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Around SBN: Josh Hamilton's Unique Public Statement On His Addiction

Erick Aybar Bunt HR, Mike Napoli Moonshot Carry Angels Over Diamondbacks

Final Score in Arizona: Angels 2, Diamondbacks 1

With his team down 1-0 in the top of the 6th inning, Angels shortstop Erick Aybar lead off with a bunt single attempt. Nine seconds and Two throwing errors later the score was tied.

With the feather of owning the 4th longest homerun in the history of the D-Backs' home stadium already in his cap, Mike Napoli broke that tie score with just a medium sized bomb to the deepest part of the park in the top of the 9th inning.

Call it an inside the park bunt, a comedy of errors or just another unearned run in a tight pitchers' duel... whatever it was (and the official scoring was a bunt single, a two base error on the throw to 1B and one base error on the throw to 3B) it was a precious run for starter John Lackey, who would not last to receive the decision. Darren Oliver pitched a scoreless 8th and Brian Fuentes followed with the same in the bottom of the 9th for his MLB-leading 21st Save.

"Thunder Mountain" Lackey had 9 strikeouts and looked as good as he has since starting the season two months late with a forearm strain. The Angels have won four straight, but why talk about that when the Fox National Broadcast can parade out the vile Joe Buck and senile Tim McCarver to pimp Fox's upcoming All-Star Game... fellas, as terrible as you are a brodcast duo, I am watching a Saturday baseball game between the Angels and D-Backs, I am stuck with your monopoly on selling advertising in between at-bats, why remind me of how much your stupid corporate "Brand" has molested the beautiful game of baseball?

Results_medium

Poll
Panther of the Game
Erick Aybar
56 votes
Mike Napoli
145 votes
John Lackey
85 votes
Brian Fuentes
5 votes

291 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 51 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Fuentes? Lackey?

Love that we found a way to win this one!

by Brody on Jun 27, 2009 3:47 PM PDT reply actions  

Fuentes did his job

Lackey was good, but the game hinged on Napoli’s bomb.

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Jun 27, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Lackey gave up 0 ER with 9 Ks

That is better than good. Fuentes also has been nails, and he should get credit for shutting down games with 1-run leads, especially on the road where there is no second chance.

This is not to take anything away from Naps. He should definitely be in the conversation as well, and maybe deserves top billing. But Lackey and Fuentes should be voting options.

by Brody on Jun 27, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

AXE

and you shell receibo aqui!!!!!

by Rev Halofan on Jun 27, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

Thanks!

But I already voted for Naps! Oh well, I think he probably deserves it anyway.

by Brody on Jun 27, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good call. You are right about Fuentes.

As per FanGraphs WPA, Fuentes contribution was almost equal to that of Lackey.

Lackey: .299
Fuentes: .209

by Fan Since 1981 on Jun 27, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'll agree with Lackey and Fuentes being a part of the conversation.

But I wouldn’t change my vote from Naps.

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Jun 27, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions  

Nipples

Aybar’s “HR” = Lucky

Napoli’s HR = HUGE

It was nice having a catcher in the lineup who consistantly made good contact, and hey, he called a good game too.

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Jun 27, 2009 3:49 PM PDT reply actions  

Aybar did good by paying attention. But Naps HR won the game.

by angelsfan777 on Jun 27, 2009 3:50 PM PDT reply actions  

My POTG is Lackey - that's my gut feeling

No way the Angels win this one without his performance. His 9 Ks in 7 innings was superb.

Now to go to FanGraphs and check out their POTG (via WPA).

Not close. Maybe that feeling in my gut was the full rack of ribs I ate.

Napoli: .438
Lackey: .299
Fuentes: .209
Aybar: .008

by Fan Since 1981 on Jun 27, 2009 3:55 PM PDT reply actions  

was on the way home from last night's game

but i did get to hear Nappy’s homer… and that was enough for me.

great game last night too. and btw, all-you-can-eat-seats are awesome.

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

by howiestheman on Jun 27, 2009 4:31 PM PDT reply actions  

Didn't see it because I'm in London

(Sorry highland I don’t think I’ll be free) but it seems like aybars hr is like the one in Angels in the Outfield where the crappy guy hits the ball like 5 feet and scores of errors. Maybe we should do the wings whenever aybars up to bat now

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 Jun 27, 2009 4:31 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Wait i was actually at the game!!!

But wasn’t it mark grace annoucing? Hes my favorite color analyst in baseball(not counting scully) This was a great game anyone else there today?

Nick Adenhart.

by WillGoAngels27 on Jun 27, 2009 4:52 PM PDT reply actions  

I was there

as well. There was a very strong Angel representation today. I’d be willing to bet it was not much more than 2-1 Dbacks to Angel fans. Everyone was great today. It is a really good situation we have trying to debate who was better, Naps, Big John and Brian. Most teams would like one performance like that in a game let alone 3. Go halos!

by fack54 on Jun 27, 2009 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

Fox doesn't even compare in badness to ESPN

At least they didn’t spend all their time during Angels at-bats talking about former members of the other team, like ESPN did last weekend with Sandy Koufax (they must have assumed I guess that he was the only current or former player on either club in that game that the viewers would know or care about – or he was the only player on either SoCal team they knew anything about). Mark Grace and his announcer sidekick were much better.

by Fred Fredrix on Jun 27, 2009 5:39 PM PDT reply actions  

NAP TAT
Mike Napoli hit that homerun all the way to Tempe just like I said he would in the gamethread at the very beginning of the game. Amazing! Good outing for Big John with the 9K.

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 27, 2009 6:08 PM PDT reply actions  

Can any one tell me.......HOW is Morales going to get better against LHP if he DOESN'T start?

Q sucks those things on Wipeout, and Morales is an ORIGINAL Right Handed Hitter were he has MORE POWER……But I guess we will never see that cus of Mike Freakin Scioscia. I think Morales is going to have to convert to a full time Left Handed Hitter to play every day.

BTW i give the POTG to Nipples!!!!!

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

by acuda27 on Jun 27, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

I could'nt agree more.

Q must be holding something over Scioscia’s head that would either ruin his marriage, or damage his career in some way. That, or Soth is worried about Kendry’s star rising too quickly and overshadowing Torii and Vlad.

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 27, 2009 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

HAPPY NAPPY!

Doesn’t Q’s swing look like a T-Baller’s swing?

by HALO N BRIMSTONE on Jun 27, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

How?? I'll tell you how!

ON HIS OWN DAMNED TIME, that’s how!! On the job training is for Spring. If there is a lefty on the mound, I want somebody up to bat who already knows how to hit lefties.

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Jun 28, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

(Actually, they are both hitting pretty much the same versus lefties so far this season...)

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Jun 28, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

which begs the question...

why not just give Morales more chances to learn how to hit lefties? why play the Q-Suck? if K-Mo is your full-time first baseman (which he is), you should stick with him and let him learn

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

by howiestheman on Jun 28, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

don't you mean

“E X A C T L Y” ?
hahaha

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

by howiestheman on Jun 28, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

For the same reason that I don't believe

 in sending Mathis up to the plate in order to eventually learn how to hit anything.

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Jun 29, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions  

Hello to first place again LAA........

you’ve been missed……

special thanks to the Fathers down south for dispatching the Strangers…..

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 27, 2009 7:42 PM PDT reply actions  

Bunt HR = Little League Play

The D-Backs RF, Upton, made a HUGE mistake not backing up first base on the pitcher’s throw to try to get Aybar. If Upton backs that up, Aybar gets second base, at most. Then, Upton chucks the ball to third so high that only Manute Bol could have caught it.

Thanks to Upton. He’s the player of the game.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2009 9:04 PM PDT reply actions  

“Unless thats Shaquille O’neal at thrid base that ball is over his head and aybar scores.”
“Renyolds is going to need a Rocket it up his ass to catch that ball”

Nick Adenhart.

by WillGoAngels27 on Jun 27, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

Missed the game.

Aybar with a bunt HR? We must be in a groove.

RIP NICK ADENHART

by Funke5ive on Jun 27, 2009 9:23 PM PDT reply actions  

Or he was playing Mattel’s “Intellivision” baseball game… it would, on rare occasion, allow bunted homeruns. Gotta love early 80’s video game consoles.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2009 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

Missed most of the game returning from Chicago...

…first place all alone looks, smells, and tastes great!!!

This team has endured more challenges to reach the top since Russel Crowe in “The Gladiator”!

by sothball on Jun 27, 2009 10:11 PM PDT reply actions  

anybody have video of the 2006 Napoli homer

that went 470 ft???

i heard that they played it on the telecast, but i couldn’t see the game… i really wanted to see that homer.

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

by howiestheman on Jun 27, 2009 10:17 PM PDT reply actions  

Their "replay"

was typcal terrible Fox camerawork – closeup of the batter, so you only see the swing after the ball has been hit and then it is cut to a long shot of the ball flying in an arc and you never see it land. Then the same thing happens in the 9th inning today. Fox is terrible – they chinse on # of cameras and place wide shots to make life easy on the lazy ass director.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 27, 2009 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

gotcha

i saw the video of today’s homer… couldn’t tell where it hit off the wall. stupid Fox. but i can tell you that 428 (or whatever they estimated it at) is probably conservative.

which general area did the ‘06 homer go to? i was at Chase on Friday, so I’m just trying to get an idea of how far it really went.

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

by howiestheman on Jun 27, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hit halfway up the green.

Little more then halfway closer to the Scoreboard.

Nick Adenhart.

by WillGoAngels27 on Jun 27, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

dang i miss the game

and aybar gets a “home run”?

I hate Jose Guillen. R.I.P. Nick Adenhart, Marquis Cooper

by JoseGuillenSux on Jun 27, 2009 11:14 PM PDT reply actions  

Naps for Panther

Aybar’s little league bunt homer was great. Check out the video on the Angels site of Aybars bunt/score. Check out that woman’s expression about 27 seconds into the video. Ha ha great stuff.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 28, 2009 2:51 AM PDT reply actions  

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