Two of AtA's Finest

Ever wonder what AtA writers talk about amongst themselves when they're not writing?


Brian Chen: Damn.

Adriel Carolino: ?

Brian Chen: Steelers are 4 point underdogs against Jags. Is Willie Parker still out?

Adriel Carolino: I dunno. They're underdogs? Really?

Brian Chen: Yea, I guess trends play a lot in these odds. They've been terrible lately.

Adriel Carolino: Aren't they undefeated?

Brian Chen: They lost to Philly.

Adriel Carolino: Ok so they're 3-1. Plus they barely lost to Philly...

Brian Chen: They scored a combined 16 points against Cleveland and Philly.

Adriel Carolino: Philly is good so I dunno about that one. But yea they sucked at Cleveland. It was a horrible weather day though. If Parker is up, I think they can win.

Brian Chen: What's so special about the Jags? Passing game is unimpressive. Running game is bad.

Adriel Carolino: Their defense is sick. How is their running game bad? It's good.

Brian Chen: ...How is their running game good?

Adriel Carolino: Taylor and Drew are good. They're legitimately good.

Brian Chen: Not this year...

Adriel Carolino: Not so far this year...

Brian Chen: But you can't just go by potential, you have to go by actual production.

Adriel Carolino: So you'd take Lee Evans over Plaxico Burress? I mean, Taylor and Drew both had over 100 yards against the Colts. That's not bad. Last game wasn't that great but they still got rushing production overall. But I still think Pitt is better.

Brian Chen: Yea. Hahaha I love ESPN anchors.

Adriel Carolino: You keep saying that...

Brian Chen: "If you don't think this is awesome, you need to take awesome lessons." They're seriosuly geniuses.

Adriel Carolino: That sounds like Barney Stinson. Dude I'm pretty excited about the Dodgers.

Brian Chen: Hahah, dude we just spent all class discussing the Angels and Dodgers. And whether or not they have a chance at the World Series this year.

Adriel Carolino: I don't think either have great chances.

Brian Chen: I got hated on because I was bashing on Angels' pitching.

Adriel Carolino: Dude their pitching is solid. Lackey and Santana is one of the top duos in the league.

Brian Chen: Meh, I'll still take Beckett and Dice-K in the postseason.

Adriel Carolino: I dunno, I think Dice-K is more hittable.

Brian Chen: Dude, Dice-K is UNhittable. He may walk a lot, but he is unhittable. His BAA is .211!

Adriel Carolino: Whatever, I still think the Cubs have the sickest pitching in the majors. I'm terrified of Cubs' pitching.

Brian Chen: I'm not buying Cubs' pitching. Dempster is overperforming. I'm just waiting for him to get lit up. Z is slumping. But Harden is filthy, though.

Adriel Carolino: Yea, Harden is a monster. And Wood can close. But I have a feeling they're gonna burn out like that Astro's team.

Brian Chen: Doesn't matter, World Series champs are gonna be Phillies. They're way too stacked. And J-Roll is too good.

Adriel Carolino: Is the Phillies' bullpen any good?

Brian Chen: I'm not sure who they are, but they've been getting the job done.

Adriel Carolino: Hahaha I had J-Roll before he was good. I was like, cool black shortstop. He was athletic and stole bases but couldn't do anything else. That was back in high school though. I think the Brewers are screwed because everything depends on CC and Braun.

Brian Chen: Dude they have Sheets. And Gallardo's starting Game 1 I think. He was solid last year. Plus their lineup is pretty stacked also.

Adriel Carolino: Meh, Kendall is past his prime. Prince is a stupid vegan. Counsell just sucks. And Hardy is barely decent.

Brian Chen: Ok when I say, "Brewer lineup is stacked," I'm clearly not referring to Jason Kendall.

Adriel Carolino: Wait, why is Sheets not listed on their rotation? DUDE SHEETS ISN'T PLAYING.

Brian Chen: Omg. You're right. A torn muscle near his pitching elbow. He's done, and so are the Brewers.

Adriel Carolino: Yea, I thought so.

Brian Chen: Plus, they're playing the Phillies. They have no chance. Cole Hamels is such a gangster.

Adriel Carolino: If the Brewers put CC on the mound for three straight games, they have a chance.

Brian Chen: Honestly, I think he can do it. I really think he can do it.

Adriel Carolino: Yea I know. I'm not kidding. That fat monster. He can go 11 straight games. Get them to the Series. Then chill. Then if they lose the first three, he'll pitch out the next four games. He's like a camel in the desert...

Brian Chen: Hahahha, he's so god damn huge. He's like Prince Fielder's father.

Adriel Carolino: No, Cecil Fielder is Prince Fielder's father.

Brian Chen: ...It was a joke, asshole.

Adriel Carolino: He's like Prince's twin, except blown up x2. So who do you think will go all the way?

Brian Chen: Phillies. Their offense is absolutely unstoppable. But Burrell's back is questionable right now. But even without Burrell they will still outslug any team in the playoffs right now.

Adriel Carolino: See, that's why I wanted a Phillies hat.

Brian Chen: Yea dude, you should get a Phillies hat. The Phillies are sick.


Will Adriel get a Phillies hat? Tune in next time...

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Will The Overrated Angels Be Exposed in the Playoffs?

Relax, the question was rhetorical.

How the Angels managed to win 100 games this year is beyond me. On paper, it's baffling how grossly the Angels pitching staff have overperformed. Six months ago, if you had told me that a mystery pitching staff would finish the season winning a combined 70 games while losing only 37, I would've guessed the Red Sox or Diamondback rotation. If you had told me that this 70-37 record would be the combined efforts of Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Jon Garland, Jered Weaver, and John Lackey, I would have called you a lying bastard and likely spat in your face.

Ervin Santana is 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. John Lackey is 12-5 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. If every game were played at Angel Stadium, Santana would be a Cy Young contender every year. Fortunately for the Angels, Santana has learned to pitch on the road this year. Lackey, on the other hand, is fresh off his Cy Young caliber season last year, and the success has carried over to this year. So fine, I'll give you Santana and Lackey. But the other three...let's talk about the other three...

In his first year as a full time starter, Joe Saunders is a startling 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. With just 103 K's in 198 IP, it's pretty clear that Saunders is not a power pitcher. However, with 58 walks over that same span, he doesn't appear to have fantastic control either. In fact, nothing on his stat sheet suggests that his 17-7 record is and will continue to be the norm, so I will go ahead and assume that Saunders is enjoying the lucky season that many pitchers experience. Only time will tell if Saunders will blossom into the next Jamie Moyer, or fade away with the likes of Brian Bannister.

Next on our list we have Jon Garland. Look up "average" in the dictionary and you'll likely find a picture of Jon Garland. Standing at an imposing 6 feet 6 inches, Garland cannot strike out a batter to save his life, and like Saunders, has unimpressive control. Garland's record stands at 14-8, but his laughable 4.90 ERA and 1.51 WHIP suggest that this is clearly an aberration. Don't be surprised when Garland gets lit up in the postseason.

Finally, we have Jered Weaver. After storming onto the scene in 2006 and establishing himself as the Angels ace, Weaver's numbers have been anything but dominant. His 11-10 record, 4.33 ERA, and 1.28 WHIP might be the least impressive on the rotation, and Weaver has shown no signs of rediscovering the magic he had back in 2006. Expect him to continue to be a nonfactor in the postseason.

It wouldn't be a legitimate discussion about overrated pitchers without mentioning Francisco Rodriguez, would it? The numbers don't lie. 2.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 77 K's in 68.1 IP. Solid numbers, but not indicative of what is supposed to be baseball's premier closer. And while K-Rod has saved 62 games, he has also blown 7. The Phillies' Brad Lidge, on the other hand, has saved a perfect 41 out of 41. You tell me who you would rather have closing your games...

On offense, however, the Angels are much improved. Vlad Guerrero, easily having his worst season since his rookie year in 1997, is still putting up respectable numbers. And with run producers such as Mark Texeira, Torii Hunter, Garrett Anderson, Juan Rivera, and Gary Matthews Jr., any pitcher would find it difficult to navigate through the Angel lineup.

With a young, unproven pitching staff, the Angels' best chance at winning it all this year is to score more runs than the other team. And if the Halo's are lucky enough to make it to the World Series, they will likely face the powerhouse Phillies, in which case this feat will be near impossible. But then again, if the Angels' rotation is somehow able to pitch its way through Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth, and Jimmy Rollins in a seven game series, I will gladly eat my words and wipe the saliva from your face.

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