Angels 14 Game Road Trip Starts With a Bang!
by Rev Halofan on May 31, 2010 1:54 PM PDT
in Angels Postgame
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PrintFinal Score in Kansas City: Angels 7, Royals 1
Ervin Santana pitched 7 innings of 1-Run ball, striking out 6, Mike Napoli hit a 2-run homer, Juan Rivera got the scoring started with a solo shot and Maicer Izturis tapped the foul pole for a roundtripper later in the game. After Rivera's blast, Howie Kendrick hit a run-scoring double and later added an RBI single. It added up to a Memorial Day to remember for the Angels as they climbed to within one game of .500 just a day shy of the official 1/3 mark of the season.
Scott Boras darling Luke Hochevar was mediocre on the mound for the '85ers and Angel pariah Jose Guillen struck out 3 times, delightful icing on the victory cake.
Six Postgame Questions:
- Is "Musical Chairs" the answer to the Angels' 1B dilemma?
- Was Kevin Jepsen's 11-pitch striking out the side the most awesome display of pitching this season so far or is the caveat that these are, after all, the Royals?
- Are Mike Napoli and Howie Kendrick destined to stay that far down in the batting order?
- Is the Juan Rivera winter of discontent about to thaw or was Hochevar's meatball fatter than a snowman's midsection?
- A month ago, the question was whether Torii Hunter had lost a step in the outfield... Has he lost two steps?
- Would Scot Shields pitch a 1-2-3 inning if he were released and joined Eric Byrnes' softball team?
To make it even nicer, three RBIs came with two outs, including both Kendrick klutchers. The Angels had 4 doubles in the game and 2 stolen bases. Neither team hit a triple in the contest.
We had a crazy little GAME THREAD today...
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just a great game!
Now lets keep on rollin’…
Hey you! What are horse mackerel!
Hey, the chair are sailing! You believe that I am toad of the month!
(Yes, that WAS K-Rod's entry music, translated)
by infant on May 31, 2010 2:01 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
More good news in Cedar Rapids
Garrett Richards: 6 IP, 0 ER, 11K’s
Trout: 2 for 3, 1R
Haerther: 3 for 3, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Even better, 11 Ks and NO walks, plus a pickoff.
Yep, looks like Richards is starting to put it all together. I’d like to see him face stronger competition in a few weeks.
Peculiar that they promoted the much younger Arenas over Richards to Rancho — his first appearance there was a disaster.
At Arenas Game
he was bad
gave up a big homerun and was not showing much speed on his pitches
"Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless" - Kenny Powers
Org philosophy seems to be
TO not disrupt the continuity of playing on one place for prospects they are more committed to. Post-All-Star promotion to Rancho for Trout and Richards is possible, but the jump ups are guys they are challenging to produce not ones they are convinced will produce.
It makes perfect sense to me in terms of the HS players.
But Richards has three years of college ball under his belt, and is 22. Usually you draft college arms because you intend to place them higher in the organization at get them to show more quickly.
Richards clearly has special developmental needs — his stuff is incredible, but he’s never been able to put it all together. Perhaps the organization feels their best pitching instructors are at Cedar Rapids, and don’t want to put too much pressure on GR just as he’s having some success.
So, you have have a problem with the French, no?
I'm wearing a "Markas" patch on my sleeve this season.
by Rally Manatee on May 31, 2010 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Everyone has a problem with the French...
…or is that just on this side of the pond?
I see red people
Not that there's anything WRONG with that
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
I was trying to quote that Jack in the Box commercial.
The old one for Natural Cut Fries, not French Fries. It’s funny, but I couldn’t find a link.
I'm wearing a "Markas" patch on my sleeve this season.
by Rally Manatee on Jun 1, 2010 4:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Yep
Lead organizer of the annual 7 round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator
by TheAngelsColts on May 31, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
It's becoming more and more painfully obvious...
Morales was just holding this juggernaut of a team down.
I've got nothing.
Some of these guys just need to be forced to take responsibility...
…same last year when Torii and Vlad went down.
Would be nice if they could do it without the gun to their head
I see red people
Post Game Question #1
“Musical Chairs” is Soth’s putting on the appearance he is giving everybody a fair chance to try out to be the first baseman before he hands the job over to Q permanently until Kendry comes back.
I'm not as bad as all of you.
Whatdah yah mean ...
“the Q” is already penciled in as the #1 first baseman on the depth chart in Scioscia’s office. It’s just the past few games Rob didn’t feel like putting on his uniform. He made Mike take his name off the line-up card.
You guys are all fools to think that Mike, Tony, or even Arte, run this team. It’s all taken care of by the Don Qui.
Naps for panther
Not only did he hit like a demon, but he helped turn the season around yesterday by picking up his first base glove like it warn’t no thing, THEN caught the pitcher Sosh hasn’t let him touch for a couple seasons now, and proved that Meneo can dominate without Jeff Mathis. Topped it off by coaxing genius from Jepsen & respectability from Shields.
Napoli’s starting to take over….
by mattwelch on May 31, 2010 2:20 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I thought he threw one out yesterday...
in a strike ’em out throw ’em out double play.
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Jun 1, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I dont care what they say
Napoli is no MotherF***er
"Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless" - Kenny Powers
it feels good to feast on the weak.
Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!
by norcaliangelsfan on May 31, 2010 2:51 PM PDT reply actions
Oh hey look at that roll-call
Good game… Nap is BEAST and this kind of offense isn’t just flukey because of the pitching, we were working good counts today, hitting the ball well.
FEELS GOOD MAN.
JIMMY-JACK.
Did I miss the feel good game of the year?
Somewhere, right now, Mickey Hatcher is ruining a swing.
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on May 31, 2010 3:03 PM PDT reply actions
You missed a jem by Rojas.
While talking about the history of Kauffman stadium Rojas and Gubi explained how they both still refer to it as “Royals Stadium.”
Rojas said (not verbatim): “this stadium has had so many face-lifts…they should call it Cougar Stadium.”
It's Always Somethin'
POTG to Napoli
Aside from his offensive contributions, Napoli has now caught Santana, the pitcher who used to refuse to throw to him, in his 3 best games this season, 2 CGs and 1 ER in 7 today. Plus, a strike-em-out-throw-em-out DP. Looks to me like Nap’s defense is improving a bunch at the same time as his bat is heating up. If Sosh goes back to platooning when Mathis is back, I might consider becoming a Padres fan exclusively.
I'm wearing a "Markas" patch on my sleeve this season.
POTG = Santana
1. Don’t know
2. Don’t know
3. Keep Howie at the bottom part of the lineup forever
4. He’s a 2nd halfer
5. Nah
6. Don’t know
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM LEFT ON THE MIKE NAPOLI BANDWAGON
Just form a line to your right, don’t crowd, and all the hot girls up front.
I'm not as bad as all of you.
as the shotgun holder on that wagon i feel proud to say
we are so getting laid
"Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless" - Kenny Powers
Six Postgame Questions:
1. Is “Musical Chairs” the answer to the Angels’ 1B dilemma? YES, UNTIL WOOD/MATHIS RETURN.
2. Was Kevin Jepsen’s 11-pitch striking out the side the most awesome display of pitching this season so far or is the caveat that these are, after all, the Royals? THESE ARE THE ROYALS, BUT YES!
3. Are Mike Napoli and Howie Kendrick destined to stay that far down in the batting order? PROBABLY AS BOTH ARE STREAKY!
4. Is the Juan Rivera winter of discontent about to thaw or was Hochevar’s meatball fatter than a snowman’s midsection? IT’S ALMOST JUNE, JUARNING TRACK WILL HEAT UP.
5. A month ago, the question was whether Torii Hunter had lost a step in the outfield… Has he lost two steps? YUP
6. Would Scot Shields pitch a 1-2-3 inning if he were released and joined Eric Byrnes’ softball team? NO CHANCE IN SOFTBALL, BETTER CHANCE WITH ANGELS
Nice to put all facets together today. I recognized this team. Having Gazoo back makes a world of difference…who knew?
How is Wood possibly the answer to 1B?
Can’t we all just accept that he is a bust already? The only reason the FO is giving him chance after chance is they have invested a few million dollars into him.
BTW, he is not injured.
by Wally's World on May 31, 2010 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions
No
because two months is not even one full season. It’s not looking good, obviously, but he still does not even have 400 AB at the major league level. There are plenty of decent baseball players who’ve had slumps before. If he gets to 600 PA and shows no improvement, then maybe you have a point. Maybe. Purely by accident.
surveys.
1. Is “Musical Chairs” the answer to the Angels’ 1B dilemma? Yes, but how about a merry-go-round?
2. Was Kevin Jepsen’s 11-pitch striking out the side the most awesome display of pitching this season so far or is the caveat that these are, after all, the Royals? Later.
3. Are Mike Napoli and Howie Kendrick destined to stay that far down in the batting order? Yes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
4. Is the Juan Rivera winter of discontent about to thaw or was Hochevar’s meatball fatter than a snowman’s midsection? Perhaps
5. A month ago, the question was whether Torii Hunter had lost a step in the outfield… Has he lost two steps? Yes
6. Would Scot Shields pitch a 1-2-3 inning if he were released and joined Eric Byrnes’ softball team? Jenny Finch is better.
-- RIP Nick Adenhart
I like how the "SBNation.com--Recent Stories" on the left margin
Has been the same for about a month now.
Though, Kubel going yard on Rivera is a great permanent story, have to admit
not to mention Either just came back too
Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!
by norcaliangelsfan on May 31, 2010 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions
RADAR Gun
The folks at Kauffman stadium must have gotten theirs from the same supplier as Comerica Park in Detroit, because it seems to add a couple of MPH. I highly doubt that Santana was all of a sudden throwing 97 again, or that Shields suddenly rediscovered 94. For that matter, I don’t think Hochevar throws 95-96, either.
Nevertheless, Shields threw strikes, and his fastball (whatever it was) had movement. Maybe he’s going to figure it out yet.
Another solid outing from Santana, and once again Napoli deserves credit not only for his hitting, but for calling a nice game for Ervin and helping him work quickly and efficiently.
I have a question??
How did B-woody get put on the 15 day DL and 5 days later is playing for SLC already? Would the MLB look into this as a way to get around the rules to where he doesn’t have to get DFA’d and clear waivers to go to the minors? Just a question. If anybody knows the answer please fill me in. Thanks!
Broken Wood...
Just watch what happens if he goes 0 for 8 at Salt Lake...
it will be the dreaded re-aggravation of his hip flexor injury and he will require at least 2 months off followed by 2 weeks more of rehab games….repeat this process a few times and the season is over/ Then he’s off to winter ball to try and figure it out. DFA we don’t need no stinkin DFA
he went 1/5 tonight
Trumbo still flexing muscle. He’ll probably need to cut down on his swing so he can get a call up and fail.
Somewhere, right now, Mickey Hatcher is ruining a swing.
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Jun 1, 2010 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions
MLB
Doesn’t really care, unless Wood were to protest and say that he wasn’t really injured. Obviously, he isn’t going to do that.
I suspect that were it not for Morales’ injury, they wouldn’t have started him on his rehab assignment until after he’d been on the DL the full 15 days (which began on 05/24; he’s eligible to come off on 06/08, I guess). This allows them to give him a full week of getting back into the swing of things before calling him back up. What happens next, though, is anybody’s guess.
anybody's guess...
he and mathis come back at the same time, with wood goes to 1B, they both provide a mauer/morneau type of deadly combo.
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on May 31, 2010 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions
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