Is this another Wood tease?

It is the first question you have to ask, isn't it?

Now that you know Brandon Wood and Bobby Wilson have been called up from triple-A to replace Torii Hunter and Vlad Guerrero, who both went on the 15-day disabled list, only one thing pops into your mind.

Is this another Wood tease? Are they finally calling him up to let him play? Or are they going to do what they've done in the past: Shake his hand and tell him to take a seat on the bench.

This could be Mike Scioscia's final litmus test when it comes to the club's No. 1 prospect. If tonight's lineup against the Yankees finds Gary Matthews Jr. in center field and Mike Napoli as the DH, you know that Wood won't be in there every day while Hunter and Guerrero are out. He might play against Andy Pettitte or any other left-handers the Angels see in that span, but that's it.

If, however, Scioscia takes the big leap, putting Chone Figgins in center and stationing Wood at third, well, then you know he is finally ready to give this kid the chance he deserves, at least for the next nine games.

Figgins has played brilliantly at third, and I can understand not wanting to tinker with the defense. But Wood is, by the manager's own admission, a future Gold Glove candidate at the position. So the drop off shouldn't be too noticeable. Offensively, there is no question that Wood and his emerging power are a more intriguing possibility than Matthews and his limp bat.

Wood is definitely ready. He has been ready since spring training. Does that guarantee he'll immediately start crushing the ball? Hardly. This is still a big jump. But this kid has done everything the organization has asked, improving steadily along the way and hitting home runs in bunches everywhere he's played.

What don't they like about him? No one will say. He still strikes out a lot. But so do almost all pure power hitters. Check out Ryan Howard and his ilk. They all pile up the strikeouts. But you live with it because they drive in runs on a consistent basis. Besides, Wood's strikeout totals have been decreasing, not increasing, of late.

Let's assume Wood is allowed to play. Let's also take the positive jump to say he hits well in the next nine-game span. Then what does Scioscia do when Hunter and Guerrero get back? You know the answer to that as well as I do.

Wood will be gone again. Ah, but what if Hunter returns and Guerrero, whose injuries appear more serious, doesn't? Then what happens? Will Wood be kept in the lineup DHing, playing some third and maybe even spelling Kendry Morales at first base against left-handed pitching?

One thing is for sure here. Nobody wanted to see Hunter and Guerrero put on the DL in the middle of a tight division race.

But now that the Angels have made that difficult decision, the next couple of weeks could be very interesting.

-- Steve Bisheff 

File photo of Brandon Wood from September2008, by Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

  

Comments

[Tom S]

I will take the overs that Wood will not play in more than three games.

[bseballcrzy17]

Steve -

I totally agree with everything you're saying, but you and I both know that Wood is going to sit on the bench.... again. There's no way they move Figgy (even though they should). There's also no way they have the "cajones" to sit Aybar in favor of Wood.

So, really, this is just another cut in the already stunted growth pattern of Brandon Wood

[Kevin S]

Brandon Wood is ready and needs to play now.
Like it matters what I or anyone else says.
He has done everything he can to earn a spot on the big club.
Like it matters than he has done that.

What does MS have against this guy. I just don't get it.
This is the time to give him his shot.

[Brian C.]

Scioscia will stay the course....Izturis/Aybar at short, Izturis/Kendrick at second, Figgins at third and Napoli/Abreu at DH. This will be another stop for a cup of coffee for Wood. There is just something that nobody can figure out what the organization had against Wood. I mean any other team who had a guy like him who had the kind of spring he had and the kind of season he has had in the minors would find a spot for him in their lineup. But the Angels??? they just have a problem with giving guys a true opportunity to show what they could do in the big leagues. Look how long it took them to give Morales the full time chance at first.

[GregC]

Scioscia has absolutely no idea how to handle rookies. Don't take me as saying he's anything other than a very fine manager because I think he is. But you can't bring up a hot rookie, pinch hit, sit, play one game, sit, pinch hit, sit, sit, and sit. Rookies are usually very poor hitters. They could have played Rodridguez but followed the pattern I just outlined. Unreal. You should bring a hot rookie up, stick him in the lineup and give him five games and evaluate.

I just don't understand what Scioscia has against guys with power; maybe it's because he didn't have any either (ok, possibly a cheap shot there).

BTW, I agree with Tom S. above - he doesn't get a real shot here. I just don't understand why they don't trade him and fill a need. There are a lot of teams who apparently value Wood higher than the Angels. See if Baltimore will let go of one of their REALLY fine young pitchers (Tillman or Matusz).

[GregC]

Dang, I meant to say "rookies are usually very poor PINCH hitters".

[shaun]

Where would Wood play? I doubt that the Angels would move Figgins to CF, after he hasn't played there in like 3 years. Is he shagging fly balls in the OF?

I think Wood is up just to provide added depth on the infield. The only way he gets any at bats is if MS decides that he wants to use him at DH.

His time will come in 2010, either with or without the Angels.

[Brian]

These wins over the hated Yankees have been great. Brandon showed he needs to stick around for good. Nice two run homer in the 5th to make it a one run game. My only worry about this team is the starting pitching. These guys have to start doing their jobs. No more going only five innings and making the bullpen work a lot. How can they be so bad? Lackey better step up on Sunday and get the sweep. This guy has been one huge disappointment even going back to last year. All his talk to the media about the Angels not stepping up and giving him the big contract. Hey Lackey, how about showing you deserve it? This isn't how an ace pitches. I want to see you outduel CC Sabathia. You want Sabathia money, can you beat him?