Alright, so I know most of the discussion so far about the offseason has involved our free agents (John Lackey, Chone Figgins, Vladimir Guerrero, and Darren Oliver), big hitting free agents (Jason Bay & Matt Holliday), and trades (anyone remember a discussion about Curtis Granderson?), but there has not been much discussion about other free agents on the market which could really help our team.

What REALLY concerns me is the bullpen. It was torture last year.

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Here are some thoughts on the Juan Rivera signing:

1.        We have four starting outfielders now—Vlad, Juan, HGH, and Torii, so the DH/Outfield rotation is in full effect.  Reggie will be on the bench I’d imagine. 

(Side note:  as much as we’d probably like HGH to be out longer, the estimates have him back in 4-6 months, since he had the surgery Nov. 4th, he should be back at the LATEST in May)

2.       We effectively have said goodbye to Garret Anderson for sure now.  No way do the Angels re-sign him now.  While I’ve been critical in the past (mostly of his defense), I have a lot of love for GA.  Thanks for the memories…

3.       Kendry Morales will NOT be playing outfield anytime soon.  So if the Angels resign Tex, he’d be at AAA or on the bench.

4.       I hope this doesn’t mean Vlad is in his last year in an Angel uniform.  He needs an extension and he needs to retire in Angel red.  If the extension happens, look for Vlad to be the first Angel cap in the HOF.  If it doesn’t happen, look for me to cry a lot.

So this begs the question of WHY NOW?  We still have HGH tied up for 3 years, Torii for 4, and now Juan for 3.  I hate to say it, but it looks like Vlad might be getting squeezed out.  I really hope that is not the case, because I would rather have Vlad than Tex. 

I think we should have at least waited for Tex to sign before inking this deal with Juan.  I would have rather seen Kendry playing some outfield than Juan.  If we sign Tex, that outfield picture is going to get VERY crowded.  But maybe this is a prelude for trading someone…but I think it could only be HGH or Reggie, and who wants them now?   

Is it only me or is that stupid ad coming back every few seconds on Halos Heaven?

What the heck?  Can you fix this crap Rev?  I have to close it every couple seconds and then it pops back up again!

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So I looked up Dallas' stats today to see how he was doing.  Well in 85 games and 293 ABs at AAA .300/.406/.689 with 32 Homeruns.  He also stuck out 103 times.  Hasn't got a call up from the minors yet, but I'm feeling remorse for letting him go.  What is he on pace for, 60 homeruns?  Dang.  He also homered in 6 straight games in June. 

Good news is he's a free agent at the end of the year.  Maybe we should pick him up and give him another shot.

Link to stats: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Dallas%20McPherson&pos=3B&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=425774 

Hello everyone in Red Sox Nation, I am a regular poster over at Halos Heaven (the Angels SB nation blog).  I have somewhat of a dilemma and was hoping you guys may be able to help me. 

You see, I have a neighbor here in SoCal that is a Boston transplant (he moved out here about two months ago) and obviously loves the Sox (but interestingly loves the Miami Dolphins instead of the Patriots).  We've become good buddies because we both love baseball, but I have a hard time not despising the Red Sox because they have owned my team. 

Now the one thing we do share in common is our hatred of the Yankees, and my Angels have owned them even more than the Sox have the last ten years or so.  But he comes over to my house and watches the Sox and I have a hard time not being a little harsh on them because they just keep killing the Angels year after year.  My only hope is that this year this trend reverses and I can start to not be so bitter.

Oh this might interest you as well--he's been looking for work so I got him a job with me vending at Angel Stadium starting today versus Kansas City.  He also claims he'll have to make the Angels his second favorite team with him working there and us being friends and all, but can you guys figure out how I can be more kind to my friend in this dilemma?

I mean soon when the Angels and Sox go head to head, how do you not go to blows with the guy?  Please help me find reasons to not hate the Sox so much...

Just curious after reading all about the Mitchell Report and all the players who used steroids/HGH if this stuff is really as bad as they say it is.  
It seems the media truly distorts the adverse health affects of steroids, because the message I get from them is that one would fall apart like a statue if they took them.  However, I don't see players dying and having heart attacks, liver problems, etc from steroids.  Hey, even the Governator used roids--and he seems to be doing ok (though I heard he had some sort of heart problem).  Hulk Hogan isn't dying--but he did lose his hair.
Some youtube videos on the other side of steroids:

Oh...so you know, I have never taken steroids, nor do I necessarily condone there use--but it seems that these drugs can do amazing things to people without causing a bunch of health problems.  Just curious as to what everyone thinks about this.    

Quietly, Mike Napoli has strung together a 7-game hitting streak.  

According to http://www.insidesocal.com/angels/ Napoli is crediting a new stance invented by everyone's favorite hitting coach, Mickey Hatcher.  

Is this the start of him being the player he was for the first two-months of his career, or are all you haters out there still writing him off?  

Now if Scioscia could only teach him how to throw out runners...  

I was reading several of the Angels news outlets this morning about Brandon Wood being sent back to AAA and found out he got advice from GA on pitch selection.  Uh...Garret Anderson?  Pitch selection?  Let's hope that he isn't getting advice from Shea Hillenbrand on how to drive the ball.  Or advice from Vlad on how to run the bases. Why in the world is GA giving advice to Brandon on pitch selection?