A closer look at the mariners offseason
A closer look at the Mariners offseason The 2009
Seattle Mariners offseason began with landing
All-Star third baseman Chone Figgins to a 4 yr,
$36 million dollar contract. That signing put an
end to the Adrian Beltre regimen as the M’s
3B and sparked the start of the exciting and
promising offseason for this team. To add to
that excitement was the fact that DH Ken
Griffey Jr. had already decided to return for
another year.
It is clear to see that this team is being
built around pitching and defense, so every move
we have seen this offseason has been to achieve
that goal. They re-signed SS Jack Wilson, which is
regarded as one of the best fielding SS in the
game to a 2 year contract. Also, not signing Jason
Bay to play LF says that they were not in the mood
to spend $120 million dollars to a player that is
not that great defensively. So, one of the best
defensive teams of 2009 should be returning in
2010 to stay at the top of that category. To
continue on the trend of pitching and defense they
were able to pull the trigger on a three-team deal
that brought 2008 Cy-Young winner Cliff Lee to
Seattle from the Phillies. Now the Mariners have
one of the best, if not the best 1-2 punch at the
top of the rotation with Felix Hernandez (that
just recently signed a 5 yr $78 million extension)
and Cliff Lee. To round the rotation up, Seattle
has Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell (2008 All Star),
Jayson Vargas, Garett Olson, Doug Fister, and Luke
French. Also, I expect GM Jack Zduriencik to sign
or trade for another starter before spring
training camp starts. On the
offensive side of the ball, which is an area that
this team needs to address, they traded one
problem for another. In a surprising move they
sent SP Carlos Silva to the Cubs for LF/DH Milton
Bradley. Bradley should behave well, I think, on
this team because a lot of this coaching staff was
with him in his best year in Texas.
The team also decided to go
with a more defensive first baseman, parting ways
with 2009 surprise Russell Branyan and saying
goodbye to his 39 home runs. The issue with
Branyan is his health, especially his lower back.
He was not able to play for the last month of the
season because of back injuries, and the M’s
were not willing to give him the 2 year deal that
he is seeking. So his replacement? The team traded
with the Red Sox for Casey Kotchman a more
defensive first baseman. But the front office is
going to give him the opportunity to play every
day and see what he can offer with his
bat.
The top of this
lineup, no other team has Ichiro and Figgins. With
this two guys, everyone in the lineup should have
a very good opportunity to drive in runs; and more
runs is exactly what this team needs.
An integral part of this team last
season was the bullpen and this year should be the
same. In fact, it should be better; guys have more
experience and confidence than last year, and
there should be a couple of new arms that will
help to get the work load off the shoulders of
Mark Lowe and Sean Green. David Aardsma will be
back to close ball games, and hopefully he will
get more chances to do so in 2010.
I think that the Mariners
should be the favorites on Opening Day to win
their division. Aside from all the improvements
made, the Angels have lost key pieces of their
team: Figgins, John Lackey, Vlad Guerrero, and a
few others. Still they will be a very good team as
always, but the Mariners will make it tough on
them to win this division again. We should expect
a battle for the AL West until the last weeks of
the 2010 season.
Photo Credits: AP
Update at 1/24/2010 8:59 PM PST: I
totally agree with one of the comments. Another
quiet but, great move that the Mr. Z has made is
the contract extension of Franklin Gutierrez. To
me he is the best fielding center fielder in the
game today and has a very good bat with solid
power. Thanks to my readers for the
comments!
3 Comments
siiigh the competition in the West just got a lot more fiercer! Do I welcome it? Sure! But still a little bit hesitant if my team (The Angels) are gonna keep up. I have to give it to your club. Your offseason has been tremendous! What a GM you have in Mr Z :D. I’m hoping you treat Figgy well. I have nothing bad to say about him at all. From his personality to his speed he’s the perfect package. As for Cliff Lee.. man i thought facing King Felix was enough now when we meet we probably have to face BOTH Felix AND Lee. And since you locked Felix up for 5 years it’s as if he’s never going away! Ack! Lol nah he’s one of my fav pitchers in the game when he’s not pitching against us.
best of luck next season. I can’t wait until this starts
http://mimi.mlblogs.com
I love this team. Pitching, speed, and defense. I don’t know if they have enough to make up for their lack of power but they are going to be fun to watch. The M’s really seemed to come together at the end of last season and I think that their off-season moves are going to pay off. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
The extension to Gut helps too. One of the best
defensive center fielders in the game.
http://clevelandbaseball.mlblogs.com/
Leave a comment Comments (You may use
HTML tags for style)
To preview your
comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog
Mets-Angels TradeMets acquire Gary Matthews Jr. from the Los Angeles Angels. In return the Angels take Brian Stokes, one of the Mets relievers.
All I know is that because the Angels had Torii Hunter play a lot, Matthews did not play too frequently. I say the Mets are winners in this trade, he most likely will get the starting Center Fielder’s job. The Angels have another good relief pitcher in Brian Stokes.
Only time will tell.
Gary batted .250 with four home runs and 50 runs batted in for the Angels.
Brian won two game and lost four while with the Mets. His earn run average was about 3.95, and had two save chances but didn’t get any.
All this information I took from ESPN.com.
2 Comments
Wow! Just found out this thru you! Thanks!
emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
good move by the mets in getting matthews but they still need a decent starter and fix-up that lst base mess, not sure if delgado is the answer there. Russell branyan could possibly be a fit if delgado is still banged up
Leave a comment Comments (You may use
HTML tags for style)
To preview your
comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog| next post »
2nd cardinal leaving today pineiro signs w angels
2nd cardinal leaving today… pineiro signs
w angels feel like the cardinal family is breaking
up… ’specially since pineiro is the
second one today! sheeesh! $16MM 2
year deal to the angels… we’ll miss
you to pineiro… cardinal nation will welcome
you back anytime! best wishes to
you… Leave a comment Comments (You may
use HTML tags for style) « previous post |back to blog| next
post »
http://www.usatoday.
com/sports/baseball/al/2010-01-22-395072626_x.htm
To preview your
comment, start typing:
Trading with the Mets
The Angels have traded Gary Matthews Jr. to the Mets for reliever Brian Stokes. The Matthews signing was a terrible move by the Angels. I voiced my displeasure to anyone that would listen from the day it occurred. Unfortunately it sounds as though the Angels are going to be paying $21 million of the $23 million remaining on his contract.
I mentioned the trade and what a bad signing it was on Facebook today and one of my friends commented about Mo Vaughn being the worst Angels signing ever. Mo actually had two 30+ HR seasons for us but basically his signing will be remembered as a flop as well.
Ironically we traded Mo Vaughn to the Mets for a pitcher as well. We traded him for Kevin Appier before the 2002 season began. It was funny that Mo and Troy Percival exchanged words in the media after Mo’s departure. Percival stated that Erstad was the clubhouse leader and Vaughn’s leadership wouldn’t be missed. Mo shot back that they haven’t done anything, there ain’t no friggin’ flags at Edison Field. That first season without Mo changed that. The Angels of course did win the World Series that year, something that Mo never accomplished.
The Mets were also involved in what was undoubtedly the best ever trade in Angels franchise history. The Angels traded Jim Fregosi for Nolan Ryan. So perhaps it is a good omen that the Angels are making this trade with the Mets. Only time will tell.
Leave a comment Comments (You may
use HTML tags for style)
To preview your
comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog| next post »
Trading with the Mets
The Angels have traded Gary Matthews Jr. to the Mets for reliever Brian Stokes. The Matthews signing was a terrible move by the Angels. I voiced my displeasure to anyone that would listen from the day it occurred. Unfortunately it sounds as though the Angels are going to be paying $21 million of the $23 million remaining on his contract.
I mentioned the trade and what a bad signing it was on Facebook today and one of my friends commented about Mo Vaughn being the worst Angels signing ever. Mo actually had two 30+ HR seasons for us but basically his signing will be remembered as a flop as well.
Ironically we traded Mo Vaughn to the Mets for a pitcher as well. We traded him for Kevin Appier before the 2002 season began. It was funny that Mo and Troy Percival exchanged words in the media after Mo’s departure. Percival stated that Erstad was the clubhouse leader and Vaughn’s leadership wouldn’t be missed. Mo shot back that they haven’t done anything, there ain’t no friggin’ flags at Edison Field. That first season without Mo changed that. The Angels of course did win the World Series that year, something that Mo never accomplished.
The Mets were also involved in what was undoubtedly the best ever trade in Angels franchise history. The Angels traded Jim Fregosi for Nolan Ryan. So perhaps it is a good omen that the Angels are making this trade with the Mets. Only time will tell.
Leave a comment Comments (You may
use HTML tags for style)
To preview your
comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog| next post »
End of the GMJ Era
Well, it looks like yesterday was the end of the Gary Matthews Jr era in Anaheim. Gary is an awesome player, but IMHO the signing was done to try to make a splash and without a whole lot of thought. Nothing against GMJ, he would have been crazy to turn down that kind of contract, the kind that would set him up financially for the rest of his life. With the signing of Torii the next season, and the talent we had in the outfield for the last couple years, Gary was still the odd man out. He did a heck of a job filling in last year though through the injuries and I hope he does really well in New York.
A lot of negativity is out there right now about how 2010 is shaping up for our Halos. I do not agree that this is a doomsday season coming up, despite the acquisitions made by the Rangers and Mariners. Are there some unknowns? Sure there are, but fans are becoming spoiled and forget our most successful season in 2002, where we had a payroll of $60 million and a group of plyers many felt would leave us at 20 games under .500 again. Starting out 6-14 reinforced many of those thoughts. We all know how that turned out, and I was there at Game 7 when we won it all.
What we all have to remember is that what goes on between the lines is what brings the results. The Yankees/Angels ALCS is a good example. The errors, mental lapses, etc. cost us a real shot at that series. Overall play was right where it was for a lot of the season, and all games would have been pretty close. The Angels have to play their best game to have a shot. The same will be true this year and Scioscia and staff will get them in line for another competitive season. Last year everyone wanked when Tex left and Morales came in, yet he helped greatly in offsetting that loss. We would not have had a shot at anything without his performance. I have a feeling Wood is going to do the same by replacing Chone, and his numbers support that, but only what happens between the lines will matter, despite all of our banter online.
We have a lot to be thankful for with this team, they will put on a good show on the field and will battle for the entire season. And despite our differences in opinion, positive or not, we will still all be here throughout the year arguing our point of view because we love this team.
Rich
2 Comments
Ridh,
Some days you just got to look at
the good things this trade will do for the
Angels.
Good thing GMJ is gone, so Reggie
Willets can get a chance to start the season with
the big club.
Good thing Brian Stokes got
included in the deal because he is a good young
reliever who throws strikes.
Good thing GMJ
got traded so we can stop the discussions on what
to do about him.
Good thing he went to the NL
so we do not have to play against him and maybe
see him have a monster revenge game against the
Angel pitching staff.
And the one Bad Thing
is that the guy came here with potential and a
change of scenery, and blew his chance to really
take it up a notch.
Great first post!
Welcome to MLBlogs.
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
Thanks for the response, Rays Renegade. I agree with everything you said above and thanks for the welcome!
Leave a comment
Comments (You may use HTML tags for style)
To preview your comment, start typing:
back to blog
When Two Rookies Got the Call
Left to right: Dan Ardell
and Tom Satriano watch as Angels farm director
Roland Hemond adds their names to the
Angels’ roster in late 1961.
Dan Ardell, a USC alum signed in 1961 by the Angels, loaned me the above photo of him and Tom Satriano when they were called up at the end of that year. Roland Hemond, who was the farm and scouting director, is on the right.
Listen to a 2005 interview with Dan Ardell.
Listen to a 2007 interview with Roland Hemond.
Windows Media Player required to listen to the interviews.
Leave a comment Comments
To preview your comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog
Futureangelscom blog 2009 rank
FutureAngels.com Blog 2009 Ranking
MLB Advanced Media has published the final rankings of the top blogs here on MLBlogs.com. Click here to see the rankings.
In the Fan blog category, FutureAngels.com finished #9 for 2009.
According to their 2008 rankings, FutureAngels.com was #4 in the same category.
I recently asked an MLBAM official how many fan blogs are on MLBlogs.com. He didn’t give me an exact number but said that overall they have about 10,000 blogs registered on their service.
I’m not one to make a big deal about rankings — I’m more interested in quality of content — but the next time you see one of those posts that show up occasionally on fan sites falsely claiming “nobody reads FutureAngels.com” you can respond with a link to the MLB list and tell the truth.
Leave a comment Comments
To preview your comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog
Reds are they gonna do anything
Reds? Are they gonna do anything?Well another busy Hot Stove week. And what have my beloved Reds done? Well you’d see more movement from a glacier !!!!!
Now do I really think we could get involved in a Halladay.Lackey, and Lee deal? Of course not, but can we at least upgrade somewhere? We need a shortstop, a starter. And who doesn’t need bullpen help? Even though I have no issues with Ramon or Ryan an upgrade at catcher probably wouldn’t kill us either. Now let me say this…..
We are LOADED with outfield prospects. And I do mean loaded. I’m sure we could trade one maybe two for an upgrade in a hole we need filled. And on the big club we are young. So what are we gonna do? Let these kids sit in Louisville, like Grandmas good china, and never use them? Because maybe just maybe we might wanna use them someday.Also a back up for Rolen. Now I’m not saying Rosales isn’t a good kid, but he is not an everyday third baseman. He is a new generation Ryan Freel. He can plug a hole but not fill one.
There are numerous decent free agents out there. That yes, even the Reds could afford.I’m pretty sure Orlando Cabrera would jump at a two year deal.Who was the last good shortstop to play for the Reds? Barry Larkin !!!! And he’s been gone quite awhile. Now everyone on here says we are trying to get Jamie Carroll. Why? Because he is cheap? He is definitley not an upgrade. He is a platoon player at best. One thing about Cabrera where ever he goes he wins!!!
Championships are won with… A) Starting Pitching B) Good defense up the middle and C) Good Hitting. With the exception of Aaron Harang we are workin on the first one. Good Hitting is coming along with Votto, Rolen, and Phillips. If we had good defense up the middle I would say we were headed in the right direction.
But as Spring Training looms closer everyday.
We are headed to our new Arizona home with the
same team that couldn’t break .500 last
year. And the only place that team can contend in
or compete in is Fantasy Land. Mark my words if we
don’t get motivated the Pirates. Yes those
Pirates will pass us by sooner than later. With
the great history of our ball club, its a damn
shame to see where we are heading.
Leave a comment Comments (You may
use HTML tags for style)
To preview your
comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog| next post »
Do dreams come true rumor central harang to la
Do dreams come true? Rumor Central Harang to L.A. !!!!!! Now for those of you that think I hate Aaron Harang, let me say this. He was by far the best pitcher on a below average team for the better part of 5 years. That being said, why do I want him off my team? He is an innings eater, and he is very dependable. I could say the same for my ex wife. She devoured a couple years and I could depend on her to make life hell. Like Harang it was nice in the beginning but it got to the point if something wasn’t done both would suffer.
So here come the Dodgers !!!! Going through their own version of The War of the Roses. (Divorce movie refrence) Ownership is tied down in divorce court. So they are not able to be the BIG spenders we are accustomed too. They are however, in the need of a fourth starter. Let me repeat that for the hearing impaired ” A FOURTH STARTER !!!! “. They are supposedly asking about our number one starter Aaron Harang.
I was never the best math student but in Ohio are our expectations so low 1 has become 4?
If that is so, why don’t kids jump up and down yelling ” We’re number 4 !!” ? Because 1 will never equal 4. Aaron Harang will never be nor was he ever a number one. He was the best we had at the time and I am thankful for his efforts. But it has been seen in baseball for years. Sometimes a new place brings better results. I actually could see Harang going to L.A. and winning 10 to 12 games. With that offense behind him it would not shock me. Now I know Harang has the lowest run support of all Reds starters in the last 6 years. That is why I used to defend him. But last year was the inevitable straw that broke the camels back. I seen in person Harang spotted a 4 run lead and before I could finish my $4.25 bottle of water, we were losing.
Now according to reports we may have to eat
some of his salary. Well for anyone who has been
divorced you know your pocket book is gonna take a
hit. But ain’t it worth a couple bucks to
cut the ball and chain free from your ankle? In
closing I pray this divorce is finalized. Then
maybe, just maybe Aaron Harang and Reds fans can
move on and find happiness.
Leave a comment Comments (You may
use HTML tags for style)
To preview your
comment, start typing:
« previous post |back to blog| next post »
