Kelvim Escobar: Did Angels Know Something We Didn't?

The other day, my friend and I were in the middle of a conversation about the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  Or, as us long-time fans prefer: the Anaheim Angels, Halos, etc.

But nonetheless, we were exchanging dialogue in regards to the way Spring Training left our squad with injuries in the two positions we had the most depth in.  And first of all, let me just say this: Some fans like to personalize their teams [ie: "we had the most depth in"], while others prefer to keep a little distance between the pros and...well, joes.

However, when you pay to see your favorite team play throughout the season, you're sticking money in [our case] Arte Moreno's pocket, so he can pay Vlad and Torii and Gary, along with the rest of the team.

Now that I've released those shenanigans...

There we were: My friend and I in a comfortable booth with the Halos on our mind.  Both of us are long-time fans, who grew up playing the game while experiencing many-a-"light up the Halo" endings after Angel wins.

Suddenly, my friend scratched his head and openly pondered, "Don't you think it's a bit peculiar that [Kelvim] Escobar probably won't pitch this year, but we're okay 'cause we've got [Jon] Garland?"

Obviously, the same could be said for adding Torii Hunter to the team's outfield corps.  But with Vladimir Guerrero's knees and Garret Anderson's aging body, it makes sense to use the team's revolving door DH slot to spell each guy from time to time without losing run support.

But pitching-wise, to give up clubhouse leader Orlando Cabrera for Garland - a fine pitcher who's had plenty of success - just doesn't make much sense when you already have six pitchers for a five-spot rotation.

So I'll put it out there, in lieu of my friend's absence: What did Angels GM Tony Reagins and the rest of the front office staff know about Escobar that we did not?

Frankly, I'm not the type of writer, nor fan, who believes particular idioms should leak from a team's plumbing.  The baseball season is a chess match that spans eight months.; their secretive with their signals, so why wouldn't they be about their in-house qualms?

Obviously, I can't investigate this matter because I don't have the credentials.  But I'd love to get a few minutes with Reagins to ask him about the matter.  I'm sure it's happened everywhere, but acquiring Hunter and Garland might've just saved the Halos' season.

At any rate, I bet Reagins is amazing at Battleship and Chess.

Thank God he's on my side.