After suffering one of the more life-sapping losses of the season, it may be hard to believe that there is something worthwhile to glean from an otherwise disastrous road trip.  Yes, we witnessed a typical August bed-shitting by Scot Shields, who was in rare yet all too familiar form as he exhibited the composure of Frosty the Snowman in the proverbial greenhouse.  We saw our lauded “defensive specialist” catcher air mail a throw that taunted Rays fans in the luxury suites with hopes of a souvenir.  And perhaps most unfortunately, we saw an outstanding start by Ervin Santana wasted faster than Barney Gumbel at an open bar. 

The reaction to continued failure at Tropicana Field?  Initially, we responded with widespread choruses of curses and expletives (likely in unison), pointing fingers of blame at the numerous struggling Angels.  Worse, a fair share of us, in the daze of full blown Tourret’s syndrome, validated our significant others’ disdain for our love of Angels baseball.  Granted, it was amplified by sour defeat, but nonetheless. 

The lesson learned from this?  The Angels need home field advantage.  Badly.  Sure, you may say this is the talk of a defeatist.  It is true that our lads have been very good on the road this season.  However, the Halos’ regular inability to play in the ugliest MLB stadium and simultaneously swallow the dense, drowning godawful pulp that Tropicana Field continually pours down our throats is, for me, testament enough.   

While that’s not what we want to take from this series, it’s all I can offer.  Stay the hell away from Tropicana Field at all costs.