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Hit Balls and Spitballs: Tuesday Halolinks

"Dammit, this ball is dirty."

"Dammit, this ball is dirty."

Jeff Mathis helps resurrect the Angels -- latimes.com
"That was a heck of a ballgame this afternoon," said Scioscia, master strategist and king of the understatement.

Angels win in the 11th inning to get back in the series  - OCRegister.com
After losing the first two games of the best-of-seven series in demoralizing fashion, the Angels now have a chance to even the series with another win in Game 4 Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

Scioscia, Mathis propel warmer Angels to critical Game 3 win -  CBSSports.com Baseball
Three games, 33 total innings, 11 home runs, just the fourth ALCS ever in which two of the games have gone extra innings, each pitch more tension-filled than the last. "You feel like throwing up," Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. "Then you feel like eating. Then you feel like throwing up. Then you feel like eating."

Kazmir gets chance to prove worth - angelsbaseball.com
"I'm excited," Kazmir said. "Very excited. I'm up for the challenge. I don't put any extra pressure on myself. I just go out there and pitch my game. With this team, the Yankees, they're a very high-powered offense, so you just have to attack the strike zone. I'm not going to try to do anything extra, just pitch my game."

Team Reports - CBSSports.com
The Angels and Yankees combined to hit six home runs in Game 3, tying the ALCS record for home runs in a game (one short of the major league record). The Yankees had not given up a home run in their first five postseason games this season until Kendrick went deep in the fifth inning Monday.

Star-divide

Video highlights from yesterday's game:

Jeter leads off the game with a homer -  MLB.com
Derek Jeter sends the third pitch of the game over the left-field wall to give the Yankees a quick lead in the first inning

A-Rod leads off the fourth with a homer -  MLB.com
Alex Rodriguez crushes a solo homer to left field to make the score 2-0

Vlad's homer in the sixth ties the game -  MLB.com
Vladimir Guerrero smacks a two-run homer to left field, tying the game in the sixth inning

TV, radio call Abreu's baserunning gaffe -  MLB.com
Television and radio broadcasters call Bobby Abreu's baserunning blunder and Derek Jeter's quick reaction in the eighth inning

Ump punches Posada out on second strike -  MLB.com
Home-plate umpire mistakenly punches out Jorge Posada on the second strike

TV, radio call Mathis' walk-off double -  MLB.com
TV and radio broadcasters make the call on Jeff Mathis' walk-off double in the 11th inning that delivered the Halos the Game 3 win

 

Redemption Day - Angels Unplugged - Los Angeles Times
But most of all, this 5-4, 11-inning mini-classic was redemption for an Angels team that was so much better than it appeared in the first two games of this series. In Game 3, you saw many of the reasons Mike Scioscia's guys won 97 games in the regular season and why some of their strengths figured to eventually show up against the Yankees.

Angels Revive Bats and Thunderstix - NYTimes.com
"Obviously, it’s the biggest hit in my life," said Mathis, who hit .211 this season but earned the trust of Manager Mike Scioscia for his outstanding defensive work and handling of the pitching staff. "To come through, and for Howie to have the at-bat he did right there and get on base and put one in the game and score to win the game, it’s a pretty good feeling."

Video Central - FOX Sports on MSN
Rosenthal analyzes Angels win

Joe Girardi's 'manic managing' costs New York Yankees in Game 3 - Ben Reiter - SI.com
Girardi made so many questionable and unconventional decisions during Game 3 of this ALCS, and meddled with his talented club so much, that he had to know that if his Yankees somehow lost the game that he'd be lambasted by New York media and fans who don't exactly react well when unconventionality leads to failure. The Yankees lost the game, 5-4, on an RBI double by Angels catcher Jeff Mathis with two outs in the bottom of the 11th. Let the lambasting start.

ALCS Coverage: Scioscia’s Blunder - FanGraphs Baseball
Saturday night, 8th inning, 2-2, runners at 1st and 2nd, 1 out. The LI for this situation was 3.72. This was a critical juncture of the game, as the Angels needed to simply get a base hit to take the lead, and could give themselves a good chance of winning with an extra base hit that scored both runners. Staring at that opportunity, Mike Scioscia sent Gary Matthews Jr to the plate to hit for Mike Napoli. Matthews, owner of a .315 wOBA in his three seasons as an Angel, pinch-hit for Napoli, who has a career .364 wOBA. With the game on the line.

Angels prove Joe Buck wrong despite Jeter's early strike -- latimes.com
Tim McCarver, while praising the job Angels General Manager Tony Reagins has done, first called him Tom. Having heard from more than a few Angels viewers who think Fox is being too New York-centric, it doesn't help when the analyst seems to not know the name of the Angels' GM.

As a TV Market, Los Angeles Is Staggering in the Baseball Playoffs - NYTimes.com
But the story is that the Los Angeles market is being drubbed by New York and Philadelphia. Maybe it’s the old time-zone thing that limits viewership in the West Coast because what starts at 8 o’clock in New York begins at 5 in Santa Monica. Perhaps Angelenos have more amusing diversions. Maybe it’s the cold and the rain in the East keeping fans inside. Or maybe old baseball cities like New York, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia tend to support their teams in greater numbers.

Citing Adenhart case, police promise to swarm Angels Stadium in drunk driving crackdown - Los Angeles Times
Orange County authorities are warning baseball fans against drinking and driving after the Angels' playoff game today and said law enforcement officers will be swarming the area around Angel Stadium looking for violators.

Was Mariano Rivera Throwing a Spitball? - nbcsports.com
Call me crazy, but it appears to me like Rivera looks up to see if anyone is watching, then looks down and spits right on the ball. Is that the secret to his cutter? Anyone have an alternate explanation as to what is going on?

October 20 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on October 20.
2002 - Twenty-year old Venezuelan righthander Francisco Rodriguez becomes the youngest pitcher ever to win a World Series game. With just 15 days of major league experience, "K-Rod" throws 37 pitches retiring nine consecutive batters in three innings to pick up the victory as the Anaheim Angels outslug the Giants in Game Two, 11 - 10. Tim Salmon goes 4 - 4 with two home runs and four RBI, while Reggie Sanders, David Bell, Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds homered for San Francisco.
1931 - Mickey Mantle, outfielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 1995)  "The Mick" would have been 78 years-old today.

Poll
Which manager has made more mistakes in the ALCS?
Mike Scioscia
231 votes
Joe Girardi
571 votes

802 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 47 comments |

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Comments

Display:

Pulling Napoli for GMJ...

That one’s worth a dozen questionable pitching changes…

by Jietoh on Oct 20, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

yup.

worst time for a cold streak ever.

"it's mind-bottling."

by retrohalo on Oct 20, 2009 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You should probably drop the spitball thing

before you look like a whiner. Seriously. The picture shows he is holding the ball off to the right side of his body and spitting straight in front of him.

There are a lot of Yankees you could call out for questionable behavior, but trying to make Rivera one of them because he spit on the same side of his body as the ball is just not very smart.

by GMan83201 on Oct 20, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I've made no comment on the spitball stuff

All I’ve done is provide a link to NBC Sports.

by WiHaloFan on Oct 20, 2009 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's just a link

I don’t think he spit on the ball either, but this is just a link to someone else who is writing about it. Maybe you should go back to the Yankee blogs.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 20, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Your blog needs you.

Go to it, now.

What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.

by clover_black on Oct 20, 2009 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

HA HA! +1

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 20, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I honestly don't think it was a spitball

but the fact there was the possibility of a spitball is what was the eyebrow-raiser for me. I’ll give the guy the benefit of the doubt for now, but Fox should definitely touch on the idea and show the video tonight, which they of course won’t. and somebody should just watch Rivera like a hawk the next game to be sure.

I think the TV angle makes it look worse than it was, and just seemed like careless spitting on his part, and if any made it to his hand then so be it. the thing is, if it came anywhere close to his hand or the ball then it was likely intentional and not the first time. and what umpire is going to call for the ball from FHOF / greatest closer of all time Mariano Rivera before he’s even thrown a pitch. maybe if Mike runs out and calls time and asks for the ball, but that’s about it (which is probably not going to happen either).

I think Rivera has been in the game for so long, and after reviewing the video and stills, if he was going to throw any kind of spitter the spit wouldn’t even make it to the ball until it was behind his back and a split second before he actually went into his motion, so it would be even harder to detect. he could simply wipe any spit from his hand to his pant leg before it even made it to the ball if anyone questioned him or wanted to check the ball before that point.

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have seen this in three places now.

I think it bears looking into. FOX/TBS surely has either the rest of the shot (before the fade) or another angle by which to see this clearly. If he isn’t spitting, it is in Rivera’s interest to clear this up (HOF implications, imo). If he is, well, MLB has an interest in finding out.

In any case, I sure hope nobody at FOX has any bright ideas about erasing some footage.

I don’t know either way, but it bears looking into.

Check out these games:

Multiplayer Baseball: http://www.mmobaseball.com/createaccount.aspx?ref=9687

Multiplayer Football: http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=16986650

by matthiasstephan on Oct 20, 2009 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

MLB commish office

had a response… pretty weak, they claimed he didn’t spit on the ball (how they know this, I have no idea). and he’s a “known spitter”

now about NO spitting on the mound, period, for games 4-7, plus the WS, or the player will be ejected? that’ll solve it.

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

good solution

but the ump’s don’t have the balls to stand up to the Yanks

Just another Halo victory

by HalosFanInNorCal on Oct 20, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

my favorite pic from last night

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/laa/gallery/im:urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:mlb,photo,4f45df65614e42b08107bf6c403bb293.correction_alcs_yankees_angels_baseball_alcs179:1

one possible caption,
“Hey Mark…. how’s that other coast workin’ out!”

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 9:19 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Love the pics.

I think mark couldn’t care less though.

Mark’s priorities:

1. Keep husband, er, wife happy.
2. Fill swimming pool full of money
3. Backstroke in money and laugh maniacally
4. Occasionally play baseball

What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.

by clover_black on Oct 20, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think he gets a free BJ every time he saves AR or DJ an error too.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Oct 20, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm just glad nobody got hurt in the celebration!

note Kaz in the photo:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/laa/gallery/im:urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:mlb,photo,4f45df65614e42b08107bf6c403bb293.correction_alcs_yankees_angels_baseball_alcs179:1#photoViewer=urn%3Anewsml%3Asports.yahoo%2Cap%3A20050301%3Amlb%2Cphoto%2C88315d824d5141c4bcb3639e040fd838.correction_alcs_yankees_angels_baseball_alcs172%3A1

let’s do it again tonight!!

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

correction

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

correction correction

Yahoo photos

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Girardi Computer Fail....
Howie Kendrick and Jeff Mathis were the next two hitters in the Angels’ order, and according to reports compiled by Yankees scouts, computers and video, Alfredo Aceves’ slider provided a better way to retire them than Robertson’s fastball/curveball stuff.

“It’s just different kind of stuff against those hitters,” Girardi said. “We have all the matchups and all the scouting reports and we felt [Aceves] was a better matchup for us.”

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/wacky_move_to_aceves_hands_angels_Yvs61y2OhTUWk0fNUuCGSJ

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 20, 2009 9:54 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

His computer didn't fail

His pitcher/catcher did. Howie and Mathis are both awful against decent offspeed stuff from right handers. Then Aceves went out and threw 7 pitches, 6 of which were fastballs.

I guess Girardi has to have some blame. I mean, when Aceves got in there, he should have said, “These guys can’t hit your offspeed stuff. Set em up with a fastball off the plate and then I better not see a pitch over 82 MPH the rest of the inning.” Either Girardi never said that, which is his fault, or the message didn’t get through.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 20, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, he didn't

Aceves has better command of his breaking stuff, which is what the computer told him would have better success against Kendrick and Mathis. Robertson is a power pitcher – Howie in particular destroys fastballs. So Girardi went with the better junk pitcher.

The problem is that the pitcher didn’t throw junk. He had the better pitcher for that situation on the mound, the pitcher just didn’t throw the right stuff. That’s not the computer’s fault, although it may be Girardi’s fault for not emphasizing it enough to Aceves when he got to the mound.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 20, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Anyone know how much parking is?

They want power, We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Oct 20, 2009 10:38 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I was wondering too

for Thurs.

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

$10

Unless they jack up the prices as the stadium fills up, which I doubt. It was $10 for me.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Oct 20, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

alright thanks man.

They want power, We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Oct 20, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The corporate off-site lots across the street on Orangewood

Which were cheaper than the stadium during the regular season, are getting $30 (triple stadium parking). Of course, it’s a hell of a lot easier to get out…

I showed up late (about 15 minutes before game time), so I paid the $30, rather than fight the lots. Also, I needed to get out quickly to get home and do some final work on my class project.

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Oct 20, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is it a popsicle stick house or a baking soda volcano?

We are the Los Angeles Angels of the late 2000s

by Higz on Oct 20, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it's a science project on absorption

testing name brand diapers vs generic to see how much crap from the announcers that can be absorbed

by ladybug on Oct 20, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Joe Girardi Wikipedia page

Someone added the following. LOL:

Girardi has been know to prematurely celebrate the achievements of other people. The most recent example was his over celebration of Derek Jeter’s lead off home run in Game 3 of the 2009 ALCS in which he ran from one end of the dugout to the other pumping his fist. The Yankees eventually lost that game due to several of Girardi’s poor decisions.

Check out my article about the Dodger Dugout Club.

by alcor805 on Oct 20, 2009 10:43 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Undisputable evidence that Yankees fans are the biggest bunch of chumps

“We wish we could afford to see actual game here at the stadium…”

http://www.nypost.com/video?vxSiteId=a89dc16f-1771-485a-8c76-3ebbf3072361&vxChannel=PostSportsFeed&vxClipId=1458_751132&vxBitrate=700

What!? Is this a baseball game or someone trying to get a table at a restaurant on Rodeo Drive ? How sad. The most dedicated fans, the blue-collar guys who work their asses off to take their kid to an actual Yankee game can’t get in because they can’t afford the $1000/seats at Field Level. Sorry, you’re not good enough to sit any closer to our over-paid lineup of baseball Gods. But you can watch it on TV. We’ll even make sure they show plenty of shots of A-Roid’s latest skank. Feels just like you’re back in High School doesn’t it?

The Angels have been ranked as the most fan-friendly baseball team for six straight years by an ESPN study.

I don’t care much for ESPN, but I think in light of the previous info, it says a lot. Yankee fans are treated like shit by the organization and yet, they come back for more.

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 20, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

1000 bucks. Insane.

I thought I was out of my mind when I dropped 200 bucks for diamond club seats for me and my pops this season.

Almost breaks your heart when you see that kid saying how “big and new” the ball game is, and the closest he’s ever been to one is walking by target.

Those seats aren’t even filled up, come game time. Bought and paid for though— corporate tickets. The people who show up didn’t even spend a dime on them… unappreciative corporate whores, uninterested in the game.

Unbelievable.

What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.

by clover_black on Oct 20, 2009 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

thats why minor league ball rules...........

IMO.

"In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time." (Robert Collier)

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 20, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This very same thing could be said for the Lakers.

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Oct 20, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This has jaded me very much against the Lakers

And since I can’t like another team, the NBA in general.

RIP #34

by linkbruin on Oct 20, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Funny that you said that...

That’s why I stopped being a Laker fan. After the 80’s and Showtime, they lost me. Being at a Laker game these days is like trying to get into some trendy night-club. More and more people go just “to be seen”

I’m not an idiot to think that professional sports isn’t the most “corporatized” thing around, but I have a short temper when it comes to the whole “TMZ” angle.

How many shots of Kate Hudson do we need? (I didn’t even know who that was at first until my wife told me.) Give me a frigg’n break. Or the lame intro shots of the Hollywood sign? Did we come here to play ball or socialize?

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 20, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh and the thing that really pisses me off

is that all the time they showed Ms. Hudson, they never once mentioned who she was. Like we’re all a bunch of sheep who have nothing to do but read gossip magazines.

At least when they Eva Longoria they would talk about her and Tony Parker.

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 20, 2009 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not so sure that either manager has made many mistakes.

Players have simply failed to execute, most noticeably on the Angels’ side.

Greg Maddux for manager.

by maestro876 on Oct 20, 2009 1:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

FYI the new halo was lit last night, apparently for the first time... I caught it driving by at 8.

Don’t know if anybody already mentioned that so, thought I would.

They’re clearly still working the bugs out, but man it looked sweet anyway!!

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and, nuts!"- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Oct 20, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

There's a video at the tail end of the postgame thread.

So I hear.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Oct 20, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Does anyone know why they never talk to Sosh during the game?

I noticed that if anything they’ll talk to Butcher. I don’t recall him ever being on TV. Is it because Mike doesn’t like to be interviewed during games? Just curious.

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Oct 20, 2009 3:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Mike Scioscia is paid to manage and pay attention at all times during a game.

He believes that if fans want to hear him talk they can watch his Howard’s TV commercials for that.

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Oct 20, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's too busy having to explain baseball to the dipshit umpires.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Oct 21, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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