Look Again: Angels Upbeat, Not Beat
by Rev Halofan on Aug 22, 2008 12:35 PM PDT
in Angels News
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PrintSome wins are aggravating. Frankie blowing a Save to Baltimore two weeks ago and we take the game on a walkoff walk ... I was feeling miserable leaving the stadium after that win, so many holes had been exposed in our game to a lousy team.
Thursday night against Minnesota was different – we lost, but it felt great. The team looked fantastic after a terrible road trip and overnight flight. Sure the bats were flat, but there was no surrender or jet lag apparent anywhere else.
First and foremost John Lackey was ridiculously dominant and delivered his best effort at home all season and his 2nd best of the season (2nd only to his near-no hitter in Fenway). His few moments of trouble brought out some gutsy intensity that mere mortals just do not have.
The defense turning DPs when needed was a joy to watch. Teixeira’s bomb in the first was brilliant. Don’t bag on Torii Hunter too hard – he hit a flyball with two on to the deepest part of Left Field that was four inches from being a three-run homerun. G.A. was hitless but when he struck out late in the game, he actually SHOWED EMOTION – he tossed his bat and helmet in ANGER. I have been watching Garret play ball since 1995 and I have never seen that. Other than Speier, the bullpen was nails in living up to holding Lackey’s game.
There were lots of enjoyable little things – Kendry making contact – hard contact, in each AB, Figgins with some solid glove work, Howie bouncing back a little bit. Everything butt S-Rod’s miserable bunt attempt and Speier’s gift run – If this had been the opening game of the ALDS or ALCS I would be bummed we lost it but excited to have just witnessed the greatest extra-inning playoff game in American League history!
We lost to a good team, a team with the same record as Bahstin, a young and hungry and healthy team. We played them tough, we played them smart; the Twinkies may be relieved to have actually gotten one over on us and will now relax and enjoy a little local color, hit the beach maybe, Disneyland, do a tramp-stamp OC hoochie or two, Knotts Berry Farm or what have you.
Angels fans can only hope, as our team showed us they are hanging tough.
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Watching GA throw his bat so angrily was almost inspiring
It’s nice to see him get angry. Also awesome: Lackey’s fist pump after getting that double play.
http://inplaynoouts.blogspot.com/ - A blog about teams I like, written by me.
Agree and agree
GA got me fired up. Ask my wife. I exclaimed, “Whoa! I’ve never seen Garret that pissed!” And Lackey’s fist pump (and “F-yeah”) were preludes to a playoff.
My Halos Heaven: a Mountain Dew in the upper view
by Rally Manatee on Aug 22, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I love emotion too!
That’s why I didn’t have a problem with Frankie getting pissed and then ejected last week. I want these guys to care at least as much as I do.
Francisco Rodriguez: 194 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.
On the right track,
but you gotta know how to deal with all you puffballs.
Francisco Rodriguez: 194 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.
Every team goes through a rough patch (TB lost 7 straight prior to the ASG).
GOOD: Haven’t lost ANY ground to other division rivals during this rough patch (holding 15 game lead).
BAD: We have lost ground to the (D)evil Rays for best record/home field through the playoffs.
UGLY: Weak offense, shaky bullpen. I am starting to get seriously worried about Vlad.
Things should improve soon…at least in time for a playoff run.
I'm reminded of a recent post...
http://www.halosheaven.com/2008/8/11/591671/rays-lose-longoria-crawfor#8047645
The old baseball adage applies
Never like to see a guy get hurt, especially good guys like Carl Crawford. And part of me is pulling for the Rays of course because of Joe Maddon.
But I agree with the Rev on this one, I’ll take a boring win over an exciting loss any day, and I want home field advantage for the playoffs and I want to get to and hopefully win the World Series.
Nobody was crying for us last season when the Sux steamrolled us out of the playoffs with half our team banged up.
I was just thinking last night
about what slumps look like for most teams. When most teams slump and are playing poorly, they spend a good bit of that time getting blown out. The Angels however are IN most of these games. Of course, that makes it frustrating for us as fans, but if you think about it, it almost seems that our club is so strong that even at their weakest they find ways to be competitive.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself today.
Some might say...
….that whatever amount of luck the Halos might have had in earlier close victories is perhaps evening out a little bit.
by LittleCupcakes on Aug 22, 2008 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Interesting tidbits I read in the papers.......
Torii took full responsibility for not gloving the ball on the wall and losing the game last night. He blames himself.
Shields said his melt-down in Tampa was a “fluke,” and reflecting HH sentiment, said it is better the team is going through this flat period now than later in the season.
Reading between the lines in an article written about Garret Anderson’s future as an Angel, he did’nt sound overly optimistic about playing next year. He did’nt rule it out either.
I agree with Torii about the catch, but not necessarily the game.
Even if he makes that catch, Speier is still on the mound and the Halo pitching alternatives are dwindling fast. If he wants to blame himself for the game, he should just lump himself in with the meat of the lineup that was just abysmal at the plate last night. It was a team thing, not a Hunter thing.
Francisco Rodriguez: 194 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.
the meat of the lineup was abysmal for a reason...
scott baker.
he’s underrated.
"Life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end."
I am glad to find that somebody else was watching the same game I was.
I thought that I was watching a playoff-caliber matchup between two teams fighting for position in the post-season. One on a roll and one struggling, and the one struggling was tired AND STILL playing like a gamer. And Aybar’s play in turning the double play in the top of the 8th was TOTALLY playoff-caliber baseball!!!
It was fun, and it made me thankful that this team is going through a funk in August instead of, more commonly, October.
Francisco Rodriguez: 194 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.
I applaud the effort Rev
Well, boys … I haven’t a thing to say.
Played a great game…all of you. Great game.
(Rev tries to smile.)
I guess we just can’t expect to win ‘em all.
(Rev pauses and says quietly.)
I’m going to tell you something I’ve kept to myself for years - “Rev,” he said -
None of you ever knew The Cowboy.
It was long before your time.
But you know what a tradition he is here…
(There is gentle, faraway look in his eyes as he recalls the Cowboys words.)
And the last thing he said to me -
“sometime, when the team is up against it — and the
breaks are beating the boys — tell them to go out there
with all they got and win just one for the Cowboy…
(Rev’s eyes become misty and his voice is unsteady as he finishes.)
I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rev”, he said – “but
I’ll know about it – and I’ll be happy.”
Rev your needed in the clubhouse,,,,,,,,just make sure you have some left over “E” tix to Disney, some sex wax (for the surfboards of course……. not the OC hoochies), and funnel cake.
Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee
In two threads, no one has mentioned that
If Torii catches that ball instead of bouncing it off his glove, Speier’s fail isn’t so dramatic. Can’t blame Speier for a GG’er missing what he called a ball he usually catches.
I don't see what you are referring to in the first thread,
and the second one proves my point. Everyone here jumped on Speier, but it was fairly obvious that if Torii catches that ball, Speier is in much less trouble.
In fact, all things being equal, he gets out of that inning
the only hit after punto’s triple is a single, and no one would have scored if that triple doesn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, Speier hasn’t had a good season. But he was spot on last season, and will likely bounce back. I guess the beloved Torii can do no wrong…
Last night,
I realized that we’re going to miss Izzy. In situations like last night, bottom 9, RISP, just needing a single to win, there is nobody — NOBODY — that I’d rather have in the box than Izzy. This includes Tex, Vlad, Torii or GA. When all you need is a lousy single, there’s nobody better in that situation.
Angels fan since '67
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