With Wood, Patience is the Key

Brandon Wood was called up for another stint with the LA Angels last week, and thus far, he hasn’t shown the ability that made him the Angels top prospect in both 2006 and 2007. While many fans have called for a trade or a demotion (at the very least), this writer is holding out hope for our young third baseman/shortstop.

Brandon Wood’s career has been marked by high power numbers, high slugging percentages and even higher strikeout totals. In 2005, as a 20 year-old on the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Wood clubbed 43 home runs, had a .667 slugging percentage and struck out 128 times in 536 at-bats. Since then, Wood has seen his power numbers dip, but has also seen his strikeout total go down. In 2007, as a member of the Salt Lake City Bees, Wood hit 25 homers and struck out 120 times in 437 at-bats. While the power has dropped off more than the strikeouts, there is still reason for the Halos faithful to be excited about this super prospect.

Though he will probably never live up to the unbelieveably high bar he set for himself in 2005, Brandon Wood has shown small flairs of hitting ability in the major leagues. Though his numbers might disagree, Brandon is just beginning to come into his own as a Major League hitter. His at-bats in the last 4 games have been viewed as more “comfortable”, more “productive” and just all-around “better”. His pitch selection has been consistently better, and he is starting to make contact with the ball more often. Case and point – last night’s game against the Detriot Tigers.

In his first AB, Wood took a 1-2 pitch deep to centerfield, only to have it caught by Curtis Granderson, who banged up against the wall while making the catch. In his at-bat in the 11th inning, Wood hit a line shot down the third base line, only to be robbed, once again, by Carlos Guillen. The reason I brought these up? Brandon Wood’s swing is starting to come around, and that is an exciting occasion.

He has shown more patience at the plate in the last 4 games than I have ever seen from him, and he’s hitting the ball harder now than he ever has in the majors. Though he is only batting .122 this season, one thing to remember is that he’s done so with non-consistent playing time and only a few at-bats. His 2008 line at AAA Salt Lake is .270/.321/.557 with 9 homers and 38 strikeouts in 122 at-bats. Is there reason to believe that Wood is starting to figure out pitching and will soon put up big league numbers like his AAA numbers? You had better believe it.

I fully expect Brandon Wood to break out of his slump within the next week, and when that day arrives, we will all see why management has stuck with him, and why we have no reason to worry.