SURPRISING EFFECTIVENESS IN 08

John Lackey.  Kelvim Escobar. Howie Kendrick. Maicer Izturis. Dustin Moseley. Chone Figgins.

 

There are some pretty big names in there.  Lackey has been out since the start of the season with a strained right tricep, and has been making decent strides so far in his rehab assignment.  Kelvim Escobar, co-ace to Lackey, who both combined for 37 wins in 2007, has also been out since spring with a tear in his labrum which may need surgery, though he’s been attempting to avoid it, learning to live for now with the discomfort in his throwing arm.  Howie Kendrick has been an off-and-on DL regular, this time with a strained left hamstring that has limited him to only ten games and 36 total at-bats so far this season.  Izturis and Moseley have only recently joined the DL, with a stiff lower back and right forearm stiffness, respectively.  Figgins has yet to formally join the list, being instead day-to-day with a slight strain to his hamstring as well from a more than magnificent slide home in yesterday’s victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

For as much as I can remember, this may very well be the third start of the season in a row where the Angels have had significant starters on the disabled list.  But this year, the list of injuries should be something fierce – two starters, several from the bullpen have gone off and on, one of baseball’s most sought after second basemen (though I still personally cannot figure out why), and arguably the league’s most effective lead-off hitter/the team’s stolen-base king. 

Though the Angels were considerably hampered in their play-off attempts last season, and of course swept by Boston, the team’s administration sought to fill some gaps in the off-season to help raise production, both offensively and defensively.  Everyone knows about the trade for Garland and the signing of free-agent Hunter. 

But if you look at the numbers, effectiveness has come from a variety of places, and many of these in overlooked places, and not in the “usual” middle of the order.  Let’s look at some specifics – here’s some production in unexpected places:

1.  Ervin Santana, starting pitcher (fourth in the order)

Santana is almost the team’s Cinderella story.  Last season, Santana had one of the most trying experiences in all of starting pitching.  He went 7-14 over the season with a 5.78 ERA, and went through such a terrible stint on the road that he was reassigned to the minor-league system in attempts to get his head clear.  It was basically a psychological horror for Santana, and a nightmare for Angels’ fans.  Since the start of 2008, however, Ervin has shown really no signs of his former problem.  In his first game on the road, usually the place Santana was slaughtered in the previous year,  Santana pitched an excellent game, and is currently 5-0 with a 2.48 ERA, and 29 strike-outs.  Tomorrow, he’ll have a chance to go 6-0 against Kansas City – and even though it’s an away game, no Angels’ fan really has any indication of a reason to worry. 

2.  Joe Saunders, starting pitcher (third in the order)

In 2007, Saunders became well acquainted with the air – and just about every pilot and stewardess flying between Salt Lake and Los Angeles.  He was up and down throughout much of the season because of the instability of pitchers Ervin Santana and former Angel, now Boston minor-leaguer, Bartolo Colon.  He was a saving grace for much of the season, finishing it out at 8-5 with and ERA of 4.44.  This season, Saunders and Santana have become a seemingly unlikely duo, filling in the big shoes of Lackey and Escobar.  Saunders was 5-0 as well before today’s game against Baltimore, with an ERA of a mere 2.08, and 20 strike-outs.  Today’s start was definitely his most difficult start of the season, allowing four earned runs on twelve hits, though many of them were strung together singles, and only a double off the wall in left and two solo shots by Markakis and Mora.  Miraculously, Saunders has held batters to those three extra-base hits in all seven of his starts, and walked away with a win thanks to the power hitting of the Angels lineup, a 6-5 decision, which puts Saunders in a tie for the league lead in wins, 6-0, alongside New York’s Chien-Ming Wang. 

3.  Casey Kotchman, starting first-baseman

Casey was one of those guys that many fans didn’t trust when he first started getting playing time at first.  He had a lot of unfounded errors, a lot of “duh” moments.  2007 could have very well been a break out season for him; he started off a bit slow but picked up greatly, before being “beaned” in the head by a pick-off throw to second by Russell Martin of the Dodgers.  From then on, after a long stint on the DL, Kotchman’s stroke was off, and his balance at the plate suffered, as did his stats.  He’s another one of those players who’s been plagued by irksome injuries since his beginnings with the team, and many of them seem to be freak things.  However, 2008 brings a new beginning, and he has looked incredibly stellar throughout.  His defense has been incredible at first, and he has been hitting up a storm.  He is currently in the top five in batting average, at .324, and has six home runs to his name.  He has been promoted to the clean-up spot as of late because of his new-found productivity against both righties AND lefties.  If he keeps going at this pace, he’ll no doubt make the All-Star team and should be easily in contention for a Gold Glove. 

4.  Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis, starting catchers

I just can’t separate these two, because both bring so much to the plate (no pun intended… okay, it was fully intended) but in different ways.  Napoli has always been the starting catcher everyone thought would be more productive.  And so far, he’s been very productive.  He has connected for a team high seven home runs, one of which was a grand slam.  Many argue that Napoli is the better catcher, because of this fact.  But the one thing Mathis has that Napoli doesn’t is an unnaturally talented defensive ability – and this is often overlooked, but not so much these days.  Mathis is a dominating presence behind the plate, making great calls, and picking off several runners with an above-average glove-to-hand transfer that makes him look absolutely amazing.  He had two in today’s game, which basically saved Saunders from his first loss.  And let’s not forget his productive at-bats either; though his three home runs may not rival Napoli’s seven, he is much more of a contact hitter with about a .280 batting average.  Both Napoli and “The Wall,” as I like to call him, have definitely made major contributions to the Angels this season, and will probably make huge impacts to come.

5.  Erick Aybar, starting shortstop

During Spring Training, much debate occurred over who would best fill the void that was once the dominating and leading presence of Gold Glove Orlando Cabrera.  Much was said about both Erik Aybar and friend-turned-rival Maicer Izturis and their roles in the middle infield.  Many argued that Izturis should get the start, which he did on Opening Day, because of his similarities in approach to Cabrera.  The other side of the argument saw Aybar as a rare talent, whose athletic abilities and fantastical plays would put him at the top of any list of short-stop potentials.  So far, both have played admirably, and were neck-and-neck for a long time.  But Kendrick’s injury landed Izturis at second base, and really gave Aybar a chance to shine at short.  Though he has made four errors so far this season, many on routine plays, he has decently made up for these with some incredible defensive plays, a myriad of double-play turns, productive at-bats, some very successful bunting skills, and even his first home run of the year, yesterday against Baltimore.  Aybar is still young, only 24, and his mistakes now may be great learning experiences for him.  Once he seasons as a player, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be one of the best shortstops in the game.

These are only a few of the more productive unlikely players the Angels have used this season.  Let’s not forget the many minor league players who have contributed greatly with the injuries involved, including reliever Darren O’Day who came up from AA Arkansas straight to the majors, Jose Serrano, Brandon Wood, Sean Rodriguez, and fan favorite (and obviously mine) Reggie Willits.  With the Angels minor league affiliate team in Salt Lake City a healthy 24-2 (as far as I know at this moment), there shouldn’t be too much for Scioscia to worry about with the Disabled List sprinkled with big names – the small names provide enough depth to handle just about any situation.