Saunders Wins Duel with Greinke, Angels Top Royals 1-0
by scottnak on May 10, 2009 1:17 AM PDT
in Angels Postgame
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PrintFinal Score: ANGELS 1, Royals 0
Rev Halofan Reporting: Joe Saunders and Zack Greinke dueled complete games and a 3rd inning Chone Figgins sacrifice fly to score Gary Matthews Jr was the difference.
It was Greinke's first loss. It was a 5-hit shutout for Saunders. The Angels are above .500 for the first time since opening day, a game which was also not so coincidentally a shutout by Saunders.
While Greinke gave up only 4 hits in the game, the little things made the difference as a leadoff double in the 3rd by Matthews was cashed in after an Erick Aybar bunt moved him over to 3rd base. The run raised Greinke's ERA for the season to 0.51 while Saunders saw his lowered to 2.66 - you gotta wonder if we were not seeing future AL All Star teammates on the mound in the top and bottom of each inning.
The Angel Stadium crowd of 39,000+ roared the loudest for the 2nd out of the 9th inning when former Angel Jose Guillen struck out swinging on a full count, followed by a fly ball off the bat of Billy Butler to Centerfielder to Torii Hunter to end one of the great regular season pitching duels of the decade.
Of course, I am biased, but after an offseason of reading that regression from excellence for Joe Saunders was an absolute certainty based on all statistical models, the results that his 101 pitches thrown on Friday night amounted were a sly and defiant repudiation of putting theoretical assumptions ahead of the human ability to make adjustments.
While there is no narrative quite as touching as Greinke's overcoming Social Anxiety Disorder to regain the dominance expected of a #1 pitching Draft Pick, Saturday's simple slaying of statistical shibboleths by Saunders was a kick in the head!
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Like a classic film, it deserves to be re-run. I wish I knew who did the original for proper credit.
I am The Iron Man.
Old school pic
Old school being last year. My, how almost new has become old.
Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on May 9, 2009 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I just voted for Saunders!
Or did I vote for Morales?
You will never know
Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You stuck by him
If you are right, you should get the credit
Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on May 9, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Joe!
Honorable mention to Figgy (even though I didn’t see the play)
and Morales/Acuda
Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.
Thanks......I'll take my first ever Honorable Mention : )
Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honorable Mention
Figgins for the sac fly and heads up D in the 7th. Still no doubt that Saunders was the man tonight. Who was it that called a 1-0 pitchers duel in the pregame picks?
that would be me.
"Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun. I mean, if you were having fun you would've caught that ball."
by wallispdub1 on May 10, 2009 12:48 AM PDT up reply actions
nasty...............
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on May 9, 2009 8:20 PM PDT reply actions
is it just me or is the nail on that thumb freaking anyone else out?
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
by teopeht on May 9, 2009 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
ooooh xmen reference
i like
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
That thumb has Large Talons!!!
Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
great game had me on pins and needles
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
i see what you did there you clever clever man
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
You know, Salmon said it in Seitz's interview...
What Soth has done with the Angels is made everyone into a team, believing in the power of teamwork and team accomplishments over individual stats. The Royals had their chances to manufacture runs and failed, and the Angels made it work just once. Once was enough.
Salmon said that back in ‘99 the Angels would get beat by the very good pitchers because they couldn’t score at all against them. And that being able to manufacture runs allowed them to have a chance against those pitchers. Well it sure happened tonight.
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
wow
Above .500 for the first time since game 1
1/2 game out of 1st place in AL West.
oh, and Lackey and Santana come back NEXT WEEK.. gentlemen and ladybug, the early season storm is passing, and we’re sitting pretty right now..
World Series '09 - In Memory of #34 Nick Adenhart!
ah, my apologies
its kind of a running thing around here to say “gentlemen and ladybug”.. guess we’ll all have to change that.. :-p
World Series '09 - In Memory of #34 Nick Adenhart!
b0rd3rline with the fail!
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
i've seen snipers do that too
it’d suck if one of those cartridges fell out into the guys uniform though…crazy burn?
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
How about the hearing loss?
Nick Adenhart.
by WillGoAngels27 on May 9, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Joe Saunders:
“The prediction of my demise was much exaggerated”
(I’m taking the liberty of speaking for him on this one)
Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.
you may regret that at the end of the season if you miss first place by one point. Ha Ha
I am The Iron Man.
i'll take it too
i cant believe Rev got 3 on it
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
I love how pumped saunders got
when he struck out guillen, you could see him saying F*** YEAH
*** 34 ***
Wish I coulda been here for this one, had to follow it on a friends phone.
I said it yesterday though. If there was anybody on the staff right now that could go toe to toe with Zack Greinke, it’s Joe Saunders. Fantastic game for the Colonel tonight.
#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!
I am no Lakers fan but...
Stu Lantz in an Angels hat is awesome
2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick
ill try and get one
but he was on Angels Live after both Weaver’s and Saunder’s gems rocking the Halo
2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick
by trojanangelfan on May 9, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Forever an Angel
2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick
by trojanangelfan on May 9, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I think so...
To continue to even acknowledge the guy is already too much.
God needed a starter. RIP #34
Awesome game
And what do you bet that it gets 15 seconds on Baseball Tonight, while the four-letter network spends the whole hour dissecting the Skanks and the Sux losses.
Angels fan since '67
god that got old so fast
nobody cares that he hit a HR on his first AB.
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
Like Rory said...
He was probably tipped off. ;-)
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
I was there
And oh man you could feel the energy and tension! I’ve been to some great games in my life but this was one of the best!
by TheAntiSox on May 9, 2009 8:48 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Looks a little to Chubby to me to be the singin cowboy
Nick Adenhart.
by WillGoAngels27 on May 9, 2009 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
CHAVEZ RAVINE
Look at the smooth slope of the left field fopulpole seats in the upper right corner.
by Rev Halofan on May 10, 2009 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Final line on Santana
5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB:4 K, 79 pitches
World Series '09 - In Memory of #34 Nick Adenhart!
No Joe Saunders
But I’ll take it. :)
Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on May 9, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
we should give him another week
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
by vlad IS my man on May 9, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm just glad he's getting the work in.
#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!
Angel Pitching
Angels Defense
Get past that.
Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.
I love the pic and headline story on MLB.com...
God needed a starter. RIP #34
by 3rd Echelon on May 9, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, but they do have Saundo listed
as a “Top Performer” at the bottom of their MLB page along with Stults and Longoria
God needed a starter. RIP #34
BEST THING ABOUT THIS WIN
it said Greinke wins 7th on yahoo before the game
HA! Fail
Rest in Peace Adenhart
by princeton11loveshalos on May 9, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions
1 Month and Still not Forgoten
Nick Adenhart.
by WillGoAngels27 on May 9, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
:pounds chest and points up at sky:
2009 for Nick!
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
by vlad IS my man on May 9, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Nick will be remembered here for a long, long time...
and Henry and Courtney. And I hope Jon continues to recover.
Wasn't at the game
But the next best thing: being with my mom and dad back home in OC watching the Colonel kick butt!
RIP Nick Adenhart
Baseball Tonight's lead was Zack Greinke getting his first loss.
Saunders’ complete game shutout didn’t get as much play as I would have liked, but atleast it was the top story.
#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!
Just about to post the same thing.
It was the lead, but it was all “Greinke, Greinke, Greinke”. and “Oh, by the way Saunders threw a CG shutout… Greinke Greinke Greinke”.
Angels fan since '67
Halos: Ignored and Underestimated since 1961
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
by teopeht on May 9, 2009 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have given up on ESPN
IMO Baseball tonight really isn’t even worth watching if you are an Angels fan. As much as I like baseball tonight, except for Steve Phillips, the East Coast bias is unreal.
MLB network isn’t too bad if you have that channel.
All that really matters to me is that we have one of the Greatest franchises in all of professional sports as our own. Our Owner cares not only about his players but also the fans. We get to go watch baseball in an absolutely beautiful Stadium and most of all, WE WIN
2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick
by trojanangelfan on May 9, 2009 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah there was a fanpost about this
another turning to the dark side.
Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!
come on now....
the guy has a family to provide for….obviously its not the same AK that played for us…..he’s just trying to hang on as long as he can……I see nothing wrong with it….
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on May 9, 2009 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
thats what she said.
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on May 9, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow what and awesome game by Saunders.
I had to DVR it as I had a graduation to go to. I also saw it on Sportscenter. I think they showed 3 of Greinke’s 5 K’s and NONE of Saunders’s 6 K’s. All they showed was a play by Figgy and the flyout to end the game…..
Can those who said the Angels wouldn’t contend this year because Saunders would regress eat crow yet? The guy has plus stuff with plus command. He’s no fluke.
went to my first game of the year
and what a great one. great game by joe! what a fun game to go to. one of the best in my life. if only i had better seats…
R.I.P.N.A.
by TheAngelsAngels on May 9, 2009 10:31 PM PDT reply actions
538 big dog
nose bleedin it. what can i say? college student. i have to legitimately save to go to these things
R.I.P.N.A.
by TheAngelsAngels on May 9, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions
power to you bro
me 2
Rest in Peace Adenhart
by princeton11loveshalos on May 10, 2009 12:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Best comment on Royals Review Gamethread:
I won’t be posting for a while, I have to clean up the vomit
by Olentangy on May 9, 2009 7:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wait Until It’s
Over.
I used to be an A’s fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 9, 2009 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am The Iron Man.
Woke up to find a 1-0 CG shutout!!!
Musta been some game…
#34
by stuck in Romania on May 9, 2009 10:42 PM PDT reply actions
Great game tonight
And the Colonel was on fire. I truly believe as bad as this season has been, in terms of expectations and on the field play, we may have turned the corner. Not only will our starters return shortly, we have studs to help solidify the pen in Loux, Palmer and a healthier Oliver. Optimism wins out, I knew it was too early to give up on this season, complete game by Saunders, after WTY’s complete game, it don’t get much better than that. Go Angels!!!
YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....
This game reminded me
of that duel between Pedro in his heyday and Ramon Ortiz (back when everybody thought he was going to be the next Pedro). I also love the fact that this game KILLED everybody on ESPN’s Streak for the Cash. Seriously, all the current leaders picked this game and LOST. That’ll teach them to pick against the Halos.
The game was soo sick
sittin up in the nosebleeds (514) with the free angels tix i got for going to a ducks game a while back. Also, a photographer with redbow noticed my Del Ninja shirt, and I think he was a fellow HHer
That'll only happen if that one prospect is the second coming of Christ and redemption for mankind can only be achieved by smacking many balls out of the yard.
-The Limey
by anaheim angels on May 10, 2009 12:56 AM PDT reply actions
that would be me!
hell, are we in the same fantasy league, too? My manager name is the same as my HH name.
sick!
i dont think so, I just checked. My fantasy name is the same as my HH name as well
That'll only happen if that one prospect is the second coming of Christ and redemption for mankind can only be achieved by smacking many balls out of the yard.
-The Limey
by anaheim angels on May 10, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
so it is
mine was until, stuck in romania beat me 10-0
That'll only happen if that one prospect is the second coming of Christ and redemption for mankind can only be achieved by smacking many balls out of the yard.
-The Limey
by anaheim angels on May 10, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I always look for the Money Quote:
“simple slaying of statistical shibboleths”
And there it was.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game, the American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us."
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