SB Nation User Blog: Angel Hawker

Black Helicopters over Angel Stadium On 4th of July Eve. They are coming for you...

Angel Hawker — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:59:52 -0000

Black Helicopters over Angel Stadium

On 4th of July Eve. They are coming for you...

What does the Juan Rivera signing mean?

Angel Hawker — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:17:48 -0000

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?

Poll

What does the Juan Rivera signing mean?

1) Goodbye GA and soon to be Vladdy

11 votes

2) Ninja is preparing for Kendry Morales to be playing 1st base next year

10 votes

3) A trade is in the works...Go Ninja Go!

25 votes

4) HGH to the bench (not because you want him there, but because he WILL be there)

23 votes

5) Both 1 and 2

11 votes

6) The outfield is just getting crowded again, Vlad isn't going anywhere

40 votes

120 votes | Poll has closed

I want to Kill that stupid Kaiser Ad

Angel Hawker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:52:18 -0000

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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Dallas McPherson

Angel Hawker — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:29:42 -0000

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

Some Help for an Angel Fan

Angel Hawker — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:56:28 -0000

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...

How bad are Steroids?

Angel Hawker — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:37:16 -0000

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.

The Napster Returns

Angel Hawker — Thu, 17 May 2007 06:15:22 -0000

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...

"Pitch Selection" by GA

Angel Hawker — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:41:16 -0000

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?

Juan Rivera Update

Angel Hawker — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:00:15 -0000

Sick of Shea? Anybody else ready for Juan Rivera?

According to the OC Register:

Juan Rivera has been running on a treadmill and has suffered no setbacks in his recovery from a broken leg but remains out until June, Scioscia said.

And according to the IE paper:

Juan Rivera remains in Arizona rehabbing a broken left leg. While there is no timetable for his return, he has started running in a harness on a treadmill. The harness takes some of the weight off the leg.

"He's doing very well with it but he's still a little ways away from getting into baseball activity," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's cleared the hurdles and everything looks as good as it can right now, and he hasn't had any setbacks."

And finally from LA Daily news:

Juan Rivera continues to make progress from a broken leg, but he still remains on schedule to return sometime around the All-Star break. Rivera broke his left tibia Dec. 22 while playing winter ball in Venezuela.

Scioscia said Rivera has started running on a treadmill with the assistance of a harness that lifts him slightly as he runs to help reduce some of his body weight. He is doing his rehabilitation work in Arizona.

Is Jeff Mathis Done?

Angel Hawker — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:26:48 -0000

After watching him have a horrible spring (except for 1 good game), I'm starting to wonder if he'll ever make it to the major leagues. It seems that he is one of those career minor leaguers or AAAA guys. He has now spent two years at AAA and still doesn't seem ready for the majors.

I know the rumor has been going around that the Angels might move Jose Molina, but I am definitely not comfortable doing so since Mathis has had such a terrible spring. I think going into spring training it was his back-up job to lose, and he did just that by batting a measly .145 (I know, small sample size). But heck, last year he batted .300 in spring training, and then went on to stink it up in the majors.

On another note, in the rule 5 draft last year we lost catcher Ryan Budde to the Phillies, but isn't he suppose to be offered back to us if he doesn't stay on the major league roster? Anyone hear anything about this?

We sure could use the catching depth, because after Mathis, it looks like the next in line would be Bobby Wilson, who isn't quite ready yet.