Angels’ Hunter keeps getting better
Without knowing much about the Angels’ 2009 season other than the AL West Division Championship, you could simply look at the statistics to give yourself an idea of how the team played.
You would know, for instance, that no one struck out and walked…
ROSTER REPORT
The Angels overcame a lot of adversity in 2009, including the April death of RHP Nick Adenhart and a rash of injuries throughout the first half of the season. And yet, they won their division for the fifth time in the past six seasons and reached the AL Championship Series for the second time in that span. This could be a winter of significant change, however, with seven players eligible for free agency. 3B Chone Figgins signed with Seattle, RHP John Lackey landed with Boston, and OF/DH Vladimir Guerrero moved to Texas.
ARRIVALS: OF/DH Hideki Matsui (free agent from Yankees), RHP Fernando Rodney (free agent from Tigers), RHP Joel Pineiro (free agent from Cardinals).
DEPARTURES: LHP Darren Oliver (free agent, signed with Rangers), 3B Chone Figgins (free agent, signed with Mariners), RHP John Lackey (free agent, signed with Red Sox), RHP Kelvim Escobar (free agent, signed with Mets), OF Vladimir Guerrero (free agent, signed with Rangers), OF Gary Matthews Jr. (traded to Mets).
FREE AGENTS: INF Robb Quinlan.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: SS Erick Aybar, C Jeff Mathis.
The Angels moved quickly to sign RHP Ervin Santana to a multiyear deal last spring, buying out his arbitration years. They might try to do the same with Aybar and Mathis.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Scot Shields (patellar tendon surgery on left knee in June 2009) is expected to be back to full strength in time for spring training.
–RHP Dustin Moseley (hip surgery in August 2009) had already begun his rehab by the time the Angels were eliminated from the playoffs. He is expected to be back to full strength for spring training.
–RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) has yet to fully recover. A free agent this winter, Escobar is pitching in winter ball and hopes to show he is healthy.
–OF Torii Hunter (sports hernia surgery in November 2009) is expected to be at full strength for spring training.
NOTES, QUOTES
–The Angels have reached contract agreements with six of their eight arbitration-eligible players this winter. Those six players have received raises over their 2009 salaries totaling $11.585 million. Two arbitration cases remain unsigned — SS Erick Aybar and C Jeff Mathis.
–The Angels announced 27 non-roster invitees to their spring training camp. The list includes top-ranked prospects LHP Trevor Reckling and C Hank Conger but only two players with major league experience — RHP Travis Chick and OF Michael Ryan. Chick, 25, made the majors briefly with the Mariners in 2006. Ryan, 32, played 127 games for the Twins between 2002 and 2005.
–Ryan was the only Angel participating in the Caribbean World Series. The left-handed hitting Ryan was 2-for-13 in Venezuela’s first few games after batting .322 with nine home runs and 45 RBI during the Venezuelan Winter League season.
–Despite losing six free agents from their 2009 roster who made more than $40 million last season, the Angels’ payroll will go up to approximately $120 million in 2010. The increase is a result of the combined raises of eight arbitration-eligible players as well as players signed to multi-year deals plus the additions of free agents Hideki Matsui, Fernando Rodney, Joel Pineiro and Bobby Abreu (re-signed to a contract extension).
–The Angels’ 2010 schedule includes the franchise’s first visit to Wrigley Field. The Angels play the Cubs there in a three-game series June 18-20.
BY THE NUMBERS: 285 — Times Chone Figgins reached base in 2009, second in the AL only to Derek Jeter.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I can’t tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we’ve taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we’ll be able to evaluate the offseason moves.” — Angels GM Tony Reagins on the perception that team took a step back this winter.
Reasons the Yankees might tumble
Ok, the New York Yankees remain the best team money can buy. Don’t begrudge them that status, because it isn’t likely to change soon, and there’s nothing anyone intends to do to change it.
But that doesn’t mean Manager Joe Girardi’s club will repeat…
Wood’s turn at third has finally arrived
Wood’s turn at third has finally arrived
ROSTER REPORT
The Angels overcame a lot of adversity in 2009, including the April death of RHP Nick Adenhart and a rash of injuries throughout the first half of the season. And yet, they won their division for the fifth time in the past six seasons and reached the AL Championship Series for the second time in that span. This could be a winter of significant change, however, with seven players eligible for free agency. 3B Chone Figgins signed with Seattle, RHP John Lackey landed with Boston, and OF/DH Vladimir Guerrero moved to Texas.
ARRIVALS: OF/DH Hideki Matsui (free agent from Yankees), RHP Fernando Rodney (free agent from Tigers), RHP Joel Pineiro (free agent from Cardinals).
DEPARTURES: LHP Darren Oliver (free agent, signed with Rangers), 3B Chone Figgins (free agent, signed with Mariners), RHP John Lackey (free agent, signed with Red Sox), RHP Kelvim Escobar (free agent, signed with Mets), OF Vladimir Guerrero (free agent, signed with Rangers), OF Gary Matthews Jr. (traded to Mets).
FREE AGENTS: INF Robb Quinlan.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: SS Erick Aybar, C Jeff Mathis.
The Angels moved quickly to sign RHP Ervin Santana to a multiyear deal last spring, buying out his arbitration years. They might try to do the same with Aybar and Mathis.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Scot Shields (patellar tendon surgery on left knee in June 2009) is expected to be back to full strength in time for spring training.
–RHP Dustin Moseley (hip surgery in August 2009) had already begun his rehab by the time the Angels were eliminated from the playoffs. He is expected to be back to full strength for spring training.
–RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) has yet to fully recover. A free agent this winter, Escobar is pitching in winter ball and hopes to show he is healthy.
–OF Torii Hunter (sports hernia surgery in November 2009) is expected to be at full strength for spring training.
NOTES, QUOTES
–The Angels have reached contract agreements with six of their eight arbitration-eligible players this winter. Those six players have received raises over their 2009 salaries totaling $11.585 million. Two arbitration cases remain unsigned — SS Erick Aybar and C Jeff Mathis.
–The Angels announced 27 non-roster invitees to their spring training camp. The list includes top-ranked prospects LHP Trevor Reckling and C Hank Conger but only two players with major league experience — RHP Travis Chick and OF Michael Ryan. Chick, 25, made the majors briefly with the Mariners in 2006. Ryan, 32, played 127 games for the Twins between 2002 and 2005.
–Ryan was the only Angel participating in the Caribbean World Series. The left-handed hitting Ryan was 2-for-13 in Venezuela’s first few games after batting .322 with nine home runs and 45 RBI during the Venezuelan Winter League season.
–Despite losing six free agents from their 2009 roster who made more than $40 million last season, the Angels’ payroll will go up to approximately $120 million in 2010. The increase is a result of the combined raises of eight arbitration-eligible players as well as players signed to multi-year deals plus the additions of free agents Hideki Matsui, Fernando Rodney, Joel Pineiro and Bobby Abreu (re-signed to a contract extension).
–The Angels’ 2010 schedule includes the franchise’s first visit to Wrigley Field. The Angels play the Cubs there in a three-game series June 18-20.
BY THE NUMBERS: 285 — Times Chone Figgins reached base in 2009, second in the AL only to Derek Jeter.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I can’t tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we’ve taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we’ll be able to evaluate the offseason moves.” — Angels GM Tony Reagins on the perception that team took a step back this winter.