...or 2011, Make or Break Season for Angels GM?

Did anyone catch this little gem at the very bottom of the article in the OCR re: hiring of DiSar, Peach, and the coaching moves etc???

Former GM Bill Stoneman's contract as senior advisor was also renewed and he will remain in that capacity as a consultant.

So I'm more than a little curious what the hell Stoner and DiSar are doing...aren't you?  AND, in addition, since I fell off the Reagins bandwagon (I was sitting in the back already) this past season...what the hell is Reagins doing (besides guiding scouts toward swords to fall on)?

Continue reading this post »

The new owners of the Texas Rangers are already making it cheaper to enjoy the games.

The group led by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and sports attorney Chuck Greenberg announced lower prices for concessions, parking and merchandise effective Friday — one day after Major League Baseball formally approved a sale that pulled the AL West-leading team out of bankruptcy.

The changes at Rangers Ballpark were made in time for a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox. The price reductions for hot dogs, soda, beer and bottled water range from 50 cents to a dollar.

Greenberg says the lower prices were one way of showing appreciation to fans for their loyalty and support.

  LINKIE

As if stealing numerous players and the Angels RED JERSEYS wasn't enough:

Don't misunderstand me, I believe ballpark fare (and generally everything to do with professional sports) is grossly overpriced so this is a WIN for sports fans in general. Price reductions are good for the fans...and a fabulous PR move by the new ownership.  I won't even try to pretend that Arte thought of this move or was the first to do so.  Never fear Ranger fans, the prices will creep back up probably as soon as next season. 

Continue reading this post »

A new PS3 app is supposed to be launched today that will allow subscribers to MLB.TV to access games via the PS3. LINKIE.  (Halo tip to Sam Miller for the heads-up in Angels Blog)

For those of us "out-of-towners" (US and Canada only) who are not subject to "mlb blackout restrictions" this may be a cool new toy.  I had to update my PS3 OS to access the PSStore.  (Guess we're a little behind the times in our house)

Thumbs down to Sony for announcing this before the app was actually live and usable.  Hopefully sometime today this will actually work so we can review it more thoroughly. As of 1:25pm PDT it does not work yet.

I think this is a really cool idea...hope it works.  What do you think?

*** 7pm update *** It seems to work and the picture quality is HD.  Further update as available.  Let's me kick Extra Innings to the curb. :)

I DO NOT work for Sony and am in no way affiliated with Sony.  When someone comes up with something cool that makes my life easier or saves me money I like to share with my fellow Halo fans.

All MLB.TV device options LINKIE

Living amongst the M's faithful is always entertaining for an Angel fan AND yesterday was no exception.  Highlight of my week. 

Buster Olney sent an email to Brock and Salk (espn radio 710 in Seattle) that the M's had traded for San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez.  

Here is the link to the audio/podcast. Jump to the 10:12 mark for the beginning of it.  Buster's radio appearance is at 18:00. 

You have to listen to appreciate the humor and excitement and finally the amount of anger that goes with this.  It went on for a long time and the text messages kept coming throughout the show.  People had to leave work they were so excited... :D  "Screw you guys...never listening to you again!"  A bunch of things they can't say on the air...

ROFLMAO!

Per Buster, the M's got AGon for an April Fools joke and 3 laughs at your expense to be named later... :D

I couldn't resist cuz I know how much so many of you dislike Robb Quinlan (but love his hot wife), but here it is on Plunkett's OCR Angels blog.... and he is linking from rallymonkeys.

Gonna go play catch with my son and laugh the whole time.  My son's first response, "I remember when Q was Rookie of the month in the AL!"  I am a Q fan...not sure I am a fan of the move, but hey... unconfirmed per the report.

The signing is unconfirmed by the Angels at this point. But Quinlan’s signing would affect the spring roster battles for bench spots. You have to assume Quinlan’s versatility and experience give him an edge over Freddy Sandoval for one spot, leaving only two spots (assuming an 11-man pitching staff) for Reggie Willits, Terry Evans or someone else.

LINKIE

According to the Angels website, evidently Scot isn't as healthy as we all presumed he would be 8 (eight) months after surgery to repair his left knee's patella tendon.  Lovely! 

Scot, what have you been doing?  I ruptured my achilles last June, had surgery July 2nd, and I am just about ready to go.  Give me another couple weeks til Pitchers/Catchers report...oh yeah, I'm not on the team!  WTF Scot, it's called physical therapy?  You get paid to do this...

Living in the Seattle area, Jake Locker is a big-time sports name.  This is in today's Seattle Times. 

Evidently Jake's dad met with Angels officials Tuesday night...

Someone on the Angels staff obviously holds Jake in high esteem as they drafted him for the 2nd time in the recent MLB draft. 10th round this year and also in the 40th round 2005.  I see no good reason why Jake would not sign with the Angels.  It appears to be a win-win-win.  Locker gets money now and an option down the road if his football career does not pan out, UW gains a scholarship, and the Angels possibly gain a long-term prospect.

Locker has also long been considered a top-flight baseball prospect, one anonymous scout recently quoted in Baseball America magazine saying Locker "could be a potential Hall of Famer" on the diamond. He was drafted by the Angels as a center fielder.

The story pretty much explains it. He's going to meet with the Angels tonight (Tuesday), but he's clear that football is his priority and the negotiations are going to be about whether they can come to terms on a deal that would make Locker Angels' property in the event he ever wants to play baseball.

Snippet from the bottom of the "Shields = FAIL" article, er I mean "Angels Bid a Farewell to Nick" article by DiGiovanna.  Interesting since Ortega has been horrible  this season up to now...scraping the bottom of the 40 man apparently! 

Hopefully the team's (and mine) last wet eye moment on Thursday morning!

Rotation addition

Right-hander Anthony Ortega, who is 1-1 with a 9.88 ERA in three games at triple-A Salt Lake, is expected to be called up to start Saturday night's game against Seattle, though Scioscia said an official announcement won't come until today.

LINKIE

A nugget slipped in at the bottom of today's game synopsis on Angels site.

Vladimir Guerrero, who had offseason right knee surgery, is expected to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Diamondbacks in Tempe.

Rex was raving about how Vlad is hitting the ball over the tall green hedge and up against the mountain during today's broadcast vs the Giants! 

Right on schedule Vlad.  Take it easy this Spring and let's go kick some Arss!

Just walked in the house from Boston & NYC and I turn on Espn and CBSSportsline.com and this is what I am hearing/seeing...

"The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired slugger Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox, sources tell CBSSports.com senior writer Scott Miller. Also part of the deal, the Red Sox will receive outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh."

TK and Phillips are on ESPNews reporting this live right now too...

LA sends LaRoche to join his bro in Pitt who also receives Brandon Moss, Bryan Morris, and Craig Hansen.

WAIT...HERE IS THE KICKER!  BoSux is paying the entire remaining $7M of Manny's salary!  OMG!

Griffey goes to ChiSox in another deal.

I am flying out to see Skankee stadium before they tear it down.  I have a ticket for Tues and realized the Angels are in Boston at the same time. 

Any HH'ers going to Wed's (7/30) game vs Bos or have a tix I can buy...a fellow Angel fan tourguide would be awesome!   My flight to JFK for tonight was cancelled due to weather...thunderstorms or some such dribble!  :( 

Advice for attending the Boston game is happily solicited... :)  Never been to either place and will be flying solo! 

Thanks!

I DO I DO! 

Any chance Colletti and Reagins can come up with a deal?  Got any ideas?  See poll.  Who do we want/need in return?  LaRoche for 3b?  Loney/Kemp/Ethier for OF?  

How about Iztu for LaRoche?

[Side note...Angels activated Bootcheck today and subsequently outrighted him to SLC.  This leaves us with 39 on the 40 man roster.  Room for a trade or ???  See game notes. ]

Link to story...portion below...

The loss of Rafael Furcal to back surgery this week might lead Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti to a trade involving at least one of his prized young core players.

"We're more open-minded to who we may have to move than we were in the past," Colletti said Friday.

That is a shift in philosophy for Colletti, who has refused to part with the club's top prospects since he took over after the 2005 season, filling most holes with expensive free-agent signings.

Colletti wouldn't name names. But while All-Star catcher Russell Martin is presumed to be untouchable, Colletti's comments certainly put in play other young players like Matt Kemp, James Loney, Andre Ethier and Andy LaRoche, as well as a possible veteran such as Friday starter Derek Lowe, who is likely to leave as a free agent after the season anyway.

LINK to story at The Onion

Now this is simply HYSTERICAL!  I don't think you have to be a fantasy geek to appreciate this.  I love The Onion!  I have not had a free moment to write a blog in a while and it is killing me.  However, if ever I could have had the time and thought of this...I only wish I had written this!  Team name = "Beat with Uggla Stick"

Remember, this is the same Onion that gave us the article about how God "wasted" a miracle on his favorite baseball team (Angels of course) on an outfield catch by Torii Hunter instead of saving the poor folks in China who died in the earthquake etc.  

Continue reading this post »

Nothing like a slow off-day in June in the rainy northwest.  Someone please let me know when Spring gets here.  I voted for Kotch 25 times already and need more so here goes...mlb draft is a slow watch with no Angel picks! 

I have posted a couple of blogs on SoCalSportsHub.com.  Linkie to article which is copied below.   I live in the Seattle area and love HH and the community of fans here.  I like the give/take we have in HH.  Many thanks to the Rev! 

My PS/update to the article below is that I believe the Angels will place Vlad and probably Shields on the DL in the next day or two.  I think one of the main lessons learned from last season is that the Angels know they have the talent and depth to win the west without all of their guns.  The trick is to be as healthy as possible come October in order to play the Red Sux at full strength!  This also allows young players who really have little to learn at AAA such as Wood, Aybar, Mathis, et al to play and learn at the highest level.  A Vlad trip to the DL probably affords Kendry or Evans or some other hot Bee (Brown?) some major league time.  Enough PS and on to the blog...

Continue reading this post »

Linkie "Jered Weaver was back in the Angels clubhouse Friday, beaming after a visit with a doctor in Southern California had relieved what he called a "big burden from my mind."

He'd missed the trip to Toronto with the team's permission to have a stomach ailment examined. A procedure removed a blockage, and Weaver was clearly relieved as he apparently put the mystery -- and the periodic pain -- behind him"

AND H'Owie is nearly ready for a rehab assignment.  "Scioscia said Kendrick won't play in a game this weekend, needing more strengthening work, but that he could be back on the field in a Minor League game sometime next week. "

Frequent Flyer program award winner for 2008, Brandon Wood is back.

Brandon Wood is on his way back to offer support on the left side of the infield and third baseman Matt Brown is returning to Triple-A Salt Lake.

I think it is time for one of our prized, highly touted prospects to come up and kick ass on a permanent basis?  I for one am rooting for you to play BW!

Linkie to article

I always enjoy the "tidbits" section at the bottom.

"Wood's arrival gives depth at shortstop and third, while Brown is primarily a third baseman without as much experience at shortstop. ... Dustin Moseley will continue his bid to get back in the Angels bullpen when he pitches for Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday. "He showed some positive signs last outing," Scioscia said of Moseley, on the DL since May 4 with right forearm stiffness. "Hopefully, he'll keep building stamina." ... After struggling last season against left-handers, finishing 19-21, the Angels have turned it around. They're 7-2 this year against lefty starters, hitting .280 against southpaws compared to .262 against right-handers. ... They hit .284 last year with runners in scoring position and have upgraded that as well, to .292 this season. Their best hitters this season with runners in scoring position have been sidelined, accounting in part for the recent frustrations. Kendrick is 6-for-8 (.750) and Figgins is batting .429 with runners on second and/or third. Casey Kotchman is hitting .366 with runners in scoring position and .400 against southpaws (fourth in the AL). Kotchman also is the fourth hardest hitter to strike out in the AL, going down just once every 15.5 at-bats. "

I think I exceeded the 50 words!  :)

So someone must pay the price for the head-hunting on Big Daddy last night! 

Two balls thrown BEHIND Figgy!   (Then HGH practically swings at the same pitch that hit Figgy...nice job HGH!)

Who throws the pitch and who goes down?  Where do they get hit? 

Do the M's retaliate? 

Some of this started last week in Seattle with Hunter and Ichiro. 

I thought the best thing that happened last night was McLaren yanked Green after the beaning, but it was just to get the lefty matchup with GA.  (Which worked of course)

AZ vs SFG game went to commercial so I flipped over to the M's pregame show.  Niehaus said that the M's placed Bedard on the DL.   Don't see anything on their website yet. 

Just heard him say it again...retroactive to April 9th and the M's will make a move tomorrow (Thurs).

Seattle Times LINK talks about DL for Bedard and RA Dickey (knuckleballer) starting for the M's against the Angels on Friday.

Here's the official comment from McLaren (LARRY STONE)

Just an FYI

L I N K -to- S T O R Y

Remind me again how many OF's can we carry on our 25 man roster?:)

Okay, guess I have to meet the 300 character minimum. This was not intended to cause a stir, simply and FYI!

Verizon Wireless owners FYI I have nothing to do with either MLB or Verizon. I will state that up front. I read about this feature a few months ago and looked into it...decided against it at that time. Saturday I read about it again on Scareduck's site 6-4-2 and decided to give it a try. I live in Washington. Hence I cannot get the games via radio or tv. I subscribe to mlb.tv, audio, and Extra Innings on DirecTv. These are my "season tickets." I will say this about the gameday audio on Verizon, when it works...it is great! I have experienced a lot of network errors and spent at least an hour on the phone with Verizon Sunday night trying everything to resolve the issues...turned out it really was "network error"...went thru 4 different layers of Verizon customer support tech's. Just lovely! The service worked on Monday morning, then the network did not work again Monday evening! Worked again this morning. They credited me my $6.99 for the month which was nice. Seems they have some bugs to work out still....

Continue reading this post »

Santana to start Thursday vs Jays according to http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers.jsp?c_id=ana. "Santana reclaimed a spot in the rotation with one of the best performances of his young career in Boston on Friday, retiring the first 13 hitters and 16 of 17."

(I apologize in advance for not knowing how to make that a small link...someone can happily instruct me!)

Has the Colonel not EARNED that spot in the rotation?  Santana has one nice start last week.  Saunders has proved himself over the entire season!  This must be strictly a "confidence" or "psyche" issue.  Joe is tough and Ervin is FRAGILE!