Learning Curves
By Bob
It can be said that a sports team doesn't really belong to its owners, but to the fans. No other product comes in for as much criticism or loyalty as sports does. What other product ever gets a parade afterall? Some teams are good, others bad and so attract various levels of devotion. I've mentioned that I'm an Angels fan(No, I won't type out that monstrocity of a name) before. The organizations story is interesting in that it went from being the second team to the Dodgers to one of the better franchises in sports in the last years. The previous owner, Jackie Autry, had said that the Angels were a middle market team and should act like one. The most recent owner, Arte Moreno, had different ideas and has effectively made the team a big market club.
The Angels are now going through a transition period of replacing aging veterans with rookies. For most teams that had in the past 4 years won the World Series and made the playoffs 2 other times, it could be an ominous sign of years of mediocrity. The Angels, however, are loaded with young talent in the minor leagues. They are now getting their shot at playing and the results are ugly. Not to say ugly in Kansas City sort of way, but rather play has been very inconsistent. Of the five rookies given the opportunity to play everyday, on two have performed at plate adequately, Dallas McPherson and Mike Napoli. This is not to say they have performed in the field though. The team as a whole has 55 errors, bottom in the AL.
At 6 games under .500 and only 6 games back in the west, the situation could be worse. However, after reading the message boards and some blogs, it seems many are ready to give up on the season. You expect rookies to go through some growing pains. Being only 6 games back, if the learning curve effect kicks in and rest of the west maintains mediocrity, this division is easily winnable. The only question is should any moves be made. One in particular is whether the second basemen, one the best defensive players in the AL, should be moved to make room for Howie Kendrick, a .400 hitter in AAA. This would mean 4 rookies would be playing.
If the Angels are, in fact, going to make a move, it should be done now rather than at the trade deadline. It is obvious to everyone that Howie Kendrick will be the second basemen next year unless a blockbuster trade is made. Adam Kennedy will be gone through either a trade or free agency any way. Also, the Angels need a real center fielder. The current one, Chone Figgins, isn't and still makes rookie mistakes despite it being his fourth full year in the majors. More importantly, the uncertainty in the learning curve effects in major league baseball seems somewhat large and it seems unlikely that the current team can consistently perform. With Howie Kendrick and an experienced center fielder, the team on paper looks superior though with a higher variation in possible outcomes. Bill Stoneman, the GM, should pull the trigger. The inconsistency will continue, but if the learning curves kick in they could still make a run at the playoffs in August and September. Playoffs or no this year, 2007 looks great.
Edit: I almost forgot to eat crow. A few years ago I had a post joking about the Angesl drafting this guy. He is now devloping into a top prospect.