Light Up the Halo

and the nominees are...

Bat: Casey
Arm: Shields
Glove: GMJ

Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again

by ladybug on Apr 2, 2007 10:43 PM PDT reply actions

Nominies

Bat: Kotchman
Arm: Speier
Glove: Matthews

by edhoo on Apr 2, 2007 10:46 PM PDT reply actions

Great start for us!!

First off: If things can go like they did tonight, I will be the first to gladly admit that I'll be Casey Kotchman's bitch. Great job Casey!

Bat: Kotchman
Arm: Speier
Glove: Kendrick (looked good out there).

by goodvibe61 on Apr 2, 2007 10:48 PM PDT reply actions

i agree

i'm not on his team yet, but this is a good start. i will gladly eat crow if he has a great year.

by yeswecan on Apr 2, 2007 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions

1 - 0 Baby!

Casey
Speier
HGH

The wait is over! The wait is over! Play Ball!

by gorams77 on Apr 2, 2007 10:51 PM PDT reply actions

i'll take it

Bat: kotch
Arm: speier
Glove: GMJ, begrudingly. Giving it to him with a routine error is tough, though. As long as that's the last one...

by 101halo on Apr 2, 2007 10:53 PM PDT reply actions

sex panthers

SEX PANTHER BAT: Kotchman
SEX PANTHER ARM: Lackey
SEX PANTHER GLOVE: Kotchman

john RIP samo

by angels4adam on Apr 2, 2007 10:54 PM PDT reply actions

prize

the player who receives the most Panther votes will get to have bits of himself in a new men's fragrance next season.

by yeswecan on Apr 2, 2007 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Gotta go with...

Kotch
Speier
GMJ

Despite the E... he did some amazing stuff out thar.
Cellllebrate!

Almost There....

by scottnak on Apr 2, 2007 10:57 PM PDT reply actions

loving the new interactive HH!

Kotchman
Speier
GMJ

With win-win-win, we all win!

by lightupthehalo on Apr 2, 2007 11:00 PM PDT reply actions

Though I disagree that we saw bad Lackey at all. Lackey had a few control problems, but give the man his props- he took two errors in the same frame and didn't give up the big hit. He knuckled down and worked through it. Bad Lackey would have collapsed in the 3rd with the bases loaded. This was just Lackey with mid-grade stuff working around a poor defense.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 2, 2007 11:03 PM PDT reply actions

that's why he got my Panther Arm vote

by yeswecan on Apr 2, 2007 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I figured

But, you know... I felt like I needed to say something else besides just copying your picks. :P

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 2, 2007 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions

you're right, tho

we certainly didn't see Bad Lackey like we've seen Bad Lackey melt down in an inning. but we certainly saw glimpses.

by yeswecan on Apr 2, 2007 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually, if you look at his history...

This is a HUGE step forward for Lackey in terms of March/April pitching, and especially against the Rangers.

Typically, April has been Lackey's adjustment month, where he reaclimates himself to the majors. He got faster at it every year (only needed two weeks in '05, and only one game in '06) but generally April has been a horrible month for him. And for some reason he always seems to go up against the Rangers in his first start and get creamed.

Observe his previous first starts in the last 4 seasons

March 30th vs Texas- 5.0 IP, 5 ER
April 10th vs Texas- 4.2 IP, 7 ER
April 7th vs Texas- 5.2 IP, 4 ER
April 4th vs Seattle- 4.0 IP, 5 ER

Now by comparison, I think
2007: April 2nd vs Texas- 5.0 IP, 0 ER
looks pretty darn good, you know?

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 2, 2007 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions

i like your style, i like your moves

by yeswecan on Apr 2, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

speaking of Panther Arms...

did anyone see Percy throw out the first ball? just like scioscia predicted on the pregame radio show, percy threw a heater like it was the last time he'd toss one from the mound...and it was.

thank you, Percy! hope to see you on the bench soon.

by yeswecan on Apr 2, 2007 11:06 PM PDT reply actions

ESPN...

Cut to their bald announcer while it was happening. It was kind of funny, what with the crowd all at once giving a huge cheer, but overall, really annoying. Their broacasters were morons the whole game, too. I was extremely happy that Franky induced a foul ball that winged one of them. Totally deserved it.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 2, 2007 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions

you missed the whole Hud/Phyzzzz

interview with Percy? He said he gave it his all and was afraid it was breaking 5 feet before the plate! Very good interview from Hud for once.I also am 99.9% certain it was Percy I saw at the ATM (wearing my "we are not LAA" shirt. no wonder he looked at me funny. I think I am going to camp out at the ATM for the next Percy appearance!

Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again

by ladybug on Apr 2, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

What was up

With Frankie tonight? He looks like he's gained serious weight, and his cheeks looked stuffed with something. And where were the goggles/glasses? He was panther, of course, but he just looked...different. Anyone else notice that?

Bat: Kotchman
Arm: Lackey (or Speier--toss up)
Glove: GMJ

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Apr 2, 2007 11:07 PM PDT reply actions

chew

dont remember if he did before but it sure looked like it tonight...

by Author on Apr 2, 2007 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Chew

Damnit, I don't want my closer getting mouth cancer

by Neo8234 on Apr 3, 2007 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions

He had Lasik

or something....but had his vision corrected during the break hence no need for glasses

Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again

by ladybug on Apr 2, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I know he had his eyes 'fixed'

but fuck that. The goggles were half of the intimidation. Bring those babies back.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Apr 3, 2007 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Panther

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Apr 3, 2007 12:24 AM PDT up reply actions

just like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

by yeswecan on Apr 3, 2007 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions

I was thinking more

like Wild Thing from the "Major League" movie

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 3, 2007 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

nice

by yeswecan on Apr 3, 2007 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm pretty sure

he was wearing some sort of glasses during one of the Dodger games ... because I remarked that they were more gray colored than his yellow from last year. Were they yellow last year? Or am I just going crazy?

With win-win-win, we all win!

by lightupthehalo on Apr 3, 2007 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Panthers

Kotch
Speier
Juicer

Bring back Al Wisk!!!

by Sixtyminuteman on Apr 2, 2007 11:10 PM PDT reply actions

Wow

You summed it up, some good things and some ugly things in this opener. If GMJ or Naps make those easy outs Lackey does not have that excruciating 5th. Oliver crapped the bed.

Bat: Kotch very solid at bats.
Arm: Speier - Cleans up Olivers mess
Glove: GMJ

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

by hauldog on Apr 2, 2007 11:12 PM PDT reply actions

That's a little harsh

I thought Oliver had a better outing than it looked. He created a mess, but even on that walk, he was just barely missing spots. An slight infield shift on the single, and it was just a groundout. It looked a lot worse than it really was, and didn't matter in the end anyway.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Apr 2, 2007 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

I actually thought he got boned on a couple of those ball calls - looked like strikes to me. Speier still get my Panther vote though for getting us out of it and not even making us sweat it...

The wait is over! The wait is over! Play Ball!

by gorams77 on Apr 3, 2007 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Lefty on Lefty

Faces two lefties and two lefties get on base. Job well done?

Granted I was at the game and sitting above first so i have no clue what that ump was calling.

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

by hauldog on Apr 3, 2007 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Oliver got hosed

during the second at-bat. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't an epic relief appearance by any standard, but it wasn't really as bad as all that. Just a drop-in single and a shrunken strike zone. His control wasn't anywhere near Romero-grade.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 3, 2007 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Noms

Kotch, Speier, GMJ

by Author on Apr 2, 2007 11:23 PM PDT reply actions

hey

I expect this game to be very similar to many this year. few runs scored to fewer runs allowed, sweet bullpen, good starting pitching, good defense although shakey at times.

bat: vlad still makes me laugh (rbi first swing each of last 3 seasons)
arm: speier, no doubt
glove: howie looks confident and comfortable

by TeddyBlogame on Apr 2, 2007 11:27 PM PDT reply actions

Panther

Bat: Kotch. Did he have a single game last year when he reached base safely three times?

Arm: Speier. Two innings on only 16 pitches, escaping a two-on, none-out jam in the 6th.

Glove: HGH's error wound up not really hurting much except Lackey's pitch count, and his two nice plays definitely saved a couple of runs, so he gets the nod.

by jjackflash on Apr 2, 2007 11:30 PM PDT reply actions

Panthers

Bat: Kotchman
Arm: Speier
Glove: Kendrick

Speaking of 'panther,' GMJ's error smelled like a diaper filled with indian food. He definitely doesn't get my vote.

by iLoveLamp on Apr 2, 2007 11:40 PM PDT reply actions

GMJ concerns me on defense right now

at least one of his nice catches, he broke poorly and compensated, the other was legitimately sweet. but add that to a flat-out DROP of a flyball, and I'm a little worried. I do love the hard-nosed effort on everything hit near him, though. if he gives us that all year, I can look past his obvious baseball flaws.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Apr 2, 2007 11:44 PM PDT reply actions

from a hotel

Kotchman/Speier/Matthews

by Rev Halofan on Apr 2, 2007 11:45 PM PDT reply actions

Easy Cheesie

Kotchman's Bat
Lackey's Arm
Matthews' Glove

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

by Anaheim of Anaheim on Apr 2, 2007 11:55 PM PDT reply actions

Dude, Speier totally won the arm..

And I own that flag. It sits perched on my wall currently.

kotch/speier/a solid GMJ

by shiftyeyedgoat on Apr 3, 2007 12:22 AM PDT reply actions

Light up Rob Neyer

Panther Bat: Kotchman
Panther Arm: Lackey
Panther Glove: Two errors - no panther glove tonight. But at least Kendrick was involved in two DPs, so if forced, i'd give him the nod.

Panther Wheels: Napoli (currently leading the Angels in SB)

by rbrianc on Apr 3, 2007 12:34 AM PDT reply actions

yes, props to HK47

two dp's = panther

also, Kotch & Lackey

by squarefootnatlpark on Apr 3, 2007 3:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Picks

Bat: Kotchman
Arm: Shields
Glove: GMJ

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Apr 3, 2007 6:34 AM PDT reply actions

One Panther

I liked it as it was - one Panther for every win. This waters down the Panthers, and while some games it may reward three deserving players, at other times it's just picking someone to pick, who otherwise WOULD NOT have deserved a Panther last year.

It wasn't broke last year - why fix it?

by Ty Webb on Apr 3, 2007 7:14 AM PDT reply actions

I see your point

Almost 500 Panthers will be given out this year!

I need a new signature.

by thrill000 on Apr 3, 2007 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I second

by Hutch (someone took my name) on Apr 3, 2007 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions

standings

i think having 3 panthers allows more players to win, and therefore allows the standings to be more accurate in terms of contribution to the team. having only 1 panther doesn't tell the whole story.

by yeswecan on Apr 3, 2007 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

then how about

an "MVP" for each game in each area then keep "Panther" for end of season? I too would like to keep the Panther designation as the ultimate honor.

Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again

by ladybug on Apr 3, 2007 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions

i can't speak for the Rev

and this is the Rev's deal. but i think "panther" is so unique to HH that it becomes a kind of "brand identity" or whatever, therefore it distinguishes our recognition of player performance from anybody else.

by yeswecan on Apr 3, 2007 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

yeah I can see that

it just seems to minimize Panther status since there will be so many. We can give it a try and if we don't like it, then fight it next year.
I learned to not argue with Rev a long time ago-that much I do remember about him ;-)

Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again

by ladybug on Apr 3, 2007 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions

since we're a Running club

you can see i added a fourth - Panther Wheels.

so much of our game is base running, perhaps it too deserves a category.

by rbrianc on Apr 3, 2007 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Panthers

Bat: The Mighty Casey
Arm: Speier
Glove: GMJ

I need a new signature.

by thrill000 on Apr 3, 2007 7:48 AM PDT reply actions

Panther

Casey/Speier/GMJ

by canadianangelsfan on Apr 3, 2007 7:58 AM PDT reply actions

Pather-esque

Bat: Kootch, off to a great start. I have high expectations for him. Does anyone else realize how his batting stance and the way he moves his feet mimic that of GA?

Arm: Lackey- Way to get us off to a good start, he manned up and pitched a great 5 inn. that is the way to lead a staff

Glove:HK47

Halos 1-0 (small sample size, but who gives a fuck any day the halos win and the green bastards loose is a great day)

Lets win with what we got!!!

by P237 on Apr 3, 2007 8:47 AM PDT reply actions

We're on pace for a 162-0 record...

while the A's are on pace for a 0-162 record.

I need a new signature.

by thrill000 on Apr 3, 2007 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

pace

Napoli should get 162 steals, and we'll have 324 errors.

by rbrianc on Apr 3, 2007 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions

mineare

BAT - Kotch
Arm- Spier
Glove GMJ

by Sinatrasratpack on Apr 3, 2007 9:22 AM PDT reply actions

Speier was big

Bat - Kotch
Arm - Speier
Glove - GMJ

by Wytelitning on Apr 3, 2007 9:35 AM PDT reply actions

my picks

Bat - Kotch
Arm - Shields
Glove - GMJ

by charlata on Apr 3, 2007 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

Scioscia

So if Mike is going to call for a hit and run everytime Shea is on base when Kotch is batting why doesn't he just split them up?

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

by hauldog on Apr 3, 2007 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

Seriously!

I said the same thing.

With win-win-win, we all win!

by lightupthehalo on Apr 3, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

It was maddening.

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

by hauldog on Apr 3, 2007 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

picks

Bat- Kotch
Arm - Speier
Glove - GMJ

by Ando775 on Apr 3, 2007 10:58 AM PDT reply actions

Panthers

Bat: Single Malt Kotch
Arm: Just Inspire
Glove: Kenny Howdrick

by WiseAndEck on Apr 3, 2007 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

One down...one hundred sixty one to go

Bat: Casey at the bat
Arm: Shields
Glove: GMJ even though I was cursing under my breath at that routine drop

Feels like the 1970's all over again. <sigh>

by Moondoggy on Apr 3, 2007 11:31 AM PDT reply actions

Speier?

wasn't his DP a line drive, just hit at Izzy, with a matter of luck involved? you can't really say he "induced" an innning ending DP. His 7th was good, but Shields 8th and Frankie's 9th were too.

a few feet on either side, we'd be seeing Speier - Blown Save #1.

Lackey pitched 5 inning and only gave up an unearned run. His pitch count exploded after Nap's error so he had to come out after the fifth, but John definitely had the Panther arm.

by rbrianc on Apr 3, 2007 11:38 AM PDT reply actions

Wasn't hit hard at all.

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

by hauldog on Apr 3, 2007 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Well

Kinsler actually tagged it pretty well, but it was a well-located change-up, outer-half and just barely high enough to be called a strike. It wasn't what Kinsler was looking for, and he pulled it instead of looping it opposite-way for a single. Even though he did nail the ball, it didn't get any height, or drop to the ground, and that only gets through if he hits it right at the hole.

Honestly, it was almost a perfect DP pitch. It was too far outside for Kinsler to really clobber (if he was looking to pull, which he was), too low for him to get under it, and too close to the zone to take with two strikes. In that situation, unless Kinsler hits it perfectly in the 3B-SS hole, that ball is an out (either K or DP) every time.

I still think Lackey deserved panther-ship mind you, but I'll give Speier his props.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 3, 2007 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

A's Lose/Dodgers Lose/Halos Win....A Great Day

Bat: Kotch
Arm: Speier
Glove: GMJ....he definitely pulled a Vladdy on that fly though....

by Crapper John MD on Apr 3, 2007 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

yesterday's real panther arm.

http://sportsunfiltered.blogspot.com/2007/04/cincinnati-mayor-mark-mallory-could.html

SPORTS UNFILTERED

by pedro guerrero on Apr 3, 2007 11:49 AM PDT reply actions

Should have a 4th category

Panther runner. Last night it would have been Mike Napoli....

Otherwise, it's obvious:
Kotch
Speier
Matth

by mattwelch on Apr 3, 2007 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

Hustl

Wow, Garrett looked great running around the bases. It must be true that he is feel good because I've never seen him run that fast.

by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on Apr 3, 2007 2:49 PM PDT reply actions

Panther Categories

If we're going to have different Panther categories this year, may I humbly suggest that they correspond to our contest - and simply have categories for Offensive Panther, Defensive Panther, and Pitching Panther (Panther OPD).

It is entirely foreseeable that the Angels could win a game where the only Pantheresque offensive contribution comes on the basepaths, or from not swinging a bat (Kotch and Napoli, I'm looking at you guys). Juan Rivera got a Panther or two last year for gunning guys down at the plate, which was more about his arm than his glove.

Along with a Special Panther category (e.g., for an astute coaching maneuver - Dino Ebel got one last year; a coach could call for a successful pitchout that ends a 9th inning rally, etc.)

by jjackflash on Apr 3, 2007 3:49 PM PDT reply actions