Wednesday, March 23, 2005
OLD MAN SALMON
The LA Times has an article on Old Man Salmon today; there's nothing really new here at all.
However, it does remind me that I never got through all my player reviews in the offseason, what with distractions from PMR and from work. So let's go express round; we had two more position players and all the pitchers, so let's get a-crackin':
ROBB QUINLAN
He's not really a .340 hitter, but will still be a useful guy off the bench.
TIM SALMON
Probably done; here's hoping he can make it back for a farewell tour as a Halo.
PITCHERS:
BARTOLO COLON: THE BIG MANGO
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.
BRENDAN DONNELLY
Is going to continue being a great set-up man, as long as his nose stays together, but I would expect some decline from his first couple of years.
SCOTT DUNN
Better than Scot Schoeneweis.
KELVIM ESCOBAR
This is what happens when you stop jerking talented pitchers in and out of roles. I would expect him to be roughly as good as last year, maybe with the ERA creeping a bit over 4 instead of staying a bit under. Either way, there's no way he could get less luck on the run support side, and could easily be a 15-17-game winner with the breaks.
KEVIN GREGG
A solid middle-innings guy; he's good, but if he's pitching in a set-up role too often, we're in trouble.
MATT HENSLEY
A step down from Kevin Gregg.
JOHN LACKEY
One of the unluckiest pitchers in the league last year, in terms of defensive support. I think he's poised for a semi-breakout; of course, I thought the same thing a year ago. His last two seasons have been exceptionally similar in both ERA and peripherals, so maybe that's just his talent level. But I think some of the hits he's given up are due to become outs one of these years.
FRANKIE K.
If Heidi Klum's body were a pitch, it would be K-Rod's slider.
SCOT SHIELDS
Could/would/should be in the rotation, but is "too valuable" to be moved from the bullpen. C'est la vie. He'll be a great 6th/7th inning guy, and pitch the team out of quite a few jams in the process. Given the lessened depth we have in the pen this year, he likely is more valuable in that role. Also: if you had to pick one Angel pitcher that was likely scuffing the baseball, wouldn't you pick Shields? The movement on his fastball is unnatural and frightening.
JARROD WASHBURN
I still like the guy, but I'm growing weary of his antics on the mound. His K rate was down again last year, and he didn't have a Spring Training incident to fall back on. He was great to watch in 2002, going all ballsy with his fastball 98% of the time. But the velocity's just not there like it was then, and there's a fine line between ballsy and BP. He says he feels good again on the mound, and if he can really throw like he used to, I think another excellent season is in reach. That's a big "if", however.
The LA Times has an article on Old Man Salmon today; there's nothing really new here at all.
However, it does remind me that I never got through all my player reviews in the offseason, what with distractions from PMR and from work. So let's go express round; we had two more position players and all the pitchers, so let's get a-crackin':
ROBB QUINLAN
He's not really a .340 hitter, but will still be a useful guy off the bench.
TIM SALMON
Probably done; here's hoping he can make it back for a farewell tour as a Halo.
PITCHERS:
BARTOLO COLON: THE BIG MANGO
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.
BRENDAN DONNELLY
Is going to continue being a great set-up man, as long as his nose stays together, but I would expect some decline from his first couple of years.
SCOTT DUNN
Better than Scot Schoeneweis.
KELVIM ESCOBAR
This is what happens when you stop jerking talented pitchers in and out of roles. I would expect him to be roughly as good as last year, maybe with the ERA creeping a bit over 4 instead of staying a bit under. Either way, there's no way he could get less luck on the run support side, and could easily be a 15-17-game winner with the breaks.
KEVIN GREGG
A solid middle-innings guy; he's good, but if he's pitching in a set-up role too often, we're in trouble.
MATT HENSLEY
A step down from Kevin Gregg.
JOHN LACKEY
One of the unluckiest pitchers in the league last year, in terms of defensive support. I think he's poised for a semi-breakout; of course, I thought the same thing a year ago. His last two seasons have been exceptionally similar in both ERA and peripherals, so maybe that's just his talent level. But I think some of the hits he's given up are due to become outs one of these years.
FRANKIE K.
If Heidi Klum's body were a pitch, it would be K-Rod's slider.
SCOT SHIELDS
Could/would/should be in the rotation, but is "too valuable" to be moved from the bullpen. C'est la vie. He'll be a great 6th/7th inning guy, and pitch the team out of quite a few jams in the process. Given the lessened depth we have in the pen this year, he likely is more valuable in that role. Also: if you had to pick one Angel pitcher that was likely scuffing the baseball, wouldn't you pick Shields? The movement on his fastball is unnatural and frightening.
JARROD WASHBURN
I still like the guy, but I'm growing weary of his antics on the mound. His K rate was down again last year, and he didn't have a Spring Training incident to fall back on. He was great to watch in 2002, going all ballsy with his fastball 98% of the time. But the velocity's just not there like it was then, and there's a fine line between ballsy and BP. He says he feels good again on the mound, and if he can really throw like he used to, I think another excellent season is in reach. That's a big "if", however.
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