gurn67

Is Anaheim really that hard of a park to hit in? Maybe it is since I can't blame Hatcher anymore. However, maybe Arte IS cursed.
I decided to look up who was the last starting position player acquired by the Angels during the off-season whose OPS actually went up during his first season here. I'm only considering guys who were a starting player for another team who were signed or traded for to be in the starting lineup here. I'm not considering guys who won a job in spring training, or due to injury. It's a really ugly list and all of these guys were acquired during Arte's ownership.
 
Year / Player / Drop in OPS
 
2013 Hamilton -.191
2012 Pujols -.047
2012 Ianetta -.055
2011 Wells -.187
2010 Matsui -.056
2009 Abreu -.018
2008 Hunter -027
2007 Matthews Jr. -.124
2005 Cabrera -.111
2005 Hillenbrand -.091
2005 Finley -.170
2004 Guillen -.079
2004 Guerrero -.023
 
Granted, Vladdy won the MVP, but the year before he missed pretty much June and July with a back injury and still had a higher OPS.
 
The last guy who actually increased his OPS during his first season here?
 
2002 Fullmer +.117 ...and we all know what happened that year.
 

2 suckers down, 28 to go!!!

"A slumpbuster is if a team's in a slump, or if you personally are in a slump, you gotta find the fatest, gnarliest, grossest chick and you just gotta lay the wood to her. And when you do that, you're just gonna have instant success. And it could also be called jumping on a grenade for the team." Mark Grace 2003
Today, he'd probably have to hold a press conference and give a weepy public apology, although, at the time most people considered it hilarious.

I got sick of him right away when he would give up line drives all over the place and then after the game talk like he just gave up a few bloop hits. The "ungainly" HR rate wasn't because he was making a ton of starts at Coors Field, it's because the only way he can get hitters out it by fooling them and he wasn't fooling ANYBODY. Well, anybody other than Dipoto.

I got sick of him right away when he would give up line drives all over the place and then after the game talk like he just gave up a few bloop hits. The "ungainly" HR rate wasn't because he was making a ton of starts at Coors Field, it's because the only way he can get hitters out it by fooling them and he wasn't fooling ANYBODY. Well, anybody other than Dipoto.

Joe Blanton > Santa Claus to 29 other teams.

.271 with 21 HR & 84 RBI's was about what was expected when he was signed. His OPS was .955 the second half once Sosh realized that, with his bad knees, he should have only been playing 5 days a week and only as a DH.

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

A rule change that was long overdue. As an Angels' fan, I can remember being on both sides of the issue in the last several years. Teixeira giving Bobby Wilson a concussion in 2010 and Erstad basically ruining Johnny Estrada's career in 2005. Sorry, but I don't think in any sport it should be considered acceptable to run into another player at full speed when they are standing still or in a kneeling position.

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

Considering the team track record of signing DH's to one year deals (Murray, Parker, Fielder, Matsui, Hillenbrand, Hill, and a host of many more), how can this possibly go wrong?

Personally, I think the man has a burning desire to prove the doubters wrong and reward Arte for his faith in him. He's obviously not playing for the money at this point. I guess he was still on steroids in 2012 when he drove in 88 runs and hit 29 bombs in a 99 game stretch. The dude was playing on one foot last year and still hit .303 with RISP. I honestly don't understand why an Angels' fan would actually hope that any of the Angels' players performs anything other than at their best. I couldn't stand Reggie before he was here, or while he was here, but every time he came to the plate, I was hoping he was going to hit one 500 ft. As much as I hated the Wells deal, I hoped he would prove me wrong. As much as I was baffled by the Hamilton and Blanton signings, I hope they both come back this season and prove me wrong. As much as I hate the Fat Man and wish both he and Butcher were let go, I hope this team wins 100 games and he wins AL Manager of the Year. I don't see what enjoyment you get as an Angels' fan watching players underachieve just so you can say "I told you so."

I'm sitting here watching one organization that is doing pretty much everything right and one that isn't. Don't know if it's poor ownership or poor decision making in the front office but I'm tired of getting owned.

Not from me. Not this time. This move was Bill Bavasiesque.

Every one of the Cardinals' pitchers is smiling today.

Every one of the Cardinals' pitchers is smiling today.

I guess that makes it $92,000,000 over 4 years for Kinsler then. They must have REALLY wanted to get rid of Fielder.

Much better with the sound off, but the 2009 version doesn't even look like the same guy. There's only a few guys in the history of the game that could generate that bat speed. However, he made adjustments for his slower bat from June-August of 2012 and put up his usual numbers (.323, 21, 63 in 71 games). Hopefully, we get to see that guy play with two healthy wheels, but I agree, it's more than just the foot.

Much better with the sound off, but the 2009 version doesn't even look like the same guy. There's only a few guys in the history of the game that could generate that bat speed. However, he made adjustments for his slower bat from June-August of 2012 and put up his usual numbers (.323, 21, 63 in 71 games). Hopefully, we get to see that guy play with two healthy wheels, but I agree, it's more than just the foot.

Just like Scioscia

I'd root for Al Queda over the Red Sox.