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Angel Bats Take A Halladay Against Blue Jays

Los Angeles Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays' Roy Halladay during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Canada, Tuesday, June 2, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

More photos » by NATHAN DENETTE - AP

5 months ago: Los Angeles Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays' Roy Halladay during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Canada, Tuesday, June 2, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)


Final Score in Toronto:  Blue Jays 6, Angels 4

 

In the first game of a nine-game road trip, the Halos sent Joe Saunders against Toronto's ace Roy Halladay.  Angel fans were hoping for Saunders to step up his game as he did against Zack Greinke when he shutout the Royals last month.  However, it was Halladay who stepped it up, striking out a career high 14 batters while throwing 133 pitches.

Saunders lasted into the 6th inning before giving way to Rich Thompson, but not before giving up 6 runs on 9 hits.  Saunders didn't throw as bad as his pitching line would suggest, as two of the four extra-base hits he gave up were hard groundballs that rolled all the way to the Rogers' Centre outfield wall (another being a long home run by Jose Bautista) and another run was helped out by an error by left fielder Gary Matthews.

The Angels loaded the bases with none out in the 7th and were able to score runs on a Kendry Morales single, a wild pitch and sacrifice flies by Maicer Izturis and Mike Napoli

Although he gave up four runs, Halladay consistantly took advantage of the free-swinging Halos, striking out Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews 3 times apiece on his way to a complete game, 14 strike out performance.

One bright spot for the Angels was the hitless relief provided by Rich Thompson and Jason Bulger.  The two relievers went 2.1 scoreless innings in hopefully the beginning of a much needed bullpen shot-in-the-arm.

Poll
Blame Of The Game
Joe Saunders
77 votes
Howie Kendrick
98 votes
Gary Matthews
75 votes

250 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 43 comments |

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Comments

Display:

Howie needs to be sent down...

His act is tired, we need players that can count to three.

I've got nothing.

by bc56274 on Jun 2, 2009 6:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Are you saying he can't count to three strikes?

Because there’s plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise….

by mattwelch on Jun 2, 2009 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah....he's got that down pat.

I just hate mental mistakes.

He needs a wakeup call.

I've got nothing.

by bc56274 on Jun 2, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's it right there.

All the chatter about Howie at the plate MUST include the obvious brain farts that are “Howie In The Field”. What had been bone-headedness on defense, has now spread to bone-headedness on the basepaths. It’s a simple thing: knowing the situation. Currently, for whatever reason, this is too much for Howie. 27,000 people present, and only 1 who did not know how many outs.

(P.S. – per Rev’s time on AM830 Monday night, I seem to recall that the notion of Howie becoming a League batting champ originated from the Halo coaches. It did not from overly high fan expectations. The fans merely followed.)

Brandon Wood is slated for 2010, and no amount of whining by us is gonna change that. So evolve, already!

by Stirrups on Jun 2, 2009 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There has to be more to the story

It’s just too easy to clamor to “send the guy to SLC”, management needs to find out (if they don’t know already) what has changed with Howie. He’s been playing on the major league team since 2006. His lowest batting average during that time was .285, the lowest OBP was .314, the lowest OPS .730. His performance in 2009 is such an aberration when compared to the prior three seasons that there has to be something physically, mentally, or emotionally wrong with him.

There has to be more to the story than is publicly known. Let’s give the guy the benefit of the doubt until there’s more information.

by mustard_man on Jun 3, 2009 3:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The colonel was too crispy tonight.

6 runs in 5+ innings is not good enough.

Howie finally gets another hit, and to celebrate he…forgets the number of outs? Ouch.

by sothball on Jun 2, 2009 6:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Lose screwing

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 2, 2009 6:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

How about both?

Halladay made our bats look like they were riveted to our asses…we’re so screwed.

by sothball on Jun 2, 2009 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

3 k's, excellent D,

  and the winner is GMJ!
    Stoneman must a been very hung over the day he inked that contract

by Big Bad, 'Vlad'! on Jun 2, 2009 6:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My pathetic attempt

RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09

by vlad IS my man on Jun 2, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Now I'm just pissed off.

This team isn’t bad, they’re just mediocre. That pisses me off more than anything.

The time is out of joint; oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right.

by chairmanofthebar on Jun 2, 2009 7:15 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i didn't watch the game

but i was wondering doesn’t Halladay make everyone look mediocre

by HALO_86 on Jun 2, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

25 and 25 = Mediocrity

The time is out of joint; oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right.

by chairmanofthebar on Jun 2, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Everything! lol

"If I was still pitching, I would stick one right in his ear..." Goose Gossage

by angelskid2210 on Jun 2, 2009 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

NO.

There a several other guys to chose as bad offensive influence on the Angels, right now. Dont blame Aybar.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jun 2, 2009 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Like...

Howie Kendrick
Juan Rivera

Who else?

by 27up27down on Jun 2, 2009 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Johnny Rivers?

wtf? that guy has been nails lately, why would you include him?

World Series '09 - In Memory of #34 Nick Adenhart!

by b0rd3rline on Jun 3, 2009 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It is kind of sad when you

turn on the radio and you hear the other team has two or three runs and you say oh well we’re losing. Why? because we can’t score unless we get 5 to 6 hits in an inning. We only hit singles and it is getting depressing.

"If I was still pitching, I would stick one right in his ear..." Goose Gossage

by angelskid2210 on Jun 2, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes it is.

Slapstick singles are not as satisfying as bombs.

by 27up27down on Jun 2, 2009 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Justin is My Favorite 'N Sync Member

If only Speier had started the game, we would’ve won.

by ttsec on Jun 2, 2009 8:19 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Tada...


Figgins is not terrible, but he has the qualifications to be head of board, if such a club exists.

by 27up27down on Jun 2, 2009 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

as a leadoff hitter I am fine with that...

Plus, he has speed. So he gets to 2nd more often than not.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jun 2, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

True.

But he slapstick singles are his forte, so good or not, he will be head of board as of now.

by 27up27down on Jun 2, 2009 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I swear...

If they gave points out for hitting a ball as close as possible to a defender, the Angels would rule this league.

Maybe Mr. Hatcher needs to think beyond the concept of merely hitting a ball, but actually placing a ball. I know hitting is not easy, but geez.

Heck, I heard the Little League coach discussing ball placement with his boys at my local park.

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Jun 2, 2009 8:54 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i think the league has figured us out

we swing at junk, we hit a bunch of singles, our BP is getting hit and the power sources are few and far between. frustrating beyond belief how many team wide offensive funks we’ve gone through.

well, texas lost i believe so there’s that. sigh….

by SCHalo on Jun 2, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

McPherson Kicks ASS!!!!

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Jun 3, 2009 3:22 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

As bad as it looked with the 14K’s … the Halos managed 4 runs against Halladay. Hopefully, they can bring that positive over to today. Mental mistakes are unacceptable.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 3, 2009 8:15 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I blame Sosh

Its easy to blame him any time he starts GMJr., but especially true with this game. 3 k’s, another horrible play in the field… why does this guy ever start ahead of Rivera? Cuz he’s a lefty? A lot of good that did him against Doc. There is no showcasing for a trade (no one wants him) and no keeping him fresh (he’s going to be horrible anyways). Just keep this dude out of the lineup unless its absolutely necessary.

by dmhead on Jun 3, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Apparently it's because

Juancho is 0-for-whatever against Doc.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jun 3, 2009 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Silver lining of being o-fer…. you can only improve your batting average! ;)

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 3, 2009 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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