INSIDE PITCH
Despite winning six more games in 2011 than they did a year earlier, the Angels missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2000-01—Mike Scioscia’s first two seasons as manager.
In the end, the outstanding pitching provided at the front of the starting rotation by Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana was not enough to hide the shortcomings of an offense that produced just 667 runs, lower even than last year’s total (when they scored 200 runs fewer than the previous season) and the lowest for the Angels in a full season since 1992. The Angels were held to three runs or less 75xxx times in 2011, two runs or less 50xxx times.
Those kind of numbers do not bode well for the Angels’ hopes of bridging the 10-game divide between them and the two-time division champion Rangers, third in the majors in runs scored.
“They’re going to be good,” manager Mike Scioscia said of chasing the Rangers. “I don’t know what their roster is going to be next year. But they have control of a lot of players and a lot of young talent that’s come up.
“We are close but there is a separation there we have to bridge and that’s going to have to be done two-fold—first with some guys that are here having to perform a little better next year than they did this year and in some ways we’re going to have to go outside the organization.”
The Angels can hope for continued growth from young players like Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos and look forward to the return of Kendrys Morales—but can’t make the mistake of counting on his comeback as they did this spring. Their best hitter in 2009 when he batted .306 with 34 home runs and 108 RBI, Morales has not played since fracturing his left ankle on May 29, 2010. He is currently recovering from a second surgery on that ankle.
A bounce-back year is essential from this year’s biggest acquisition, OF Vernon Wells, because the Angels have boxed themselves in with big contracts. That leaves limited flexibility (roster-wise) to address the offensive shortcomings with a big move this offseason.
“I love the nucleus of this club,” Scioscia said. “I love the youth. I love the veterans on this club. I still think we’re championship-caliber with some depth added in key areas.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• 2B Howie Kendrick was not in the starting lineup for the season finale after spraining his left wrist on a play the night before. But the injury was not considered significant and Kendrick should be fine with a couple days of rest.
• 1B Kendrys Morales rejoined the Angels for the final series of the season. It was the first time Morales had been with the team since he underwent a second surgery on his left ankle in May. Morales had not played since fracturing his ankle on May 29, 2010 but said he was “feeling a lot of improvement” since the second surgery dealt with loose cartilage in the joint and performed a bone graft.
• OF Mike Trout went 2-for-4 in the final game of the season, finishing with 123 at-bats in the major leagues this season. He will retain rookie status in 2012 (130 at-bats is the cutoff). Trout was scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League.
• RHP Jordan Walden finished the season with a club rookie-record 32 saves and tied RHP Troy Percival for the fourth-most appearances by a rookie in club history (62). The Angels fell one home run short of being the first major league team with a 30-save rookie and a 30-home run rookie in the same season. Rookie 1B Mark Trumbo finished with 29 home runs.
• SS Erick Aybar rebounded from a poor 2010 to hit .279 with a career-high 10 home runs and 59 RBI and 30 stolen bases (a club record for a shortstop). He is scheduled to play on a team of MLB All-Stars in a series of exhibitions against the Chinese Taipei national team in Taiwan Nov. 2-6.
By The Numbers: $98 million—Approximate salary the Angels have committed to nine players already signed for 2012 (Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells, Maicer Izturis, Jered Weaver, Hisanori Takahashi, Bobby Abreu, Ervin Santana, Dan Haren and Scott Downs).
Quote To Note: “It was a roller-coaster year for us. Tore us inside and out. It teased us. We need to turn the page on this and we need to get better. We do.”—Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
ROSTER REPORT
The Angels spent a club-record $142 million to finish 10 games behind the Rangers this season after a mismanaged offseason in which they failed to address their need for a hitter—and saddled themselves with OF Vernon Wells’ massive contract for the next three seasons. Their needs heading into this winter haven’t changed. They still have a team that leans heavily on its pitching with an offense incapable of matching those of the AL’s elite teams. There is still a vacancy at third base, no production from the catchers and a trio of expensive outfielders in their declining years. But the Angels have begun to incorporate youth into their roster over the past two years. Sixteen players have made their major league debut with the Angels over the past two seasons, including key performers like 1B Mark Trumbo, OF Peter Bourjos and RHP Jordan Walden. More good news—the Angels are finally out from under the ‘dead money’ from LHP Scott Kazmir and OF Gary Matthews Jr. (paid a combined $23 million in 2011).
Biggest Needs: Two issues dragged the Angels down repeatedly during the 2011 season and will have to be addressed in the offseason—a lack of depth in the bullpen and an offense that produced the franchise’s lowest run total for a full season since 1992. The Angels tied for the AL lead with 25 blown saves in 2011 and will look to beef up a bullpen that boiled down to LHP Scott Downs and rookie closer Jordan Walden. Acquiring a veteran closer and moving Walden (32 saves) into a setup role is not out of the question. Solving the offensive issues might be more difficult. The Angels have limited flexibility with a trio of expensive veteran outfielders (Vernon Wells, Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter), Mark Trumbo at first base and the question of Kendrys Morales’ comeback lingering.
Free Agents: RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Joel Pineiro, 1B Russell Branyan.
The Angels will be glad to shed themselves of Rodney, who started 2011 as their closer. The Angels quickly realized that was a mistake and Rodney stumbled through a poor season. Pineiro gave the Angels quality starts at times during two injury-marred seasons and is not likely to be re-signed. Branyan was an in-season pickup who contributed little.
Arbitration-eligible: IF Howie Kendrick, SS Erick Aybar, 1B Kendrys Morales, IF Alberto Callaspo, C Jeff Mathis, OF Reggie Willits, RHP Matt Palmer, RHP Jason Bulger.
Kendrick and Aybar are in line for pay raises after solid seasons in 2011. Morales and Callaspo will be re-signed. But the rest of the players on this list are candidates to be non-tendered, with Mathis the only questionable case in that group. Though the Angels value his defense, Mathis has proven to be as feeble a hitter as any in baseball.
In Limbo: The Angels would love to get out from under the $9 million option year in Bobby Abreu’s contract and clear the DH spot for Morales’ return. On the heels of two declining seasons, that is highly unlikely. The complete lack of offensive production from the catching position could mean changes in that group (Jeff Mathis, Bobby Wilson, Hank Conger).
Medical Watch:
• 1B Kendrys Morales has not played since fracturing his left ankle on May 29, 2010. He had a second surgery on the ankle in May of this year and the Angels are hopeful that addressed lingering issues that prevented Morales from playing in 2011.