Is it time to give up on Brandon Wood

by Bravesin07 on Apr 17, 2025 4:35 PM EDT

I know John has these sometimes and sometime they workout in the end ie. Justin Morneau but Brandon Wood is beginning to look like one of those classic 4A players. Too good for the minors, but can't hack it in the majors. Granted he's still only 25, but he's hitting under .100 with many K's and already has made 3 errors at 3rd. How much longer would you give him until he is officially done as a potential everyday player.

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Read More: Brandon Wood (SS - PIT), Justin Morneau (1B - MIN)

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I say give him a couple of more games. But yeah your right it doesnt look like he will ever be good.

by Yankees10 on Apr 17, 2025 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going to sound crazy here

But we always knew that even in the best case, Wood was going to need a full season or two to show his true major league ability. So at the very least, he needs a full season.

He’s not really a .100 hitter, obviously. Things will get better.

by mrkupe on Apr 17, 2025 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

I’m not sure Scioscia will have the patience though.

by jar75 on Apr 17, 2025 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd give him the whole season, or at least half of it

I don’t quite remember the impatience the early eras had for rookie players than the 2000s do. How does a few hundred at-bats here and there and innings pitched here and there count as “failure?”

I don’t think Wood will ever be as the Angels expected, but heck, if Joe Crede and other players like him got a chance, why not give it to Wood? It takes some players more time to develop than others, after all.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Apr 17, 2025 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Agon....

He was bad with Texas and a .250 hitter with a .300 OBP for several moths with SD until somehow the light just came on.

I don’t expect that type of resurgence for Wood, but I would give him at least a month or 2 to see where is his at at the plate

JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook

by laxtonto on Apr 17, 2025 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

No

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Apr 17, 2025 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

This is ridiculous.

The guy has had two weeks this season. The Angels have never really given him a chance before now. No, it is nowhere near time to give up on Brandon Wood.

This has to be one of the most batshit crazy fanposts I’ve seen since Dewey stopped posting his every thought.

by RedSoxFaithful on Apr 17, 2025 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe

But he’s a guy who has always had a ridiculous strikeout rate and, while putting up great offensive numbers in the minors, has mostly played in very hitter friendly leagues. I think he could end up being solid, but we’re probably talking more Pedro Feliz than Troy Glaus.

by Fanon on Apr 17, 2025 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

No way you give up on a 25 year old

who has had two weeks to start… in his career. He never got a shot, and the Angels didnt even know what position they wanted him to play. He needs at least the whole season, and possibly into next season, to call him a AAAA player.

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 17, 2025 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

Agree...

with most, he needs more time. But gut wise, I’ve given up on him a while ago … he frankly reminds me Joel Guzman who just never looked like he had a clue at the plate against advanced pitching in the majors.

by hybrid on Apr 17, 2025 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

agree way too early

and, yet, the guy simply can’t hit a curve ball. I’m not sure that can be rectified.

by scooter on Apr 17, 2025 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't give up on him due to sample size

But there are legit concerns about his ability to handle MLB level pitching. He can likely hit 25 homeruns but if he is doing that with a .230 avg I am not sure I want him on my team at third.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Apr 17, 2025 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Stick a fork in him Jerry

- overrated to begin with
- minor league numbers inflated by favorable hitting environments
- a contending team cannot afford to have an automatic out in the lineup, especially with bad defense
- his development got all messed up by being jerked around up n down (majors/minors)

Did Wood get a fair chance? I don’t think so. However, at this point he doesn’t look like he deserves one anymore.

JOSH THOLE > carlos santana

by Dewey Finn on Apr 17, 2025 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

Um

Many good point there but, If you think he’s a bad defender you haven’t been watching the games - a few errors notwithstanding

by casejud on Apr 17, 2025 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

my bad

I shouldn’t put too much stock into his recent defensive lapses.

JOSH THOLE > carlos santana

by Dewey Finn on Apr 17, 2025 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

bad defense?

You’ve clearly never seen him play. He’s slick as can be, could still handle SS in my opinion. I also think the inflated number thing isn’t such an issue. His park adjusted numbers would do very well.

I think it’s two things that are very clear if you watch him:

-he can’t hit a major league curve ball.
-he’s still young and has had minimal shots at the major league level, so is still adjusting.

I think there’s truth to both. Which is “more” true I’m not sure, but I certainly wouldn’t give up on him yet even if there’s plenty of reason to worry.

by scooter on Apr 17, 2025 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

He is generally considered a top notch defender at 3rd who could handle SS at least passably if asked. He has undeniable power potential as well. Its two week, give him time

by Navi's_Navy on Apr 17, 2025 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

He came up as a SS

was moved off because of needs, I believe.

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 17, 2025 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

had this debate the other day

I think the Angels will pull the plug soon, and plug in Izturis or possibly trade for Mike Lowell or another 3b type. I don’ t think it is necessarily the thing to do, though. I think Wood will end up getting traded to a team like the Padres or A’s where he will be given a chance to play without the pressure of knowing that if he doesn’t succeed right away, the team will stick with him. Yes, he was named the Angel starter, but this was the same year they gave Izturis a deal (two years?) so he is always looking over his shoulder , and he has been doing this for a few years now.

The kid has too much talent that cannot be taught. Yes his numbers might have been a bit inflated, but he had one of the best seasons in minor league history while in Rancho Cucamonga, a place where a lot of good/great players have called home and had less success.

Hitting is the hardest thing to do in sports, and it is even harder when you press to succeed. It seems every shot he’s been given has been of the ten day variety when there was always a fallback plan if he didn’t thrive. . It’s just hard to succeed in those opportunities. .

my 2 cents

by SoCalSoxFan on Apr 17, 2025 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

3 cents

…at least, good points there. As a Padre guy, Id love to see him come over and play SS, and Everth Cabrera play 2b. Not that I don’t love David Eckstein and all.

When you wrote about how hard it is to hit in this game it made me think of Chase Headley last season- he struggled for the first 3 months but, they commited to him, and kept running him out there and he began to figure the NL out.

I think some more patience is in order with Wood. To be fair, I’ve always respected that Mike Scoscia isn’t running a tryout camp over there - he’s playing to win - but It isn’t the best environment to develop a player who needs consistent AB’s to get in a groove. But, hey, he gave Wood the starting job right? Hopefully he’ll start to join the party soon. He has to start to hit at some point- its a long season.

by casejud on Apr 18, 2025 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

He's fine.

He’s never going to hit for a high AVG. His offensive abilities were exaggerated by the Angels’ ridiculously hitter friendly minor league environments. He’s a low AVG, good power, decent defense 3B. Nothing to get excited about. Izturis is a slightly better player.

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by alskor on Apr 18, 2025 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

Izturis.

Is what he is though, you know what you are gonna get. Solid average play across the board, but nit the production you want out of a 3b… If something does click with Wood, he could be much more than Izturis.

We are talkin about a guy who had great numbers, yes, inflated a bit, but his inflated numbers in the Cal league were better than any other hitter perhaps in the history of the league.

by SoCalSoxFan on Apr 18, 2025 1:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i think given the chance, he can succeed

But I still think Scoscia still has the delusion that the Halos are a contending team and I think Maicer will start cutting into his ABs soon. At 25, he better start showing something soon or I can see a Dallas McPherson comp (I actually always thought he was a good low-end comp for Wood, though I still have hope that he can do better)

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by The Congo Hammer on Apr 18, 2025 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

As long as he doesn't have the back injury

I would think he’s got a pretty good shot to be better than DMac. I’d love to see him end up on the A’s with a shot to play, but really the kid just needs a full season at minimum to show what he can do.

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by gatling on Apr 18, 2025 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions