As always, the rankings are based on a player’s overall season performance with a weight on recent performance.
RANK | PLAYER | CHANGE | COMMENTS |
1 | — 0 Last Week: 1 |
Mike Trout – Remember when everyone said it was going to take a few years for Trout’s power to manifest itself? Yeah, he could hit 30 dingers in 140 games this season. | |
2 | — 0 Last Week: 2 |
Jered Weaver – After some rough starts against the Rangers in recent years, it was nice to see Jered shove it up their backside this weekend. | |
3 | +1 Last Week: 4 |
Albert Pujols – Here are Albert’s OPS numbers by month, starting in April. .570, .800, .977 and 1.030. I’m no math whiz, but I think that means his OPS in September will be a gazillion. | |
4 | -1 Last Week: 3 |
Mark Trumbo – Seven of his last 15 hits have been home runs. That’s just stupid, like, Mark McGwire in 1998 level stupid. | |
5 | — 0 Last Week: 5 |
C.J. Wilson – Remember how everyone was saying Wilson’s peripherals didn’t match his real numbers. Yeah, they are starting to converge, and not in a good way. | |
6 | — 0 Last Week: 6 |
Ernesto Frieri – Save opportunities are starting to get real interesting with Ernasty. To think, some folks want the Angels to trade for K-Rod again. Who needs him? We have our own cardiac-arrest-inducing closer already. | |
7 | — 0 Last Week: n/a |
Dan Haren – it is good to have the old Dan Haren back. I just don’t remember the part where the old Dan Haren had Amish facial hair. | |
8 | -1 Last Week: 9 |
Torii Hunter – The power has gone missing again, but he’s still proving to be a nice fit in the two-hole. I still don’t know if he is earning himself another contract though. | |
9 | -1 Last Week: 8 |
Scott Downs – This is starting to go from Downs being overdue to give up some runs to him being disturbingly ineffective since the break. | |
10 | — 0 Last Week: 10 |
Alberto Callaspo – I’m not sure if it is a testament to Callaspo or to how poor the third base market is that the Angels haven’t been linked to any trades for upgrades at the hot corner. | |
11 | -4 Last Week: 7 |
Kendrys Morales – It is funny to think that some people believe K-Mo is a real trade chip when he is probably a week away from falling to a platoon at DH with Vernon freaking Wells. | |
12 | — 0 Last Week: n/a |
Garrett Richards – With his ability to keep his velocity at 96 MPH late into the game, Richards could be a nightmare for opposing batters once he learns the finer points of pitching. | |
13 | -1 Last Week: 12 |
Howie Kendrick – With Aybar out, I guess this means that Scioscia is going to have to stop benching Howie once a week, right? Right????? | |
14 | -3 Last Week: 11 |
Erick Aybar – Maybe this is a blessing in disguise? Aybar’s bat was headed back into the tank this week before he shot himself in the foot, semi-figuratively. | |
15 | -1 Last Week: 14 |
Jason Isringhausen – He has appeared in only two games since the All-Star break despite the Angels having an overworked bullpen. I guess he is back to his old role of being underutilized for no apparent reason. | |
16 | -3 Last Week: 13 |
LaTroy Hawkins – What is with all the old guy relievers struggling after getting four days off? Isn’t it supposed to work the other way around? | |
17 | +1 Last Week: 18 |
Maicer Izturis – Now would be a real good time for Maicer to stop having the worst season of his career. | |
18 | -3 Last Week: 15 |
Peter Bourjos – The .519 OPS Petey has posted this month is not helping his trade value nor is it helping him convince the Angels that he shouldn’t be traded. | |
19 | +1 Last Week: 20 |
Bobby Wilson – After seeing the Fat Catcher Jig, I take back every bad thing I said about Bobby Wilson and can only hope he starts slugging homers at a Trumbo-nian pace. | |
20 | +5 Last Week: 25 |
Kevin Jepsen – All of the sudden, Kevin Jepsen is a middle relief linchpin. Be afraid. Be very afraid. | |
21 | -5 Last Week: 16 |
Jerome Williams – I’m not saying Jerome didn’t deserve to lose his rotation spot, I just don’t know that he deserved to be the first Angels starter to get kicked to the curb. | |
22 | +1 Last Week: 23 |
David Carpenter – His ERA in June was 2.63 and his ERA in July is 1.81. That apparently gets you sent down to the minors in this day and age. | |
23 | -2 Last Week: 21 |
John Hester – When Iannetta returns, Hester might get to hang around as a third catcher… for some reason. | |
24 | -2 Last Week: 22 |
Hisanori Takahashi – Hey, Jerry, I know you’re busy looking for a new starting pitcher, but let’s not forget about the need for another southpaw reliever either. | |
25 | -8 Last Week: 17 |
Ervin Santana – Go to your room, Ervin. And don’t come out until you think about what you’ve done, or until Dipoto DFAs you. |
Biggest Riser: Jepsen, up five spots
Biggest Dropper: Santana, down eight spots
Added to the rankings: Dan Haren (activated from DL), Garrett Richards (promoted)
Dropped from rankings: Jordan Walden (placed on DL), Andrew Romine (demoted, not that anyone ever knew he was there)
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