Tuesday, May 11, 2004
East vs. West in NYC
By many accounts, and by a quick glance at the standings, there is a consensus that the Anaheim Angels at 22-10 are the best team in the American League right now. That’s fair. I don’t think they’ll be the best team when all is said and done, but I can’t deny they are playing extremely well right now.
I think we can all agree that the Yankees are at worst, the third best team in the American League. So we have an interesting mid-May, mid-week match-up in the Bronx starting tonight. It would be a bit more enticing to have the Angels at full-strength; their litany of injuries is starting to get a little ridiculous. But they’ve been known to play the Yanks well, no matter what the records are, so it should still be interesting.
I didn’t like the Angels as much as everyone else before the start of the season for one simple reason: starting pitching. And as I look at the pitching match-up tonight, I think it’s still a factor. Here’s what their staff looks like right now:
Overall the Angels ERA of 4.26 ranks 2nd in the AL behind the Red Sox, who are almost a full run better than that at 3.39. Their opposition’s OBP ranks 3rd. HR Allowed: 4th. Walks: 2nd. Strikeouts: 2nd.
Absolutely nothing wrong with those numbers, and an indication that this team isn’t all about offense.
I’d like to look at their starting rotation a little closer, as it’s comprised right now. For what’s its worth, Edison Field plays as one of the better pitcher’s parks in the league.
Tonight Kelvim Escobar is getting the nod.
2-1, 4.76 ERA, 28.1 IP, 30 H, 8 BB, 24 K
That ERA is actually higher than it was last year when he started 26 times out of 41 appearances.
Then there’s Bartolo Colon. I’ve never been crazy about him, but he is an innings eater.
4-2, 4.09, 44.0 IP, 45 H, 12 BB, 32 K
His Ks/9 IP is right where it was last year, as is his H:IP ratio. He’s good for 15-18 wins.
Jarod Washburn.
6-1, 5.14, 42 IP, 53 H, 12 BB, 31 K
Thanks to amazing run support and a great record, you might not know Washburn had a shaky April. However, he has pitched better over his last three starts (against the Tigers twice and Tampa once, mind you). It’s unlikely we’ll see his 18-6, 3.15, 2002 campaign anytime soon. But he’s a lefty, and he too will eat innings.
John Lackey.
3-3, 4.23, 38.1 IP, 35 H, 9 BB, 13 K
If it wasn’t for the 2002 post-season, I wouldn’t think much of John Lackey, although he pitched well in 16 starts during that regular season as well. It looks like he’s subtly bouncing back from a wholly ineffective 10-16, 4.63 2003. But what jumps off that stat sheet to me, is that he’s down over 3 ½ Ks per 9 innings from last year. He doesn’t walk a lot of people, and this year he’s keeping the ball in the park; last year he gave up 31 dingers. I would call him a “decent” starter at this point, but not much more than that.
And there’s the Yankees’ favorite pitcher, Aaron Sele. With Ramon Ortiz having worn out his time as a starter, Sele has taken the 5th spot in the rotation of late.
1-0 (2 starts), 3.80, 21.1 IP, 24 H, 8 BB, 11 K
About what you’d expect from Sele, although you can’t deduce much from six games and two starts.
Well, what do you think?
Frankly, I still don’t think much of that starting staff. So where do all those impressive league rankings in the pitching department come from? The bullpen of course, which is getting high praise and deservedly so.
The Angels have five relievers who have appeared in 10 or more games. Check these numbers out:
Francisco Rodriguez
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 1 0 14 0 0 0 17.0 9 1 0 0 4 28 1 9 0 0.00
Yeah, right.
Kevin Gregg
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 1 0 12 0 0 0 21.2 14 1 1 0 5 19 1 1 0 0.42
Shut the hell up.
Troy Percival
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 1 0 11 0 0 0 10.2 6 2 2 1 6 6 9 0 1 1.69
Get the f*** outta here.
Steve Shields
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 2 0 13 0 0 0 22.2 19 13 12 1 11 28 2 4 0 4.76
Well, nothing’s perfect.
Ben Weber
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 0 0 11 0 0 0 14.2 25 14 11 2 7 8 0 1 1 6.75
A dose of reality in an otherwise blissful paradise.
And by the way, check out Ben’s pic on this page. Looks a little maniacal doesn’t he?
I’ve heard some people utter recently that the Yanks have the best pen in baseball, and maybe Quantrill-Gordon-Mariano will prove to be the best bullpen trio. But the heart of the Angels’ bullpen has given up virtually nothing, and they haven't had one of their key men in the pen, Brenden Donnelly. And we’re almost in the middle of May.
A Blog Still BreathingM
aybe some of you have noticed that I’ve picked up the pace a bit on this blog. A couple factors:
The baseball season is getting out of its infancy stage and shaping up a bit. Storylines are becoming more defined, guys like Ron Belliard and Michael Young are no longer just "nice stories," but legitimate surprises and worthy of more than passing attention. Some teams are on the precipice of falling into pennant race oblivion like the Royals, others, like the Dodgers and maybe even the Rangers, are off to flying starts and figure to be a major player all season long.
And, maybe more importantly, I’ve received some encouraging words from friends and strangers, and I have to admit a little praise gets under your skin and can push you a little farther. You get a sense you’re not writing into a vaccum of silence and indifference. Somebody’s out there. So thanks for the good words and motivation. I’ve got the bug for baseball writing again, and I perceive that as a good thing.
By many accounts, and by a quick glance at the standings, there is a consensus that the Anaheim Angels at 22-10 are the best team in the American League right now. That’s fair. I don’t think they’ll be the best team when all is said and done, but I can’t deny they are playing extremely well right now.
I think we can all agree that the Yankees are at worst, the third best team in the American League. So we have an interesting mid-May, mid-week match-up in the Bronx starting tonight. It would be a bit more enticing to have the Angels at full-strength; their litany of injuries is starting to get a little ridiculous. But they’ve been known to play the Yanks well, no matter what the records are, so it should still be interesting.
I didn’t like the Angels as much as everyone else before the start of the season for one simple reason: starting pitching. And as I look at the pitching match-up tonight, I think it’s still a factor. Here’s what their staff looks like right now:
Overall the Angels ERA of 4.26 ranks 2nd in the AL behind the Red Sox, who are almost a full run better than that at 3.39. Their opposition’s OBP ranks 3rd. HR Allowed: 4th. Walks: 2nd. Strikeouts: 2nd.
Absolutely nothing wrong with those numbers, and an indication that this team isn’t all about offense.
I’d like to look at their starting rotation a little closer, as it’s comprised right now. For what’s its worth, Edison Field plays as one of the better pitcher’s parks in the league.
Tonight Kelvim Escobar is getting the nod.
2-1, 4.76 ERA, 28.1 IP, 30 H, 8 BB, 24 K
That ERA is actually higher than it was last year when he started 26 times out of 41 appearances.
Then there’s Bartolo Colon. I’ve never been crazy about him, but he is an innings eater.
4-2, 4.09, 44.0 IP, 45 H, 12 BB, 32 K
His Ks/9 IP is right where it was last year, as is his H:IP ratio. He’s good for 15-18 wins.
Jarod Washburn.
6-1, 5.14, 42 IP, 53 H, 12 BB, 31 K
Thanks to amazing run support and a great record, you might not know Washburn had a shaky April. However, he has pitched better over his last three starts (against the Tigers twice and Tampa once, mind you). It’s unlikely we’ll see his 18-6, 3.15, 2002 campaign anytime soon. But he’s a lefty, and he too will eat innings.
John Lackey.
3-3, 4.23, 38.1 IP, 35 H, 9 BB, 13 K
If it wasn’t for the 2002 post-season, I wouldn’t think much of John Lackey, although he pitched well in 16 starts during that regular season as well. It looks like he’s subtly bouncing back from a wholly ineffective 10-16, 4.63 2003. But what jumps off that stat sheet to me, is that he’s down over 3 ½ Ks per 9 innings from last year. He doesn’t walk a lot of people, and this year he’s keeping the ball in the park; last year he gave up 31 dingers. I would call him a “decent” starter at this point, but not much more than that.
And there’s the Yankees’ favorite pitcher, Aaron Sele. With Ramon Ortiz having worn out his time as a starter, Sele has taken the 5th spot in the rotation of late.
1-0 (2 starts), 3.80, 21.1 IP, 24 H, 8 BB, 11 K
About what you’d expect from Sele, although you can’t deduce much from six games and two starts.
Well, what do you think?
Frankly, I still don’t think much of that starting staff. So where do all those impressive league rankings in the pitching department come from? The bullpen of course, which is getting high praise and deservedly so.
The Angels have five relievers who have appeared in 10 or more games. Check these numbers out:
Francisco Rodriguez
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 1 0 14 0 0 0 17.0 9 1 0 0 4 28 1 9 0 0.00
Yeah, right.
Kevin Gregg
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 1 0 12 0 0 0 21.2 14 1 1 0 5 19 1 1 0 0.42
Shut the hell up.
Troy Percival
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 1 0 11 0 0 0 10.2 6 2 2 1 6 6 9 0 1 1.69
Get the f*** outta here.
Steve Shields
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 2 0 13 0 0 0 22.2 19 13 12 1 11 28 2 4 0 4.76
Well, nothing’s perfect.
Ben Weber
Year W L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO SV HLD BLSV ERA
2004 0 0 11 0 0 0 14.2 25 14 11 2 7 8 0 1 1 6.75
A dose of reality in an otherwise blissful paradise.
And by the way, check out Ben’s pic on this page. Looks a little maniacal doesn’t he?
I’ve heard some people utter recently that the Yanks have the best pen in baseball, and maybe Quantrill-Gordon-Mariano will prove to be the best bullpen trio. But the heart of the Angels’ bullpen has given up virtually nothing, and they haven't had one of their key men in the pen, Brenden Donnelly. And we’re almost in the middle of May.
A Blog Still BreathingM
aybe some of you have noticed that I’ve picked up the pace a bit on this blog. A couple factors:
The baseball season is getting out of its infancy stage and shaping up a bit. Storylines are becoming more defined, guys like Ron Belliard and Michael Young are no longer just "nice stories," but legitimate surprises and worthy of more than passing attention. Some teams are on the precipice of falling into pennant race oblivion like the Royals, others, like the Dodgers and maybe even the Rangers, are off to flying starts and figure to be a major player all season long.
And, maybe more importantly, I’ve received some encouraging words from friends and strangers, and I have to admit a little praise gets under your skin and can push you a little farther. You get a sense you’re not writing into a vaccum of silence and indifference. Somebody’s out there. So thanks for the good words and motivation. I’ve got the bug for baseball writing again, and I perceive that as a good thing.
