Shellshocked
When Eric Aybar got hit on the hand by a pitch day before yesterday and had to leave the game, it looked like the Angels might be without four infielders for the near future. Without Aybar, Figgins, Kendrick and Isturis how could the Angels hope to compete? This thought must have gone through the minds of every coach and player when Aybar left the field, and they haven't scored a run since.
Aybar came back yesterday and was able to play because the injury was to his left pinky finger, which didn't affect his fielding, or hitting when batting right handed because of the way he grips the bat. But the aftereffects of his having to leave the game the day before hadn't worn off. It didn't help that Garret Anderson was sitting on the bench after homering three times in the KC series. And now Figgins is on the DL...
None of the replacement infielders has stepped up. Sean Rodriguez has been great in the field but isn't hitting much. After watching Brandon Wood for a week I'm wondering what all the fuss was about. And Rob Quinlan is adequate as a backup but if he isn't good enough to play every day at 3rd when Figgins is out, maybe he shouldn't be on the team.
Third-base coach Deno Ebel may have killed a rally in the 5th when he held up a hard-charging Rodriguez at third after Gary Matthews' double. I wouldn't always assume that the throw to the plate from the cutoff guy is going to be on target. If Rodriguez gets thrown out at home the inning is over, but the way the Angels have struggled scoring runs in this series made it imperative that they get something going here. Instead they get nothing when Aybar grounds out.
And as usual they left the bases loaded in the eighth. How many sac flies do the Angels have this year, two? They can't hit the ball to the outfield with one out and a runner on third.
More after today's game, which is about to start...
Note to Mike Scioscia: Stop juggling your outfielders already!!!!!!!!! It's throwing everyone off-sync. Start Anderson, Hunter and Guerrero every game when they're playing on grass and DH Matthews. Or use Anderson in left at home, and Matthews in left on the road.
Another note to Scioscia: When Kendrick comes back bat him 2nd and move Matthews down to 7th. Matthews leads the team in RBI's but his batting average is pathetic.