Best Angels Single-Season Player Milestone

[Chuck]

35 minutes ago, T.G. said:

Clearly, there aren't any wrong answers here.  Lots of great choices.

100%. I think it should be relative to what you got to witness rather than the best statistical season on paper. 

[ScottT]

Hard to choose between Trout 2012 & 2016.... and Ohtani 2022 and 2023.

[Chuck]

3 hours ago, ScottT said:

Hard to choose between Trout 2012 & 2016.... and Ohtani 2022 and 2023.

Can you imagine if the Angels had this lineup and rotation in any given season:

Lineup

1B Darin Erstad (2000)

CF Mike Trout (2012)

RF Vladimir Guerrero (2004)

DH Shohei Ohtani (2023)

3B Troy Glaus (2000)

LF Don Baylor (1979)

2B Bobby Grich (1979)

C Mike Napoli (2009)

SS Jim Fregosi (1964)

Bench: Chone Figgins (2007), Wally Joyner (1987), Tim Salmon (1995), Garret Anderson (2002), Lance Parrish (1990), David Eckstein (2002)

 

Starting Pitching

Nolan Ryan (1973)

Dean Chance (1964)

Frank Tanana (1977)

Shohei Ohtani (2022)

Jered Weaver (2011)

 

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez (2004)

Bullpen: Troy Percival (1996), Scot Shields (2003), Bryan Harvey (1991), Donnie Moore (1985), Chuck Finley (1990)

[T.G.]

19 minutes ago, Chuck said:

3B Chone Figgins (2007)

3B Troy Glaus 2000

[Chuck]

12 minutes ago, T.G. said:

3B Troy Glaus 2000

I dunno, I like Chone there at leadoff and his 2007 season was amazing, but since we have Erstad and rookie Trout 1-2 in the lineup if Chone is dropped, Glaus provides a ton of production. 

[Chuck]

26 minutes ago, T.G. said:

3B Troy Glaus 2000

Updated lineup/roster

[Hubs]

2 hours ago, Chuck said:

Can you imagine if the Angels had this lineup and rotation in any given season:

Lineup

1B Darin Erstad (2000)

CF Mike Trout (2012)

RF Vladimir Guerrero (2004)

DH Shohei Ohtani (2023)

3B Troy Glaus (2000)

LF Don Baylor (1979)

2B Bobby Grich (1979)

C Mike Napoli (2009)

SS Jim Fregosi (1964)

Bench: Chone Figgins (2007), Wally Joyner (1987), Tim Salmon (1995), Garret Anderson (2002), Lance Parrish (1990), David Eckstein (2002)

 

Starting Pitching

Nolan Ryan (1973)

Dean Chance (1964)

Frank Tanana (1977)

Shohei Ohtani (2022)

Jered Weaver (2011)

 

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez (2004)

Bullpen: Troy Percival (1996), Scot Shields (2003), Bryan Harvey (1991), Donnie Moore (1985), Chuck Finley (1990)

I'd add Donnelly's 2002 to the Bullpen.

[jsnpritchett]

18 minutes ago, Hubs said:

I'd add Donnelly's 2002 to the Bullpen.

I'm assuming you mean 2003? He was fine in '02, but much better in '03.

[Chuck]

21 minutes ago, Hubs said:

I'd add Donnelly's 2002 to the Bullpen.

 

1 minute ago, jsnpritchett said:

I'm assuming you mean 2003? He was fine in '02, but much better in '03.

These guys to swap in and out for the reserves and bullpen are pretty even. I took their best years as closers or in the bullpen, but in Finley's case since he was a reliever and also a SP I'd have him as the Angels long man or spot starter. Had to get the Angels win leader in there somewhere.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

You omitted Ryan’s two no-hitters in 73.  Lock it.  

[Slegnaac]

On 2/1/2024 at 2:16 PM, Chuck said:

Can you imagine if the Angels had this lineup and rotation in any given season:

Lineup

1B Darin Erstad (2000)

CF Mike Trout (2012)

RF Vladimir Guerrero (2004)

DH Shohei Ohtani (2023)

3B Troy Glaus (2000)

LF Don Baylor (1979)

2B Bobby Grich (1979)

C Mike Napoli (2009)

SS Jim Fregosi (1964)

Bench: Chone Figgins (2007), Wally Joyner (1987), Tim Salmon (1995), Garret Anderson (2002), Lance Parrish (1990), David Eckstein (2002)

 

Starting Pitching

Nolan Ryan (1973)

Dean Chance (1964)

Frank Tanana (1977)

Shohei Ohtani (2022)

Jered Weaver (2011)

 

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez (2004)

Bullpen: Troy Percival (1996), Scot Shields (2003), Bryan Harvey (1991), Donnie Moore (1985), Chuck Finley (1990)

Need to find a spot for Brian Downing.

[Chuck]

On 2/1/2024 at 4:16 PM, Chuck said:

Can you imagine if the Angels had this lineup and rotation in any given season:

Lineup

1B Darin Erstad (2000)

CF Mike Trout (2012)

RF Vladimir Guerrero (2004)

DH Shohei Ohtani (2023)

3B Troy Glaus (2000)

LF Don Baylor (1979)

2B Bobby Grich (1979)

C Mike Napoli (2009)

SS Jim Fregosi (1964)

Bench: Chone Figgins (2007), Wally Joyner (1987), Tim Salmon (1995), Garret Anderson (2002), Lance Parrish (1990), David Eckstein (2002)

 

Starting Pitching

Nolan Ryan (1973)

Dean Chance (1964)

Frank Tanana (1977)

Shohei Ohtani (2022)

Jered Weaver (2011)

 

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez (2004)

Bullpen: Troy Percival (1996), Scot Shields (2003), Bryan Harvey (1991), Donnie Moore (1985), Chuck Finley (1990)

How would this Angels roster go up against other teams all time greats?

[jsnpritchett]

37 minutes ago, Chuck said:

How would this Angels roster go up against other teams all time greats?

I won't do the full list, but the Braves could pretty handily beat the Angels (especially since they'd have one of Rogers Hornsby's best seasons from the one year he was with them). 

Might be more interesting to restrict it only to teams' best players' individual seasons since 1961 and see what you come up with.  Angels would fare better then.

Edited February 4 by jsnpritchett

[Chuck]

1 hour ago, jsnpritchett said:

I won't do the full list, but the Braves could pretty handily beat the Angels (especially since they'd have one of Rogers Hornsby's best seasons from the one year he was with them). 

Might be more interesting to restrict it only to teams' best players' individual seasons since 1961 and see what you come up with.  Angels would fare better then.

This looks like it would be right up @ettin’s alley to get back into writing again. 

[Chuck]

On 1/31/2024 at 8:55 AM, Chuck said:

We did career milestones a couple weeks ago which had Reggie's 500th, Pujols' 600th, Carew's 3000th hit and Sutton's 300th win, but now let's focus on best single season Angels accomplishment all-time.

I've added some really good seasons by Angels players over the years, so tough choices.

Vote! 

I added Troy Glaus' amazing 47 HR season in 2000 where he posted a 7.8 WAR that year. Just another sensational campaign by one of the Angels greats! 

Best 3B in Angels history? Figgins, Glaus, DeCinces?

[Hubs]

On 2/3/2024 at 4:11 PM, Chuck said:

How would this Angels roster go up against other teams all time greats?

I would think the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs and surprisingly Reds and A's would be the front runners... but the Angels are right there. 

The Red Sox would also field a very dominant rotation, and that would be challenging.

I mean, Pedro's 2000 with a 11.7 WAR and then Roger Clemens 1990 at 10.4...Curt Schilling's 2004...Great 1-2-3 With Eckersley closing?

[Chuck]

9 hours ago, Hubs said:

I would think the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs and surprisingly Reds and A's would be the front runners... but the Angels are right there. 

The Red Sox would also field a very dominant rotation, and that would be challenging.

I mean, Pedro's 2000 with a 11.7 WAR and then Roger Clemens 1990 at 10.4...Curt Schilling's 2004...Great 1-2-3 With Eckersley closing?

I think the Red Sox and Yankees would easily be the top two. I'd slot the Angels ahead of the Dodgers, Cubs, Reds and A's. The Mariners would be pretty damn good too.

[HaloBronco]

On 2/1/2024 at 2:16 PM, Chuck said:

Can you imagine if the Angels had this lineup and rotation in any given season:

Lineup

1B Darin Erstad (2000)

CF Mike Trout (2012)

RF Vladimir Guerrero (2004)

DH Shohei Ohtani (2023)

3B Troy Glaus (2000)

LF Don Baylor (1979)

2B Bobby Grich (1979)

C Mike Napoli (2009)

SS Jim Fregosi (1964)

Bench: Chone Figgins (2007), Wally Joyner (1987), Tim Salmon (1995), Garret Anderson (2002), Lance Parrish (1990), David Eckstein (2002)

 

Starting Pitching

Nolan Ryan (1973)

Dean Chance (1964)

Frank Tanana (1977)

Shohei Ohtani (2022)

Jered Weaver (2011)

 

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez (2004)

Bullpen: Troy Percival (1996), Scot Shields (2003), Bryan Harvey (1991), Donnie Moore (1985), Chuck Finley (1990)

 

No doubt about it, the Halos have had a lot of Great players.

Big reason why I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, they’ve always had a great player to watch and root for (no matter what decade it was)…..

 

[Hubs]

14 hours ago, Chuck said:

I think the Red Sox and Yankees would easily be the top two. I'd slot the Angels ahead of the Dodgers, Cubs, Reds and A's. The Mariners would be pretty damn good too.

The Mariners would have Griffey in his prime, A-Rod and Ichiro. They'd also have a lot of other random seasons like Bret Boone's 2001 37 Hr season at 2nd Base. Their rotation would be good with Randy Johnsons 1995 at the top, followed by Felix Hernandez 2010, and then you drop into Jamie Moyer, Mike Moore and Mark Langston next. Pretty good lineup but rotation not that great. 

The O's actually with Cal Ripken (91) and Brooks Robinson (68) playing next to one another with Bobby Grich (73) at 2nd with Eddie Murray (83) as the 1B? With plus Frank Robinson (66) in RF, with Paul Blair in CF, and Rafael Palmiero in LF? But their rotation probably falters after Palmer and Mike Mussina.

Our top 5 Pitching Seasons (by bWAR) are actually Dean Chance (64), Mark Langston (93), Frank Tanana (77), Nolan Ryan (77) and Chuck Finley (90). Then you have some repeats before getting to Jim Abbott (91) and Jered Weaver (11), John Lackey (07) and Shohei Ohtani (22).

For the position side it's literally Mike Trout (12, 16, 18, 15, and 13) before you come to Darin Erstad's (2000), Jim Fregosi (64) and Andrelton Simmons (17) are next before you get to another Mike Trout (19), Then its Troy Glaus's 2000, and Chone Figgins (2009). Since we can't do repeats, Tim Salmon in RF (95), DeCinces' 82, Kendrick's 14 and Grich's 79 are all great seasons before you get to Ohtani's (23) and Vlad's 2005 -- not 2004, and Brian Downing (79) and Jim Edmonds' 1995.

So you stick Mike's best year is 12 where he played LF, then Erstad in CF, Salmon in RF with Fregosi at SS, Troy Glaus at 3rd and Grich at 2nd? At 1st, it's actually a longer scroll down before you get to Pujols' 12 or Rod Carew's 82. Downing is your Catcher with his 79 season. 

I'm trying to fit guys where they actually played in the year that is the best, so no Erstad at 1st and Vlad at DH. Ohtani's 23 as a DH is likely ahead of Vlad. Crazy that the one HoF from this team doesn't make the starting lineup. But he would be on the bench with Figgins, Simmons, Kendrick, and Edmonds.

This was fun. 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ANA/leaders_bat_50_season.shtml

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ANA/leaders_pitch_50_season.shtml

[Chuck]

19 minutes ago, Hubs said:

The Mariners would have Griffey in his prime, A-Rod and Ichiro. They'd also have a lot of other random seasons like Bret Boone's 2001 37 Hr season at 2nd Base. Their rotation would be good with Randy Johnsons 1995 at the top, followed by Felix Hernandez 2010, and then you drop into Jamie Moyer, Mike Moore and Mark Langston next. Pretty good lineup but rotation not that great. 

The O's actually with Cal Ripken (91) and Brooks Robinson (68) playing next to one another with Bobby Grich (73) at 2nd with Eddie Murray (83) as the 1B? With plus Frank Robinson (66) in RF, with Paul Blair in CF, and Rafael Palmiero in LF? But their rotation probably falters after Palmer and Mike Mussina.

Our top 5 Pitching Seasons (by bWAR) are actually Dean Chance (64), Mark Langston (93), Frank Tanana (77), Nolan Ryan (77) and Chuck Finley (90). Then you have some repeats before getting to Jim Abbott (91) and Jered Weaver (11), John Lackey (07) and Shohei Ohtani (22).

For the position side it's literally Mike Trout (12, 16, 18, 15, and 13) before you come to Darin Erstad's (2000), Jim Fregosi (64) and Andrelton Simmons (17) are next before you get to another Mike Trout (19), Then its Troy Glaus's 2000, and Chone Figgins (2009). Since we can't do repeats, Tim Salmon in RF (95), DeCinces' 82, Kendrick's 14 and Grich's 79 are all great seasons before you get to Ohtani's (23) and Vlad's 2005 -- not 2004, and Brian Downing (79) and Jim Edmonds' 1995.

So you stick Mike's best year is 12 where he played LF, then Erstad in CF, Salmon in RF with Fregosi at SS, Troy Glaus at 3rd and Grich at 2nd? At 1st, it's actually a longer scroll down before you get to Pujols' 12 or Rod Carew's 82. Downing is your Catcher with his 79 season. 

I'm trying to fit guys where they actually played in the year that is the best, so no Erstad at 1st and Vlad at DH. Ohtani's 23 as a DH is likely ahead of Vlad. Crazy that the one HoF from this team doesn't make the starting lineup. But he would be on the bench with Figgins, Simmons, Kendrick, and Edmonds.

This was fun. 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ANA/leaders_bat_50_season.shtml

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ANA/leaders_pitch_50_season.shtml

Let's turn this into a extended blog article @Hubs, where you take the best single-seasons by the Angels and use WAR to see how they go up against their division rivals best single-season players teams. That would be a fun article! We can do one at a time i.e. Angels vs. A's, Angels vs. Mariners, etc. 

Then if the Angels come out on top vs. the AL West best teams over the years, we can go head to head against some of the best (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.)

[Hubs]

11 minutes ago, Chuck said:

Let's turn this into a extended blog article @Hubs, where you take the best single-seasons by the Angels and use WAR to see how they go up against their division rivals best single-season players teams. That would be a fun article! We can do one at a time i.e. Angels vs. A's, Angels vs. Mariners, etc. 

Then if the Angels come out on top vs. the AL West best teams over the years, we can go head to head against some of the best (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.)

Challenge Accepted.

[Chuck]

Poll on Twitter! 

 

[Chuck]

Just thinking about this, the Angels could boast one of the best all-time starting-five LHP rotations in baseball actually.

Tanana (1976)
Finley (1990)
Langston (1991)
Abbott (1991) 
Washburn (2002)

[Chuck]

New poll up is on X. 

Hitters:

 

[Chuck]

Pitchers