact that he hit only 11 HR. But he also hit 37 doubles—which is more impressive when you consider that he had only 131 hits, a number that projects to over 50 given 180 hits. Furthermore, some doubles eventually become home runs, so that Casey might be expected to hit 40 doubles and 20 HR, even if his average doesn’t increase that much.

The Future: Quality Regular or Star?

So what can we expect from Kotchman going forward? Despite his good performance in 2007, many fans still don’t see him as a future star—and some major publications seem to project him to even take a step back from 2007, which makes little sense given his age and the fact that he missed a key developmental year to illness. There is absolutely no reason to expect Kotchman to do anything but improve; the “injury-prone” label is largely misplaced, especially considering that Kotchman’s injuries have been different. In other words, he wasn’t had one nagging injury that has returned, perhaps requiring future surgery.

I think the least that we should expect from Kotchman is a perennial .300 hitter with 60 extra base hits, good plate discipline and excellent defense. But I am still optimistic that he can fulfill his earlier promise, even approach a line similar to his June 16^th totals (.333/.411/.556), which would place him among the better hitters in baseball.

In 2008 I predict a small step forward, but with greater consistency. In 2009 or 2010, I predict a leap forward to a plateau of excellent for the next five years, making Kotchman the best Angels first baseman ever. Something like this:

• 2008: .300/.380/.490 with 45 doubles, 18 HR, and 70 walks.
• 2009: .320/.400/.520 with 45 doubles, 20 HR, and 80 walks.
• 2010: .330/.420/.550 with 40 doubles, 25 HR, and 90 walks.

Of course nothing is guaranteed. As I mentioned in Part 2 of my series, even if Kotchman doesn’t improve he’s still an above average player and among the second tier of first basemen. But we have reason to be optimistic, so why not be? The Angels have been looking for a second elite hitter to complement Vladimir Guerrero. While Torii Hunter is a very good all-around player, he isn’t quite an elite hitter. And the Angels may not have to trade away the farm to get a guaranteed star in Miguel Cabrera; they may have him already, standing quietly over at first base. Our very own forgotten future star, Casey Kotchman.

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