So I was looking at the probable starters for the next five games while the Angels are playing the Yankees and Blue Jays at home. I see that they're throwing Moseley against Hughes, Escobar against Mussina, and Lackey against Pettitte. Some very good matchups. Then I see Santana against Litsch, another good matchup for us. I then see the fifth game, Jered Weaver against Roy Halladay. So, it got me thinking and looking into the books.

Of his 21 starts this season, they've broken down like this when going against the opposition: Chad Gaudin, Mike Maroth, Jon Garland, Gil Meche, Paul Byrd, Kevin Millwood, Mark Hendrickson, Tyler Clippard, Felix Hernandez [x2], Boof Bonser [x2], Todd Wellemeyer, Jason Schmidt, Jorge de la Rosa, Jamey Wright, Brandon McCarthy, Nate Robertson, and Curt Schilling [x2].

In the five games where he's faced true ace's (Felix, Curt, Meche), Weaver has gone 0-2 with a 7.33 ERA and 1.92 WHIP while he's struckout 22 batters in 27 innings pitched. Ironically, he's also allowed 22 earned runs in those 27 innings pitched. Problem is, he's never gone more than six innings in any of those five starts. So it looks like that we'll either see the solid Weaver against a staff ace [6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 0 HR] or the horrible Weaver against a staff ace [6.0 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR].

On a side note, Weaver is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in his career against the Blue Jays with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched. Add that into his 9-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.21 WHIP at Angel Stadium, and it looks like that maybe Weaver can outlast Halladay. Hopefully, for our sakes, Napoli [.225/.288/.364] is back in time to catch for Weaver because he's shit with Mathis [.311/.343/.466] back there. Generally August has been the worst month in Weaver's career, sporting a 3-3 record while posting a 4.58 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over his career.

Should be interesting, one way or another.

If you guys don't mind reading a lengthy post that I made on sports forum about why Derek Jeter is not a Hall of Fame caliber player, then go on over there to read all about it. I detail all of the Hall of Fame voting criteria and make what I think is a pretty solid case against Jeter belonging in the Hall of Fame.

So, just let me know what you guys think of it and let me know if I'm being an idiot. Thanks!

Well, the date is now August 17th. Our record is 70-49 (.588). We lead the American League West by 3½ games over the Seattle Mariners. I decided to go back and look at where the Angels teams in the last decade stood at this point in the season, after the games were played on August 16th and going into August 17th. So, here goes . . .

2006: 62-59 (.512), 2nd in AL West, 6.5 GB
2005: 69-50 (.580), 1st in AL West, 2.0 GA
2004: 65-53 (.551), 3rd in AL West, 1.0 GB
2003: 59-64 (.480), 3rd in AL West, 15.0 GB
2002: 73-48 (.603), 2nd in AL West, 0.5 GB
2001: 64-57 (.529), 3rd in AL West, 23.0 GB
2000: 62-58 (.517), 3rd in AL West, 6.5 GB
1999: 48-69 (.410), 4th in AL West, 21.0 GB
1998: 66-57 (.537), 1st in AL West, 0.5 GA
1997: 68-54 (.557), 2nd in AL West, 0.5 GB
1996: 56-65 (.463), 4th in AL West, 13.5 GB
1995: 64-39 (.621), 1st in AL West, 10.5 GA
1994: 51-63 (.447), 4th in AL West, 5.5 GB
1993: 54-63 (.462), 5th in AL West, 10.0 GB
1992: 53-66 (.445), 6th in AL West, 19.5 GB
1991: 56-59 (.487), 7th in AL West, 12.0 GB
1990: 58-60 (.492), 5th in AL West, 17.0 GB

The 1994 season was strike shortened and the season ended on August 11th of that year.

From 1990 to 1993, the AL West was comprised of seven teams -- Angels, Athletics, Twins, Mariners, Rangers, Royals, and White Sox.

This is the third best record that the Angels have had on this date since 1990, in terms of winning percentage. It's the second best record that they have had on this date since 1990, in terms of wins. It's the second largest lead that the Angels have had at this point in the season since 1990, outside of their demolishing of the American League West in 1995. This is the fourth time that they've been leading the AL West at this point in the season, so that's not too bad when you really think about it. Our worst record at this juncture took place in 1998, when we were 48-69 (.410) at this point in the season. Our most games back at this time of the season occured back in 2001, where we were 23.0 games back of the untouchable and unbeatable Seattle Mariners. We're definitely ahead of last year's pace, that's for sure. And we're one game ahead of our 2005 pace. So, even with the offense sputtering at times this season, let's be thankful that we're this good at this juncture of the season.

Well, if you didn't, here are some pictures that I took off of the television.

Picture #1: Click Here
Picture #2: Click Here
Picture #3: Click Here
Picture #4: Click Here
Picture #5: Click Here
Picture #6: Click Here
Picture #7: Click Here

What the hell kind of person leaves their house with hair like that? That's all I want to know.

Chris Pettit was the 582nd player taken in the 2006 MLB Entry Draft. He was selected in the 19th round. In 2003, as a freshman at Loyola Marymount, he had a great year. He hit .328/.403/.476 with 2 HR, 29 RBI, 36 R, 18 2B, 2 3B, and 17 SB in 19 attempts. In 2004, he regressed by hitting .272/.380/.384 with 2 HR, 21 RBI, 29 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, and 4 SB in just 6 attempts. In 2005, he really broke out with a great season. He batted .329/.419/.553 with 9 HR, 44 RBI, 62 R, 20 2B, 1 3B, and 21 SB in 28 attempts. In his senior season, 2006, he batted .281/.360/.456 with 5 HR, 38 RBI, 44 R, 19 2B, 2 3B, and 15 SB in 17 attempts. In his entire college career, he grounded into only eleven (11) double plays. Shows how quick he truly is.

On August 9th of this year, he was named Angels Organizational Player of the Month for July after hitting .383 with 8 HR, 37 RBI, 30 R, and 9 SB during the month. It marked the second time he was named the Angels Organizational Player of the Month. The first time occurred in May, where he batted .374 with 2 HR, 13 RBI, 20 R, and 14 2B in 27 games.

Last year for Orem in the Rookie League, he got off to a hot start. He finished the season by batting .338/.446/.569 with 7 HR, 54 RBI, 41 R, 25 2B, 3 3B, and 5 SB in just 67 games (225 ABs). He also walked 31 times while striking out just 47 times. Amazing discipline for a first year player in the minors. He was also hit by a pitch 14 times in Orem and grounded into just five (5) double plays while there.

He started off 2007 in Cedar Rapids. He batted .346/.429/.579 with 9 HR, 41 RBI, 47 R, 24 2B, 1 3B, and 17 SB while walking 23 times compared to 41 strikeouts. He was also hit by a pitch 12 times in Cedar Rapids and grounded into just four (4) double plays. He did that in just 64 games (228 ABs). He got called up to Rancho Cucamonga towards the end of June. In his time in Rancho Cucamonga, he has batted .355/.437/.585 with 9 HR, 48 RBI, 44 R, 17 2B, 1 3B, and 12 SB while walking 27 times compared to just 32 strikeouts. He's done so in just 50 games (200 ABs). Thankfully, at least for him, he's only been hit by a pitch three (3) times so far at Rancho Cucamonga since his call-up there. He's also grounded into three (3) double plays there.

He may stand 6'0" and weigh 193 pounds. He may be from nearby Pasadena. He may be a right-handed speed demon who has considerable power, thus comparing him to a more powerful Reggie Willits by the time he makes into the majors. He may be 22 years old, but tomorrow he will be 23 years old. For his birthday is August 15th and I was just thinking that it would be nice to acknowledge his birthday since he may be our best player in the minors this season. It's even more of a surprise when you see that he has actually gotten better with each promotion that he has received in the minors. He's currently playing center field at Rancho Cucamonga, by the way. With last night's 0-4, he dropped his average down to .350 while also grounding into a double play. His fourth while at Rancho Cucamonga. However, he did have an outfield assist.

So, I'm here to give an early Happy Birthday salute to Chris Pettit. You, my friend, have earned it.

It seems like certain A's players don't want him. Would you like him on the Angels? I wouldn't mind him, but I wouldn't like him. I just wonder what would happen when we have to put in Anderson or Guerrero as the designated hitter during some games. You can't have two designated hitters, that I know of. And what happens to Juan Rivera for that matter? Do we just trade him plus other players for a huge bat in the offseason to go with Guerrero and Bonds? Too many things would be screwed up, I think. We could trade Izturis, Santana, and Rivera to a team that needs young players that will help their team build for now and the future while getting back a player of a good talent level, someone like Miguel Cabrera perhaps. That's just one thought. Who knows, though.

UPDATE: Matt Harvey threw two complete game wins in the Connie Mack World Series that took place in New Mexico. His fastball, supposedly, was clocked around 95 miles per hour. Can we just sign this kid already? Please!

What, you ask, does this have to do with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? It means that the player the Angels took in the third round, Matt Harvey, will be getting a deal worth about three to four million dollars less. Matthew Harvey had talent comparable to Rick Porcello. Some scouts even went as far as to say that Harvey had better talent than Porcello. He was a projected top ten pick, with every scouting service having him go in the first round. So, Porcello signed the biggest guaranteed deal for a high school player. That means that the Angels are going to have to shell out some money to get Matthew Harvey. Do I wish that they would do that? Yes I do. Do I think that they will do that? Probably not. He was touted as the steal of the draft for the Angels. I can only hope that Eddie Bane and the Angels management get him signed before the August 15th deadline.

Anyone think we get him signed before the 15th? There's only about 47 hours left to get all the picks signed. I hate this new deadline.

I'm currently debating a guy on Football's Future about who the American League MVP would be. He only listed Magglio Ordonez and Alex Rodriguez in the poll, showing he is an idiot. He then stats that it's Magglio Ordonez's award to win. We've been arguing for two pages, so far. The guy (on Page 1) will use some retarded variables to say that Ordonez is the guy because he simply just believes he is. He thinks that batting average and Runs Created Per Game (which is a great stat) is the be-all and end-all of all debates when talking about who is the Most Valuable Player. He continues (on Page 2) by saying that Gary Sheffield doesn't make a difference on the Tigers despite being tied for fifth in the American League in Runs Created Per Game. I have continued to smash him in the debate by posting things that are totally hard to refute. I even added in Ichiro Suzuki into the debate, because he deserves to be in there.

So, I was wondering who you guys would vote for if the MVP voting were to take place today. I think it'd be hard to go against Alex Rodriguez personally. I hate the Yankees but I think he's the only reason that they even stayed as close as they were to the Red Sox. He was their only offense early on. I have Vladimir Guerrero in second because his stats are a little lacking but his true value to the team is unmatched in the American League. I have Ichiro Suzuki third because of how much of an impact he has on that team and then you add in his stats. I have Magglio Ordonez fourth behind the other three, but slightly behind Ichiro. So, who gets your vote?

So I was looking at Baseball Reference's Team Inning Summary for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and was noticing some pretty interesting things. The Angels have 28 comeback wins but have 22 blown leads. Their largest comeback is five runs while their largest blown lead is four runs. They have seven walk-off wins and just two walk-off losses. The Angels are 52-3 when leading going into the 7th inning. They are 62-0 when going into the 9th inning with the lead which is the best in baseball.

Looks like the Angels are doing just fine and they're ahead of the Seattle Mariners in some those same categories. The Mariners have 35 comeback wins but have 22 blown leads. Their largest comeback is five runs while their largest blown lead is five runs, as well. They have only three walk-off wins but just one walk-off loss. They're 51-2 when leading going into the 7th inning. They're 56-0 when going into the 9th inning with the lead.

I frequently visit another forum. It's mainly a football site but there are other sections for baseball, basketball, and other sports (NASCAR, Soccer, etc.). The Yankees fans at this site are generally okay to deal with, except for one. This guy actually believes that Derek Jeter is better than Orlando Cabrera or any other shortstop in the American League because he [Jeter] gets it done in the "pressure cooker" that is the Bronx. Without mentioning how full of shit he truly is, I took it upon myself to own him in an argument while using Orlando Cabrera and a few other shortstops from the American League.

WARNING: Major idiocy about to be ingested. Please prepare the Tums.

http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=153574

Note: Incase anyone couldn't tell, I am Big7BenMVP. It's two pages long with the main portion on the 2nd page. This is why Yankees fans shouldn't be allowed to speak.