swishnicholson wrote:Was listening to the game on the radio before I stopped in.

Larry Andersen (re brett Gardner) says PLENTY of guys have made it to the majors slapping and bunting. So there smitty.

Gardner has some things going for him-excellent speed, good range in the outfield, some patience, and the ability to hit for a respectable average. The thing that will keep him on a major league bench as opposed to the starting lineup is a complete, total, absolute lack of power. This is a guy who managed an isolated power of .037 in the Arizona Fall League. You can't get much more powerless than that-it's like failing to hit home runs in zero gravity. If Gardner suddenly shows the ability to hit .330 it might change things, but his best hope right now is to have a general manager fall in love with him the way Ed Wade fell in love with Michael Bourn, a not dissimilar player. As Kevin Goldstein said last year, "Twenty years ago, Brett Gardner would have been the next Rudy Law. No one wants the next Rudy Law anymore."

2007 One of the few Yankees prospects last year who moved up a level and didn`t completely fall apart, Gardner is one of the game`s fastest runners. He can`t hit the light switch and be under the covers before the room gets dark, as used to be said of Cool Papa Bell, but with the delayed brightening of energy-efficient bulbs, Gardner can hit the switch and be out of bed before the room gets light. Gardner knows his job is to get on base and is happy to take a walk. He`s still working on outfield routes, but his speed compensates for that. Gardner`s main shortcoming is a lack of power. He`ll need to keep up his average and patience if he wants to avoid getting slapped with a Jason Tyner label.

smitty wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:Was listening to the game on the radio before I stopped in.

Larry Andersen (re brett Gardner) says PLENTY of guys have made it to the majors slapping and bunting. So there smitty.

I never argue with LA when he's been drinking. Or to say it another way, I never argue with LA.

Gardner is actually another slappy guy I thought of as I watched him bat earlier. Last year his OBP (.383) was higher than his SA (.379).

swishnicholson wrote:Missed your edit, smitty. I'd love to have a Brett Gardner or even a Michael Bourn around. Not sure what Jason Tyner's up to these days, but he could probably be a big help around the clubhouse maybe.

Along with former Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguer Morgan Walker, Tyner operates the Southeast Texas Baseball Academy, which runs baseball programs for 8–12 year olds.

ek wrote:samuel, what are you doing man

Eight years ago, Brandon Wood was a first-round pick (23rd overall) by the Angels. Five years ago, Baseball America dubbed him the third-best prospect in the game. He ranked 8th and 16th on that same list the following two seasons. Now, the 26-year-old Wood may be an organizational afterthought. According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Wood's chances of making the Angels' roster are dim, barring a trade or release of fellow infielder Alberto Callaspo.

Wood hit just .146/.174/.208 last season through 243 plate appearances. He managed just six walks while striking out 71 times -- more than 29% of his plate appearances.

Wood is now out of options, meaning he'd have to pass through waivers unclaimed for the Angels to re-assign him to the minor leagues. Despite his struggles, it's unlikely this would happen, as a rebuilding team (DiGiovanna speculates on Toronto, specifically) would give him a chance based on his track record as an elite prospect.

Despite a strong push over the past week in Spring Training (7-19 with 2 HR, a double, and a triple), Wood remains buried on the team's depth chart. Maicer Izturis and Callaspo are ahead of him at third base, Erick Aybar and Izturis are ahead at short, while the combination Kendrys Morales (who will open the year on the DL), Mark Trumbo and Howie Kendrick are in front of him on the first base depth chart.

DiGiovanna speculates that a trade of Callaspo to a team in need of infield help,such as the Phillies, would create room for Wood to make the club. We heard last week though that the Phillies payroll is tapped out, and Callaspo is set to earn $2MM this season. A release of Callaspo's non-guaranteed contract would also create room. The Angels, however, would still be responsible for part of his salary and would be risking a somewhat known commodity for Wood's upside, which may never surface.