Angels All-Time Team

The Collector's All-Time Teams reboot heads to sunny California for the rest of this week. Tonight we're in Los Angeles, where... um..... I was told that the Angels played here? No? Just the Dodgers, huh?

Yes, I know it's a tired old joke. As a New Jersey resident, I sympathize with the citizens of Anaheim.  There are no NFL teams in New York City, so I don't know where this jackass thinks he's going.

Look, it says so right there - Anaheim. (It also says Angela Stadium and I'm never not going to call it that.) If the Angels actually played in the city of Angels, they wouldn't have the privilege of paying Anthony Rendon $245 million for 3.7 WAR. At that rate, Shohei Ohtani is worth ...  $192 million. Per season.

Geography lesson over. Let's meet the All-Time Angels:

Mike Scioscia took over a team with zero Hall of Famers or superstars and led them to a World Series title in 2002 - perhaps the most unlikely champion since the 1988 Dodgers team he played for.

A team with Troy Glaus, Troy Percival, and Garret Anderson as their best players blew up the Death Star in the LDS and then defeated Darth Vader at his PED-peak. But they can't get Mike Trout to a World Series?

This team could use an upgrade at first base and catcher. Mike Napoli played both positions, though not as well as Wally or Bengie, respectively. Brian Downing is one of four designated hitters on this roster.

It's Sho-time. Now we just have to figure out if Ohtani replaces a pitcher or a position player.

Bob Boone had better years with the Phillies but his production wasn't better than backup catcher Virgil "Spud" Davis, so he has to hope his franchise-leading dWAR is enough to stick with the All-Time Angels.

	Angels stats	oWAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	dWAR
	*Bengie Molina	5.1	0.273	0.309	0.397	0.705	84	6.7
	*Bob Boone	3.9	0.245	0.297	0.323	0.620	71	14.7
	Buck Rodgers	2.5	0.232	0.288	0.312	0.600	74	6.8
	Jeff Mathis	-1.9	0.194	0.257	0.301	0.557	50	5.7
	Mike Napoli	13.1	0.251	0.346	0.485	0.831	119	0.1

So, um... can Ohtani catch? Napoli is the only above-average hitter with catcher eligibility but Boone's total WAR is slightly better. Scioscia can't bench Molina for a guy who caught just over 400 games for this franchise. No party at Napoli's here.

	Angels stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Darin Erstad	32.6	0.286	0.341	0.416	0.756	96
	*Howie Kendrick	28.5	0.292	0.332	0.424	0.756	108
	Doug DeCinces	18.9	0.265	0.336	0.463	0.798	117

Darin Erstad's versatility is needed since Downing, Davis, and Baylor are not exactly Torii Hunter out there (who is available.. just sayin'..) However Howie Kendrick and Doug DeCinces were better with the bat.

Mike Scioscia can get creative here and tap Napoli over Erstad.. but he'd still have to clear a spot for Shohei.

If you read yesterday's post you'll know why Nolan Ryan isn't on this team. It's an admittedly weak argument, so here's another one: the Angels' five starters without him are slightly better than Houston's rotation, sans-Express.

Total WAR for Houston's five (Oswalt, Richard, Dierker, Mike Scott, Don Wilson) = 153.8
Total WAR for Anaheim's five (Tanana, Finley, Jered Weaver, Chance, Lackey) = 167.7

This still feels like an incomplete explanation to me; any stat that ranks Chuck Finley ahead of Sandy Koufax should not be the crux of any argument. But it's the best I can do.

While we're here....

	Angels stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP	starts
	Dean Chance	20.5	2.83	122	1.86	1.226	168
	John Lackey	24.8	3.81	116	2.72	1.306	233
	Mark Langston	26.0	3.97	109	2.02	1.309	210
	Shohei Ohtani	12.5	2.92	146	3.68	1.068	70

Jose Fernandez ranks tied for 18th in Marlins history with 76 games started and I didn't even consider him for Miami's All-Time roster. Shohei Ohtani has made fewer starts for this franchise than Tommy John. He's pitched less than 400 innings for the team and ranks much higher in team annals as a hitter (where he actually qualifies.)

This is probably moot since he'll be a Dodger or a Yankee seven months from now, but Shohei Ohtani has to make this roster - either as a fifth starter over John Lackey or a(nother) DH over Don Baylor.

	Angels stats	oWAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	PA
	*Don Baylor	11.1	0.262	0.337	0.448	0.785	118	3536
	Shohei Ohtani	14.2	0.269	0.355	0.531	0.886	139	2424

The 2021 AL MVP overtakes the 1979 AL MVP.

Finally, let's see Scioscia's bullpen:

Cam Bedrosian is the only weak link here, but there's no one ready to challenge him - yet.

Looking ahead, the Angels are probably going to regret trading Brandon Marsh unless catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe pans out. O'Hoppe has a clearer path to this All-Time roster, but a much longer road. There's still time for Jo Adell to turn the corner, but it's getting late. Maybe shortstop Zach Neto or pitcher Patrick Sandoval - who has as many starts for the franchise as that Ohtani guy - make a run.

TL; DR: One change from the original roster. Baylor out, Ohtani in.



Come back tomorrow for our next All-Time Team, the Oakland Athletics. They are still in Oakland, right?

 

Thanks for reading!



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