From Rotoworld:

Angels GM Tony Reagins acknowledged speaking to the Twins on Monday night, but he said it was about an outfielder and no further talks were scheduled.

The Twins might have been asking about Juan Rivera or Reggie Willits. "We haven't had any discussions about adding starting pitching," Reagins said Tuesday. "The rumors are out there, I know that, but it's rumor. I've been watching ESPN, seeing things that are being reported, and you just wonder where it comes from sometimes." ESPN is still guessing that the Angels will be involved with Santana after losing out on Miguel Cabrera, but neither the Angels nor Twins have done anything to back it up.

Okay, has anybody seen this absolutely bizarre sequence of events?  Milton Bradley was jawing with the first base ump about something.  He eventually loses it and flips out, then gets tossed by the ump.  Bradley freaks and starts going after the ump as his first base coach tries to hold him back.  He shoves his coach out of the way and Buddy Black runs out onto the field to try and restrain him.

Here's where it gets hilarious.

While attempting to restrain Bradley, he accidentally shoves him to the ground, injuring Bradley's knee.  Bradley had to be helped off the field.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/13/marlins-entertain-76-000-empty-seats-and-375-fans-for-trop ical-c/

Makes you appreciate what we have.  It was so empty that one fan was tossed from the stadium for arguing with the umpire, and the ump could hear him (seriously).  It was so empty that when Byung-Hyun Kim struck out, his f-bomb could be heard clearly on the television broadcast.  Here's a picture of the 76,000 empty seats:

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/MDS106091216_1024x768.jpg

I realize this has been talked about a little bit already here, but Ervin Santana will be getting the Friday morning start against Josh Beckett in Fenway Park.  Talk about throwing a guy into the fire.  The match up preview thing on the Angels website is particularly, uh, inspiring:

"Scouting Report:
Angels: Santana has shown quality stuff and improved command in five appearances at Triple-A Salt Lake following his July 18 demotion, striking out 32 hitters while walking only 10 in 32 1/3 innings. He's 2-1 in the hitter-friendly PCL with a 5.01 ERA, and opponents have hit .305 against him. Santana lost his only start against the Red Sox this year, giving up seven runs -- five earned -- in four innings at Fenway Park. He is 1-2 in his career against the Red Sox with a 7.47 ERA and 0-2 at Fenway with a 12.38 ERA.

Red Sox: Beckett put together a masterful outing in his last start, taking a four-hit shutout into the ninth inning. He wound up losing the shutout but still earned his Major League-leading 15th win of the season. Beckett has fanned at least six batters in six of his last seven starts, bringing his strikeout total to 140. Beckett is 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts against the Angels."

Look, we are completely rolling right now.  Our division lead has been growing, slowly, but I think the Angels have a real opportunity this month to put a lot of ground between themselves and Seattle/Oakland.  Just look at the Angels' schedule for the rest of June:

@ STL (3)
@ CIN (3)
@ LAD (3)
vs HOU (3)
vs PIT (3)
vs KC (3)

Every one of those teams except the Dodgers is at LEAST 5 games under .500.  And, except for the Royals, they are all national league teams.  Here's to hoping the boys keep it going and cap off a strong month.

A buddy just sent this to me and I had to pass it along.  Some of these are epic.

THE BEST OF SHEFF

September '92 on his days in Milwaukee: "The Brewers brought out the hate in me. I was a crazy man. . . . I hated everything about the place. If the official scorer gave me an error I didn't think was an error, I'd say, 'OK, here's a real error,' and I'd throw the next ball into the stands on purpose.' "

On his hatred of Milwaukee: "Everything you asked for in Milwaukee you didn't get--Ask for good weather, you don't get it. Ask for a good playing surface, you don't get it. Ask for a first-class organization, you don't get it."

On his having two kids with two women by age 17: "That was part of my plan. I didn't want to be the typical athlete who's single all his career. I wanted the all-American family, and I did it the wrong way."

On carrying a gun (he also took one to school in eighth and ninth grade): "It ain't changed because I got in the league. It just made me get more of them."

Sheff, a born-again Christian, on teammate Shawn Green missing a game with the Dodgers because of Yom Kippur during a crucial pennant stretch: "Religion is an important thing as long as you worship the right God."

July '05 after punching a fan in the right-field stands at Fenway: "What did I do to be a villain?" Sheffield listened patiently as someone recounted the reasoning. "Well, I mean you can't look at it that way. I didn't initiate it. It's a situation where I showed restraint, and I moved on from there."

May '89 on Milwaukee pitchers who won't throw at opposing batters even though opposing pitchers kept throwing at him: "Only two, three pitchers have helped me out. The rest have been girls. They won't throw at anybody if you paid them. I've been thrown at in every park I've played in."

In June 2005 On whether he would participate in next year's World Baseball Classic: "My season is when I get paid. I'm not doing that...I'm not sacrificing my body or taking a chance on an injury for something that's made up. This isn't the Olympics. That's a big difference. This is something you made up."

On the '04 Red Sox: "They're a walking disaster. They act like they're tough, how they care so much about winning, but it's all a front. They're just a bunch of characters."

On his non-reaction to getting intentionally beaned by Boston's Curtis Leskanic in 2004: "I know Leskanic. His brother did my pool."

Explaining that a hitting slump in 2007 was mental: "I could have bad mechanics and get hits. I don't worry about that, because I'm not really a mechanically-sound guy. It's more between my ears."

June '05 after being rumored in a trade to the Mets for Mike Cameron: "It don't make a difference who it is. If I didn't choose to go there, things are gonna have to change about my whole situation, contract, years, everything. Other than that, you might as well not bother trading for me, cause you're gonna have a very unhappy player. You gonna inconvenience me, I'm gonna inconvenience every situation there is. I mean, the only reason I'm playing is 'cause I wanna play for the Yankees."

January '02 to the Associated Press: "Barry told me what I have to do to finish my career as a Hall of Famer. I want to end my career with the Atlanta Braves and be a Hall of Famer with the Atlanta Braves."

On "Game of Shadows," which spells out Bonds' alleged use of steroids: "I don't even know what the book says. I never read it."

From a 2006 interview with Newsday on who on the Yankees would look out for A-Rod now that he (Sheff) was gone: "Nobody. You all got to get ready. You all got to get ready. There's nobody."

In response to the Hartford Courant asking him in 2004 about whether winning an MVP award would mean anything to him: "No."

On his childhood: "I was hyper as a kid. My parents sent me to the hospital to get checked out. I was probably ADD (attention-deficit disorder). Still am."

On life in general: "Most people figured I'd be in jail. I've been proving people wrong my whole life."

Did anybody else catch this?  Donnelly the Red Sawk struck out Jose Guillen the Mariner on three pitches, and then proceeded to "adjust his cup" in Guillen's direction.  Basically he stared Jose down after the third strike and grabbed his crotch.  Guillen didn't take too kindly to this and the two exchanged some words and had to be separated.  

Donkey went on to hit the very next batter and get ejected from the game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2677627

And, for some reason, the Angels are not expected to make a run at him (per ESPN).  

DO IT, STONEY!  This would make up for the GMJ signing in my eyes.

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http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6191380

...and thank god it ain't the Angels.  Dodgers reportedly signed Pierre to a 5 year, $45 million deal.  $9 million annually to Juan Pierre = ouch.  This could be the worst FA market ever.

please let me post please let me post please let me post please let me post please let me post

Per Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio. The only link is on mlbtraderumors.com, but it's legit. This was indeed reported.

Kaplan: Cubs To Sign Ramirez By Saturday

An emailer writes in to inform us that Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio says that the Cubs should have Aramis Ramirez signed by Saturday or earlier. Apparently Ramirez is trying to squeeze out a few extra bucks but will stay in Chicago.

After that, Cubs GM Jim Hendry can move on to other acquisitions. Gary Sheffield could be a prime target, though the Cubs are hurting for a veteran starter or two.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

They just picked up his one year option, which means we'd only have him for 2007, which means we PROBABLY wouldn't have to give up that much to get him.  That ESPN article says the Angels are one of the most interested teams, apparently.

I don't know.  One side of me sees the .300 BA, 35 HR, 100+ RBI upside... but then I remember the hurt-most-of-the-year, bad attitude, steroid allegations downside.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic // Alfonso Soriano has rejected a $70 million, five-year contract offer from the Washington Nationals, diminishing any chance the perennial All-Star will stay with the club.

"It's almost impossible this great player will stay on our payroll," Nationals special assistant Jose Rijo told the newspaper Listin Diario in Thursday editions.

The Dominican slugger is coming off the best season of his career, becoming the first 40-40-40 player (homers-steals-doubles) in major league history.

"Everyone is more than interested in having a player like Soriano, but finances are keeping this from happening," Rijo said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-nats1012,0,7015730.story?coll=bal-sports-more

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So he isn't resigning.  GO ARTE GO!

I feel this guy has been overlooked quite a bit.  In 5 years in the minors, he has posted a career .397 OBP.  In his short time in the big leagues this year, he had a .411 OBP (11 walks, 10 strikeouts).  Reggie rarely strikes out and definately knows how to take a walk.  His speed rivals that of Chone Figgins.  

Should this guy not be our 2007 starting CF'er and leadoff hitter?  

The Braves have one for Hank Aaron.  Detroit has one for Ty Cobb.  That Roberto Clemente guy has one.  

I think that once Timmy retires, Arte needs to construct a big bronze King Fish outside of the stadium somewhere.  I think that this would be the ultimate "thank you" to Tim and it would ensure that he would be revered for years to come.

Start a petition, Rev!

Check it out: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/09/11/fvi.summary/index.html

According to Sports Illustrated and a bunch of fans, Angel Stadium offers the best overall baseball experience in the MLB.

And just to reach the 300 character mark: Go Arte!  Go Arte!  Go Arte!  Go Arte!  Go Arte!  Go Arte!

Seriously, our bullpen has been awesome as of late.  This is over each pitcher's last 10 appearances...

K-Rod: 0.00 ERA
Shields: 3.97 ERA
Donnelly: 0.96 ERA
Carrasco: 1.26 ERA
Romero: 3.86 ERA
Gregg: 3.28 ERA

Yes, even "Wild Thing" Kevin Gregg and J.C. Romero have picked up their game down the stretch.  Let's hope this trend continues.  It's all coming together.

I realize Izzy is holding down 3B VERY nicely, but does anybody know if D-Mac is expected to get another shot this year?  I know the general consensus is that he's been pretty underwhelming during his stint in AAA this year, but looking at his stats, he has hit .314 with 7 bombs since the beginning of August.  He's starting to get his act together and I'm not ready to give up on him yet.  What do you guys think?

Say you are given the power to decide who gets called up for the expanded September rosters.  We are desperate for W's, so your decisions are crucial.  Who do you call up?  

I say:

• Kendry Morales.  He's been absolutely killing the ball since being sent down (batting .333).  I'm hoping he will have a similar experience to that of Howie Kendrick - struggled in his first stint in the bigs, was sent down to work on some things, and comes back up refreshed and ready to mash.
• Jeff Mathis.  He's hit a very respectable .298 in AAA this year and would provide us with another backstop should we need to pinch run for Nap or Molina, neither of whom are fleet of foot.  
• Greg Jones.  We need bullpen help, badly.  He hasn't been overly impressive in AAA this year but ask yourself this - can he possibly be worse than Kevin Gregg or JC Romero?
• Curtis Pride.  This one's an obvious choice for me.  He has proven he can come through when we need him.  Not to mention he has good speed and nice defense.  He'd be a nice option to replace GA in LF in the later innings of games we are ahead.
• So who do you guys think should get the call?

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2 f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fname%3dlaw_keith

Apparently he is upset with the lack of diversity in the Blue Jays clubhouse.

Make it happen, Stoneman.  This is one guy that I wouldn't mind giving up a couple good prospects for.

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As you may well know, today the Oakland Athletics' noses were shoved deep into a steaming pile of shit.  They lost to the Royals - twice - in one day.  And to top off this humiliating and degrading defeat, their supposed stud sophomore (fixed) closer left the game with an injury after blowing his 8th save of the year.  

My friends, the epic choke job that we all knew was coming has just begun.

HA HA!

Seriously.  This guy just plays the game in all the wrong ways.  Between sticking his fat freakin elbow pad out over the plate in a pussy attempt to make it to 1st base, to charging the mound and then whining about getting suspended, to baiting batters' interference calls out of the ump, Jason Kendall is just a dick.  

And if you are wondering about the sudden outburst, it's because Kendall just ended another game (against Texas) on a bogus batters' interference call.  Texas had Huston Street reeling, and Jerry Hairston CLEARLY stole 2nd cleanly.  But Kendall pretty much bumped into Mark DeRosa after he already let go of the ball, then turned and whined to the ump and got the call.  Game over. Jason Kendall is quickly approaching Barry Bonds-status as my most hated pro athlete.

Me and my buddies are gonna be in the RF pavillion tomorrow and we want to make a big red "STICK THAT THING OUT THERE, KENDALL" banner.  But would security allow this type of thing or would they trash our banner when we come into the stadium?

We've just never done this type of thing before so any help would be appreciated!

I've been hearing this a lot lately.  In my opinion, our offense is no longer our biggest concern - our bullpen is.  Donnelly, Gregg, and Romero are all terrible.  Carrasco is decent.  Our only two GOOD relievers are our closer and setup guy, which leaves a huge gaping hole in innings 6 and 7.  And when our starters aren't doing so hot (see Santana's last start), our bullpen is completely unable to keep us in the game.

Anyways, the recent for this rant is because the ChiSox just got Mike MacDougal, who is coming off a very solid season as a reliever in KC (no easy task) for a low A pitcher with an ERA close to 5 and a solid AA reliever.  My point is: bullpen help is out there.  Stoneman just has to look harder.

End rant

I'm pretty sure the general consensus around the baseball world is that this kid is still gonna pan out pretty well.  And quite frankly, we don't need him.  Napoli isn't going anywhere and JoMo (pronounced 'homo') is proving he can still be a solid backup.  I'm of the mind that we should ditch Mathis and some other lower-rung minor leaguer for some much-needed bullpen help. Thoughts?

This kid is starting to heat up again.  He's been displaying excellent gap power as he leads all of AA in doubles with 30.  His batting average continues to rise and he is now hitting a solid .297.  He is third in all of AA with 18 bombs, second in total bases with 178, and fourth in the RBI category with 57.  

Basically, this kid is showing he wasn't a fluke.  He's on pace for over 30 homeruns and 100+ RBI's.  

Well, then what?  This is something I have been thinking about since his last start.  If Little Weave goes out there tonight and pitches 7 strong innings against Cleveland, what does that mean for our starting 5?  I mean, it's really a good problem to have, sort of.  

I have heard a lot of people talking about moving Jeff to the bullpen, but I'm not sold on that.  If I remember correctly, he did pretty terrible out of the bullpen for the Yanks.  I think Big Weave is one of those guys who really needs to prepare for a game and can't turn it on at the drop of a hat.

Thoughts/ideas?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/npcody/vladdygrandslam.jpg

Just sorting out some stuff on the computer and I came across this picture.  It was taken right as that Vlad Guerrero grand slam against the Yankees last year went over the centerfield wall.  I'm the dude on the left in the navy blue hat.  I think the look on the face of that Spankee fan in front of us says it all.

Brighter times are ahead!

Face it: it's gotta be the glasses.  Since returning from the minor leagues, Kevin Gregg has been sporting those black boxy glasses ala the "Wild Thing" Rick Vaughn from Major League.  

Pre-glasses MLB ERA: 4.38
Post-glasses MLB ERA: 1.05

I will be SEVERELY dissapointed if the Angels don't start playing "Wild Thing" whenever Gregg comes out of the pen from now on.

WILD THING...YOU MAKE MY HEART SING...

XM Radio's Home Plate is reporting that the Marlins and Reds are discussing a package centering around Edwin Encarnacion for Dontrelle Willis.  

I think it may be finally time for Stoneman to unload some of those excess prospects... we have exactly what the Marlins want.  

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