Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Full Coverage of 2012 Coke 600

Angels in Sole Possession of First Place!

Final Score in Arlington: Padres 7, Rangers 3

The Angels at 40-32 are a half game ahead of the Texas for SOLE POSSESSION of first place in the American League West.

Alone in FIRST PLACE After these Tragic Twelve Facts:

  1. Promising rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart dies in a tragic accident after 3rd game of season
  2. Ervin Santana has a sprained TJ Ligament, misses two months, pitches in six games and is back on the DL
  3. John Lackey misses two months with a forearm strain, and is barely getting into form at the mid-season mark
  4. Kelvim Escobar makes it back into 1 game after shoulder surgery, goes back on the DL
  5. Twelve pitchers have started for the Angels this season
  6. DH Vladimir Guerrero misses over 30 games with a strained pectoral muscle, returns just in time to sit for NL parks
  7. Howie Kendrick, the opening day 2Bman is sent down to the minors after batting almost 100 points lower than his career average in over 50 games.
  8. Longtime reliable setup reliever Scot Shields is out for season with knee surgery
  9. Fan Dies on opening night on stadium steps after altercation
  10. Off-duty policeman shoots, wounds two in parking lot melee in late June
  11. Of 22 Angels pitchers appearing in an Angels uniform this season, only 7 have ERAs under 4.00: Adenhart (RIP), Escobar (DL), Sean O'Sullivan, Darren Oliver, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver started the day there and Brian Fuentes went below 4 in his one inning of work Saturday.
  12. We started the season 6 - 11

Basically it has been Torii Hunter, Weaver, Chone Figgins, Saunders, Bobby Abreu, Mike Napoli and Brian Fuentes... but... can you BELIEVE it?

Poll
Can You Believe It?
Yes, I have faith
237 votes
No, I am shocked
36 votes
Kinda, I hoped this would happen but figured it would take longer
94 votes

367 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 36 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Yeah Baby!

There’s been some disheartening games and some great ones too. You can’t say this season hasn’t been interesting….

by Monkeyspanked on Jun 27, 2009 8:02 PM PDT reply actions  

Far be it for ME of all people to point this out...

But technically, the Angels have SEVEN pitchers below a 4 ERA. Brian Fuentes joined the ranks of above average as of this very evening. ;-P

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Jun 27, 2009 8:02 PM PDT reply actions  

Skoold by Zu

I will change that – BB-Ref is updated every morning, I should know better…

by Rev Halofan on Jun 27, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

What a long, strange trip it's been

and you can quote me.

As a rule, when you see a team that has started 12 different pitchers before July, you assume the team is a train wreck. But the organization’s pitching depth has been phenomenal.

by rspencer on Jun 27, 2009 8:04 PM PDT reply actions  

Yes - We - Can

This season has been a struggle from the git go and I believe that it will continue to be so. It will be during these times that the character of guys like Torii become so important and why he is worth every penny.

This season just seems jinxed. If it can go wrong, it does

by Moondoggy on Jun 27, 2009 8:21 PM PDT reply actions  

I doubted the Halos would get back to first this quickly. I was fairly sure they’d get back there, but I thought it would be a push in August. What a response by this team. Let’s not forget that even if they go back out of first by a few games here, they have what it takes to take this division. Believe.

How deep they go in the playoffs on the other hand ……..

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2009 8:54 PM PDT reply actions  

How deep they go depends mostly on how well our bullpen plays from here on out.

If Bulger can continue to get together, and Speier and Fuentes can keep up performances roughly similar to what they’ve done in June, we might be in fairly good shape for the playoffs. Our offense as it stands right now could be the deepest we’ve had since 2002, easily. If Howie comes back as his old .320 hitting self, so much the better. Our starting staff gets shrunk anyway, and we appear to have Lackey, Weaver, Saunders at the very least, with the only question mark being if Santana will be ready to rock by September, or if we have to throw out Palmer/Nacho once a series.

There’s a lot of baseball yet to play of course, and there are some fairly big IFs up there, so we’ll know more once we get there. But overall, I’d say we’ve got as good a shot as we’ve had in a long time. And as I said, I feel like I’ve got more confidence in this offense than any we’ve had in a long time. We’ve got 5 legit power threats in this lineup, and it’s been a long while since you could say that.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Jun 27, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

The only thing I worry about with the offense is......

once the calendar strikes July……….will they continue to produce…….or will it be like season(s) pasts and a great offensive month is followed by an unbearably bad offensive month.

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 27, 2009 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm with Zu...

…Scioscia has a knack for squeezing offensive blood from the turnip that has been the Angels offense the last 3-4 seasons. This year, the offense has improved enough.

Offense will not be the greatest issue. It will be pitching, especially relief pitching. If we make any trades, I hope it’s for a solid reliever. If we had last year’s bullpen, we’d be on our way to another 100 win season.

by sothball on Jun 27, 2009 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Something else to consider regarding our bullpen...

Come playoff time, we really only need to go three deep when it comes to starting pitchers. That would allow us to shore up the injuries/crappiness with the likes of Ervin(if hes still not 100 percent), Loux, Moseley, and or Nacho/Palmer…

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jun 28, 2009 2:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

blowing my quota for the month. FUUUUCCCCKKKK YEAAAHHHHHHH

Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!

by teopeht on Jun 27, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions  

And Number 13....

…. we’ve also played the toughest schedule in the Majors, according to ESPN.

by mattwelch on Jun 27, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

I also think losing Arredondo (performance and now injury) should be on the list … he was a cog in that ’pen last year.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Jun 27, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

wow

Spaced on the Dondo – losing what he gave the Pen last year is worse than losing what Howie gave the offense last year.

by Rev Halofan on Jun 27, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hey.

If Miss Halofan is being mistaken for Jaclyn Smith, I’d be distracted too!

by sothball on Jun 27, 2009 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions  

WIN Gold Leaf Frame

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 27, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

+1

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 27, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

This has become a special season

We are right where we should be atop the AL West. We have a huge opprotunity this week to put a few games in between us and Texas. I feel that interleague play couldn’t have come at a better time for the Angels this year, especially since we had the weak NL West this year that the Rangers for some reason couldn’t handle. If the remainder of the season is a wire-to-wire battle with Texas for the pennant, we can thank our interleague record for getting us there. Can’t wait to see how the season unfolds. LETS GO HALOS!

They should rename Angel Stadium to "Heaven"

by ryanb517 on Jun 27, 2009 10:46 PM PDT reply actions  

I, trojanangelfan, believe

So far this season has been entertaining, frustrating as well, to say the least

2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick

by trojanangelfan on Jun 27, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions  

I'm gonna be honest

With Sosh at the helm, I am no longer surprised by any success this team enjoys.

RIP #34

by linkbruin on Jun 27, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions  

Amazing

I know it is a little early to celebrate, but the past few weeks have made a believer out of me.

NA 34

by blochead on Jun 27, 2009 11:17 PM PDT reply actions  

Anybody else noticing

how many more Angel fans there are at the away games recently? Back in the day we had enough trouble filling our own stadium now we are starting to build our own Halo nation! Go Halos!

Do you think there would be enough interest to organize an HH halo roadtrip?

2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick

by trojanangelfan on Jun 28, 2009 12:27 AM PDT reply actions  

Isnt that what the Vegas trip was for?

2008 ALL STAR Vegas TRip

BTW I wonder if there is a 2009 version in the works?

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 28, 2009 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

aw i want to do this

Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!

by teopeht on Jun 28, 2009 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

I gots the faith, baby

I got it good, and I got it strong.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 28, 2009 2:41 AM PDT reply actions  

2009 Payroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team as it combines for 4 bases worth of errors and turns a bases empty bunt into the game tying score: $73,516,666

2009 Salary of one Erick Aybar who, as Fox Sports so desparately wishes were true, should be stuck on 1st base: $460,000

Realization that you are the owner of front-row season tickets to one of the most miserable excuses of a professional sports enterprise: PRICELESS.

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 1:08 PM PDT reply actions  

Her expression is just perfect.

My husband noticed it and backed up the DVR to show it to me.

.... as sexy as socks on a rooster.

by opiejeanne on Jun 28, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

I know I haven't been around a lot this season,

but I never lost faith that this team would get things together. We’re up 1.5 games going into Texas, where we have a huge opportunity to get control of this division. Stay hot fellas, still more than half a season to go.

#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!

by TheOptimist on Jun 28, 2009 7:56 PM PDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Halos Heaven is the Number #1 Angels Fan Blog according to QUANTCAST. Our Angels Fan Site is YOUR Angels Fan Community!

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Morales-mainx-large_small
Albert Pujols – A Man of Faith
Small
Summation of the Angels 2012 season so far
Sinatra2_small
Sign the petition to end "Buttercup"

Recent FanPosts

Quadfin_small
The Coolest Non-Angels Website You'll Ever Visit
Kendry_morales_small
The Most Frightening Word in Baseball: "Rebuilding"
Avatar_small
By The Numbers: MLB Starting Pitchers
Small
Angel Games Boring?
Angelmike_small
Terry Smith. You make the call.
Nick_small
Are the Angels the anti-Rangers?
Wrigley_field_small
A Serious top 5 of why Pujols is below the Mathis line.

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Yahoo_full_count

Leaders of the Free World

4323_1105939621665_1622022962_290465_5300842_n_small Rev Halofan

Mostinterstingman_small cupie

Tn96_small WiHaloFan

Whammy10_small blast21dave

Fearless Crew

N1222371_8709_small scottnak

Halos2_small Stirrups

Anarangels_small Mayheminthehood

Cant-tell-if-trolling-or-just-very-stupid_small linkbruin

Avatar_small rghan

Alternate-club-logo-no-highlight1_small RexTookMyStash

Celebrity Chefs

306996053509_0_0_small PhiSlamma

Angelsbathroom_small mattwelch

Angels_ywc_album_small yeswecan

34_adenhart_small RallyMonkey5

Userpic-105-100x100_small Suboptimal

The_prior_art_cover_small Turks Teeth