Line-up / Rotation as of today.

[disarcina]

what's Richards status?  I thought he was on schedule to be ready to go at the start of the season?  NO?

 

as for Calhoun leading off -- my take is that it worked last year and you know the old adage........'if it ain't broke............'

[RePLAY]

With Hamilton out, I think its gonna be:

 

RF  Calhoun

CF  Trout

1B  Pujols

LF  Joyce

3B  Freese

DH  Cron

SS  Aybar

2B  Rutledge

C    Iannetta

[NrM]

Rutledge over Green ? i m thinking i need to read up on Rutledge - what does he bring to the table ?

nothing

[nikkachez]

With Hamilton out, I think its gonna be:

 

RF  Calhoun

CF  Trout

1B  Pujols

LF  Joyce

3B  Freese

DH  Cron

SS  Aybar

2B  Rutledge

C    Iannetta

Yep. Think the rotation is Weaver, Wilson, Shoemaker, Santiago, and Heaney with Richards still being a question mark. 

[Richard]

With Hamilton out, I think its gonna be:

 

RF  Calhoun

CF  Trout

1B  Pujols

LF  Joyce

3B  Freese

DH  Cron

SS  Aybar

2B  Rutledge

C    Iannetta

 

Cowgill should probably figure into something as well. LF should be a rotation of Cowgill and Joyce, with a DH rotation of Joyce and Cron.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Richard

[WallyWorld]

Joyce at clean-up? I don't understand that. His OPS isn't impressive and has dropped every year he's been in the league.

[Oz27]

Cowgill should probably figure into something as well. LF should be a rotation of Cowgill and Joyce, with a DH rotation of Joyce and Cron.

I think we're going to see significant regression from Cowgill but that he'll still be a useful platoon guy. Still, against RHP Cron at DH and Joyce in LF seems like the obvious combination. But I'd like to see Grant Green get some of those starts if he doesn't win the 2B job.

 

When Hamilton's injury takes way longer than initially planned, one option that could open up if Kubitza starts well at AAA is he plays 3B and Freese DHs.

[RenoHalo]

Cron is an excellent defensive DH

I agree Doc. As a fielder, Cron's got some good pop...

[Troll Daddy]

Let's get realistic

Calhoun

Aybar

Trout

Pujols

Joyce is a good candidate for batting second but ... will see. Also, Calhoun's numbers post all-star break dropped quite a bit.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Troll Daddy

[nando714]

Weaver

Wilson

Shoemaker

Santiago

Tropeano

Color me unimpressed

[Blarg]

Add Richards back in, he won't be missing any significant time if any at all.

[Jim]

Wondering if MS is really going to bat Trout third or not. I don't see Calhoun as being a lock for lead off but likely ... with Cron and Joyce sharing most of the DHing it's going to be interesting. We might see a different lineup every game. I could even see Aybar somewhere at the top of the lineup now and then.

I agree that Calhoun isn’t a lock for leadoff. All signs point to Trout batting third, which leaves the two spot for Calhoun, and the lead off duties for Aybar and others. My prediction is Aybar gets the first nod at leadoff.

 

Opening day lineup as of 2/10 vs. RHP

 

Aybar

Calhoun

Trout

Pujols

Freese

Cron

Joyce

Iannetta

Rutledge

 

Weaver on the bump

Edited February 10, 2015 by Jim

[Troutstanding]

I would like this top of the order:

 

Joyce

Trout

Calhoun

Pujols

 

But I'm more realistically hoping for:

 

Joyce

Calhoun

Trout

Puhols

[Grigori]

If Keuchel and McHugh are the real deal, and I have no reason to think they are not, the Angels may have the worst rotation in the AL West, even with Richards.  Scott Feldman had a better ERA+ than Weaver last year, as Weaver continues to fade. (Gallardo was better than either last year.) I'm not sure Straily will help the Astros, but he was  nice low-risk addition to the Astros rotation, likely able to provide more than CJ.  Heaney is the dark horse. The Angels will have to win with their bats and their bullpen.