Rockie Horror

Kind of a rocky outing for a couple Halo pitchers yesterday (pun intended) against Colorado.  John Lackey gave up 3 runs in the first on a home run by Ian Stewart.  Lackey gave up 4 hits and walked a couple batters while striking out just one.  In three games (9 innings), Lackey's allowed 5 runs on 8 hits.  The two walks yesterday were his first of this spring, so maybe the outing can be attributed to a "dead-arm" period most pitchers go through early in spring training as he seemed to settle down during the final 3 innings in yesterday's start.  Jordan Walden gave up his first two runs of the spring yesterday, but he's still done an okay job so far in his 6 innings of work.  Walden's probably slated to start the season at 2-A, but I think he has an outside shot of making the major league club if another starter goes down with an injury.  Last season at single-A Cedar Rapids he was outstanding, allowing just 80 hits in 107.1 innings, striking out 91 and showing good control.  Moving to Rancho Cucamonga later in the season, he gave up a few more walks, but overall did well.

Daily Notes:

• Howie Kendrick is kicking some ass.  And it's good to see.  I don't think there's been any doubt in his hitting abilities, it's just been a matter of him staying healthy to keep his bat in the line-up.  So far this spring Kendrick is hitting an even .500 (7 for 14) with a couple steals.  The steals are the nicest thing to see, showing he's not having any troubles with his fragile hamstrings.  If Kendrick can play at least 140 games this season, and continue hitting as he has in his brief major league career, it'd take much of the pressure off of some of the other young hitters (I'm looking at you Kendry Morales and Brandon Wood) to produce in the Angels' offense, especially if he's able to build on his doubles rate (38 / 500 AB).  An interesting observation I read somewhere was if Morales tanks at first base, Kendrick has played that position before.  In 2006, Kendrick started 42 games at first base, showing a RF of 9.20.  Although he doesn't have the typical power numbers you'd want to see from one of your corner infielders, briefly moving him over would allow the Angels to get Maicer Izturis or Sean Rodriquez into the line-up more frequently.  A healthy, hitting Howie would give the Angels some valuable options.
   
• We did an online chat with Orange County Register's columnist Sam Miller over at Halo's Heaven.  Sam's a good guy and knowledgeable Angels fan.  He's apparently not convinced as to Kendry Morales' ability to adequately man first base this season, as he suggested the Angels acquire Nick Swisher as a fallback option at first.  I like Swisher too, I don't think last season when he hit .219 with the White Sox is a typical season for him.  He'll never hit for a high average, but does have the ability to get on base while hitting a decent amount of home runs.  Kind of an "Adam Dunn-lite", but with better defense.  Also, in his column from yesterday, he points out a couple intriguing trade targets.  The most compelling is Jeff Neimann of the Rays.  He points out Neimann is out of options and really doesn't have a spot in the Tampa rotation.  When asked what it'd possible take to get him, Miller suggested a player such as Mark Trumbo.
   
• During the chat we were able to run a couple polls.  The first asked, "Should the Angels sign Pedro Martinez?"  Yes - 37%.  No - 63%.  Thought this was interesting as I'm of the opinion he wouldn't be a bad acquisition at the right price.  Another was, "Chone Figgins..."  Trade him for pitching - 56%.  Trade him for anything - 24%,  Keep him - 20%.  Eighty percent of the responses want to get rid of Figgins.  Many of the reasons were people feel he's blocking Brandon Wood and they feel Wood needs to play.  Finally, the last poll asked, "How many starts does Ervin Santana make in 2009?"  Zero - 0%.  Less than 10 - 7%.  Less than 20 - 40%.  More than 20 - 53%.  I'm hoping for #4 (more than 20 starts), but I think the Angels should be ready for #3 (less than 20 starts).
   
• Another Angels' starter is complaining of soreness.  Joe Saunders has a sore shoulder, but he states, "...it's just a little tightness. It's a matter of getting treatment and pitching through it. The more I throw, I'll work out the kinks." (LA Times).  If Saunders' soreness doesn't improve the Angels starting pitching depth will be severely depleted, as the only two starters remaining from last season's standout staff would be Lackey and Weaver with Dustin Moseley and Shane Loux filling out the backend of the rotation.

I'm involved in a live online chat at Beyond The Boxscore today (March 13th) at noon pacific time.  The chat is covering the AL West division and I'm supposedly the Angels "expert".  yeah, we'll see.  Check it out if you're around the internet during lunch time.