The Angels' Offense and the Myth of the "Big Bat"

If you've visited any sports websites lately, and if you're here, you almost definitely have, you've definitely noticed one trend in all reporting on the Angels current state: everyone is 100% sure they need the "big bat" to compete. Vladimir Guerrero needs protection in the lineup, according to so-called experts. The Angels offense just 'isn't good enough' to compete in the playoffs.

But the real mystery here isn't why General Manger Bill Stoneman hasn't acquired the bat over the last two seasons, but why everyone seems so insistent that they even need this bat (to his credit, there have been several efforts, including losing out to the White Sox for Paul Konerko when he decided to stay with his home team, a trade for Miguel Tejada shot down by Orioles owner Peter Angelos, and being outbid by the Chicago Cubs for Alfonso Soriano, who dropped a ridiculous sum to sign him).

CBS Sportsline writer Eric Mack writes:

"Vladdy's back popping homers, but we can't help but scoff at GM Bill Stoneman failing to add anything -- repeat anything -- again at the trade deadline. How can he justify this as GM of an annual contender?"

Well Mr. Mack, you just answered your own question. He can justify it because he is the GM of an annual contender. It's not like he just inherited this team from another GM who made it into the juggernaut it is. He is the man behind the franchise's current make-up, helping bring it 1 world series ring, 2 division titles, 3 playoff appearances, and 4 winning seasons in the last 5 years, not counting their 66-46 record this year. If he's doing such a terrible job without adding this apparently-needed bat, then why such broad success for the last half-decade?

Because they just plain don't need it.

This of course is not to be taken to mean the Angels would be better off without one (although one could argue that, with what they would have to give up to get one, they would be), but that the supposed pressing need to absolutely have one in order to contend is just not true. Pundits will look at the franchise and point out they have a meager 80 home runs this year (compared to the Major League average of 111), or that they once went 14 games without a home run this year. But those same pundits will convienently forget to tell you that those same Angels still somehow rank 3rd of 30 in the Major Leagues in batting average, 4th in hits, 6th in runs scored, and 1st in the American League (second only to the New York Mets in the majors) in stolen bases. For good measure, they're also 3rd in doubles, 2nd in sacrifice flies, 1st in going from first-to-third base on singles, and only 3 teams in baseball strikeout less. You don't exactly need to fish around much to find the stats showing how good of an offensive team this is.

The beauty of baseball is that there are so many ways to score a run. Not having an abudance of men who can crush a ball 450 feet doesn't deny a team the oppurtunity to have an offense-oriented club. The 2002 Anaheim Angels, the very same who won the World Series that year, were in a 3-way tie for the 21st most home runs in all of baseball. It certainly didn't stop them from succeeding. All the absence of the "big bat" does is potentially close one avenue to scoring.

Why are we not citing the contending Detroit Tigers' failure to acquire the 'big leg' at the trade deadline? Surely they could improve on their 26th-ranked stolen bases? And if the home run is so important, surely the 2nd-ranked Cincinnati Reds should be better than 16 games under .500?

The Angels' offense is not constructed around the need to hit a home run. In fact, falling back and relying on the home run to carry your offense is one of the biggest mistakes a club can make. When the home run fails you, your offense will inevitably sputter. Having role players like an Orlando Cabrera, who puts the ball in play consistently, or a Chone Figgins, who can utilize speed to force mistakes by fielders or beat out an otherwise-routine groundball, gives the Angels just as much a chance to score runs as needed. Cabrera and Figgins are just two of the Angels' five everyday players batting .300 or better right now (Vladimir Guerrero, Casey Kotchman, and Reggie Willits are the other three). Future perennial batting title contender Howie Kendrick has been on the D.L. for much of the year, and could easily turn his .297 batting average into the sixth such player upon his return.

So why the calls for the Angels to acquire such a bat? Because baseball writers tend to decry the Angels' style of play as antiquated and inferior to the offensive approach involving the home run. Because many of them are too caught up in the coverage of contenders who rely on the home run to look beyond the Angels' long ball totals and see how impressive of an offensive club they really are dealing with. It's one of role-players, one through nine in the order who know how to put the ball in play and push across runs when needed.

Nevermind the fact that they also have the 4th best ERA in the American League.