Moved Over From the Diaries

Schilling has posted a blog entry about the game today:

http://38pitches.com/2007/04/14/41407-vs-los-angeles/

You can argue about Schilling's opinions etc., but he does treat his fans top notch with this blog. He breaks down all of his starts, answers tons of questions from the comments and all of that. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

UPDATE:
I moved this over form the diaries as it is a detailed look at our lineup from a unique perspective, reinforcing that major leaguers are INTIMIDATED by a lineup that seeks to put the ball in play in any situation. I know that stat geeks are not intimidated by this approah, but major leaguers are - hmmm, who should we be more interested in challenging?

My favorite Schilling insights follow. RevHF out...

Kotchman leads off the 5th by grounding a back door slider to 2B for the first out. Both ABs he’s centered breaking stuff up pretty well. I remember him coming to the big leagues and everyone was talking about his eye and how little he struck out. He has a nice approach and seems to be good enough to wait on a pitch he wants and not miss it. Key to guys like that is having them hit from behind in the count as early and often as possible.

Kendrick hits a split to center, not down nearly enough and he looks like he absolutely crushes balls in the lower half of the zone that are on the plate. He’s strong for sure.

Hot Dog! Italian could not pull off the three-peat. Hot Dog takes the race today. Thrill000 gets a point. That means there is a 4 way tie for first place. Your sausage panthers (all with one point):

Thrill000
Wytelitning
canadianangelsfan
Crapper John MD

Panther sausage of the series: Gotta go with Italian

Hmmm... 300 words. Seen this t-shirt? I've seen a couple on TV. Someone must be selling them outside the stadium.

Is this sausage unstoppable? Guido the Italian Sausage wins again. So who won this evening? Well... ummm.... nobody. 13 picks and not one of us picked Italian.

In any case, this is the thread for your 3rd (and final) picks for the last night of the Cleveland Indians of Milwaukee Sausage Races. I'll take Chorizo.

Details are available here.

Guido the Italian Sausage is our Tues. night winner. Wytelitning, Crapper John MD and myself all get one point. Everyone else gets zip. I actually did make a spreadsheet but I have absolutely no idea how to post it.

Post your picks here for Wed. night's sausage race. I will take Polish for tomorrow.

Details are available here.
If you really want details, go here.

UPDATE: Apparently there is some discrepancy on the broadcasts (apparently about where the finish line is). Angels say Chorizo, Cleveland says Italian. Hopefully I hear something back here.

UPDATE 2: Looks like Italian was indeed the winner. Just a quick note that picks for tomorrow night are not assumed from tonight's picks, so new ones must be posted.

From this article:

"And the Famous Racing Sausages will compete at all three games."

Therefore... there is only one thing to do. Your choices are:

#1, Brett Wurst (Brat) is a bratwurst and wears green Austro-Bavarian lederhosen.

#2, Staush (Polish) is a Polish sausage and wears dark sunglasses and a blue and red rugby shirt.

#3, Guido (Italian) is an Italian sausage and wears a chef's outfit.

#4, Frankie Furter (Hot Dog) is a hot dog and wears a baseball uniform.

#5, El Picante (Chorizo) is a chorizo and wears a sombrero.

(Roster from Wikipedia)

Pick your winner for Tues. night. I'll post a new thread on Wed. and Thurs. No prizes but you will be able to say that you are the best at picking your sausage.

UPDATE: Bios, standings and, most importantly, results are available here

From press release:

The Angels and Scot Shields Thursday agreed to terms on a four-year contract through the 2010 season, in an announcement by club Vice President and General Manager Bill Stoneman. The new agreement replaces the one-year contract Shields signed in February of this year. With today's announcement, the Angels currently have nine players signed through the 2008 season and five players inked through the 2009 campaign.

Entire press release here:
PRESS RELEASE

Angels @ A's (1:05p), no TV
G A M E D A Y
Nick Adenhart vs Dan Haren

Also scheduled to pitch for the Angels: Oliver, Speier, Bootcheck, Wilhite.
In addition, Lackey will pitch against the A's AAA team today as his final tune up before Opening Day.

Cubs @ Angels (1:05p), MLB.TV (website says no local, correct me if I'm wrong)
G A M E D A Y
Jason Marquis vs Joe Saunders

Also scheduled to pitch for the Angels: No idea. Press notes aren't available (yet?)

LINEUP:
Juicer, CF
Cabfare, SS
Vlad, RF
G.A., LF
SheaHey, DH
Casey, 1B
Keyshawn, 2B
Napster, C
Izzy, 3B

Angels @ Cubs (1:05p), KCOP (and MLB.TV)
G A M E D A Y
Ervin Santana vs Ted Lilly

Also scheduled to pitch for the Angels: Carrasco & Speier

Naturally I have to come up with something to fill up 300 words. I could go with "300 words" over and over again. Then again, I could come up with something funny (the Wang joke yesterday was pretty good). Best of all, I can bitch about the limit and finish.

(moved over from the diaries)

Haven't had a chance to watch much of the game but I didn't really want to read this headline on MLB.com

Escobar departs with strained back
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Angels starter Kelvim Escobar left Saturday's game at Tempe Diablo Stadium against Colorado in the third inning with a strain in the lower left side of his back.
The extent of the injury was not immediately known. Escobar will be re-evaluated Sunday, the club announced.

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

UPDATE:
Doug Padila Reports: He walked to the clubhouse down the right-field line under his own power and did not seem to be in any discomfort.

Angels @ Mariners (1:05p), No TV
G A M E D A Y
John Lackey vs Felix Hernandez

Also scheduled to pitch for the Angels: Bootcheck and Gwyn

Rangers @ Angels (1:05p), No TV
G A M E D A Y
Mike Wood vs Hector Carrasco

I have absolutely no idea who else is scheduled to pitch for the Angels today because Press Pass doesn't have today's notes yet.

Diamondbacks @ Angels (1:05p), FSN West (MLB.TV)
G A M E D A Y
Enrique Gonzalez vs Joe Saunders

Also scheduled to pitch for the Angels:
K-Rod, Darren Oliver, Marc Gwyn, Greg Jones

From Angels press notes:

"RHP Jered Weaver is scheduled to throw batting practice (45 pitches) [today] on Field #2...RHP Kelvim Escobar will be pitching in a minor league game with Jeff Mathis catching."
http://presspass.mlb.com/pp_viewer.asp?d=32388

Naturally, there is a 300 word minimum so I should probably come up with something profound to say... or not.

Long night for everyone around here pretending (or proving) they were Irish?
Two split-squad affairs today:

Cubs @ Angels (1:05p), FSN West (and MLB.TV for the rest of us)
G A M E D A Y 1
Carlos Zambrano vs John Lackey

Angels @ A's (1:05p)
G A M E D A Y 2
Nick Adenhart vs Dan Haren