By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 14, 2009 at 11:51am CST]

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Angels have agreed to a four-year extension with Ervin Santana. There is an option for a fifth year.

this is great news and so last minute. What does that exactly mean in terms of him being locked in as an Angel pitcher? what year will this expire? i haven't seen the terms yet.

I'm sure there's more to follow, but at least he'll be there for full spring training. Is he scheduled for wbc? Does anyone know?

So close to the arb hearing.

Hey! What's the story? I'm looking at a list of players who have submitted their numbers for arbitration (the list appears on MLB Rumors web site) and neither Ervin's nor Izzy's ask or sell price appear. So what's different about them?

The other issue is why go into the arbitration process with a player like Ervin who has been great and try to put him down. Because, after all that's what you do in arbitration negotiations. Sure Ervin was only making 440K last year. So what are the Angels offering? And what is he asking? It's no different than Ryan Howard. Or is it?

As to Izzy, we're not talking big money but still it's the principal. There should be a standard where every team has to publish the bid and ask.

Your thoughts? Or did I miss something?

Suddenly, he's out of the WBC, replaced by Li'l Joe. Shades of Buffet Bart, who pitched the WBC and couldn't pitch ever again.

Is it that serious? Was last season a pre-cursor to John's woes? What is going on?

You know I really wanted to end the fan post right there, but the software forced me to write more. I just can not figure out when to stop. You've got to have diarrhea of the mouth BAH!

Perhaps you recall the $1 million signing of Jordan Walden. Well he's been superb. He's made it to the Quakes in just one year. We haven't talked much about him lately.

Then there's Trevor Redling another SP, who spent last year in Cedar Rapids, but is truly a top prospect.

These two players along with Adenhardt, give the Angels a chance to go into spring training and fill out the 40 man roster with 3 SP. Probably Walden is arguably ready for AAA and perhaps Redling might move to the Quakes.

What have you heard?

So starting payroll after arbitration should have decreased the payroll from @ 130 to @ 110. Assume the Angels keep it that way and are chomping at the bit till gmj can end his contract. Is that what Angel fans can expect during these tough times? An owner pulling in the purse strings, trying to lower the team to the level of the division?

The Angels need a bat and some more impact pitching. Those people seem to be gone and the Angels are relying on what they have and so are the other division rivals. However, the A's as you recall stocked up when they traded away most of their regulars.

So where are the Angels expected to go this year? Is it all the way? Will they be the best and most competitive team in b/b? Will they make the playoffs? Will they win the ALDS? Will they win the ALCS? Will they win the World Series?

Comeon gimme a break.Ther's no one to drive in runs. There's no 1-2 punch. There's no Tex/ARod probably the best 3 -4 combo going. We saw what a Tex/Big Daddy combo was like.

Sure you can argue that the Yankees have lots of weaknesses. And they do. The best outfield they could put put out there would be Nady, Damon, Swisher and Gardner. Cano is O.K. but an average player.  Jeter is falling slowly. They are really weakest at catcher unless Posada can come back from shoulder surgery. So the bottom line is the Yankees are no shoe in. The Angels should be able to compete 40-60. IMHO that sucks.

Let's hope that all the Angels stay healthy. That Lackey, Ervin, Joe and the rest of the athletes play to their full potential. Maybe they need a Zen Master?

1. I'm not sure about the additions and subtraction to the roster and how much they are worth. However, when I do look at the roster there are some names with no uniform numbers assigned, probably meaning they are place holders or how does that work?

2. So,  how much is the current 2009 Angel payroll?

3. Are the Angels collecting insurance on Escobar for 2008?

4. Who will be the 40th man on the roster (seeing they have 39)?

5.Will Nick Green really be the fifth starter?

On ESPN Spanish Language Channel. I'm watching baseball in December!). I can't understand much, but its kinda ammusing the terms for strikeouts - something like punchchadas, and seeing quite a few household names playing. I tuned in and missed the first eliminination. So I guess thiss is sorta like the division series, but who the heck knows. Punchada that amigos.

Can't wait for the final round, as I'm not much of an NFL fan, it's oh so redundantly brutish, except when the guy shoots himself in the crotch.

HOME SWEET HOME

FYI, Westlake has the highest per capita income in the U.S. (don't think too many people live there). In L.A. it's La Canada Flintridge, which comes in 7th, I believe. Many places in Maryland and Virginia have very high per capita incomes as well. 

Just a question though. If Teix turned down $140 mill from Texas for 7 years and therefore they traded him to Atlanta, then what would make us think he would take $20 mill anywhere else for 8 years?

A Rule 5 draftee. Wow. Why wasn't he protected? The Mets bullpen is shaping up very nicely, however the the decimation of the Angels bullpen is reaching critical mass.

Getting Fuentes may happen, but this decimation and losing Kotchman makes the Angels look penny wise and pound foolish.

I can't see why they would let Juan Rivera go. Is Ibanez really worth $36 million for 3 years at his age?

The Angels most likely won't sign Tex. He's going  East Coast.

I wonder how season ticket sales are going in this economy and what impact this has on the decisions?

If you've ever been fired and felt angry and had new emotions that you've never experienced before, I recommend reading Willie Randolph's article in the N.Y. Daily News. The article was written by Willie. This kind of event is life changing and I doubt very strongly whether one really gets over it.

I know that when it happened to me, or even when I quit a long term relationship, I fell deeper into the black hole.

Here's wishing Willie well, because the Mets are really socking the ball - hitting those home runs over the wall. East side, West side, every body is coming down - to meet the M-E-T-S Mets of New York town.

Here's the link to Willie's article, in his own words, even though he has a zipper clause in his contract:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/06/20/2008-06-20_willie_randolph_opens_up_after_his_recen-3.html?page=0