Anyone Up For Some Sunday Night Pitching Porn?

[tdawg87]

So we all know that the Angels' starting pitching has been surprisingly decent so far this year. But here are a few things you might not have known that may cause some movement in your pants:

 

• The Angels have the 3rd best Starting pitcher ERA in the AL, just 0.03 points behind Detroit at number 2.
• The Angels have the most innings pitched among any starters in the AL.
• Angels' starters have the 3rd most strikeouts in the AL.
• Their BAA is 2nd in the AL, as well as the majors.
• Angels' starters have allowed the lowest OPS in the majors.
• They are also in the bottom 5 in hits and HR allowed.
• 2nd best WHIP in the AL

Just a few bullet points I wanted to make about the starting rotation. Now I know what you are all thinking: "Yeah but the bullpen is still awful". And you are correct. HOWEVER, I just wanted to point out that the bullpen has been better than average at BAA and strikeouts, and are only middle of the pack when it comes to walks (seriously, I almost shit my pants when I saw that). So basically, yes the pen needs to improve, but it isn't quite as horrible as most of us think it is. The ERA is a little misleading. They are basically a middle of the pack bullpen with potential to improve.

 

Anywho, the point is that the pitching staff this year has been excellent all things considered. Once the bullpen sees improvement this is a seriously dangerous team.

[Guest]

So we all know that the Angels' starting pitching has been surprisingly decent so far this year. But here are a few things you might not have known that may cause some movement in your pants:

 

• The Angels have the 3rd best Starting pitcher ERA in the AL, just 0.03 points behind Detroit at number 2.
• The Angels have the most innings pitched among any starters in the AL.
• Angels' starters have the 3rd most strikeouts in the AL.
• Their BAA is 2nd in the AL, as well as the majors.
• Angels' starters have allowed the lowest OPS in the majors.
• They are also in the bottom 5 in hits and HR allowed.
• 2nd best WHIP in the AL

Just a few bullet points I wanted to make about the starting rotation. Now I know what you are all thinking: "Yeah but the bullpen is still awful". And you are correct. HOWEVER, I just wanted to point out that the bullpen has been better than average at BAA and strikeouts, and are only middle of the pack when it comes to walks (seriously, I almost shit my pants when I saw that). So basically, yes the pen needs to improve, but it isn't quite as horrible as most of us think it is. The ERA is a little misleading. They are basically a middle of the pack bullpen with potential to improve.

 

Anywho, the point is that the pitching staff this year has been excellent all things considered. Once the bullpen sees improvement this is a seriously dangerous team.

 

Angels pitching has been far better than expected this year. Hopefully De La Rosa will come back strong and some of our relief pitchers in the minors can contribute when called up later this year. I'm still a bit worried about our SP depth though if we lose a starter to injury though.

 

Interestingly enough in the last month or so the biggest weakness of this team has actually been the offense, i.e. shenanigans like grounding into a double play by swinging at ball 3 way out of the zone with a 2-0 count, runners 1st and 2nd no outs (after the starter just walked two batters). Or running through a stop sign only to get thrown out at home easily with two outs in a close game.  

[Docwaukee]

Nice!!!

 

Props to the defense as well.  They have been outstanding this year. 

 

The pen has been solid for a month after a horrendous first month with reinforcements still to come.  The combo of Burnett and Jepsen effectively acting as one reliever is a solid move.  Jep faces the righties and lefties that can't hurt him too bad and Burnett gets the difficult lefties.  Salas for mop up.  Smith Frieri and Kohn in the 7th, 8th and 9th with Morin mixed in.  Hopefully DDLR can get in the mix as well.  Then, after awhile, Bedrock and Alvarez can be worked in assuming Alvarez injury isn't severe. 

 

And of course we have the best offense in baseball even with our #4/5 hitter being a black hole.  Please come back Josh.  Please. 

[markb]

I think it's hard to call the bullpen awful at this point.  After completely shitting the bed the first couple weeks, they've all been, for the most part, pretty solid.  

 

In the last 30 days, the worst WHIPs in the BP are Kohn and Salas at 1.24, which isn't terrible.  The others:

 

Frieri - 0.43

Morin - 0.86

Smith - 0.90

Jepsen - 0.92 (yeah I didn't expect this either -- his BAA is also .103 over that stretch)

 

Will we continue to see that kind of performance (esp from Jepsen)?  Probably not.  Although Frieri has had many similar stretches of complete dominance in the last two years.  Scioscia just needs to have a quicker hook when it's obvious he's having one of his moments.  But knowing we have talent like Alvarez and Bedrosian ready to come in mid to late season if one or two guys really start struggling again gives me hope that the BP won't be our downfall after all.

 

EDIT:  and I completely forgot Burnett until reading doc's post.  I'm skeptical he's going to make it through the season healthy, but here's hoping.

Edited May 26, 2014 by markb

[AngelsWin.com]

By Toby Hunt, AngelsWin.com Columnist - 

So we all know that the Angels' starting pitching has been surprisingly decent so far this year. But here are a few things you might not have known that may cause some movement in your pants:

• The Angels have the 3rd best SP ERA in the AL, just 0.03 points behind Detroit who's at number 2.
• The Angels have the most innings pitched among any starters in the AL.
• Angels' starters have the 3rd most strikeouts in the AL.
• Their BAA is 2nd in the AL, as well as the majors.
• Angels' starters have allowed the lowest OPS in the majors.
• They are also in the bottom 5 in hits and HR allowed.
• Currently the Angels have the second best WHIP in the AL

Just a few bullet points I wanted to make about the starting rotation. Now I know what you are all thinking: "Yeah but the bullpen is still awful". And you are correct. HOWEVER, I just wanted to point out that the bullpen has been better than average at BAA and strikeouts, and are only middle of the pack when it comes to walks (seriously, I almost shit my pants when I saw that). So basically, yes the pen needs to improve, but it isn't quite as horrible as most of us think it is. The ERA is a little misleading. They are basically a middle of the pack bullpen with potential to improve.

Anywho, the point is that the pitching staff this year has been excellent all things considered. Once the bullpen sees improvement this is a seriously dangerous team.

Lastly, a word from Jered Weaver on the Angels' starting staff's performance thus far. 

View the full article

[Docwaukee]

I think it's hard to call the bullpen awful at this point.  After completely shitting the bed the first couple weeks, they've all been, for the most part, pretty solid.  

 

In the last 30 days, the worst WHIPs in the BP are Kohn and Salas at 1.24, which isn't terrible.  The others:

 

Frieri - 0.43

Morin - 0.86

Smith - 0.90

Jepsen - 0.92 (yeah I didn't expect this either -- his BAA is also .103 over that stretch)

 

Will we continue to see that kind of performance (esp from Jepsen)?  Probably not.  Although Frieri has had many similar stretches of complete dominance in the last two years.  Scioscia just needs to have a quicker hook when it's obvious he's having one of his moments.  But knowing we have talent like Alvarez and Bedrosian ready to come in mid to late season if one or two guys really start struggling again gives me hope that the BP won't be our downfall after all.

 

EDIT:  and I completely forgot Burnett until reading doc's post.  I'm skeptical he's going to make it through the season healthy, but here's hoping.

yeah, I've got my doubts about his long term health, but if they use him selectively along with Jep, I think it can be a good combo.  Granted, they won't be the best in the league, but at least very solid.  They are 7th in WPA over the last month. (I like WPA for relievers).  

[Chuck]

Great writeup, Toby! 

 

It was so good I had to Blog it.

[Dave Saltzer]

Great writeup, Toby!

It was so good I had to Blog it.

Good call and good writeup.

[m0nkey]

Thanks, Butch!

[mancini79]

Not bad for not having an "ace" on the team....