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?

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

6%

Keep Erick Aybar

4 votes

1%

Other (post who/why!)

1 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.