Kaz as a Halo is done.
Not that I have much to say about it. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time. And since a Kaz post is right below this, I figured I should put in an update.
My take?
Disappointment. What a waste.
But now the Angels (and angels&aimee) can close the book and move on.
The book on the 2011 season hasn't quite closed, yet I'm looking forward to the future and enjoying the glimpses today..
Bourjos, Walden, Conger, Trumbo, Chatwood........... Trout
15 June 2011
24 March 2011
the curious case of kaz
I'm an obvious fan of Kaz, despite the well-earned vitrol he's gotten from the general fanbase. While I still have hope in him, I understand why others do not. He was beyond bad last year. Er, beyond beyond beyond bad.
I was hopeful this spring that he'd be able to recapture some semblance of effectiveness after spending the offseason under the careful eye of Butcher. But I definitely wondered if I was being unrealistic and if I was foolishly overlooking the general feeling in the halosphere that Kaz was done.
You'd think that I could make something of this dilemma from numerous spring training starts, but I'm even more perplexed.
I listened to Kaz's start today and it closely mirrored the results of his last start. Disastrous beginning, a few solid innings, high pitch counts, maybe a glimmer of hope, but tiny incremental improvements. All it needs is to be followed by quotes that he felt good and Sosh giving lukewarm endorsement mixed with skepticism.
I don't know. I want to believe that he could be a good starter, to the point where I doubt my own judgement. But then again, I'm skeptical of the dismissive attitude that the halosphere has taken with him. I think, as a fanbase, we're still experiencing the after effects of the disappointment with the Kaz trade. We thought we were getting an ace - someone that could fill Lackey's spot and someone that can slay the Yanks, BoSux, and Rangers. Well, we got someone that now has trouble putting away the Brewers. Some, I think like me, are overly optimistic because we really want to believe the Halos weren't swindled. Others, I think, are overly pessimistic and believe that since Kaz can't fufil those expectations, the Halos should eat his money and employ Bell or Palmer in his slot. I generally don't believe that there is a clear-cut better option than Kaz. Remember, all the Angels are asking of him is to be a serviceable fifth starter.
I was hopeful this spring that he'd be able to recapture some semblance of effectiveness after spending the offseason under the careful eye of Butcher. But I definitely wondered if I was being unrealistic and if I was foolishly overlooking the general feeling in the halosphere that Kaz was done.
You'd think that I could make something of this dilemma from numerous spring training starts, but I'm even more perplexed.
I listened to Kaz's start today and it closely mirrored the results of his last start. Disastrous beginning, a few solid innings, high pitch counts, maybe a glimmer of hope, but tiny incremental improvements. All it needs is to be followed by quotes that he felt good and Sosh giving lukewarm endorsement mixed with skepticism.
I don't know. I want to believe that he could be a good starter, to the point where I doubt my own judgement. But then again, I'm skeptical of the dismissive attitude that the halosphere has taken with him. I think, as a fanbase, we're still experiencing the after effects of the disappointment with the Kaz trade. We thought we were getting an ace - someone that could fill Lackey's spot and someone that can slay the Yanks, BoSux, and Rangers. Well, we got someone that now has trouble putting away the Brewers. Some, I think like me, are overly optimistic because we really want to believe the Halos weren't swindled. Others, I think, are overly pessimistic and believe that since Kaz can't fufil those expectations, the Halos should eat his money and employ Bell or Palmer in his slot. I generally don't believe that there is a clear-cut better option than Kaz. Remember, all the Angels are asking of him is to be a serviceable fifth starter.
05 March 2011
heady stuff
Spring Training is a week in and I'm back to watching/listening/consuming Angels baseball.
What, are you surprised? I'm not that much a bandwagon fan.
If you truly care about someone/something, you never walk away after the first fight. You come back and try to work it out.
So I'm (somewhat) reconciled with the thought that the FO (cue Gob Bluth) made a huge mistake. But I'm still struggling to regain the faith and trust I held for FO moves. It's an ongoing process.
I'm actually not too concerned that I'm still skeptical of the FO. Isn't that a hallmark of any good relationship? That each challenges, inspires, and pushes the other? I want the Angels to be the best that they can be. They in turn, challenge and inspire me to be the best fan I can be. And of course, I give them unconditional love. Er, I just can't quit them!
It took me a long time (as you can see from the archives) to come back here. I tend to post when I feel like I have something to say - when the Angels give me something to say, to feel. And the past month or so, I've been sifting through how I feel about the FO and this season.
What, are you surprised? I'm not that much a bandwagon fan.
If you truly care about someone/something, you never walk away after the first fight. You come back and try to work it out.
So I'm (somewhat) reconciled with the thought that the FO (cue Gob Bluth) made a huge mistake. But I'm still struggling to regain the faith and trust I held for FO moves. It's an ongoing process.
I'm actually not too concerned that I'm still skeptical of the FO. Isn't that a hallmark of any good relationship? That each challenges, inspires, and pushes the other? I want the Angels to be the best that they can be. They in turn, challenge and inspire me to be the best fan I can be. And of course, I give them unconditional love. Er, I just can't quit them!
It took me a long time (as you can see from the archives) to come back here. I tend to post when I feel like I have something to say - when the Angels give me something to say, to feel. And the past month or so, I've been sifting through how I feel about the FO and this season.
21 January 2011
confusion, derision
I was obviously disappointed when CC signed with the BoSox.
I was obviously frustrated when Beltre signed with the Rangers.
But I am completely out of my mind now that the Angels have acquired Vernon Wells.
(No disrespect to Wells. It's not his fault that the FO got swindled.)
I'd say that I'm pretty even-kneeled when it comes to criticizing the FO. There's no doubt that I was skeptical about their offseason moves, but I generally give them the benefit of the doubt. But then again, the FO isn't known to do such epically inexplicible things that even I, a common observant baseball fan, know is foolish.
Napoli and Rivera are useful pieces, to a degree. I'm not a particularly big fan of either. I know that Naps is getting expensive and that Rivera is moderately priced. I know that Vernon Wells is a useful piece. He had some good years before a string of bad years, but he rebounded nicely last year. Oh, the asterisk? He's massively overpaid to the tune of $86/4Yrs remaining - widely regarded as one of the most unmovable contracts in baseball.
I had a bad morning and well, just had a feeling that some Angels trade news was waiting for me at home. I was thinking that Tony traded for someone to upgrade the LF situation. So I was excited to hear that Naps was being traded. I was even optimistic when it was revealed that Wells was the one coming to Anaheim. I could have accepted a trade that brought cash along with Wells, to offset his ridiculous contract. But its unbelievable that the FO would bring in that contract without any compensation. The Angels FO is doing the Jays and AA a very big SOLID by not only bailing them out, but by paying them Naps and Rivera! I don't see the reason, Tony, I don't!
I was obviously frustrated when Beltre signed with the Rangers.
But I am completely out of my mind now that the Angels have acquired Vernon Wells.
(No disrespect to Wells. It's not his fault that the FO got swindled.)
I'd say that I'm pretty even-kneeled when it comes to criticizing the FO. There's no doubt that I was skeptical about their offseason moves, but I generally give them the benefit of the doubt. But then again, the FO isn't known to do such epically inexplicible things that even I, a common observant baseball fan, know is foolish.
Napoli and Rivera are useful pieces, to a degree. I'm not a particularly big fan of either. I know that Naps is getting expensive and that Rivera is moderately priced. I know that Vernon Wells is a useful piece. He had some good years before a string of bad years, but he rebounded nicely last year. Oh, the asterisk? He's massively overpaid to the tune of $86/4Yrs remaining - widely regarded as one of the most unmovable contracts in baseball.
I had a bad morning and well, just had a feeling that some Angels trade news was waiting for me at home. I was thinking that Tony traded for someone to upgrade the LF situation. So I was excited to hear that Naps was being traded. I was even optimistic when it was revealed that Wells was the one coming to Anaheim. I could have accepted a trade that brought cash along with Wells, to offset his ridiculous contract. But its unbelievable that the FO would bring in that contract without any compensation. The Angels FO is doing the Jays and AA a very big SOLID by not only bailing them out, but by paying them Naps and Rivera! I don't see the reason, Tony, I don't!
04 January 2011
beltre to the rangers
Everywhere is reporting that Texas and Beltre are on the cusp of a deal.
Damn it.
Really, the Angels' offseason is a stinker.
Okay FO, now what?
Damn it.
Really, the Angels' offseason is a stinker.
Okay FO, now what?
