Angels Fan Fest A Winner

by Rev Halofan on Mar 28, 2011 9:49 AM PDT in Angels News

The highlight of Sunday's preseason Angels win over the Padres was Mark Trumbo hitting a 3-run blast to dead Centerfield and Dan Haren dominating in his 70+ pitch effort. But the game might have taken a close second place in the hearts of Angels fans who were treated to a FanFest to remember.

Ah yes, the familiar stadium and the Big A surrounded by empty parking lot.

A closer look reveals some new faces in the front windows: Torii Hunter (been there before), Dan Haren, Vernon Wells (Tony Reagins works here), Jered Weaver. Covered by the helmets in this view are windows on either side that celebrate the 50th anniversary. It is tough to go ten feet in the stadium and not hear about the fiftieth anniversary of team.

Shortstop Erick Aybar competed in a Fan Fest penmanship contest.

New signage in Centerfield on the left celebrates the Arte-era drawing power of the team, while if you have to make a bet, bet that the Division title banner on the right there might be gone by opening day.

Bobby Abreu seriously smiles all the time. Alberto Callaspo is caught in a pensive moment deciding which sharpie is best for the occasion. Players were asked to sign a wide variety of merchandise and body parts. They all kind of become chemistry experts on avoiding smudges, smears and typos.

I kept trying to sneak into fan fest through one of these doors and kept thinking "Man, this team stinks!"

While Howie Kendrick signed autographs, Maicer Izturis sang a duet of Michael Jackson's "Black Or White" with a fan.

Angels alum Bobby Grich did a stint on the stadium stage with AM-830 pseudopersonality Rodger Lodge who is not pictured here becuase he was wearing a court-jester like ski cap that made him look less ridiculous than he normally does just wearing street clothes with that "didn't shower again" appearance of his. Weird Trivia: Lodge is married to Grich's ex-wife.

Angels prospect Mike Trout played his second ever exhibition game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Sunday. The first was last season's "Futures" Game. Sunday was the first ever time Trout took the home field in front of fans wearing his Angels uniform.

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Damn it Rev, I'm suffering envy here

I had to drive through a blizzard in Oregon about an hour ago. I need to move back.

Unlike this cat, my love for the LAA will never die.

by NathanielS on Mar 27, 2011 10:49 PM PDT reply actions

That Trumbo bomb was nice, eh?

Were you able to see that?

by Raaddad on Mar 27, 2011 11:48 PM PDT reply actions

the Trumbo HR was special...

IT took a hard bounce from the seats back onto the field. Mashed with authority

by Rev Halofan on Mar 28, 2011 12:40 AM PDT up reply actions

5K was fun.

Almost got beat by my 14-year old. (Soon, I’m toast).

Where were you all of you girls?

"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

by LAASurfin on Mar 28, 2011 12:03 AM PDT reply actions

eating pancakes in Hawaii

by eyespy on Mar 28, 2011 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions

New York,

the usual. :(
Hope to be there next year.

by cath619 on Mar 28, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Recovering from a hangover.

Definitely talked about doing it Saturday night…never got up in time.

Bring on the OREO Line!

by angelskid2210 on Mar 28, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I was there, it was pretty nice.

I finished in 24:35, which was all right for my first 5K. 244th place!

It was super fun to run through the stadium. Everyone was on the big screen!

by RubixsQube on Mar 28, 2011 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

i cannot run and look at a big screen at the same time

appreciate your ambidexterity

by Rev Halofan on Mar 28, 2011 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

lazying it up in Mo Hill

Meet up for Angels vs. A's Doubleheader Saturday, Jul 16, 2011
It will rock like the Catalina Wine Mixer!!!!!!!!!

by DAD OF VLAD on Mar 28, 2011 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought I recognized them

Those are the magic portals to Boston, Oakland, and Seattle

No wonder they were stinking

by eyespy on Mar 28, 2011 12:19 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Too bad I didn't go to Fan Fest and the game today,

But I scored free Laker tickets from my brother-in-law, and I couldn’t pass up free Laker tickets that weren’t in the nosebleed sections.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Mar 28, 2011 1:29 AM PDT reply actions

Speaking of Roger Lodge

Or not really, but…

What happened to Biggsy? Someone asked Jason on Angel Talk last night, and he kind of hand-waved it.

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

by red floyd on Mar 28, 2011 9:35 AM PDT reply actions

Biggsy's contract was not renewed

That is all I know.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 28, 2011 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Bringin back Hud!?!

Bring on the OREO Line!

by angelskid2210 on Mar 28, 2011 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

no

they are cultivating a guy from the Ducks broadcasts and overworking Terry Smith.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 28, 2011 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Well that sucks

First Hud, now Jeff Biggs.

by Raaddad on Mar 28, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Fanfest was OK

The autograph situation was weird though. They had multiple booths (4, I think) set up with 2 players per booth, so you checked out who was signing and then picked the line to the booth you liked best and hoped to God that the players who you wanted autographs from were still signing when you got to the front. I wanted Bobby’s auto so I got in that line and wouldn’t you know it, when I’m like 3 people away F***ing Mathis plops down into the booth. False alarm though. He showed up early or something, realized it, and then left. I got Bobby’s sig. Yay.

(BTW, Callaspo was signing alongside Abreu, and unfortunately I did not have a hot dog bun in my possession to get autographed.)

Definitely the highlight of the day was Victor and Gooby’s interview with Torii and Vernon and the discussion of who farts the most on the team. Can’t remember if there was ultimately a consensus, but it was an interesting and informative exploration nonetheless.

by Higz on Mar 28, 2011 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

LOL

I heard hot dogs make you fart a lot….with that being said, it breaks it down to Aybar and Callaspo….lol

Representing the Angels in Sin City.

by maze88 on Mar 28, 2011 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions

The Angels are going to win 103 games this year. I'm basing that solely on the excitement I get when seeing the Hunter/Haren/Wells/Weaver banners.

You heard it here first.

Whatever, dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Mar 28, 2011 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

count me in

let me get tickets for that wagon. does roster sell them? what’s the number again?

by eyespy on Mar 28, 2011 12:30 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Angels War Wagon...tickets are free, pick them up at any local Awesome dealer, or dial 1-800-WE SO EXCITED

Angels 2011: Breakin’ necks and cashin’ checks.

Whatever, dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Mar 28, 2011 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

that Trumbo HR was awesome

I was sitting by the right field foul pole and before the game started I told my gf that I predict he’s gonna hit a homer. Her being a dodger fan, she was like meh. So when he hit that ball, it was one hell of a liner and it kept going up! Didn’t look like it was gonna stop. Amazing stuff. Bourjos’s triple was pretty sick too.

by GutterDem0n on Mar 28, 2011 10:40 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

shoulda made one of those bets

“if i am right you gotta do exactly what i say” sort of bets, girlfriends love losing those bets.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 28, 2011 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

My buddys place, where we have Angels game watching parties, is up in the Olive Heights area of Orange, on a hill, and it's helped me win a few bets like that.

Mainly because you can see the stadium, and on a couple occasions ive seen the fireworks go off in the distance, meanwhile the tv is on delay. So I throw out the “i bet 20 bucks he hits a homerun on the next pitch” type bets.

Whatever, dude.

by Mayheminthehood on Mar 28, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

Haha! Nice...

Lets just hope that in the near future when you place one of those bets, the firework people don’t mess up and accidentaly shoot em out a la Pirates style…Lol

Representing the Angels in Sin City.

by maze88 on Mar 28, 2011 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought it was fun...

I did not wait in the lines for autographs. I’m glad I didn’t too – especially with the 2+ hour break. I just walked around and took pictures.
Roger Lodge was quite annoying (nothing unusual there right?) But all in all it was a fun time.

Cautious yet very optimistic about the 2011 Season. Go Angels.

by angelsfan7 on Mar 28, 2011 11:12 AM PDT reply actions

I just finished watching video clips of Trumbo and Fleet Pete yesterday.

First base to home on a double by Fleet, then a Trumbomb that got out of the park in 2 seconds.

I’m seriously effin giddy right now. Let the games begin! A new era is beginning in the halls of Halo history.

Official prediction: The Angels will win the AL west this season.

by RexTookMyStash on Mar 28, 2011 11:13 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

His size and his swing there reminded me of Troy Glaus

The sort of easy effortless way he drilled that ball (slightly) to the opposite field and over the wall

by Raaddad on Mar 28, 2011 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Good day at the ballpark

I didn’t wait in line for the autograph booths, but hung out around the season seat holder booth and met DiSar and Grich. Also, stopped by to see Hudler who was really fun to be around.

As for the game, Haren looked great and the Trumbo shot was encouraging.

by JeffJoiner on Mar 28, 2011 3:32 PM PDT reply actions