I know a lot of people are upset with our team including myself.  We had another incredibly poor showing in the playoffs.  After the last out was made I was not sure what to do about this team.

After taking a week to think about it, one must consider that most of our young players came out of the minors playing at a level that would allow them to win divisions.  The Kendricks and Aybars of the team just got a heavy dose of humble pie this playoff season.  Will they learn to adjust and raise their game in the playoffs, I think they will.

But some changes should be made.  Sign Tex, Wood at 3rd, and a new front line pitcher.  I think S. Rod will be real good next year, where to put him ? I've seen some names for LF, what about Terry Evans.  Is he going to get a chance ? GMJr. has to go.

If Tex gets a big contract with the Angels, is there another FA out there to sign to protect him.  Re-signing Vlad next year is an option.  I haven't looked that closely at next years free agent list.  But if we sign Tex and don't have sufficient protection for him then we're back to the old Vladdy days.  As for in house options, Hunter may offer some protection , as well as Rivera.  Talk amongst yourselves...........

Now that plans A-C have come and gone, what are the Angels going to do now for a power hitting 3rd Baseman.  I know we all have some good suggestions.  Is Figgins once again the man, does Brandon Wood come into the picture ?  That would mean plan D and E.  Well, let the games begin.                                                                                                                                                  

I guess it depends on what coast you are on.  If Boston or New York had signed him, Fox would be handing them the World Series right now.
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I think the Angels should let Brown and D-Mac  fight it out for 3rd this season and Wood and Aybar for SS.  Hide those spots in the lineup 8th and 9th.  Keep Figgins for insurance.  The rest of the line-up can carry us at least to the division. Then trade some OF prospects or current OF's for bullpen help.

A lot of opinions for and against the trade of Howie Kendrick and prospects have been voiced on this site. I am a real big fan of his as well as a fan of all of our prospects.  I want to see this team win, with those guys leading the charge.  I would almost rather lose with him than win without him and some of the others proposed in the trade.

last two covers of Sports Illustrated have featured two New England Teams, the Celtics and the Patriots.  The end has begun.  East coast, west coast.   Build a wall at the Mississippi River.  Don't let anyone out or in.  
Most of end of that is to fill my quota of letters.  Thank you, I take no responsibility if any of that happens......

We came close to winning tonites game.  Ortiz and Manny sunk us at two different crucial junctions of the game.  I for one believe they are the only two players on that team worth a damn.  Is it time to start walking these guys in crucial situations, i.e. with the bases loaded or when we are trying to keep the game close ?

Its time to change from the Rally Monkey to the Rally Rat, complete with its own soundtrack.  Feel free to add movie scenes too.  I'll start the bidding with "Rats in the Cellar" , Aerosmith.   Sorry it had to be a Boston band, oh well !

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I just got back from the bay area this afternoon.  We caught the Thursday nite game vs. the A's.  The game was great and we saw quite a few Halo fans in the seats as well as on the shuttle over from the Hilton.  

The Oakland fans weren't too bad but the area around the stadium was a little rough.

Thurs. afternoon my family and I had returned from SF on the BART and were waiting in the Station for the hotel shuttle to return us to our hotel.  While we were sitting there, Mathis, Napoli, Quinlan and Weaver came walking past on there way to the stadium.  Soon after was Terry Smith and Hud.  Hud stopped and said hello to us and had some baseball cards of himself, which he signed and gave to my kids.  He was cool.  I can't say anything bad about him anymore.

We had a great time otherwise and there were a lot of Halo fans at the hotel as well, who went to the game.