Know Thy Enemy - Angels

[Frayed Knot]

Since we lost the schedule for this, I decided to do it.



In this case we really need a 'KTE' since we hardly ever play these guys so we need to know something about them. Problem is, I can't even figure out where they play! Their name - at various times - has implied that they play in Los Angeles, in Anaheim, or just in California ... sometimes one or more of them at once!! And, marketing attempts aside, LA & Anaheim aren't really even all that close to each other -- so I'm just going to call them 'Angels in America'.

Where: Shea Stadium for 3 games to finish up the longest home-stand of the year

When: Friday 7:10 EDT, Saturday 7:10, Sunday 1:10


So let's meet the Angels:

Since becoming surprise winners of the 2002 World Series, the Angels crashed and burned in '03, then bounced back nicely last year before getting steam-rolled in 3 games in round 1 by the eventual champs from Boston.
This season they've split their last 10 but remained in 1st place (thanks to the Rangers getting their butts kicked in Philly) in the AL West at 34-25, coming off taking 2 of 3 in Atlanta (something we certainly find tough to do).
What they're doing well right now is pitching: 4th in the AL in team ERA, 6th in OPS, 1st in K/9, 5th in WHi. A decent, though not real deep, starting staff (we'll get their best 3) is backed by a real deep bullpen. Felix Rodriguez (11 saves, 0.95 WHiP, 2.37 ERA) closes, but Scott Shields (1.08, 2.75) & Brandan Donnely (1.02, 3.49) can also match w/anyone.

Pitching Match-ups:
Friday: Bartolo Colon (R) 7-3, 1.18 WHiP, 3.10 ERA -- vs Kaz Ishii
Colon's last 2 starts have been somewhat rough, plus he's still fat.
Two of our AL ex-Pats: Beltran (.343/.425/.743 - 4 HRs, 35 ABs) & M'kiewicz (.333/.371/.515 - 1 HR, 33 ABs) have hit him well; while Cameron (.087/.160/.087 - 8 Ks, 23 ABs) has not.

Saturday: Jarrod Washburn (L) 3-3, 1.50, 3.86 -- vs Kris Benson
Again the ex-ALers are the only ones w/significant samples: Beltran (.333/.364/.619 - 2 HRs, 21 ABs); Cameron (.226/.342/.355 - 1 HR, 31 ABs) & M'kiewicz (.400/.438/.467 - 15 ABs)

Sunday: John Lackey (R ) 5-2, 1.46, 3.93 -- vs Pedro Martinez
Lackey is just in his 3rd season, so only Cameron (2-for-14, 1 HR) and M'kiewicz (5-for-14) have any track record.


What they don't do well is hit (sound familiar?):
9th in AL in runs scored, 12th in OBP, 11th in Slugging, 12th in HRs
Part of that is due to Big Bad Vlad being out but, as luck would have it, he's scheduled to return tonight. But even with him they're not all that potent.

Likely starters:
1st - Darrin Erstad: A decent CFer who - when he isn't knocking catchers into next week - really doesn't hit as much as you'd like from your 1st baseman (2 HRs)

2B: Either Adam Kennedy who's been in and out of the lineup since being the 2002 post-season hitting star, or super-sub Chone (pronounced Shawn/Sean) Figgins. Figgins is an excellent runner who with a glove is ... er, an excellent runner.

SS: Orlando Cabrera: An Ex-'Po who got far too much credit for Boston's WS run last year. He fields well but has lower OBP numbers (.295) than our SS.

3B: Rookie Dallas McPherson started slowly but is coming around (16 of his 36 hits so far are for extra-bases).

OF: As mentioned, Vlad Guerrero should be back from his (non-throwing) should boo-boo. Garrett Anderson doesn't walk as much as he should but hits over .300 w/decent power, and Steve Finley still has a bit of speed & pop to compensate for his low avg (.223) and the fact that he's 57 years old.

C: They have several catchers all named Molina (Benji & Jose). Since they're virtually indistinguishable from each other and (in a foot race) from both former Met Jason Phillips and current one Ramon Castro, I'll spare you any details, except to say that they're both good defensively. Apparently that characteristic is in the genes since the MFY's will be facing baby brother Yadier at the same time.

Ex-Factor: A couple of early-'90s brief Mets;
Paul Byrd - who we likely won't see, plus OF/PR sub (if you blinked you missed him) Curtis Pride - most notable for being MLB's only deaf current player.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Deals made between the Mets and the Angels. One very bad one, and another big one that didn't work out for either side.

New York Mets traded Jack Hamilton to the
California Angels for Nick Willhite on June 10, 1967.

New York Mets traded Hawk Taylor to the
California Angels for Don Wallace on July 24, 1967.

New York Mets traded Nolan Ryan, Leroy Stanton, Francisco Estrada and Don Rose to the
California Angels for Jim Fregosi on December 10, 1971.

New York Mets traded Ike Hampton to the
California Angels for Ken Sanders on March 22, 1975.

New York Mets purchased Gil Flores from
the California Angels on July 28, 1978.

California Angels signed Ellis Valentine of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 21, 1983.

New York Mets traded Jeff Richardson and Shane Young to the
California Angels for John Candelaria on September 15, 1987.

New York Mets traded Hubie Brooks to the
California Angels for Dave Gallagher on December 10, 1991.

New York Mets traded Julio Valera and Julian Vasquez to the
California Angels for Dick Schofield on April 12, 1992.

New York Mets traded Aaron Ledesma to the
California Angels for Kevin Flora on January 18, 1996.

New York Mets signed free agent Allen Watson of the Anaheim Angels on January 19, 1999.

Anaheim Angels signed David Lamb of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 8, 2000.

New York Mets traded Kevin Appier to the
Anaheim Angels for Mo Vaughn on December 27, 2001.

[Centerfield]

I think for this weekend we should be the New York Mets of Flushing.

[MFS62]

Don't speak ill of Finley. That guy has made a career of beating up on the Mets. Don't know his overall numbers, but I just "feel" that he has.

B'sides, at 57, he's just a kid.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

Why does he deserve more respect if he beats up on the Mets.

Besides, he's been no great shakes.

Avg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	OBP	Slg	OPS	SB	CS	SB%
.266	127	466	71	124	26	6	18	66	43	50	.330	.464	.794	18	6	.750
HBP	GDP	TB	IBB	SH	SF	AB/HR	AB/K
2	8	216	2	6	1	25.9	9.3

Not bad, decidely worse over the last three seasons though.

Gotta go. Look it up yourselves.

[Willets Point]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Deals made between the Mets and the Angels. One very bad one, and another big one that didn't work out for either side.

Speaking of which, I'm currently the Ryan Express.

[smg58]

We didn't really need to be reminded of the Nolan Ryan deal...

As for Vaughn and Appier, Mets fans tend to forget that that it was close to a wash payroll-wise, and the Angels released Appier outright while the Mets at least collected insurance on Vaughn. So technically, we got the better of the deal! That'll learn 'em!

[Guest SwitchHitter]

Just peeped in here. That's Francisco Rodriguez with all the saves. Felix is with the MFY. K-Rod, as Francisco's sometimes called, is my other, non-Metfan, daughter's favorite, which is how I know he's not Felix.

[Frayed Knot]

Good catch/my bad.

I actually do know the difference but I have trouble keeping my 'Rods' straight sometimes.

Uh, lemme reprase that ...