Superior Team Loses

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 9:44 PM PDT in Postgame Report Comment 88 comments

We are now in First Place by 3.5 games over an overachieving amalgam of crafty trades and bandaged veterans - there is no threat, there is no second place team, our cakewalk continues.

We will win the division title handily whether or not we score more than one run in the next 40 games. There is no threat. We are the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, this division is our birthright and there is no team currently assembled that will deny us the American League pennant.

Big whoop, we lost a baseball game tonight. Well... Ooops... that is all. I am still pumped up by the fantastic squad of depth and focus assembled by Bill Stoneman and Tony Reagins and paid for by Arte Moreno. And you should be as well - it is a privilege to root for this historic assembly of baseball players.

That said, someone left a lot of men on base and popped out in situations where he is expected to crush the shyte.

Blame of the Game: Vladimir Guerrero

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Comments

ah boo.........you went with an actual player.......instead of poster......

weak sauce…...im placing blame on HUNTER…...again…......piece of shite….....

http://www.diehard101.com/phpfox/upload/norcaliangelsbillsfan

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 30, 2008 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Angels aren't superior at anything

The A’s have better hitting and pitching, stop being a god damn homer for once

Get rid of Quinlan

by edhoo on Jun 30, 2008 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Beginning the ban count for edhoo...now.

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

by cardinalwraith on Jun 30, 2008 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I ban spamwhores and trolls

not fans with just the average conventional wisdom wrong opinion.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

It is my blog, I can be whatever I want. Go spend a night with Joe Blanton and tell me he gives it to you better than Jon Garland. Whiner.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Garland thowing seeds

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jul 1, 2008 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

last i heard, the A's are in second place

by yeswecan on Jun 30, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and you weren't a cheerleader in high school

hard to believe!

by ladybug on Jun 30, 2008 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree you that we're the superior team.

But it sounds like we’re all trying to convince ourselves of that. Let’s hope this funk ends soon.

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

by cardinalwraith on Jun 30, 2008 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

word!

by Los Angeles de Anaheim on Jun 30, 2008 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

it's a long season

the Angels are suffering right now offensively, but they are going to BOUNCE BACK from this. this team is too good to perform like this over the long haul.

YES WE CAN!

by yeswecan on Jun 30, 2008 9:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Insert incoherent Obama reference here.

(yes, i am aware of the history of ywc and the halos)

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

by cardinalwraith on Jun 30, 2008 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the season isnt as long now.......less than halfway to go......

http://www.diehard101.com/phpfox/upload/norcaliangelsbillsfan

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 30, 2008 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That sounded like it was penned by a Yankee fan.

by bc56274 on Jun 30, 2008 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i'd say Johnny Rivers for BOTG

that error was waaaaaay costly

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Jun 30, 2008 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah but if you can't hit the ball, it doesn't matter

by yeswecan on Jun 30, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Jun 30, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you mean you have to hit the ball and get on base first??

by ladybug on Jun 30, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well there's also such thing as a Base on Balls

But you have to see at least 4 pitches in 1 at bat to get one of those.

by TheTypingFiend on Jun 30, 2008 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How costly?

Would the Angels have scored more runs without the error?

by TheTypingFiend on Jun 30, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

p r e c i s e l y

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he didnt do too much with the bat, either

the error was just icing on the bitter cake

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Jun 30, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yawn. Only 79 games to go.

Boring game. But it was just that; one game. More importantly, there’s that rumor that the Angels will go after free agents Jim Thome and Pat Burrell during the offseason. ;)

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jun 30, 2008 9:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WHY?

So Vlad’s knees turn to confetti by 2010? NO way.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe not Thome, but I expect the Angels to throw significant dollars at a free agent OF

GA and Juan won’t be resigned after 2008, which would leave an opening in LF.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jun 30, 2008 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

GMJ is stuck there

no-trade clause thru his 3rd season – he is here at LEAST until after 2009.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or he becomes the most expensive 4th OF in baseball in 2009.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jun 30, 2008 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thome will be 38 years old next season

do we want to go back to signing over the hill players?

Angels in 08!

by tanana40 on Jul 1, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Thome can be signed to a 1 year deal at a reasonable cost, I'm for it

Frank Thomas in 2006 at the age of 38 put up.270 /.381/.545 (including 39 homers) and helped the A’s win the AL West. It was a low-cost/high reward signing. The Angels haven’t had a legit DH since Brad Fullmer. Thome’s high OBP and good SLG would be welcome relief to the DH spot for the Halos.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jul 1, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'll be the 70's and 80's all over again.

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or Steve Finley again. Old players are risky and that strategy did backfire badly in the past.

But last night’s game was a text book example of no patience. Wouldn’t it be nice if just one player could work a count? It’s too late to make drastic changes mid-season, but in the future I hope the Angels acquire or develop guys who can draw a walk. If the Angels could get him at a reasonable price, Thome would be a good DH and back-up first baseman.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jul 1, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aybar got to 2-0 in both his BB AB's...

on really obviously outside pitches (from my vantage point out in shallow left). So, yeah, I think that nobody actually worked a count last night. Not one player in all the 27 outs.

I’m not a big Jim Thome fan, but if he can hit 15 jacks in the 2nd half, sign him up.

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vlad...

Damn

by infant on Jun 30, 2008 9:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Vlad and Tori

Thrashers!!
Too bad they’re not hittin’ but A’s will take it!!

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Jun 30, 2008 10:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

as I posted in rally f'n thread a minute ago....

it’s hard to ignore the numbers of hotlanta’s brian mccann and pitt’s ryan doumit, would someone dare claim that an upgrade at catcher wouldn’t go a long way towards taking this team to where everyone wants it to go?

***Me to fellow die-hard Ryan after the Angels scored their tenth run on an eighth inning Tommy Murphy home run (10+ runs = free hot wings):

Me: "What the hell are you doing, dude?"

Ryan: "I'm flapping my wings for hot wings!"

Me: "Sit the f*** down and stop acting like a drunk 15-year-old, you ain't Christopher Lloyd and we ain't sitting in the outfield"

by AHaloInSF on Jun 30, 2008 10:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes but they would demand Mathis or Napoli and Kendrick or Kotchman

McCann and Doumit are their gems, we cannot expect to underpay for them.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 30, 2008 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Naps and Mathis are not the reason this team is struggling to score runs.

The lead the league in homers from that position.

by MH252525 on Jun 30, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

his average may not be high, but Naps’ power and D merits him a starting position.
plus, he has driven in BOTH of our runs in the last 4 games.

...wow, that hurt to write.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Jun 30, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Soth on Angels Batters v. Greg Smith

“For some reason we didn’t get too many good looks”

by TheTypingFiend on Jun 30, 2008 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Start taking some pitches...

by infant on Jun 30, 2008 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"some reason"

that’s precision in speech if I have ever seen it.

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 7:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That bitch...

fell out of the Ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Let no joyful voice be heard! Let no man look up at the sky with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who ready to wake... the K-Rod!

by Scuff on Jun 30, 2008 10:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

OT: According to Hud

Even HATCHER says they’re swinging at bad pitched.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jun 30, 2008 10:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Whoops

That was supposed to be a reply to infant, two posts up.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jun 30, 2008 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But he told them to :-)

by infant on Jun 30, 2008 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you mean exactly like Mickey did when he played?

by MH252525 on Jun 30, 2008 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

BOTG = Hatcher

I came home tonight from the movie and watched the game on DVR. I knew after the first inning the Angels would lose.

V Guerrero flied out to right.
T Hunter flied out to right.

Both of those occurred with 0 strikes IIRC.

Infact let me run down all the abs for Vlad, Torii and HK

V Guerrero flied out to right.
T Hunter flied out to right.
H Kendrick flied out to right.
V Guerrero popped out to second.
T Hunter flied out to right.
H Kendrick flied out to right.
V Guerrero popped out to second.
T Hunter flied out to center. (which was right center)
H Kendrick flied out to right.
V Guerrero flied out to right.
T Hunter struck out swinging.
H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop.

Now I know I don’t know more about hitting than Mickey Hatcher but I’ll tell you what I do know. I know that when you don’t take pitches your OBP isn’t going to be very high, certainly no one can say the Angels were taking pitches, because their pitcher only threw 100 pitches total. I also know that when you hit to the opposite field you don’t hit with nearly the authority you do as when you pull the ball.

So basically what appears to be happening to me is that the Angels are following a strategy that limits their OBP and SLG and the same damn time. Their approach works when the team hits over .300 as a team but seriously how often is that going to happen.

Hatcher must go, seems blatantly obvious to me after tonight. And yes I realize it’s a whole organizational philosophy that extends beyond Hatcher, but this just isn’t working at all.

by MH252525 on Jun 30, 2008 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This team is designed to be a singles-hitting offense

They are currently tied with Seattle at .256 for 11th in the league. This team simply doesn’t have enough power, it doesn’t hit for average, and it isn’t getting on base. Even during the team’s alleged June resurgence, they’re still hitting a weak-kneed .256/.309/.367, making them … dead last in the league in runs scored in that month.

I’ve been telling Helen all year that I thought the Angels would win the division but it would be closer than in other years because of Scioscia’s obsession with running his veterans out and frankly the lack of better alternatives in some cases (although cough Reggie Willits cough). I still think Matt was premature in calling for a great Angels offensive resurgence after the return of Figgins and Kendrick; yet Howie has been swinging an unimpressive .248/.271/.327 with only eight extra-base hits since his return. Similarly, Figgy has been similarly cold since his return from the DL on June 13, hitting .268/.339/.286 and going one for his last four games (one of which, in fairness, was only a pinch-hitting role in the Dodgers series). But just about everything that can go wrong with this offense is going wrong, and while that’s not exclusively Mickey Hatcher’s fault, I really do place the blame pretty solidly on the Angels’ defective offensive construction.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Jul 1, 2008 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Many good points

Many good pints that have been made here before – I do think if you bench GA or GMJ that you go with Rivera over Willits just for the chance a little more power could be added….

by Rev Halofan on Jul 1, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been known to make a few good "pints" here, too

But beer-drinking aside, Ducky makes clear some ghastly woes in the lineup. These holes will soon be filled, my brethren. This lackluster performance won’t continue long. The Angels are too loaded to make this continue for much longer. I predict a July bonanza!

by yeswecan on Jul 1, 2008 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it goes beyond that

Yes the Angels have a bunch of players who are singles hitters. Figgins, Maicer, Aybar, Willits. But I don’t think the Angels get as much out of them because of their hitting philosophy. It was pointed out in another thread how much DMac has improved his walks this year. It was something like 1 every 17 abs with the Angels to 1 every 6 abs in the Marlins system. That is huge.

I see a lot of baseball, and the Angels sure seem to be the team that is most willing to go the opposite field when they aren’t down in the count.

Basically who is to say that the players the Angels have wouldn’t be doing better under another hitting instructor.

GMJ 2006 OPS of 827 AWAY from Texas (it was 866 overall)
GMJ 2007 OPS of 742
GMJ 2008 OPS of 684

Torii Hunter 2007 OPS of 821 AWAY from MIN (it was 839 overall)
Torii Hunter 2008 OPS of 774

I’m sure Hatcher isn’t entirely responsible for those dips but as they say, if you aren’t part of the solution…...

by MH252525 on Jul 1, 2008 7:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can Vlad only have ONE BOTG this season?

Good pitching has distracted us from Vlad…

This is BAD Vlad and his band of wimps!

by K3YEROUT on Jun 30, 2008 10:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I think he deserves way more than just one BOTG.

by infant on Jun 30, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HUH?

Check again he has three.

by Rev Halofan on Jul 1, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bullshit

It was 2-1 when HH’s savior dropped the ball.

Juan Rivera gets this one.

by ReggieBullits on Jun 30, 2008 10:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ahhh even better point

different things happen when the game is 2-1. they Angels very well could have scored more runs had the score remained the same. different pitches are thrown, different plays are run, etc.

then again, we could’ve lost it 2-1 and been just as pissed off, if not more.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Jun 30, 2008 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously?

You guys are arguing this?

JUAN RIVERA DROPPED THE BALL. Endo story.

by ReggieBullits on Jun 30, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude im on your side

i said the same thing about Rivera earlier

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Jun 30, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same result

A 2-1 loss is the same as a 6-1 loss. Lets not pretend that the bats are not the problem right now.

by HungryHunter on Jun 30, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also can someone please tell Soth

Darren Oliver does better against righties than against lefties.

by MH252525 on Jun 30, 2008 10:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also tell Soth

That Oliver looks great on a new plasma from Howard’s.

by TheTypingFiend on Jun 30, 2008 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rivera

Bring Back GA!

;-)

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 30, 2008 11:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's what I yelled at Juan...

“GA woulda had that one!”

But, I cut Juan some slack, he DID just have Juan Jr the other day AND Juan’s birthday is coming up.

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 7:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ObGAPost

If GA wasn’t so lazy, he’d have run out of the dugout and caught that ball.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jul 1, 2008 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disclaimer

GA is actually one of my favorite players.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jul 1, 2008 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

bleh!

At least most of us can be happy for this game’s results.
I’m sure we’d rather have it the other way around though…

Chart it up! Game on!
Week 11: http://tinyurl.com/5op5n2

by scottnak on Jul 1, 2008 12:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"this division is our birthright "

LOL. You must be born-again, Rev – one of these new-fangled fans that signed on in 2002. Cuz last I checked the A’s had MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY AL west crowns as the LA, California, Anaheim, LA Angels of LA.

1 down, 2 to go!

by BleacherDave on Jul 1, 2008 6:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's 4-4 with 5 more to go, bro.

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 7:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops, I'm not good at math...

That’s 4-4 with 8 more to go.

July 1-2 here
August 25-27 here
and
September 16-18 under the tarps

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ummmm....

aren’t there 19 intradivision games in the AL West?

by BleacherDave on Jul 1, 2008 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you got it...

I’m a little slow. I missed the July 11 – 13 tarp-visit, making 11 more to play. More games for us to pad that lead with.

Scioscia Says: "There are some hitters that need to start to see more pitches and work some counts, but there are guys that are more productive seeing that fastball and squaring it up. There are different solutions to each hitter and that's what you're working for. There's no pill you give to the whole team and have them all of sudden get into your offense."

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ahhh, yesss....

the spiritual juice fathers of the 2002 Angels relief corps!

by BleacherDave on Jul 1, 2008 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Twice as many asterisks

for your butt-bashing juice brothers.

by Rev Halofan on Jul 1, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

cut him some slack rev,

hes just pissed that the A’s are ACTUALLY moving to freemont. I mean, we are called the LA Angels but we still get to see the angels play right next to our homes, while poor old bleacherdave here has to go through hours of traffic just to sit in the crappy bleacher seats and watch his second (or third place As lose to the first place angels. how pathetic.

I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. BOW TO MY WILL AND MY HAMMER!

by anaheim angels on Jul 1, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ahhhh, yesss....

the spiritual juice fathers of the 2002 Angels relief corps!

by BleacherDave on Jul 1, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's History Review: 1988* 1989* 1990*

Today’s A’s aren’t worthy enough to wear the same uniform as the great Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Rollie Fingers.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jul 1, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

please explain the history review to the stupid A's fan here

because none of the players you mentioned even played in the same decades you referred to.

"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."

by SwampyD on Jul 1, 2008 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

his history may be wrong...

but 88 – 90 are not decades, they are 365-day chunks of time called YEARS.

"Never throw the ball so far over the fence where you can't go back and get it." Chuck Knox quoted through Darryl Henley

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think

88, and 89 would be in different decades than 90….just me i’m just sayin just just just

"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."

by SwampyD on Jul 1, 2008 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you are certainly right...

but go ahead and troll elsewhere… go back to AR or whatever it is called. Must be nice to “stop in” conveniently right after a big victory like you might think last night was. Weak on your part swamp.

by Downing Rules on Jul 1, 2008 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dear stupid A's fan,

I marked 1988, 1989 and 1990 with asterisks because those AL West titles were propelled by steroid users.

I gave distinction to Reggie, Catfish and Rollie because I actually liked the A’s teams from the early 1970’s and in no way shape or form want to associate them with the A’s of today.

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!

by Fan Since 1981 on Jul 1, 2008 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs