I mean, of course, the day after the Torii Hunter signing – why, was there some sort of holiday yesterday? So as you shop on this day of bargains, frantically reading this post on your Blackberry and commenting while standing in line, here are some of my thoughts on the Angels’ signing of the man I affectionately refer to as “Tor The Second”…
• If the Angels are through making big deals, then the A’s are the winners here – simply because neither Hunter nor Matthews nor Garland is good enough, young enough, or cheap enough to constitute a major upgrade to the outfield or rotation. In adding Hunter, the Angels’ outfield has gotten a little better and in adding Garland the Angels’ rotation has gotten a little better. But not that much better, just that much more expensive.
However, the Angels may not be done making major headlines, in which case…
• Let’s hope that if the Marlins, or any other team, is willing to part with that “impact hitter” the Angels have long coveted, that they ask for enough in return. If the Angels can get someone like Miguel Cabrera and only have to give up players like Ervin Santana (7-14, 5.76 ERA), Joe Saunders (107.1 IP, 129 hits), and Reggie Willits (.344 slugging percentage) – guys who have not yet proven their long-term worth and who play at positions where the Angels are already stacked – then LAA is sitting pretty for 2008-09. In other words, one deal where the Angels don’t have to give up their best young players and the rest of the West is toast. But…
• By best young players, I mean guys like Howie Kendrick and Jered Weaver. Personally (and I’m a huge Howie Kendrick fan), I think Kendrick is a better hitter than the current versions of Matthews or Hunter or Anderson – basically any Angel this side of Vlad. If I’m the Marlins and I’m putting Miguel Cabrera out there, or I’m the Orioles and I’m putting Bedard out there, or I’m any team putting my star out there, I’m insisting on getting back the Howie Kendricks or Jered Weavers of the world, not just the Willits’ or the E. Santanas. And if the Angels, in order to add hitting, have to subtract Kendrick from their offense, or have to ask Garland to replace Weaver in the rotation, then the subtractions will start to seriously compete with the additions.
But my final thought is the humdinger…
• I have said for two years that one reason the A’s shouldn’t dismantle too quickly is that it’s only a matter of time before Vlad’s knees and/or back give out and he misses a substantial portion of a season – knees and backs are just like that and Vlad (about whom I have nothing bad to say – the guy is incredible) always has the look of someone on the verge of a physical breakdown. And every year a breakdown only becomes more likely because Vlad is a year older. The Angels just overpaid for a CFer for the second year in a row and they can’t trade either one. Publicly, they are talking about moving Vlad to DH. But when the Angels spend way too much for an OK CFer, and then do it again, you have to wonder about Vlad. Are the Angels thinking he’s headed to DH? Or DL? Just as “if Harden is healthy all season” the A’s are suddenly in contention as is, if Vlad is unhealthy the A’s are suddenly in contention as is.
All things to ponder as you hit the treadmill trying to shed those 8 pounds you put on yesterday.
Joe Kennedy (1979-2007) R.I.P.