Pregame Guesses:
I thought that this year was going to be different, but it isn’t: For the 6th time in 7 seasons it is terribly apparent that the American League West race will not be involving 2 of the 4 teams in the division: Seattle and Texas. The Oakland Athletics are once again mutably reshuffling into a division contender. The Mariners and Rangers are about to give up treading water before even May this season.
The Mariners had their “healthy” season last year – this one has seen them lose their ace closer for three weeks and their rotation ace for three starts, but worst of all they have chosen to re-sign the worst mid-30s starting catcher in the division – and perhaps the American League – to a three year deal. Seattle General Manager Bill Bavasi is the man who locked up Gary Disarcina to a 7-year, $15 million deal (and got exactly one good season out of that), so this should not boggle the mind – what boggles the mind is how the organization that oversees Bavasi and company still retains their employment. Oh, and by the way, the re-signing of Kenji Johjima blocks a top young catching prospect – perhaps Seattle will trade this AAA catcher to the Red Sox for Heathcliffe Slocumb.
Meanwhile Texas is about to fire manager Ron Washington as they continue to wander the Pudge-free desert for forty seasons. If Jarrod Saltamachia and Josh Hamilton can put it together, the Rangers are looking at 65 wins this season, easy.
And then there was Oakland. They traded Dan Haren to begin rebuilding and they got prospects that could be kicking our asses as soon as this week. While their vaunted hi-tech Fremont Stadium has been pushed back a season or two, look for its viability to disappear and Portland or Las Vegas to wiggle the almighty dollar in front of Lew “The Tarper” Wolff. You think Peter Magowan likes the empty seats and Candle-Bell Park enough to tell Bud Selig to forget about the gambling stigma of Whiskey Pete’s North? Do you see dollar signs going to free agents and even an occasional MRI to an aching AAA pitcher or two? The cheapskate ways of Fremont have been lauded in Moneyball but derided in a slew of injuries to players who would have been better treated by an organization that spent money on prevention instead of publicists. This is all in the near future, but it is near, and it is green and gold.
But they are here, and right now they are cobbling together something that might resemble a team of contenders. Picking up Frank Thomas will allow them to soon cut Curveball Cust assuming he does not trip himself into injury galloping in an outfield spot that 3 out of 5 fans can play better. An arm or two allows them to conceivably hang close in July and then the caché of prospects can be turned into the foundation of a hot two-month run toward our behinds. Ever had a dog bite you in the ass? Imagine a green and gold leash being let go of on August First by a laughing Billy Beane as his re-constituted mutt becomes pure-breed pitbull.
They're in our house for four games now, so let’s put some distance, all four games worth if possible, between us and the Fremont doghouse. Now. The pooch is here, let’s send this puppy to 2nd place obedience school starting Monday night.
0 recs | 97 comments
1 - 2 - 1
my pix
Rev Halofan - April 27, 2008
2 - 1 - 1
Big Easy Halofan - April 27, 2008
3 - 2 - 1
HawaiiHaloFan35 - April 27, 2008
2-2-2
THE VOICE - April 27, 2008
2 - 1 - 1
Funke5ive - April 27, 2008
1-2-1
rev, i swear i typed before i looked.
NoDakHalo - April 27, 2008
1-1-1
stezo - April 27, 2008
2-2-2
vladtheimpaler - April 27, 2008
2 - 1 - 1
angels.vlad27 - April 27, 2008
4-2-3
Match Day 5 - April 27, 2008
3 - 2 - 0
howiestheman - April 27, 2008
1-2-1
Oakland doesn’t scare me. A bunch of youngsters no one has seen peaking in April is nothing new. Neither is same said group of youngsters falling apart down the stretch as they learn what 162 games is really like.
Caseys Kiss of Death - April 27, 2008
2, 1, 2
K3YEROUT - April 27, 2008
2,1,1
wings - April 27, 2008
2 - 2 - 1
b0rd3rline - April 27, 2008
1 -0- 1
jimmuscomp - April 27, 2008
2-2-1
ineptituderunsamok - April 27, 2008
2-1-1
ihearhowie2.0 - April 27, 2008
2-2-1
Chris Knapp's Sac - April 27, 2008
3-2-0
Sorbo182 - April 27, 2008
wow
channel 7 just gave angel high-lights before the dodgers
remember when the angels just had their scores announced?
hittheg - April 27, 2008
0 * 2 * 0
wahoo.
scottnak - April 28, 2008
0*0*1
yayhoo
44FAN - April 28, 2008
0 - 0 - 0
bc56274 - April 28, 2008
2-3-2
anaheim angels - April 28, 2008
1-2-1
hauldog - April 28, 2008
3-2-0
haloforlife - April 28, 2008
3 - 2 - 1
The Bees are still Stinging.
acuda27 - April 28, 2008
1 - 1 - 1
Charlatan Avec Halo - April 28, 2008
1-1-1
stuck in Romania - April 28, 2008
2-1-1
The Limey - April 28, 2008
0-0-0
PhiSlamma - April 28, 2008
2-1-0
calikraze - April 28, 2008
Guesses
3
1
1
Time to start putting the division away. Go Halos!
foxpaw - April 28, 2008
Maicir & Mathis temporarily out. Napoli wobbly.
From DiGiovanna:
Second baseman Maicer Izturis left in the seventh because of lower-back spasms, and the Angels will probably make another roster move today, recalling Matt Brown or Brandon Wood from triple-A Salt Lake to bolster their infield. But not even that minor injury could put a damper on their trip.
Mathis caught the flu, too. Napoli sweating bullits:
Chris Bootcheck rejoined the Angels on Sunday after spending two days in the team hotel because of severe flu-like symptoms, but the virus that sidelined the reliever now appears to have hit catcher Jeff Mathis, who had similar symptoms Sunday.
And after Sunday’s game, catcher Mike Napoli expressed concern that he might be coming down with something, saying he was feeling a little weak.
Anaheim/Salt Lake Shuttle still in business.
wumbug - April 28, 2008
Some downhome hospitality
I’m thinking some of our “flu ridden” Angels, go hang out in the visitors locker room. Let’s get these games played on even ground!
mamaz boys - April 28, 2008
Funny...
I was thinking the Red Sox must have done that to us, given how many guys they had down with the flu when the Halos were in Boston.
thetooth - April 28, 2008
Blame Bootcheck
He worked out in the Boston weight room.
foxpaw - April 28, 2008
Time to bring up Wood, I say!
Caseys Kiss of Death - April 28, 2008
Wood and Bobby Wilson came up today
Arredondo and Thompson were sent down.
Wytelitning - April 28, 2008
Wow
I must be selectively illiterate or something. :(
Caseys Kiss of Death - April 28, 2008
2-2-2
S0uthie - April 28, 2008
221
101halo - April 28, 2008
My Picks
3
2
2
billhune - April 28, 2008
1-1-1
go huskies! i mean, go angels!
Carl Johnson - April 28, 2008
picks
2
2
2
Deadend - April 28, 2008
Weaver Not Dreaming, but Dealing Guesses
2, 1, 2
Hapyorange - April 28, 2008
2 - 1 - 0
Hopefully this is a quick one tonight as GTA IV drops at midnight…
Erik121 - April 28, 2008
3-2-2
HaloDutch - April 28, 2008
2-2-2
sipperphoto - April 28, 2008
2-1-0
mamaz boys - April 28, 2008
2 2 2
tanana40 - April 28, 2008
1-2-0
time to put oakland in their place… second!
Chone's Chonies - April 28, 2008
Picks
3
0
2
Chompo - April 28, 2008
3-2-1
Halo84653 - April 28, 2008
1-1-1
BoulderBrian - April 28, 2008
1-1-1
kingfish - April 28, 2008
1-1-1
shiftyeyedgoat - April 28, 2008
2-1-2
Los Angeles de Anaheim - April 28, 2008
2-1-1
Four Ts - April 28, 2008
2-2-4
College - April 28, 2008
1 - 1 - 1
Yetijuice - April 28, 2008
3-1-1
Clip Show - April 28, 2008
1/1/2
Jangel7 - April 28, 2008
4-1-1
KendrickExperience - April 28, 2008
1 - 1 - 0
gorams77 - April 28, 2008
2-2-1
Shiq - April 28, 2008
2-1-2
autry's cowboys - April 28, 2008
2-2-1
Versolt - April 28, 2008
2/1/1
ReggieBullits - April 28, 2008
2 - 2 - 1
SoCalWine - April 28, 2008
1 - 1 - 1
Downing Rules - April 28, 2008
MINE
3
0
2
Wytelitning - April 28, 2008
returning to a comfortable interdivision relationship
2 1 1
TheTypingFiend - April 28, 2008
2-2-1
joebernie - April 28, 2008
those sheets are dirty and so are you
2-1-2
surfpunk - April 28, 2008
sweet. descendents.
1-2-3
Higz - April 28, 2008
descendents rule
they are the best
surfpunk - April 28, 2008
3-2-1
let’s kick some A’ss.
jjackflash - April 28, 2008
3-1-2
Wittness - April 28, 2008
1--0--2
keep on winning!!
im4kiss - April 28, 2008
2-1-1
sas723 - April 28, 2008
1-2-1
red floyd - April 28, 2008
2-0-0
SFV88 - April 28, 2008
picks
3
1
0
bighead - April 28, 2008
1-0-1
Gaudin sounds more like a San Francisco type restaurant that has great sourdough instead of a pitcher.
swiss mcgee - April 28, 2008
I thought Gaudin was one of those cheesy Japanese sci-fi characters...
one of the ones that fought Godzilla.
Downing Rules - April 28, 2008
2-2-2
easy
WillGoAngels27 - April 28, 2008
1 - 1 - 1
UCIHalo - April 28, 2008
2 - 1 - 1
Brew Angel - April 28, 2008
3-2-1
God, it’s busy…
ScottD00 - April 28, 2008
1 -1 - 0
yeswecan - April 28, 2008
picks
3/2/1
sunshine thermometer - April 28, 2008
2-2-1
Red - April 28, 2008
picks
2-2-0
jtkelly86 - April 28, 2008
Big Series!
1-1-1
goodvibe61 - April 28, 2008
2-2-1
highlandhalo - April 28, 2008
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