Calling Captain Hunter?

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 2:32 PM PDT Comment 54 comments

I had an interesting question from a very good mate in London today who is also a big Angels fan. But having grown up on "football" (soccer) he had an interesting question for me.

In soccer, every team has one player who is appointed the official captain. He wears the captain's armband and is one of a few players who are allowed to speak to referees on the field at certain times.

He might not be the best player on the team but he also handles internal affairs within the team: ie, giving team talks, dealing with player-to-player issues, acting as an intermediary at times between the manager and players, and acting as a "face of the franchise" for the media.

In the past, we've had players who have sort of had this "unofficial" role: Troy Percival and Darin Erstad come to mind.

I know some teams (Yankees, Red Sox) appoint "official captains" but the Angels do not. So I thought I would solicit the Halosphere's opinion as to who our "captain" really is.

Poll and comments in the box below, as per usual, hh ...

Poll

Who is the real "captain" of the Angels this season?

Torii Hunter

45 votes

Garret Anderson

38 votes

John Lackey

65 votes

Vladimir Guerrero

2 votes

Francisco Rodriguez

0 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

1 recs | Comment 54 comments

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Comments

My vote goes to Hunter

Ie, Michael Phelps. A new nickname for Halos Heaven lore.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Gotta be Lackey

Tenure, attitude and performance.

"Hey Butch, the rigatoni's getting cold. Get Speier up."

by ReggieBullits on Sep 11, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Seconded

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 11, 2008 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is...

If we have one — I don’t think we need one.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 11, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Michael Phelps" swimming on a floor of Champagne...

Was an awesome sight to see.

Voted Hunter.

by Sweetmeats on Sep 11, 2008 2:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who voted Blue Smoke captain?

Isn’t he a little too lazy for the role? :)

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 2:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i just hope we don't ever actually slap a "c" on someone's uniform...

jeter – sucks
varitek – sucks

and the newest new york player named captain of his team:

favre – sucks.

"Life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end."

by NoDakHalo on Sep 11, 2008 2:47 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Agreed. Branding someone as Captain is for those assclowns.

by snowhor on Sep 11, 2008 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sosh is the Manager - Nuff Said

Captains are not needed in baseball. Everyone gets to talk to the umpire, as long as the conversation doesn’t question balls and strikes.

As for the Skanks and Sux. They still have problems even with there sad sack captains.

Fights in the dugout, players not performing up to par, players speaking up against team philosophy, etc., etc. That’s what the sweethearts of the East have to show for having Captains.

Jeeter never backed up any of his teammates when they had problems (ARod, Giambi …) Veritek did nothing about Manny, Shilling, and any problem they had in the clubhouse, or dugout. Both of them captains hardly ever talk to the press to explain whats going on. At least I don’t see it happening, and all I have in Hawaii is EaSsPeeiN to get most of my video news.

Look what the Angels have done without a captain, only with Sosh – Nuff said.

by eyespy on Sep 11, 2008 2:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough ...

I agree that baseball teams don’t need “captains”. But if we had one, who would it be? That’s the point of this exercise, not to debate whether or not there is a need for them.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt the desigation makes one bit of difference.

Players (and people in general) are respected/dis-respected/ignored based upon tangible/intangible leadership qualities.

That said, my vote would go to Garrett Anderson.

by sothball on Sep 11, 2008 2:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My case for Hunter.

Seems like that last couple of years we have had good teams and great players but there seemded to be a lack of electricity among our players. After the 2002 season when you could really feel the excitement it felt lacking the last couple of seasons. A lack on intensity a lack of desire. Torii seems to get the team excited and his play on defense and his bat (at times this year) have really appeared to be a funk changing event.

My vote goes to Hunter. Although, I am glad we don’t do captains.

When I was up at bat, there was always someone in scoring position, and that someone was me. -Reggie Jackson

by sepulveda on Sep 11, 2008 3:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Orlando Cabrera

Wait, shit.

I’d vote Lackey.

http://inplaynoouts.blogspot.com/ - A blog about teams I like, written by me.

by Carl Johnson on Sep 11, 2008 3:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hear, hear

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Sep 11, 2008 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hula Dula

Tough to be the cap if you don’t play every day.

GA is the elder statesman sure, but how much does he really talk and but in?

I don’t know how quiet or loud Vlad is, but I get the impression he doesn’t throw his weight around with the gringos.

by elricsi on Sep 11, 2008 4:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ERSTAD

would still be on the team if we had the “captain” designation.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 11, 2008 4:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

True enough

But I was merely trying to help answer a question for an English Angels fan who may have a different idea of what a captain is.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

well played

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlTvSUCCqPo

by ANewFoundThrice on Sep 11, 2008 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody above the team.

No captain.

by Downing Rules on Sep 11, 2008 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs

Hence, why the Angels are the club they are.

"I've got more action than my man John Woo
And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew" - Shure Shot, The Beastie Boys

by Zoe Necrosis on Sep 11, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 11, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't wait until Zu Long weighs in on this one.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 4:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually agree with Downing.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Sep 11, 2008 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

if i had to choose

id have to say lackey over hunter only because he has been with the team longer, but i dont really feel the need for an official captain

Mike Scioscia For President

by Sorbo182 on Sep 11, 2008 5:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

blue smoke cause he is our longet tenured angel. otherwise lack

by vlad IS my man on Sep 11, 2008 5:49 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I agree

Im hesitant about putting out a vote for a pitcher because he could be in the bullpen/random locations during the games when hes not pitching. And i dont know if the players are allowed to come onto the field if theyre not playing. Im also hesitant about giving it to torii not because he doesnt deserve it, but because he is new. He doesnt really ahve the tenure to make a claim for captain. Ga might be a little too unemotional at times, but he would always be levelheaded, cool, calm and collected, the qualities that reassure other players that everything is gonna be alright if theyre down or not playing that well or whatever it may be. And for some reason, i think GA could give a crazy speech if the time called for it

Exceeding expectations is less a matter of luck than possession of certain assets.

by anaheim angels on Sep 12, 2008 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As stupid as I think a captain concept is...

you need veterans who can call out mis-deeds or lead the younger players. I think GA is a “lead-by-example” kind of guy; he is a leader, but I don’t imagine he’d corner a younger player to tell him that he has done something wrong. I don’t know, but that is my “outsider’s” observation of the quiet man, GA.

by Downing Rules on Sep 13, 2008 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea, thats why i have mixed feelings about GA being this imaginary captain person

Exceeding expectations is less a matter of luck than possession of certain assets.

by anaheim angels on Sep 14, 2008 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

im putting my vote for garret anderson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlTvSUCCqPo

by ANewFoundThrice on Sep 11, 2008 6:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hunter's got the charisma

I think Lackey and Garrett would agree Hunter rallies the team together.

Shine on, luminous panthers!

by Rally Manatee on Sep 11, 2008 6:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if i HAD to vote

i’d go with Torii… even though he’s new, he seems to have settled into that role.

but i certainly agree with the points of Downing Rules… no one man is above any other. no one person make this team win or lose… everything is done as one unit.

i preach the same thing to my drum line.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 11, 2008 6:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's just meant to be a good question, howie, not a riddle

Make everybody think a little bit, and to solve a question that my English friend asked me. If I could vote again I might go for GA … he’s polling a lot higher than I thought he would. But …. my ballot is already cast for hunter.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Sep 11, 2008 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh i know

which is why i voted for Hunter.

i’m just saying… we don’t really need one. :)

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 11, 2008 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

woah where do you teach?

i too play the drums

by linkbruin on Sep 12, 2008 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apple Valley High School

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 12, 2008 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Drumline

Corps or HS/college band?

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 12, 2008 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

high school

Apple Valley High, to be exact

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 12, 2008 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i wish it were a corps, though

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 12, 2008 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Former corps member here

Velvet Knights ’78, Soprano.

[And of course, El Camino Real HS Band 77-80, Trumpet and Asst. DM]

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 12, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

very nice

i’ve had a few instructors that marched in corps (Blue Devils, Vanguard) and I’ve had a few college friends that did it as well.

i wish i would’ve tried out, now…

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 12, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah corps are a lot of fun

i marched phantom regiment the last 2 years. great to get that championship in my age out. kinda wish i would have had the time to do vanguard or blue devils but just never worked out.

but yeah i also march at ucla right now too, hence the name.

by linkbruin on Sep 12, 2008 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs