Was anyone surprised about Lackey beating the Angels?

by Jay Cal on May 6, 2010 2:52 PM PDT

Was it a surprise to anyone last night that Lackey would beat the Angels? Certainly not me. With the benefit of an awfully liberal strike zone, a couple of really bad calls from the umpire crew including a botched call on fair/foul ball that would have and a base runner early in the game and the triple play that was, but wasn't you could see the Angels would have their hands full in Boston.

But Here is why I think losing last night was a good thing.

The worst part of the game wasn't the terrible officiating, it was the Angels play. From Fuentes giving up an unnecessary jack that gave me flash backs to the ALCS, to Brandon Wood hitting his home run on at bat too late, there wasn't much positive to talk about.

I'm convinced that the only thing the Angels didn't address last year in the off-season was a Heart Transplant. I think Pinero was a great pick up. Rodney's been one of the few good things about our bullpen. Matsui has cooled off a bit, but already looks like the right decision. But where is the heart?

One thing about the Angels in the past 20 years, whether they've been the lovable losers or the 2002 World Series Champions they went out every night and played hard. I don't feel like the Angels are playing hard! But maybe that isn't the worse thing in the World.

I firmly believe a good ass kicking can do wonders for a teams chemistry. Not necessarily giving one, but receiving one. A lot of us Halo Faithful accepted the fact that this team was slightly better than last years and that the rest of the division got better. That it wouldn't be an easy trek to the ALDS, that the Angels would have to fight for it. And for the better part of 29 games, the Angels have only managed to win 12 fights. And even if the Angels win tonight in Boston, they still got their ass handed to them courtesy of the BoSox.

With all that being said the Halos meet up in Seattle tomorrow night, with a Mariner team that is having just has many issues on the field as the Angels are. And I can only wonder, did this miserable road trip toughen up the Angels or do they still need a few more beat downs. They say winning cures everything.

Do you think the Angels are going to be able to turn the page on this road trip?

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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Comments

I've been saying this for a couple weeks now

To me they just seem to have no heart. They don’t have that ERstad type guy or even that Lackey type guy. I thought Weaver could be “it”, but it just hasn’t shown. Hunter is a leader, but has shown no fire. And we know Morales won’t be that leader. They need to go find a guy who is gonna go in there and “implant that heart” like you stated above. Until then this could be a lack luster year.

Do I think they can turn it around? Yes I believe they can, with the right buttons pushed from Sosh I think they can take the west.

Sportin' Wood!!

by angelskid2210 on May 6, 2010 3:11 PM PDT reply actions

I didn't mean to imply they need to find a guy with heart.

I think the heart is there, they just need to man up and show it.

RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09

I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces

by Jay Cal on May 6, 2010 5:18 PM PDT reply actions

F'ing bullpen that can't throw strikes

Makes me wonder if Mike Butcher has to go. Or a complete turnover of relief pitchers, or both.

The HK-47 hitting droid is the finest line drive machine ever built

by RallyMonkey5 on May 6, 2010 6:40 PM PDT reply actions

Actually, I've kind of wondered that for the past few years.

The “Lights out” bullpens were Bud Black creations. When Butch took over, that’s when the bullpen started its decline.

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

by red floyd on May 6, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I think it might be time

to send guys with options like Jepsen and Bulger to AAA, to let them work on their mechanics. Unfortunately, you just have to roll the dice with guys like Stokes and Shields.

RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09

I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces

by Jay Cal on May 6, 2010 8:33 PM PDT reply actions

jepsen?

hes been more solid than the lot of them. Send Palmer down if anything…Scot could use it too…. Stokes isnt too promising.

red colors and jaded pasts...

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on May 6, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions

If they try to send Bulger down

they lose him. He’s out of options. I don’t think he would make it through waivers.

by wumbug on May 7, 2010 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Good.

Get him out of here.

Bootcheck v2.0

"Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His Saints." - Psalm 116:15 Rest In Peace, Nick.

by angels4adam on May 7, 2010 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions

No, Bulger was really good last season

by ~MMP~ on May 7, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

turns into

Darren O’Day v2.0

Aybar is a nowhere man, Sitting in his Nowhere Land, Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.

by princeton11loveshalos on May 7, 2010 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Send Jepsen down? How many games have you watched?

In fifteen appearances, Jepsen has held the opposition scoreless in twelve of those. We’ve won eleven of the games that he’s appeared in. He had a 1.80 ERA in the month of April, and his inflated ERA in May is almost entirely due to a fly ball Rivera failed to catch.

We have to “roll the dice” with Shields and Stokes, but send Jepsen down? Sorry — in the “heart” versus brains debate, I’ll side with brains here, and keep Jeps on the club, thank you.

by Turks Teeth on May 7, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I've watched a lot of the games actually.

And Jepsen has BEEN good. But he also walked four players and blew Santana’s opportunity for a win. If he never has another inning when he walks a couple of batters then I’ll apologize, but I’d prefer to fix minor mechanical issues in Salt Lake and not in Anaheim. I’m not saying to permanently benching Jepsen, just shaking up the bullpen. Sometimes you need to send a message to the entire group.

I was unaware that Bulger was out of options. And I know you can’t send Stokes down either. It might just be wise to put Shields on the DL and let him work out his issues as well. Maybe regain some confidence facing hitters in Salt Lake. And Palmer doesn’t look right to me at all, yet we depend on him and Stokes for much of the early relief.

RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09

I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces

by Jay Cal on May 7, 2010 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I figured it'd be a battle, and it was till the bullpens joined the game.

It’s not a coincedence that everyone who rights anyting bout Lackey leaving the Halos, all described him as our ace. He is a really good pitcher. And right now, I wish he was still on our team. Though I over$tand the reason he is the Sux # 2.5

by Wally's World on May 6, 2010 8:47 PM PDT reply actions