Someone got their facts incredibly wrong ... saw the headline on this article:  "Los Angeles Angels Hit Hard, Juan Rivera Suspended 50 Games"  ... but a little googling revealed it was actually a Kansas City minor leaguer with the name name who was suspended. 

My heart jumped a little bit, but whew!  Not another incredibly unlucky thing we have to bear this season!  Someone better start checking thier facts and sources before posting this kind of stuff ...

After being a season ticket holder for the past handful of years I'm starting to go through withdraws knowing that I won't be able to follow the team as closely this year -- in the off season we moved out of state.  

We've already signed up for the MLB package from Direct TV, can anyone vouch for that service?  We're going to be subject to black out for the FOX games, right?  But they'll be on the actual FOX station here, correct?  Also, is Gameday worth it ... either just the audio package or the MLB.tv thing?

I am not going to know what to do come April when I'm not heading to the stadium every night or watching from my living room the guys play on the road.  Help a girl out -- share with me your tactics for staying in the know!

For anyone that's enjoyed a good steak or drink at "The Catch" across from the stadium ... if you want another one you'd better get down there before this weekend, because the restaurant is closing it's doors.  It's being forced to close, or move, because of the developments for the "Platinum Triangle" being built up in Anaheim.  They say the restaurant may move locations and be open again in 2009.

Source:

http://tinyurl.com/38szfj

It's a video clip from cbs.com in LA ... proceed with caution, though, it's particularly annoying to hear the anchor call it "Edison Field" and the reporters horrible grammar ... she says "more good" more than a few times.

Sad to see that restaurant go.  Now there's even less choices around the stadium for pre-game food!

There has been some great pictures added to my Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim group over at Flickr lately ... please go take a look if you haven't recently.  We've got some really talented photographers around!    And if you're on Flickr and have any Angels pictures - please join and add them!  We allow any type of Angels baseball pictures - home or away games, players or fans, rats or monkeys.  

According to this article:

"The X-rays look pretty good; it's probably a high ankle sprain. I don't think there's anything broken," Napoli said.

Angels LF Erick Aybar left the game in the third inning with a bruised right hand. X-rays were inconclusive; he will be re-examined Monday in Texas.

Also, it said Mora wasn't it much better shape, having to have his foot wrapped and taking pain pills.  It also said that replays indicated he might have beaten the tag at the plate.  

We needed this win today!  Hopefully we don't suffer Napoli being out for any extended amount of time ... I don't like the idea of having to rely on J Mo for sole catching duties.

We're going up to Salt Lake City in two weeks and hope to catch a few Bees and Owlz games while we're up there.  I've never been to a minor league game -- what can I expect?  Do the players sign autographs after batting practice like they sometimes do at Angel stadium?  Are there any Angels that could possibly be playing in Salt Lake in the next few weeks?  What are your best tips for going to a minor league park?  Has anyone been to either of these parks specifically?  

Can't beat the deal the Owlz have ... 6 tickets, 6 hot dogs, 6 soda's for $36.00.  Now that's affordable!  

This might be old news but maybe some of you on here haven't seen it yet ... Kennedy, Spezio and Eckstein appearing in the cinematic masterpiece that is She Spies.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh-WIUGKk98

It's, um, scary ... to say the least.

Just ignore me if this was discussed 6 months ago when the link was added to YouTube!

I've been to a fair number of games at the Big A -- and never before tonight have I encountered such RUDE and CHILDLIKE Angel fans.  The 4 people sitting directly behind us were sitting in seats 1-4 and were balking every time they had to get up when someone wanted to pass.  Eventually they'd check to see where the person was coming from, and if it was from a seat closer to the other aisle, they'd refuse to get up and kick the people and try to trip them as they climbed over.  THIS WAS 4 GROWN ADULTS.  They got into a very heated argument with one guy that they kicked in the shins for trying to pass them, where one guy actually shoved the other guy into my husband who was holding our baby.   I have never seen adults act so much like two year olds -- and they weren't even drinking.  They eventually ended up getting escorted out by security after they sat and argued and yelled and caused a huge scene with the usher.  I hope this is not a sign of the crowds this year -- I know (and don't expect) the ballpark to be a church like reverent place, but I have never heard the F-bomb dropped so many times in a game (even when Dodger fans visit!).  I was embarassed in front of my 70 year old parents who were getting their 1st impression of Angel Stadium from these jerks.  
Also, it took security 35 minutes to show up after the usher 1st called them.  For a minute there it was getting dicey, too, with 2 guys shoving each other and screaming in each others faces.  Aren't they just paid to walk around the stadium and be ready for things like that?

Did any of you that had tickets to today's game get your free wings from Hooters (promotion that runs when the Angels score 10 runs, every ticket is worth  10 free wings).  

We just went to the Hooters in Costa Mesa and were told the Angels have to WIN for the promotion to be valid.  That's ridiculous!  They shouldn't announce it right after the inning that your ticket is valid now for the free wings.  

I'm wondering if this is just the Costa Mesa store managers decision or if anyone had luck at any of the other restaurants -- the one by the stadium maybe?

How annoying .... it seems everyone just assumes that Oakland is going to win - in the 9th inning of the Seattle/Oakland game (before it had even gone to extra innings) ESPN news had "A's magic # at 1" in thier "breaking news" section.

Here's the picture of it, but after the game had gone final.  When the magic # was STILL AT 2!!

(edited to fix my typo OF THE MAGIC # IS 2!!!)

I've been a lurker at this website for a long time, but never posted. Not sure if this is allowed, please delete my post if not appropriate.

I'm just another Southern California Angels fan that absoloutely loves baseball and the Angels. I'm also someone that has been deeply moved and saddened by the aftermath of the Hurricane that has devastated much of the South. I feel so helpless sitting here hundreds of miles away watching the news and seeing all the people desperate for food and water and assistance.

It's a small thing, but I listed my Angels tickets for this weekends series against the Mariners on eBay with 50% of the sale proceeds going directly to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief. I'm selling 5 sets of 2 tickets each, and there is a $10.00 minimum donation on each of them, so I figure if the least amount that I give is $50.00 - well that is something. The link is for Friday nights game, Saturday nights game tickets will go up on eBay Friday afternoon, and Sunday afternoons game tickets will go up on eBay Saturday morning.

I hope it can help someone, somewhere that needs it. So if you are wanting to go to the games this weekend, please bid or send the link along to someone else that might be interested!

Ok, how awesome was it - first swing, home run. That's an MVP for you. Rev Halofan, wasn't that HR right into your section?? The game was great. The atmosphere at the Big A was more electric and hyped-up then most of the games last year. I'm really happy with our seats, all the people around us seem really friendly and funny. It's going to be a great season!

Paul Byrd conducted an "interview" with himself, and left it taped to his locker today, since he, and most of the other players, had showered and left before the media was able to talk to them. This what he wrote:

TO: THE MEDIA

General Safe Quotes

"I felt great out there today. It was a perfect tune-up for the first game of the season."

"Buddy suggested that I throw more curves and change-ups towards the latter part of the game - so I did - and got a few by outs on curve balls. [unknown] I might do that more during the season."

Serious Quote

"If any team can handle losing Escobar for a few weeks, it's us! We have a great back up in Gregg and a great pen too!"

Funny Quote

"I gave up a few homeruns today. I just wanted to make sure, before the season starts, that the fastball out over the plate is still a bad pitch. You never know when this game might change."

Controversial Quote

"This was a big series considering we're from the same town...L.A."

Signed: X Paul Byrd