Two hits, two walks, two runs, two-thirds of an inning, and one big question: should Brian Fuentes remain the Halos’ closer? We haven’t yet made it out of April, and the clamoring has already begun. Many Angel fans had seen enough from Fuentes last year to lose confidence, as he faltered in a number of key situations down the stretch, the biggest being a huge blown save against A-Rod and the Yankees in the ALCS. After already enduring a DL stint in the early season, Fuentes’ Wednesday night outing did little to soothe Angel fans’ concerns about the left hander.

Complicating matters is the shiny, off-season acquisition in fireballer Fernando Rodney. In Fuentes’ absence, Rodney was a stellar five for five in save opportunities, allowing only one hit and no walks, while striking out four. It’s not just the stats that have many Angel fans buzzing. It’s the old fashioned eye-test cliché that’s at work here. Rodney just looks a lot more like a closer. Maybe it’s the glove-snapping fastball that consistently reaches the mid to upper 90’s. Perhaps it is the devastating change-up, a pitch that Trevor Hoffman has ridden all the way to Cooperstown (eventually). Or it could just be Rodney’s presence and intensity. Regardless, Rodney surely seems to have all the tools.

Yes, Fuentes saved 48 games for the Halos in 2009, tops in the majors. But at times Fuentes seemed to lack confidence and command, bad things to be missing when your fastball maxes out at 90mph. When you rely on deception and pin-point control to be successful, it leaves little wiggle room to excel when one of your weapons is amiss. It’s a basic enough concept. When you miss your spot with a 97mph fastball, there is still a pretty fair chance that a batter won’t catch up to it. When you miss location with an 89-mph fastball, the percentage that the hitter misses it drops drastically. Simply put, the better the stuff, the more room for error.

Angel fans should understand this concept better than anybody. After watching Francisco Rodriguez get himself into and out of jams religiously for six years, you realized the importance of a devastating arsenal of pitches. Even when he was not at the top of his game, K-Rod continuously found a way to close the door by way of filthy pitches. It seems often enough that when Fuentes isn’t at the top of his game, the Angels usually lose theirs. In ’09, Fuentes ERA (3.93) and WHIP (1.40) were his highest since 2004, and while it may be too early to tell, it at least looks like a continuing trend so far.

Mike Scioscia is a loyal manager, and it seems that he’s going to give Fuentes an opportunity to determine the fate of the team’s closer role. But if Rodney continues to thrive and shut down the opponent while Fuentes struggles, it will be interesting to see how long Scioscia sticks with loyalty over straight nasty stuff.

- Blake Warren

For now, Mike Scioscia has decided to use both Brian Fuentes and Kevin Jepsen in save situations. This is an unusual situation for the Angels. In the past we have always had a natural progression. In 2002 we had Troy Percival, who made you nervous at times, but always got the job down. Waiting in the wings was Franky. When Franky took over we had Scott Shields who could have easily done the job. And last year it looked like Jose Arredondo was runner-up. Angels fans are used to a near guaranteed victory after the sixth inning. Now we have a situation with a very shaky closer who does have over 40 saves, and a guy in Kevin Jepsen who is clearly ready to get in the mix.

Many believe Scioscia is simply hiding Jepsen and going to release him into the closer role when it matters, October. Others think Scioscia always sticks with his veterans, for better or for worse, and this situation will be no different. I have always believed that baseball is stuck with this closer position. Closers are usually, with one or two exceptions, over paid and overrated. The ideal way to bring your reliever in is when you can him the best match-ups. Why should the closer role be any different. Major League Baseball is becoming too caught up with star power and it’s just unnecessary.

I don’t believe the closer situation will change at all from the way it is now. If the Red Sox have the top of their lineup coming up in the ninth, that will likely consist of Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz, two lefties. Perfect situation for Brian Fuentes. So we end up with closer by committee, which what most teams should have anyway.

I know all you Angels fans are hurting this morning, so let’s talk about it. The Angels blew another game to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. I’m not sure if there is something in the air there, but this was disappointing to say the least. It’s not as if we are losing every game there, because last year we had a very good record at Fenway, but when it comes to the close games we can’t seem to finish. So what happened?

Blown Calls

Brian Fuentes loaded the bases in the ninth inning and the umpires blew it. The first call was the should have been check swing, and the second and most important was the ball called that was right down the heart of the plate. Whether it was low or not the batter should have been called out for not swinging at that pitch. There is no doubt about it, the umpires choked. So it was the umpires who lost the game right?

Closer Controversy

You can’t escape the fact that Brian Fuentes came in and loaded the bases. Now I don’t know about you, but when a save opportunity comes around I don’t really feel comfortable with Fuentes coming into the game. I like Fuentes and want him to succeed, but Kevin Jepsen will be the closer eventually. Maybe we should think about sooner rather than later. So Brian Fuentes lost the game right?

Lazy Rivera

The blooper hit into left field to end the game should have been caught. It was two feet away from him. DIVE! I hope we are not getting a glimpse of the new Garret Anderson in left field. Juan Rivera has been great offensively this year, but he can be lazy out there. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen him not turn his body to run back on a ball and try and catch it over his head. They call what he did Big League’n it. So it was Rivera who lost the game right?

Bottom Line

I’m not sure there is one specific person to blame for this loss. The fact is they shouldn’t have been in the situation we were in in the first place. The Angels had multiple chances to keep leads and take bigger leagues. This was a team effort and they better figure this Fenway curse out before October.

Things to look for:

Brian Fuentes: Scioscia just had a closed door talk with Brian about his mechanics, so look for a short leash in save situations.

Kendry Morales/Juan Rivera: Both have been sluggish lately, so we’ll see if they get back to their hot hitting ways.

Monday: @New York
Jered Weaver v. Joba Chamberlain

Tuesday: @Boston
John Lackey v. Diasuke Matsuzaka

Wednesday: @Boston
Joe Saunders v. (TBA)

Thursday: @Boston
Ervin Santana v. Josh Beckett

It was seven months ago, Christmas was right around the corner and the Angels were in the midst of an off-season in flux. General manager Tony Reagins was too busy to be sitting around drinking egg nog in a Christmas sweater with family and friends. It had only been eight weeks since the Angels were bounced from the post-season by the playoff nemesis Red Sox. This off-season posed big questions about the roster and his A job required him to tighten up his GM chinstrap and come up with answers.

After setting the single-season saves record in 2008, Francisco Rodriguez took his violent delivery to the Mets bullpen in the Big Apple. Two days before Christmas, the Angels other marquee free agent, Mark Teixeira, joined Rodriguez in New York, signing an eight-year, $180 million contract with deep-pocketed Yankees. Missing out on two premium free agents, Reagins began piecing together answers.

He started by deciding to let life-long Angel Garret Anderson seek employment elsewhere for the first time in his career. Reagins quickly filled the void by inking then platoon outfielder Juan Rivera to a three-year extension. A week and a half later, he replaced the electric Rodriquez with mild-mannered three-time All Star, Brian Fuentes.

Reagins and the Angels’ brass felt confident moving forward with Kendry Morales as the everyday first baseman. The opportunity for Morales was much anticipated, as the buzz of his pure ability had been swirling ever since the Cuban defector’s signing with the Angels in 2004.

The final piece was added shortly before spring training would begin. Making perhaps the best bang-for-your-buck signing of the off-season, Reagins added the disciplined Bobby Abreu with a $5 million, one year deal. Abreu’s professional, consistent approach at the plate has been instrumentally infectious in the Angels’ lineup in 2009.

Losing Teixeira to free agency essentially altered the direction of the organization for the next decade. By allowing the Yankees to outbid him, Reagins was able to use the money allotted for Teixeira to improve the club in several areas, while maintaining much more financial flexibility in the coming years. That flexibility will likely prove to be extremely valuable come November and December, as the Angels are faced with the free agency of a number of their core players (Chone Figgins and John Lackey among them). It’s also worth mentioning that the financial flexibility will also be a factor in possibly acquiring a front-line player via trade – ala Halladay.

Essentially, the Angels added Morales, Abreu, and Rivera to the everyday lineup in exchange for letting Teixeira sign the more lucrative deal with New York. The way all three players have performed thus far, seeing Tex head east has been much easier on Angel fans than expected. Morales’ ceiling is sky high and has established himself as the team’s first baseman for years to come, as he has posted 20 HR’s and 60 RBI’s before August. Rivera has provided a steady power source in the middle of the order. And there’s no question that Abreu’s professionalism has rubbed off on the entire team, resulting in the team scoring the second most runs in baseball.

For an organization that has seemingly done little wrong over the last decade, it appears the trend will continue. Tony Reagins found the answers he was looking for. This 2009 Angel team has fans throughout Southern California saying, “Mark who?”

By: Blake Warren

Bobby Abreu gave us a sign of things to come this weekend, knocking two out of the park for his first multi-homerun game as an Angel, and contributing 4 of the 5 totals runs scored by the Halos. He’s now second in RBIs for LA with 48, only trailing Torii Hunter who has 59.

With the 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, the Angels stop a two game skid after a visit to Texas , which almost resulted in giving first place back to the Rangers. This was not because of run support, as the Angels tallied 17 runs in the three game series. Rather, it was shaky pitching from Joe Saunders (3.2in, 8ER 5BB 2K) and Jered Weaver (5.1in, 7ER 3K). Juan Rivera tried to salvage Weaver’s outing by tying the game at 7-7 in the top of the 9th inning with a 3-run homerun, but Hank Blalock would hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.

This was a great game for the Halos. Fans saw a flash of Bobby Abreu’s power and John Lackey had a very solid outing, throwing 8 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, fanning 7 with 114 pitches. Brian Fuentes also earned his 23rd save of the year.

Look for the Angels to continue their hot play during the holiday weekend. Everyone have a happy and safe 4th!

Noteables: Ervin Santana (1-3, 7.47ERA) will pitch for the first time since June 11th after a brief stint on the DL with right tricep inflammation. Against the Orioles, he is 2-2 in 7 starts with a 4.60 earned run average, and nearly has a 1:4 BB/K ratio.

Torii Hunter has a 7-game hit streak, scoring 3 times and knocking in 7 during the span.

Kenry Morales also has a 7-game hit streak, scoring 4 times, earning two doubles, a triple, and a homerun. He is 10-26 during the span with a .385 batting average.

Matt Palmer came out of the bullpen two days ago and did not allow a hit. Although he walked 1, he struck out 2 in 2 innings.

By: Kevin H

“Franky who?” That’s what Angels fans are thinking right now.  Halos hurler Brian Fuentes is currently tied with the most saves in the league with 18 despite a 4.43 ERA.

Everyone knew that after a record setting 2008 year, Francisco Rodriguez (1.10ERA 17SV) would go to the highest bidder, much like a talented first baseman who sported an Angels jersey last year (*cough* Mark Teixeira *cough*).  He would record an amazing 62 saves for LAA, despite giving up the most hits in his career (54).  The Angels would be left with a tough decision: go with a talented young pitcher in Jose Arredondo or move set up man Scott Shields into the closing role.  Los Angeles decided to go another route and pick up three-time all-star Brian Fuentes.

The 33-year-old from Merced, California was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 25th round of the 1995 draft.  He would play 10 games with the Mariners in 2001, leaving the organization with a 4.63 ERA after 10 appearances. He would then be traded to the Colorado Rockies late in December of the same year, where he would go 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA after his first four seasons.  In 163 games, he amassed a total of 4 saves, all coming in the 2003 season.

Fuentes finally got his chance as a closer in 2005 after pitcher Chin-hui Tsao would go down with a season-ending shoulder injury.  In his first full year as a closer, he would record 31 saves with a 2.91 ERA and earn himself a spot on the All-Star team.  Although he wouldn’t see any time in the actual game, Fuentes had made a name for himself, recording 30 saves the next season.  Despite a rough 2007 season (he even lost his closing job to Manny Corpas after several blown saves) he was still selected to the All-Star team for a third straight season.  He regained the closer role in 2008, recording 30 saves with a 2.73 ERA.

Fuentes was signed by the Angels during the offseason, and has now become the fulltime closer.  The great decision by Angels upper management has panned out, as Arredondo (who has been sent down to the minors to work on his stuff) and Shields (who will be out for the remainder of the season due to season-ending surgery) were both struggling in 2009.  Fuentes’ unique throwing style has kept hitters off balance all year, and as a result, is now tied for the most saves in the majors.

A fun little fact off of his wikipedia page mentions that he is one of three fraternal twins.  Fuentes has converted 8 saves in his last 10 appearances, and despite problems with a usually consistent bullpen, Fuentes has anchored the Angels, who are now just 1.5 games out of first place in the NL West.  With a little offensive help and a solid closer, Angel fans confidently say all year: “Franky who?”

By: Kevin H