Was just reading the OCRegister Angels blog and saw this

"It's just past 11 o'clock at Angel Stadium -- just past deadline for those of us in the press box and cleanup time for the crews that started their work in the top deck about 20 minutes ago.
In response to the OC Register stories exposing the 'vermin violations' at Angel Stadium, the cleanup schedule has been changed. No more letting the garbage sit in the stadium overnight."

Full link here

Almost two years after he retired, Troy Percival returned to the big leagues.

The St. Louis Cardinals called up the former All-Star closer on Tuesday, hoping he can help a bullpen that has struggled this season.

Thanks ESPN

300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300

The Yankees have talked to the Angels about Shea Hillenbrand, a right-handed hitting first baseman they were interested in this past offseason when he was a free agent.

The story continues here

Moved Over From the Diaries...

As a life long Angels fan never have I seen a sicker display, chants that included the F word, a lady screaming so loudly about nothing that literally a halo surrounded her because people were being driven away and countless other class less actions occurred all while the security and ushers did nothing but stand idly by.  While little children had to be exposed to this.  Were most of these actions done by those in blue?  No, the lack of class belonged to us in red more often than not (at least in my section).

I love the game of baseball and especially the Angels but we all know that ultimately we are simply rooting for laundry, and the display put on by the fans last night not only made me leave early but it made me apologize to the people seated next to me who were Dodgers fans.  I can stand a little bit of stupidity but what was seen last night made me for the first time in my life leave an Angels game early because of fan activity.  It almost made me long for the years before the Angels won it all, when we were vry much the clippers to the dodgers lakers, then at least we wouldn't get so many idiotic fair weather fans.

Last night was 38,000 fans trying to enjoy themselves, it's a shame that 6,000 idiots ruined it for others.  Arte needs to do a lot of work to make the atmosphere more friendly or else when I have kids I simply won't go, and he doesn't want that.  You don't want to drive away the people who come to over 30 games a year, they spend and spend and spend.

Oh and if the lady who was screaming in section 230 last night reads this, even your child asked you to stop, that should tell you something.  Maybe next time you will take her advice.

According to Halo Happenings

"After Wednesday's game, the Angels put Maicer Izturis on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

Brandon Wood, was recalled and is expected to be available for Thursday's series finale at Kansas City."

I found this on their site, so visit them, as well it's a great blog.  Too bad for Izzy, but who knows maybe Brandon can shine in a limited role.

just saw on fox after the yanks vs bo sox game that saunders got optioned to make room for colon, i'm sure they want saunders starting every 5th day in the minors so thats why he was sent down.  but it seems like we could really use him.

but then again no one in the pen is pitching horrible so who would be sent down?

t it's not one thing it's another for Kelvim Escobar. The right-hander was examined in Milwaukee on Thursday for irritation in his right shoulder and it was decided today to put him on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 9). Escobar was supposed to start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday but that assignment now will go to Hector Carrasco.

Last season, Escobar dealt with elbow and knee pain. The knee still bothers him so it is likely that compensating for the bum knee caused the shoulder to flare up.

To take Escobar's place on the roster, Greg Jones has been recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

This sucks, link here

MILWAUKEE -- Jered Weaver, coming off a seven-inning Minor League rehabilitation start on Wednesday night, will start for the Angels against Boston on Monday at Fenway Park -- "unless he shows up in a sling" when he joins the club in Boston on Friday to be evaluated, manager Mike Scioscia said.

link:

I was reading the Angels Media Guide because I am extraordinarily bored and I bought it last night and I get to the section, "The Name, Logos & Colors" (page 33).

In the section where it describes the alternate uniform it makes some typos but also alludes to as of yet unseen red jersey, what will follow is my quick transcription of the paragraph.

"The Angels alternate road uniforms include a red cap and bill, official club logo and red button.  Jersey is a sleeveless button down, white in color with red piping around neck armholes worn with red undershirt.  Red ANGELS script will appear on front with silver halo circling top of 'A'.  Script is outlined in blue and silver.  The Angels ALTERNATE UNIFORM used for home or road games include a red cap and bill, official club logo and red button.  Jersey is button down, red in color, with silver piping around neck and arms.  Red ANGELS script will appear on front, with silver halo circling top of 'A'.  Script is outline in blue and silver."

There are pics of the uniforms worn at the bottom of the page and they simply show the two known home uniforms, the road uni and the batting practice/spring training uniform, so I don't know what to make of all this.

Any ideas, thoughts, speculation?  Because I sure don't have a clue at all....

Was out at the ballpark tonight and encountered a few changes worth noting.  First off if you want a media guide try the new upstairs Hall of Fame store as the regular one did not have it.  Speaking of which the new store is spacious and beautiful, and located behind the press box on the terrace level.

Also for those interested, there is now a Ruby's on the terrace level on the 3rd base side, it was closed tonight but still it was there....

that's all I got, unless you want me to rant about how annoying Dodgers fans are....

I know only one game in spring training can not be used to measure ones abilities however I came across this on espn.com regarding brandon wood in a minor league game against the Brewers.

"He [Ben Sheets] allowed two homers -- by Angels prospect Brandon Wood and starting catcher Jose Molina"

and also there was this:

"and the rejuvenated Turnbow tossed a scoreless inning, allowing only a double to Wood"

This game means nothing in the grand scheme of things but considering Wood's status in our system, and Figgins uncertain status, we likely will see number 3 in an Angels uniform this summer or possibly September.  So seeing him perform well against bonafide major leaguers and not just that but former all star pitchers, it makes you have hope.

Oh and that thing about Molina being the starter, was the writer high?

LINK TO THE STORY (go to the brewers area)

I haven't had a chance to read the article yet as I was about to hit the hay but I figured I would post this for those who would like to read...

The Angels current young infielders and future infielders are featured on the front page of espn.com's baseball section.

to read it go here.

let's see if i am at 300 words yet....

As I am sitting here typing this, Darin Erstad is leading things off for the White Sox, gosh that sounds odd.  But that's not the point of my post here today.

The point is this, next week I am going to be staying from thursday through sunday at the buttes outside tempe diablo so I am wondering for those who have been down there already, which fields are used, what access we have all the inside info.  I have been at the complex the last 2 years and have gotten some autographs but if I can see the players more up close I would love it.

i saw this over at the fine oc register angels blog from the dugout

"The Angels are planning a ceremony to honor Salmon before the second game of the season (April 3 against the Texas Rangers). Though team officials declined to comment on any specific plans for the ceremony, look for Salmon's uniform number (15) to be retired."

so my question for you is this, should the kingfish's number be retired?  

you already know my opinion by my comment signature (and i already have the number on my wall autographed)

so lets debate it one more time, shall number 15 join carew, ryan, fregosi, reese, and autry? (they should add downing too but i digress)

This is just the facts

The Angels confirmed that Brandon Wood will indeed get time at third base this spring, which is what just about everybody predicted would happen with the slugging high-level prospect. The experiment will begin in two days when the Angels start to work on fielding fundamentals. Manager Mike Scioscia did say that Wood's days at shortstop have not ended just that they are making Wood more versatile to give him an additional path to the major leagues. Scioscia also claimed the move was not done because Erick Aybar also projects as a Triple-A shortstop this season.

source: daily news blogs:  http://www.insidesocal.com/mlb/archives/doug_on_the_angels/index.html

According to chicagosports.com the rangers acquired brandon mccarthy for prospects john danks and nick masset.

both of these guys were highly regarded, however Mccarthy is very highly regarded as well so I am not sure how to think of this trade.  It may make the Rangers stronger in the short term but weak in the longer term with the departures of Masset and Danks.  However if they pick up Zito then this looks like a masterful move to strengthen one of our chief AL west rivals.

Poor Masset and Danks though, now they have to pitch to Pierzynski.

I was just thinking and I am sure this has already been posted but I figured what the heck.  

We now have nothing (Bulger is released) for what was one of the better middle infield prospects in baseball (Alberto Callaspo).  This was a bad trade when it was made and an even worse one now.  I know you can't just hold onto your prospects forever but you should at least attempt to get equal value.

Kendrick is the future at second but Callaspo could have been a great utility guy which kind of seems like what he will be for the DBacks.  But hey who knows maybe we will re sign Bulger and I will be left eating crow.  I hope that's the case, otherwise the ditch Stoneman crowd is looking a lot more appealing and he was a great guy when I met him last year in Tempe.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette we will not be getting the Braves first baseman Adam Laroche.  I'm not sure what to think yet but its a development.  One that will mean a first base combo of casey/kendry/dallas could definitely come to fruition with a pinch of quinlan thrown in.

http://postgazette.com/pg/06340/744098-100.stm

According to ESPNNEWS and Fox Sport/Sporting News's Ken Rosenthal Ken Macha has been fired despite leading the A's to the division title this year and winning their first post season series since 1990.  This is real breaking news right now.

The full text of the brief article on foxsports.com can be found here.

Ok so the yanks tanked and A-Rod will be the scapegoat, and the fans there (and media) are already clamoring for him to be shipped out of town.  Considering how desperate they are to lose him, if the halos wanted arod what would be an acceptable amount of players to give up?

Or would you rather get Aramis Ramirez on the free agent market instead?

Personally I would rather just get aramis for nothing except money than get A-Rod for possibly more money and prospects.  

But, if we wanted to get A-Rod I honestly would not be willing to give up any bona fide prospects besides maybe aybar or sean rodriguez and I adore Aybar, he's a tremendous player.  I'd be willing to give up a kid like Mosley or some of our other young pitchers but not Adenhart, no way.  As for the major league roster, if they wanted someone like chone or mcpherson or kotchman fine, if they wanted something like shields no way.

I know what I would give up for A-Rod is heavily slanted for the angels but considering how badly they would want to give up A-Rod and the amount of salary we would take on that's how I feel.

Bottom line I think the free agent market could be a better place to go, but something must be done for the offense.

If the yankees fail like it seems they will Alex Rodriguez will almost universally be blamed for their failures.  With that being said I am wondering what everyone thinks.  

I'm not asking if he should be an angel because a lot of things have to be decided (Aramis Ramirez anyone?) before we get to that point.  What I am asking is even though he has a no trade clause will Arod be in pinstripes next year....

I was just wondering how many people on here are gonna be headed out to the ballpark tomorrow, one final time this season?  

i figure with all the things going on a lot of people on here will be headed out.  i know i will.  i wanna see the end for the fish, and possiblt for kennedy and ersty.  and who knows maybe history for krod and salmon...

now as 2006 fades away let us salute the greatest man to ever be an angel.

through great years and bad years tim salmon has been a phenomenal player.  for some young fans (like me) he is the first of the great angels we saw play as a halo.  for others he is the latest player to be an angels legend following in the lines of fregosi and downing and ryan, and many more.

scioscia needs to give him a chance for 300.  usually personal records mean nothing but if we can not get into the playoffs we have got to give salmon an opportunity to go out in style.

let him bat third the rest of the way, let him see if in 9 games he can hit 2 bombs.  let him bring one more smile to our face.  and let him get one more curtain call at home.

if we have to see a team next year without salmon's presence let us truely treasure what we have left with the fish around.