Angels Player Power Rankings - Week 7

Now that the Angels season has limped past the quarter pole, it is time for a shake up in the Angel Player Power Rankings. No longer shall the rankings factor in any preconceived notions we had about players entering the season. That’s great news for Mark Trumbo and not so great news for Albert Pujols and Howie Kendrick.

As always, the rankings are based on a player’s overall season performance with a weight on recent performance.

RANK	PLAYER	CHANGE	COMMENTS
1		+2 Last Week: 3	Mark Trumbo – Not only is he beating the hell out of the ball right now, he is also talking a big game in terms of his approach and general hitting philosophy that I almost wish the Halos had named him the interim hitting coach.
2		— 0 Last Week: 2	Jered Weaver – If not for Weaver, the Angels would’ve been swept by the lowly Padres. That still doesn’t atone for the egg he laid in Texas though.
3		+1 Last Week: 4	Mike Trout – One can’t help but wonder what the Angel record would be if Mike Trout had been a starter since Opening Day.
4		-3 Last Week: 1	C.J. Wilson – All that respect I was talking about C.J. earning for his consecutive starts against Texas went out the window when he crapped the bed against the White Sox.
5		+2 Last Week: 7	Scott Downs – Scott Downs hasn’t allowed a run to score all year and still somehow is losing his grip on the closer’s job.
6		+4 Last Week: 10	Ernesto Frieri – The only thing more futile than the Angels offense is opposing batters trying to make contact with Frieri’s tailing fastball. Just look at his stats as an Angel: 25 batters faced, 14 strikeouts, 0 hits.
7		+5 Last Week: 12	Ervin Santana – Ervin had a heck of a week with just two runs allowed in 13.2 innings of work. Too bad he only got one win to show for it.
8		+1 Last Week: 9	Dan Haren – Good news: Haren’s back problem looks like it is better. Bad news: Haren’s run support problem might be getting worse.
9		+2 Last Week: 11	Kendrys Morales – Pinch-hitting is not his strong suit.
10		-5 Last Week: 5	Howie Kendrick – The GA-stache is gone, but the inability to hit with runners in scoring position remains.
11		+3 Last Week: 14	Jerome Williams – Can Jerome get himself some Comeback Player of the Year love?
12		+3 Last Week: 15	Jordan Walden – Since losing the closer gig, Waldo has pitcher 7.2 innings, allowed three hits, three walks, zero runs while fanning six batters. If only the rest of the Angel relieves could be as bad as Scioscia thinks he is.
13		— 0 Last Week: 13	Maicer Izturis – Izzy had been hitting so well that he’s been playing almost everyday this month. All that action finally seems to have caught up to Mr. Glass though and he hit the wall, going hitless in his last 16 at-bats.
14		-6 Last Week: 8	Albert Pujols – I hate to move him down after a week in which he hit two homers, but we aren’t allowing pre-season expectations to factor in anymore and he pretty much didn’t do anything else this week. Sorry, Albert.
15		+1 Last Week: 16	Alberto Callaspo – Callaspo has been coming on lately, but 3 extra-base hits all season? Even Reggie Willits thinks that’s weak.
16		+1 Last Week: 17	Peter Bourjos – I am convinced that the babyfaced Bourjos grew the beard he is currently rocking as some sort of clever ruse to trick Scioscia into thinking he was actually an old veteran player and thus deserving of playing everyday no matter how poorly he performs. Unfortunately for Peter, the beard is just too patchy to fool anyone.
17		+2 Last Week: 19	Erick Aybar – I’m sure it is just a coincidence, but Aybar has caught fire since Mickey Hatcher was fired. Yes… a coincidence… riiiiiiiiiight.
18		— 0 Last Week: 18	Vernon Wells – It is the most Vernon Wells thing ever for him to finally be on a bit of a hot streak and then injure himself. Oh, Vernon.
19		+2 Last Week: 21	David Carpenter – Before his gutsy effort on Sunday, the comment here was not going to be nearly as friendly.
20		+2 Last Week: 22	Jason Isringhausen – Even when he pitches well, his outings are rather harrowing, especially yesterday’s adventure in San Diego. Woof.
21		+1 Last Week: 23	Hisanori Takahashi – After pitching just twice since April 27th, Taka made four appearances in the last week. More importantly, he only allowed two hits this week.
22		-2 Last Week: 20	Bobby Wilson – I hereby dub thee Jeff FAThis.
23		+1 Last Week: 24	John Hester – He can’t possibly have endeared himself to Lord of Catchers Scioscia with his bad fielding decision that basically cost the Angels the game on Saturday in addition to his inability to get a sacrifice bunt down.
24		— 0 Last Week: n/a	Ryan Langerhans – Hey, new guy, a little advice for you. If your first at-bat of the season comes with the game-tying run at third base with two outs in the ninth, you might want to think about swinging the bat. Also, don’t butcher a flyball and then smash your shoulder into the wall. Just a suggestion.
25		— 0 Last Week: 25	David Pauley – YOU CAN’T EVEN GET A PITCHER OUT, YOU BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!