Starting Line-up?

[R.J.MacReady]

With the outfield now being set-Vlad, Garrett and Mathews, and with Rivera being the DH, What will the Angels infield look like. Kennedy is gone, I believe, (no big loss in my estimation) so who will be playing second? Will Figgons stay at third or will the Angels be looking to FA for help there?

I know it's early, but it's always fun to try and piece together a line-up before Spring Training starts.

Thanks..........................................

[punxsy]

Figgins will probably be gone since the outfield has been patched up with gary matthews and shuts Figgins out. Rivera/willits/terry evans/tommy murphy are all beter than figgins in one way or another.

Aybar or Cabrera will be shipped somewhere to address a need. Depending on Mcpherson's wholeness, the needs will be fewer if he is ready to play.

Gary matthews changed the outfield picture

McPherson could change the infield picture.

The only other question is Kotchman...his situation is very uncertain. If he cannot play does the Angels wait on him? Re-sign Erstad? Trade for a young prospect like LARRY BROADWAY of the Nationals?


Lot of "ifs" here, I think.

[RTT]

In all honesty, I think this is how it'll end up.



1B: Kendry Morales
2B: Adam Kennedy
3B: Joe Crede
C: Mike Napoli
LF: Juan Rivera
CF: Gary Matthews
RF: Vladimir Guerrero
DH: Garret Anderson


Starting Pitchers:

1. John Lackey
2. Jared Weaver
3. Bartolo Colon
4. Kelvim Escobar
5. Freddy Garcia

[punxsy]

Originally Posted by RTT

In all honesty, I think this is how it'll end up.



1B: Kendry Morales
2B: Adam Kennedy
3B: Joe Crede
C: Mike Napoli
LF: Juan Rivera
CF: Gary Matthews
RF: Vladimir Guerrero
DH: Garret Anderson


Starting Pitchers:

1. John Lackey
2. Jared Weaver
3. Bartolo Colon
4. Kelvim Escobar
5. Freddy Garcia

I think Bartolo Colon will never again be a rotation pitcher. His bread-and-butter pitch was a 97 mph fastball...that's all gone now. He probably could not reach 91 mph anymore and his torn labrum would not allow for him to throw many breaking balls either.

Angels must not count on him..he will be paid $12 + million and will ride the DL train in 2007.

Kendry Morales, IMO, will never hold down a position on the field. He lacks agility; too slow in relexes and an unsteady glove. He never had a regular position even when he played for Cuba because he is not a complete ballplayer. Yes, he might hit 20 HRs with 600 ABs but his glovework whether at 1B or anywhere else will be a liability.

As he faced the same pitchers last season for a second time, they were getting him out consistently with pitching him inside and tight with curveballs...he has glaring weaknesses in his hitting and did not show any ability to adjust.

IMO, Kendry Morales was nothing but a big PR job and the Angels signed him more from press clippings than actual scouting him upclose.
If Angels Scouting Director, Ed bane was able to see Kendry Before Angels signed him he would have told Stoneman to "stay away from this guy."


Kendry Morales is not the solution to 1B...he not a solution to anywhere on the field.

Hope there's no offense..but Kendry proved nothing..absolutely nothing on his debut.


Angels will have to try to acquire a 1Bman thaqt is young with some power.

The Washington Nationals have Nick Johnson as their guy at 1B and he is blocking a younger guy in their system namely LARRY BROADWAY (nice name isn't it?) This guy is 26 years old; 6' 5" and bats /throws lefty. he has at least 30 HR potential. I think Mr. Stoneman has enough connect with that franchise (Montreal days) where he could swing a deal for a player like Broadway. He is as ready as ready can be.

[Sawman]

Adam Kennedy will not be back with the Angels in 2007. He's already rejected an offer from them and stated that he is looking for 4 years~18 million. And he'll probably get it. Howie Kendrick will be the starting 2B for 2007 and beyond. Also, I believe Jeff Mathis will beat out Mike Napoli for the starting catching job in 2007. That said, I see the lineup something like this:

Matthews, Jr. - CF
Cabrera - SS
Guerrero - RF
Morales - 1B
Rivera - LF
Anderson - DH
Kendrick - 2B
Mathis - C
Figgins - 3B

Lackey
Escobar
Santana
Weaver
Saunders

Regarding Morales, I believe you're underestimating the kid's ability to adapt. He has struggled at the beginning of every level in the minors so far, and in each of them, he adjusted and performed very well. Given time, I think this kid could very well be a star. He may not be a gold glover at 1B, but he showed that he had more range than many gave him credit for in the games he played there in '06. Personally, I see him as a better solution than any of the current available trade options. Larry Broadway? No thanks, the guy struck out 116 times in 440 AB's. In AAA. At 26 years old! Brandon Wood gets crap about his strikeouts, but he's 4 years younger than Broadway. No thank you.

[punxsy]

Originally Posted by Sawman

Adam Kennedy will not be back with the Angels in 2007. He's already rejected an offer from them and stated that he is looking for 4 years~18 million. And he'll probably get it. Howie Kendrick will be the starting 2B for 2007 and beyond. Also, I believe Jeff Mathis will beat out Mike Napoli for the starting catching job in 2007. That said, I see the lineup something like this:

Matthews, Jr. - CF
Cabrera - SS
Guerrero - RF
Morales - 1B
Rivera - LF
Anderson - DH
Kendrick - 2B
Mathis - C
Figgins - 3B

Lackey
Escobar
Santana
Weaver
Saunders

Regarding Morales, I believe you're underestimating the kid's ability to adapt. He has struggled at the beginning of every level in the minors so far, and in each of them, he adjusted and performed very well. Given time, I think this kid could very well be a star. He may not be a gold glover at 1B, but he showed that he had more range than many gave him credit for in the games he played there in '06. Personally, I see him as a better solution than any of the current available trade options. Larry Broadway? No thanks, the guy struck out 116 times in 440 AB's. In AAA. At 26 years old! Brandon Wood gets crap about his strikeouts, but he's 4 years younger than Broadway. No thank you.

I guess we can "agree to disagree." I cannot be sold on Kendry from what I saw of him.

Figgins at 3B, IMO, is a disaster waiting to repeat itself. He will cost us games for his bad glove. He has mental lapses and that is not a condition that can be tolerated at the hot corner. This is a guy that cannot do the very elementary things like bunt...Pee Wee leaguers can bunt better than tis guy Figgins.

Not to be argumentative but I would almost bet my house he will not be in Arizona with the Angels come March 2007.

[Sawman]

Figgins at 3B, IMO, is a disaster waiting to repeat itself.

I agree. I don't want to see Figgins at 3B, but I think that's what is going to happen. I think Chicago's demands for Crede are going to be too much for Stoneman to stomach, and I think Baltimore is looking for too much for Tejada. Personally, I'd love to see McPherson or Wood win the job out of spring training.

[punxsy]

Originally Posted by Sawman

I agree. I don't want to see Figgins at 3B, but I think that's what is going to happen. I think Chicago's demands for Crede are going to be too much for Stoneman to stomach, and I think Baltimore is looking for too much for Tejada. Personally, I'd love to see McPherson or Wood win the job out of spring training.

Angels could make a trade for a veteran with no more than two years remaing (Lowell, Red Sox?) to shore up until either Wood, as you suggest, or Sean Rodriguez makes the transition from short to 3B...my guess it'll be Sean who moves..he doesn't have the range for short.

Stoneman won't make any trades to come back to haunt him and guys like Tejada and Crede have baggage that cannot be ignored.

Tejada has P.O.'d the Orioles for his constant arriving late before ballgames; he is a suspect for 'roids use; is probably a few years older than stated; is not the power he was three years ago. Add to this, he refuses to play 3B...and he will have to be coaxed...we don't need prima donnass, do we?

Crede has a herniated disk and that makes him just as much a risk as McPherson. As you said, the Chisox will probably demand what we are unwilling to part with and we take on a risk, to boot.