Baseball Guru
02-12-2002, 10:03 AM
SPRING CLEANING
1. Can Tim Salmon recover from a down year?
Salmon's 2001 woes -- 17 homers and 49 RBIs were virtually half of his averages for the previous eight seasons -- set the tone for the entire offense's collapse; his recovery could have the same effect on the upside.
2. Can David Eckstein reprise his rookie impact?
The 5-foot-8 pepperpot turned the chance afforded by a Spring Training injury (to incumbent second baseman Adam Kennedy) into an eye-opener. After batting .285 with 29 steals and padding his on-base percentage by getting hit with a league-leading 21 pitches, the Angels are counting on him as a leadoff weapon.
3. Does Scott Spiezio have the stamina to be an everyday player?
He ignited the offense upon becoming the regular first baseman in midseason (.318 with 9 homers and 28 RBIs in July-August) but wore down (.232-2-8 in September-October).
4. Can Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Mike Holtz be replaced?
The Angels have taken a risk by letting go of both their right- and left-handed set-up men, who toiled a combined total of 558 games the last five seasons, a big load to account for.
5. Will the development of the rotation's Big Three continue?
Ramon Ortiz, Scott Schoeneweis and Jarrod Washburn went from 22 wins in 2000 to 34 last season; a similar improvement will make the Angels every-day tough.
NEW FACES
1B-DH Brad Fullmer -- The former Blue Jay gives the Angels the fulltime DH they have lacked for years; a major upgrade over the 15 different DHs who combined to hit .212 with eight homers and 56 RBIs last season.
RHP Aaron Sele -- A shrewd signing, not only giving the Angels a solid ace but taking one out of Seattle's deck; his 15 wins last season haven't been matched in Anaheim since 1996.
RHP Kevin Appier -- Another solid veteran addition to the rotation who ranked in the NL's Top 15 with his ERA of 3.57.
LHP Dennis Cook -- The well-traveled veteran gets first crack at being Mike Scioscia's spot left-hander out of the bullpen; a workhorse who has averaged 66 appearances over the last six seasons.
RHP Mickey Callaway -- A big winner in the Devil Rays' system, the 26-year-old righty is looking for an opportunity to validate his minor-league promise.
LONG GONE
1B Mo Vaughn -- "Thanks for stopping by" could have been the Angels' farewell to him; he stayed for half of the six-year, $80 million free-agent contract he signed prior to the 1999 season, but was never a factor, or a favorite.
RHP Brian Cooper -- Would have been a longshot to make the staff, so was moved to Toronto in the Fullmer deal.
RHP Shigetoshi Hasegawa -- The popular, and productive, long reliever wasn't offered a contract following his injury-marred 2001 season, but for five years he'd been an invaluable cog in the pen.
LHP Mike Holtz -- The sidearmer often froze left-handed hitters with his slow breaking balls, but just as often entered games empty; in 63 appearances last season, let his first batter reach base 25 times.
INF Gary DiSarcina -- Like Vaughn, DiSarcina (torn rotator cuff) sat out all of 2001; unlike Vaughn, he was an Angels treasure, the smooth-fielding, clutch-hitting soul of the team for a decade.
1. Can Tim Salmon recover from a down year?
Salmon's 2001 woes -- 17 homers and 49 RBIs were virtually half of his averages for the previous eight seasons -- set the tone for the entire offense's collapse; his recovery could have the same effect on the upside.
2. Can David Eckstein reprise his rookie impact?
The 5-foot-8 pepperpot turned the chance afforded by a Spring Training injury (to incumbent second baseman Adam Kennedy) into an eye-opener. After batting .285 with 29 steals and padding his on-base percentage by getting hit with a league-leading 21 pitches, the Angels are counting on him as a leadoff weapon.
3. Does Scott Spiezio have the stamina to be an everyday player?
He ignited the offense upon becoming the regular first baseman in midseason (.318 with 9 homers and 28 RBIs in July-August) but wore down (.232-2-8 in September-October).
4. Can Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Mike Holtz be replaced?
The Angels have taken a risk by letting go of both their right- and left-handed set-up men, who toiled a combined total of 558 games the last five seasons, a big load to account for.
5. Will the development of the rotation's Big Three continue?
Ramon Ortiz, Scott Schoeneweis and Jarrod Washburn went from 22 wins in 2000 to 34 last season; a similar improvement will make the Angels every-day tough.
NEW FACES
1B-DH Brad Fullmer -- The former Blue Jay gives the Angels the fulltime DH they have lacked for years; a major upgrade over the 15 different DHs who combined to hit .212 with eight homers and 56 RBIs last season.
RHP Aaron Sele -- A shrewd signing, not only giving the Angels a solid ace but taking one out of Seattle's deck; his 15 wins last season haven't been matched in Anaheim since 1996.
RHP Kevin Appier -- Another solid veteran addition to the rotation who ranked in the NL's Top 15 with his ERA of 3.57.
LHP Dennis Cook -- The well-traveled veteran gets first crack at being Mike Scioscia's spot left-hander out of the bullpen; a workhorse who has averaged 66 appearances over the last six seasons.
RHP Mickey Callaway -- A big winner in the Devil Rays' system, the 26-year-old righty is looking for an opportunity to validate his minor-league promise.
LONG GONE
1B Mo Vaughn -- "Thanks for stopping by" could have been the Angels' farewell to him; he stayed for half of the six-year, $80 million free-agent contract he signed prior to the 1999 season, but was never a factor, or a favorite.
RHP Brian Cooper -- Would have been a longshot to make the staff, so was moved to Toronto in the Fullmer deal.
RHP Shigetoshi Hasegawa -- The popular, and productive, long reliever wasn't offered a contract following his injury-marred 2001 season, but for five years he'd been an invaluable cog in the pen.
LHP Mike Holtz -- The sidearmer often froze left-handed hitters with his slow breaking balls, but just as often entered games empty; in 63 appearances last season, let his first batter reach base 25 times.
INF Gary DiSarcina -- Like Vaughn, DiSarcina (torn rotator cuff) sat out all of 2001; unlike Vaughn, he was an Angels treasure, the smooth-fielding, clutch-hitting soul of the team for a decade.