KingJustinian

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact Raul Ibanez is our cleanup hitter.

It's really just how the lineup is constructed. With Hamilton hurt, it's because we have Trout 2 and Pujols 3, instead of Trout 3 Pujols 4. If Ibanez was the 2 hitter it wouldn't seem as bad.

people are going to write this off as an anti-Scioscia rant, but it's actually painfully true.

It's one of the few criticisms I've seen that is legitimate and has enough visibility for a person not inside the organization to actually judge. It's easy to group it together with the 500 other criticisms that aren't warranted.

Doesn't Sosh call pitches?

That's what it looks like to me. I keep seeing people complain about Iannetta or Conger's pitch selection so maybe I'm wrong.

Three 30+ homer threats, and everyone else is easily capable of 15+ except Aybar. Pretty balanced power.

Colon had our number with Oakland, it feels great to finally hit him around.

She's good luck! Back to back to backers! Thanks dudes!

Make sure the next one comes during playoff season

There is one of those important hits from Freese we've heard so much about

It was important

This is 3 pages vs the 17 page rant thread lol.

Anyways, Ibanez is still clutch!

HRs from the least likely people

I admit I don't have much trust in Cowgill but he's had a good game.

Good to see Iannetta get a hold of one. I had high expectations for him this year after spring training.

Probably don't have anything that they would be interested in. With pitching at such a premium, they can probably get a + prospect or two since he won't be a rental from a contender.

Even with him being paid more than he's worth?

I can't imagine it being faster to slide than run through it. The one scenario where it makes sense is if the throw pulls the first baseman off the bag.

Kept us in the game? He couldn't go 5 innings?

We lost by 2 and the Angels didn't score any after he left the game, so he very obviously kept us in the game. Whether it was a good start is another subject.

I think at worst he'll be like Richards last year, great stuff but control problems lead to some rough starts mixed in with good ones. Best case he improves his control some and pitches like an above average #3.

I don't know what to say about Pujols other than he needs to start understanding that his old habits aren't working and he needs to get some new ones fast for the good of the team.

 

All he should be thinking about is base hits, clutch hitting, working counts, getting on base.

He keeps taking meatballs on the first pitch. It's hard to work counts like that, I think he needs to be more aggressive earlier in the count.

Wow, They want no part of Trout. At least we'll get one run in before Albert rolls one over to third base

Nice

As a few people mentioned, the defense last year (for whatever reason) was awful, and the pitching takes on a lot of blame because of that. That will be a big boost to the run prevention if the defense is solid like it traditionally has been for the Angels.

For being negative, he did say the Angels should win the division. But highlighted their concerns in the back end of the rotation.

This column isn't at all bad. Must we beat down on Simers for every column he writes?

The back end of the rotation is much more important for the regular season, and he says the Angels will win the division.

He really seems to have a grudge with that other writer. Then he claims the Dodgers are going to win the WS without mentioning anything other than starting rotation. The Dodgers are a good team, but I don't think they are better than last year when they didn't make the WS. I just find it funny he makes that prediction after grilling another guy for making predictions.

No Game Day thread, but the Blanton threads are busy.

This would be the one line summary of an AngelsWin yearly traffic report.

Lineup protection is a myth.

Barry Bonds says hi

Hamilton drives in a run...he and Pujols are both squaring the ball up.

I LOVE DON BAYLOR.

Correlation doesn't imply causation. These are two proven veterans we're talking about

Jose Mota agrees. He said strikeouts are overrated.

Sure they are, until the odds catch up to you and those ground balls find holes.

2012 he was a true ace. He was arguably a top 5 pitcher in the MLB, and finished 3rd in the CY Young I believe. He averaged 88mph that year, so hopefully he can be at that point this year.

I'm more worried about a drop in velocity being a sign of injury.

As long as he can still touch 90 and sit at 86-88 when the season starts, he will still be a very good starter (maybe a 1B or 2A starter). 

Was his velocity from 2010-2012 any more than upper 80's and touching on 90? If I remember correctly I don't think it was.

Last year he battled an injury for a little bit but still pitched like a front of the rotation starter anyways, and in 2012 he had a 2.81 ERA and lead the league in WHIP. I would consider that a "great" season, which was only 2 years ago.

I'm fine with Aybar leading off when Calhoun sits. Otherwise, you have to move Trout up, move Freese or Howie to the 2 spot... Basically a lot of shuffling.

I think the lineup order is way over analyzed anyway.