We Go as Far as Vladimir Guerrero Goes

i'll start

Panther

by yeswecan on Mar 22, 2007 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

If this is true (which I think it is) then...

WE EFFIN' NEED TO GET HIM REAL PROTECTION IN THE LINEUP. aka. A-Rod. Imagine what Vlad would do with that considering how awesome he has been without it.

Vlad is only going to be Vlad for so long and it would be a waste to never see a full season of him having the proper protection he deserves.

The last world series champion in California has "Anaheim" written next to their name.

by Anaheim of Anaheim on Mar 22, 2007 6:48 PM PDT reply actions

Vlad

To me Vlad is symbol of the new franchise. His signing showed me we can play with the big boys. This is when I knew LAA (or whatever you want to call it) was for real.

As far as a player, I have followed him since he made show. He has always been one of my favorite players. From his near 40/40 season to his outrageously large strike zone he is one the most exciting players ever. Even his ability to stand behind third base and throw the ball over the field wall makes for a good time.

Hall of Famer, symbol of our franchise, and one bad mother fucker.

No offense? Howie, Kotch and Napoli will change your mind.

by hauldog on Mar 22, 2007 7:10 PM PDT reply actions

VLAD

is an absolute freak, and the most dangerous player ever to wear a Halo uniform. I just hope the front office decides that it's important to take advantage of a "once in a lifetime" type of player by getting him some legitimate help with carrying the offensive load. i'd love to see him get a ring here.

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 22, 2007 7:27 PM PDT reply actions

Amen

Truer Words were never spoken.

"Somewhere in suckass Arizona smokin' tumblweeds"

by Rex DaKine Budler on Mar 22, 2007 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions

big daddy

is indeed a slammin' freak. yes, we will get him the Ring. or i should say, he will carry us all to the Ring in 2007. we will win it all and he will be feared and the wrath of the pitchers everywhere.

Vlad's the cornerstone.

between the amazing routine feats he does day in and day out, my favorite two Vlad moments are these:

i went to just one regular season game in 2004. June 2nd, the 9 rbi game, against Pedro.
later that year, the halos (and Vlad) did nothing in the playoff, and Boston was well on its way. But in the top of the 7th, all of Fenway went dead silent when he crushed a grand slam to tie the game.

Vlad is the preeminent Panther.

by rbrianc on Mar 22, 2007 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I was there, too! And caused problems for Pedro!

What a day that was for me! I sat in section 125 about mid-way up and that section is right above the Sox dugout. I was all over Pedro in those early innings and I was so loud I am certain he heard me. I was yelling well prior to his release, too, in order to make him lose concentration. It was a thing of beauty. My friend who went with me is a Sox fan and he swore he would never attend a game with me again! Guerrero's 9 ribbies were absolutely amazing! His 2nd homer never got more than 15 feet off the ground. Take a look at it! It was a LASER shot! The lowest flying line drive homerun I have ever seen.

However, the Vlad 9-rbi game was my second game of the day, as I rode Amtrak from OC to San Diego to see a day game at Petco. I even got a nice shot with Jennie Finch, as the USA softball team was there in front of my seats before they were going to sing "take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch:

She was decked out in Angels' red, too! ;)

I have no idea if the Padres or Rockies won that day, as I was in heaven (it went to extras and I had to catch the Amtrak back to Anaheim)! What a day... I will never forget it.

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on Mar 22, 2007 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions

The blonde Salma

we coulda double dated !

by Rev Halofan on Mar 22, 2007 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions

ooooh, jennie finch.

what a treat. beauty that can bring it.

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 23, 2007 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions

to be honest, man...

i'm not seeing the ring in 2007. Although I'd love to see it happen, I just don't think we have the horses this year. If you get Vlad a legit hitter to protect/help him (read: A-Rod/Cabrera/insert legit 1B here), at the break or next off-season, and then i think we can start expecting rings. At the moment, it seems like Stoneman and Co., are trying to keep the fan base afloat by competing for the AL West title (a pretty shitty division), and being content with not having what it takes to beat the beasts in the AL east or central. I REALLY want to see Vlad get a ring here, but I really think that the way the Halos' contracts are structured (pitching and offense), the front office has got to make a big move next off-season, whether it be A-Rod, or someone else that can drive in runs or hit bombs. We need to be able to drive in runs!!!

As I see it, the Halos' window is very small right now. They're caught in a weird vortex between having a couple (one) proven studs, and a lot of young promising prospects, and they need to decide if they want to "go for it" or just kinda ride this era out, and see what the youngsters can do in the future.

I think if you give Vlad a legitimate threat to hit alongside him in the lineup, you make this team a shoe-in for at least, the ALCS. Right now, you're hoping for the best, and putting a lot of faith in unproven/inconsistent players. I'll be at as many games as possible, and hoping for the best, but if I told you I was expecting ANYTHING in 2007, I'd be a liar.

This is where being a pessimist is sometimes a good thing.

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 23, 2007 12:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Dude,

89 wins.

we got the horses.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 23, 2007 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions

rev...i respect you and all, but...

colon=broken
weaver=broken
rivera=broken
figgy=broken
kotchman/morales=unproven
napoli=unproven

not a good way to start the year.

there are a lot of things that have to go very "right" for the halos to repeat what they did in the second half of last year. id' love for everyone who doesn't have a legit track record, to absolutely dominate, but we all have to admit that there's just as good of a chance of them sh*tting the bed, as there is of them being flawless this year. the second half of last year wasn't a benchmark, but more of a freakshow. i'd love to see it repeated over 162 games, but we all know that it's a long season...and sh*t happens.

again, i'm totally wishing for the best, but i'm not about to expect the absolute best from a team that is obviously lacking in certain areas.

id' much rather eat crow in sept/oct because this team is doing better than expected, than to have to make excuses of why they haven't lived up to the overblown potential i hoped for in jan/feb/march.

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 23, 2007 12:47 AM PDT up reply actions

WORD

but look at the competition, my man. the angels can take this.

by yeswecan on Mar 23, 2007 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions

i'm with you...

in the AL west.

but you match them up against the teams they need to beat to win the AL, and get a ring, and they're more than likely falling a little short, especially at the corner infield spots.

It's kinda like dodger fans bragging about running sh*t in the NL West.

Oh really? Yeah, that's a pretty legit divsion. The Rockies and D-Backs slay! Big f*cking deal.

I'd love to win the AL West, and expect to. I just wish I felt better about having what it takes to crush the Yanks, BoSox, PaleHose, Tigers, etc, in the ALCS.

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 23, 2007 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Pitching wins short series

Weaver is fine and Bartolo is in a contract year.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 23, 2007 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions

what if you're wrong?

then what?

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 23, 2007 1:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Then I was wrong

and i have cereal for breakfast, answer my emails, a burger for lunch, return some phone calls, a steak for dinner, cheesecake for desert, take the girl to a movie, come home, punch another fucking hole in the wall, go to bed, wake up repeat...

by Rev Halofan on Mar 23, 2007 1:13 AM PDT up reply actions

solid.

we are the two sides of a coin, rev.

i can respect that.

and that being said...

GO HALOS!!!

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by pedro guerrero on Mar 23, 2007 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions

it's all about getting there

anything can happen in the playoffs, and having great pitching gives teams a better shot. the angels have that.

by yeswecan on Mar 23, 2007 1:11 AM PDT up reply actions

lose the sabremetrics, my friend

BELIEVE, JUST BELIEVE

get in touch with your intangible side

Come on already.....PLAY BALL!!!

by ladybug on Mar 23, 2007 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions

i'm with you

i agree that relying on unproven kids is not a good idea. but i still think this team will win the division, despite arte not following through with a big bat. and that's only because the rest of the division can't hold a candle to our pitching staff.

by yeswecan on Mar 23, 2007 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions

We Go As Far As Vlad Goes???

I for one and very excited about this upcoming season. As for Vlad being the sole reason the Angels go anywhere this season, I have to disagree. WE GO AS FAR AS MIKE SCIOSCIA's DECISION MAKING ON VLAD GOES. Yes, Vlad is an important part, but not the only reason the Angels will win or loose. Vlad does not make every out or pitch, and that has been what has kept the Angels in every game the vast majority of the past two seasons. Not Vlad's HR's. And because Vlad is the Only feared hitter on this team, every pitcher knows to watchout for him....we all know he needs protection, and it WILL come !

As for my optimism, it will be exciting watching our young talented players come into thier own and show everyone that they have what it takes. The key to this season will be Mike Scioscia, his coaching staff, and our veteran players. It will be up to them to keep Howie, Naps, Kendry, Casey, & Izzy's attitude and focus positive when the bumps come. As for our sophmore pitchers, Big John will keep everyone loose yet focused, so we will not have worries there. We have the depth and we have the right mix of guys and I cannot wait to see how they all gel this season. I really like having a little bit of red ass and bitterness in Shea on the team. I think this time around he understands when to keep his mouth shut, and besides that, I doubt he will have any problems with Mike or any of his teammates for that matter.

We are so deep at most positions that the quality of play we get out of our players will be fine, and if someone goes into a slump or gets hurt we can always enjoy watching our AAA prospects get a shot at "the show". Nobody ever expected the 2002 team to win the WS and the team we have had for this season and the past two is more talented than the '02 team. That is why it will come down to the coaching staff & veterans to keep these guys loose & focused and let them "Play The Game, Thier Game".

A very pivotal point I think that is getting overlooked is how Mike Scioscia will handle the more fragile G.A. & Vlad. Scioscia can be too loyal to the "veteran respect" card by letting slumping vets make the call rather than the coach making the call and plugging in Murphy or Willits so as not to disrespect a veteran's decision making or feelings.

I cannot wait to see the young Angel players this season. We all know what the Vets can do.

"Somewhere in suckass Arizona smokin' tumblweeds"

by Rex DaKine Budler on Mar 23, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Vlad is "THE MAN"

He is the face of the Angels and he is the reason I am a hardcore Angles fan. The day they signed him is the day i started watching every game because i know we had a special player. I cant wait until he is the MVP of the World Series and gets us our 2nd ring.

I think the reason such a special player is because he is an amazing human. He helps the poor and created many jobs for people in the DR. He also donated money to the Katrina victums and that made me look up to him even more. Hes the kind of person Roberto Clemente, an amazing person.

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Mar 22, 2007 7:35 PM PDT reply actions

The Daddy

The MOST Entertaining hitter in all of baseball to watch swing a bat. I challenge anyone to name a player that swings as hard and has as big of a strike zone as Vladdy. With that said, as he begins to age and "wear down", and with the AL pitchers figuring him out, The Daddy is really showing the need for some protection in the lineup. Defensively Vlad is entertaining (in the wrong way) watching field a fly ball. But when he get's that ball NOBODY FIRES THE CANON LIKE THE DADDY! Nice guy, stays out of trouble. Uses that Million Dollar Smile and without speaking a word in English has Angels fans adoring him. With a World Series Ring perhaps Vlad can take the next step towards a leadership role and towards the Greatness that he is on the cusp of obtaining.

If I had one wish, it would be that Vladdy would speak English to the fans and get involved a little more in the O.C. community. The majority of fans that pay to see him and adore him speak English and it would be a nice gesture to learn their language and adress them in it once in a while. Still, what can you really say negative about him. He's Vlad.

"Somewhere in suckass Arizona smokin' tumblweeds"

by Rex DaKine Budler on Mar 22, 2007 8:04 PM PDT reply actions

Vlad = The Angels

After 2002, the Angels could have been content with that title for a while and not tried to push the envelope. But, thanks to Arte, Vlad has become the most exciting thing to hit the Angels EVER. The feeling that comes over you when he gets a hold of one is awesome.

Some particular great Vlad moments that I was in the stadium for:

Vlad gunning a Yankees runner at the plate to keep a 0-0 game intact in the 9th. They won in 11 I think.
Vlad crushing a go ahead grand slam against the Yankees on a hot July night off Tom Gordon
Vlad crushing all three Angel runs (3 HR's) in a win over Florida

I love how he tips his cap to the crowd when we give him a huge ovation in right field in between innings. Great memories. Hopefully a World Series ring is in line to be one of the next great memories.

by swiss mcgee on Mar 22, 2007 8:35 PM PDT reply actions

Another good Vlad moment

Interleague play 6/18/05

Vlad 2 Marlins 1

Vlad homered twice. Once in the 10th to win off of Todd jones. Both HR's were huge and he willed us to victory.

No offense? Howie, Kotch and Napoli will change your mind.

by hauldog on Mar 22, 2007 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm GUILTY...

I skipped a funeral as someone gave me 2nd row behind home plate diamond club seats for that game! Those two solo shots made the guilt subside a bit. Against Dontrelle Willis in an extra inning affair. What a game!

Vladdy frustrated me, though, as I went to game after game in anticipation of his #300 HR ball. I knew I could easily outrace that usher/gnome that works the left field family pavilion (if you've attended one game, you know who I am talking about) and I sat in the lower corner of 257 right over the center-field fence. The one game I didn't attend (it was a Friday night), I see that ball go over the fence and who is running to get it...that usher. I had my "demand" list written up already (only wanted an auto'd jersey, hat and ball).

'86 never happened!

by Downing Rules on Mar 22, 2007 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you mean this guy:

Usher MySpace Page

He is always cool to me.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 22, 2007 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Oops - It was the Saturday Day Game

The 3 HR moment I reference was indeed a 2-1 win in extras. When I was checking the boxscore on baseballreference.com, I saw the game before, which was a 3-2 win in 11 innings and thought that was it. Of course, the game where he hit the two jacks, was a hot Saturday afternoon and I was drunk sitting in the oven known as right field.

by swiss mcgee on Mar 23, 2007 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions