Arte....it is business!
by angelmike on Jan 12, 2011 8:01 PM PST
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Good-bye season seats. It’s business. Really.
Arte, I hear you when you pine Carl Crawford’s 140 million dollars plus is too much for a guy that will lose his speed well before his power. Power? I listened when you told the LA Times, "When do you get to a point as a business person, where you say, 'Jeez, I'm doing this on emotion, I don't want to let the fans down, so what I'm going to do is bankrupt the franchise?"
Well, eighty games are a little too rich for me. So for years and with three partners, we got twenty games each. But now all three of my partners cannot be convinced pony up. They insist watching Jeff Mathis, Brandon Wood, Reggie Willits, Juan Rivera, Maicer Izturis [he plays when there is no headwind] and Erick Aybar is as exciting as watching the kid steal third base every game. They say viewing great starting pitchers who set up the give-up, who the hell is there this weak, bullpen is a waste of time and money. I tell them Kendry Morales will be first [but not hitting walk-offs]. Still no go. I tell them to just listen to GM Hunter talk about who we need, but nothing happens.
My partners are done, bailing. Arte, they tell me its "business". So, the seats [first row] will be no more. What am I to do?
I could get that 20 pack the Angels are selling with Opening Day free. Opening Day free? Opening Day free? Are the Yankees or Red Sox or [phew] even the Rangers or Oakland giving away Opening Day? Right, Arte, you are concerned about raising ticket prices but giving away Opening Day for free?
Why commit to a regular regime of games when, gee, the same team that whipped my partners will get a re-run, a do-over, mulligan. As a former season seat holder I could wait for those five and six buck games and sit in heaven [for a couple of innings] before moving to see level.
Yea, it’s business.
Arte, I like to think I am more of a die-hard Angel fan, you know like the ones that always tell Terry Smith on Angel Talk, "I’ve been a fan since ‘75", but I’m not, I had no interest in losers, sorry to say, I just stayed away during those years. Turns out I am not used to watching a team that gives up in the front office. I guess I’m going to have to stay away again. Forgive me Arte, but its business. I know you try to be a nice guy, that initial beer move was good PR. Vladimir Guerrero, Bartolo Colon, et all…good stuff. Torii Hunter WAS as good as Gary Matthews Jr. was bad. But I understand now, "its business".
Artie, you raked in over 3 million fans again last season…but YOU know how many were no-shows. No-shows don’t buy hot dogs, team shirts or beer. BTW, I can get a better beer deal across the street. But, oh well, enough emotion.
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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"You realize that Ive been posting on AN since 07 on this name and I am one of the most rec'ed posters there right?" - Some douche named DFA from AN
by 2pintsofbooze on Jan 7, 2011 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
I mentioned this in a thread last week
I also have front row seats that I can not afford to go to very often at all, so I’ve always had to find other partners. Previous to last year we had like 4 people that bought varying numbers of games. Last year I had two of them, who had been buying for over 15 years saying they would no longer be buying tickets. I thought for sure I would end up letting the tickets expire which would have crushed me because the thought of not being able to take my own sons to games (almost 3 and a 9 month old) in the seats I grew up in was sad. Luckily one of the people that stopped buying like 3 years ago had a contact that was able to buy as many games as I had.
People w/o season seats don’t have their fingers on the pulse of what people are willing to pay to see the Angels. It was really easy for them to say, raise ticket prices when Arte made it sound like the reason he didn’t get Beltre/Crawford was because he wanted ticket prices to remain reasonable.
So yea I hear you…. but I WAS THERE when the Angels sucked every year, year in and year out. I remember being excited about Dante Bichette having a spring training of a lifetime as a rookie only to be traded for a guy that was like 40. I remember Luis Polonia and Chili Davis as being some of the only reasons to go watch a game. I remember liking as a kid that Wilfong and Miller always seemed to start on Sunday day games.
Polonia
Hell yeah! He got me excited about baseball. I remember turning on the TV one year I was roughly ten years old and watched him beat a grounder to second. I loved how fast he was.
Turned me into a lifelong Angel fan. I don’t care how sexy their players are, I will always root for them.
Who was that guy on Oakland who ran out a walk a few years back?
I liked seeing that.
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
I was about 10 when polonia told me "Fuck off, I dont do that shit" when I asked him for an autograph
I have hated him ever since.
by Balls and Strikes on Jan 7, 2011 4:13 PM PST up reply actions
Hahahahahahahahaha!
"I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest."
Rodney Dangerfield
by Monkeyspanked on Jan 13, 2011 8:03 AM PST up reply actions
That sounds like something I would say
"I too played shortstop for many years until I was struck down by Acne and Baby Fat" HST
by No Bologna Polonia on Jan 14, 2011 7:09 AM PST up reply actions
sorry ,i've been out of the country for 6 weeks..
anyways, here is my potential lineup for 2011:
1. abreu, DH
2. crawford, LF
3. hunter, RF
4. morales, 1B
5. beltre, 3B
6. napoli, C
7. aybar, SS
8. kendrick, 2B
9. bourjos, CF
agree? suggestions?
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Jan 6, 2011 9:07 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
That is just plain silly talk.
We all know that A-Gon is going to start at 1B with Morales at DH. You need to catch up with reality before you start posting again.
Longtime fan of what has become the State College Angels of East Anaheim
There is always room for Granderson. If only...
Longtime fan of what has become the State College Angels of East Anaheim
He's Available???
"Jeff Mathis is like Robb Quinlan without the sex appeal" - Sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher
Um, yo no comprendo.
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
i was going to renew my dugout suites but...
… i feel that Blah Blah.
YOUR NOT A TRUE FAN
GO WATCH THE DODGERS CRY BABY
Supplier of Angels Fans Since 2009
by DAD OF VLAD on Jan 6, 2011 9:25 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I guess I'm not a true fan either
Since we gave up our minipack for the same reason back in between 2003-2004. The ticket people thought we were lower than dirt since we couldn’t be bothered to get season seats. It had nothing to do with money, it had to do with not wanting to drive in that often. They told us we couldnt get seats anywhere near eachother for the games, then midway through the year they were offering same minipacks with guaranteed same seats.
I guess all those expected 2002 bandwagon fans didnt stick around after 2003’s failure so they had to quick free up those seats midway through the year.
We have only been back twice. I guess we arent true fans eventhough we are glued to the screen for every painful bullpen blow up and every loss of a free agent that was ours for sure.
Anyone know if Bob the usher is still up in 409/410 area? if so, the angels are still a classy organization. He was the best thing about our trips to the game in 2003.
we gave up 8 season tickets (still ept four)
We just couldn’t find anyone to go to the games (FOR FREE!!!). Oh, people wanted to see the Yankees, the Red Sox. But the rest of the time, my brother sat in a seat surrounded by 11 empties. It no longer made sense. If this is business, then this is being run poorly. We’ll always have tickets (we may go down to two), but the days of treating friends/family/business associates are over.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
Awesome! More tickets for me to buy so I can support the team in person!
Win or lose, any evening spent at the ball park beats another spent at home having to listen to Gubi’s stupid catchphrases for the million and 1st time.
by Angelsfan015 on Jan 7, 2011 11:57 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
dude, last year, there were plenty of tickets to buy
the problem was that from July on NOBODY went. Those seats went empty. I go to any games I can. My brother goes to 80% of the games and the stands were very very sparse
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
Not true, apparently.
I’m at the games whenever I’m not on the road in Huflung-dung. Last season there were some sparse nights that reminded me of 1994 (tarps!), but official 2010 attendance was 3.25M. That’s not really down much from 2006’s high water mark of 3.40M – especially in a shitty economy.
Not sure I get it either….
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
That's tickets sold
Lots of tickets went unused. Unused tickets = no “butts in seats” spending money.
There wasn’t nearly as much secondary market, either (ticket re-sales). In August and September, there were lots of empty seats…seats that were usually filled in other years (when the team was in 1st place).
Late in the year, I picked up a pair of field level seats between home & the dugout for around $20/each. That would have been impossible between 2003-2009.
You said it yourself,
You’re a bandwagoner. As soon as you said that, you lost all credibility. Go ahead and give up your seats so a real fan can take them.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 7, 2011 12:55 AM PST up reply actions
i live in the north bay and dont know tickets
but if i lived in so cal i would try to make it out there as often as possible
Supplier of Angels Fans Since 2009
I live in upstate NY
and you’re damn right. As often as possible.
Captain, there are doubt's...
Element's from the past and the future combining to form something not quite as good as either.
us upstate NY'ers
can only dream of having season tix to the halos. I have to drive 6-8 hours to see them play once a year. Put me out there and i would cut off a toe for season tix. oh, and go Orange!
A.K.A. adirondackangelfan
The 'Cuse is in the House? Shut it Down!! Oooo, That's hot!!
by adirondackorangefan on Jan 7, 2011 11:35 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I'll have a beer at the stadium for you the next game I attend.
I guess I never really thought about it, but I count myself lucky living less than 30 minutes from the stadium. Hope you get a chance to see the team when they come your way this coming season.
by Angelsfan015 on Jan 7, 2011 12:00 PM PST up reply actions
Ah, those toes are frostbitten anyway!
lol
Captain, there are doubt's...
Element's from the past and the future combining to form something not quite as good as either.
We could do another HH East-side meetup
without even seeing the MFY this year: Angels at Mets, 6/17-6/19.
Who’s in?
by cath619 on Jan 7, 2011 1:31 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I could see that happening
A.K.A. adirondackangelfan
The 'Cuse is in the House? Shut it Down!! Oooo, That's hot!!
by adirondackorangefan on Jan 9, 2011 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
YES YES and YES!
Don’t hate me, but I’ll be bringing a MFY fan with me – friend from college, but she’s cool and def. not obnoxious, she’ll tease me but thats it.
Cue Red and Stimpy “Happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy joy”
that whambulance just woke me up...
… I’ll be renewing my mlb.tv season pass.
Then spending a wicked amount of money to travel to LA to see the Halos play.
Why?
Because I’m a fan and I support this team through good and bad.
It can’t be 2002 every year chief.
Perhaps you've heard of me from the pages of Sports Illustrated...
by Northwest on Jan 6, 2011 10:01 PM PST via mobile reply actions
that's true
but when the FO plays the off season as badly as the last two years, you have to be thinking they are worried more about concessions than wins. and while the fanatics will still go, everyone else (who, even transient, make up a large share of the attending/viewing public) will not.
Why do you think that every year the Yankees and Red sox spend like maniacs? Because they CANNOT afford to miss out on the playoffs more than one year. Let’s be real, their fans are some of the biggest band wagoners on the planet, but the revenue generated by concessions at the park, the memorabilia, the ad revenue from NESN/YES depend on a quaity product year after year. They cannot afford the rats to jump ship.
Arte wants those rats back? He better come up with a better strategy than coming in second place to the dogs who want to play the off season to win.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
This is true
Why do you think that every year the Yankees and Red sox spend like maniacs? Because they CANNOT afford to miss out on the playoffs more than one year. Let’s be real, their fans are some of the biggest band wagoners on the planet, but the revenue generated by concessions at the park, the memorabilia, the ad revenue from NESN/YES depend on a quaity product year after year. They cannot afford the rats to jump ship.
I went to college on the East coast (1988-1992) and traveled up to NY a couple of times for Yankees’ games. Except on opening day, Yankee Stadium was empty. You could walk up and buy field level seats on the day of the game. The Yankees were irrelevant from 1982-1994, and attendance reflected that.
You bailed on the team in the past when they weren't very good
and now you’re doing it again at the first bump in the road.
Oh well, so long. Don’t let the door hit your ass.
Or do, I don’t care.
by Caseys Kiss of Death on Jan 6, 2011 10:28 PM PST reply actions
With today's economics, losing season, and crappy offseason
it is understandable that many fans who most likely can barely afford to go to games will bail because of the negative emotions they feel towards the team. The same emotions that could have swung the other direction had the team gone out and signed the types of exciting free agents the owner of this team promised to get.
When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!
Wait? There are fans who can "barely afford to go to games"?
They can’t really afford the price of admission as it is, but they’d happily pay more because of the joy buzz they feel from the Angels taking on $100M+ in new salaries in signing Crawford and/or Beltre?
Seriously? Do you even pay attention to what you type before you click POST?
"I can't tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we've taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we'll be able to evaluate the offseason moves."~Tony Reagins, on the Angels' offseason
by George Kaplan on Jan 7, 2011 7:19 AM PST up reply actions
George, he's right
the hope and buzz and excitement that comes from off season moves draws the average fan and makes him spend his discretionary dollars to the game instead of a movie, etc. $100MM plus in new salaries for quality FA is the kind of thing that drives people to the ballpark.
I’ve said it once and I’ll keep saying it, if we can’t afford the top FAs, then figure out something else. Play the Tampa/Oakland game. Play something. I’m sorry, after last year’s abysmal performance, Scott Downs is just not enough.
Do not go out in blustering fashion “I’ll spend what it takes” machismo, then go nothing and claim that this team is good enough.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
by Moondoggy on Jan 7, 2011 8:36 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
This much I agree with
If he really couldn’t play on the deep end of the pool, Tony should have been more proactive (like the A’s) and shored up the team’s holes with some sensible pick-ups early on when those options still existed. There is still time to make a trade but he’s going to have to get awfully creative.
And that is perfectly valid
I think the front office was paralyzed by its focus on the bids for Crawford first and then Beltre that guys like DeJesus weren’t part of the game plan. In this case, Beane did an excellent job of shoring up a team need with nothing but spare parts given up. I assume we have spare parts which could have been given to the Royals and provided their GM as least as big a chubby as he got from the ones Beane sent to him. Maybe, maybe not.
But are DeJesus and Willingham going to get the fans fired up? No, not really, and that was a tentpole of Dono’s concept there: Make the big splash and get the fans whipped into a frenzy of ticket-buying. Lee, Crawford and Beltre were arguably the marquee names, but Willingham isn’t in that same crowd.
So the solution of getting the fans excited was to spend $100M or more on contracts which would necessitate a raising of ticket prices, at the very time Dono was admonishing us that fans who can’t afford current prices would bail without some display of spending from the top. If folks are choking on current prices, then current prices + 10% (or whatever) isn’t going to help them in the slightest. That veers into “we had to destroy the village in order to save it” logic.
Fans come in all shapes, sizes, races and economic levels. The focus of that post, though, was on the ones hammered by lower income and a bad economy. Raising prices isn’t a lifeline for those folks.
"I can't tell people what to think or not to think. Their perceptions are their perceptions. We just feel we've taken a step forward. At the end of the day, we have to play 162 games. Once that happens then we'll be able to evaluate the offseason moves."~Tony Reagins, on the Angels' offseason
by George Kaplan on Jan 7, 2011 10:58 AM PST up reply actions
sometimes GK
your intellect matched with your ego brings out good analysis. this is not one of those times.
I agree with Dono on this
"You realize that Ive been posting on AN since 07 on this name and I am one of the most rec'ed posters there right?" - Some douche named DFA from AN
by 2pintsofbooze on Jan 7, 2011 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
Go Cheer on Another Team
I’m tired of all the “entitlement” in fans nowadays- not necessarily Angels fans, just sports fans in general. It’s so easy as a fan to go out and commit someone else’s money to improving a ballclub. Whatever happened to just loving the game? Loving the experience of being at the ballpark, smelling the grass, hearing the crack of the bat, being a part of something bigger than yourself? Cheering on your team even if sometimes they’re the underdog? Shouldn’t it be a little more like those cheezy commercials where they show fans of every single MLB team saying how “this year is our year”, or “I’ve been to every game for the last _ years, rain, or shine…blah blah”. We need more optimists and less fans who are ready to bail at the drop of a hat. You’re not a fan dude, you’re the guy Arte’s talking about when he says sometimes he’s not competing with other sports teams for business, he’s competing with theme parks, movie theaters and other SoCal entertainment. You may be a casual seeker of entertainment who has occasionally cheered for the Angels when time were good, but you’re not a fan.
by AybarIsTheNewFiggy on Jan 6, 2011 10:39 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Love of the game
I haz it.
You have to love baseball to follow a team year after year. Sure, it’s true of any sport, but especially of baseball because the season is so long, and the postseason “bracket” is so small (not that I would have it any other way).
You had to love baseball to be an Angel fan back in the day, and by “the day” I mean pretty much every season before we crossed the Jordan in 2002. You had to set your own goals to root for, goals that the team could possibly attain such as finishing above .500, or at least better than the previous season. Or you’d root for your favorite player to do well. Or for the KMPC Jocks finally to beat the Player’s Wives in softball. In the meantime you’d distract yourself with Teen Night (with Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods!) or Angels-Disneyland Fun Day.
Sure, our expectations now are an order of magnitude higher for our team. We have been spoiled by a long stretch of being serious contenders, by performing overall at a historically high level. But if we have to endure yet another year of mediocrity before our dead weight comes off the payroll, the two seasons in the wilderness will be just a blip for longtime fans.
No, I’m not happy with the FO. I haven’t swallowed any Kool-Aid. But my unhappiness does not stem from an unwillingness to spend even more money, but by an increasingly apparent inability to assess talent and the sense that there is no particular plan to right the ship. There is of course nothing a fan can do about these things.
All I can do is hope that the recent changes in FO personnel bring about the desired corrections, and that if they don’t, more such changes will soon ensue. For now, however, I’m just hoping the team finishes above .500 in 2011.
by rspencer on Jan 7, 2011 12:49 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs
I haven't the time to go much anymore
But if allot of people stop going at least I will be able to get a better seat at the box office. I had season tickets for several seasons during the late nineties and if we had 20k fans it was thought to be a decent crowd. The band wagon guys can stay home if they choose, maybe the FO will even take notice but on Sunday afternoon or Saturday night I’ll be able to go on the spur of the moment. That actually makes me happier then the idea of a cheaper seat.
"Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem".
Rec'd
But my unhappiness does not stem from an unwillingness to spend even more money, but by an increasingly apparent inability to assess talent and the sense that there is no particular plan to right the ship. There is of course nothing a fan can do about these things.
Thanks for replaying my childhood
I grew up outside Bakersfield, so going to an Angel game was once a year and the highlight of my summer. I remember not being able to sleep well the night before and the overjoyed feelings every time Wally Joyner (his name sounded like mine on the radio) stepped to the plate. I loved the Angels then as only a Little Leaguer could. I still do.
I felt the same way about Jim Spencer!
I became an Angels fan via the radio too. The Crescenta Valley is much closer to Anaheim than Bakersfield, but it was still far enough away that I only got to go to a game or two myself (never got to see them in Chavez Ravine, alas).
Joyner was my first baseball mancrush
had a poster of him on my wall when I was 6. been hooked ever since.
"You realize that Ive been posting on AN since 07 on this name and I am one of the most rec'ed posters there right?" - Some douche named DFA from AN
by 2pintsofbooze on Jan 7, 2011 3:31 PM PST up reply actions
Are you knocking Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods
Sure they are almost a one hit wonder. But I had a chance to meet them and they were very nice guys. They played at my College, played way over the time they had agreed. Met with the staff, answered any questions they had, worked with the system we had, and didn’t make demands.
They did play a lot of remakes, took requests, even songs that were current … and yes they sounded great!
Not me!
I liked their hits just fine. Of course, I was 10 or so at the time. Actually, my friends and I had a band just out of high school, and when we ejected our original drummer, his replacement had been the drummer for the Heywoods. We played tons of dances, and won the 1978 Verdugo Hills HS Battle of the Bands. Ah, youth.
Also, in college one of the girls in the dorms was either related to or dating one of the Heywoods (this was a few years later). At the time they were, IIRC, the house band at the Tomorrowland Terrace at Disneyland. She was there every weekend, and was their biggest fan. She kept giving me cassettes of the band to listen to.
I didn't like it when Jackie Autry insisted
we were a mid market team either.
Arte isn’t willing to spend and Reagins isn’t savvy enough to make something out of nothing. We are making the Nationals look ambitious.
I look forward to our upcoming third place finish and hope Arte wakes up and fires Reagins at the end of the season.
by Nashdiesel on Jan 6, 2011 10:48 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I have to believe a BIG trade is on the horizon...
If Arte is serious about a big off-season, something is going to go down. It just has to, doesn’t it?
I've got nothing.
I hope your right
Just like I hope Wood meets his hype and the rest of the team bounces back. Call me an optimist.
by LAstands4LovingAnaheim on Jan 7, 2011 12:42 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
It's reasonable enough.
As disheartening as Wood was last year, he won’t even turn 26 until March. This isn’t a 29 year-old prospect who hasn’t panned out yet that likely has no future in the big leagues. By many accounts, Wood will be entering the prime years of a position player, especially for a power guy.
If you want a boost in morale, take into consideration the core of the Phillies lineup. Chase Utley’s first productive season didn’t come till he was 26. Howard didn’t break out until he was 26. Victorino didn’t break out till he was 26. Raul Ibanez didn’t have a good season till he was 30. But look at them now. Now they’re team is the class of the National League.
It’s hard to be optimistic with Wood after seeing how poorly he played last year, but a player who can belt 43 homeruns in only 130 games (2005) doesn’t just forget how to hit. As Brandon Wood goes next season, so the Angels go next season. If he can be the player he’s expected to be, he can make Reagins look like a genius for being patient with him (even though I doubt I’ll ever consider him one). Our biggest hole is at 3B, and if Wood can fill that hole the Angels could surpass all our expectations.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 7, 2011 1:17 AM PST up reply actions
Oh God.....
The kid has NEVER hit major league pitching well. He is showing all the signs of someone who is just plain outmatched at the plate. I do NOT want to see him playing third base this year. He wasn’t even good DEFENSIVELY last year. The kid doesn’t see the ball. He has lousy pitch prediction skills and that doesn’t cut it at he major league level. He MAY figure it out, but I’m not willing to endure another year of him sitting at the corner every day trying to learn how to play baseball.
Maybe Haren was the "big trade"?
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Jan 7, 2011 1:02 AM PST up reply actions
And Kendry is the big FA!
Woohoo! Arte and TR were just speaking “retroactively” to last season. Duh. Us stupid fans need to keep up.
"I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest."
Rodney Dangerfield
by Monkeyspanked on Jan 7, 2011 8:06 AM PST up reply actions
Why do people mock this point? ITS TRUE
So the team lost money last year and we’re supposed to increase payroll by like $30 million??
Haren added quite a bit of money to our payroll. We have the most players up for arbitration in the league. We rebuilt our bullpen and our remaining contracts continue to escalate.
So yeah….Dan Haren was a pretty big trade for 2011 whether people are bored with it already or not
RIP Nick Adenhart
by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 7, 2011 9:05 AM PST up reply actions
It's not TRUE
Were they a worse team without KMo last year? hmmm, I’ll say yes.
Will they be better with him as opposed to without him this year? Bingo! Give that man a prize.
I’ll even give props for acquiring Haren Last Season.
But this off season, the FO had NOTHING (except provide medical service) with Kendry’s return. He was contractually obligated to play for us or retire. The Stoneman FO wants to take credit for his being there? OK, I’ll grant that. But this off season, this FO, did not do enough to make this team a 2011 contender IMHO.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
the thing that gets me though, is it wasnt the fans that said they wanted more money spent
It was arte. The fans didn’t say they were angry about last year, the billionaire owner did. We didn’t commit to spend arte’s money, he did.
That is the only thing I see to be frustrated with.
I am actually optimistic, I think the bullpen is better (we could still use a better closer but maybe it will force sloth to use a rookie) and the lineup isn’t as bad as they played last year. We might not see 2009 levels of production, but I am confident it will be better than 2010. I think this coupled with a strong rotation will make us a very good team.
by Balls and Strikes on Jan 7, 2011 12:11 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
A lot can happen in 162 games yet to be played.
I too am optimistic about the upcoming season. Anything can happen still.
by Angelsfan015 on Jan 7, 2011 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
Totally agree with everything you've stated.
My sentiments exactly on every point.
I meant the OTHER Howard!
That's only because
I believed they were going to make a FA splash that was, in reality a trickle.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
The FO needs some Flomax, maybe?
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
Those long flights get...
Challenging!
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
dude, don't I know it
i do enjoy buzzing for the flight attendants and asking them to get my leg down from the overhead. Bet they don’t get that very often.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
2011
will be the FIRST year I will have season tickets, I’m excited to hopefully have them every year win or lose.
by Beat The Red Sux on Jan 6, 2011 11:39 PM PST reply actions
Awesome.
Need more fans like you.
Angel fans talk a big game but they’ll come running right back if we’re competitive in 2011 which we will be.
RIP Nick Adenhart
by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 7, 2011 9:03 AM PST up reply actions
If I could afford season tickets, I would have them as well.
In the meantime, I get tickets off Stubhub and have yet to be disappointed with what I get.
by Angelsfan015 on Jan 7, 2011 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
Honestly, I'm glad that we aren't stuck with Crawford, Beltre or Werth for too many years.
Just hope that we aren’t stuck with Mathis for that many.
The truth is, if the Giants could win the WS, then so can the Angels… We just need a little luck.
and BTW, this was a stupid post.
Ahhh... Yes... Finally back home in SoCal!!!
by stuck in Romania on Jan 6, 2011 11:45 PM PST reply actions
Yes!
Welcome home stuck in Romania. That was a lot of years away!
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
thanks... good to be back home.
Ahhh... Yes... Finally back home in SoCal!!!
by stuck in Romania on Jan 8, 2011 11:08 PM PST up reply actions
thank you... Can't wait to be at the ball park!!!
Ahhh... Yes... Finally back home in SoCal!!!
by stuck in Romania on Jan 8, 2011 11:08 PM PST up reply actions
I AM BUYING LOW
My last season of owning season seats was 2008.
I got season seats for Christmas from Missus Halofan – She asked me what I wanted.
My understanding is that ticket sales are pretty low relative to the last three seasons.
I BET YOU THAT we sign Vlad after the January 30 select a seat finale.
Worse thing about owning season seats is the drive from the hood to the burbs for me. Actually, the drive is fine it is the other hundred thousand cars in my way that is the problem.
I understand this sentiment, HOWEVER
For some reason I am compelled to watch and support the Angels every season. There’s no intelligent rationale for it, and I am not a masochist or woe-is-me fan martyr like generations of Red Sox and Cubs fans are. For so many years, the Angels sucked. And without the romanticism of being a “storied franchise”. But I still had to watch. I was compelled.
After 2002, the bandwagon fans came. I’ve never minded them because, shit, before then, the Angels never really had a big fan base to speak of. Seeing the park selling out every home game made me want to pinch myself after years of being able to shout across the stadium to a friend and hearing him clearly respond. Seeing a sea of red Angels gear seemed like an awkward reward for the years of pain the Sucky Angels put us through. But you can’t build a franchise without some looky-loos coming to the park to throw a beach ball or 50 around. All those people meant money to my team, and they’ve built a winning one over the last eight years.
So let the bandwagoners stay or go. But I’m not going to judge anyone for deciding not to attend games because they think the franchise sucks. It makes perfect sense: if you put a shitty product on the field, then your franchise deserves shit from the fans.
Irrationally, I am just compelled to follow the Angels. No rhyme or reason. No compelling statistical argument for or against them. When they suck, they suck. When they rule, they rule. For some reason, I still watch.
This is not to say that you, angelmike, are a bandwagoner or any such nonsense. But I truly wish you wouldn’t go. Some of us will be here if you come back. Sincerely, please come back anytime, no questions asked. I’m compelled to do so.
by yeswecan on Jan 7, 2011 12:34 AM PST reply actions 8 recs
I have to come in from Fontana now
but even that didnt stop me. Working nights……now that was a problem
"Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem".
No.
Your tombstone’s gonna say:
“Can I have a dollar?”
There’s nothing you can do to change it.
Captain, there are doubt's...
Element's from the past and the future combining to form something not quite as good as either.
Very well said
I think we might be the same person…Or at the very least, you are my long lost twin.
First off you had me until you said you didn't care when they were losers
The best part of this post was yeswecan’s response. I have never been fortunate enough to have season tickets but I make around 10 games a season and watch ALL of every other game.
I remember marching around the field in a little league parade before a game, always trying to climb the Big A when I got to go to the stadium and having Chili Davis show my team how to field grounders. Back then you found other things than winning enjoyable
I thought I’d never see the day they won the World Series but I did.
To me the Angels have always been there and I always will too. I can’t quit on them. Anyone who can never really was a true fan.
by LAstands4LovingAnaheim on Jan 7, 2011 1:04 AM PST via mobile reply actions
All of this will be forgotten when we land Pujols in 2012
and bandwagoners return in droves like the opportunists they are.
the horror ............... the horror .......... the horror
That's the one guy Arte might actually overpay for.
It leaked about a month ago that the Angels were one of just four teams that Pujols would waive his no-trade clause to go to. If Arte can put his big boy pants on, there’s a small shot. Although the chances are still slim to none, almost non-existant.
by moralesforpresident on Jan 7, 2011 1:26 AM PST up reply actions
my thought is he will be 32
and you just know someone is going to offer him a 6 or 7 year deal. My guess is it won’t be us
"Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem".
you guys are dreaming
there is no way in hell that we’ll outbid everyone for Pujols.
past performance is not an indicator of future returns…
but that’s where the smart money is
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
Shut up and support your team . . .
things could be worse: you could be in San Diego where the owner is shedding salary from his oh so big 38 million dollar payroll or you could be a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates (the new AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees).
CALIFORNIA ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
F*** STANFURD.
by AndyHogan14 on Jan 7, 2011 1:22 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
It's one thing to support your team...
But it’s another thing to PAY to support your team. Us halo fans can vent on HH all we want. That won’t get Arte’s attention. Empty seats – THAT will get Arte’s attention.
Arte is raising payroll by $10 Million in 2011
Does that get your attention?
RIP Nick Adenhart
by ihearhowie2.0 on Jan 7, 2011 9:09 AM PST up reply actions
When living in Denmark (EU), it’s difficult to watch the games due the time difference but yet i manage to watch most of the them even though they start at 1-2 PM my time. But that’s because I love this sport, so wether how the team has been doing though out the season, i’ll still keep renewing my MLB.TV account.
If I was located in SoCal you would see me at every game, cheering and eating hotdogs, but I’m not. So I’m sure you’ll survive a little longer drive because of trafic, if you’ll even show up.
Good day.
by Christoffer James V Ferreira on Jan 7, 2011 5:36 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
You had me until...
I like to think I am more of a die-hard Angel fan, you know like the ones that always tell Terry Smith on Angel Talk, “I’ve been a fan since ‘75”, but I’m not
I cannot relate.
critical reading...
Perhaps most bogglers [word not misspelled] missed the part relating to "partners wanting to bail". Perhaps they missed how I tried to entice them to "pony up". Maybe just one or two of the early readers skipped that, then…well…the bandwagon.
I want to say, but wait…
I’ve been to just about every MLB park in the country. Most recent visits correlate with the Angels being on the road. I took the soak…the big soak…that was Arte and MLB last year with the All-Star game, all those worthless [bull shit] strips. I just wanted to see the game.
So now to business…it is the [MLB] economy, stupid!
A business wants to attract customers, wants to offer product or services that will keep customers coming back. A customer wants good product and services at a fair and reasonable price. I think that was what Arte was referring to in the LA Times article. But Arte is praying that the "sanctimonious" Angel fan bleeds red [used to be blue] and sticks with him while he ignores his part of the deal. If Arte were to read 80% of the responses to this post, he would be smiling.
I love the game and pay for the game, more than most know, but when I pony up I, at minimum, I expect we ‘compete’. I would not have paid Crawford or Belte the kind of money Boston or Texas did. That said in the same breath, I would never put Wood, Willits, Issy, Mathis, Rivera and the assorted bullpen losers BACK on the field in 2011. Arte’s doing so is not "good business".
Best critical readers:
njhalofan:" Its one thing to support your team but it’s another thing to PAY to support your team. Us halo fans can vent on HH all we want. That won’t get Arte’s attention. Empty seats – THAT will get Arte’s attention."
bc56274: I have to believe a BIG trade is on the horizon If Arte is serious about a big off-season, something is going to go down. It just has to, doesn’t it?
stuck in Romania: Honestly, I’m glad that we aren’t stuck with Crawford, Beltre and Worth for too many years. Just hope that we aren’t stuck with Mathis for that many.
The truth is, if the Giants could win the WS, then so can the Angels… We just need a little luck.and BTW, this was a stupid post.
We may have had a crap off-season but its not THAT bad...
- We still have the best rotation in the AL West and one of the best in the league…
- A lot of our players are still young and may or may not have reached their potential. Is it possible that HK’s k/bb rate will get better, still? Sure. Is it possible Aybar will bounce back and have a season like 2009? Sure. Does Torii have another good year in him with 25 HRs? Sure. It could all happen.
- Despite our closing issues, the bullpen did get better.
- Ninja seems to make up for what he doesnt do in the offseason for midseason trades…could we land a big power bat mid-season? Sure.
This still isnt the Angels of old…we are all disappointed but its not like were the Royals or something. Chill-Lax a bit.
dissenter, dubious and devil's advocate to blog monitors everywhere.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jan 7, 2011 7:35 AM PST reply actions
Personally I like bandwagoners
It’s the bandwagoners that keep owners honest. If the team is not good, the team makes less money because of the bandwagoners.
Unfortunately, I’ve been a fan all my life and suffered through the debacle of the 90s (I had playoff tickets for 95), so two consective 3rd place finishes won’t scare me away.
I have nothing important to say.
You think this is bad...
Wait until Weaver and Bam Bam are free agents. This perceived inability to deal with Boras the past few offseasons(albeit, all speculation in the media) is going to make keeping them near impossible.
by HALO Qualified_HALOS fan on Jan 7, 2011 10:01 AM PST reply actions
Weaver and Morales are ALREADY thinking of whether they want to play in Anaheim,
or accept a non-negotiable, fair offer from Moreno.
They know there will be no back-and-forth with Boras.
How much do they want to play for the Angels?
That's the wrong mentality
If you are negotiating major league contracts based on whether or not the player ‘wants to be an Angel’ you are going to lose out on a lot of players. Most players did not grow up wanting to be an Angel, unlike say the Yankees, Lakers or Cowboys. This may be one of the biggest problems that the FO has been having this offseason.
Warm beer is infinitely colder than no beer.
Yeah, I doubt wanting "to play for the Angels" is much of a consideration for either of them
Kendry made a hard choice to his leave his native Cuba forever in order to fulfill an economic dream. I doubt he has strong feelings about which team might fulfill that dream.
Weaver is, I think, Lackey 2.0 with regards to attitude on this. And he’s a better pitcher.
If the Angels want them, they’ll have to pay market prices.
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
2 quick points that Angel fans (even the bandwaggoners) shouldn't forget
We were a .500 team last year with our best player injured most of the season. That’s pretty good and it means we will be better this year.
Also, it’s not like we passed on Babe Ruth and Randy Johnson this off-season. Sure, there were good players available who could have improved us, but, seriously? Carl Crawford and Adrian Beltre? Who’s going to choose the Angels over the Dodgers or the beach because of Adrian Beltre?
Captain, there are doubt's...
Element's from the past and the future combining to form something not quite as good as either.
If Beltre
Adds 5 wins to the team, and that puts them in the division race, then the answer is lots of people will come to the stadium because of Beltre.
Yeah, but KMo will add five wins to the team.
Captain, there are doubt's...
Element's from the past and the future combining to form something not quite as good as either.
Doubtful
The Beltre calculation involves the subtraction of Izzy Callaspowood. An extra half season of Morales would also be tempered by a lot less Napoli, so there’s not as much of a gain. At least that’s how I see it.
I see your point
and, like I said, Beltre or Crawford would make us better. But in marketing terms, we’re more competive promoting a Fernando Valenzuela-esque Kendry Morales. Beltre, Crawford or anybody else who was available this time around weren’t really blue-chip, wow free agents. No Vladdys or Toriis this year.
Captain, there are doubt's...
Element's from the past and the future combining to form something not quite as good as either.
And then we went 18-9 in June in response to Kendry's injury,
If we had him, it’s possible we would have competed for the division after that type of turn around. Kendry is the type of offensive force that makes hitters around him better.
I just hope that Scioscia bats him 4th next year instead of babying him.
How was our pitching
during that time period?
by AybarIsTheNewFiggy on Jan 7, 2011 8:14 PM PST up reply actions
At least with all the bandwagoners gone,
we will be able to stand up and cheer for our team in close situations instead of hearing “SIT DOWN!”
On another note, I’m not sure if my brother is going to renew our season seats, I’ve moved to Seattle and he works full time and he had trouble selling tickets to games last year at face value because of their record. He’s on the lower level too after 6 years as a season ticket holder. I’m hoping he can find someone to go halves with him.
by jtkelly86 on Jan 7, 2011 11:37 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd
At least with all the bandwagoners gone, we will be able to stand up and cheer for our team in close situations instead of hearing "SIT DOWN!"
Or getting chided because I happen to drunkenly yell a curse word or two when the ump blows a call at a big moment, Aybar bobbles a ball, or JD Drew is on the field 30 feet away from me.
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Jan 7, 2011 11:44 AM PST up reply actions
That's just 'cause we don't stoop to their level.
It’s a little thing called class.
by Angelsfan015 on Jan 7, 2011 12:12 PM PST up reply actions
There's a difference between class and boring
Not pouring beer on people and whatnot – that’s class. Constantly telling people to “sit down” or “be quiet” or whatever is boring…and also a little classless if you ask me. This is baseball; it’s meant for mass enjoyment. If enthusiasm bothers you (not you personally, just in general), then go watch golf or something.
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Jan 7, 2011 12:22 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed. Enthusiasm is one thing.
Rudeness is another. I am all for enthusiastic fans at the game but not to the detriment of others around them to the point it ruins the game. The other option for those sitting near said enthused fan, is to be enthused as well. That would be the best outcome.
Think about it – A stadium full of loud, alive fans, all trying to outdo each other – I would be in Heaven. That would be a great place to watch a game!
by Angelsfan015 on Jan 7, 2011 12:36 PM PST up reply actions
you already are in Heaven
Halos Heaven to be exact
"You realize that Ive been posting on AN since 07 on this name and I am one of the most rec'ed posters there right?" - Some douche named DFA from AN
by 2pintsofbooze on Jan 7, 2011 12:40 PM PST up reply actions
Stay classy...
Not pouring beer on people and whatnot
I cannot wait to see the Angels somewhere besides MFY stadium.
I hear what you're saying
I would never ask anyone to sit down, but games do go 3 + hours… it’s OK to take a seat for a bit. Especially when I go to a game after I’ve been on my feet all day at work, it’s nice to sit back, sip a beer and enjoy the game. I’ll stand when something worth standing over happens.
Well yeah, I'm not saying the whole time
Just like, 2 strikes, 2 outs, 2 on moments in big games and whatnot. I’m more than happy to shout sitting down the rest of the time…sometimes it gives you a better base of support for your lungs.
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Jan 7, 2011 3:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
you guys don't stand for the entire game?
let me guess, you don’t even know who the quarterbacks are for each team either?
"You realize that Ive been posting on AN since 07 on this name and I am one of the most rec'ed posters there right?" - Some douche named DFA from AN
by 2pintsofbooze on Jan 7, 2011 3:33 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Already renewed my 20 gamer
And booked a trip to Spring Training. Sent the form and money in weeks ago. Being a fan is like being a friend, you stick with it through the ups and downs. Hopefully, I’ll be able to afford a plan for the rest of my life.
Agree. You absolutely DO stick with a friend.
But you don’t stand by silently if that friend is shitting the bed being self destructive.
"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." ~Bill Veeck
Right.
You take pictures, post them and tag them as soon as possible.
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Jan 7, 2011 3:10 PM PST up reply actions
Shit people, we NEED bandwagoners.
I have sat in plenty of games when there were no bandwagoners. They were great seats, too! The first three rows behind home plate. I saw some awesome baseball. The sun was warm and the parking was easy and the lines were short at the concessions stands. And I got to see some of the great players of the 60’s and 70’s up close and personal. The problem was, almost every single one of those great players were in the uniform of the other teams.
The army of fair-weather fans give more money to Arte than I will even be able to give. They pay for more players. They keep the prices of food and beverage down. They pay for the music and fireworks and coaches. And they flood into HH and click through to the very ads that I block, keeping this sanctuary afloat. Most important of all, they stuff the seats (pushing me further and further from the field) and rationalize greater coverage on television, radio and online streams. And my Halo fever is better served because of them.
The challenge is, with bandwagoners, their commitment to the team comes with the simple request: that the object of their affection maintain a fair commitment to winning. Not just 83 games, but playoff games. The World Series, if possible. It is a reasonable contract to be imposed on anyone who chooses to take stewardship of a public trust in a national sport. And if ownership waffles on that commitment, it is perfectly predictable that these fans will relocate to other entertainment opportunities.
And this is why we die-hards need to react with alarm when ownership fails in the task assigned to them by the fair-weathers, and miss the opportunities to sustain, or even improve, the competitive standing of the team. A clear failure by the FO will result in the loss of the fair-weathers. And the loss of the fair-weathers will strip the franchise of financial muscle. If we think that it is tough to go into the 2010 FA market carrying a 2009 budget, just wait until we go into a 2011 FA market carrying a 1997 budget.
By definition, we die-hards are the ones who have the experience and information and anlalysis to take deep measure of FO activity and make reasonable estimations as to whether or not management is honoring their contract with the fair-weathers. When they fail, we have no choice but to raise our voices and there is no shame in doing so. This does not make us bad guys, nor does it make us whiny-assed ignoramuses freely gambling with other people’s money. And it does not mean surrender. It only means that we don’t want to return to a day when those front row seats are quite often available, or go unused. I grew up in those seats. It wasn’t worth it.
Longtime fan of what has become the State College Angels of East Anaheim
by Stirrups on Jan 7, 2011 4:01 PM PST reply actions 5 recs
rec'd!
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
by Quad Fin Rider on Jan 7, 2011 8:59 PM PST up reply actions
+3! (see below for breakdown)
+1 for the argument well stated and an additional +2 for the use of “ignoramuses.”
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