Howie Kendrick

[LAAMike]

I think that Howie is finally going to live up to all of our expectations this year.  I look for Howie to have a break out year.

[mike_hllywa]

I see Howie being Howie. I've seen nothing to suggest any kind of "breakout." And to be honest, you could say he already HAD a breakout season in 2011. He's a second tier catcher (borderline top shelf), and that's cool with me.

[angelduck]

I'm expecting to be disappointed..

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

When did Howie become a catcher?

 

I think he can have another season like 2011 again.  

[AngelsWin.com]

By Robert Cunningham - AngelsWin.com Staff Writer

2013 Outlook: Batting Title? Nah, it just doesn't seem like it will ever happen for Howie. However, Kendrick does bring a valuable home-grown talent to second base that goes unappreciated at times. Although Howie isn't a Cano or Kinsler type at the position he does bring steady value with his bat and ability to make contact with the ball while playing above average defense at the keystone.

Kendrick should do well hitting in the 6 or 7-hole a majority of the time. We may also see him spend time in the 2-hole as well based on match ups against specific opponents/pitchers that he peforms well against.

Howie hits both left and right handed pitchers (similar to Pujols) equally well so he gives Scioscia the ability to insert him in between hitters who have a more pronounced platoon split (such as Alberto Callaspo). Additionally with the variety of superstar hitters in the lineup, Kendrick should be "un-stressed" enough to add value with his bat and ability to square up the baseball.

Finally it should be noted that Kendrick had off-season elbow sugery that apparently he played through during part of the season last year. This may have led to a bit of a power outage on his part (although he was never a big power threat) so it wouldn't be surprising to see him power some more balls to the alley's and even pop a few more HR's over the fence this season. Health seems to be a recurring issue this season for many of our starters!

View the full article

[Stradling]

I'm expecting to be disappointed..

So you're saying he will have a good season, which will piss you off because it makes it harder for you to hate on the guy. Noted.

[angelduck]

So you're saying he will have a good season, which will piss you off because it makes it harder for you to hate on the guy. Noted.

 

I'm expecting more rally killing double play balls.

[Chuck]

I'm expecting more rally killing double play balls.

He didn't do a lot of that in 2011. You might want to actually cheer on the team you root for instead of expecting the worst in all things.

[nate]

I think he will hit more HR's and have a higher OBP than in the estimates.

 

15-18 HR and a .340 OBP is my guess.  Maybe even .350 if he hits second.

[xboom28x]

If only he loved the Angels as much as he loves the Ducks and Clips

[angelduck]

He didn't do a lot of that in 2011. You might want to actually cheer on the team you root for instead of expecting the worst in all things.

 

Serious? I love the Angels as much as anyone. Only difference is that I don't like to make excuses for people not doing their jobs. Some people like to look at everything through rosy Angels red glasses...I get it. I like some accountability for players and coaches that aren't doing their jobs very well.

[angelduck]

If only he loved the Angels as much as he loves the Ducks and Clips

 

Yeah dude. I hate the Angels just because I don't like Mike Scioscia. You HAVE to like Mike Scioscia to be an Angels fan.

[tdawg87]

It depends on what you mean by "breakout year". It's certainly possible he could have another year like 2011 which would be great, but if you are saying he will just magically "figure it out" and become the hitter we all hoped he would be after 3000+ PA's, then I sincerely doubt that will happen. Howie is what he is; an above average second baseman with a good glove and a solid bat.

[ScottT]

Expectations can be such a bitch.  That said, I expect a bump in power from Howard this year.   If he can get back to 2011 power, great.  

[xboom28x]

If you talked as much crap about VDN as you do Sosh, I'd believe that statement

[angelduck]

If you talked as much crap about VDN as you do Sosh, I'd believe that statement

 

I want VDN to be fired almost as bad as Sosh.

 

I can stomach VDN more because unlike Sosh...He's been able to take his stacked roster to the playoffs the last two years.

 

You see the difference?

[xboom28x]

I want VDN to be fired almost as bad as Sosh.

 

I can stomach VDN more because unlike Sosh...He's been able to take his stacked roster to the playoffs the last two years.

 

You see the difference?

 16 teams get to the playoffs in the NBA

 

10 in MLB.

 

Angels would have made the playoffs last year if 16 baseball teams made it.

 

So, no, I can't see the difference.

[Chuck]

Expectations can be such a bitch.  That said, I expect a bump in power from Howard this year.   If he can get back to 2011 power, great.  

 

Scott, I love the picture! I can't believe you still have that one. 

 

I have it somewhere on my backup hard drive.

[Lifetime]

I don't. I see the same flawed logic you usually rely on.

[angelduck]

 16 teams get to the playoffs in the NBA

 

10 in MLB.

 

Angels would have made the playoffs last year if 16 baseball teams made it.

 

So, no, I can't see the difference.

 

The Clippers finished 5th last year in the West. They'll probably finish 3rd this year. I wish Scioscia could've finished 5th in the AL last year (would've meant wild card), and I have serious doubts that he's going to finish 3rd in the AL this year. We'll see.

[Chuck]

Serious? I love the Angels as much as anyone. Only difference is that I don't like to make excuses for people not doing their jobs. Some people like to look at everything through rosy Angels red glasses...I get it. I like some accountability for players and coaches that aren't doing their jobs very well.

 

Um. We all call out the manager, coaches and players at times, but you're constantly posting the same garbage about Butcher, Scioscia and some players that have ruffled your feathers. I made a vow to the board this year that I will not tolerate constant trolling from members about a certain individual on the Angels. We banned a guy named R. Munkee because of his hate for Vladimir Guerrero. I dealt with it for about a year or so and after several warnings (like you've received) he was finally gone.

 

Moral of the story, you're on thin ice so don't push your luck here. I don't mind a boo here or a damn there from you, but I don't need you thread-jacking or creating with posts of your hate agenda toward these individuals you've zeroed in on the past year. 

 

I say no more. 

[Stradling]

The Clippers finished 5th last year in the West. They'll probably finish 3rd this year. I wish Scioscia could've finished 5th in the AL last year (would've meant wild card), and I have serious doubts that he's going to finish 3rd in the AL this year. We'll see.

Comparing the two sports is ridiculous.

[angelduck]

Wow. How the **** did I hi-jack this thread? I posted that he'll probably be disappointed if he's expecting a breakout year from Kendrick, then Stradling wrote some condescending bullshit. If a "valued member" on this site wrote what I wrote no one would've cared.

[angelduck]

Comparing the two sports is ridiculous.

 

I agree. I have no clue why Xboom brought the Clippers into this thread

[Lifetime]

Well they both use round balls