Ervin Tanana

by cupie on Apr 30, 2008 9:59 PM PDT Comment 41 comments

Panther of the Game: Ervin Santana

Panther = Voodoo.

Hey Ervin, i was trying to throw you under the bus for the last two years. Thank you so much for proving me wrong.

Let me know where i should roll my chicken bones.

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you SUCK..

where’s the WIN picture??? :)

by pattimelt on Apr 30, 2008 10:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I made a pattimelt with onions tonight for dinner.

I admit I thought of you.

Scioscia, "Roll the hole!"

by 44FAN on Apr 30, 2008 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just got home and put itt up

Great game to be at.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 30, 2008 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hadn't noticed that YOU were one of the ONES.

However, I was one of the faithful….....and I forgive you.

This looks pretty nice, doesn’t it?

by wumbug on Apr 30, 2008 10:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Adenhardt a go..?

No Nick Green?

by cupie on Apr 30, 2008 10:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, on the radio they said Adenhart is making the trek from Salt Lake.

He will be pitching against the A’s tomorrow.

The Hunt for a Red October ...and please keep telling Clutch to chill!

by cardinalwraith on Apr 30, 2008 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my first game of the year

can’t wait!

by SCHalo on Apr 30, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mm-mmm...

that Santana crow is finger-lickin’ good. Right, Colonel?

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 30, 2008 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

After he struggled in his first couple of outings in Arizona, I really started to wonder. All last year, I was sure he would turn it around. Many naysayers compared him, unfavorably, to Ramon Ortiz. The comparison never seemed apt to me; Ortiz never had a 95-96 heater or offspeed pitches that just drop off the table the way Ervin’s do when he’s on.

Scioscia and Butcher insisted that most of Santana’s struggles were due to a mechanical flaw in his delivery that he just couldn’t work out last year. Now, though, he appears to have everything working. His stuff is pretty filthy when he’s on, like he has been for the most part every time this year. And to think, he might not even be in the rotation if Lackey & Escobar were both healthy!

by jjackflash on Apr 30, 2008 10:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Brown over Wood?

So I came home tonight at 10 and watched the game in about an hour on MLB.tv. I didn’t get a chance to read the game thread but did they say why Brown started over Wood?

Wood looked better than he ever has in the bigs yesterday and today the A’s threw out another LHP. Why in the world would Scioscia start Brown who isn’t even in the same universe when it comes to prospects as is Wood. Both Brown and Wood need to be playing everyday. If you aren’t going to start Wood here over Matt Brown then puhlease send him down so he can. Did anyone else feel sick to their stomachs in the 9th when Brown’s throw forced Kotchman to come off the bag and stick his arm into the runner. That’s a really good way to break a wrist or an elbow, and Wood makes that throw much better from what I’ve seen. Sorry I just had to vent guys. Very happy with the win and Ervin and Joe are like making us all proud along with Kotch, but some of the things the Angels do are just so illogical it isn’t even funny.

by MH252525 on Apr 30, 2008 11:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOGIC is completely overrated

In th day-to-day clubhouse environment the players tend to be treated quite equally, with veterans having status that prospects do not have. They brought in Brown to spread the ABs around, this is clubhouse culture. They are not committing to Wood at the moment because he is only up due to injuries, if they gave him all the ABs and then dump him back down when Izzy / Howie return, it is like shitting on him.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 30, 2008 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So basically...

The Angels have shit on Wood like 5 times the past calendar year? Up and down only playing sparing when injuries force their hand.

I’m just of the opinion as well that Brown will not amount to having even the career of say a Robb Quinlan. Everytime I’ve seen him he has been completely overmatched both offensively and defensively. I went to a game last year in Oakland that he started and struck out easily a few times and played a horrific 3B.

by MH252525 on Apr 30, 2008 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Howie Kendrick went 3 for his first 25

It can be hard your first few times up. Especially when you’re a guy on the bubble like Brown. If he’s ever going to break into the majors, this is pretty much his last shot. Added pressure like that doesn’t help, though admittedly it doesn’t excuse his play either.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on May 1, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

It can be hard which is why I feel either Brown or Wood (IMHO) should be given consistent playing time. Not playing maybe once or twice a week like they are both doing now. That isn’t helping anyone in my opinion. Let one play here consistently and one in SL but not the way it is now.

by MH252525 on May 1, 2008 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AND BENCH FIGGY OR IZTURIS OR HOWIE?

...brown and wood are only here because of injuries and they are not being put on the spot to become Major LEague regulars … yet…

by Rev Halofan on May 1, 2008 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

IMO players get better by playing not sitting on the bench. And who said anything about benching Figgy, Izturis or Howie. Izturis and Howie are both hurt right now so SOMEONE else HAS to play. I’m just saying they should be consistent so as to get all of their prospects consistent playing time. Starting Sean Rodriquez for ONE start, Brandon Wood for ONE start, and Matt Brown for ONE start certainly is not the way to get them all playing consistently. They need to choose one to take the 4th IF spot while Izturis and Howie are both down. Maybe the reason they struggle so much is because they feel they have to hit 2 homers a game to stay in the lineup since they likely have no idea when they’ll be back in the lineup.

by MH252525 on May 1, 2008 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

how 'bout this

perhaps the reason why they don’t play one of them consistently is because none of them has shown that they deserve consistent playing time. look at figgins and izturis in years past—those dudes had to wait their turn to get an AB here or an AB there, until they were able to show they deserved the job.

by yeswecan on May 1, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

how 'bout this

Brandon would has easily his best plate appearances as a Major Leaguer, and the very NEXT day he is riding pine. How is he going to get in a rythm with big league abs few and far between?

And Wood has put in his time. He’s put in a year at each level except for AA. He flew between Salt Lake and Anaheim so many times he has enough ff miles for the rest of his life.

by MH252525 on May 1, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the kids are just filling in

it’s not Wood’s job. he’s just filling in for an injury, just like Brown. the injury is an opportunity for Scioscia to see what the kids can do. it doesn’t mean it’s automatically Wood’s job.

by yeswecan on May 1, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

Doesn’t it make sense that you can get a better gauge of how capable they are by seeing them in more games rather than an isolated game?

Doesn’t it make sense that both Wood and Brown need to be playing to develop their skills, not watching someone else play while getting splinters?

by MH252525 on May 1, 2008 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You guys both have good points...

MH: You cannot tell what these guys can do because they cannot get enough time to get comfortable. The coffee is still hot when they go back to SLC.

YWC: Our regulars are out on a very short basis and therefore, there is no way we can be patient and wait for the rookies to get that rhythm.

Party on.

Arte, please buy the Angels back from the Red Sox...they've owned us long enough.

by Downing Rules on May 1, 2008 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually NO, It Does Not Make Sense

The Angels bring up players for a “cup of coffee” specifically so that they are NOT intimidated by the big leagues when thy DO get the call to be playing every day. Above and beyond at-bats, games played, the “vacation ot the bigs” takes them out of the tiring daily grind of the minors without putting any pressure on them to perform. Judging by Kotch, Aybar and Howie this method seems to be working quite well.

by Rev Halofan on May 1, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

all 3 of those guys

had success only once they were giving consistent playing time. Aybar did horribly last year and looked overmatched many many times. This year he’s been doing better as his playing time has increased.

And his methods seem to be working quite well? The Angels have an incredible roster. It is deep and no major holes. Jessica Rabbit could manage the team to a division title.

I’m sure you’ll defend the Angels sending Saunders down to AA when his ERA was LOWER than it is this year, so we could endure Bartolo Colon pitch absolutely horribly after his intial 3 or 4 starts. I’m sure you’ll defend him sending Jered Weaver down when he was setting rookie records so his brother could give up 6 runs in 2 innings every start. The facts are the Angels have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to handling young players.

by MH252525 on May 1, 2008 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Name a team who does it better

And the specific way they do it that we should.

by Rev Halofan on May 1, 2008 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I only follow the Angels

I don’t follow other teams enough to give a great answer. However just casually listening to Baseball Tonight and reading websites I think the main thing I would like to see improvement in is how long aging veterans are given under Scioscia.

People always point to Figgins as a genius Scioscia move to continue giving him playing time and in a sense I agree but really that seems like a no brainer. Figgy is just so fast and had success in stints and also was more than young enough to take a chance on.

The problem I have is how Scioscia has handled older/younger players with respect to their playing time. I don’t think anyone wanted Jered Weaver sent back to the minors in 06, I think most people wanted Saunders to stick in the rotation last April. I know I did. The reason being we had aging veterans stinking the joint up. Colon was given way way way too many starts when it was evident he just didn’t have it anymore and why they showed him so much loyalty when they knew they would not bring him back the following year is beyond me. The same can be said with Jeff Weaver, and then of course Steve Finley. How Scioscia could let him almost singlehandedly bring down the lineup for so long is just inexcuseable.

Now the same thing might be happening with Sarge Jr. and GA. Now I’m going to cut GA more slack here than Sarge because GA did have a great second half last year and he’s had good years in the past. GMJ on the other hand, had one solid season in Texas and I fear Scioscia is going to let him chug along hitting .250 with like 10 homers for the length of his contract, when Willits would score a ton more runs be getting on base at a better clip, and Rivera if given consistent playing time would probably end up slugging enough to make up for GMJ’s edge in defense.

Again, like I said I don’t follow other teams all that closely but one team I wouldn’t mind seeing the Angels being more like in SOME regards is the Tigers (overall I don’t care for Leyland very much though). The Tigers if they don’t get production they they aren’t afraid to make wholesale changes. They play who is producing and keep and trying different guys until someone steps up. They get good seasons from some guys and then bam, they hit .220 in 100 abs and they are released.

by MH252525 on May 2, 2008 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you develop skills in AAA

and you show them in the bigs, whether you get one AB a week or twenty. obviously more ABs helps, but scioscia can’t put all his eggs in one kid’s basket, if he’s just filling in. might as well spread the love a bit and see who steps up. THAT, my friend, is the essence of PANTHER.

by yeswecan on May 1, 2008 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

third Angel in history to go 5-0 in April

Besides Tanana back in the day and Saunders last night, I think Voodoo is the only other Angel to go 5-0 in April. That chicken bone crow tastes goooooooood.

by yeswecan on Apr 30, 2008 11:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I had to watch the A's feed last night--Extra Innings is pissing me off--

But their trivia question was “over the past 18 years, what three A’s pitchers have had 4 wins in April.” Fosse and his side kick carefully avoided the subject that the Angels have two that after last night were 5-0. Cracked me up.

On another note, are there any other out of town fans out there that are having a problem with the MLB Extra Innings program guide. Last night was the 4th time this year that I set a game to record and came down to watch it to find out the game wasn’t really on the channel I selected. Last night my channel guide showed the game on 4 different channels (two Hi Def channels and their corisponding standard channel). You need to check their on line schedudule to determine which feed is which. I had my DVR set to record the Angel’s Hi Def feed. When I came down to watch the game about an hour after it started, I had nothing. Missed the first three innings. Out of the four channels listed, it was only being shown on one, and not in HI Def. Like I said, this was the fourth time in April something like this has happened.

I have tried to complain to Directv but they are too stupid to even understand the problem. They always transfer me to technical support and they have me reset my receiver. Like the damm receiver is making up the programing guide. Anyone else out there having a problem. Any solutions.

I am a fair weather fan so the Angels better win!

by Halo84653 on May 1, 2008 5:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

MLB EI

Yeah, I had the same problem, no LA feed. It sucked! The guide said we were supposed to get it, but it was not available.

Do not trade Howie!!!

by anaheimisnotla on May 1, 2008 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ooops, solution

My only solution thus far is if there are multiple feeds to record both sources. hopefully that way you get at least one that works. I had a similar issue with the NHL package.

Do not trade Howie!!!

by anaheimisnotla on May 1, 2008 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had the same problem.

I wish I could offer a solution. My experience is that DirecTv knows “jack squat” when it comes to Extra Innings…when it works, it is phenomenal…my experience also includes attempts to contact mlb on related subjects and they know even LESS then the “jack-squats” at DirecTv…last night I bit the bullet and watched the Comcast broadcast…if you do come up with an answer I too would love to hear it!

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 May 1, 2008 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

by K3YEROUT on May 1, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dustin Moseley, meet Wally Pipp!

Finally, The Phenom takes The Hill at 7:05

Oblivion, meet Mr. Moseley.

Look, I know it's a rotten game, but it's the only one The Man left us to play.

by PieceOfAase on May 1, 2008 12:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Moseley...as a Ben Weber-type reliever...

long relief bring him in during blowouts to eat up innings.

Arte, please buy the Angels back from the Red Sox...they've owned us long enough.

by Downing Rules on May 1, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weber logged pretty important innings in 2002

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

by hauldog on May 1, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Weber notched a few saves that year, too...

I was being totally serious about Moseley’s importance. You need a guy who can mop up and work some long stretches. Just don’t let him pitch longer than 3 innings.

Arte, please buy the Angels back from the Red Sox...they've owned us long enough.

by Downing Rules on May 1, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs