Rosenthal: Angels Looking Into Holliday

The Rays already have an All Star LFer and I don't think ole Matt Holliday would be very happy with a position change

"...I don't think ole Matt Holliday would be very happy with a position change."

Do you know Matt?

What makes you believe he wouldn't shift from left to right while going from one of the worst teams to one of the best?

"They aren't benching Kendrick."

Never said to bench Kendrick.

I said, "They could use Kendrick as a piece in the trade."

Why would a team want a 38-year old outfielder that makes $8.5MIL and is hitting .240?

Kendrick has hit his ceiling? The guy has barely a full year of pro ball under his belt. He is coming off an injury and has taken some time to right the ship. He will be a 330+ hitter with 15HR capability. You don't trade a player like him to solve a short term problem.

I would rather see the Angels go after Tejada. They can give Houston Aybar and Willits/Rivera. If they are set on adding an outfielder then look at Giles or C. Lee. You can probably acquire both with little cost in terms of trading pieces. Both players should be salary dumps at this point (especially Lee who is owed almost $80m over the next 4 years).

Not sure what bjsguess is smoking, but whay would the Angels want to add Giles and Carlos Lee to an already crowded outfield, and take on another 80 million in salary???

Lee would be VERY costly in players going back to Houston, I can see Giles for Willits as a possiblilty, but how many overpaid outfielders do the Angels need??

No reason to trade Kendricks.

Ease up on the hippy lettuce.

"Joe Crede is one of the very best defensive third basemen in the game. Figgins is not. Crede can provide power to a power-starved team. Figgins can not. And as you say, Figgins' value is in his versatility, so why pigeon-hole him at 3B?"

Crede is on pace for 30 errors and you call him one of the best defensive third basemen in the game? Meanwhile, Figgins is on pace for a grand total of 3. Crede has a slightly higher Range Factor, though that is heavily skewed by Chicago's ground ball heavy rotation. Figgins has a better arm, is quick and has never played full time to develop his natural ability. Further, Figgins is a perfect player for the style Scioscia preaches, in a big park where home run numbers are naturally depressed anyway. Additionally, do you really think Crede provides the same power at Angel Stadium that he does at New Comiskey? Not a chance in the world.

"Kendrick is a nice player, and makes amazingly consistent contact. However, he's going to have a really hard time hitting .300 with his utter lack of plate discipline."

That is something that comes with time. Further, have you ever looked at Ichiro's numbers? 49 is the most walks he has ever had in a season. If you make contact, who cares if you walk?

"Oh, and did you really compare Kendrick to a Hall of Famer considered by some to be the greatest hitter ever, but with more power?!?!"

Not yet, but that is where his potential lies.

"Not only does Erick Aybar not have more power upside than Rafael Furcal"

Really? Have you checked out their minor league numbers? I didn't say Aybar was there yet, I said his potential was better.

"Aybar is 24, has played in 166 games (425 ABs) and has career totals of 22 extra-base hits, 10 steals, and a ghastly .285 OBP. Maybe you're looking at different stats?"

And how many of those games were played as a sub or coming off an injury?

Perhaps you should actually watch the guy play.

I also would put pete rose and Tycobbs name on there forehead,
And Howie is a great hitter and i dont know how you say he will have trouble hitting .300 he has over come wrist problems and still hit over .300 and there are alot of great hitters who dont walk but just hit like he is supposed to

see this is why most Angels fans are full of bs. Saying Figgins is a better than Crede isn't even the most asinine thing in this topic, that award goes to Aybar>Furcal. Furcal is so much better, it isn't even close. At least you can make a shade of an argument for Crede

Well Angels fans it's because Furcal and Crede are better players. Do you know how stupid that makes you look and how badly you represent your team and fans?

Kendrick hit .360+ through the minor leagues with essentially the same contact rate. He can rake. He just needs to stay healthy and stay on the field

As for Crede & Figgins... they're entirely different kinds of players. Figgins speed make him a much better fit for the Angels style of play, and his improved defense at 3B makes the comparison to Crede a much closer call. Figgins versatility, which has historically increased his value, also had to contribute to his defensive struggles. With a singular focus on one position, his defense has improved dramatically.

Ahhh yes, nothing says “everyone would want Crede” like no one wanting Crede three months ago… When a SanFran team without a single positive option to use at 3B is the only team willing to even offer a salary-dump and B-prospect package, you know how unwanted you really are…

Anyway, the Angels single biggest problem is having players get on base ~ removing Figgins and replacing him with Crede would be one of the stupidest things the Angels could ever do…

"No-one considers Tony Gwynn the greatest hitter ever. If you can find one please tell me where they are, because I would like to tattoo Ted Williams stats on their forehead, choke them out with a Bonds jersey, and put out lit cigarettes on their forearms until they can tell me everyone ahead of Gwynn on the all time hits list."

Settle down man. I think it's Williams as well, but remember Gwynn won eight batting titles, and he most likely did so PED free. He also played in an integrated era of baseball. Google "greatest hitter ever" and Gwynn's name comes up on the first page. It's also not a ridiculous argument.

Oh, and I meant Tony Sr., not Jr. Does that help?

" discussing the Angels trying to pick up an OF"

Was supposed to be an overrated expensive OF.

Just hit refresh and Gwynn's name did popup. Though it was a link to a blog stating that listing him as the greatest hitter ever, is ridiculous.

"The one that caught my eye was "Best Hitter: Tony Gwynn." Now, I'm not someone to knock Gwynn because I loved watching him play, but best hitter? Come on, now. He's not even the best hitter of his era. I don't know what they were thinking..."

"Why in the world would you rather have Chone Figgans over Joe Crede. Crede is flat out a better offensive and defensive player, Crede should have a gold glove maybe even more than 1 but AA is trying to say Chone Figgans is a better player"

You are insane. One, Figgins' defensive numbers are better overall this year than Crede, and this is his first truly full year at third (and he still played 7 games at second). Their range factors are similar, despite Crede having more of a ground ball staff, while Figgins is making FAR fewer errors. Physically, Figgins has the better arm and is much, much quicker and faster.

As for offense, the only thing Crede has on Figgins is power. Figgins is faster, hits better for average, gets on base more...

All that, and Figgins can play 7 positions while Crede can maybe play 2.

"I mean, shouldn't Dallas McPherson be playing at third with Brandon Wood at short?"

Um, what? McPherson missed all of last year after back surgery and never performed when given the chance at the ML level. The Angels had no choice but to let him go because of how long they kept him around waiting. As for Wood, he got his chance as well this year with Figgins and Kendrick out. He hit 1 HR and 1 2B with an average under .170. All that, and the Angels just made the A's look bad again and are 5 games clear.

"When you mention errors, you should probably also mention the fact that Crede has been involved in twice as many plays this season."

Did you even bother looking at Figgins numbers? Probably not. I said 3 as opposed to 2 because Figgins has played more than half the Angels games this year and 44 of those at third. His RF is but .05 lower than Crede's despite the fact that he is 6 inches (or more) shorter.

"Looking at Kendrick's minor league numbers, he's not shown any progression in drawing walks, and it's certainly not something Scioscia or Hatcher preaches."

Oh really? Hatcher has always preached an aggressive style at the plate, relying on hits and speed to get on base much more than walks.

"The thing about Gwynn was that he rarely struck out, unlike Kendrick."

You claim to have seen Kendrick's minor league numbers, yet claim he struck out a ton, which is plainly untrue. He has K'd more in the majors, though that will indeed drop as he makes more consistent contact, as if he isn't already. Plus, Kendrick has much, much more power potential than Gwynn, which means he will likely K more.

"Also, Ichiro's is an excellent fielder and baserunner, and those two attributes help make up for his allergy to walks. Kendrick is neither."

Ichiro hits lead off and is asked to steal more. Kendrick has plenty of speed, it is really a question of him being asked to use it. Further, have you seen his defensive numbers in the minors? Huge range factors and respectable error rates. Same this year in the majors.

"However, the Angels need an offensive upgrade now."

Why? Anderson's bat is heating up and the Angels are finally healthy. Oh, and they are 5 games ahead

Anyone saying that Kendrick is "a nice little player" who has "probably reached his ceiling" PROBABLY needs to just stop posting here entirely.

You're all so fixated on the Gwynn parallel that was drawn that you've forgotten the amazing accolades poured upon Kendrick for the last 5 or so years. His CAREER minor league average is .359. He hit over .320 in the majors last year, despite constant injuries and bounce backs from them. His hitting .330 so far this year. And now, someone has the audacity to come into a discussion and say "he'll have trouble hitting .300?"

Are you INSANE? He's never hit below .300 at any level in his LIFE, save for a small sample in the majors in '06 (.285). Now you claim he won't do it because he's not drawing enough walks? Since when do you need to draw a ton of walks to hit for AVERAGE? Gwynn drew about 40 walks a year, and so does Ichiro. Sure, it'll hurt Howie's OBP, but it won't mean anything in regards to average.

Anyone following Baseball America, or even loosely familiar with minor league baseball knows that Kendrick is one of the most highly regarded prospects in all of baseball over the last several years, and saying he's reached his ceiling after 2 injury-filled years to start a career (and he's only 24) is to basically flat-out admit that you've never followed baseball a day in your life.