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Why Panther?
1. The Angels and Baseball are the topics.
2. If you are Optimistic, there is no need to bully others into cheering along.
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8. No Ticket Sales.
Thank You.
...and now you may read...
The Lore of the Panther
Angels 2008 Post Season Recap
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 7, 2008 1:20 AM PDT
in News
Starting Howie Kendrick in the playoffs after he came back from injury so late in the season was, in hindsight, a mistake. THE mistake. He disappeared, was overmatched and the palpable failure magnified itself into grand defensive lapses that cost us almost dearly in game three and dearly in game four. To a lesser extent, Erick Aybar brought little to the team
We will never know what would have happened if we had started Sean Rodriguez and Brandon Wood in the playoffs. Maybe we would have pined for Aybar and Kendrick, but perhaps the warmed-up AAA-rookie duo would have done more than those two.
There are other what-ifs, but were the Angels to have had the simplest offensive production from EITHER of those two spots, the team would at least be looking at a deciding game five.
Barring that, the only other missing factor was the spark plug factor on which Scioscia offenses depend so heavily. So Figgins not getting on base in 3 out of 4 games was a kick to the balls of any chance the Angels had. Also note that the great game Figgins had with the glove was also the game where his bat showed up.
So it wasn’t Frankie, it wasn’t Reggie, it wasn’t Shields. It was Howie, the decision to play a rehabbing Howie over a number of options, an absent Figgy, a weak Aybar.
On August 13, Howie Kendrick pulled up lame on a hit with a bad hammy and a few innings later, Maicer Izturis dislocated his thumb. One player came back and was ineffective and one player’s platoon partner couldn’t handle the full-time role. Perhaps the fate of the season was decided then and there.
To whine a bit, a lot of calls went Boston’s way, their pitchers and batters were free to saunter about the mound and box and then blame west coast viewing audiences for 5 hour games, followed by quickened Rapuano strike zones making for the 6th inning starting 90 minutes after the first pitch. I thought for a minute about a headline that read: “Tim Welke = Tim Donaghy?” but no whining. I could bitch about the absurdly pro-Boston telecast, but Red Sox Nation is about to get served a plate of shit to eat when the whole nation roots for the underdog Tampa Rays and the Boston Beer Belly Fans wonder where all the lovable adoration of America went. Hint: We loved your dirty water when it quenched the underdog but it has acquired an entitlement stench beyond Steinbrenner proportions.
Everyone showed up except our middle infielders, the calls went Bitchston’s way, the media was all Franconastroka and we were STILL in every game against the aging World Champions. When Billy Beane says the playoffs are a crapshoot he is lauded as a statistical genius and Oakland fans bend over for biannual rebuilding projects. When Angel fans hear that the playoffs are a crapshoot they still recall the snake eyes roll in 2002 that paid off and everything pales. It is the price of success.
Paying that price is John Lackey, team leader, Angel icon and alone without run support in two games that were eminently winnable. As always, no matter how bright the future looks, you have to wonder how many more postseason chances even the best of them will get.
We'll have to wait until next year to find out.
88 comments
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Angels Playlist
- The End (The Doors)
- I Remember Nothing (Joy Division)
- I Don't Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats)
- Memories (Elvis)
- History Lesson Part 2 (Minutemen)
6 comments Thank You All For a Great Season
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 6, 2008 8:31 PM PDT
in Postgame Threads
I will write more later, but from March 31 thru October 6 you have all made HALOS HEAVEN a great Angels Fan Site.
GAME THREAD - Thread #2 - Thread #3
Roll Call: Moondoggy, sothball, red floyd, Chone's Chonies, HaloDutch, Big Easy Halofan, Hutch83, WiHaloFan, UCIHalo, Yetijuice, Gorbachav5, stuck in Romania, princeton11loveshalos, K3YEROUT, Dono Romantico, Clip Show, adirondackangelfan, The Limey, MurrietaMick, NoDakHalo, wallispdub1, howiestheman, ladybug, Brew Angel, ZiK, Rev Halofan, Chris Knapp's Sac, Jangel7, sunshine thermometer, 44FAN, matthiasstephan, scottnak, teopeht, Rockin' Halo, Scuff, bighead, Grichfan, yeswecan, tanana40, stezo, Funke5ive, LUVtheLAA, highlandhalo, kle18, AnaheimHalos61, mynosebleeds, wizzdiddly, Red, RodgerLodges#1Fan, Quinlan's Goofy Swing, Riverrun, BoulderBrian, BruinHalo, dirty1, angelsown3417, bc56274, feNOMINAL, Fan Since 1981, Maggots8, deejayelleseven, eyespy, TheOptimist, The Clyde, kdoc, anaheim angels, mattwelch, Jack Kerouac, vlad IS my man, snowhor, b0rd3rline, wildwill, scareduck, Stirrups, BigBangRobbDawgg, RubixsQube, jtkelly86, MH252525, AngelsForLife, Angel Aviator, bruinbrah, cupie, atung, SFV88, stolenbases, lightupthehalo, Doctor Wu, steveray8, Angel Hawker, ANewFoundThrice, nselbe7, cardinalwraith, PhiSlamma, joeyz34, melvintoast, thrill000, chairmanofthebar, lightupthat420, RallyWookie, Diving Catch, leftwing, DaBigKahuna, gohalos912, ihearhowie2.0, Dodger Hater, hauldog, UK Halo, LittleCupcakes, Los Angeles de Anaheim, Carl Johnson, gdog009, gcash, BBFan1, tmat, ViolaHalo, deer, waters96, 182, elricsi, acuda27, HungryHunter, dtownmbrown, jimmuscomp, Seik1177, HaloPride, MidwayCityLivestock, gilbert, LA Seitz, higdog, Zookeeper, linkbruin, halofan4life, ponusbaum43, Floppy Bad Boy, Chzburger Jones, trojanangelfan, HaloMachismo, One won lost won, VladdyG, bryan15, 101halo, im4kiss, goodvibe61, 310Angel, wings, Northwest, halofolife, turs12, vladtheimpaler
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246 comments | 2 recs
Me, ready to do or die with our Halos.
Is this more like a win or lose pic? cant really tell lol
"And Angels manager Mike Scioscia said this afternoon that last night’s 7 1/3 scoreless-inning effort from his bullpen will not limit his options tonight.
'Everybody’s available,' Scioscia said. 'Even Jered Weaver.' "
Monday Pregame Thread
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 6, 2008 6:00 AM PDT
in Pregame Threads
5:37 PM on TBS
Pregame Guesses: Name 3 Angels who will reach base safely in the game.
Well I'm beginning to see the light.
Some people work very hard,
but still they never get it right.
Wine in the morning and some breakfast at night.
Well I'm beginning to see the light.
I met myself in a dream
And I just wanna tell you - everything was alright
I'm beginning to see the light.
Well I'm beginning to see the light.
There are problems in these times
but none of them are mine
Baby, I'm beginning to see the light.
How does it feel to be loved?
How does it feel to be loved?
61 comments | 0 recs
Who's Got the Tired Arms?
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 6, 2008 2:19 AM PDT
in News
As you can see from this sorting, it is important for John Lackey to pitch most of Monday night's game:
ANGELS No Way:
Frankie (33 pitches Monday), Weaver (34), Saunders (95), Santana (Game 5 Starter)
BOSTON No Way:
Beckett (106), Matsuzaka (Game 5 starter)
ANGELS Probably Not:
Dondo (28), Shields (28)
BOSTON Probably Not:
Papelbon (31), Delcarmen (25)
If it is a Save situation, Papelbon pitches.
ANGELS Good to go:
Lackey (SP), Oliver (7), Garland, Jepsen
BOSTON Good to go:
Lester (SP), Okajima (17), Masterson (16), Lopez (20), Byrd, Wakefield
23 comments | 0 recs
Angels Win Boston Marathon in 12
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 6, 2008 1:33 AM PDT
in News
The Angels left the bases loaded to end two innings. They left two on in three other innings. They gifted Boston 3 runs on a missed pop-fly. Teams like Kansas City and Seattle wipe the floor with you when you do that. But Team Lovable Nation was too busy tonguing its loving Fenway faithful right back to notice the gift of a game being handed to them by the Angels. Then it got late and they got served papers by a gutty bullpen and a catcher named Mike.
I thought we were dead when that pop-up dropped and this may be it, and if it is, it is slightly sweet, knowing that Chowd nation will all be late for work, or find out about the Angels win at work and have to rearrange their useless northeastern ice and sleet lives to see the game that will start late so that TBS can have ratings dollars from the well-tanned and rested west coast fans.
It would be nice to win tonight, it was nice to win last night, in the cold, wet Boston morning. Our faith has been restored, but even with their backs against the wall, John Lackey is the man you want to have on the mound and the pressure is where you want right where it is: on Team Lovable Nation. You know, the team that swaggered with a 3-run pop-up; the team that couldn’t wipe its a s s with the bases loaded against Francisco Rodriguez; the team that bowed and said “yes, master” to Jered Weaver in his first-ever relief appearance; the team that held Paul Byrd back in the pen.
We are the loose team now – the guys know that, win or lose, they are taking a plane ride back to the west coast, the sunny paradise of the USA. But for the Fenway Franks, Monday’s pressure cooker demands a respite from them having to visit Paradise Lost.
Most recent two Angels pitchers to win a postseason game:
Paul Byrd (10-11-05), Jered Weaver (10-05-08)
On Sunday night, actually on Monday morning, Terry Francona declined to call in Paul Byrd to the game. With Weaver the pitcher of record and Byrd watching from the bullpen, the franchise torch was passed.
Most recent two Angels to homer in a postseason game:
Orlando Cabrera (10-14-05), Mike Napoli, 2 (10-05-08)
Cabrera went 0-4 while his Chi-Sox team stayed alive in the other ALDS
Most recent two Angels pitchers to beat Boston in the postseason
Doug Corbett (born November 4, 1952) and Jered Weaver (born October 4, 1982)
SNAPPED: Boston’s 9 game postseason win streak
SNAPPED: Angels 9 game postseason losing streak
SNAPPED: Boston’s 11 game postseason winning streak vs. the Angels
Random Thoughts...
Mike Scioscia understands the importance of pitching in assembling a team. His style is founded in reliable pitching for all situations in all innings. When the pitching holds up, he knows a lineup with healthy major leaguers that have a variety of skills will allow him to respond to each game situation accordingly. The game tonight made me think that CC Sabathia is more likely to be wearing an Angels uniform come January than Mark Teixeira.
Howie is seeing the ball better, his major league postseason rehab assignment looking like it is bearing fruit. Aybar finally gets a hit and it is the historical continuation of Bobby Grich driving in Jerry Narron for the 11th inning Saturday night win in Anaheim a week shy of 22 years ago.
One of the problems with always comparing players at the plate to their defensive counterparts is that it doesn't seem a stretch to note that Mike Napoli’s righty power batting with its all-or-nothing results flowing in hot-cold streaks reminds me so much of Troy Glaus at times. It seems odd that more people do not make this connection. It isn't THAT much of a stretch, is it?
What happened to major league baseball’s idea to make the games shorter by timing the starting pitchers and demanding a throw to the plate at regular intervals? Or insisting that batters remain in the batter’s box? Josh Beckett took his sweet time in between every pitch and just about every Red Sox batter did a ritualistic walk outside the chalk for a psych-up session after each pitch they saw. The game lasted 5 hours and 19 minutes because the Boston starter was given ample time to baby his owie and the Boston batters were allowed to clear their minds and become one with the universe of concentration.
...AND FINALLY...
The Angels won their 51st road game early Monday morning. If they can win their 52nd tonight, anything can happen.
37 comments
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Angels Win
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 5, 2008 9:48 PM PDT
Panther of the Game: Mike Napoli
GAME THREAD - Thread #2 - Thread #3 - Thread #4 - Thread #5
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Total Users: 98
Total Posts: 3876
Total Threads: 5
335 comments | 0 recs
Keep Hope Alive
by Rev Halofan
on Oct 5, 2008 7:00 AM PDT
in News
Matt Welch in the LA TIMES BLOG tells Chowd Nation its days may be numbered.
Shredder discusses the removal of Howard Kendrick from the lineup as a plus.
Chone Smith is simply prayin' on a Sunday...
12 comments | 0 recs
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