Anaheim Angels Baseball: Chone Figgins

5’8”, 180 pounds. 

He hit .330 with 41 steals and a 2:1 triples-to-home runs ratio last season (6 to 3, respectively), despite missing ample time with two separate injuries.

And yet, the versatile Chone Figgins will spend the 2008 MLB season covering the same turf as A-Rod, Miguel Cabrera, and a host of other big leaguers preparing to out-slug him by 40+ home runs.  Fortunately for Halo fans, that’s not something the third baseman is worried about.

Figgins’ quickness electrified the Angels’ 2002 post-season, when they hit their stride and completed an improbable season by winning the franchise’s first championship.  Though mainly used as a pinch runner late in games, his ability to motor from first-to-third and first-to-home could redirect momentum and ignite the roar from fans throughout the stadium.

Everything was magical, but we should have known Figgy wouldn’t stop there.

Throughout the past few seasons, rumors of a HR-hitting third baseman coming to town came from everywhere, but Anaheim. 

The Angels were one big bat away, the critics were saying.  Figgins’ speed is great, but he’s a smaller guy with speed.  Not strength.  And in their eyes, not your stereotypical third baseman.

But the quiet Figgins let his play do the talking.

Then, after posting the aforementioned numbers last season, you’d start to think all bets would finally rest on Chone’s side. But unfortunately, through the eyes of the critics, the shed can always use a few more tools.

In a way, Figgins’ “problems” began with the potent bats of Gary Matthews Jr., Howie Kendrick, and the newly acquired Torii Hunter. He came through the Rockies’ and Angels’ organizations as a middle infielder, but Orlando Cabrera and Adam Kennedy pushed him towards the outfield grass.

With the speed to cover the gaps, he found a home in the outfield and at the top Manager Mike Scioscia’s line-up card. But with the 2007 signing of Matthews and an opening at third—a hole Figgins had filled in the past—he dusted off the his infielder’s glove and went to work.

Figgins has always been a liquid; always the guy who could fill any hole for his team.  Batting lead off. Batting ninth. Playing left field. Second base. Even rotating during the game.  The essence of a true, team player.

But it’s Figgins’ versatility that led him to the hot corner.  As you can tell, the former shortstop has done everything for the Halos, save for pitching, catching, and digging balls out of the dirt at first.

However, the filling of various positions was halted after Kendrick solidified himself at second.  And with the additions of Matthews and Hunter, it’s highly unlikely Figgins will chase flies from left-center to right-center in Halo red anytime soon.

So this leaves us with the canon arm and shotgun legs of a third baseman whose come into his own.  Chances are, the outfield seats aren’t holding their collective breaths for the balls off his bat, but combining his quickness with Scioscia’s small-ball mentality means extra bases via stolen bases.

And with a line-up comprised of potent bats, a threat along the base paths lead to well-hit balls that come from misplaced pitches.

Now, with what's stated above, how does Figgins stack up with the sluggers he shares his position with? The answer is: there is no answer.

How can we, as writers and/or fans and/or critics, continue to stack players side-by-side when they're becoming hybrids?

Take Ian Kinsler and Robinson Cano, for example. Second basemen have long been considered the speedy, SB-threats who play great defense and provide a quick release to sure up double plays. Yes, those two players are more than capable of those abilities, but they can also hit for power.

We've seen Kinsler's strength, slugging over 20 HR's last season. Cano's also proven himself more than available to launch a long ball into the bleachers of Yankee Stadium.

Tony Reagins, the Halos' new GM, understands the value of Chone Figgins. The same could be said for former GM Bill Stoneman, whose signing of Matthews put Figgins at third.

Critics can say what they want. But as long as metal spikes touch the plate, the runs will count, no matter if the player was sprinting or trotting.

Either way, you can bet Chone Figgins doesn’t care. As long as his Halos in the running, come October.