A close game in the Bronx saw a few bounces of the ball go against the Angels and deprive them of the chance to appear in their 2nd World Series.
Another night, another ridiculous strike zone as Yankees Lefty Andy Pettitte had his way with the outside of the plate to Angels right handed hitters.
Meanwhile Joe Saunders was squeezed to a point of ridicule with a Bases loaded walk on an obvious strike to Alex Rodriguez to put the Yankees ahead.
A season full of promise led to the franchise's 2nd greatest season, but a few miscues in a few games was all it took for a sad implosion.
To everyone who is a part of the Halos Heaven community, thank you for joining us. This offseason promises to be a great time to be an armchair Angels fan with many decisions facing the club and Halos Heaven will be leading the dialogue on the internet.
Congratulations to the New York Yankees on winning the American League Pennant. On the eve of the 7th anniversary of Scott Spiezio's Game 6 HR in the World Series, I can only envy that Yankee fans have a few more games of the magic ahead. Please enjoy the wonder and awe of the greatest game in the world. Baseball.
0 recs | 611 comments
I hope the Phillies Sweep
and every single Yankee player bleeds out rectally.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
I could care less who wins at this point.
I will be totally indifferent to the World Series.
turs12 - October 25, 2009
Me too.
TSamn15 - October 25, 2009
Me too.
When the Angels are out, baseball is over.
Rally Manatee - October 25, 2009
That's the way I see it.
JoseGuillenSux - October 25, 2009
Amen
there’s only one reason to watch baseball for me… halos
NW angels Fan - October 25, 2009
+1
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
+1
chairmanofthebar - October 25, 2009
+1
Clutch - October 25, 2009
100% Agreed
At least we have the NFL, the NHL and the NBA starting to take up the slack.
wildwill - October 25, 2009
Yankees will sweep
thos games aren’t going to be close. I won’t know until I read about it here or open up baseball reference.com in February.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Phillies are gonna kill these guys
We tried to give them the series and it went 6. When forced to face a real lineup, the Yankees turn into one legit starter and one legit reliever, with one reliable bat.
Phils in 5.
Carl Johnson - October 25, 2009
Congrats to the Yankees
I wish I could say they deserved it.
LosAngel - October 25, 2009
they took advantage of our errors
any team that capitalizes on errors deserves a win
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
The Halos handed them three victories.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
2, really.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
2 is enough.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
Game 1, 2 and 6
Three games.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Yeah...
…when you constantly buy the best pitcher and the best position player every offseason, you’ve got to win sooner or later.
10 27 02 - October 25, 2009
+1
;)
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Nice pic,
I have one like that. They gave them out during the preseason against the rangers.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
not like this...
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
There is nothing more to say at this point, as far as I'm concerned.
But I don’t think I’ll do myself a favor and shut up. :-)
AlanFalcon - October 25, 2009
The Angels had a great season.
I’m proud of the players, the manager, and the organization. Goodnight, sweet prince(s).
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
ditto.
SoCalCMH - October 25, 2009
Awesome post...
yes, they played so great in spite of all that happened. These guys were one hell of a unit and I was proud to call them my team. They are etched in my memory as one of the best teams in Angel history. I won’t forget 2009, Angels! Thank you!
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Me too. Despite the loss of Nick and Preston, despite the big 3 being on the DL to start the season, despite it all, we kicked the hell outta the Red Sox and that made my year.
I will miss Vladdy, Figgy, Lackey, Darren, Q, Bobby and who ever else we will probaly lose.
TSamn15 - October 25, 2009
It was strike 2 to AFRAUD
Unless you’re counting more than the pitch that actually walked him.
AlanFalcon - October 25, 2009
Yep.
But, Joe would have struck him out on the next pitch. :)
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
totally...
stuck in Romania - October 25, 2009
Now we all
convert to Phillies fans, collectively, until a champion is crowned. Not much you guys could’ve done with officiating like that, nor against a team that buys the AL All-Star roster.
Wailord - October 25, 2009
Fuck that,
I’m becoming a basketball fan.
Fuck this World Series.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
Cant go wrong with the Lakers.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
+1
Baseball is dead until roughly Feb 14, or the occasional Angel news during the off-season.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Twins fan -> Angels Fan -> now Phillies Fan
dontlookback - October 25, 2009
+1
Teixeira Who? - October 25, 2009
thoughts
1) helluva year
2) the yankees played better and deserved to win. that being said, they aren’t a very likeable bunch
3) GO PHILLIES! i think ryan howard will find that right field porch much to his liking =)
4) how many days until spring training?
ZiK - October 25, 2009
+1
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
mmhmm
1) Yup. Predicted 85 wins, got 102. Pretty nice. :)
2) They didn’t play better. We played worse.
3) Fuck the Phillies, too. But Howard’s going to destroy the building with his moonshots.
4) 126.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
4) Something like 117 days til pitchers and catchers report.
AlanFalcon - October 25, 2009
Are the umps in the Yankee clubhouse yet?
Red - October 25, 2009
no they got paid before the game.
angelsfan777 - October 25, 2009
+999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
FUCK
that is all
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
fucking-a right
Sethy - October 25, 2009
complaining about the umps
so weak.
I guess we should expect it though for the publisher of this site.
Try blaming the manager or the infield or the closer….
Game 2 was what lost the series
NewportHalo - October 25, 2009
HEY BUDDY psss, come over here, , , a little closer, , , closer still , , , FUCK YOU!~!!!!!!!!!!
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
rec'd
halofan4life - October 25, 2009
at least someone watched the same 'game' I saw.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
game 2 said it all
umpires not to blame one bit.
blame the team for rolling over like pussies. post season sports is not the place to forget fundamental play
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
That 0-2 pitch to A-Rod
wish they could have it back
NewportHalo - October 25, 2009
I guess you listened on radio
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
fuck you
get the fuck off the site you cock sucker
angelsown3417 - October 25, 2009
ANYONE in the threads knows how i feel . . . .
FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!! FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!FUCK YOU BUD SELIG, FUCK YOU UMPIRES!!!!!
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Type, Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C, repeat last step 29 times.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Oops, forgot Ctrl-V.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
don't you mean cmd-c, cmd-v
oh that’s right.. I use a Mac :)
HalosFanInNorCal - October 25, 2009
tl;tr&dgaf
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
Congratulations,
Yankees.
Also thank you, Angels, for a wonderful season, full of amazing moments that I will one day be able to tell my own children while I’m at an Angels game. Thank you.
RubixsQube - October 25, 2009
congratulations umpires, for proving once again that it is possible to rig a series!
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Yankees fan here.
You guys have a Hell of an organization and a very talented team. Congrats on a hard fought series.
But, seriously, Rev, you may be the least classy fan I’ve ever met.
GMan83201 - October 25, 2009
and you can EAT MY RUNNY SHIT.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I would
but I’m too busy enjoying this victory. Enjoy your offseason.
GMan83201 - October 25, 2009
Well how about a cup a piss then??
got time for that? or you too busy celebrating a bought victory?
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
He's gone. Let it go.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
I'm sorry my team doesn't play for free like yours
Maybe with better money you could buy players that can, you know, field and throw the ball.
GMan83201 - October 25, 2009
And now I'm gone.
Seriously, to you classy Angel fans, nice series.
GMan83201 - October 25, 2009
Well, in that case.
Light him up again.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Hey Dude--You're really not contributing to our image here
This guy’s being what we call a “classy Yankees fan”—something I’ve rarely seen outside of my (future) brother-in-law and a few guys at the park every now and again.
Let’s encourage him to come back and be classy, instead of pissing.
Clutch - October 25, 2009
HEY DUDE, eh eh, WE JUST GOT FUCKED OR DID YOU NOT NOTICE????
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Umps or not
Telling other fans who are actually being decent to go eat shit is not right.
Go cool off for a while and come back when you’re rational. Seriously.
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Well, he called Rev ' the least classy fan' I feel rather good about telling him to eat my runny shit.
perhaps you might think more of defending the one who makes this all possible. And who notices the games with alarming accuracy. GO REV!!!
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
-1
TIme to grow up and take the loss. Sniping off at Yankee fans is not worthwhile energy. Get a punching bag or something or a jar of vaseline.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Normally I like you . . . but right now is not the time. DONT FUCK WITH ME
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
haha
wtf?
b0rd3rline - October 25, 2009
haha?
was that funny somehow?
I like how I’m asking the guy to show some restraint, yet I’m fuckin’ with him.
Whatever. Must suck to be a sore loser.
I look at this season as a success. If you want to come after me, BBV, I’ll be at Ontario airport at 4:30AM to welcome the team home. See you there. Instead of crying, I’m gonna be CHEERING MY HEROES.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
It's not about 'coming after you'. That is rididculous. as is me flying over 1000 miles to be at the Ontario airport.
Don’t tell me to ‘growup andtake the loss’ or something about a ‘jar of vaseline’ I’m not the one who failed to call several strikes in that crucial inning. Nor am I one to have someone try to shut me up after a terrible elimination loss.
If you even bothered to read the whole thread, you might overstand what was going on. As it is you might as well use the ‘vaseline’
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I already cleared the pipes last night...
but thanks. I understand you need to vent, but taking it out on EVERYONE isn’t a great way to do it. Start your own fanpost where you just blow it all off, but you are making us all look like a bunch of idiots and I do not appreciate it.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
so when you do 'it' its' ok. but when someone else does 'it' and you don't like it, it's a problem.
go start your dictatorship somewhere else.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I wish I could go too.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
Me too.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
My God, there's two of you...
The Limey - October 26, 2009
The second post belongs. I've noticed this before, when there's a flurry of posts and I'm on the laptop,
my posts show up in strange places.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
I personally rofl'ed.
Eat a bag of severed dog cocks, GMan.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
thank you shifty, for your excellent analysis. I heard MLB Network is hiring.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
...what?
I’m not sure how to interpret what you wrote, so I’ll assume you know I was backing you up,
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
oh yah, I am totally with you
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
My reply was a bit weird in internet world
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Nah
I feel your pain man but just let him go.
Besides, Rev is still a saint by Yankee fan standards.
Teixeira Who? - October 25, 2009
Ha! Rec'd
Clutch - October 25, 2009
really?
he could’ve said much, MUCH worse things in this situation.
get over it. go celebrate.
howiestheman - October 25, 2009
x
figgifig - October 25, 2009
ROFL!!! Haha!!!
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
Powerglove on...
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
hell if Branta is wearing his power glove
we should have put him in to pitch…
figgifig - October 25, 2009
exactly, especially when he is a haxor.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Whoa! I don't know whether to laugh or worry about you.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
its not really him
don’t ask me how I found the pic…cause I don’t remember. :)
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Me too.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
actually, Rev was pretty gracious, read the bottom of his post
tanana40 - October 25, 2009
Thanks. Enjoy the 4-game series coming up...
Phillies have nothing on your guys.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
fuck you
angelsown3417 - October 25, 2009
I'm curious
Where does one buy a pennant? No not the felt kind that kids hang on their walls, I mean an actual MLB pennant? Is there a store or do you order it from some catalog? Online?
What’s it like to be a trophy wife gman, because I was just looking and your team of hookers in pinstripes are already committed to $166 million dollars next year for just 12 players.
And that doesn’t even count the cost of the umps and whatever Steinbrenner still owes Selig for reinstating him despite his lifetime ban from the game. Talk about classy, ask Dave Winfield about it.
Any chance your team starts playing with buckles on their shoes next year. Or if they’ll change their name to the Goldman-Sachs Robber-Yankees.
And by the way your $1.5 billion whiffle-ball stadium is officially the Castro street of MLB. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Los Angeles de Inglewood - October 26, 2009
Kendry, Saundo, and Kazmir get the blame
Kendry came up in two HUGE AB’s, with two HUGE chances to put the Angels ahead, and quite simply he absolutely BLEW IT.
We needed a big start from Saunders, and tight zone or not, he just couldn’t do it.
Kazmir put the game out of reach, simple and done. We expected more out of the guy with a lifetime 2.67 ERA against the Skanks and who is also, you know, a STARTING PITCHER and should be as dominant as Santana and Weaver coming out of the pen.
Congrats to the Skanks, but Fuck ’Em.
Let’s see a PHILPEAT IN PHILLY! WOOOO LET’S DO THIS PHILLIES!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Sorry, can't put the blame on Saundo
giving up three runs against the Yankees in NY is not bad. You’re closer to the truth with KENDRY. He didn’t get the key he we needed when he could have TIED IT WITH A SINGLE. Think that was the 6th inning. He also gave up on the foul pop in the inning the Yankees scored their first three.
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Exactly--It's Kendry more than most. But when we need a huge start from our starter, he can't just go 3 and a third, either!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
3.1 innings from your starting pitcher is terrible.
TheTypingFiend - October 25, 2009
don't blame Saunders?
He was awful tonight. 3 runs in 3 1/3 is terrible. Morales isn’t as good as many here rate him and did fine this series. Figgy is the one who deserves blame, along with the defense and Saunders/Kazmir.
NewportHalo - October 25, 2009
Are you kidding me? 3 runs in 3 and change innings pitched.
Saundo is the clear BOTG for making us go to the pen early. Unfortunately, Scioscia was in the shitter for the first 4 innings or he would have been taken out sooner.
snowhor - October 25, 2009
He was doing OK until the fourth and that Jeter AB.
If Kendry catches that pop-up, Saunders gets out of it shortly thereafter and the Halos are still up 1-0, no lasting damage done by the Yankees. Don’t blame Kendry for not wanting to potentially faceplant into the camera-wall, though!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Exactly!
If Kendry gets off his fat, lazy ass and continues to run he CATCHES THAT POP-UP.
Those runs never happen! In addition, we only scored Sauders 1 friggin run and that TOO changes the way a pitcher pitches. Just ask Lackey how important it is for the team to score EARLY RUNS. and by that I mean MORE THAN 1 RUN! It changes EVERYTHING! Plus, If not an elimination game Sosh probably keeps Saundo in and who knows, maybe that 3 runs in 3.1 becomes 3 in 6 innings which isn’t so bad. Long and short — I and many others said the Angels NEEDED TO SCORE EARLY runs in this game and WE DIDN’T. Therefore, I can’t give Saudno the BOTG. We still had a chance until Kazmir through the ball away.
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Oh, I missed your defense of KM
I disagree about the potential FACE PLANT. He had to be at least 15-20 feet from the wall when HE STOPPED RUNNING. He just fuckin stopped. ALOT of other 3b make that play. Look, Kendry was a great offensive force for us this year, but in THIS GAME he just didn’t bring it, plain and simple.
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Wasn't there a guy on 3B at that time?
If yes, Kendry catches that ball, the runner is tagged up and scores. kendry does not throw him out from way out there, running the wrong way, crashing into the tarps.
Stirrups - October 26, 2009
I think you are correct...
…and the runner on 3rd was Brett Gardner (real fast runner).
sothball - October 26, 2009
Easy to blame Saundo
Remember how many jams he got in? He’s very lucky to get charged only 3 runs. It should have been much worse.
Teixeira Who? - October 26, 2009
It was a great season. R.I.P #34 Nick Adenhart
I’ll miss seing Vlad and Lackey in Angels uniforms.
ryanfea - October 25, 2009
Vladdy isnt going anywhere.
Not after this postseason.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Vlad deserves to be back.
Goodbye Figgy and Abreau.
snowhor - October 25, 2009
We really need Lackey back if not Roy Halladay trade.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Vlad will get $5M offer from someone else.
No way the Halos offer arbitration.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Vlad mentioned that his mother is very comfortable in Anaheim
And he added “That’s always going to be the one thing I’m going to think about regarding free agency”. Which I kind of took to mean he wouldn’t be looking to head to the biggest check being waved. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I wouldn’t mind seeing Vlad back if he comes at a big discount, but I think his age and injuries prohibit the Angels offering him any big payday. His knees are pretty shot, but he still has flashes of the old Vlad.
Hoppity Hooper - October 26, 2009
I would love to see him back, honestly...
but, they will not offer arbitration, so it will have to be at a deep discount.
Downing Rules - October 26, 2009
Bye aye aye
scareduck - October 25, 2009
Thanks, Rev, for a great season, too!
Even if the ump thing is a TAD overdone…;-D
Clutch - October 25, 2009
See you next year Halo fans! You should be proud of your Angels!
Twins/Angels in the ALCS 2010!
Thanks for letting me ride along, you guys are great!
less cowbell, more 'neau - October 25, 2009
See you in the ALCS next year baby!!
You have made a secondary twinkies fan (can i call them that)
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
made me*
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
Yay! :)
fischean - October 25, 2009
Congratulations Yankees
They beat us and we certainly helped them do it. I wish I could pull for your team like I always do for any AL team not from Boston, but your “classy” fans here have made that impossible. IT’S LAKERS TIME!
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
I'm not going to blame
we had a good season, but a poor series. we got beat by a team that played better and got the breaks. that’s how the postseason goes.
i’m proud of the job our boys did this season. there’s absolutely no reason that they should have been in game 6 of the ALCS, but they were. great job, gentlemen.
i look forward to the heated debates coming up in the offseason, and more importantly, next season. we’ll get ’em next time.
howiestheman - October 25, 2009
+1
Dr.Wily - October 25, 2009
Yes yes
I whole heartedly agree. The team failed here, including the managers. In the end, we really lost to a better team, unfortunately. For whatever that means. We lost to the better team in this series.
It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, it does. I wish we had been better, I wish we would have PLAYED better, but we didn’t.
They matched up better than we did. THey played better. They wanted to win and we didn’t want to win as badly.
But it’s a great team and a great season. In the end 29 teams end up losing, and one is a winner.
Go Phillies.
wildwill - October 25, 2009
No, we lost to a DIFFERENT team, not a better team.
Do you really think that if the umps gave us calls like they got we wouldn’t have won?/? Really, lets be FUCKING REAL for a minute. WE GOT SQUEEZED when it counted the most. DO You not think there is a BIG difference between 2 and 0 and 1 and 1 with the bases loaded??
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
is bitching going to change anything?
no.
let it go, man. time to look forward to next year.
howiestheman - October 25, 2009
WE JUST FUCKING GOT LOSED????
LET A MAN VENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
exactly being a whiny lil bitch aint gonna so shit.
deejayelleseven - October 25, 2009
LOL!
:)
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Fuck the Mother-Fuckin-Yankees
44FAN - October 25, 2009
bye lackey
bye figgy
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
i say do everything to keep lackey
save money by letting figgins go. wood deserves his play time
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
like lackey wants 2 come back
dream on
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
yea because other than the Yankees there is a much better bet
to go back to the world series?
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
I mean Lackey only had
11 wins this season…. and the Angels still had the 2nd highest winning percentage in the majors.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
you off all people
lackey doesn’t come back
mark my words
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
Agreed.
Scioscia sent him packing to another team in Game 5.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
I sort of got the vibe from Lackey this season that he was annoyed at the organization
for not making a stronger effort to cave in to Scott Bore-Ass and sign an extension. I like Lackey a lot, but I think his agent sees a CC Sabathia kind of pay day for John, and I just don’t think he’s worth that kind of money. Even if it was just a “starting point for talks”, I have a feeling the money they are going to want will be too risky considering John has already done some DL time. I know the gamble of signing a big, long term contract to a pitcher is part of the game, but I guess I’ve just seen way too many Hamptons and Zitos and Schmitts and Dreiforts, etc, to throw $$$$mil over long term contracts at a hurler.
I think if we are going to give out CC Sabathia kind of money, I’m going to WANT a CC Sabathia or Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, not just a “very good pitcher”.
Hoppity Hooper - October 26, 2009
The way Figgy played, that would certainly be justifiable.
I just hope B. Wood isn’t D MacP from the right hand side.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Wood should have been on the roster.
the organization could have possibly gauged his potential in the post season with an AB.
Look at Mathis, he played unconscious ball.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Good grief...
Since Kazmir is a gas can AND cannot make a throw to first, we have to get Lackey back (although, he sometimes cannot throw to first)! ;)
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Biggest, craziest off-season ever coming up.
Can’t wait to kick it off.
Turks Teeth - October 25, 2009
I would have liked to have waited one more day or one more week.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Wouldn't be so hard to take
if we hadn’t given away games 1, 2, and 6. We really beat ourselves in this series and that is all there is to really say.
turs12 - October 25, 2009
I'm pretty sure that only would have been strike 2 to A-Rod
Saunders was all over the place. The ump showed he was giving pitches when the pitcher was throwing it the spot consisently. The inning that got Saunders in trouble he was all over the place. The ump gave Oliver the same zone because he was doing the same thing Pettite was doing.
The Angels just had their heads up their asses the entire night before that 8th inning meltdown. Vlad doing his yearly postseason baserunning blunder which would have given the Angels another run if Mathis still would have hit that double, a big if I know. But Andy never had his good curve going and was throwing far more fastballs than normal but the Angels were still expecting curves even though he was hanging too many to want to throw them as anything other than a show me pitch.
Let Figgy walk and give the position to Wood. If he doesn’t pan out then start Izzy there who could do a Figgy lite impersonation. Resign Lackey and if you can’t sign Holiday then resign Abreu. Hope Shields comes back as his old self for at least 1 more year.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
Figgy walk? I would have been thrilled to see Figgy walk. Numerous times.
That would’ve helped his OBP a helluva lot.
Stirrups - October 25, 2009
This is gonna take a while to get over.
Hopefully by then I won’t have offed myself. But yes, in retrospect, it was a great season. It’s just that we all know it could have gone so much better. It feels like the Halos phoned it in after they beat the Sox. It felt like the ONLY goal the Angels had in the postseason was to beat Boston. Then…they walk into this series with the Yanks with so much overconfidence, and BOOM, they’re gone.
Congrats to the stupid fucking New York fucking stupid Yankees.
moosemastr - October 25, 2009
Final thanks for the season go to
Vlad
Lackey
Figgy
Brandon?
GMJ?
Darren?
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Who will take GMJ?
Abreu is gone too
NewportHalo - October 25, 2009
Chiba Lotte Marines.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Yeah, figure Abreu'll be gone, GMJ could get DFA'd sad as it is
Just wouldn’t be surprised.
Also don’t be surprised to see a real youth movement here—offer Lackey, Vlad, Figgy, Bobby, and Darren arbitration, watch them all reject it (except maybe for Darren and maybe Vlad), get up to eight new high-round draft picks, and PROFIT. Quinlan will also likely walk.
In the meantime, let Wood start at third, bring up Bobby Wilson, make Napoli the full-time DH, and bring up a couple other fourth OF’s (Terry Evans, anyone? Chris Petit? Brad Coon?). Maybe sign a cheap fifth-starter or trade for Halladay, see what happens. Next year could turn out like 2006 or so, in that the team will stay competitive but be rebuilding in some ways, but in the meantime things’ll be looking quite up for the long term after that…
Clutch - October 25, 2009
2011 will be our year IMO
next year we will be competitive like you said.
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
your enthusiasm is ridiculous
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
2011?
I think Juan needs one more year to become an offensive force.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
They've been saying that since 99.
Rivers needs to go suck somewhere else… and be on the bench until he does.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
Seriously, Does anyone think he wil ever be more than this??
what a joke. trade him to a team that would value 25 useless HR’s for only 4 million. KC would want him. look what they gave for Jacobs, and he is worse than Rivera. Really, everyone wants HR’s, but you have to recognize the QUALITY is more important than anything. Rivera couldn’t hit a HR in the playoffs to save his paycheck. what are we at now 12 games and 0. A BIG FAT FUCKING 0
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I know what you mean.
I would trade Juan and sign Bay or Holliday. They are way better than this fraud.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
juan is alright
he is not a post season player. neither is chone figgins.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
well let's get rid of anyone who can't play in the PS.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
bring in jason bay.
i think he is solid.
look into halladay and lackey.
that one cat carlos gonzalez from the rockies is a stud. i would give up some blue chips for him
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Anyone can play in the PS (Eventually)
If they play well in the regular season they will EVENTUALLY play well in the PS. Look at A-Rod. As much as it sucks, he’s finally playing well in the PS. Same thing with Bonds many years ago. You just never know when they’ll finally get hot.
10 27 02 - October 25, 2009
good point
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
If I recall correctly, he played fine during the 04 post season
then Boston took his mojo.
A Rod saw different pitches because of Tex regardless of how incompetent he was
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
You know what I love the most from this postseason.
That Vladdy proved all his haters wrong and was by far the most clutch angel player next to Lackey. Fuck em both, lets shake up this lineup.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
yup. vlad and lackey should stay.
offer vlad a 1 year contract with an option $6 mill.
give lackey $10/yr for 4 maybe?
go after jason bay, let brandon wood show what he’s got
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Yeah,
you like bay over holliday? Doesnt Bay strikeout a shitload? Vlad should be our DH for the next 2 years.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
fuck it take em both if you can!
I think that those players see this organization as a great place to win without much scrutiny.
Moreno makes enough cash, maybe he should look into acquiring both…?
They are both somewhat proven to make an impact. Opposing pitchers would have to change their strategy if we had guys like that…
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
So it would look like...
Aybar
HK
Bay
Holliday
Vlad
Hunter
K-Mo
Wood
Mathis
I dont know about you but this might get shit done :)
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Seriously
How would you manage a cohesive game plan to pitch a line up like that?
Moreno has the cash for it…
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
If we can get that we can survive a Lackey less rotation.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
We are so dependent on 3 runs or less pitching
Thats how we met our demise in 05, 07, 08, and eventually now.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
I still blame the A.J. for the 05 ALCS
because I hold grudges.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Mmmmm....
Grudges are great!
blast21dave - October 25, 2009
Its what makes the world go 'round imo.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
okay
we will exclude 05.
but i stand pat with those others…
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
RU kidding
Lackey 4yr/10m? He just got 10m this year. Your probably looking at 5-7 yrs@15-18m a season with him being the hands down the startyer on the market.
I would go for Bay over Holiday. Boras client. Screw him.
HALO_86 - October 25, 2009 via mobile
I think he meant 10 mill each year for 4 years.
still not enough imo tho.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I actually think Halo86 knew that...
4yr/40m is a joke compared to 5/90 7/105 that Lackey will command.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
If he doesnt sign with us maybe he becomes a Philly.
that offense cant let you down.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I'd like to see a youth movement
I think our young guns have some talent. I’m a big Evans fan, I’d love to see him play on a semi-regular basis.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Evans would hit like 15-20 homers but strikeout 200 times.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
Rangers would take him
just like they took Drew Jones — we just have to keep paying his salary.
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
Rev, just want to say thanks for keeping one of the best blogs in all of SB NAtion.
Also, thanks to all the other contributors to this site. This was an awesome year and I am excited for this off season. Let’s go HALOS #34 you will never be forgotten!! Thanks again Rev and let’s PHILS!!!!
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
^^^THIS^^^
Class.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Thanks man...I'm so damn proud to be an Angels fan win or lose!
Already can’t wait for spring training!!
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
Ditto.
I wear my Angels gear all the time in ATL. They think I’m wearing a weird looking Alabama hat.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Haha that's cool.
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
Stupid Move Trophy
goes to Schoscia for putting Kasmir in instead of Weaver. FUCK.
Had a blast hanging out here with fellow fans!
NJinHB - October 25, 2009 via mobile
Key mistakes by Soth and several of the Angels contributed to this ALCS defeat,
hopefully it’s a lesson learned for all parties. I hope Arte puts his money where his mouth is and spruces the team in the off-season. Also, MLB needs an enema to rid itselft of biased umpiring.
HALO N BRIMSTONE - October 25, 2009
Normally I'm the biggest Sosh honk on this planet...
but even I will be first to admit he made some truly terrible game decisions in this series, which are totally uncharacteristic of him. That being said, it was still a very highly successful year by any benchmark. After the Adenhart tragedy, who back then would have believed that this team would come together like it did under his leadership and not only win the division for the third consecutive year but also beat the previously unbeatable Red Sox this post season? Sosh deserves to be Manager of the Year, despite the unfortunate way this series concluded.
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
I nearly collapsed in laughter ...
when GMJ came to the plate.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
We just wanted a reason to trade him this offseason.
But this is just many a reasons why we should trade HGH.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
There's a silver lining:
GMJ’s NO TRADE CLAUSE IS OVER! Thanks for reminding me, Senor!
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
You've got a friend in me :)
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Sending in a pinch hitter for Mathis just plain killed me
as did using Kazmir, who’s been just plain terrible this post season, instead of Weaver who was absolutely stellar in his previous outing against the Yankees
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
Yes, my jaw also dropped when Maicer came in for Mathis
they said Sosh was “playing the percentages” with the lefty/righty thing, but come on… Mathis was the only Angel KILLING Yankee pitching (.583). And lifting him for Izturis… well… that percentage didn’t pay off too well, did it?
Sosh is stubborn about sticking with his key players as they go through slumps, and through the regular season that kind of loyalty pays off and is appreciated by the players. But in a short series, sticking with a slumping player hoping he can work his way out of it doesn’t help your team because you only have a few games to play and need to find a winning combo to put runs up right away. Also he waited much too long before he finally dropped Rivera down the batting order.
Hoppity Hooper - October 26, 2009
The Yankees have no chance against the Phillies:
I am so glad that the Phillies are gonna kick the shit out of the skanks. Do you guys think the yankees even have a chance against the Phils?
maitino - October 25, 2009
Yanks sweep. NL is inferior.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
If the Halos won, 4-0 Angels.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
What about Lee?
Dont sleep on Blanton he hold this Yankees offense.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Phils love the fastball
Sabathia is not unhittable. He simply overpowered our tennis players. Phils have some beast hitters who know how to hit the post season ball.
Blanton has faced the current yankees players several times.
I think for the most part, our pitching exposed their offensive flaws. We just beat ourselves.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Yeah.
Philly in 4. Cant wait for the Yankees demise.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Phils have an AL powerhouse.
dunno about a sweep. our team did not have huge offense and we actually gave them a run
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
I will talk to everyone as we near the winter meetings
go Phillies
Thanks for the memories, Vlad, Figgy, and especially Lackey
Bobby, it was good to know you, you really are a great everyday player
tanana40 - October 25, 2009
cheers t40
It was a good year for the Faithfull.
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
Go Phillies!
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Guys, please stop blaming the Umps.
We didn’t do our part to win the series. I am very proud of how we played for Nick this year.
ryanfea - October 25, 2009
Errors >> Umpiring Mistakes
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
what season
I can’t believe it had to end like this.
thank you to the owner, management, and the team for playing hard and giving us fans a enjoyable season.
I wish I can say good luck NYY, but I’m not. Sore loser I don’t care. I’m not really going to be into the WS bit ill watch some of it and root for the Phillies. They have at least some likable players on that team.
About the game. The home ump sucked. That strike zone sucked. Jow wasn’t on his game but some of those calls on Vlad on others. That was BS.
HALO_86 - October 25, 2009 via mobile
As angry as I was all game, I'm at peace with this now. Well, probably not, but I've been worse with this team.
I do think the Yankees are a better team than we are. Of course $213m helps.
Also what helps is our fuckhead manager sending out GMJ to hit with the series on the line. What the fuck is the matter? Why not just call another suicide squeeze.
I love Mike Scioscia and don’t think there is a better manager, but I don’t want to hear anything good about that miserable piece of shit for a few months.
snowhor - October 25, 2009
i thought it was fitting that GMJ ended our season
what? i’m just saying…
howiestheman - October 25, 2009
Can't disagree with that.
snowhor - October 25, 2009
It made me laugh when I heard he was heading up to bat.
But he didn’t strike out looking, and no that’s not worth nearly anything, but it’s something. At least it’s something.
AlanFalcon - October 25, 2009
+1
They did what they had to do to seal the game.
Our guys choked but it was a great run. Unfortunately, much of the same.
Kazmir just could not get acclimated and the guys choked.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
we were still down 3-2
without Kazmir giving up runs.
howiestheman - October 25, 2009
He looked like the same gutless pitcher from his start
Was hoping he would come out on the good side
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
But you could see the team basically give up after he put the game out of reach
Torii was squatting with his head in his hands when there were still 2 outs to go in the bottom of the 8th.
You could see the guys were just resigned during the top of the ninth.
It sucked, but so it goes. Good season, fucky result.
Clutch - October 25, 2009
I was watching on Postseason.tv
Torii squatted for a long time, then slammed his fist into the ground. Look for the ball to take a funny hop in center field sometime in the World Series.
The run in the top of the 8th was a potential game changer, but only with a shutout bottom of the 8th… and it didn’t happen.
We won the West… We beat Papelbon and the Red Sox. We held Nick Adenhart in our hearts all through the season. We did what we did.
AlanFalcon - October 25, 2009
Congrats to the New York Yankees
They were the better team and they deserved to win the series. I just pray the umpiring is 100x than in was in this series because to be honest this series made a mockery of these so called professionals and the game of baseball in general. It will be on hell of a series and I will be watching.
Broncangelus1 - October 25, 2009
so how can they be 'the better team', when 'this series made a mockery of there so called professionals and the game of baseball'?/??
care to explain?
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
yeah no problem
the horrible calls were made against both teams, period. They were the better team because they took advantage of those miscues and our angels did not. They also took advantage of our gifts we did not do the same of theirs. I still think this was the worst umpired series I have ever witnessed and I have been watching baseball since 1988. I truly believe that the umpiring had no effect on the outcome of the series. I am as die hard angels as you get but when I see a better team beat my team I am going to call it like it is and not blame anyone but our beloved angels.
Broncangelus1 - October 25, 2009
ok, I disagree.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Agreed
I’m pissed and everything too, Big Bad, but the Yankees did prove to be the better team. They capitalized on our mistakes the entire series. They had a lock-down closer. They had an elite #1 pitcher. They knew how to take pitches, work counts and not get retarded in the spotlight.
They truly were the better team. I hope the Phils sweep ’em.
Sethy - October 25, 2009
Long and short; when
you don’t consistently CATCH THE BALL and do simple things like throw guys out at first on SAC BUNTS then you’re not playing Championship baseball. Funny thing is, we WERE ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD DEFENSIVE TEAM IN THE REGULARY SEASON!
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
In mid-May
Never expected this team to get this far. This will probably always my favorite Angels team. All I can really say at this point.
Thanks for everything Vlad, Lackey, Figgy, Abreu.
I’m not going to watch the world series. Fuck it.
I will never ever be able to stand the Yankees in anything since I hate everything they represent and stand for.
linkbruin - October 25, 2009
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
At least our team won't be getting beat in the world series ;\
1 for 1 in the WS :D 100% accuracy
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
haha, that is fantastic optimism! :)
fischean - October 25, 2009
Congrats NYY
Great season, just wish we could have pulled it off for Nick.
HawaiiHaloFan35 - October 25, 2009
Congrats umpires
Great season, just wish we could have pulled it off for Nick.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Game 1
Cliff Lee vs Sabbathia
the Indians are thinking now: WTF!!
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
Thanks for a Great Seaosn once again
We had too many missed opportunities for this series, nothing we can do about it, a lot of it was luck such as Cano standing at 2nd to hold figgins.
I hope Kazmir’s performance this post season isn’t an omen for times to come…
It wasn’t our year, obviously, and I’m proud we made it this far.
Remember guys, we swept Boston and beat Papelbon, it sucks to lose but at least we took Boston out and shut them up.
Here’s to 2010, I’m gonna make the trip to Spring Training :-)
Go Phillies…i guess? I’m tuning out to baseball…Lets go Lakers!
jtkelly86 - October 25, 2009
Go NY!
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
Nasty
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Thanks
I really need this laugh
ryanfea - October 25, 2009
Damn. Jeter has killer abs.
But the rack needs work.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
This just seems right.
linkbruin - October 25, 2009
That's what I was thinking...
Kate Hudson is so not getting laid tonight!
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
i can't breathe....
wow… that’s great!
HalosFanInNorCal - October 25, 2009
NICE!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Hello, I'm Joe Bucks assistant, he would like to request a copy of this picture.
Please mail to:
Joe Buck
c/o
The Yankees Front Office
123 Ass Munch Street
Shitfuck, NY 02157
Red - October 25, 2009
What I'm sad about
is that we may not get back to this point for some time.
If we lose the people I think we might, I think it will be a struggle to even win the AL west next season. This may have been the only chance for Vlad, Torii and a few others. Sad.
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
+1
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I felt this way after last season
when we lost K-Rod, Texiera and Anderson. This year could wind up even worse though.
ryanfea - October 25, 2009
exactly we lost far more last offseason
but they signed other players. That couldn’t ever happen again could it??? Arte provides the Angels with a payroll that both the A’s and Rangers would LOVE to have.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
if the Angels don't sign some of their own players eventually they'll sign someone elses.
they have great attendance and play in a great baseball city and players like playing here.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
Yeah, but I really wanted to see THIS TEAM win it all!
I like this group of guys; Vladdy (despite past chokes he really redeemed himself in the post season this year) Torii, Figgy, Abreu etc. Saunder and Weaver will of course be around, but I just have the feeling it will take us a couple years to get back here. I don’t think there will be a big impact free agent like Teixeira either.
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Yeah.
I wanted the Angels to win it, of course. But I wanted THIS TEAM to win it more than anything.
AlanFalcon - October 25, 2009
Me too.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
and they'll still have most of the players from this years team
the only key players that might leave are Lackey, Figgy, Abreu and Vlad.
And the highest OPS any of them had this year was the 825 turned in by Bobby. They all played corner infield, corner OF or DH and their OPS’s were all around 800. Yes they were key players but 800 OPS from those positions should be a given from a team with a payroll as high as the Angels.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
"ONLY" Lackey, Figg, Abreu and Vlad???
That’s the heart of the team. Only thing you left out was Hunter.
Jack Frost - October 26, 2009
And Q. Don't forget Q.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
ROAD TRIP TO ARIZONA!
Pack up the Durango boy, we’re off to Spring Training!
Teixeira Who? - October 25, 2009
REC--See you there!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
+1
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Yukon packed
Let’s do this…who needs a ride?
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
come scoop me up in santa ana!
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Me!
red floyd - October 26, 2009
Me!
I’ll be …
[wait for it]
standing by
red floyd - October 26, 2009
We'll be there for at least a couple of games. Can't wait.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
1 more thing
I know Rivera is the greatest closer of this generation, but when he came in for the last 6 outs(not 3), 99% of me thought the game was over. That’s how our opp fans should feel when our closer comes in. I never get that feeling with our own closer. If Game 2 ended differently we might be going to a G7. Fuck Fuentes. Sorry I know he’s a nice guy but damn he’s not a closer. I know guys like Rivera don’t grow on trees but damn we need a more intimidating closer.
HALO_86 - October 25, 2009 via mobile
Fuentes is more of a John Candelaria type.
Than a Billy Wagner/Dan Plesac. He should be a situational reliever, not a closer.
Slasher52 - October 25, 2009
Tip of the Hat to the Angels
The Angels were the team I worried about all offseason, especially after you blitzed through the Red Sox. Except for game 4 it was a great, tight series – my sleep schedule got hosed for sure, and I’ll still be up for a while. You have a solid core and with a good offseason should still be the team to beat in the West (watch out for the Rangers, though).
The team shook off a real tragedy (RIP Mr. Adenhart). But Nick’s memory is not in any way diminished by the Angels not making the WS. I know it hurts right now, because I’ve been there as a fan. Hold your heads up, and we’ll see you guys in the Spring.
d_c_guy - October 25, 2009
See this is nice
GMan was not really nice here.
linkbruin - October 25, 2009
ALCS rematch 2010!
Different result!
angelskid2210 - October 25, 2009
Thanks man
At the least it’s been fun to see things go different ways this postseason and see the tables get turned a bit—even if it was at the Angels’ expense. I’m just glad we beat Boston, and as much as I despise the Yankees now, you guys were the better club this time around and simply played much better ball than we did.
See you next year!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Thanks, dcguy
SonomaCoHalofan - October 25, 2009
Thanks. Much nicer than the other Yankees fan that was here.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
R.I.P. #34
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
Actually, when it was 3-2
going to the bottom of the 8th I felt we had a chance. Rivera doesnn’t USUALLY pitch two innings and we did get to him for that run. Kazmir REALLY fucked it up for us though…
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Soth fucked it up first by not just going to Weaver to begin with
I know lets pitch him when the game is out of reach…… sounds like a plan
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
i agree
i thought for sure sosh would be going straight to weaver after oliver.
NW angels Fan - October 25, 2009
Howie started it...
I notice in adult league softball once one person makes an error, it becomes contagious. I knew trouble was a-brewin’ when Howie dropped that ball.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Santana started it
Allowed a leadoff walk.
Sethy - October 25, 2009
Soth started it then
by letting an inferior pitcher start the inning. If he was willing to have Weaver pitch then why not just bring him in to start the inning. Vlad’s hit gave the Angels some momentum and Santana gave it all back and then some by walking the first batter on 4 pitches.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
Scioscia's mom started it for bearing him, then!
;)
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
The Angels gave this series away
They made way too many stupid mistakes throughout the series. We can blame the umps all we want [its a fact that the umps sucked], but Angels needed to step up and didn’t.
That being said, after this abortion of an ALCS…
Astounding year all around. I’m proud of the Angels for pulling together such a great season after the struggles throughout the year. We managed to exorcise the Red Sox demons in grand fashion, and we had this series too except for some costly mistakes throughout.
Congratulations to the Yankees on advancing, but I want the Phillies to steamroll them.
And finally. RIP #34, never forgotten.
TheKingfish - October 25, 2009
Yes they did
With you on almost everything here.
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Well said Kingfish
Agree with most of what you said.
The umpiring was horrendous and at times scandalous, but nevertheless WE DID SHOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT way too much this series. We did ALSO play great at times. The comeback in the 7th inning of Game 5 was magical — I was glad to be there.
We also played great in the Boston series, and it felt SO good to kick their ugly asses in a FUCKING SWEEP!
Finally, I agree with your sentiments on the Phillies; go kick some Yankee ass!
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
sorry, should say "shoot" ourselves in the foot....
Also,
Nick Adenhart RIP
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
+1
It was Christmas early in NY. Free trip to the Series. Philly gets steamrolled by a 4-0 final game tally and an average score of 9 – 2 in the four games.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
good night people...take it easy
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
Ouch
This one will take a while to get over.
Fuck.
RIP NIck.
HoustonHaloFan - October 25, 2009
Hopefully football and basketball can take away some of this pain
This offseason could be an adventure too
Epic Dean - October 25, 2009
that's great for all of you who like football and basketball.
Other sports are not as good. Only Baseball makes me this happy! and THIS FUCKING MAD@!!@@@@@
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Haha! Me too. It's back to watching CSI.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
man vs wild for me
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I have no idea what that is.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
really? Discovery channel. Bear Gryls. very cool
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
man vs food ;)
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Ha!
I like the forensic ickiness of CSI and CSI NY and Bones. I refuse to watch CSI Miami because of the lead; he’s ickier than all the bugs and oozy goodness shown on the other shows.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
Fringe
red floyd - October 26, 2009
Packers in the Super Bowl would cheer me up.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
thank you Angels
for the awesome season. After the first couple weeks of the season, I was feeling pretty down, but they showed me what HEART is all about. I’m proud of this team for representing us well. I would have loved to win a World Series this year, but I’m still happy with the way they turned the season around.
b0rd3rline - October 25, 2009
God's Work
Is now up to the Phillies.
This was a really strong Angel team, and who knows how long it will be before we see another one this good. It hurts to come so far to come up just short, but I saw this outcome as more or less inevitable since they blew Game 2. But at least they lost with some dignity. I feel much better about the way this season ended than any other in recent memory.
Suboptimal - October 25, 2009
The team knew that 2 runs would not hold up in that sand box
too many walks, missed opportunities, lack of inspiration.
great season and we definitely over achieved
it shall be interesting in the offseason
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
how did we overachieve???
in the regular season? or in the postseason?? The Angels have a huge payroll, going to the ALCS should be something the Angels do at least every couple of years…..
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
TheAntiSox - October 25, 2009
Probably so.
But hasn’t that been the case for them every time since like 1970? Or earlier?
Clutch - October 25, 2009
maybe we should inject a little more cash into the payroll?
go after jason werth or something. we need post season producers
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
if he's available he's EXACTLY the type of guy the Angels need
a guy that mashes lefties that can pick up some of the slack when Kendry is turned around.
MH252525 - October 25, 2009
indeed.
we need somebody who has proven their worth.
shit maybe bernie williams can still hit a ball better than JR or figgins. ha jk
something needs to be done.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Nope
Totally different teams. Home grown. I have the highest respect for the 1996-2000 Yankees. NOT this team.
TheAntiSox - October 25, 2009
Ah, ok then
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Don't say that! you are mean!
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Whoa. That picture almost makes me want to cry.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
You know what hurts the most...
That Tex stole alot of hits this series.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Yeah
I really wanted to see the look on his face when he had to pick up his ball and go home when the Angels won the ALCS.
Clutch - October 25, 2009
I thought we had a decent shot at...
either C.C. or Tex and now they both play for NY. There is no God?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
he did not make much of an impact for all that money he is being paid
that is gonna hurt them in WS
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Can't see it. I get the 404 message.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
removed.
figgifig - October 25, 2009
What was it? Or do I want to know?
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
has to do with yankees and money
best bought team in baseball…or something…my pic was removed too
figgifig - October 25, 2009
this sucks. regardless of the caption
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Any which way you shake it, it was one hell of a season!
All the highs and lows. A crazy rollercoaster ride. A great season. And I’m damn happy to be an Angel fan.
Now on to an interesting off season….
Monkeyspanked - October 25, 2009
Just sad they couldn't get that ring for Nick
Can they still vote to give him a share next year?
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Nonetheless, Nick would be proud of his team.
R.I.P #34
HALO N BRIMSTONE - October 25, 2009
Yes, I'm sure he would be!
Clutch - October 25, 2009
Thanks
I lurked on the site for a couple months before I signed up since sitting on the internet wasn’t at the top of my things to do while watching games, but it’s really been a lot of fun here during the season (and post). Rev and the rest, you’ve got the best Angels site I’ve visited. Well done!
As for this series… the Yankees played well and we fell apart. Umpires were absolute shit for all teams in the post, but hopefully that’ll lead to some kind of change for next season (whether it’s replays or just getting some new blood in there that don’t have wooden eyes). We swept the chowds and we took the west, so that’s a feather or two in the cap right there. Obviously I wish it could’ve kept going, but it is what it is. I just always figured Fuentesaurus would’ve been the one to blow it at the very end…
daze - October 25, 2009
Where moving in the right direction
Even though the Angels “beat themselves” in this series they had a great year after a rough start to it. They finally beat the Red Sox and fought back after going down 0-2 to the Yankees. This off-season will be a interesting one with Lackey, Figgins, Abreau, Vlad and Oliver all free agents. Hopefully Reagins and Arte can improve the team and mix the youth with some veterans.
If there’s any positive that Angel fans can take from this loss it would be at least the Angels put up a better fight than the Dodgers did in the championship series.
310Angel - October 25, 2009
Thanks to all posters
Thanks, HHers, for adding such a dimension to the Angels’ season. Smart posts, often brilliant humor and insights into the game. Best site on the Halos, thanks to Rev and all the editors. Thanks to Soth and the team for a great season. Looking forward to reading everyone during the offseason.
SonomaCoHalofan - October 25, 2009
Thanks
Rev – this site was a lot of fun this season. See ya next season and I’m sure some during the off-season when we hear of changes.
This loss hurt – but I know we’ll be back cheering them on beginning in Tempe.
Have a great off-season everyone.
angelsfan777 - October 25, 2009
This was an intense season for the Angels and for us
as Angels fans. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish and hope that we make improvements for next year. Plain and simple, we played poorly in the ALCS and we lost. We can do nothing but tip our hats to the Yankees and try to be classier than most of their fans.
Moving on to the umpiring: It definitely seemed as if it was against us, but that was not the reason why we lost this series. My hope for the world series is that the officiating is so bad that no matter which team wins, it’s tainted and the commissioner’s office is forced to do something about it.
Go Halos! 2010 awaits!
BrownLunchSack - October 25, 2009
It's really too bad we didn't play to our potential...
I think the best team probably won here, but you wouldn’t know it based on the quality of play. We were sloppy, inconsistent. For some reason that I simply can’t understand, after drubbing Boston we turn around and play the Yankees scared.
I think we were good enough to win this. It’s just too bad we didn’t play as expected.
Nashdiesel - October 25, 2009
It was a great year
We showed a lot of heart this year. Another division crown, swept the Sox and put up a good fight in the ACLS. This series just shows how difficult it is to win a World Series. Remember that the Yankees out spent us by 90 mil.
N.Y. can have Jeta and A-fraud, their crazy owner, illegitimate park. I’ll take my town and my team!
UCIHalo - October 25, 2009
Halos in 2010!
i feel like a geek
Funke5ive - October 25, 2009
Thank you everyone
Being up in Montana makes this the only place I can come to be with my fellow halo fanatics. This loss hurt alot but we will all get over it and move on. Time to enjoy another off season and see our team win it all next year. Thanks to Rev and everyone here.
RIP #34 Nick Hope the Halos did you proud with this run
angelsown3417 - October 25, 2009
In a sense
I feel akin to the NBA’s Sacramento Kings of 2002. The powers hat be made some fucked up decis! In actuality, it did not stop us from making it happen. Here’s hoping that K-MO,Juan, Erick,and Naps get more experience, Torii will shut the fuck up and just ball, Howie to stop being the nice guy and everybody’s pal, good Shields and ESCO return to form, Vladdy and Abreu to get resigned (2 years) Wood getting a full time chance, Figgy, GMJ, and Quinny finding a niche with their new squads, and most of all, Lackey coming to a realization that that big assed contract he signed with another team was the biggest mistake of his young life!
tmat - October 25, 2009
eh figgy needs to go
quinlan deserves more playing time. he will end up near his alma mater in minnesota
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
We NEED Figgy -- he will stay!
Jack Frost - October 26, 2009
Positive note!
Angels went 5-4 in the post-season.
HOORAY FOR .500+!!
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
I guess it's time to change my Rally Animal.
The manatee couldn’t take us all the way. Any suggestions?
Well, I sure hope our team stays competitive next year. We just ran out of gas after the last win. That was all we had. Sure, the umps didn’t help, but with a lack of hitting, and less than perfect pitching and defense, it’s pretty hard to win games, aint it?
Rally Manatee - October 25, 2009
I hear lemurs
have been in high demand
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
Rally Llama
blochead - October 25, 2009
I'm thinking ligers
bred for their skills in magic, y’know.
TheKingfish - October 25, 2009
Vote for Pedro.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
Rally Salmon!
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
hmmm, Rally Fish
not bad
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
great minds think alike.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Rally Fish has crossed my mind
Rally Manatee - October 25, 2009
Rally MILF for me
blast21dave - October 25, 2009
or Rally Cougar
since you wanted animal
blast21dave - October 25, 2009
+1
JoseGuillenSux - October 25, 2009
ooh... I like this concept.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Rally Badger
The Limey - October 26, 2009
+1
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
WOLVERINES!
Downing Rules - October 26, 2009
Rally Banana Slug
red floyd - October 26, 2009
Santa Cruz alum?
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
Darned straight! Go SLUGS!
red floyd - October 26, 2009
douche bag
Sethy - October 25, 2009
What a sense of deflation.
We gave it our best, we just don’t have a very smart team.
Vlad could quite possibly be the dumbest baseball player ever.
Once we get rid of him, the IQ of the team will shoot up 10 points on average.
Figgins, while not as stupid, is a colossal postseason failure. Just terrible.
Juan Rivera, you suck too.
Too many errors, too many walks, too much overall suckage.
Sad to see the season end.
See you in 2010.
bc56274 - October 25, 2009
Take a page out of the yankees book
Acquire M Holliday AND J Bay.
Retain Lackey or entertain R Holiday, give Escobar another shot.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
LOL @ Escobar!
that was funny! ;)
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Hey he pitched awesome against Tigers
just rushed himself to return.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
The guy is like the anti-Brett Favre Brett Favre...
Favre keeps saying he’ll come back, and HE DOES!
Escobar keeps saying he’ll come back, yet he doesn’t.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
have some class dude
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I think the Angels need an Ace
like Hallladay in addition to resigning Lackey plus an additional RH hitter like Holliday or even trading for Prince Fielder. What do you guys think?
blochead - October 25, 2009
(sarcasm intended)
C’mon Kazmir is the “replacement” for Lackey … PHHHHT.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Escobar?
why we will have Shields back!
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Escobar as a closer would work
Less wear on the shoulder? dunno
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Well...
We can try to get two great pitchers that can go 8 innings. Or try to sign some big bats.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Holliday = Boras. Not a chance in heck.
red floyd - October 26, 2009
Blames Of The Series
Chone Figgins- good riddance Deschone, bring on the B-Wood Era
Juan Rivera- Terrible just terrible johnny.
Brian Fuentes- You are a terrible excuse for a closer
blochead - October 25, 2009
89 mph fastball to Arod
baaaah!
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
If it was a low pitch..
I think he would have swung at it
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
IS it too early
to be calling for DFA?
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
nope
blochead - October 25, 2009
So...
Chone wins the gold
Juan silver
and Fuentes bronze
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
No I beg to differ.
Kaz wins the gold.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
i blame the balloon boy for this mess...
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
pass on wood
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Sorry, can't agree here...
B. Wood will not replace Figgy. YES Figgy was an offensive disappointment in the postseason, however, WE WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN HERE had it not been for him. He was, along with Jeter, one of the two best leadoff men this year. Led the AL in runs scored, great OBP, incredible defensive (actually worthy of a Gold Glove). So those of you who think we’d be better off without Figgy are just idiots who don’t know baseball.
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Sorry figgifig
I was actually responding to someone else — I don’t know who my comment ended up after yours. I’ve got Figgy’s back and I do desperately hope we resign him. He will NOT be easily replace if we don’t!
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
Figgins has been a disappointment every postseason
I think Aybar can get it done at leadoff if we have Abreu mentoring regardless and yes he was great during the season but he is going to command way too much money and attract way to much interest for the Angels to get involved.
Their priorities probably stand at
1.Lackey
2. Abreu
3. Vladdy
4. FIggy
blochead - October 25, 2009
Not bad...but i think
1. Lackey
2. Abreu
3. Darren Oliver
4. Vlad
5. Figgs
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
or
1. Quinlan
2. Q
3. R. Quinlan
4. Robb
5. Oliver
blochead - October 25, 2009
Needs more Q.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
Guys like Brandon Inge, Curtis Granderson, Scot Podsednik, or that McCutchen kid from PIT
those guys would own in an Angels uniform
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
eww Podsednik
Inge was good for half a season
I don’t think Granderson or McCutchen will be available
blochead - October 25, 2009
You dont think McCutchen is available?
you know he plays for the pirates right?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
uh huh but
He is their ONLY good player. If they get rid of him they might as well not play the 2010 season maybe they can just take a year off to restart that terrible franchise.
blochead - October 25, 2009
Hah!
I can see them now explaining to the fans why they are taking the year off.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Thinking about how the pirates
makes me grateful to be an Angels fan. I know Arte will go out and give this team a chance to win next year and having been so close to his 1st WS, i think he is going to make some BIG moves this off-season because the Yankees ARE NOT a better team than us.
blochead - October 25, 2009
disregard that *how
blochead - October 25, 2009
shit makes sense.
Atre probably goes harder for FA. Who know what would have happened if we got C.C.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
or if we would have traded for Cliff Lee
instead of Kazmir :( but alas Roy Halladay will be available and if Arte is serious about winning he will at least give Toronto a call. He can be had now that JP has been fired.
blochead - October 25, 2009
My god, if we get Halladay all is forgiven.
but who would we give?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
That's where it gets tricky
I wouldn’t want to be Tony Reagins this off-season. He obviously can’t give up anything that would gut the core of the current team. A 1,2 punch of Halladay and Lackey could take this team all the way.
blochead - October 25, 2009
Yeah I cant wait for the offseason :/
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Damn shame too, that's a beautiful park, you know those fans just wish they were remotely competitive
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
I know right
I remember hearing their home crowds announced at just over 5 thousand that is really sad not even the A’s fail that miserably and their ballpark is the worst in the league.
blochead - October 25, 2009
It was so sad going to A's games when we lived up there.
And worse, the Giants fans would show up in their jerseys because SF was away and they were bored. Clueless, arrogant, annoying jerks.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
I was around AT&T Park last week
It looked really nice. That is a really douchey thing to do, that’s like Dodger fans showing up to Angel games and ruining games for us.
blochead - October 25, 2009
Yeah, they weren't really there for either team that was playing.
I don’t mind fans of other teams showing up to see a game, but Oakland is a very blue collar community, and (how do I explain this?) it’s a form of snobbery to show up in an SF cap at an A’s game. It was their version of going “to harlem in ermine and pearls”.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
i guess im an idiot
Figgins had a career year. That’s all. When he gets his fat conbtract(hopefully from another team) he’ll go back to being a incosistent singles hitter. If he’s lucky to get to the playoffs, probably suck as he has with the Angels.
Wood will be as good if not better defensively. When he starts to hit for XBH and hit Homeruns which might surprise you that 3B usually do, you’ll forget about him just like K-MO helped us get over Teix.
HALO_86 - October 25, 2009 via mobile
Didn't mean to sound so harsh, but....
Figgins is a career .300 hitter (or very close). He has shown that he can hit major league pitching (it wasn’t like this was his first good season), which is something that CANNOT be said for Brandon Wood. In fact, Wood to me has looked lost at the plate most AB’s I’ve seen. I’ve been through all this stuff before with the Dallas McPherson lovers — some folks just love the rookies. I don’t know what it is but there is a large segment of the Angels fan base (other teams seem to have these types as well) that ALWAYS prefer the young gun prospect (even when they’re essentially unproven) to the vet who has had ups and downs but has for the most part delivered over several years.
Hey, I understand it, but I just think it’s silly. Management naturally plays this view up because it saves them in the pocketbook. If you don’t have a fixture in place, by all means , give the young guy a chance. But when you have someone who has been so important to this team (like Figgy has) I think it is folly to let them simply walk away when they are essentially in their prime (or very close) and they will not break the bank.
Great leadoff men don’t grow on trees. Even though Aybar is very talented, he doesn’t posess the sam offensive skill set as Figgy. I could be wrong, but I just don’t see him duplicated next year what Figgy did THIS YEAR in the leadoff spot. I just don’t. I think the loss of Figgy would be right up there with the loss of LACKEY in terms of it’s adverse impact on the team.
You’d lose ;
A) A great, great leadoff hitter who stays healthy and plays most of the season
B) A player who gets on base, steals bases and scores a lot of runs (that’s his job!)
C) By all appearance a great character guy and someone who doesn’t make a stir, cause problems and seems to be generally liked by his teammates (no Jose Guillen here)
D) A Gold Glove 3B (I don’t think B. Wood will do that — just my opinion) who saved Angel pitchers countless runs this year.
So, go ahead and replace him with B. Wood, and we’ll see how it works out next year.
Jack Frost - October 26, 2009
Rec'd.
I watched Wood when he did get to play and saw him in Salt Lake this summer. I am not convinced that he will be able to make the transition to the majors. I think Terry Evans is more likely to be the guy who makes the transition and plays well.
It’s funny, but it seemed like half the Salt Lake team is named Rodriguez, and most are pitchers.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
problem with evans
he is on the wrong side of the age curve while wood is in his AAA prime age-wise… whih means what you get with evans is his ceiling and what you get with wood is his floor.
Room for growth: Wood.
Peaked as AAA: Evans.
The problem with Figgins was all his caught stealings and his cold streaks were walk-less. And he wil be gettign a HUGE raise while Wood makes minimum wage and hits HRs too.
Rev Halofan - October 26, 2009
Also add
Izturis for his delusional double play attempt.
Howie for not catching that ball tonight.
Kazmir for capping off his sucky pitching with a sucky throw over.
And MLB umpires for their Yankee bias.
Rally Manatee - October 25, 2009
And an Angel gets his wings...
3rd Echelon - October 25, 2009
The offseason is almost as fun as the playoffs
…almost….:(
blochead - October 25, 2009
This offseason is going to be just as nerve-racking
It’s going to have a huge impact on our next 3-5 years. Scary!!!
Sethy - October 25, 2009
Does Arte break the bank this year?
Going with a win-now strategy or does he tread cautiously looking to the future?
I say go ALL IN and make that trade for Roy and get a hitter like Prince
blochead - October 25, 2009
M or R Holliday.
Either or both!
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Preferably both
That window of opportunity seems to be closing and they have never been closer to making the WS I would make these two dynamic moves that would probably get the team over the hedge.
also re-sign vladdy
blochead - October 25, 2009
Even though I like Vladdy and...
I really wanted to see him win a ring, I hate to say it but his legs are just giving out. So, despite the fact that he was fucking CLUTCH with the bat this postseason, he just can’t run. He’s breaking down. You saw him get throw out on first on the pop out…
Jack Frost - October 25, 2009
That and the AB where he thought it was Ball 4
were really embarassing, but if it wasn’t for Vlad we probably would not have gotten as far as we did. He could be great for us if he wasn’t batting 4th but lower down in the lineup instead plus being a full-time DH will help him stay healthy
blochead - October 25, 2009
M Holliday - no chance in hell.
He’s a Boras client
R Halladay — maybe, depends on what kind of crack JP is smoking.
red floyd - October 26, 2009
sooooo
anyone watch the NBA?
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
Clippers
blochead - October 25, 2009
aight
u think they can make it to the playoffs?
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
I think that every year
and then the season starts….and well you know the rest
blochead - October 25, 2009
clippers will get the 6th seed.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Yes
I think Blake is going to be Awesome.
blochead - October 25, 2009
cant go wrong with Baron Davis either.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I heard he lost weight
because he is pumped up about Blake Griffin. If they can stay somewhat healthy, they will be competitive.
blochead - October 25, 2009
I've been a huge fan ever since his UCLA days.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
blake got injured on this monster dunk...small injury though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpP_Q-vEfk&feature=player_embedded
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/10/clipper-update-griffin-injured.html
I have tix for opening night on Wed…
figgifig - October 25, 2009
OT: I would love to see LeBron with the Clippers
Does a clippers game get sold out often?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
nope
but it can change if they have a good year
blochead - October 25, 2009
not often
but they make a lot money each year. Rent is only a million or so @ Staples…
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Even when they play good teams?
I was going to try to see LAC vs LAL this year. Should be good games between those two.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I agree...
and yes they sell out on all the big teams
figgifig - October 25, 2009
LAC vs LAL is really
expensive…
figgifig - October 25, 2009
I know :(
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I have hook ups though
I usually go to this series for cheap er
I could email you if u want.
figgifig - October 25, 2009
opening game for the lakers vs clips not so good
being ring night and all
figgifig - October 25, 2009
hmmm this intrigues me.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I got tix for opening night suns vs clips, wed.
2 for $45 in PR12 row 6
figgifig - October 25, 2009
tix to sell or tix to go?
PR12 row 6 is worth more no?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I'm going but yes worth way........more.
I told u I can hook u up. tix worth close to $200
figgifig - October 26, 2009
Wait?
Where is section PR?
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
http://admin.staplescenter.com/seatviewer.php?section=seatviewer&page=basketball
VIP seating…full service
figgifig - October 26, 2009
click on 12
figgifig - October 26, 2009
thats some good shit.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
oh god
and so it starts…I really hope injuries don’t beat the Clips this year.
blochead - October 25, 2009
no they're fine
camby is coming back from his to play game 1 and hopefully griff will be there too.
figgifig - October 25, 2009
oh and BD lost 20lbs.
thinner than GS BD
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Lakers!
2 peat on the way!
JoseGuillenSux - October 25, 2009
yeahhhh
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
Lakers fan
But not a bandwagonner. Jerry West was my hero in elementary school.
I remember the dark days of the ’70s (pre Kareem/Magic pairing).
red floyd - October 26, 2009
Can't wait for more of this...
figgifig - October 25, 2009
ew, gross
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
haha
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
Joe Buck in a nutshell
surrounded by those two
blast21dave - October 25, 2009
that would be a sandwich, not a nutshell
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
A-Rod is full of himself...
I could not stop laughing when I first saw this.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
that is why the Phillies winning will be soooo sweet
just to see A-rod fail in his attempts to win a ring is worth sitting through the games
blochead - October 25, 2009
A Rod strikes me as one of those players who will get so many chances to do it...
and still fall short.
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Is it just me or.
Did A-Rod throw an elbow to Aybar’s goodies during a DP.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
seemed like it
Aybar wasn’t happy. We shouldn’t expect anything less from that douche bag.
blochead - October 25, 2009
I saw that, too.
Yes, he did. Barry Larkin on MLB network said: “That wasn’t a dirty play…” Then another guy on the network says, “Aybar will be singing soprano for the next few innings.” LOL.
I thought it was dirty. He didn’t have to move his arm UP into Erick’s genitals. That was lame and dirty in my book. It ranked up there with is Karate chop move a few years back.
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
Yeah I would have pegged A Rod for that
Scioscia needs to fire it up
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
hehehe AROD...*BLUSH*
figgifig - October 25, 2009
ew the way he bites his thumb...
creepy. he looks flushed and ready for a rod
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
how do u get these?
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
I make them
graphic design graduate…although…these took me 2 seconds to make…not my best work ;)
figgifig - October 25, 2009
nice
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
This one is creepy.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
Very creepy
Looks like the guy from a “B” horror movie, the dork who turns out to be slashing women because he could never get any in high school.
Hoppity Hooper - October 26, 2009
I'm from teh Dark Ages, when most boys in HS never got any but most claimed they did.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
So when does the F-bomb spigot get turned off?
blast21dave - October 25, 2009
opening day 2010
blochead - October 25, 2009
Inquiry
Is it a freebie if you spell it like this…
PHUCK!
Just in the spirt of the Phillies and all.
Sethy - October 25, 2009
If it's about the Roid Sox, Skankees, Umpires, Bud Selig, mlb.com, ESPN, Fox Sports, Joe Buck, Phiz...
Never
Quad Fin Rider - October 25, 2009
Go Phillies!
Halo Hurricane - October 25, 2009
I have to say, I am a little suprised...
I am a lifetime Angels fan. I have been on this blog maybe since the end of August, I happened to find it through Yahoo!, and have never really seen the idiocy or the classless reactions of some of the fans that have posted in this thread. Really guys? Talking about eating genitals and excrement?
Before you start saying I’m not a real Angels fan or that I’m for some odd reason rooting for the hated bombers from the east, just read this whole comment. I am pissed too. I think we committed way too many errors and played nervous and very much out of our element in many of the games. I don’t know if that is Soth’s inability to prepare the team for the playoffs by preaching his “one game at a time” mentality, or if it’s just the fact that our team is relatively young and still gets tight in big situations.
I realize the umpires in this series were NOT GOOD. But I am not going to sit here, after a great season, and say that we lost this series because of officiating. THAT IS A WEAK AND PATHETIC EXCUSE! And Halo fans that are claiming we lost this series due to ‘officiating that is on the Yankee payroll’ should wake up and stop being juvenile.
We lost this series because of fielding errors and leaving runners on base. Quite frankly, we lost it because we couldn’t hit in the clutch.
Guys (and girls), we do not have to stoop down to ridiculously low standards. I am pissed too. We had a great year, we had a fantastic season! I’m pissed that for the umpteenth time in my life, I have to watch the effin Yankees play in the World Series. But at least I’m classy enough to say that we got beat by a team that executed. I’m not saying that top to bottom they are more talented, but they executed.
So stop the bitching, and whining and name calling and take the loss like a fucking man! not a pre-pubescent child.
Congrats to the Yanks, I still hate you with all my guts.
Go Phils I hope your offense bombs the Yanks back to the 1970’s.
And most importantly, let’s get some fucking help this off-season so this doesn’t happen next year!
On to the Lakers!
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
+1
Vlad Dracul - October 25, 2009
Noticing the instances of obvious biased calls does not a 'whiner' make.
I love how your such a ‘big’ Angels fan, yet it’s “On to the Lakers!”
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
You can be a fan...
but there’s not much to cheer for when your team just got eliminated. Venting here is fun, sure, but might as well direct your attentions to another team until March comes around, its not as fun to sit and wait for offseason moves that Arte makes.
TheKingfish - October 25, 2009
well, i didn't appreciate him calling me a 'whiner' etc.
Some people believe the news. I just happen to be a free minded individual who thinks differently. And no, I don’t GIVE A FUCK ABOUT THE LAKERS right now. WE JUST FUCKING GOT ELIMENATED. anyone that is a REAL Halo fan can at least overstand that.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Yes, Big Bad...this post was mostly directed at you...
…because you seem to be intent on continuously spreading vitriol on this thread tonight. I understand you’re pissed and your immaturity can’t be contained so you have to yell and scream and say dirty things on a blog, but let’s try to keep it to a minimum huh?
I’m a huge Angels fan, yes, huge. I love the Angels just as much as the next person. I track their off-season movements, watch/listen to all the spring training games, and moved to an apartment 5 minutes from the stadium just so I could have easy access to go to as many games as I can afford. So don’t start questioning everyone’s “fandom” if they don’t agree with you.
Frankly, the season is over. It hurts. But it’s over. And the Lakers begin on Tuesday. So I have to take off my HK47 jersey until February and put on my Kobe jersey and root as hard for them as I do for the Angels. Because as fans, that’s what we do.
Go Angels in ’10
Go Lakers now
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
Hey, fair enough about your fandom, then fair enough about mine.
You can be a fan how you want. Any accusation about me “questioning everyone’s "fandom" if they don’t agree with you.” also applies to you. My cats agree. This is less than 2 hours from elimination. And I don’t know where you were when they called those 2 strikes balls, but they sure as Halo were strikes. I didn’t ever notice, all series long a key inning where the Halo’s got those calls. Did you??
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I think there were calls that went for both sides...
Howie being called safe twice, while replays showed he was indeed out. And a couple other things that I can’t bring to mind right now…
Also, did you ever notice the Angels playing shoddy defense and leaving men on base? Did you notice the 5 errors in the first two games? Clearly the Angels are the better team simply by the fact that those 5 errors didn’t turn into a blow out by the Yankees. We also didn’t hit in many clutch situations, I can remember off the top of my head 4 instances in which we had runners on 2nd and 3rd, but did not come through. But these are the things that cost us the series…not the 2 strikes that were balls or vice versa.
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
While your points are valid, and game 1 definitely was a give away, the squeezing of our pitchers in crucial situations seemed to be the norm.
Imagine if you will a completely unbiased strikezone. Even a robotic one. Do you still think it was all the players ‘fault’? The Rev agrees, just look at his posts.
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
I didnt get to see game 4
did Kaz really get squeezed?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
yep
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
also
Meanwhile Joe Saunders was squeezed to a point of ridicule with a Bases loaded walk on an obvious strike to Alex Rodriguez to put the Yankees ahead.
Is Rev a ‘whiner’ too?
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - October 25, 2009
Hey hey
they were not just any genitals… but canine genitals.
Sicko.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
Gross, but I do have to admit, it made me chuckle :)
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
+2
Thank you for saying what some of these neanderthals needed to hear.
Christhammer - October 27, 2009
Go eat your balls covered in poo
I kid….really.
Sethy - October 25, 2009
GAWD I SUCK AT NOT REPLYING WHEN I WANT TO : (
I’m re-signing. Don’t bother calling, there are no phones where I’m off to.
Sethy - October 25, 2009
CYA Figgins!
Hope to see you, Aybar, leading off next year.
Vladdy… You had some bad critical moments, but in the end you won all the games that mattered… Love ya no matter what happens. It was an awesome pleasure / I feel so fortunate watching you play all these years!
Halo Hurricane - October 25, 2009
I have read a lot of negative comments so far on this thread so I just wanted to add something positive
Thank You Halos for my second favorite season ever as a fan. I truly believe we never really gave up the fight. I’ll be proud to wear my jersey tomorrow because of what our organization stands for and the product it produces. Here’s to getting at it next year and to the future of Angels Baseball!
In other news…
USC number 5 in the BCS poll, BEAT THE DUCKS!
Trojan Fans It’s Time to Believe!
Bruin Fans… as a Trojan, that team you are building scares me, it really does. I am looking forward to a healthy competition in the coming years between our programs.
Lakers Fans… sorry but GO JAZZ!!!
I hope that a lil positive attitude will make someone a little happier :)
trojanangelfan - October 25, 2009
PHUCK USC!
hard
Sethy - October 25, 2009
GAWWWWWWWWWWWD
And you’re a Utah fan. Shocking you don’t own a Jeter jersey.
Sethy - October 25, 2009
cause the Jazz are a bandwagon team...?
figgifig - October 25, 2009
jazz...haha
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
GO #11 JAW-JUH TECH
As one who works at UCLA, I may also say, fux0r UCLA.
But V for victory, if I may.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
...Go...Beavers...
Figgi4life - October 25, 2009 via mobile
Go Lakers and Chargers!
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
(waves white flag)
GO RAMS!
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
they crushed the colts today right???
just joking :)
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
Yeah just like how the Browns got crushed by the Pack :)
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Oh.....oh no....so sorry
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
Clips and Chargers!
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Raiders ,Lakers and Bruins
deejayelleseven - October 25, 2009
I agree...UCLA does look like they're building a scary future
But come on…JAZZ?!?!?!!?!?
The Furious Bat of Howie47 - October 25, 2009
jazz...hehe
shaqfor3 - October 25, 2009
You know after April 9th the only thing I hoped for was a winning record.
The Angels gave me so much more and even October baseball. It was a good year.
teopeht - October 25, 2009
Remember when AlanFalcon posted this...
What ever happens tonight, I hope we all remember these three things…
This is the year that Angels started out facing the biggest type of blow a sports team can face. This is the year we redeemed ourselves after three years of being laughed out of the division series by the same team. This is the year that ESPN recognized the Angels fan community as the happiest team in the MLB [Fan Strong!]. Whether you have been a fan since 1961, 2002, or this was the year that inspired you … you are a fan of one amazing ball club. I know I’m proud to call the Angels my hometown team.
That said ~ see you at the game tonight!! GO ANGELS~!
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Heh, I considered posting it again. It holds as true now as two days ago.
Glad you remembered, Senor.
AlanFalcon - October 26, 2009
Yeah it kinda puts things in perspective.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
So did the ALCS MVP go to the Angels defense?
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
+1
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
well guys!! ITS LAKERS SEASON!
ima miss my Halos tho :(
Angels_48 - October 25, 2009
at least the Lakers wont disappoint.
(not a cheap shot at the halos by the way)
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Well if the lakers don't make it to the Finals its the same
figgifig - October 25, 2009
ahhh so many story lines this year.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
I just have a bad feeling about
RonRon…
figgifig - October 25, 2009
If he wants a ring,
he better be Phil’s pet dog.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Son, I have a bad feeling about
the Magic minus Hedo and plus Vinsanity
and Boston plus Sheed.
Fuck. Fuck the East.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 25, 2009
at least Sheed is funny.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
u forgot OLD ASS SHAQ and the Cavs
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Rev, thanks for the great site and for making me feel welcome here.
I’m so glad I found this site when I did.
And thanks to Cupie and WiHaloFan and Scottnak and all the intelligent posters for making this such an entertaining site.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
hey
you only found this site a month before I did…I thought you were here forever.
Shows how welcoming HH is…
I was on MLB Angels Forum before…not as much fun.
figgifig - October 25, 2009
The foxsports message boards are just as bad
blochead - October 25, 2009
Me too
About just about everything you said
Figgi4life - October 25, 2009 via mobile
I was on that board too! Did you have the same name?
I was there for three seasons, and finally couldn’t take it any more. Most of it was the troll, but the rest was that politics permeated the board and most of that from people who seemed to be nearly illiterate and hateful. If I want to argue about politics I can find a political forum; I just wanted baseball and fewer trolls.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
I did
Figgi4life found me
figgifig - October 25, 2009
you miss Lee and Diligence huh
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Hahahaha! NONONONONO!!!!
Nor do I miss the intelligent bully who called anyone a communist if they disagreed with him.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
for some reason I really hated
weaverfor1 or whatever her name was…she just bugged me.
figgifig - October 25, 2009
do u know her?
figgifig - October 25, 2009
I remember her. I liked her at first, but she made a couple of really dumb comments that bothered me a lot.
And I almost introduced myself to Becky. I spotted her in line ahead of me at last year’s postseason event, when they came back from Boston.
I hope they do that again this year, but I think they won’t. I think the one after the last home game of the regular season is all we get this year. Last year was great fun.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
did u have the same name?
figgifig - October 25, 2009
and how did u recognize Becky?
figgifig - October 25, 2009
I was opiejeanne there too, and Becky described herself really well
and told us which gate she’d be at and when. She was several people ahead of me, and I wasn’t entirely sure it was her. I yelled at her once but she didn’t turn around. Later I confirmed with her that yes, it was her and she hadn’t heard me. She was about 5th in line. I was about 20th in line.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
I don't remember you, but maybe you were quiet. I'm a big loudmouth.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
only really posted news stuff...like I do here too
If they only had a game thread that people read…
figgifig - October 25, 2009
I didn't blog the games there. I don't know why.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
no one did
figgifig - October 25, 2009
They had game threads, didn't they?
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
kind of
figgifig - October 26, 2009
Good night. It's after midnight and I have a class tomorrow.
I have to go and make art, and pretend I know what I’m doing. (I hope my last project came out of the kiln without getting destroyed.)
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
What kind of art?
I was an illustration major before turning to graphic design (after I found out I could make more money) ;)
figgifig - October 26, 2009
Pottery comes out of Kilns!
AlanFalcon - October 26, 2009
Alan has it right: ceramics. Taking it for fun and I'm now part of the advanced group,
but it’s just because I completed the three semesters leading up to that level. The other people in the class have tremendous skill and I am struggling to catch up on that end. The instructor gives us really odd assignments, lists of words that we have to incorporate into our projects, and this semester it includes words like strata, and dendritic, and atoll, and they have to be expressed in a utilitarian piece, like a pitcher or teapot or cup or bowl. I made an atoll bowl and I’m anxious to see if the underglazing looks as good after firing as it did when I was painting it onto the raw clay.
I’m also taking a Life Drawing class as a refresher. I’ll probably take a painting class next semester because I really need a refresher in that.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
Don't forget YWC
Figgi4life - October 25, 2009 via mobile
All of them. Yeswecan and rghan, I meant to include you.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
The Yankees WON this Game
Yes….we gave them runs on OUR errors, however they were not enough to beat ourselves. The Umps squeezed our pitchers at the plate, but they were consistant with our batters when we were getting screwed for 9 innings. Fuck, make the adjustments boys.
What was more frustrating to me was seeing Kazmir fuck up. Second was Howie’s blunder. Never the less, we couldn’t get it done.
Just because Tex, CC, & AJ were paid for by the Skanks with their BILLIONS to win, it feels tainted so I AM ROOTING FOR THE PHILLIES W/O any of my heart and soul, to beat these Billion Dollar Babies.
GO PHILLIES.
LET THE OFF-SEASON BEGIN.
LET FIGGY WALK (He’s WORTHLESS IN THE POSTSEASON)
LET OLDMAN VLAD GO…HE CAN HARDLY RUN AND HE’S SENILE
Dono Romantico - October 25, 2009
So What's the Countdown to Spring Training
Dono Romantico - October 25, 2009
The Angels team arrives into Ontario airport at 5:01am
Delta Airlines flight # 8882. We should all wait for them at the airport at beat the shit out of Scott Kazmir. Just kidding! The flight number and arrival time are correct though. Just thought I would let you guys know.
maitino - October 25, 2009
I wish I could go, but there is no way I can pull that off.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
I live in OC too far and why Kaz...its a team and Kaz doen't hit
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Late boarding pushed the arrival time back from 430 to 506am...
Do you have any idea if you can see the team, or do they have a secret exit/loading area for their team bus?
Downing Rules - October 25, 2009
same exit
figgifig - October 25, 2009
Someone should make an MVP trophy and give it to Vlad.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
give him a piece of paper that says:
MVP trophy
figgifig - October 26, 2009
So did anyone go see them at Ontario?
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
I was wondering the same thing.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
I was the only one who stated I had a plan...
however, it delayed enough to make it not possible. They ended up arriving just past 6AM. If it was 4:30 – 5:30A I would have been there.
Downing Rules - October 27, 2009
My husband was up at 3:30am, because of the elderly tomcat (It's HIS cat, and I didn't hear it).
We considered just going to the airport right then, but weren’t awake enough to actually do it. That late an arrival wouldn’ t have worked for us, though. After December 17 we will be able to do stuff like that; I think it’s 30 days until Retirement Day.
opiejeanne - October 28, 2009
I was just kidding
Trying to make you guys laugh. Actually we should be the shit out of figgy, Kazmir, and Fuentes.
maitino - October 25, 2009
actually I would shake Soths hand and say good job...
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Me too.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
Hes the right man to manage this club, and I am glad he will be here for years to come.
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
Amen to that.
I am really frustrated by the posters who scream about Sosh. They lack perspective.
opiejeanne - October 25, 2009
"be the shit out of figgy, Kazmir, and Fuentes." ...no thanks!!!
And all 3 of them really??!!!…Not sure what you’re into, but that is just gross! 3 baseball players and 1 maitino…
figgifig - October 26, 2009
3 hours later
And still numb.
Yes the umps sucked.
But the Angels lost this series on their own. Congratulations to the Yanks and their fans, but I hope they get swept.
And that’s all I’m contributing tonight because I have nothing left.
101halo - October 25, 2009
To tell you the truth,
I have never been so disappointed to look to the NFL season. I really believed we were going to the WS this year :(
SenorChuckles - October 25, 2009
me too senor...but I just look forward to nfl playoffs too
figgifig - October 26, 2009
Good season
Playoffs are a crap shoot. Sometimes the best team wins, sometimes the best team doesn’t win.
I honestly feel like the two best teams made it to the world series this year, but the Angels could have kept the tradition of the best team not always making it, had they played clean baseball. Lots of guys to blame, all the way up to the top of management, but in the end, this team could have packed it up and went through the motions when Nick died. They didn’t, and we were treated to a great season full of hope and visions of the poetic ending. Sadly, that poetic ending didn’t happen, but the story still goes on. NA #34 will always be with this team and the fans.
Very proud of the team and management, all the way up to the top, despite my disappointment with the results of this playoff series and the shit I talked through the season.
Thanks for the entertainment and comFanionship HHers.
ROBOTS!
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - October 26, 2009
Well I just got back to my dorm
tough defeat to swallow especially considering I was AT THE GAME. I have a long story to tell but I am to tired to really type it out.
I LOVE HH and I LOVE THE ANGELS.
I’ll catch y’all on the flip side.
princeton11loveshalos - October 26, 2009
thanks man
Was awesome to be at the game with you. Thanks for keeping me out of fights and not laughing at me when I cried. :) I hope you rocked that midterm!!
cath619 - October 26, 2009 via mobile
I love that he kept you out of fights. ;-)
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
The Yankees - put aside the uniform, the fan-base, everything they stand for...
…and look at the players. It took a very good team to beat us this year (of all years) – and even then it’s at least 2/3 to do with our failure to bring our best game to the ball-park:
1. We didn’t make the most of our chances
2. We fielded poorly
3. Our decision making (both on the field and in the dug-out) was occasionally pretty poor
I think the level of disappointment stems from the fact that this Angels team is a very good one. I think we’ll struggle to be better next season and the Rangers are going to be tough. For a couple of our older players there may not be another chance anytime soon. I think we’ll probably lose our last 2 players from 2002 this off-season too.
Nevertheless – this was a fine season, in the face of almost insurmountable adversity, and I’m proud of my team.
The Limey - October 26, 2009
p.s. The umpiring complaints, the whining, the accusations of bias, the various conspiracy theories etc...
…pretty weak sauce. I know it hurts, but take it like men – we lost because we didn’t quite have it when we needed it, I don’t think it’s any more complex than that. (No matter how painful it is to admit it).
You may well find me over at the Phillies blog later in the week – feel free to come too.
The Limey - October 26, 2009
You don't think there was a BIAS in the umpiring?? Come on now.
Jack Frost - October 26, 2009
Nope
The umpiring was poor (stating the obvious here) and we didn’t get the rub of the green on a couple of the big calls, but I can’t, hand on heart, say that I thought there was pre-meditated favouring of one team over another. It’s sports, that’s how it plays out sometimes.
If we’d played better, we’d have won.
The Limey - October 26, 2009
I never used the word premeditated....
I said BIAS. And I wholeheartedly stand by that. The word “bias” doesn’t even necessarily mean that the crap calls were consciously made — it simply implies that the decision making process was, well, BIASED. That could be interpreted alot of ways.
In addition, I never said or implied that the Angels themselves were free of blame. Read my comments and posts over the last few days and you’ll see that.I wrote last night in big block capital letters that we shot ourselves in the foot way too much. That being said, I stand by the statements I’ve made about an umpiring bias (and that includes a bias by Fox Network AND MLB !) . I think it is clear for all to see when you look at the accumulated data and the total picture of all six games. Nuff said.
Jack Frost - October 26, 2009
I think calls of umpiring "bias" are the weakest of excuses...
…I’ll go with the broadcast media, I might even stretch as far as MLB, but to suggest that the umpires are biased towards one team over another, that there decision making was some how influenced (over and above what a home team usually gets from an umpiring crew) to favour the Yankees (pre-meditated was the wrong word).
There were clearly calls that felt wrong – the walk to Posada in game 5 for instance – as well as some inexplicable ass-hattery – the 3rd base snafu in the same game, but as Angels fans we see things through red-tinted specs; we remember the calls that went against us, but not the ones that went in our favour.
We are, as fans, defintively subjective, or biased, in our perspective. The umpires aren’t.
The Limey - October 26, 2009
"to favour the Yankees..."
should continue… “…lacks objective evidence”
The Limey - October 26, 2009
Well, here's my response:
While you are correct that IN GENERAL fans do tend to view umpiring through the lens of their particular teams’ fortunes, I believe that not all fans are created equal in this regard. Some fans are more discerning and analytical than others. As for me, it is better to let other posters here comment on my relative insight, or lack of it. You apparently disagree, which is okay and is your right, But I know that I am not alone in my views on this subject. Interestingly, there seem to be MANY fans both of the Angels and of OTHER TEAMS who have commented on this site about how bad the umpiring has been, particularly AGAINST THE ANGELS.
Now, I understand that acknowledging bad umpiring is not necessarily the same as acknowledging a BIAS. There are probably many folks (such as you perhaps) who see it as mere incompetence. My main rebuttal to this would be that it is not easy to become a major league umpire. It takes years of training and slaving in the minor leagues. Those who show themselves as inadequate simply will not make it. This fact would tend to run against the idea that these men are simply incompetent. They in fact HAD TO DISPLAY THEIR COMPETENCE OVER TIME IN ORDER TO GET TO THE MAJORS.
The fact that there were so many egregious errors made in this serious leads me to believe that there are other factors at work. Men this experienced and well trained simply don’t make mistakes this egregious without their being some sort of bias.
After attending umpiring school it usually takes an umpire “seven to ten years in the minors” ( according to Tom Lepperd of MLB Director of Umpire Administration) before he/she makes it to the big leagues. This is a very long period when compared to other professions, so correspondingly, the quality and level of skills of those who make it should be quite high.
This is a complex subject, and though I am not able to devote the time to write as lengthy a piece as this topic deserves, I’ll put it to you this way: In most work environments there are expectations that the employer has of his or her employees, some are spoken and some are unspoken. Naturally, the basics like showing up on time and in a presentable manner are unspoken. If your boss didn’t think you can handle that you wouldn’t be hired. There are aspects of performance that are EXPLICIT. Such as in a sales position. IF you just aren’t selling than your boss is likely to get rid of you. These things are clear cut. In many situations people will engage in practices that are questionable morally because they believe it will deliver a desired result. If you haven’t seen the film “Glengary, Glenross” then you should; it is wonderfull in its depiction of both overt ruthlessness and subtle immorality in the business/sales world. (ABC = Always Be Closing).
I’m suggesting here (and you can take it or leave it) that some messages are unspoken — they are simply UNDERSTOOD. In alot of companies, if you aren’t the kind of person who understands things without being told then you simply do NOT advance in that company.
I think it is noteworthy that my fanpost (see “7th Inning 3-2 pitch to Posada…”, in which I implicate homeplate umpire Fieldin Culbreth in the shenanigans) came AFTER an Angels VICTORY, not an Angels loss. There was really no reason for me to write that post after a victory, other than the fact that I saw something inherently WRONG.
I suggest you rethink your statement that we as fans are biased but that umpires aren’t. In an ideal world, you would be correct. Umpires SHOULD be unbiased. But we, and the umpires, who are flesh and blood humans, live in the real world, where people cheat on their wives, some are alcoholics, some might even have racist tendencies, …. I think you get the picture.
If it were true that the umpires as a whole were “unbiased” it would mean they were somehow morally superior to us fans. Simply because it is their profession and ostensible duty to be so does not mean they ARE. To suggest they are, is my friend, a ridiculous proposition. I suggest that you go see “Glengarry, Glenross” (if you haven’t already), and then we’ll talk again.
Until then, have a nice day.
Jack Frost - October 26, 2009
Clearly I'm not going to talk you out of your position...
…as victim – if you want to believe the reason we lost is because the umpires were biased, you roll with it. However, in the interests of at least introducing you to the concepts of luck, error and probability, ponder this…
Umpires will make 200-300 adjudications a game (in the case of the guy at home-plate). Give him a 2% margin for human error (in cricket, a not dissimilar game, the international umpires have every decision reviewed via Hawk-eye post-game, the same system they have in place for professional tennis, and they usually hit about 96-98% according to the ICC, depending on the umpire) and that’s about 5 he’s going to blow on any given day – often as not, they will be non-critical, sometimes, unfortunately they will impact the game. It is perfectly plausible, bearing in mind this relatively small sample size and the polar nature of the decisions made for all of those errors to favour one team. In this example for 3/3 umpiring errors to favour one team, rather than another, this is going to happen 12.5% of the time – that’s really rather common. 4/4 = 6.25%, still failing to reach the usually accepted level of statistical significance (5/5 will get you there). Bear in mind our tendency as biased observers (and yes, no matter how much you might thnk otherwise, you are, as I am, irrevocably biased) to only pick out the stuff that goes against us, and 4/5 and 4/6 going against us may also look like bias when it is a really rather common occurrence. It’s merely your failure to view it objectively that is clouding your opinion.
I’m not suggesting that umpires are ‘morally superior’ to us fans, I’m merely pointing out that they’re human and shit happens – they are not infallible no matter how much our desire for ‘fairplay’ demands that they should be (that particular ‘ridiculous’ misinterpretation is yours and yours alone).
Anyway, since the nature of these sort of discussions tends to be arguing till our fingers bleed, I’ll leave it here, I don’t really expect you to understand. But let me just remind you that coping with loss is one of the first lessons we all learn in sport and unfair as it may seem, most times, it’s just because you weren’t good enough on the day. There’s nothing more sinister about it than that.
The Limey - October 27, 2009
Well, I will not give a long response
since as I said above I do not have the time to dedicate to the discussion that I think it deserves. While I acknowledge that your statistics are at the very least interesting, I also think they can serve to oversimplify what I described in my previous post as a very “complex” situations. We are in fact dealing with human beings with fluctuating emotions, and constantly changing moods and life situations.
While it may seem reasonable to you to postulate 3-5 “blown calls” a game for a homeplate umpire, you are not taking into account a VAST ARRAY of variables which would and DO impact a particular umps performance on any given night. I do not know where you come up with the 2% margin for error, but even if I accept that number I think the MLB and most fans would agree (and probably if interviewed, most umpires themselves) that 5 “blown” calls a game is simply unacceptable. For an industry that generates so much revenue and pays its umpires very handsomely, I think this would have to be further explored. In additon, I never claimed not to have a bias. If you think I believe that about myself, then THAT assumption is “yours and yours alone.” My point is that the umpires DO AS WELL. The fact that they are paid to be unbiased does not make them so.
Of course umpiring is not brain surgery, but for comparisons sake, would you allow your dentist, or your electrician or your auto mechanic to make mistakes even 2% of the time? I think not. These men were very well trained, and are very well paid, why should we allow them to screw up so egregiously, when to do so in other professions would result in one’s dismissal, or at the very least in the loss of customers and valuable income?
Also, we are dealing with human behavior, which doesn’t fit so convieniently into statistical models. The fact that you seem to think so does not make it so. In addition, your fallacy is that you are assuming a priori that the umpires are indeed attempting to make the CORRECT call in all situations. Saying that they are “human and shit happens” fails to adequately address my argument; namely that it is a false assumption to say that umpires always act in good faith. Your statistics MEAN NOTHING if you have failed to address my MAIN POINT.
Finally, I never used the word “sinister” and resent you throwing that in my direction. I was painting a picture about human nature, which you obviously are intent not to look at. Okay. That is your prerogative, I don’t intend to try and strip you of that. In this particular case I am afraid we will have to simply agree to disagree and leave it at that.
Jack Frost - October 27, 2009
I am NOT looking forward to seeing Girardi manage the All-Star game in the Angels house.
HalosFanInNorCal - October 26, 2009
Yeah, I'm going to do my best to pretend he's not there, and that it's just a robot with a giant spreadsheet of statistics.
That’s kind of what Joey G did, right, outside of his Swisher man love?
AlanFalcon - October 26, 2009
which Cylon model would he be?
HalosFanInNorCal - October 26, 2009
The Cavill model.
red floyd - October 27, 2009
well, maybe he'll choose Scioscia (as he Goddamned well should) to join him
for his AS coaching staff. It’d be almost a slap in the face if he didn’t.
shiftyeyedgoat - October 27, 2009
we can only hope
HalosFanInNorCal - October 28, 2009
Cannot believe the season ended like that........
All I could do was laugh…..so as to not cry.
It was a helluva season……probably my favorite ever to follow…….(including 2002)
The only person I would bring back is Lackey…….other than that……time to, as the man says…………turn the page.
norcaliangelsfan - October 26, 2009
The Phillies all said they wanted to play the yanks in the series.
Because of that I can’t even root for them to beat the hated bronx bummers. As far as I’m concerned there is no world series this year, I’m not watching one minute of it.
Fred Fredrix - October 26, 2009
As disappointing as this series was...
…I am proud of the way the Angels fought hard through the pain of losing a teammate this year, how Kendry Morales stepped up and put up stats that made losing Tex much easier, how the team showed a lot of spirit and closeness both in the clubhouse and on the field and, quite frankly, did much better than I thought they would at the beginning of the year. Although their offense was M.I.A. during this series, during the year it was leaps and bounds an improvement over what we’ve seen in recent seasons. Remember that game where pretty much everyone in the lineup was hitting .300? In so many games the Angels were the comeback kids, and I won’t let one series alone take away just how good they played this past season. Sure, I’m heartbroken as once they got by the Red Sox I really thought this was going to be the year, but everything put aside, the Yankees just did it where the Angels could not. Despite the shaky ending, I thank the Angels for a thrilling ride this year.
A lot of question marks for 2010, but also a lot of young players like Morales and Aybar who are just starting to come into their own. And, who knows, maybe Mathis’ play this series is a sign that he’s finally re-found the groove that made him such a prized prospect in the past. Every new season, like Spring itself, starts out fresh with renewed hopes.
Time will heal and I’ll shake this one off during the winter, and be ready to support whatever team the Angels assemble for 2010.
Hoppity Hooper - October 26, 2009
Have Some Class
Man, I am embarrassed for Angel fans everywhere reading some of the crap I have read on this blog in the last couple of weeks. First it was the whole Mariano Rivera “spitting on the ball” and now it’s “The didn’t win, we lost the series!” Cry me a river. First off, Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer of all time, and is continuing to prove it in the Series. Second, if anyone knows about throwing a spitter, it’s like throwing a knuckleball, you have no control over its rotation and location, and everyone knows that Mariano has great location on his cutter.
Second, when the Yankees get beat, like we did by you guys in 02 and 05, we didn’t cry about shoulda, coulda, woulda, we tipped our hats and said, “We got beat.” PERIOD. “Boo Hoo, the Yankees spend all this $ and we don’t have it…” If memory serves me right, your team was once owned by DISNEY. Is there anyone short of Bill Gates who has more $ than Disney? And how about looking at all the talent on the team that came up through the farm system…..Derek, Andy, Mariano, Jorge, Bernie Williams, and now Melky and Robinson Cano. Do the Yankees spend $? Sure they do. But they also pay luxury tax and share revenues with smaller market teams who would rather put the extra $ in their owner’s pockets than spend it on their respective teams.
And don’t tell me Artie Moreno and the Angels don’t spend $. Hell, you have a guy making 10 MILLION dollars a year riding the pine. Not too many teams could afford to do that. You have some big $ free agents coming up, and the word is the Angels are already trying to make deals with all of them. Why is that okay for your team and not okay for the Yankees?
You could have pulled the trigger and traded for Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay, but your GM is always so worried about losing your vaunted prospects that you never pull the trigger when you need to.
To all the Angel fans that are out there that do have class, and I know some of you, I apologize for this post. You are a passionate group about your team, and Yankee fans respect that, respect your team, and respect you. To the rest of you Angel band wagon jumpers who don’t know the first thing about baseball, come to the game in the second inning and leave in the seventh, either learn about the beloved game you spout off about or go watch the Lakers tank this year
YankeesRule27 - November 1, 2009
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