Archive for Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have already made one big move this week, acquiring Chris Iannetta from the Rockies to hopefully solve their offensive woes at catcher. Now, they have been tied to free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez. A Ramirez signing would give them a glut of infielders with him, Alberto Callaspo, Maicer Izturis, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Mark Trumbo and a healthy Kendrys Morales all established as MLB players. With Kendrick establishing himself as a premiere second baseman, the odd man out would probably be Callaspo. Let’s take a quick look to see if swapping out Callaspo could help turn the Angels into a legitimate post-season contender.

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Communication between battery mates is crucial to a team‘s success, and that extends to the relationship between a catcher and a pitching coach. It is especially true with the Angels, where manager Mike Scioscia is as demanding as any when it comes to his backstops and pitching staff.

Mike Butcher is in his fifth season tutoring Halos hurlers. Hank Conger is the club’s catcher of the future — and sometimes present — having seen action behind the plate in 51 games this season. The duo talked about how their jobs intertwine earlier this summer.

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David Laurila: How important is the relationship between a catcher and a pitching coach?

Hank Conger: It’s huge. They teach us that as soon as we sign. It’s important for Butch [Mike Butcher] and me to be on the same page, as well as all of the starters and relievers. It makes everything more functional and I definitely pick his brain as much as possible.

DL: How similar are your jobs when it comes to communication?

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There was something oddly fitting about both a statue of Bud Selig being unveiled and the final set of leaked MLB financial documents becoming public on Tuesday. Selig has said on more than one occasion that we’re witnessing the “Golden Era” of baseball, citing the economic windfall that has come to the league over the last decade. Revenue-sharing, a pride and joy of Selig’s, is at the center of the largest public release of club financial documents – leaked to Deadspin – that include the Pirates, Rays, Mariners, Marlins, Angels, and Rangers (see them all here).

In July of 2000, with the league claiming projected losses of $232 million for the 2001 season, Selig came before Congress with his Blue Ribbon Panel on Baseball Economics report, which at its heart states, “Proper competitive balance will not exist until every well-run club has a regularly recurring reasonable hope of reaching postseason play.” The report then went on to say that, “The limited revenue sharing and payroll tax that were approved as part of MLB’s 1996 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association have produced neither the intended moderating of payroll disparities nor improved competitive balance. Some low-revenue clubs, believing the amount of their proceeds from revenue sharing insufficient to enable them to become competitive, used those proceeds to become modestly profitable.”

So, with each Collective Bargaining Agreement since, revenue-sharing has been increased, funneling money from the haves to the have-nots of the league in order to gain competitive balance. In 2009, $433 million in revenue-sharing moved from high-revenue clubs to those in need of assistance.

Along the way, sizable increases in the amount of “central revenue” has found its way into club coffers. The growth of national television money from ESPN, FOX Sports, and TBS which total approx. $660 million a year in rights fees funnel back to each of the 30 clubs. Add in annual dividend checks from MLB Advanced Media of $2 million, revenues from MLB Properties, international broadcast agreements, etc.,  and all clubs, large revenue-making, or not, have found extra money that can be used to help produce a winning product on the diamond.

Still, the field would remain unlevel without revenue-sharing tied to net local revenues, so with the leaked Deadspin docs having three clubs (the Pirates, Marlins, and Rays) that have received considerable amounts via the revenue-sharing system, the documents provide ammunition for clubs such as the Yankees and Red Sox when collective bargaining begins in earnest shortly after the World Series ends.

Parsing the documents, here’s how much revenue-sharing was either received or paid out for a given year:

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The Graduate: Jose Arredondo | Born: March 1984 | Right-Handed Pitcher

Jose Arredondo has always had a great arm, but he was inconsistent throughout his minor league career, especially as a starting pitcher. Once the Angels moved him to the bullpen full-time, however, Arredondo flourished. In 2008, the right-hander won 10 games out of the bullpen for the Angels and posted a 1.62 ERA. He allowed 42 hits in 61 innings and posted rates of 3.25 BB/9 and 8.11 K/9. Arredondo also allowed just three homers and should be in line for even more important work in 2009, especially if Francisco Rodriguez flies the coup.

The Riser: Mark Trumbo | Born: January 1986 | First Baseman

Mark Trumbo, 21, took full benefit of his hitting environment in 2008 and posted career numbers. The former two-way player slugged 26 homers in 407 at-bats in the hitter’s haven in Rancho Cucamonga (California League) and posted an ISO of .270. He then maintained his power reasonably well upon his promotion to Double-A where he posted an ISO of .220 in 32 games. Trumbo probably won’t hit for a high average at the Major League level but he is well on his way to displaying average to above-average power for a first baseman. After making 22 errors at first base in 2008, Trumbo is likely a future designated hitter.

The Tumbler: Nick Adenhart | Born: August 1986 | Right-Handed Pitcher

Rushed to the Majors in 2008, Nick Adenhart imploded. He lacked the necessary command or confidence to survive at the Major League level and he took his struggles back to Triple-A with him upon his demotion. Overall on the year, Adenhart allowed 173 hits in 145.1 Triple-A innings and posted rates of 4.64 BB/9 and 6.81 K/9. In 12 Major League innings, Adenhart allowed 18 hits and 13 walks. He will spend most of 2009 in Triple-A again, trying to regain his composure while also working on consistency and command.

The ’08 Draft Pick: Tyler Chatwood | Born: December 1989 | Right-Handed Pitcher

The Angels lacked a first round draft pick in 2008 but the organization was thrilled to nab Tyler Chatwood in the second round (74th overall). Committed to UCLA, the Angels gave Chatwood half a million dollars to forgo a college career and he had some success in his first pro season despite his young age. He posted a strikeout rate of 11.37 K/9 in Rookie Ball, but also had a hideous rate of 8.53 BB/9. When he got the ball over the plate, Chatwood was tough to hit, as he allowed just 25 hits in 38 innings. He has a lot of work to do, but the right-hander is extremely promising.

The ’09 Sleeper: P.J. Phillips | Born: September 1986 | Infielder

The brother of Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips, P.J. Phillips has struggled in his minor league career due to a lack of patience coupled with too many strikeouts. The youngster made strides in 2008, although there is still work to be done to take full advantage of his athleticism and raw power potential. He “improved” his walk rate from 3.3% in 2007 to 4.7 BB% in 2008 and lowered his strikeout rate from 35.3% to 25.8%. P.J. also utilized his speed to slug 11 triples and steal 35 bases. Double-A will be a huge test for him in 2009.

Next Up: The Philadelphia Phillies