Angel Super Scapegoat Award (ASS)

[Angelsjunky]

I won't to introduce a new award: the Angel Super Scapegoat. This is essentially the most hated Angel in a given year, but he's the Angel you love to hate - the guy that Angel Oracle freaks out about most, that people create pet names for, and who is the main reason that the Angels suck. So here are my nominations - feel free to disagree:

 

2013 - Joe Blanton

honorable mention - Josh Hamilton, Vernon Wells (salary)

 

2012 - Vernon Wells

honorable mention - Ervin Santana

 

2011 - Vernon Wells

honorable mentions - Jeff Mathis, Bobby Abreu, Fernando Rodney

 

2010 - Scott Kazmir

honorable mentions - Jeff Mathis, Brandon Wood, Gary Matthews (salary)

 

2009 - Jeff Mathis

honorable mentions - Gary Matthews Jr, Ervin Santana, Robb Quinlan, Brian Fuentes

 

2008 - Jeff Mathis

honorable mentions - Gary Matthews Jr, Robb Quinlan, Brandon Wood

 

2007 - Gary Matthews Jr

honorable mentions - Shea Hillenbrand, Jeff Mathis, Robb Quinlan, Ervin Santana, Bartolo Colon

 

2006 - Jeff Weaver

honorable mention - JC Romero, Bartolo Colon

 

2005 - Steve Finley

 

Going back beyond this and it gets too hazy.

 

So let's say every player gets 3 points for an ASS award, and then 1 point for an honorable mention. That gives an all-time leaderboard like so (with awards in parentheses):

 

9 Jeff Mathis

7 Vernon Wells

6 Gary Matthews Jr

3 Joe Blanton

3 Ervin Santana

3 Robb Quinlan

3 Jeff Weaver

3 Steve Finley

2 Brandon Wood

2 Bartolo Colon

1 Brian Fuentes

1 Shea Hillenbrand

1 JC Romero

1 Josh Hamilton

1 Bobby Abreu

1 Fernando Rodney

 

Wells will definitely be an honorable mention next year, which will bring his total to 8 - still shy of Jeff Mathis, who gets the all-time ASS award.

 

What do you think? Did I get them right?

 

The big question is who will next challenge Wells, Mathis and Matthews as the biggest ASSes of recent Angels history. Part of me feels sad about the thought of no one stepping up, but given Angels history I'm sure someone will manage.

Edited December 20, 2013 by Angelsjunky

[Troll Daddy]

The ASS should go to its creator of the award.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

I agree with most of them, but Kazmir deserved the "award" by himself in 2010. Wood wasn't a starter. He "only" played in 81 games and had only 226 mostly sporadic ab's. 

[ELEVEN]

How many days until spring training starts?

[gotbeer]

Remember when Jered got sent down to keep Jeff on the team.

[Ochocinco!]

You forgot someone....

Sosh

[Halos of Anaheim]

Mathis sounds right.

[Angelsjunky]

I agree with most of them, but Kazmir deserved the "award" by himself in 2010. Wood wasn't a starter. He "only" played in 81 games and had only 226 mostly sporadic ab's. 

 

You know I originally had Kazmir alone, but then I remembered just how bad Brandon was that year. I suppose he was less of an ASS and more of a most pathetic player.

[GoodTimesGoneBad]

How was Mathis the scapegoat of 2009? All was forgiven by his play is the ALCS. How did Fuentes not make the list? That pitch to Arod in game 2 was unforgivable.

[AZMike]

Given the cost and expectations going in, I'd say 2013 should be given to Josh Hamilton, if not, it should be a tie between Hamilton and Blanton

[AZMike]

How was Mathis the scapegoat of 2009? All was forgiven by his play is the ALCS. How did Fuentes not make the list? That pitch to Arod in game 2 was unforgivable.

...remember who *called* for that pitch?

[Angelsjunky]

OK, I made a couple changes - Kazmir alone in 2010, Fuentes an honorable mention in 2009. I'm not ready to take the ASS award from Mathis in 2009, however. He was pretty much despised all year until that one game.

[YouthofToday]

Wells won last year too. Napoli wins a title and we pay Wells to suck in New York.

Wells will win again this ear in a land slide barring an Albert Pujols or Josh Hamilton injury.

[Halos of Anaheim]

Also, according to clutchness (something people here actually take serious, along with our GM), Trout would be the biggest scapegoat of 2013 considering he was the LEAST clutch player in the AL in 2013, and the 2nd least clutch player in the MLB. 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=12,a

Edited December 20, 2013 by Halos of Anaheim

[Angelsjunky]

Wells won last year too. Napoli wins a title and we pay Wells to suck in New York.

Wells will win again this ear in a land slide barring an Albert Pujols or Josh Hamilton injury.

 

I've got to give it to Blanton - he was, by far, the most derided Angel in 2013. The award is, in the end, more about gut feeling than statistical analysis.

[YouthofToday]

Also, according to clutchness (something people here actually take serious, along with our GM), Trout would be the biggest scapegoat of 2013 considering he was the LEAST clutch player in the AL in 2013, and the 2nd least clutch player in the MLB.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=12,a

You should be permanently banned from all electronic devices for such a heretical statement.

[YouthofToday]

I've got to give it to Blanton - he was, by far, the most derided Angel in 2013. The award is, in the end, more about gut feeling than statistical analysis.

I agree. I vote Tony Reagins then.

[Richard]

I give 2012 to The bullpen. Wells got hurt and missed a significant amount and opened the door for Trumbo as a corner outfielder. The Angels just missed the playoffs and the Pen was a big reason why, blowing the most leads in the Majors.

[Docwaukee]

2013 goes to the management team of Arte, Dipoto and MS. 

[Taylor]

2001 - Scott Schoenweis/Glenallen Hill

2002 - ASSless Season

2003 - Kevin Appier

2004 - Jose Guillen

[Ordos]

Also, according to clutchness (something people here actually take serious, along with our GM), Trout would be the biggest scapegoat of 2013 considering he was the LEAST clutch player in the AL in 2013, and the 2nd least clutch player in the MLB.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=12,a

I think this has been covered in multiple other threads.

In other news, Scioscia is fat, Vernon worthless, Pujols expensive, Mathis sucks, Napoli is part-time, Lackey doubles as Sarah Jessica Parker, Tony traded the farm away, we need pitching, and Hamilton picked the wrong time to go on a juice diet.

Do note, I don't say this as a personal attack. Just seeing the same thing again gets under my skin sometimes.

Edited December 20, 2013 by Ordos

[Halos of Anaheim]

I think this has been covered in multiple other threads.

In other news, Scioscia is fat, Vernon worthless, Pujols expensive, Mathis sucks, Napoli is part-time, Lackey doubles as Sarah Jessica Parker, Tony traded the farm away, we need pitching, and Hamilton picked the wrong time to go on a juice diet.

I know, and I/AZMike will continue posting it as long as people on here (and Dipoto) keep bringing up clutchness.

[Ordos]

Fair enough

[Second Base]

Scapegoat is in the eye of the fan and his opinion, which is emotive, not backed up by stats.  So really, it comes down to who always seems to let the team down when they need it or who's getting overpaid.

 

I'm gonna go with Raul Ibanez.  I think that guy isn't an everyday major leaguer anymore, let alone a DH that makes any difference.  He isn't being overpaid but if anyone is expecting him to hit .250 or 30 HR's, get ready for disappointment.  Scioscia absolutely loves his veterans and this guy is gonna go up there and straight hack for four and a half months before they replace him with J.B. Schuck/Grant Green/C.J. Cron.

[Brent Maguire]

Wood was worth -1.8 WAR in 2010. That was only in 243 PA too. He gets my vote that year.