It all really depends on if the Angels bring back Chone Figgins or not. Wood’s name will also come up a lot in trade rumors over the winter. He has not played too well to this point in his major league career. He has played in 86 games in his major league career and he is 43 for 224 (.192 avg, .535 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 7 homers, 19 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has shown a lot of holes in his swing at the major league level so far as he has whiffed 74 times. But, in his defense Wood has never got an extended shot to show what he can do in the majors. I think that it’s more likely that the Angels will trade Wood than start him in 2010.

The Los Angeles Angels were crushed 10-1 by the New York Yankees in game four tonight and things do not look promising for the Angels, now down 3-1 in the series.  The Angels did not get a quality start out of starting pitcher Scott Kazmir, who only lasted four innings.  He gave up four runs on four hits and really struggled with his control, walking four batters.  The Yankees offense exploded for five runs in the fourth and fifth innings and got five more in the eighth and ninth.  The Angels have not been able to stop Alex Rodriguez, who had his third homer tonight in as many games.  The Angels got terrible production from their 1-4 hitters tonight, with Chone Figgins, Bobby Abreu, Torrie Hunter, and Vladimir Guerrero going a combined 1-14 tonight.  If that continues their season will be over after game five.

The Angels had a big opportunity in the 5th inning to get themselves back in the game, but failed to get much out of it.  After Kendry Morales led the inning off with a homer the Angels got a little rally going, but with two men on Bobby Abreu popped out to center on a hanging slider.  The Angels had a bad performance by their starting pitcher as well as their bullpen.  The offense could only get five hits, while the Yankees offense was able to get 13.  So, this was not a good effort by the Angels tonight and it looks like their World Series hopes are floating away.  It is now desperation time for the Angels and they will have their ace John Lackey going in game five, and they are still at home so it is not impossible to get themselves back in this series.  Lackey had a decent start in game one for the Angels, but errors killed them and Lackey lasted 5.2 innings and gave up four runs (only two earned).  The Yankees will have A.J. Burnett starting who gave up 2 ER in 6.1 innings pitched in game two.

The Los Angeles Angels are now down 0-2 in their ALCS against the New York Yankees, and errors have really been hurting their chances in this series.  The Angels had three errors in their 4-1 game one loss where C.C. Sabathia shut them down, and a solid start by John Lackey was wasted.  They followed that poor defensive performance with another one in game two, as they had two errors.  None were more costly than Maicer Izturiz’s 13 inning throwing error, as Jerry Hairston Jr. came around to score the game winning run on the play.

The Angels got a huge, clutch RBI single from Chone Figgins in the top of the 11th to put the Angels up 3-2.  That lead did not last very long though, as Alex Rodriguez hit a lead-off homer in the bottom of the 11th to tie it up.  It stole all of the momentum as Yankee fans went nuts and the 13th inning error by Izturiz handed them the victory.  The Angels really need to sharpen up their defense or they will be swept.  I think they can turn things around at home and the nice California weather will be a good change after the terrible conditions in New York.  With Alex Rodriguez acting more like Derek Jeter this October, the Angels have their hands full.  David Robertson got the win for the Yankees and Ervin Santana got the loss for the Angels.

With Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter both still out of action due to injury, the Angels need Gary Matthews to step up. Matthews has played in 66 games for the Angels this season and he is 51 for 219 (.233 avg, .620 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 2 homers, 32 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. It’s too bad the Angels are paying for the HGH Matthews and are getting the clean one.

Remember back in April when Casey Kotchman was looking like an MVP candidate? He played in 25 games in April and he was 30 for 92 (.326 avg) with 13 runs scored, 6 homers and 19 RBIs. Even since then his power has disappeared. Kotchman has played in 71 games the last three months and he is 73 for 264 (.277 avg) with 31 runs scored, 3 homers and 29 RBIs. Still, Kotchman is a good all-around baseball player as he is an outstanding defender so he is in no danger of losing playing time any time soon. But don’t be surprised if the Angels move him as part of a trade for a legit power hitting 1B before next week.