THURSDAY ANGELS ROUNDUP: Trevor Bell Makes Debut, Bozo Would Be Proud

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 7:33 AM PDT in News Comment 77 comments

No Bozos!

Angels continue power surge, sweep Rays - FOX Sports on MSN
Gary Matthews Jr. and Howie Kendrick both hit three-run homers in the Angels' latest comeback win. By next week, both might be back on Los Angeles' bench. Such is the prodigious offensive depth of the AL West leaders, who keep finding big hits in the most improbable places.

Angels' Trevor Bell makes a good first impression -- latimes.com
Wednesday, he was the starting pitcher for a team that is now 24 games above .500 and an obvious force to be reckoned with in the postseason. He was going against the American League representative in last season's World Series, a Murderer's Row whose first five hitters were all-stars this year.

Angels withering against West, dominating elsewhere - USATODAY.com
After years of ruling the American League West, they have gone 15-19 against their division rivals this year but still hold a five-game lead on the Texas Rangers.

Team Reports - CBSSports.com
CF Torii Hunter began his minor league injury-rehabilitation assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and went 0-for-2 with a walk while playing five innings in center field. Wednesday, he went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in his second rehab game. He could rejoin the Angels in Baltimore this weekend.

Justin Speier bids a gracious farewell -- latimes.com
A day after being handed his unconditional release, reliever Justin Speier returned to Angel Stadium on Wednesday to publicly express his gratitude to the team's owner and former general manager. "I want to thank Arte Moreno and Bill Stoneman for signing me . . . giving me an opportunity to pitch for the Angels," he said. "It's been a glorious, glorious experience and I've built a lot of relationships along the way."

What a classy guy. Good luck Justin Speier.

Grading debuts on the curve - SweetSpot by Rob Neyer - ESPN
This afternoon, Trevor Bell debuted. He's the 13th pitcher to start a game for the first-place Angels this season, which I suppose is a story in itself. I prefer the story about Bell's grandfather, who for many years was Bozo the Clown. How did Bozo's grandson fare in his first Big Boy League action? Well, it depends on who you ask.

Scioscia says Escobar is likely done - angelsbaseball.com
"At this point, it doesn't seem that way," Scioscia said of the possibility of Escobar returning. "But obviously he's still rehabbing."

Sean Rodriguez drives in seven at Triple-A - angelsbaseball.com
After delivering a two-run single in the first inning, Rodriguez belted a three-run shot to right field in the second and sent a two-run blast over the fence in left in the sixth. When the dust settled, he was 4-for-4 with three runs scored.

Angels' Matthews gets lift from former junior college coach - LA Daily News
Gary Matthews Jr. knew as soon as he left tickets for Dave Mendoza, his former coach at L.A. Mission College would bring a much-needed lift Wednesday.

Steady Scioscia helps Halos persevere - angelsbaseball.com
"Ah, leave me out of it, OK?" Scioscia says, earnestly. "Make this about somebody else. It's the organization that's done this, not me." Leaving Scioscia out of this is like avoiding President Obama in a discussion of the current administration.

August 13 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on August 13.
1995 - Flags fly at half-mast at the stadium as Yankee legend Mickey Mantle dies of liver cancer at the age of 63 in Dallas, Texas.

Remember Snake Cans?

Poll

Greatest kid show of all time (if you're over 40)...

Bozo The Clown

44 votes

Romper Room

52 votes

Wonderama

14 votes

Hobo Kelly

16 votes

Sheriff John

40 votes

166 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Sheriff John...

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 7:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I remember them Creepy/Scary Jack-in-the-Box speakers

by eyespy on Aug 13, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Put another candle on your birthday cake, you're another year old today!

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 13, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Laugh and be happy, and the world will laugh with you.

There’s a line in that song: “A song will make a hatrack look like a Christmas tree.”

My Missouri cousins changed the words to “a Mousie Tree” just to make us laugh, and now I can’t think of that song without those words in it. We were silly kids.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have that song on 78

Just to date myself even more depressingly.

by rspencer on Aug 13, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've got that song on 78

Just to date myself more depressingly.

by rspencer on Aug 13, 2009 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's the 78 part that really dates you. ;-)

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed it is

Even knowing what “78” refers to here dates me. And sorry for the dual posts; Vista decided to restart in the middle of things, and when I signed back on the first post wasn’t showing, so I posted it again.

by rspencer on Aug 14, 2009 1:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had '78s, LPs and '45s.

My old player used to have a 16-2/3 setting. Did anyone ever have a 16-2/3 album?

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 14, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't remember whether they were 33 or 45, but I still have some mini-records that were so small

that you had to disable the pickup-arm return to get them to play. I think they were called pocket records, and they were made of very flexible vinyl.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 16 2/3.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 14, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know what 78s are, I just don't remember any of my childhood records being that speed.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 14, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hobo Kelly...

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 7:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The thing that stands out is

“13 KCOP”

W6G

by Figgi4life on Aug 13, 2009 1:16 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

And it's in COLOR!

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alert the media

W6G

by Figgi4life on Aug 13, 2009 5:52 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I saw Bell ptich for SLC about a month ago...

and it was exactly like the game he pitched against the Rays. Get ahead in the count a whole bunch but not really able to finish off batters consistently. In the game for SLC he also pitched 5 innings of 9 hit ball.

Take away Pena though and the pitched a good game.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Aug 13, 2009 8:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have no memory of Hobo Kelly or Wonderama; I was too old when they were on.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 8:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

same here

But Captain Kangaroo is conspicuously absent

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Aug 13, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I was a bit old for Captain Kangaroo by the time he got to California.

I remember watching it in Kansas City with my cousins, and one of the advertisements was for Alpha Bits, neither of which were available on the West Coast yet. There was a guest performer called The Banana Man, who didn’t talk but sort of hummed and mumbled as he took pieces of wood from his coat and assembled a train with several cars, filling each car with bunches of bananas that he pulled out of his coat. When he had it all put together he “drove” it offstage (or it was pulled off by a cable?). It was quite a feat.

They also had Barbie dolls about two years before the craze hit.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm only about 5 years behind you

but for Kid’s TV, that’s a lifetime. I can never remember Alpha Bits NOT being available. Working for a company that is built around intangibles makes me very aware of national anf regional brands. Sadly (to me anyway), regional brands, much like local TV, are going the way of the DoDo inlarge part due to WalMart, Target and companies like the one I work for.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Aug 13, 2009 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I loved Romper Room

I kept waiting for the chick to say my name with the magic mirror…

it never happened.

I have nothing important to say.

by thrill000 on Aug 13, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I see...

Johnny… I see Julie…I see thrill000.

There. You can die happy now.

by The Clyde on Aug 13, 2009 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had a Romper Room drum.

Hey la, hey, Halo...

by 44FAN on Aug 13, 2009 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't remember any of those shows

but I remember Captain Kangaroo

by Fred Fredrix on Aug 13, 2009 8:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sheriff John was a local Los Angeles show that ran from 1952 to 1970.

In LA We watched Engineer Bill, Beany & Cecil (the puppets), Skipper Frank, Tom Hatten, and Chucko the Birthday Clown; Bozo came a little later. Photos and a really good video clip at link, below:
http://www.tvparty.com/lostlachucko.html

There was also Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, and The Howdy Doody Show.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember Kukla Fran and Ollie

they were on some Saturday specials for CBS. And I only remember Beany and Cecil the Sea Serpent as a cartoon.

by eyespy on Aug 13, 2009 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

a bob clampet car

toooooooooooooooooooooooon!

by Rev Halofan on Aug 13, 2009 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I went to high school with his son...

…Bob, Jr. He was a wild dude…got kick-ed out sophomore year, IIRC.

by sothball on Aug 13, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was wrong, it was called "Time for Beany" and ran from 1949 to 1955.

When they made it into a cartoon they renamed it Beany & Cecil, and that’s what almost everyone had called the puppet show.

Stan Freberg was one of the voices.

My kids saw an old Kukla, Fran, and Ollie show from the 1950s, sometime in the 1990s and they were amused that the humor was a bit more adult than most of the shows they grew up with.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My brother was a guest on Sheriff John in 1962

bit he had a speech impediment and spent most of his time in the Jail just smiling through the bars the entire show.

Local television before the cable revolution was both a revelation and awful often at the same time

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Aug 13, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm too young to have seen Time for Beany

but I remember The Pancake Man, played by Hal Smith (Otis from The Andy Griffith Show). Also Mr. Wishbone, who had various shows on (I think) KHJ. There was also a Daphne (some sort of “good witch”, I think) who had a Hobo Kelly-like show later on, but I was too old for these shows.

When I was very young, my family lived in San Jose, and they had a really great show called The Mayor Art Show. My brother was on it, and he won a really neato Märklin building set that he never let me play with.

by rspencer on Aug 13, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember Mr. Wishbone and his talking flower.

In fact, I went down to see him when he made an appearance at our local dairy (in Bellflower).

Are there still drive-thru dairies around?

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thin that there's still an Alta-Dena drive through in Orange on Tustun

Stirrups?

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Aug 13, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couple around Lakewood/Long Beach/Downey

by mattwelch on Aug 13, 2009 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's an Alta Dena drive-thru in Canoga Park (Fallbrook and Saticoy).

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 13, 2009 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

they just reopened a drive thur dairy in Chino

by salmonforever on Aug 13, 2009 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and how could I have forgotten about Billy Barty's kids' show?

That was big too (no pun intended). I saw him at a personal appearance at Phil’s Market in Verdugo City.

by rspencer on Aug 14, 2009 1:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baby Daphne's Cartoon Castle

I loved this show. A wacky, groovy pyschedelic witch It was very much a product of it’s time (late 1960s). Check out the hip theme music… http://www.tvparty.com/lostladaphne.html .

Sheriff John was great too.

by Zaius on Aug 13, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for refreshing my memory!

by rspencer on Aug 14, 2009 1:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

in neyer’s article he switches felix hernandez’s name to rodriguez randomly and

R.I.P. #34
R.I.P. JJ
W6G...Go Halos!!

by sctrojan13 on Aug 13, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

calls him that twice

espn is just getting embarassing

R.I.P. #34
R.I.P. JJ
W6G...Go Halos!!

by sctrojan13 on Aug 13, 2009 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In the Islands we had

The Checkers and Pogo Show

Checkers hated kids, even in real life. The rumor was when they called kids up for games, and such. Checkers like a stealth Ninja would pinch the ones that he thought would cause trouble on air, live show, to make them cry ,and then have a new one come on stage for the “test”.

Checkers even told me to “F-Off Kid” when we seen him at the local Sizzlers. We knew he was in there because of the Checkers Mobile.

Speed Racer, Clutch Cargo, Deputy Dawg, Fearless Fly, all the violent cartoons including Loony Tunes, and Merrie Melodies.

by eyespy on Aug 13, 2009 9:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

great space coster!!!

by surfpunk on Aug 13, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Dusty's Treehouse anyone?

I always wanted the guy from Wonderama (broadcast on Sundays while we were all getting ready for church) to show up to Dustys Tree house, with the goofballs form the New Zoo Review (coming right at you!) for like a party or just chillaxin but it never came to pass.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 13, 2009 10:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I loved Dusty's Treehouse

Although I barely remember it. And that puts me in mind of Brother Buzz, for some reason. Anyone remember that? And a show with a claymation boy and his dog, which was gently religiously-themed—I’m blanking on the name right now, but it was funny.

by rspencer on Aug 14, 2009 1:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Davy and Goliath

“I don’t know, Day-VEE”

by WiHaloFan on Aug 14, 2009 6:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Neyer's blog

Hard to believe Neyer would devote so much space to a comment from Gubicza which entailed maybe 1.4 seconds’ worth of thought from him, but…

Let’s take a look at Bell:

-Began 2008 pitching in Low-A Orem
-Began this season pitching in AA Little Rock
-Made his pro debut against the reigning AL Champs
-Played before 100 or so members of family and friends (something which has caused many an Anaheim debut to spin, crash and burn, like Phil Hughes)

With all of this, he kept his team in the game, spotted a lot of first-pitch strikes, and recovered well from the neck pain from watching a couple of Pena home runs.

An “8” doesn’t describe his future, just how he performed in this one game. As such, I think an 8 is a valid score to give to Bell.

by George Kaplan on Aug 13, 2009 10:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, it was a day game, and the ball was jumping

by mattwelch on Aug 13, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Random thought...

They have been talking about the current pace of the MLB schedule and how that the current rate, the World Series would take place in early November.

I’m thinking that this can only mean that it will be a SoCal World Series right? I mean this shit is all rigged anyway!

God needed a starter. RIP #34

by 3rd Echelon on Aug 13, 2009 10:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ESPN is sacrificing the young of their junior staff currently...

…praying for a Yankees / Dodgers series.

They shall be denied.

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 13, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

pace?

pace? never really heard that term used before

the regular season schedule is the schedule. are they talking about every series going the maximum number of games, any additional one-game playoffs (if those even exist anymore) or what? seems presumptuous at best, but if it happened I’d take it… like you said, So Cal weather.

"This is a guy who is a combination of great courage and nuts."- Steve Physioc

by Brian S (brianguy) on Aug 13, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love how the girl wins a jar of peanut butter

We are the Los Angeles Angels of the late 2000s

by Higz on Aug 13, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Captain Kangaroo?

Hey la, hey, Halo...

by 44FAN on Aug 13, 2009 12:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was going for local (SoCal) kids' shows.

The Captain was on nationwide.

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So was Romper Room...

Hey la, hey, Halo...

by 44FAN on Aug 13, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was it?

I didn’t know that. Same with Wonderama. As a kid, I thought everything originated from my neighborhood. At least anything shown on channels 5, 9, 11, or 13.

by WiHaloFan on Aug 13, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was Bozo local?

Wonderama started back East and went national.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Aug 13, 2009 2:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought Bozo

started in Chicago, then went national

We're putting the band back togehter.

by billhune on Aug 13, 2009 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As I understand it there were local Bozo franchises at one point

But I don’t know whether the show we got in LA was local or nationally syndicated. I do recall that the Bozo that dd the show we had here was Larry Harmon.

And Romper Room was national. We had it in San Jose too. Do be a do bee!

by rspencer on Aug 14, 2009 1:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Larry Harmon

Once ran half-seriously for President. His slogan was “Put the REAL Bozo in the White House”.

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 14, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awwwww...

All you geezers are so cute the way you reminisce in your Way-Back-Machine.

Apologies in advance.

by Red114 on Aug 13, 2009 2:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pac-Man will come back to bite you in the ass.

Hey la, hey, Halo...

by 44FAN on Aug 13, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get off of my lawn, y'darned kid!

Rassum fassum mumble grumble… darned kids today… no respect, I tell you.
Why back in my day, we had to walk 15 miles to go see a baseball game… in a raging snowstorm…. uphill… both ways!
But did we complain? No… because we had values and respected our elders….

Now what was I a-sayin’ ag’in?

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 13, 2009 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs