A Day in the Life of Gary Matthews Jr. - A Final Tribute
In the big GMJ to Mets thread, poster Schmidtxc linked an Amazin' Avenue write-up on A Day in the Life of Brian Stokes, the reliever we got in return for GMJ. It was a comedic masterpiece and someone suggested that an HHer should do one on GMJ.
I'm bored so here is my attempt.
7:18 AM - Wake up and begin practicing my "badass mofo from the 1970's" arm swings while doing some light jogging on the treadmill. Man, I look cool.
7:37 AM - Pull out iPhone and watch this video of myself.
7:40 - 8:30 AM - I spend most of my time on a "supplement website" I know I really shouldn't be on. After hovering my cursor over the purchase button for several minutes, my wife comes in. I minimize the window and pull up Halos Heaven.
8:31 AM - An e-mail pops up from Arte Moreno. Weird, he's still asking me about the shipment of HGH that showed up at my house a couple years ago. I thought I told him it was some kind of clerical error by Fed Ex, plus my identity was stolen at the time. I guess Arte's e-mail got hacked.
8:32 AM - I add Arte Moreno to my Spam and Ignore Lists.
9:13 AM - I go to the local BMW dealer and purchase a new 7 Series sedan. It costs about what I made sitting on the bench yesterday.
10:37 AM - I'm going to talk to Mike Scioscia about playing today.
12:48 PM - I drive to the park. The security guys stop me. They're kind of pissed because I keep showing up in a new car every few days. Whatever.
12:52 PM - I can't get to my locker. Vladimir Guerrero's mom has made food for the team again and they put the table in front of it. Jeff Mathis can't get to his locker either.
12:53 PM - Mathis and I grab a plate. Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana are playing FIFA 09 and cussing at each other in Spanish. We sit down to watch.
1:08 PM - Aybar wins. Santana gets so mad that his nose starts bleeding. He stuffs Kleenex in it and storms off.
1:11 PM - I go to Mike's office. He quickly minimizes the Bucca Di Beppo website and pulls up a lineup card. I ask for more playing time. He asks if I'm better than Torii Hunter yet. I have to admit I'm not so I leave.
1:30PM - I go back to the locker room and ask Juan Rivera if he wants his tips bleached. They are looking dull. He does so I oblige.
2:45 PM - They move the food away from my locker just in time for me to get ready for warmups. Mike Butcher is trying unsuccessfully to get John Lackey to breathe through his nose.
3:12 PM - Brian Fuentes refuses to warm up with me because I throw too much harder than him. I end up with Vlad. Strange, I thought he was on the DL.
3:14 PM - Vlad throws the ball into the left field bleachers. I spend the next hour in the stands looking for it while he warms up with Aybar. He thinks it's funny.
4:15 PM - I find the ball and jump back onto the field as they are announcing the starting lineups. The fans cheer because they think I'm Torii Hunter. They are confused when I run back to the dugout swinging my arms. Torii laughs and gives me a high five.
4:24 PM - Mike Napoli arrives in the dugout even though the game started a few minutes ago. He sits down next to me and passes out. He smells like whiskey and Stone IPA. I put my bag under his head so he doesn't get neck cramps.
4:52 PM - I watch this video of myself on my iPhone.
5:40 PM - Torii crashes into the wall making a catch and has to come out of the game. I get to play!
6:23 PM - We're down by two runs and a line drive gets hit to me in deep center. I run to the wall and leap to catch it. I'm going to look awesome!
6:24 PM - I slam into the wall and fall down. The ball hits two feet away from me and rolls away. The runner is going for a triple. Juan Rivera gets the ball and throws the runner out on a no hop throw. Oww! How does Torii do this every day?
6:25 PM - I get charged with an error and Rivera gets an assist. Whatever. I made $1,453,125 on that error. That's like 1/3 of Rivera's salary.
6:41 PM - I get a walk to lead off the 9th and Scioscia gives the signal for me to steal. It's a straight steal.
6:42 PM - Vlad swings anyway and hits a grounder to short. I'm out by 30 feet but I slide hard into the 2nd baseman just for fun. I jog off the field pretending I'm in a 1970's action flick. Vlad laughs.
6:45 PM - Kendry Morales hits a homerun to bring us within one. I'm the first one slapping his helmet when he gets back. I'm good at that.
6:57 PM - Rivera and Howie Kendrick both walk. Scioscia wakes Napoli up and has him pinch hit for Mathis.
6:59 PM - Napoli hits a walkoff homerun to left. I'm the first to slap his helmet too. I jump around for a little with the guys but I'm kinda sore from hitting the wall and sliding.
7:12 PM - I decide to head home early. I don't want to drive so I charter a private helicopter to pick me up. I'll get my car tomorrow or just buy another one.
7:17 PM - I watch this video of myself during my helicopter ride. I'm pretty sure I earned a start tomorrow!
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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Comments
Wow that was a classic
I laughed more than a few times. I especially liked the John Lackey line.
You forgot pray five times at the golden shrine of Bill Stoneman
thanking him for the miraculous bounty.
Thank you, Omar Minaya! Thank you, Mets (Vaughn, GMJ) AGAIN!
You updated your sig didn't you?
Nicely done!
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Jan 27, 2010 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
awesome
I decide to head home early. I don’t want to drive so I charter a private helicopter to pick me up. I’ll get my car tomorrow or just buy another one.
Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. - Peter Gibbons
by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 27, 2010 11:58 AM PST reply actions
haha! im that SOMEONE haha
wow dude my hats off to you lol this was good haha wow!im still cracking up!……Aybar and Santana cussing in spanish lol the bloody nose…..Fuentes lol….. hahahaha……Napoli passing out on the bench lol….this was really good dude…..next time you get bored make one of Lackey haha….or someone else
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Jan 27, 2010 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
A+, Nate
and somehow horrifying
He makes more doing shit exactly like this (sitting on the bench basically) in one day than most people make in a year…
Love the Sosh and “Bucca Di Beppo website” moment—classic.
I think we made some new best friends
So far Amazin’ Avenue is lovin’ this too.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
I laughed...
…but some of it hurt because it cut too close to the bone :)
LOVE IT!
This was, indeed, amazing!
RIP Nick Adenhart.
"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5
GMJ, what are you doing stealing in the bottom of the last with the Halos down by more than one run?
You are not representing the tying run.
Trying and failing to stay out of the Vladdie Double Play?
Rest in peace, Rory. When I think of some of the greatest moments in my Angels fandom, I hear your voice describing them. Thanks for everything you gave us.
I loved...
The part of Vlad throwing the ball in the standa and laughing about it, cuz I can see the smile on Vlad’s face… The Angel fans sure are going to miss him…
I already do.
I hope he kicks ass for the Rangers. Just scared because Andre Dawson entered the Hall of Fame as an Expo. I hope Vlad isn’t thinking the same thing.
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
The player no longer gets to decide
…which team to rep in the HOF.
"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Vlad would enter the Hall as an Expo as well
Undoubtedly.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
I really doubt that...
He won his only MVP award here, really became a superstar and the face of a franchise here, and made his only postseason appearances with us. When people in baseball hear “Vlad” they picture him in an Angel uniform.
Of course, you were probably joking to fool people like me into responding…well done.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Feb 1, 2010 9:53 AM PST up reply actions
No no, if I wanted to fish for replies I would just insult Tim Salmon
or say that Erstad was a pansy.
Lets look at Vlad’s numbers in Montreal:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guerrvl01.shtml?redir
234 of his home runs came in Montreal, good for 55% of his total.
702 of his RBIs came in Montreal, good for 53% of his career total.
123 of his Stolen Bases came as an Expo, 75% of his career total.
Every single one of his OPS 1.000+ seasons came in Montreal.
Three of his four OBP .400+ seasons came in Canada.
He scored 100 or more runs six times. Only one of those as a Halo.
All of his .600+ SLG seasons came as an Expo.
I could go on, but whats the point. The majority of his HoF stats came as an Expo. There would be almost no debate, he isnt going in as an Angel, MVP or not.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Doesn't matter. After the Nolan Ryan debacle the HOF owes me one.
The Expos got their Gary Carter. They are getting their Andre Dawson. I wants me some Vlad wearing a Halo in the HOF. So stop raining on my daydreams.
Had I owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, I could have saved America.
I agree with PhiSlamma
Vlad is definitely going in as an Expo. He only played 5 seasons here. His body of work from his Montreal days is superior
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
We'll see
He was more valuable to the Angels as a whole than he was to the Expos. He reached 300 and 400 homeruns with us as well as some other milestones. And he played 6 seasons here, not 5, just for reference. Does anyone even remember what he looks like in an Expos uniform?
Then again, I don’t put it past baseball execs to make dumb decisions.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Feb 1, 2010 3:38 PM PST up reply actions
How was he more valuable?
He had his most valuable years as an Expo, not wearing red. That is a statistical fact. His MVP year was not his best year, by a lot.
Just because he was on the Expos 7 years ago doesn’t mean the stats he put up there are not valid for some reason.
Those plateaus are completely arbitrary. It doesnt matter who he was playing with when he hit whatever total, its who he was with when he complied the majority of those stats.
Come on man….
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Baseball and the HoF are not merely about stats though
There’s more to it than that. It’s what a player means to his team and what a team accomplishes as a whole. It’s what people were discussing in Raaddad’s thread. That’s the other half of the game.
Vlad quite simply made the Angels an elite team when he showed up. Before 2004 we were considered an average team with brief years of excellence that got lucky in 2002. Vlad literally turned the Angels into a regular playoff attendee. He was the key piece to the puzzle. I’m not kidding either, you can more or less attribute 2-3 of our division titles to Vlad’s presence in the lineup and our pitching staff from 2004 on.
Until Mark Teixiera, Torii Hunter, and more recently Kendry Morales, Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera showed up, we were basically fucked if Vlad wasn’t in the lineup. Teams in the East essentially knew us as “Vlad & Co” until ’08 or ’09.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Feb 1, 2010 4:01 PM PST up reply actions
I agree with all of those points.
The thing is, look at Andre Dawson. He went in as an Expo even though he meant so much to the Cubs.
I think one, maybe two, more years of .800+ OPS Vlad on the Angels would have solidified it. At this point, statistically speaking, there is no justification for Vlad going into the Hall as anything but an Expo.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Grrr...effin' comp
I was trying to add those last two paragraphs and then re-typed the whole post below because none of it showed up on my screen at first.
Anyhow, I don’t think it’s a slam dunk either way. I think we have a good shot and more than enough justification for him to be an Angel. Just depends if the Rob Neyers or Peter Gammons-types are doing the voting or not.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Feb 1, 2010 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
Baseball and the HoF are not merely about stats though (reply fail earlier)
It’s also about what a player means to his team and what a team accomplishes as a whole. It’s why fans watch the game.
Vlad quite literally made the Angels when he showed up. Until 2004, we were known as an average team with periodic years of success that got lucky in 2002. Vlad literally turned us into a regular playoff attendee. I’m not kidding either, you can probably attribute 2-3 of our recent titles to Vlad’s presence in the lineup and our pitching staff from 2004 on. He single-handedly carried the Angels down the stretch and into the playoffs more than once.
Until Torii Hunter, Mark Tiexiera, and more recently Kendry Morales, Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera showed up, we were basically fucked if Vlad was out of the lineup. We were basically known as “Vlad & Co.” to the East Coast until ’08 or ’09 and the more ignorant ones probably sitll look at us that way.
In the end, baseball and the HoF isn’t just about stats, but what those stats meant in the end. He might have had better overall years in Montreal, but his years in Anaheim meant more to baseball and accomplished more in the end.
I’m not saying he’s a slam dunk as an Angel, but I think when you take everything into consideration, he has to go in as an Angel.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Feb 1, 2010 4:11 PM PST up reply actions
You know what I mean
The HoF Committee.
"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter / Part-Time Nemesis of the HH Reply Function
by Commander_Nate on Feb 2, 2010 2:49 PM PST up reply actions
Somehow this made me miss GMJ.
But mostly it made me sad about Vlad.
Rest in peace, Rory. When I think of some of the greatest moments in my Angels fandom, I hear your voice describing them. Thanks for everything you gave us.
Very nice!
Liked the part where vlad throws the ball into the bleachers
Vote Napoli and Hunter for the 2012 election
by M.Napoli For President in 2012 on Feb 7, 2010 10:47 PM PST reply actions

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