ESPN's Big XII blog is reporting that AD Gerald Meyers will look to renegotiate coach Leach's contract at the end of the season, so I think now's the time to answer the question: Do we want to lock up Mike Leach to a long-term deal for the distant future?

In my opinion, the Texas win was a landmark victory most importantly for finally pointing us toward the 10 win mark. In a program that has struggled for national relevance despite a great win percentage in arguably the best conference in college football, Leach has been not only the face of the program, but even of the entire university to many. But where we used to debate the meritts of being a perennial 9 win team, Saturday showed that we could finally be getting over the "hump" that's kept us out of the big picture.

We have to be favored to win at least one of the final 3 games to close out the season, meaning 10 wins appears the minimum total for the year. That's the threshhold. Being a team that can average 10 wins a season means a higher profile, which will better our rankings from the preseason forward, and make a reality the prospect of competing for BCS bowl throughout the years to come. At this point in the program's history, that ought to be the goal.

Now, with a signature, career-making win under his belt, Leach has proven that the program can be something more than just a system when you recruit good players and have coaches that can help execute his vision. Should we finish with 10 wins (and hopefully several more than that!), Coach will have earned a rich, long-term deal that will institutionalize him at Tech. Not because we'll be in the hunt for a conference title or national championship every year, but because only with him will we remain good enough for those dreams to even be possible.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/left_bed_in_clemens

I haven't read the Onion in a long time (ever since the revamp a couple of years ago), but the sports section is pretty neat.

Admit it, you wouldn't have been shocked for this to be an actual NY Post headline.

To meet the character count requirement, I'll say that Rupert Murdoch can eat me, and while I still hate the Yankees slightly more than the Red Sox, it's getting really, really close.

So the recent talk of my favorite Tampa Bay outfielder (and bona-fide perrenial all-star of the future) being on the annual trading block, as well as all the speculation surrounding names like Tori Hunter and Andruw Jones) has got me thinking.  What do we do with a surplus of outfielders that might prohibiting us from signing Gold Glove talents with significantly greater offensive prowess than our current lineup?

Examining the primary issues:

1. Garret Anderson's future role: It is basically unthinkable that Scioscia let's a 10/5 guy and career Angel sit on the bench, and he's not getting released with that salary.  He's made a stink before about not hitting so well when he isn't allowed in the field, and the DH spot will still have to be used to rest Vlad and shuffle playing time between the three OF slots.  The simple fact is that despite being on the decline, he's been rewarded for his years of service with a generous contract to play out his remaining days in Anaheim.  As crass as it may be to say so, perhpas the best place for him could be on the DL.
2. Vlad Guerrero: (MVP! MVP!)  There are only two issues concerning Vlad which color the trade/free agency outlook of the ANgels' future: The first is that as he ages (hopefully playing out the rest of his days in Anaheim) he will require that we maintain fluidity in the DH to let him rest, possibly eventually taking up the role full-time in the distant future.  The second is that no matter how much running and scrappin' out the small ball runs Mike Scioscia can manufacture, Vlad will always be at a significant handicap without a legitimate power threat batting behind him.  Without anybody who's goode for 25+ home runs a year, be prepared to watch smiling #27 lead the league in intentional walks until he retires.
3. Gary Matthews Jr. and the Crucible Contract: 5 years, $50 million, NO TRADE that will carry him up to his 38th birthday.  Whether you believe anybody is worth such a deal or not, Mr. Moreno paid the man his market value and we have a better-than-average CF who has looked better-than-average at the plate so far.  He's a switch hitter who can bat anywhere in the lineup and be effective.  I don't ask too much of the guy (just that he keep clear of a hint of any substance allegations), and if he can stay in this realm through a complete season we'll weather his contract.
4. Reggie Willits: Back to the minors?  For how long?  I will admit to being on a bit of a bandwagon for the kid, but he's had 85 at-bats and is producing at the leadoff spot.  He's doing everything right, going deep into counts virtually every time he's in the box, stealing 7 bases to date, and scoring 13 runs while batting .341 (not to mention he's been stranded on base more times than just about anyone in the league this year.)  After separating himself quite a bit from apparent career reserve Tommy Murphy, is it possible that the 25year old could soon deserve a full-time roster spot in a Scioscia running game?
5. Juan Rivera's ceiling: He's a second-half player.  With increased PT last year, he barely made a dent in his numbers until after the all-star break.  A pattern has seemingly emerged.  With a question mark hanging over the recovery from a broken leg, I feel somewhat compelled to ask what, if any, Rivera's trade value might be.  Anybody out there interested in a sometimes-power hitting Venezuelan with frosted tips in his hair?

Essentially, with many of the best players that we might possiby be able to aquire best suited to filling the 3 OF spots plus the DH, answers must be sought as to how we can deal with the growing glut of outfielders we'll be stuck with until the long-termers retire.

I don't know if anybody already posted a link to this, but a new Gatorade ad features John Lackey as "that shmendrick."  I can't tell if that's actually Napoli/Mathis in the mask, but I suspect it's an actor.  Harvey Keitel is the Man.  Jeter is... (sigh)... Jeter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aGUx5FW5fQ

Howie Kendrick is out for at least 4-6 weeks.  Obviously nobody is going to "replace" his .327 BA, but we need somebody to cover while he's out.

Aybar is on the current roster and started at 2B yesterday, and Izturis could move there from 3B, opening that spot for Rob Quinlan or a call-up.  This shuffle could also result in a 3rd base/DH platoon in the coming month or more.  If ONE young player is called from AAA in this interum, who should it be?

What would your lineup look like?

(All stats from SL Bees website, 4/19/07)

Poll

Who should get called up with Howie out?

6%

Keep Erick Aybar

4 votes

1%

Other (post who/why!)

1 votes

30%

Kendry Morales: .314 BA, .751 OPS, 16 H, 1HR, and 8 RBI in 51 at-bats

19 votes

54%

Brandon Wood: .293 BA, .908 OPS, 17H, 3 HR, and 11 RBI in 58 at-bats

34 votes

6%

Terry Evans: .375 BA, 1.112 OPS, 18H, 3HR and 11 RBI in 48 at-bats

4 votes

62 votes | Poll has closed

What is the schedule for games played in the new alternate uniforms?  Forgive me, as I haven't actually seen them in action apart from in SportsCenter highlights in my out-of-market denial.

Have the red jerseys replaced the sleeveless whites?  I freaking HATE the sleeveless uniforms, and the reds are pretty cool lookin'...

I'm considering purchasing a couple of months (and possibly the whole season), since I'll have to teach summer school and live out of state.

Has anybody here used this package before?  Who calls the games?  Is it just local feeds, or their own cameras?  Please, if you've ever had any experience puchasing games online, tell me about it.

It occured to me to write this previously, but i suppose there's never any time like the present to right past wrongs.

I now think more and more that one part of what I like about the regular HH posters (and our mighty shepard, the Rev himself) has been the regular refrences to our fine and descriminative taste in culture shown through random diaries/threads.  Be they your "desert island" favorites or your personal batting intro, time and time again the Halos Heaven community has demonstrated their musical superiority over not only the AL West, but the whole of the Major Leagues.

After reading the Deadspin post, I thought I'd take a brief moment to mention my appreciation of these, the most punk-rockingly credible music fans in baseball.

My brothers and sisters, I salute you!

WHat can/should be done?

Continue reading this post »

It's been talked about for long enough, and Buster Olney linked to this in yesterday's Insider blog.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1124bbcol1124.html

I gotta say, I think this is the best likely option left this offseason.  I sincerely don't think the Halos should pursue the blockbuster deal at the cost of our pitching future, and a stable, medium-to-strong power hitter in his 20s to knock runs and play serviceable defense for a good number of years of championship contention.

Crede would be a terrific addition on his own, but moving Figgins helps thin out our blockage of infield prospects and gets us a very good return at perhaps his highest value.

Buster Olney makes a decent case for this year's climate being much more conducive to a trade of Manny Ramirez than last offseason.  

With the amount in money/contract committment/SP/prospects most teams are considering to land a Soriano or a Wells, is Manny an option again in Anaheim?

I was against chasing him last year, but with what it seems Stoneman is willing to give up, manny's looking good again...

Posted from ESPN.com Insider

"Manny's Market Value"

posted: Thursday, November 16, 2006

Manny Ramirez's contract has been the 160-ton weight hanging around the necks of the Red Sox for six years, and Boston executives have repeatedly tried to do his bidding and unload the slugger, despite the fact that he drives in 130 runs a year. The Red Sox have tried to waive him, trade him, swap him, sell him, everything.

EDITED: Sorry, can't have more than that much copyright content reposted, but it may be time for the Halosphere to re-ignite "The Manny Discussion"... -(Rev Out)

I've been on the Ramirez bandwagon for a while now, but with the news that he's looking for six years at around a hundred mil, and that Soriano wants a Beltran-esque deal, I think that we're now officially best off looking for our answers through a trade.  

As such, I'm now tendering a humble opinion backing an all-out shot at making a trade for Vernon Wells the "big move" we've been promised.

I'd also definately like to re-assert the possibly Carl Crawford being that signifigant trade that puts us back over the top in division.  He's just too perfect a fit with our club not to make him a priority.

I think Crawford fixes the leadoff problem (which nets us lots of those precious runs, given Figgy's abysmal year/general lack of consistency) and is super athletic and talented enough that he could easily and effectively fill the hole in CF.  Trading for Crawford now also gives us the chance to be in optimal re-signing position when his free agency comes about and other teams offer him the money he'll abolutely deserve.  Since the Moreno years started, players genuinely LIKE staying with this baseball team- we really could lock him up as a franchise guy if we get in as soon as possible.  I simply think he's too good a young player not to throw everything we can at him.  He could be an absolutely instrumental part of several future championship runs.    

Bottom line: either Wells or Crawford gives us the sheer power we're lacking behind Vlad or makes up for one of this year's greatest defficiencies and can be aquired with a combination of SP and minor league hitting/fielding prospects, along with those current rotation guys who are never going to be any more valuable (Figgins, Cabrera, et al) providing we're willing to open up the wallet wide enough when the time comes to keep them.

Any way you slice it, either is a much better option than Ramirez/Soriano, who are both looking to play out not just their prime years, but secure their retirement packages.  

As such, I now offer my plea: Mr. Stoneman, Mr. Moreno, go the trade route!

1. Hearing Physioc try to make that stupid "Wizard of OC" nickname stick by saying it every time Cabrera makes throws to first off his back foot.
2. Hearing Mickey Hatcher come up with his-own-surname-derrived alliterative titles for Angel batters' "streaks" when they manage not to GIDP for a weekend.
3. Watching Dino Ebel beat runners to home on go-ahead signals.*
4. The parking lot at Chavez Ravine/$8 domestic beers (!) when I hike up the 5 to the 110 during interleague play.
5. News of injunctions filed against Bartolo Colon by Tempe-area Sizzler buffets.

*Also made my list "Things I'll actually kinda miss during the Halos' offseason."

How about you?

"Who's on third? Not Tejada"

ESPN's Rumor Central posted another story on the Halos' pursuit of MT before the trade deadline:

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors (pasword required)

"Sep 6 - According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Angels nearly acquired Miguel Tejada at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but the Orioles' shortstop would not agree to play third base. Talks could resume this offseason if Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera would agree to a position change." (entire text posted)

Thoughts?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2556812

In theory, Wells is now available for trade.  True, he's had injury problems, and he's basically a big 'ole meatball in the vein of Colon by now, but look at our staff.  

Given our shortage of lefties, and an apparent general lack of experience, could it be worth the Halos looking into him?

Today's LA Times:

L I N K

Even if this is the case, what are the odds that it will be more than one start?
Is Saunders being watsed sitting in Salt Lake?
Any potential for the big club's bullpen?

The rumblings around the Halosphere have been that some folks aren't too happy with Chone Figgins batting leadoff.

Given Scioscia's managing style, it's pretty safe to assume that whomever leads off is going to start stealing more bases, providing the spot is filled by somebody a quick and smart enough runner to carry out the plays as they're called.

How would you run the top/bottom of the lineup?

Poll

Who Should be Batting Leadoff for the Angels?

42%

Chone Figgins (.265, 99 H, 58 R, 37 SB, & 64 SO, in 373 AB)

17 votes

30%

Maicer Izturiz (.287, 35H, 30 R, 8 SB, & 12 SO in 122 AB)

12 votes

12%

Orlando Cabrera (.289, 105 H, 63 R, 15 SB, & 30 SO in 363 AB)

5 votes

2%

Adam Kennedy (.263, 76 H, 33 R, 9 SB, & 50 SO in 289 AB)

1 votes

12%

Howie Kendrick (.216, 8 H, 4 R, 2 SB, & 7 SO in 37 AB, plus we all know his stats in the minors)

5 votes

0%

Other (tell us who!)

0 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

Is it just me, or did seeing the banner "2 Run HR- Anderson- 8" after yesterday's big fly jar anybody else into asking this question?

Without the stats sitting in front of me, I'd wager he's not better than third in most of the categories of RBI, extra base hits, home runs, average, and OPS/slugging.  Sure, he's got two years left on his contract, but can we really keep him as Vlad's "protection" in the lineup when he's not producing?

We've seen infrequent incoursions by Juan Rivera, "Butch" Napoli, and even Kendry Morales into the #4 spot.  Do any of these options make more sense than GA by now?

Who should be batting behind Vlad?

Poll

Who Should be Bating Behind Vlad?

0%

Robb Quinlan

0 votes

15%

GA

8 votes

1%

Other

1 votes

38%

Mike Napoli

20 votes

40%

Juan Rivera

21 votes

3%

Dallas MacPherson

2 votes

52 votes | Poll has closed