Small-Ball Works in SoCal

Angels’ GM Tony Reagins is in his first season at his position. His predecessor, Bill Stoneman, now a consultant for the organization, certainly had a knack for identifying and acquiring talent. Their approach is aggressive, yet conventional. Bold, but furtive. They are big spenders who play small ball. They have shown their assertiveness in recent years in the off-season free agent market, adding big-name free agents to high dollar deals such as Vlad Guerrero (5 year/$70 million in 2004), Gary Matthews, Jr. (5 year/$50 million in 2006), and Torii Hunter (5 year/ $90 million in 2007). Hunter was Reagins’ first big free agent splash.

For the final six years of the Stoneman era, Reagins held the fundamental position of Director of Player Development. During that time, the club drafted, signed, traded for, or otherwise groomed C’s Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis, 1B Casey Kotchman, 2B Howie Kendrick, SS’s Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar, 3B’s Chone Figgins, top prospect Bandon Wood, OF’s Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews, Jr., Vlad Guerrero, and Reggie Willits, and Pitchers Jeff Weaver, Joe Saunders, John Garland, Ervin Santana, Kelvim Escobar, Jose Arredondo, Darren Oliver, and lights-out closer Francisco Rodriguez. Stoneman brought most of these names to LA, while aided greatly by Reagins who oversaw their individual development and helped move many players from the system along to the big leagues. Of the 20 aforementioned players, one (Wood) is currently at the AAA level, one (Escobar is on the DL), and 18 are on the 25 man roster.

Anaheim’s long-tenured manager and former catcher, Mike Scioscia, runs the team that Reagins helped Stoneman to manufacture. The front office/manager trio of Stoneman, Reagins, and Scioscia pieced together the scrappy bunch that won the 2002 World Series over the high-powered San Francisco Giants in seven games, marching past the Yankees and Twins in the process. That team was comprised, more so than the 2008 club, of players whose names the casual fan would probably have not familiar with. This bunch included players such as C’s Bengie and Jose Molina, 1B Darin Erstad, 2B Adam Kennedy, 3B Troy Glaus, SS David Eckstein, current LF Garret Anderson, then-rookie closer Francisco Rodriguez, and others.

Though I will always make the case that it takes more managerial talent and decision-making ability to manage in the National League, Scioscia is about as good as they get. His background of 15 years as a Major League catcher and his eight and a half seasons as Angels’ manager have made him one of the best at making calls, especially when it comes to calling pitches in tight situations, from the dugout. His players seem to buy into his team oriented system of manufacturing runs versus swinging away, something especially rare in the American League, given the fact that there essentially is the potential for power at every spot in the lineup.

Kotchman, Kendrick, Figgins, Hunter, Guerrero, and Anderson (although his numbers are down this year - .255/6 /35) are all established, high average hitters. Also, to this point in the season, Gary Matthews, Jr. leads Angels everyday players in strikeouts with only 67 K’s, as the Halos are 82 games into their season. Hunter joins him as the only other Angel who has punched out 50 times or more. To put these numbers into perspective, Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has gone down on strikes 114 times thus far, 47 more times than the Angels’ team leader. Every Los Angeles position player who has seen time in on the 25-man roster this season with the exception of Matthews and Hunter has struck out fewer that 47 times, the difference between the Major League leader and the Angels’ leader. The team’s collective baserunning ability (62 SB in 85 attempts for a 72.94% success rate) combined with its hitters’ propensity to make consistent contact and put the ball in play allows Scioscia’s club to effectively hit and run often, allowing for baserunners to advance from first to third on a single, or score from first on a double.

The Angels will continue to ride this small-ball style, combined with their solid pitching rotation and loaded back end of the bullpen, which includes the electric Rodriguez, primary setup man Scott Shields (2.53 ERA, 9K/9IP), young, hard-tossing Jose Arredondo (1.40 ERA/ 8.84 K/9 IP), veteran lefty Darren Oliver (3.12 ERA/ 4.47 K/9 IP), in addition to the struggling, but historically good Justin Speier, and solid rookie, Darren O’Day.

Firesale Could Come in Western PA

It isn’t too early to begin speculation about who will land where at the trade deadline that is approaching faster than you may think. Pirates’ GM Neal Huntington figures to be a busy man, come the end of July. The Pirates are currently 11.0 games back in the NL Central division, the league’s most crowded division and do not figure to make any sort of a late-summer charge for first place past the Cubs, Cardinals , and Brewers. The Wild-Card is set to almost certainly go to the NL East runner up. The Phillies are legitimate contenders and will only continue to improve as the weather heats up. The Marlins have played the role of underdog before and could continue to play it well. The Mets should soon realize a common goal and stop fighting for space on the DL. When that happens, the team including Jose Reyes, David Wright, a healthy Ryan Church, and a hot and healthy Carlos Beltran (we can’t count everything out) can be dangerous. Also, those Atlanta Braves will continue to loom in the rearview, but perhaps not for too long, as John Smoltz is gone for the year, Tom Glavine is on the DL with a sore elbow, and Mike Hampton has not pitched since 2005, a season in which he started just 12 games. Also, relievers Peter Moylan, lefty Mike Gonzalez, and closer Rafael Soriano are all on the shelf. That trio had the potential to pitch the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings for the Braves, respectively.

The Pirates have several trading chips that will be highly sought after as the next month and a half go by. Jason Bay will be an attractive addition to a contender seeking outfield help. He is still 29 and to this point, is hitting .288 with 14 homers, 36 RBI, and 52 runs scored. Xavier Nady has also shown his ability to drive in runs and to hit in the middle of the lineup. He is having a career year and is hitting at a .314 clip with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 18 doubles already. Nady could attract even more interest than Bay and fetch even more in return for the Pirates, as the buyer that deals for him will retain Nady’s services through all of next season, as he still has one year remaining before he is eligible for free agency after the 2009 campaign. Nady was removed from June 14th’s game with acromioclavicular joint sprain in his left shoulder, but the Bucs have deemed that a trip to the DL is not necessary and expect Nady to be back in action within a few days.

Should the two depart, Nate McLouth will remain the starting center fielder as he will continue to jumpstart what otherwise will be a dormant offense. Jason Michaels is certainly a capable fill-in at either of the corner outfield spots for the final third of the season, and OF Chris Duffy, currently out with a shoulder injury, could provide some relief in the coming months, giving the club with another option to replace either Bay or Nady.

Speedy Class-AAA outfielder Nyjer Morgan has some Major League experience and could be the club’s first option in the minor leagues to fill a Bay’s or Nady’s roster spot. Also on the horizon for the Pirates in the outfield is 2005 first-round pick Andrew McCutchen, the club’s top outfielding prospect. Of all outfield prospects in the minor leagues, I am most excited to see McCutchen prepare to make the jump to the Bigs. This is a statement I can now honestly make since the promotion of Jay Bruce to Cincinnati. I rate McCutchen above Cardinals’ propect Colby Rasmus, Florida’s Cameron Maybin, and others. Currently with AAA-Indianapolis, he is hitting .284 with 8 homers, 28 RBI, 19 steals, and 42 runs scored through 69 games.

In AA-Altoona, 25 year old LF Jonel Panecho is putting up outstanding numbers, hitting at a .299 clip with 7 HR and 29 RBI in 61 games and could be in for a promotion soon. It is not outside the realm of possibility that Panecho could end up in the Pirates’ outfield mix next spring. Also in AA, RF Brad Corley is another to keep an eye on, as he has put up respectable numbers and could play himself into a role with the Pirates in the future.

Pittsburgh would also love to unload underachieving SS Jack Wilson, but I would be surprised if a playoff contender were suddenly in search of an everyday shortstop, and if a club would ever be interested in acquiring the injury prone, streaky hitter. Should the need arise for a team to deal for Wilson, it will most likely be the result of a severe injury to a starting shortstop. In his defense, however, Wilson is an above average defender.

Adam LaRoche’s name might surface in trade rumors, but I would be surprised to see him depart before the year is through. Interest in him will be minimal in him due to the down year he is having offensively (.221 BA, .303 OBP), but the Buc’s will be tempted to let their big swinger go should the right offer come along, allowing journeyman Doug Mientkiewicz will occupy first base for the remainder of the season.