Some Q&A on the Angels

Hey, Angel fans, thought I'd pass this along for those of you who might be interested. Mark at http://fantasybaseballhotstove.blogspot.com/2009/04/fresh-out-of-oven-la-angels.html recently asked me some interesting questions about the Angels. His questions and my responses (BAB) are below.Thursday, April 23, 2009Fresh Out of the Oven: LA AngelsTough season so far for the Angels on the field, but even tougher off the field. The team is still grieving as Steve from the Big A Baseballblog discusses.FBHS: In one of your recent posts you mentioned a Torii Hunter quote that referenced how the Angels are clearly still grieving and it takes it's toll on the field. Obviously you can't put yourself in the minds of the players and the team, but looking at what they are saying in the papers and how they are conducting themselves on the field have you noticed a change from the Red Sox series to the Tigers series in their demeanor?BAB: This season is especially tough, for obvious reasons. But in keeping our thoughts between the lines as best as possible, the Angels have not looked sharp. They came out inspired right after the Adenhart tragedy and won. Then they went flat and lost. And lost again. Emotionally deflated? Probably. They were so driven in that first game back, so jacked up, there was no way to sustain it. And they bottomed out. But does that explain away the 1-5 trip? I don't think so. I think the problem lies not only in their emotions, but in their abilities and decision making as well. This is the same team, after all, that has gone into MASSIVE hitting slumps in past years. No power, runners left on base, low scoring games. How have they corrected the problem? They haven't. It continually amazes me how teams with the same issues year after year are unable or unwilling to address them. The Texas Rangers have bats, no arms, the Angels have arms, no bats. Year after year. The Angels' problems this year can't even be attributed to injuries. Yes, they have three all-star starters on the DL. But their starters have not been the problem. They have a punch and Judy line-up that is more Judy than punch. If they think they're going to win 3-2 every night like last year, well, say hello to third place. Figgins should be a .300 hitter but is not. Why? He hits the ball in the air too often for someone who relies on speed (and despite misconceptions that he has great hands, he is an average fielder at best.)Kendrick is potentially great, but is still young and tends to get impatient at the plate when feeling the pressure of an underperforming line-up. Abreu and Hunter are solid, but Napoli has holes in his swing as large as his body, Morales is unproven, Aybar spotty, and Vladegone. This is a very young line-up for a team that considers itself a World Series contender. I love Scioscia, but he is stubborn in his approach to small ball, despite the fact that the approach is becoming an automatic one and done in the playoffs. Let's not forget that the team that won the World Series in 2002 was NOT put together by him. They had big bats throughout the line-up, and solid contact hitting. So in answer to the question, no, I haven't seen a huge change in their demeanor. They still seem flat, distracted, and inconsistent. I'm sure they're still hurting deeply. How could they not be? But I think the problem with their play goes beyond that.FBHS: As of April 21st it's no surprise to see that Chone Figgins is leading the Majors in steals. It is a little surprising to see Bobby Abreu tied with Figgins. Has he just been getting good situations to run or is Scioscia just acting like himself with this?BAB: The way the Angels have been hitting - or not hitting - has forced them to try and create situations. This is likely one reason they're running a lot. Rather than require two hits to get a runner home from first, they're trying to get in position to get it done with one - which for the Angels right now is no easy feat. Also, the guys in front of Abreu haven't been on base much, so he's had room to run. And he's always had good speed. I think the team's lack of hitting, and Scioscia looking for ways to manufacture runs, is why Abreu is so high on the stolen base list.FBHS: Take your pick. Kelvim Escobar, John Lackey or Ervin Magic Santana?BAB: Tough, of course. Quality arms, all of them. Santana is the first to go - cute nickname by the way, but a disservice to Magic. I'm still on the fence about Santana. I didn't think he had the mental toughness to make it in the bigs. Too much smiling on the mound and in the dugout. Seemed like a great guy, but winning is not about making friends. He surprised us all last year, of course. But he needs to do it again, and again, and again. Maybe then he'll merit a Magic reference. That leaves Lackey and Escobar. Both great. Both tough. Both winners. But by the slimmest of margins, I'll take Escobar - when he's healthy. His injuries have kept him from elite status, but not his talent. Unbelievable what he can do on the mound. He was lights out when the Angels needed him out of the pen, and when he starts, he's got it all - the pitches, the demeanor, the control.