Santana Has A Good Outing

Like many Angels fans, I've done a lot of Ervin Santana bashing this year. So I feel obligated to comment when he has a good performance in the minors.

Like tonight - 7 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 10 strikeouts and 1 walk. No decision as the Bees lost 8-4 to Round Rock.

Unfortunately, Santana is still very inconsistent. He has had 4 starts in the minors with 2 being good and 2 being bad.

Here's a look at Santana's 4 minor league starts this year.

Date    OPP  W L   IP  H ER BB SO
Jul 22 @SAC  0 1  7.0  2  1  3  6
Jul 27  OMA  0 0  6.1 11  6  2  4
Aug 01 @ALB  1 0  6.0 13  6  1  7
Aug 06 @ROU  0 0  7.0  6  2  1 10
Totals       1 1 26.1 32 15  7 27

Santana's era is 5.13. And it bears pointing out that Joe Saunders (5-0, 3.10 era with the Angels this season) was 4-7 with a 5.11 era at Salt Lake this season.

The four Salt Lake runs tonight came on two Brandon Wood home runs - a solo shot in the 6th inning and a 3-run blast in the 8th inning. Wood finished with 3 hits for the second straight game.

Moreno: "I made a mistake, and opened my mouth."

Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times published a good interview/article with Angels owner Arte Moreno in yesterday's paper. Since many Angels fans don't read the Times, I thought I'd pass the link on.

Topics include Mark Teixeira, Bill Stoneman, Moreno's thoughts on trades and signings and, of course, an apology for opening his mouth.

Shields Struggles In Oakland?

During the game tonight, the announcers pointed out that Scot Shields is now 0-7 at McAfee Coliseum in his career. He has 3 or fewer losses in every other road stadium in baseball. And only 12 losses in his entire career at home. So why the struggles in Oakland?

Stats before tonight:
                   g  w-l     ip hr   era  baa
Career in Oakland  18  0-6   28.1  6  4.13 .219
Career at home    177 26-12 293.1 13  2.39 .216
Career away       165 12-20 256.0 27  3.16 .230


His big problem in Oakland is he gives up the long ball. In 29 innings, he has given up 6 home runs (1 every 4.8 innings). Compare that to his home numbers where he has surrendered 13 career home runs in 293.1 innings (1 every 22.6 innings).

His era isn't that bad - 4.13 and his batting average against is .219 which is a bit lower than his career baa of .223.

Because of the 7 losses, some people might say that Scioscia shouldn't use Shields in Oakland, but I disagree. There's no reason to think that Shields can't pitch there. (Unlike Boston where I'd keep him out of every game. Blog) Last year he made 5 appearances in Oakland (6 ip) and was 0-1. In those 6 innings, he struck out 9, walked 1 and allowed only two hits. Great numbers. Unfortunately, one of the two hits was a 2-run home run which resulted in a loss.

The majority of the home runs Shields has allowed came in one game. On September 11, 2003, Shields started the game for the Angels. He lasted only 4 innings and allowed 7 runs (4 earned) and gave up 4 home runs. So if you take this game away from his statistics, his stats look different.

Stats At Oak. as reliever (not including tonight)
                   g  w-l     ip hr   era  baa
Career in Oakland  17  0-5   24.1  2  2.22 .209

So it turns out that one bad game in 2003 has caused most of the damage to his stat line. If you're curious to how far the Angels have come since that day, here's their starting line up that day. (Link to Box Score)

c Jose Molina (replaced by Tom Gregorio)
1b Scott Spiezio (replaced by Robb Quinlan)
2b Adam Kennedy (replaced by Trent Durrington)
ss Alfredo Amezaga
3b Wilson Delgado
lf Adam Riggs
cf Chone Figgins
rf Eric Owens (replaced by Barry Wesson)

Keep pitching Shields, today was just one bad outing for him.

Down On The Farm 8-2-07

News & Notes from the Angels Farm System

AAA - Salt Lake
The Bees are riding a four game winning streak and are tied for first place with the Sacramento River Cats. Ervin Santana had another poor outing (6 ip, 6 er, 13 h) but the Bees still won thanks to 6 rbi from catcher Booby Wilson and 3 hits from Terry Evans who fell a homer shy of the cycle. Erick Aybar is in a rehab assignment with the Bees and is 3-for-8 in two games. Last Monday, Pedro Liriano and three relievers combined for the Bees first shutout of the season, a 1-0 victory over Iowa.

AA - Arkansas
The Travelers are 21-18, 2 games behind Springfield in the Texas League North Division. After winning 10 straight from July 17-27, the Travs then dropped 4 in a row before winning today.

A - Rancho Cucamonga
The Quakes (20-21) are in 4th place, 5 games behind Lancaster. On Monday, Alex McRobbie and two relievers combined to shutout Stockton 7-0.

Player        Pos Age Lg   H/AB   AVG  OPS MISC
Terry Evans     OF 25 AAA 122/380 .321 .877 20-sb
Tommy Murphy    OF 27 AAA  49/199 .246 .661 11-sb
Kendry Morales  1B 23 AAA  56/187 .299 .713 21-rbi
Matthew Brown   IF 24 AAA  94/341 .276 .863 16-hr
Brandon Wood    3B 22 AAA  84/327 .257 .804 16-hr
Jeff Mathis     C  24 AAA  61/250 .244 .671 26-rbi
Nick Gorneault  OF 28 AAA  90/373 .241 .729 13-hr
Ryan Budde      C  27 AAA  46/156 .295 .816 4-hr
Bobby Wilson    C  24 AAA  17/53  .357 .904 12-rbi
Sean Rodriguez  SS 22 AA  101/406 .249 .738 12-hr
Bradley Coon    OF 24 AA   35/121 .289 .718 13-sb
Freddy Sandoval 3B 24 AA  116/375 .309 .875 10-hr  
Chris Pettit    OF 22 A+   58/165 .352 1.041 9-hr
Hank Conger     C  19 A    70/236 .297  .828 9-hr

Player          Pos Age Lg   IP   W-L  ERA MISC
Joe Saunders     SP 25 AAA  86.1  4-7 5.11 84-k
Ervin Santana    SP 24 AAA  19.1  1-1 6.05 17-k
Greg Jones       RP 30 AAA  48.0  4-1 3.94 36-k
Jason Bulger     RP 28 AAA  43.2  4.2 3.92 71-k
Kasey Olenberger SP 29 AAA 145.0  9-5 4.66 95-k
Marcus Gwyn      RP 30 AAA  45.1  1-0 2.78 13-sv
Steven Shell     RP 24 AAA  47.2  4-3 5.66 37-k
Chris Resop      RP 24 AAA  45.1  1-3 4.57 39-k
Matt Wilhite     RP 26 AAA  61.2  3-3 3.50 33-k
Rich Thompson    RP 23 AAA  13.0  1-0 0.69 17-k
Nick Adenhart    SP 20 AA  120.2  8-4 3.28 86-k
Jose Arredondo   RP 23 A    48.0  1-3 4.50 52-k  
Nick Green       SP 22 AA  140.1  8-6 3.91 2-cg
Darren O'Day     RP 24 AA   41.0  5-2 1.98 36-k
Brok Butcher     SP 23 AA   20.0  1-1 5.40 4-gs  
Stephen Marek    SP 23 A+   97.0  5-8 5.29 77-k
Tim Schoeninger  SP 22 A+   35.2  5-1 6.56 31-k
Douglas Brandt   SP 22 A+   25.1  1-0 4.26 25-k
Sean O'Sullivan  SP 19 A   115.2  6-6 2.57 98-k

Mathis starting to come around.

Jeff Mathis has had what many in the Orange County area would consider a very good week.

And when you say it is Mathis that is having that week it is just all the more impressive.

His ability to handle the everyday catching duties in the wake of Mike Napoli's hamstring injury have been alleviated by the way Mathis has handled the pitching staff in the last week since he assumed the starting job.

Mathis had a four-game hitting streak before Wednesday in which he raised his average from .095 to .250. Mathis also caught the Angels' first consecutive complete games in more than 14 years earlier this week - a feat some would not think possible a month ago when Mathis was still the starting catcher for Salt Lake.

"Jeff's feeling much more comfortable with everything about catching, both his pitch selection and his rapport with the pitchers," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think he's much more confident and comfortable right now, and I think it's translated into him catching good ballgames and it's reflected on some good performances by our pitchers."

Scioscia said Ryan Budde probably would get one start during the four-game series in Oakland that begins tonight. Budde has caught both Mosley and Saunders while in AAA so a start tonight or Friday is a real possibility.

Angels Farm System #1

Minor League News recently released their 4th annual Fab50 Baseball Rankings and proclaimed the Angels as the Farm System Of The Year.

MLN ranked 4 Angels prospects among the Top 50 - 3rd Baseman Brandon Wood (11th), Pitcher Nick Adenhart (20th), outfielder Terry Evans (28th) and pitcher Nick Green (42nd).

So basically we have good players in the minors who we can dangle in front of other teams yet never trade them.

For comparison here's a look back at Baseball America's Top Angels Prospects to start the year.

1. Brandon Wood, ss
2. Nick Adenhart, rhp
3. Erick Aybar, ss
4. Young-Il Jung, rhp
5. Stephen Marek, rhp
6. Hank Conger, c
7. Jeff Mathis, c
8. Sean Rodriguez, ss/2b
9. Sean O'Sullivan, rhp
10. Tommy Mendoza, rhp

Ex-Angels Report 8/1/2007

Notes & Stats from Ex-Angels in the Major Leagues

• Jose Molina made his Yankees debut last Thursday in a 7-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Molina went 2-for-4 with one double.
  
• Jose Guillen hit .340 in the month of July.
• Adam Kennedy had his best month as a Cardinal in July. He hit .269. He hit .172 in June, .229 in May and .229 in April.
• Josh Paul is back with the Devil Rays after spending two months on the DL with a left elbow injury. He homered in his first game back against Boston on Saturday.
• Hector Carrasco was signed to a minor league contract by the Washington Nationals. In 5 appearances at AAA Columbus, he has a 2.70 era in 6.2 innings pitched.
• Royal reliever Joel Peralta picked up a 3-inning save on Sunday in their 10-0 victory over Texas. It was his first save this season and the 2nd save of his career.
• Bobby Jenks has gone six straight appearances (6 ip) without allowing a base runner.
• Shea Hillenbrand and Steve Finley still remain without a team.

EX-ANGEL         TEAM  AB   R HR RBI  BB  SO   AVG   OPS
Troy Glaus        TOR 277  44 15  49  37  63  .267  .847
Jose Molina       NYY   6   0  0   0   0   0  .333  .833
Jose Guillen      SEA 362  53 13  62  29  72  .282  .792
Scott Spiezio     STL 173  26  3  27  20  32  .283  .785
Damion Easley     NYM 169  19  8  22  14  29  .266  .776
David Eckstein    STL 247  33  2  15  11  12  .304  .719
Bengie Molina     SF  332  21 10  53   9  35  .271  .704
Alfredo Amezaga   FLA 326  37  2  24  25  41  .270  .689
Jim Edmonds       STL 221  23  7  26  24  46  .226  .663
Darin Erstad      CWS 182  21  2  21  13  23  .264  .652
Orlando Palmeiro  HOU  76  10  0   5  10   6  .250  .634
Adam Kennedy      STL 250  23  2  17  21  27  .224  .580
Josh Paul         TB   55   5  1   6   4  14  .236  .579
Sal Fasano        TOR  45   5  1   4   2  19  .178  .540
Alberto Callaspo  ARI 126   9  0   5   8  11  .206  .511
Jeff DaVanon      ARI  21   3  0   0   4   5  .143  .498
Steve Finley      COL  94   9  1   2   8   4  .181  .490

EX-ANGEL         TEAM  G  W-L  SV   IP   BB   K   ERA   BAA
J.C. Romero       PHI 14  0-0   0   7.2   8  10  1.17  .179
Russ Springer     STL 48  5-1   0  39.0  15  46  2.77  .193
Brendan Donnelly  BOS 27  2-1   0  20.2   5  15  3.05  .235
Matt Wise         MIL 42  3-1   1  44.2  10  32  3.22  .238
Kevin Gregg       FLA 51  0-4  21  58.0  28  56  3.26  .203
Bobby Jenks       CWS 47  3-4  30  45.1  12  41  3.38  .220
Joel Peralta      KC  41  1-2   1  66.0  13  56  3.41  .255
Aaron Sele        NYM 21  3-0   0  35.2  18  22  4.04  .309
Jarrod Washburn   SEA 21  8-7   0 129.1  42  69  4.11  .272
Derrick Turnbow   MIL 52  2-4   1  46.0  22  58  4.30  .207
Paul Byrd         CLE 19  9-4   0 120.2  13  60  4.40  .301
Gary Glover       TB  42  4-3   2  54.0  18  35  5.00  .282
Ramon Ortiz       MIN 23  3-4   0  83.2  14  38  5.27  .299
Scott Schoeneweis NYM 45  0-2   0  38.2  24  26  5.59  .284
Jake Woods        SEA  4  0-0   0  10.2   7   4  5.91  .220
Jeff Weaver       SEA 15  2-9   0  80.0  21  43  5.96  .314
Bret Prinz        CWS  4  0-0   0   3.1   2   1  8.10  .286