Padres 5, Angels 3 - CBSSports.com
Kyle Blanks went 2 for 2 with a three-run homer to lead the San Diego Padres to a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. The Angels took an early lead in the first inning when Hideki Matsui singled off the glove of Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to drive in Bobby Abreu. Los Angeles third baseman Brandon Wood drove in Kendry Morales with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull the Angels within 3. Morales added a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth.
Angels 7, Indians 6 - CBSSports.com
Cleveland pitcher Erik Stiller overthrew first base to allow Mike Trout to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 7-6 win over the Indians on Thursday. Reckling five innings and allowed five hits and two runs, one earned, winning in relief.
The 2012 Los Angeles Angels pulled one out over the Indians.
Scioscia tabs Weaver for Opening Day - angelsbaseball.com
As anticipated, Jered Weaver is manager Mike Scioscia's choice to start for the Angels in the 2010 season opener Monday night at Angel Stadium against the Twins. "Jered Weaver will be our Opening Day starter, followed by Joe Saunders," Scioscia said following a 5-3 loss Thursday night to the Padres. "We're going to wait and see after that. We're looking for Ervin Santana to follow, and we'll see how the rest of the guys fold in."
Yeah, this wasn't much of a surprise, if you've been paying some attention to how things are with the Angels staff, Weaver is the logical choice (for the second year in a row). I find it interesting that Saunders is tabbed to start game two. I like it. If Santana goes #3, the Angel rotation should go right-left-right-left-right if Kazmir and Pineiro follow. Arm the alternating arms important? I don't know, but being obsessive-compulsive as I am, I love the symmetry.
MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK...
Freeway Series isn’t the diamond lane it used to be - latimes.com
"My first years [with the Angels] it was big for me and Mike because a lot of great things happened to us in the Dodgers organization," said Hatcher, who won a World Series title with the team in 1988. "It meant something. "Now, most of the people we played for, worked for, except for Tommy Lasorda, it's all new people over there. It's probably a different feeling, but the memories will always be there for us, so it's always good to have an opportunity to go in there."
The weekend before the regular season used to be an important weekend for me. It was the only time my Dodger-fan dad and I could go to a game and root for our favorite team at the same time. My dad passed away more than 10 years ago, so we never got to see a game together "that counted", but I do remember when they were "special".
Welcome back, Angels and Dodgers; Los Angeles needs you - latimes.com
Has it been that long? Have we forgotten that much? While those examples are extreme, the message is clear. With every year that passes without a championship, baseball around here slowly loses its buzz. It's losing its sense of history and its cherished spot in the hearts of fans who find their attentions stretched and their memories fading. The crowds have never been larger, but the faith, it seems, has never been weaker. Two teams, one combined championship in the last 21 years, that just doesn't cut it. During that time, the Lakers have won four titles, USC football has won two and baseball's entire title output has been exactly matched by the Ducks.
Saunders enjoys final spring outing - angelsbaseball.com
Angels southpaw Joe Saunders kept the ball down and in the strike zone across five innings in his final spring tuneup Thursday night at Angel Stadium, holding the Padres to two earned runs on four hits while striking out four men and getting nine groundouts. "What I was happy about was my changeup," Saunders said, having thrown 75 pitches in preparation for his season debut scheduled for Tuesday night against the Twins. "My changeup was working, and my sinker was working, too. I let my infield do their thing again."
I've said it before, and here it is again..."We don't need no stinkin' #1!"
Trout leads Angels past Tribe in finale - angelsbaseball.com
This split-squad game brought out a lineup light on the regulars for the Halos. The Angels got some early power and productivity from right fielder Terry Evans, who doubled home a run in the first, and center fielder Mike Trout, who homered in the third. Back-to-back doubles from Trout and leadoff man Brad Coon scored another run in the fifth. Outfielder Coby Smith came off the bench and contributed an RBI double in the seventh.
What is it with the Angels and fish-named outfielders? Why didn't Kevin Bass play for them? Should Napoli change his name to Groper?
Torii's Storiis: Angels: Built to win
I think we're built to win the division. There's a reason why the Angels have won the AL West three years in a row and five of the past six. These guys know how to compete, how to win. I thought we had a great year last season, considering everything we went through losing Nick Adenhart. We'll never forget Nick, what he meant to us. This team has a lot of heart. Our mission this season is to take it all the way. We can't wait to get started.
Really good blog post by Hunter. Added bonus...a couple new nicknames: Hideki Matsui - "The Quiet Assassin". and Kendry Morales - "Captain Caveman"
Make or break: Brandon Wood looks to start for Angels - Deseret News
Last year, Wood shortened his swing, lowered his hand and tried to be quicker with his bat. He said he's kept the same swing. Now he's just trying to lay off bad pitches and drive the good ones. Spring Mobile Park in Salt Lake City has always been good to hitters. The ball carries in the thin air, and batters can see pitches clearly there. For a power hitter like Wood, hitting at sea level is a new challenge. "If I had to go back to the minors for a third year, I was glad it was in Salt Lake City," he says. "I like the fans and I like the park. I enjoy it."
This article is from a newspaper in Salt Lake City, and it shows how cities with minor league teams have the advantage of being able to form a bond with a player long before he gets to the major leagues and continue to follow them once they're gone.
AL West preview: Can anyone end the Angels' reign? - Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports
There's certainly something special being built in Seattle, but there's a good chance that it won't be enough this year to overtake the Angels, who have been the division's premier franchise for a decade even though Bill Stoneman and Tony Reagins never got/get the accolades they deserve. I know a lot of the projection systems are down on the Angels — some are even picking them last in the 75-win range — but I'll believe that collapse when I see it.
A preview.
AL West preview: predictions and projections - Sporting News staff reports
The Angels have won three consecutive AL West titles and five of the past six. However, the improved Mariners figure to tighten up the race, and the Rangers should build upon their 87-win season in 2009. With Ben Sheets anchoring a young and impressive rotation, the A's also could pick up some momentum.
Hey look! A preview!
Rangers' Ryan expects at least 92 victories - SI.com
"If the injuries are not critical, and we don't have people that underperform, then I don't think there's a reason that we shouldn't be capable of winning 92 games,'' Ryan said. "I just feel like it is a reasonable figure. ... I don't believe I'm just pulling a figure out of the sky.''
I didn't think Ryan was pulling that figure out of the sky...more like his ass. Seriously though, the Rangers gave the Halos a good race for most of last season, and I think they'll push the them again this year...maybe even until September.
MLB spring training buzz - FOX Sports on MSN
The Brewers made a run at free-agent outfielder Jermaine Dye within the past week, but the talks failed to produce an agreement, major-league sources say. Dye, 36, said earlier this offseason that he turned down a one-year, $3 million offer from the Cubs, who instead signed another free-agent outfielder, Xavier Nady, for $3.3 million. The reason for the impasse between Dye and the Brewers is not known. But the Brewers are not happy with Hart, 28, who will earn $4.8 million this season.
Jermaine Dye is an odd cat. Obviously, the situation's different, but if I were unemployed and someone offered me a job doing something I loved, I'd do it for minimum wage. Dye might be doing Edmonds a favor...
Sabbatical over, Edmonds zeroes in on Brewers job - CBSSports.com
Now, he's been one of the most pleasant surprises in the Brewers' camp. He's not going to win a starting job, not with slugger Ryan Braun in left, Corey Hart in right and speedy Carlos Gomez in center. But in a right-handed-heavy lineup, Edmonds' lefty bat will find plenty of playing time the way things stand now. "I can see him getting 250 at-bats," Brewers manager Ken Macha says. "I don't think that will be a problem. If he plays two or three times a week against right-handed pitching, that's 75 games right there, times four at-bats ... 250 at-bats, I can see that happening easily. "His defense has been terrific. I'm good with him in left field, center field or right field. His arm is still very good, and accurate."
The Dye article suggests the Brewers are unhappy with Corey Hart. This could lead to Edmonds having a full-time job in Milwaukee, even after taking an entire year off.
Trial venue change sought in Angel pitcher's death - The Orange County Register
Defense attorneys for a convicted drunken-driver charged with murder stemming from the alcohol-related crash that killed three people – including Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart – are seeking to have his trial moved out of Orange County because of adverse pre-trial publicity.Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey scheduled a hearing on the motion to move the trial elsewhere for May 28, and also pushed back Gallo's trial date from April 19 to July 26. Nigel Pearson, the father of victim Henry Pearson, told Toohey at the hearing last week that the families of the victims opposed any postponement in the start of Gallo's trial. "I plead with you not to delay our suffering much longer," Pearson said.
"The witness has rights", but come on, why is this taking so long? Does it go towards Gallo's character to prolong this even more (not in a good way)? If I were to do something like this, I think the first step in my road to redemption would to make it easier on my victims. What a dickhead.
April 2 - BR Bullpen
1997 - For the first time in MLB history, the salary of one player is more than the payroll of an entire team. The Chicago White Sox will pay Albert Belle $10 million for the season which is $928,333 more than the entire Pittsburgh Pirates payroll.
2001 - For the first time in major league history, a position player born in Japan participates in a regular season game. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, hitless in his first three at-bats, singles in the seventh innings to ignite a two-run rally, and bunts for another single in the eighth in his ML debut at Safeco Field.
Happy 65 to Sutton and his 'fro...
1945 - Don Sutton, pitcher; All-Star, Hall of Famer
This cracked me up:
MLB Network Commercial: Beyond Delusional
The A-Team:
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Young, Ch pitched to 1 batter in the 5th. HBP: Aldridge, C (by Lara, A), Blanks (by Saunders). Pitches-strikes: Young, Ch 74-45, Ramos, C 10-7, Gregerson 17-13, Burke, G 4-4, Bell 22-11, Lara, A 25-17, Saunders 75-44, Kohn 25-16, Cassevah 5-3, Stokes 17-10, Jepsen 12-8, Fuentes 11-9. Groundouts-flyouts: Young, Ch 1-5, Ramos, C 0-1, Gregerson 1-2, Burke, G 1-1, Bell 1-1, Lara, A 0-4, Saunders 9-2, Kohn 0-0, Cassevah 0-0, Stokes 2-1, Jepsen 1-0, Fuentes 0-2. Batters faced: Young, Ch 19, Ramos, C 3, Gregerson 5, Burke, G 2, Bell 6, Lara, A 7, Saunders 19, Kohn 6, Cassevah 1, Stokes 4, Jepsen 3, Fuentes 4. Inherited runners-scored: Ramos, C 1-0, Lara, A 1-0, Cassevah 1-0. Umpires: HP: Paul Emmel. 1B: Todd Tichenor. 2B: Mike Muchlinski. 3B: Mark Ripperger. Weather: 58 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, Out to CF. T: 3:08. Att: 24,875. |
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The other guys (sorry, not you Nap):
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Groundouts-flyouts: Laffey 7-2, Rivera, S 5-0, Sipp 0-1, Lee, Ch 1-1, Lewis, J 1-2, Stiller 1-1, Palmer 5-3, Browning 1-0, Reckling 4-7. Batters faced: Laffey 13, Rivera, S 8, Sipp 3, Lee, Ch 5, Lewis, J 5, Stiller 4, Palmer 16, Browning 3, Reckling 22. Umpires: HP: Paul Schrieber. 1B: Gary Darling. 2B: . 3B: Jim Wolf. Weather: 66 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, L to R. T: 2:33. Att: 4,485. April 1, 2010 |
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