Monday Pregame Thread - Fremont Fleascratchers

by Rev Halofan on Apr 27, 2008 10:19 PM PDT Comment 98 comments

7:05 PM - Gaudin @ Garland - FSN

Pregame Guesses:

# of Angel Defensive Double Plays
# of Angel Offensive Homeruns
Total errors in game, both teams

I thought that this year was going to be different, but it isn’t: For the 6th time in 7 seasons it is terribly apparent that the American League West race will not be involving 2 of the 4 teams in the division: Seattle and Texas. The Oakland Athletics are once again mutably reshuffling into a division contender. The Mariners and Rangers are about to give up treading water before even May this season.

The Mariners had their “healthy” season last year – this one has seen them lose their ace closer for three weeks and their rotation ace for three starts, but worst of all they have chosen to re-sign the worst mid-30s starting catcher in the division – and perhaps the American League – to a three year deal. Seattle General Manager Bill Bavasi is the man who locked up Gary Disarcina to a 7-year, $15 million deal (and got exactly one good season out of that), so this should not boggle the mind – what boggles the mind is how the organization that oversees Bavasi and company still retains their employment. Oh, and by the way, the re-signing of Kenji Johjima blocks a top young catching prospect – perhaps Seattle will trade this AAA catcher to the Red Sox for Heathcliffe Slocumb.

Meanwhile Texas is about to fire manager Ron Washington as they continue to wander the Pudge-free desert for forty seasons. If Jarrod Saltamachia and Josh Hamilton can put it together, the Rangers are looking at 65 wins this season, easy.

And then there was Oakland. They traded Dan Haren to begin rebuilding and they got prospects that could be kicking our asses as soon as this week. While their vaunted hi-tech Fremont Stadium has been pushed back a season or two, look for its viability to disappear and Portland or Las Vegas to wiggle the almighty dollar in front of Lew “The Tarper” Wolff. You think Peter Magowan likes the empty seats and Candle-Bell Park enough to tell Bud Selig to forget about the gambling stigma of Whiskey Pete’s North? Do you see dollar signs going to free agents and even an occasional MRI to an aching AAA pitcher or two? The cheapskate ways of Fremont have been lauded in Moneyball but derided in a slew of injuries to players who would have been better treated by an organization that spent money on prevention instead of publicists. This is all in the near future, but it is near, and it is green and gold.

But they are here, and right now they are cobbling together something that might resemble a team of contenders. Picking up Frank Thomas will allow them to soon cut Curveball Cust assuming he does not trip himself into injury galloping in an outfield spot that 3 out of 5 fans can play better. An arm or two allows them to conceivably hang close in July and then the caché of prospects can be turned into the foundation of a hot two-month run toward our behinds. Ever had a dog bite you in the ass? Imagine a green and gold leash being let go of on August First by a laughing Billy Beane as his re-constituted mutt becomes pure-breed pitbull.

They're in our house for four games now, so let’s put some distance, all four games worth if possible, between us and the Fremont doghouse. Now. The pooch is here, let’s send this puppy to 2nd place obedience school starting Monday night.

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Comments

1 - 2 - 1

my pix

by Rev Halofan on Apr 27, 2008 8:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2 - 1 - 1

by Big Easy Halofan on Apr 27, 2008 8:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

3 - 2 - 1

a.k.a. AngelFan35

by HawaiiHaloFan35 on Apr 27, 2008 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-2-2

by THE VOICE on Apr 27, 2008 8:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2 - 1 - 1

It's Always Something

by Funke5ive on Apr 27, 2008 8:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1-2-1

rev, i swear i typed before i looked.

C: Bengie Molina, 1B: Wally Joyner, 2B: Bob Grich, SS: Jim Fregosi, 3B: Troy Glaus, RF: Tim Salmon, CF: Darin Erstad, LF: Brian Downing, SP: Nolan Ryan, RP: Troy Percival

by NoDakHalo on Apr 27, 2008 8:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1-1-1

by stezo on Apr 27, 2008 8:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-2-2

by vladtheimpaler on Apr 27, 2008 8:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2 - 1 - 1

Howie for MVP!

by angels.vlad27 on Apr 27, 2008 8:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

4-2-3

Captain, there are doubt's...

by Match Day 5 on Apr 27, 2008 8:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

3 - 2 - 0

Bring up Wood!!!

by howiestheman on Apr 27, 2008 9:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1-2-1

Oakland doesn’t scare me. A bunch of youngsters no one has seen peaking in April is nothing new. Neither is same said group of youngsters falling apart down the stretch as they learn what 162 games is really like.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Apr 27, 2008 9:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2, 1, 2

There's an old saying: 50 percent of what's going to happen, you have no control over. And the other 50 percent is going to happen anyway." -- Arte Moreno

by K3YEROUT on Apr 27, 2008 9:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2,1,1

by wings on Apr 27, 2008 9:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2 - 2 - 1

Here's to another season of baseball! Angels in '08!

by b0rd3rline on Apr 27, 2008 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1 -0- 1

by jimmuscomp on Apr 27, 2008 10:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-2-1

Lamest poster of all-time.

by ineptituderunsamok on Apr 27, 2008 10:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-1-1

by ihearhowie2.0 on Apr 27, 2008 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-2-1

by Chris Knapp's Sac on Apr 27, 2008 10:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

3-2-0

Angels Pitching-Get Well Soon!

by Sorbo182 on Apr 27, 2008 11:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wow

channel 7 just gave angel high-lights before the dodgers
remember when the angels just had their scores announced?

by hittheg on Apr 27, 2008 11:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

0 * 2 * 0

wahoo.

Chart it up! Game on!

by scottnak on Apr 28, 2008 12:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

001

yayhoo

Scioscia, "Roll the hole!"

by 44FAN on Apr 28, 2008 12:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

0 - 0 - 0

by bc56274 on Apr 28, 2008 12:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-3-2

Quinlan and Mosely for Carlos Marmol!

by anaheim angels on Apr 28, 2008 12:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1-2-1

Sea-at-ha-ha-ha that's funny.

by hauldog on Apr 28, 2008 12:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

3-2-0

game time!

by haloforlife on Apr 28, 2008 12:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

3 - 2 - 1

The Bees are still Stinging.

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

by acuda27 on Apr 28, 2008 1:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1 - 1 - 1

by Charlatan Avec Halo on Apr 28, 2008 1:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

1-1-1

Show 'em your a panther... Show 'em what you can do....

by stuck in Romania on Apr 28, 2008 2:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-1-1

I see red people

by The Limey on Apr 28, 2008 2:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

0-0-0

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Apr 28, 2008 2:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-1-0

If your a true Angel... Gary Mathews --you'll stare into the sun long enough to go blind.

by calikraze on Apr 28, 2008 3:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Guesses

3
1
1

Time to start putting the division away. Go Halos!

by foxpaw on Apr 28, 2008 3:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Maicir & Mathis temporarily out. Napoli wobbly.

From DiGiovanna:

Second baseman Maicer Izturis left in the seventh because of lower-back spasms, and the Angels will probably make another roster move today, recalling Matt Brown or Brandon Wood from triple-A Salt Lake to bolster their infield. But not even that minor injury could put a damper on their trip.

Mathis caught the flu, too. Napoli sweating bullits:

Chris Bootcheck rejoined the Angels on Sunday after spending two days in the team hotel because of severe flu-like symptoms, but the virus that sidelined the reliever now appears to have hit catcher Jeff Mathis, who had similar symptoms Sunday.

And after Sunday’s game, catcher Mike Napoli expressed concern that he might be coming down with something, saying he was feeling a little weak.

Anaheim/Salt Lake Shuttle still in business.

by wumbug on Apr 28, 2008 3:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs