Posts Tagged ‘Ken Griffey Jr.’

Teixeira for Kotchman? I Just Don’t Know. Posted by Stacy Morrison in Los Angeles Angels July 31st, 2008

19^th in runs scored. 19^th in hits. 22^nd in home runs. 19^th in RBIs. 24^th in total bases. 22^nd in on base percentage. And 22^nd in slugging.

On paper, this doesn’t really sound like a division contending team, let alone the best team in baseball by a fair margin.  But when you factor in 8^th in ERA, 7^th in shutouts, 1^st in saves (by ten saves, between first and second), 25^th in earned runs against (yes, that’s a good thing), a winning starting rotation, a solid bullpen, a slid defense, a consistent running game, and you get the Angels. 

Up until last night at about 5-something eastern time, the Angels were not the media’s favorite team to look at.  In fact, the Angels crept slowly into first place without so much as a sneeze.  It wasn’t until about three weeks after the Angels took first place that ESPN even took notice on their power rankings.  The Angels were clearly the underdogs of 2008, who’s game was so much more old-school than any other teams, besides maybe the Minnesota Twins and a more distant example in the Baltimore Orioles. 

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Harangatang on the move? Posted by Nate Smith in Cincinnati Reds June 30th, 2008

After watching Bronson Arroyo surrender a touchdown, two-point conversion and a field goal to the dismal Toronto Blue Jays offense Tuesday night I began to wonder if Arroyo, and his rather robust ERA, were suddenly expendable in the Queen City.

After all, with the emergence of guys like Edinson Volquez, Johny Cueto and Darryl Thompson, not to mention promising young prospects like Matt Maloney and Homer Bailey in AAA, the Reds starting rotation possesses more depth now than it ever has.

Ever.

I thought maybe, just maybe, the Reds would work out a deal shipping Arroyo to a contender looking to bolster its pitching staff for a second-half run.

Then I realized something.

No contender would want Arroyo and his astronomical ERA.

However, I was right about one thing. The aforementioned emergence of young Reds pitching prospects in recent months has made a Reds starting pitcher expendable.

Who is it, you ask?

Aaron Harang.

The Redlegs big right-hander has struggled this season, stumbling his way to a 3-10 record. That said, his ERA is still around four and a half, which is more than reasonable. The one-time ace is battle tested and is practically unhittable when on his game.

Furthermore, the dumping of his salary, coupled with the impending trade/free agent release of Ken Griffey Jr. and/or Adam Dunn, would free up badly needed funds to ensure guys like Jeff Keppinger, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Volquez, Cueto, and Thompson will be in Cincinnati for a very, very long time.

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