John Lackey Still a Giant Killer, Angels Win in Frisco

by Rev Halofan on Jun 15, 2009 10:27 PM PDT in Angels Postgame

FINAL SCORE IN FRISCO: 2002 World Champions 9, Home Team 7

So John Lackey is still a candidate for being the Angels Ace. On a day when it was announced that the Ervin Santana has a sore elbow and will be mssing a start and the Kelvim Escobar will be headed to the Disabled list and then most certainly to the bullpen, Lackey had a night to remember, striking out 10 Giants as if it were Game 7 of the World Series.

Robb Quinlan had 3 hits including a rally-starting 2 run double at the beginning of a 7-Run 4th inning. The Giants probably wished for the return of Scott Spiezio in the face of a such a rally. That Juan Rivera and Bobby Abreu hit homeruns was a nice surprise, but not totally unexpected, and even a HR by Sean Rodriguez, the minor league callup who currently leads the PCL with 21 bombs was an affirmation of Angel fan hopes, but an Erick Aybar mash to deep left field basically showed that the mojo was on the Halo Side of the fence tonight, even though it did come off of a shell of his former self Barry Zito.

Torii Hunter got a rib contusion slamming into a wall so the smart money is on a Reggie Willits callup after Sean O'Sullivan finishes his emergency start in place of Santana Tuesday Night. So even as the Angels celebrate their 4th win in a row and creep closer to Texas division lead (they are now only two games back), they are breaking out the scotch tape and elmers glue to hold together what many had mistaken for smoke and mirrors.

Oh... there was this whole problem late in the game with the Angels bullpen but it helped Brian Fuentes get a Save, Yippee!

Poll

Panther of the Game

John Lackey

175 votes

Brian Fuentes

7 votes

Robb Quinlan

56 votes

238 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Can someone please explain to me this sudden power of Sean Rodriguez?

I could have sworn this guy was a slap hitter last year, and now he’s leading the Pacific Coast league in home runs?

What the?

I've got nothing.

by bc56274 on Jun 15, 2009 10:30 PM PDT reply actions

Hes been anointed by the chosen one, "Brandon Jesus Chriso Wood" to lead the way...

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jun 15, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions

part of it might be due to hand placement

much in the same way that Wood improved.

back in 08, SRod’s hands were back by his head, which gave a him a long path to the ball. he probably missed a good amount of balls because of it. this year, his hands are out a little further from his body, which is probably enabling him to get to the ball quicker, thereby hitting more balls and hitting them harder.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 15, 2009 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Does this mean if Figgins suddenly changed his batting grip, he could turn into Barry Bonds?

Get out of here.

I have never seen such a dramatic change in all my illustrious baseball watching career.

I've got nothing.

by bc56274 on Jun 15, 2009 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah, because that's exactly what i said

SRod had power before this year…. in 2008, he hit 21 HRs through 66 games in AAA. this year, he hit 21 through 57 games. while he’s obviously hitting homers more frequently, it’s not as huge of a jump as you’re making it out to be.

do a little research next time, sweetheart.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 15, 2009 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

No need to do research when I've got Halos Heaven and Howiestheman at my disposal.

Thank you, young man, it all makes sense now!

I've got nothing.

by bc56274 on Jun 16, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions

clearly.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 16, 2009 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Sean Rodriguez Stat Snapshot

BA/OBP/SLG

2006: .307/.387/.557 (primarily at Rancho Cucamonga)
2007: .254/.345/.423 (AA)
2008: .306/.397/.645 (AAA)
2009: .273/.355/.634 (AAA)

View more at his B-Ref page.

by Fan Since 1981 on Jun 16, 2009 4:09 AM PDT up reply actions

I recall his starting to catch on

at the end of last year’s stint in the bigs.

by rspencer on Jun 16, 2009 1:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Hit puberty extremely late?

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 15, 2009 11:51 PM PDT up reply actions

For the 2 years I have had my eye on him...

he is a guy with good gap power, quick bat speed. I’m not entirely surprised he has developed more HR power.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 16, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions

He had an A ball season that was very similar to Woods breakout campaign there

Play Wood already. Willits sucks.

by hauldog on Jun 16, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Q for panther

He sits on the bench, Lackey goes 2 pitches.

This is a proven theory.

by neochoa on Jun 15, 2009 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

Figgy Bunny Win

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 15, 2009 10:34 PM PDT reply actions

The bunny

was money

I’m out

Torii Hunter: Best Halo Ever.

by LazorkoRules on Jun 15, 2009 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Gotta love S-rod's HR

RIP NICK ADENHART

by Funke5ive on Jun 15, 2009 10:38 PM PDT reply actions

anyone have video of SRod's homer?

i missed the game, but really wanted to see it

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 15, 2009 10:54 PM PDT reply actions

nvm

got it.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 15, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I think we got a fair assessment of what we will get from S-Rod

1 for 4, GIDP and a HR.

Sounds like what he will be doing once he plays everyday.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jun 15, 2009 10:59 PM PDT reply actions

Don't kill me but..

that Jepsen 3-run shot wasn’t the worst pitch in the world, is was low and Sandoval went down and got it, plus he’s been knocking the cover off a lot of balls. Just saying.

R.I.P Nick

by RexTookMyStash on Jun 15, 2009 10:59 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah

wasnt that terrible of a pitch.

by 27up27down on Jun 16, 2009 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Not a Jepsen fan, but … you are right. Tip your cap, that was a GREAT hit.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 16, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Q for Panther

I like saying that.

Ok, Torii out, Escy out, and Santana banana out. Bullpen up to its old tricks. Pretty typical eh. WTF: Let’s go win anyway.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 15, 2009 11:08 PM PDT reply actions

news from Salt Lake

in Monday’s game, Howie Kendrick went 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk in the Bees’ 8-5 win.

Brandon Wood went 2-4 with a homer (a grand slam) and 4 RBIs. That was his 15th homer in 47 games (179 ABs). He’s hitting .302/.376/.615/.991

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 15, 2009 11:11 PM PDT reply actions

That's pretty damn good numbers for Woody

And wouldn’t you know it, Aybar is playing better as time goes on. What a conundrum.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 15, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Trade Aybar

His value is high right now. Free Brandon Wood!

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Jun 15, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions

his value is high

which means we’ll hold onto him until it’s not. it’s the Angel way, unfortunately.

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 15, 2009 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Truer words were never spoken

I believe it’s an institutional memory, borne of years of watching our great young players go on to excel somewhere else. I can’t say why people who weren’t here back then would be influenced by that, but there it is. Maybe Tim Mead is the real brains of the outfit! Or more like its heart.

by rspencer on Jun 16, 2009 2:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Like Aybar?

Will he go on to excel somewhere else?

We have mucho home grown talent on the Angels. Don’t know where you and howie are coming from. Yeah we lose people ie Krod home grown to free agency, but look how many home grown we got on the team. We’ve built this team on homegrown and the occasional great acquisition (Vlad, Torii, Escy). I know you guys want Woody up, but that’s a different argument.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 16, 2009 2:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Ha ha got carried away and didn't make my point.

Not the brightest light bulb in the closet I admit.

Point is, look how much home grown we choose well. You guys make it seem like we are missing the boat a high percentage of the time on who to trade off early and who to keep. I Don’t think we are mishandling like you’ve stated.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 16, 2009 2:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Huh?

All that has been said here, with some hyperbole, is that the Angels seem reluctant to trade anyone whom the team still may be able to use.

I was talking about the Dante Bichettes and Carney Lansfords of a generation or so ago when I was talking about an institutional memory.

So I don’t think there’s any real disagreement here.

by rspencer on Jun 16, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

We need another Free Brandon Fanpost

I would say 4 will say replace Figgins, 80 replace Aybar, and 9 replace Kendry (with the wrath of Acuda coming down upon them).

Seriously though it’s becoming harder and harder to come up with DIFFERENT scenerios because Figgy, Rivera, Morales etc are playing well. I guess the only thing left is Aybar. And who knows, in two more weeks he could be hitting .320.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 15, 2009 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions

replace Izzy

RIP #34

by linkbruin on Jun 16, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Never!!!!!!!

Please, not Iz. He’s so little and cute.
No, I’m not gay.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 16, 2009 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

It is plain to see why the Dodgers are so far out in front in the NL West.

I can’t decide who is worse, the Giants or the Padres, but I’m leaning toward the Giants.

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 16, 2009 12:35 AM PDT reply actions

did you see the games this weekend?!

the Padres are absolutely horrible – especially without Peavy. Gonzalez is their team.
the Giants have a semi-decent rotation and some interesting young talent (namely Sandoval)

…but seriously, they both really suck. :)

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Jun 16, 2009 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions