Angels Mania

New blog, new name

2007-04-13T05:51:09Z

My new blog for 2007 is entitled Heavenly Halos and the link is:
http://heavenlyhalos.mlblogs.com/heavenly_halos/

Axe falls on A's Mgr. Macha

2006-10-17T01:54:00Z

Wow, what does it take to keep a job in Oakland. The man averages 92 wins and is fired after leading the team to the championship series. Unbelievable.
I never want this team to win, but I really want them to tank now. The upper management just doesn't know how to treat their hard-working employees. This manager did more with less than just about anyone.

Unbelievable.

Twins need to come back

2006-10-04T01:51:48Z

Given my hubby's Minnesota roots, I am cheering for them in the series against the hated A's. I didn't see the game but I noticed in the scoreboard that they had two errors in their 3-2 loss today. The Twins will have to clean up their game if they want to beat this team. The A's are incredibly opportunistic, if you give them an opening they will take advantage. That is what worked for them all season. We'll see what happens next.
The other AL series isn't looking good for the team I'm rooting for-- Detroit is losing badly to the dreaded Yankees. But it is only the 5th inning, so there is time for them to come back. It is 5-1 at this point.
We'll have to check in later.

More on Mr. Angel

2006-10-03T03:42:38Z

For more on Tim Salmon, please read the article I've linked by the Orange County Register's Steve Bisheff. http://ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/pros/angels/columns/article_1290703.php

Salute to the King Fish!

2006-10-03T02:28:23Z

It has literally taken me a day to get over the last goodbye. Tim Salmon's last game is now just a memory, but it was a tremendous day. The Angels really know how to send a guy into retirement in style-- there were so many special touches that made it magical and so fitting a tribute to a career Angel like Salmon.
The field was sculpted with the Angels' logo and Salmon's name and number. His wife and family threw the ceremonial first pitch. Salmon received it with the help of a couple of his kids. Throughout the game there were moving tributes to him covering his entire career and highlights as well as his vast philanthropic efforts in the community.

I will admit to being extremely emotional and a bit nostalgic. I was in tears-- the tributes were lovely and so true. Tim Salmon is an amazing human being who happens to be a darn good ball player. He has so graciously given to the fans and always appreciated what has been given to him. He set a precedence in the club by refusing arbitration and remaining with the club. Teammates Darin Erstad and Garret Anderson followed suit. He was a quiet leader. He led by example. Kids today need to look up to more players like him.

Tim is retiring and returning to his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. His children and wife are going to be his focus and that is a good thing for them. I will miss him, but I hope that he'll stay in touch with the people of southern California.

Last gasps in an inconsistent season

2006-09-25T00:46:47Z

Well, the boys pulled out another win against the underpaid, hard-working Oakland A's. It staved off the inevitable, a playoff-less off season. The A's need just one more win to clinch the Division title.
One good thing that came of it, is the gutty performances by several rookies. Jered Weaver showed some great stuff and we can look for him to be a solid performer for many years to come. Howie Kendrick is someone to watch as is the fabulous Mike Napoli. Napoli was quite a presence behind the plate and will settle down as a hitter.

Juan Rivera has proven to be a solid asset to the team and we'll have to wait and see if the Angels can find a permanent position for him. Speaking of permanent positions, the team must solidify their position players. There are too many unknowns. We are not solid at 3rd or 1st and the outfield has been scheduled according to who is or is not injured. The incredible, hard-working Darin Erstad has been plagued by injury all season and with that we lost more than a golden glove fielder (first to earn this honor in both the infield and outfield); we lost a team leader on the field and the clubhouse.

According to reports in the newspaper, look for the Angels to get a powerful bat in the offseason. At this point I don't care who it is, although I hope it isn't a trouble-maker (if you have questions about that comment think back to Jose Guillen).

My unsolicited advice is that the Angels should settle the lineup and be consistent. This season, their downfall has been the inconsistency. Some of it, due to injuries... In any case, the management needs to make some tough decisions or we'll have another year like this one. This season was fraught with errors-- the highest in the entire American League.

Tomorrow is another day, the Angels have one more- they're day-to-day, but look for the A's to go deep into the playoffs.

Give the kid his props

2006-08-25T21:31:50Z

Jered Weaver had a great run! Big congratulations to the kid. Little Weav ran into Big Papi and came out the loser (although he dropped his ERA a few points).
The loss gave the Sox the series. The Angels are now 5.5 games behind the A's.

Big keys in upcoming days will be for the Angels to leave fewer runners on base. In recent games they've left them in double digits. Too many to win.

Back to the kid, Weaver, who was called up on May 26 to sub in for the chronically injured Bartolo Colon. He cranked out 4 wins in 4 starts. In all 13 of his starts for the Angels, Weaver has been mature beyond his years.

Even the Sox leadership was impressed with Weaver, "The obvious things you see with the deception and the delivery, but he also has got enough on his fastball and a real good breaking ball and he commands, for a young kid, he commands very well."

Looking ahead--
The Angels face the hated New York Yankees tonight. John Lackey will be on the mound. I'm hoping for a strong night from him. He's struggled lately, but that's baseball. There's lots of ups and downs.

UGLY, But it's a win

2006-08-20T06:04:39Z

Well, we survived that one! Let's just say I've been to better games, many better games-- but a win is a win!
The Angels had 14 hits and won 9-7 ( 1 fewer run than we needed -costing us free wings at ******* thank you very much).

The real story was that John Lackey was not sharp at all. Despite striking out 7 Mariners, he was knocked out in the 5th after more than 100 pitches and giving up 5 runs in the 5th inning to blow a 4 run lead.

Fortunately, Napoli hit a 2-out go ahead single in the 6th to help the Angels emerge victorious and stay 4.5 games back of Oakland. (Oakland smoked KC on George Brett Bobble Head night...)

The best hit of the night was Maicer Izturis' solo homer that broke the game open and set up a potential 4 game sweep of the hapless Mariners. Izturis was the hot hitter-- he had 3 extra base hits in addition to the HR. Great night for him.

Rivera also stole a nice floater that went foul from a Mariners fan in left field. Napoli was a hot hitter tonight as well.

This was Jarrod Washburn's first loss facing the Angels. He allowed six runs, five earned, giving up 7 hits over 5 2/3 innings.

The halos are sending Ervin Santana (12-6, 4.36 ERA) to the mound to face the Mariner's Wood (3-1, 4.11 ERA). Hopefully they'll combine strong pitching with solid fielding (like lets have less than 4 errors please- tonight was ridiculous).

GO HALOS!

Friends take the mound

2006-08-19T22:13:42Z

John Lackey faces old friend/former roommate Jared Washburn tonight at Angel Stadium.
Lackey, July's AL Pitcher of the Month, will need to be sharp to beat the Mariners. He's been a little erratic lately, but I'm looking for him to be rock solid tonight!

Washburn is struggling with a 6-11 record and above 4.30 ERA. Lackey hasn't had the success he had last year, but has pitched well and gotten some no-decisions. He's 10-9 and has 3.35 ERA.

Look for the Angels to be hitting and have a good night-- I'll be at the game and will report on it later tonight!

WOO HOO !!! Go Halos!

Weaver is magnificent!

2006-08-19T19:53:05Z

Wow-- what a feat by a rookie. Weaver's 9-0 start is up there with some greats! Huge congrats to Weaver and the Angels!!

Missing the fireworks

2006-08-17T18:05:14Z

It appears that my timing is horrible. I have been out of town on a school retreat/camp and missed all the fireworks between the Halos and Rangers! Wow.

I don't quite know what to say, but I certainly understand the need to protect your hitters when people are throwing beanballs.

Vicente Padilla has to have better control-- hitting two Angels hitters and nearly hitting a third is not accidental.

Lets just hope that the suspensions aren't too deep. We'll need these guys in the stretch if we're going to contend.

Dodging bullets in NYC - then we were hit

2006-08-14T23:49:44Z

Phew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, the Halos dodged a major barrage with Giambi's snafu in the bottom of the 2nd. The Yanks started off solidly with a ground rule double by Jason Giambi, A-Rod grounds out, then Lackey walks Robinson Cano. So, with one out Jorge Posada nails a shot to Center Fiels and Giambi (in a crazy moment) fancied himself a Chone Figgins and bypassed the obvious stop sign by the 3rd base coach to get tagged out easily at home. Lackey struck out Wilson to end the inning.

Umpf-- that's us slumping to the ground after being hit by the Yanks. They pounded us. Glad that one ended.

Preview of tonight's game

2006-08-14T23:20:04Z

The Angels are taking on the New York Yankees to finish out their 4 game series (in just a few minutes). The Halos are hitting and playing well right now.
The Yanks are sending Randy Johnson to the mound with his 5.03 ERA and unpredictable performance issues. The once formidable Johnson can be mind-blowingly good or incredibly bad. Which Johnson will show up? The Angels are hitting and mistakes by a pitcher will certainly be capitalized upon if the Halos play as they have of late.

The Angels have the solid, strong John Lackey on the mound tonight. He has a 3.33 ERA and has won 10 games with 8 losses this season. He went 14-5 last season so he's on pace to push past that.

Go Halos!!

Angels rollin' along!

2006-08-14T21:56:29Z

The boys are playing well these days. Woo hoo! Jered Weaver got his 8th win which is just phenomenal for a rookie, I believe Fernando Valenzuela was the last rookie to accomplish this feat!
I listened on XM radio and it really sounds like some of our guys really had some great defensive plays and were doing plenty of hitting.

Very timely and I am certainly hoping that they can continue this action for the rest of this series and the upcoming Texas series.

Go Halos!

White Sox today

2006-08-07T20:32:45Z

Angels are bringing their hot bats to Angel stadium to face the Chicago White Sox in a make up game later today. Look for the Angels to heat it up again-- they're hot.

Loved the ejection of Texas' pitcher, Eaton, early in the game yesterday. He was tossed after throwing behind Juan Rivera immediately following Garret Anderson's 3 run shot. Glad to see the quick action by the umpire.

The boys hit fabulously -- great to see it. Good time to be hitting. I am hoping for good things in August. Scoscia will keep working his magic by rotating the talent to give guys a rest to keep 'em fresh.

Go Halos!