Angels Player Power Rankings - Week 3

The Angels just finished another crazy and frustrating week, so to no one's surprise, the rankings have seen arguably the biggest shake up in history, not the least of which is a new player atop the rankings…

RANK	PLAYER	CHANGE	COMMENTS
1		+1 Last Week: 2	Albert Pujols – If he keeps showing this improved plate discipline, then maybe it is best that his plantar fasciitis never gets better, even if it hurts me to watch him so much as jog to first base after a walk.
2		-1 Last Week: 1	Mike Trout – Wait, now that I've dropped him down to the two-hole in the power rankings, just like Scioscia did in the batting order, does that mean I am "panicking" just like Scioscia too?
3		+11 Last Week: 14	Howie Kendrick – Howie Kendrick has been the team's most clutch hitter to date. GTFO.
4		+8 Last Week: 12	Ernesto Frieri – The problem with strict bullpen roles is that in a bullpen in dire need of talent, the best reliever ends up throwing the most infrequently. FREE FRIERI!
5		-1 Last Week: 4	Mark Trumbo – His plate discipline has improved greatly thus far, unfortunately it has come at the expense of his power and ability to hit with runners in scoring position.
6		-1 Last Week:5	Chris Iannetta – He finally didn't bat 8th! Yaaa- WAIT! (Checks horizon for a swarm of locusts) (Checks the sky for the arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) We're clear. Yaaaaaaay!
7		+8 Last Week: 15	Josh Hamilton – Well look who finally decided to join the party? Two weeks late, but I guess better late than never.
8		— 0 Last Week: 8	C.J. Wilson – At a certain point, I have to assume he uses the #throwstrikes hashtag strictly because he loves irony so much.
9		+7 Last Week: 16	Garrett Richards – Not the greatest start, but certainly good enough for the Angels to feel like they aren't going to need to pump Jered Weaver full of steroids to get him back as fast as humanly possible.
10		-1 Last Week: 9	Peter Bourjos – A lot of people wanted to see what Speedy Petey could do in the leadoff role. Well, you got your chance and so far not so good. I still like the idea of him leading off against southpaws though.
11		+6 Last Week: 17	Sean Burnett – I didn't think he was ready for it, but Burnett has stepped up big time in the last week to help the Halos weather the storm.
12		-5 Last Week: 7	Jason Vargas – SMALL SAMPLE SIZE ALERT! Thus far the "The Big A is just as much of a pitcher's park as Safeco" Theory has not held up.
13		+7 Last Week: 20	Scott Downs – His outings are a lot more harrowing than they used to be still, but at least the results are there, for now.
14		-4 Last Week: 13	Alberto Callaspo – With Aybar out and the Halos in desperate need of stability in the leadoff spot and on the left side of the infield, he goes and immediately gets hurt. Of course.
15		-4 Last Week: 11	Tommy Hanson – Can handle the Rangers, but can't handle the Astros? It is going to be quite some time before we have any real idea of what the Angels really have in Tommy Hanson.
16		— 0 Last Week: n/a	Luis Jimenez – The Lucho has been Libre'd! (And, yes, I realize how terrifying it is that he is already ranked this high.)
17		+4 Last Week: 21	Hank Conger – Not only does Hank struggle to throw to second base, he apparently struggles to slide into it as well.
18		— 0 Last Week: 18	Joe Blanton – Congratulations to the winner of our "Most Hated Angel" Poll! A richly deserved honor, I must say.
19		-13 Last Week: 6	Kevin Jepsen – You made me trust you, Kevin. You made me trust you! Never again, you son of a bitch. NEVER AGAIN.
20		— 0 Last Week: n/a	Dane De La Rosa – He is one big scary looking dude on the mound, isn't he?
21		+1 Last Week: 22	Jerome Williams – At some point, Scioscia really just needs to give Williams a chance to see what he can do in non-mop-up situations. How much worse can he be than the alternatives?
22		-3 Last Week: 19	Mark Lowe – Ohhhh! So that's why the Dodgers released him during training camp.
23		+2 Last Week: 25	Andrew Romine – Romine got some playing time this week and didn't do much but he moves up in the rankings because he held the door for MWAH's own Job Ang at a local Panda Express a few days ago. Good manners go a long way around here.
24		— 0 Last Week: 24	J.B. Shuck – Let's be honest, had I told you that J.B. Shuck would get a start and bat leadoff for the Angels in April, you would've known that they were going to start the season 4-8.
25		-2 Last Week: 23	Brendan Harris – Any week that involves Brendan Harris making multiple starts is never a good week. But the real reason for his drop is that he got a new headshot and it isn't nearly as awkward as the old one.