Richards Last Six Starts: 2.75 ERA

[VariousCrap]

The man is earning a spot in the rotation next year for sure and this is great news.  It is one less need to fill.

 

They will just need to fill two rotation spots for 2014.

 

My guess is they will attempt to trade for a starter and then they'll need to sign one.  There are some decent available via FA next year.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=978,6176,126,512,1701,1292,769,375,2047,6283,3886,4684,1077,232,3340,1303,4538,1451,1757,3273,921,7450,3374,4567,5879,4897,3283,4930,1259,833,5705,8678,6204,105,3830,571,5203,840,2586,7507,3200,755,4366,7059,8044,1011,3990,2074,412,3196,944,1783,6432&sort=19,d

 

 

 

I'm just really proud and happy for Richards.

[tomsred]

He did a real nice job tonight.  I would still like to see him get one more pitch to go with his fastball and curve ball.  Maybe a real effective change up, something around 72 - 75 mph.

[Jason]

One he throws that nice FB more consistently he will be dominant.

[Caralho]

He did a real nice job tonight.  I would still like to see him get one more pitch to go with his fastball and curve ball.  Maybe a real effective change up, something around 72 - 75 mph.

 

A change up is supposed to go 10 miles slower than a fastball, not 20. Richards is finally showing some of his potential and unless something crazy happens he should be in the rotation next year.

[Docwaukee]

I am, and have been a Richards believer.  You don't have to have perfect control when you've got 95 with that much movement and filthy breaking stuff.  When he's like 28/29?  Front end starter. 

[gotbeer]

I don't get why we need to trade for one.  

 

CJ, Weaver, Richards, and hopefully Vargas.  You just need a 4/5, like a Hughes or a Garza.  

[Caralho]

GB you assume Vargas will want to stay here after this craptastic year. I can imagine a contender offering him quite a bit of money to be their 4th starter.

[tdawg87]

I don't get why we need to trade for one.  

 

CJ, Weaver, Richards, and hopefully Vargas.  You just need a 4/5, like a Hughes or a Garza.  

 

This line of thinking got us Blanton and Hanson.

[gotbeer]

GB you assume Vargas will want to stay here after this craptastic year. I can imagine a contender offering him quite a bit of money to be their 4th starter.

 

Well, he isn't doing well right now.  He's also from So Cal, and I don't think his experience with the Angels team has been a negative.  How the team as a whole is performing might not sit well, but 

 

Now the Angels could force the issue and offer him arbitration.  Because I don't think he is a +$13 million a year player.  He's a good player, but not someone that a team would consider losing a first rounder to.

[Docwaukee]

I like Richards.  I see a lot of potential there, but if we go into next season with him as our #3, we are in deep caca.  I like the idea of keeping Vargas as well, but we need someone of Weaver/Wilson caliber to even remotely compete. 

 

And the bullpen blows.  Frieri's secondary pitches have looked better as of late, but  we need a closer, another 7th/8th inning guy, and maybe even one more.  A lack of pitching depth was one of the biggest problems for this team.  Maybe keep DDLR in addition to Ernest, but to me, everyone else can go. 

[Hollyw00d]

he's been great the last two months, has he finally turned the corner???   I'm a richards doubter, but he has really pitched great lately and this team badly needs a starter or two.   Hope he keeps it up and keeps improving!!!!

[IIIII]

really is awesome to see. Like Gubicza i always thought he had the stuff to be a great pitcher but I couldn't figure out why he wasn't putting up the numbers. Now he's finally showing his potential. His one bad start (last start) could have been way better if Cowgill caught the flyball 

[Mark68]

I am coming around on him, but he still needs another quality pitch.

[VariousCrap]

I don't get why we need to trade for one.  

 

CJ, Weaver, Richards, and hopefully Vargas.  You just need a 4/5, like a Hughes or a Garza.  

 

 

Um...Garza would be our #3, maybe #2 on this team.  He is a strong pitcher.

 

I'd love to see:  Weaver, Wilson, Garza/pitcher via trade, Richards, Vargas/Hughes

 

That is a solid rotation.

[Make Angels Great Again]

Hughes is terrible.

[VariousCrap]

I like Richards.  I see a lot of potential there, but if we go into next season with him as our #3, we are in deep caca.  I like the idea of keeping Vargas as well, but we need someone of Weaver/Wilson caliber to even remotely compete. 

 

 

 

I think Garza is on par with Wilson, but I'd prefer the Angels trade for a #2/#3 pitcher.

[VariousCrap]

Hughes is terrible.

 

 

I would argue Hughes is a solid #5 pitcher.  He will benefit from not pitching in Yankee stadium.

[SoWhat]

If it was up to me, I'd sign Tanaka and trade for Zach Lee.

Weaver

Wilson

Tanaka

Richards

Lee

[VariousCrap]

If it was up to me, I'd sign Tanaka and trade for Zach Lee.

Weaver

Wilson

Tanaka

Richards

Lee

 

 

 

Tanaka is the Japanese guy who is going to be a FA?  Yes, I'd also love that too.  After that I'm fine with Vargas or Hughes.

[SoWhat]

Yeah, Masahiro Tanaka

[gotbeer]

Tanaka is the Japanese guy who is going to be a FA?  Yes, I'd also love that too.  After that I'm fine with Vargas or Hughes.

 

Posting, not FA.

[mulwin444]

Weaver is ace by default but he's a 1.5 or a 2 starter, Wilson is a solid 3, Vargas is a decent 4, I'd offer him arb, and Richards can be depended on to be the 5 until he can prove himself over a season.  What the team needs is a starter somewhere between Weaver and Wilson to complete the rotation.  

 

The BP is a different story...I'd keep De La Rosa, Frieri, Kohn..I'd keep Williams for depth and hopefully Rasmus can work out.  That's five but considering injuries and regression they probably need 3-4 new arms.  Berg, Morin, and Maronde should be given long looks as well.

[Angels]

Just brilliant.

 

Through 107 innings pitched this year, his GB% is 59%. As a starter, his GB% is 58%. That makes him the 5th most extreme ground ball pitcher among starting pitchers this year with a minimum of 50 innings pitched.

 

As long as he continues to limit walks and generate grounders at such an extreme rate, he should be a good #2. And if he ever starts adding in more strikeouts, his ceiling is probably that of a #1.

 

Weaver/Wilson/Richards makes a solid trio for next season, but the Angels still need 2 serviceable (and probably better than serviceable) starting pitchers next year. 

[shellback]

I would argue Hughes is a solid #5 pitcher.  He will benefit from not pitching in Yankee stadium.

kinda like blanton did from not pitching in philly.

hughes sucks.

[tdawg87]

Hughes has been pretty decent away from Yankees Stadium. Then again, as shellback said, some of us (including our GM) thought Blanton would do better in a pitcher's park.