xboom28x

Cas, I'm in Eagan currently. Moving to Plymouth at the end of the month. Are you going to the games in April? Would be cool to meet up at the game if possible.

Kendrick can be very productive without having a breakout season. I don't know where that all started. I think Angels fans would just like to see him be a solid, productive player.

Kobe - 41 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds

I'm looking forward to the final round. Curious to see if he gives any strokes back today. His driver seemed to not be as reliable yesterday as it had been the first two rounds. Didn't make much difference though.

i'm seeing a pattern

angelsmania32

This does not come off as you describe further below again, there is no "probably" anywhere in this post It's your attitude angelsmania32. You come off as a troll. Try rooting for all players on the team you claim you love for once. It's a new season with new life and a clean slate.

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.

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

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

Classy response Scotty. I expected nothing less from you. Thank you for proving me right.

Fastball percentage, in this case, has more to do with Trout on base, rather than Pujols batting behind him. Basically, a hitter sees more fastballs when a premiere base stealer is on base and sees more pitches in the zone, regardless of pitch type, when a premiere power hitter is on deck.

So ignore Kendrick's 2011 stats, but go by Bourjos' 2011 stats. Makes sense

What were Pujols' stats in 2012? He should not bat 3rd

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Batting 2nd 43 178 29 49 8 4 10 27 13 42 5 2 .275 .338 .534 .872 This was Howie's stats from 2011. Please stop saying that he can't hit in the 2 spot.

Look up Kendrick's numbers in the 2 spot in 2011. That is without Trout AND Pujols.

Kendrick hasn't hit 2nd with Trout leading off yet. I think he should get that chance. Completely different dynamic than having Aybar or Izturis leading off which is who he hit behind last season.

tennischmp 1pt (Kobe 2stl)

No one scored

Primitive 1pt (howard 2TO) tennischmp 1pt (kobe 3 3pm)

Wouldn't this be Kendrick? The 2 spot this season would be a new dynamic with Trout leading off and Pujols hopefully not struggling to start the season. Kendrick's opportunity last season in the 2 spot didn't include either.

The thought is, if Trout is on first or second, the pitcher is less likely to throw breaking balls because it would make it easier for Trout to steal 2nd or 3rd. It's not to say a breaking ball won't be thrown at all. But a higher percentage of fastballs are usually thrown when a speed guy is on base. If Trout is not on base, then whoever bats 2nd should be looking for a way to get on base. That is when the OBP comes into play. That is why people like Ianetta batting 2nd. (will never happen). I just see Kendrick, who can hit to all fields, being able to succeed more with Trout on base rather than Aybar or Callaspo. It might just take the idea of Kendrick bunting out of Scioscia's head as Kendrick is not as good of a bunter as Bourjos or Aybar. Not to say he would never ask him to do it. But I think he would ask a lot less of Kendrick.

And Kemp, Trout, Posey, Cain, Strasburg

Fair enough. 83ABs in front of Pujols in April. That's not a lot. In 2011 in 178 ABs he hit .275/.338/.534/.872 with 10HRs and 13BBs. Not bad.

How many of those AB's in the 2 spot were in front of Pujols outside of last April when Pujols was back to being Pujols? I just think he is better equipped and can do more damage with a fastball than Aybar can.