Mike Napoli: .246/.319/.485
Jeff Mathis: .192/.215/.282

Guess which guy was put on waivers?

Probably both of them. Reagins said something about most of the players on the team being placed on waivers, which is common practice around the trade deadline. We know about Napoli because he was claimed.

It would have really been news if somebody had claimed Mathis.

It would have really been news if somebody had claimed Mathis.

Because Reagins wouldn't have pulled him back or because he would?

Mathis is amazingly terrible at the bat, but Brandon Wood blows my ####### mind. Last I checked, R.A. Dickey had superior batting lines for his career and for this season.

Mathis is amazingly terrible at the bat, but Brandon Wood blows my ####### mind.

To date, Brandon Wood has been a worse hitter in the majors (career 0.476 OPS, 26 OPS+) than Kevin Cash (0.528 OPS, 37 OPS+). It never occured to me that this was a possible achievement, given that Kevin Cash has the sort of swing that makes you question whether he's ever held a bat before in his life.

There has been some debate about how much a hitting coach is responsible for player results. Before this year I thought the worst case scenario for a AAA slugger given a decent shot in the big leagues is something like Ande Marte's career batting line. Brandon Wood just blows that away. His batting is worse than any non-pitcher capable of playing AAA should ever be - and I'm talking about defensive catchers and shortstops, not just former BA top 100 prospects.

Something is rotten. It happend under Mickey Hatcher's watch. Mickey has to go.

Because Reagins wouldn't have pulled him back or because he would?

I suspect Reagins would have been happy to see him gone, Scioscia not so much. Not sure who would have won.

To date, Brandon Wood has been a worse hitter in the majors (career 0.476 OPS, 26 OPS+) than Kevin Cash (0.528 OPS, 37 OPS+). It never occured to me that this was a possible achievement, given that Kevin Cash has the sort of swing that makes you question whether he's ever held a bat before in his life.

Hold Brandon close to your heart, for futility this futile doesn't come around very often.

Wood hits like he isn't using his corrective lenses or possibly suffers from some neuromuscular disorder.

Mega-long games aren’t quite as fun post-roster expansion, as you’re less likely to see the goofy stuff like people playing odd positions.

Angels would have won earlier if Dan Haren had been allowed to hit.

Hold Brandon close to your heart, for futility this futile doesn't come around very often.

It is fascinating, isn't it? As terrible as it is, I just can't look away.

Wood hits like he isn't using his corrective lenses or possibly suffers from some neuromuscular disorder.

Let's hope it's the former. The Angels have already had enough bad #### happen to their players over the years.

It is fascinating, isn't it? As terrible as it is, I just can't look away.

And it's not like he's hitting in bad luck (note: I haven't really seen him play lately, so this only applies to earlier in the season). He struggles mightily to make contact and, when he does, it's a pop-up or a dribbler. He's worse than Wil Nieves, Yankees edition. By a lot. It's extraordinary.

Edit: I just realized who Wood reminds me of. Brandon Inge his first season when the Tigers were trying to make him a catcher.

I just realized who Wood reminds me of. Brandon Inge his first season when the Tigers were trying to make him a catcher.

Yeah, Inge just looked hopeless his first couple of years at bat. His development into a decent player is stunning to me - I never thought he'd be anything more than a backup.

four hours, 57 minutes and 16 pitchers

Just your typical Yanks-Sox tilt.

Yeah, Inge just looked hopeless his first couple of years at bat. His development into a decent player is stunning to me - I never thought he'd be anything more than a backup.

He just wasn't cut out to catch. I actually wonder if he couldn't have played shortstop, considering that was his natural position and he was a fine defensive third baseman.

When Wood was still playing regularly, it looked to me like he was so conscious of being disciplined at the plate and waiting for the right pitch that he just wouldn't swing at anything early in the count. Sure enough, he'd take strike and strike two. At that point, he was going to swing at anything. I don't know if that was his approach in the minors. I'm not sure how many first or second pitches he swung at, but it sure didn't seem like very many. I still get the feeling that if he had some early success, like a first two weeks where he hit .350 or something, it would have been a completely different season for him.

Physically he has the tools to be a good hitter. He's got the strength, the quick wrists... If he ends up somewhere with a coach who knows how to get him right, he could still end up a good hitter. It's just not going to happen with the Angels. With the exception of Morales, after watching Kotchman, McPherson, Wood, to some extent Kendrick, etc., I'm starting to think the Angels should just draft nothing but pitchers and either trade for hitters or sign them in free agency.