Halos Heaven

it was blown before he even came in the game.

???

Bullshit. He came in with a clean 1 run lead, F’d up the third out himself, and then gave up three runs.

Well when the wheels fall off the bus..............

eventually it will crash…….

The wheels didn't fall off till he got behind the wheel and ran over the median.

I’m all in favor of apportioning blame, but don’t try to absolve Fuentes of his part in this.

oh im not.........walking the leadoff guy was the straw that broke the camels back...

but I think if he had the 3 run lead like he should have……..he woudnt have been so cute with his pitching selection……

Maybe.

But he had 1 run. It won’t be the last time.

Looks like my guess is going to be pretty close ...

at least for this series:
http://www.halosheaven.com/2009/3/27/812120/angels-arizona-in-arizona#13457013
I’m going with 3-4 now that Lackey and Santana are not in there. I see a split with Oak and a 1 game take from the Red Sox.

Heh. Reasoning seems off though.

Starting pitching hasn’t been our problem.

Only 3 games,

but the fill-in starting pitchers put the Angels in a position to be 3-0 right now. It’s the rest of the team that’s screwing up.

The inning was perfectly set up for him.

There were no baserunners and three LHB were due up. The situation was ideal for him. But Fuentes messed up completely. He is not ready for prime time. Maybe he should go pitch in Saskatchewan or Edmonton.

i have to say the only upside to this game

was adenhart being pro

teopeht - April 8, 2009 reply

Fuentes, not necessarily for blowing the save,

but the two killer subsequent runs.

That's what does it for me

Otherwise, I’d say (with regret) the blame went to Napoli for several defensive lapses.

rspencer - April 8, 2009 reply

dude, just cut GMJ

sunken cost, he has now become a liability.

Yeah, his baserunning SUCKED tonight! ;)

I want to vote for all five for BotG

The final two innings were a joke. Fuentes better get used to facing MLB hitters. Willits in LF is better than Gary “I drive a Bentley” Matthews Jr.

Reconsidered BotG: Fuentes

Uh........how is Figgy not on the list?

That’s who’s getting my blame…….

All he had to do was throw to 1st to get one out……..screw the run…….he opened the floodgates like Carl said in the game thread…….

what are we blaming figgins for?

assuming Nap could hold onto a ball?

no, there was no need to force a ball home......

who cares if that run scores……get the guy out a first……….Shields K’s the next batter…….go into the 9th with a 4-1 lead

what are you talking about, forcing a ball home?

Naps caught it. naps dropped the ball, full stop.

yeah......that throw.....period.....

wrong……..naps dropping it sucks….but the throw should have never been made IMO

Still UCI, I agree with you, but...

you gotta go with the “gimme” out at first base. It is a much safer throw, angle of throw and it is a force play. Give up a run in exchange for the out, minimize the damage with a four-run lead.

Oh Christ come on

What is the guarantee that we get ANYONE else out that inning if Figgins had thrown to first base???

Fuentes didn’t get the job done in the 9th, walked the leadoff man with a 1-run lead. THAT is how we lost the game.

well walking the leadoff batter is asking for trouble......

but I imagine with a 3 run lead (which he shoulda had) he probably wouldnt have been trying to be too cute with his pitches…..plus he didnt get alot of help from the Ump………

Did Figgins insult your mother or something?

No

He just fucked up and cost the Angels the game.

your crazy

Like hell he did

Fuentes blew the game. Pure and simple. We go into the 9th with a 1-run lead and he walks the first batter.

Frankie could have walked the bases loaded and still got out of the inning because he has blow-them-away stuff. Fuentes doesn’t.

Blaming Figgins for that loss is akin to blaming Abreu because he got out on the final play instead of hitting a 2-run homer to tie the game. IF IF IF. Nonsense.

Right

Because Fuentes’ ground out was a mental error that clearly been avoided. Nice analogy.

When the hell did Fuentes ground out?

Abreu

Sorry

I didn't think you were watching the game

Certainly not at any time other than when Figgins threw home.

And I’m to blame for the credit crunch too ….

Completely emotional comment.

Figgins executed his throw, Napoli dropped it. Naps also bungled Suzuki’s infield knock in the ninth.

Shields and Fuentes put six men on the bases after the throw home. Even assuming Shields gets out of the eighth with a 4-1 score, Fuentes coughed up three runs in the ninth, and the Angels probably would’ve dropped it in extras.

Jeez thank you

Somebody saw the same game I saw.

So you dont think Fuentes would attack the A's differently in the ninth

with a 3 run lead compared to a 1 run lead?

If I were an amateur psychic.

Why assume Fuentes is going to perform better with a different margin? He walked the leadoff man.

It’s pure superstition. Just like assuming Shields strikes out Matt Holliday on the subsequent play if the course of play is changed by Figgins throwing to first. If Fuentes would’ve had a different result entering the game with a different margin, why wouldn’t Shields also have a different result as the course of history changed as well? Maybe his adrenalin levels shift and he blows it. Maybe Matt Holliday changes his approach with two outs.

The point is, this is black magic. On the other hand, Angel pitching putting 19 men on base is empirical. That’s going to lose you a ton of games.

Moreover, even if one is generous to Napoli and charges the first run to Figgins, Figgins scored a run the previous inning, so it was a net neutral contribution. Arredondo walking two batters, and Shields cashing two batters in, however, is net negative. That’s why FanGraphs make Fuentes the overwhelming goat of the game. Because, well, he was.

Well above all..........Soth screwed with the system.....

Shields shoulda started the 8th :)

Was not a save situation ...

hence no system in place.

heh....

boo on you

Naps, didn't bungle the second play.

Fuentes did. Fuentes is the pitcher, his job is to let someone else get it unless it’s right to him. He went after it anyway and got in Naps way.

Welcome to HH by the way. :-P

Shields put one man on base

Figgins put one man on base via the fielder’s choice, and Shields allowed one hit.

lol no......Im just calling it like i saw it.......

thank you

Can"t understand all the focus on figgins when at least 4 other guys had greater impact on the loss.

its not all on Figgins........

its just where it started…….

again IMO

What's so hard to understand

He cost the Angels two runs. He turned a 3 run save into a no margin one run save with one boneheaded decision.

Hmm. So he was responsible for the 19 men....

…Angel pitchers put on base tonight? Your math doesn’t even work out.

Fuentes coughed up three runs. Naps bungled two balls, and Matthews lost the third out in the lights and nonchalanted the catch.

But ít’s Figgins’ properly executed throw to the plate that was responsible for the subsequent six runs? It’s hard to understand because it’s a kooky mixture of superstition, emotion and hand-wavey hokum.

Nothing to do with execution

It’s preparation. It’s making the wrong decision. Perfect pitches get hit. Perfect throws get dropped. Ground balls get booted. But making the wrong decision on a routine play is unacceptable.

Yes, it IS unacceptable but you're missing the point ...

That play did not cost us the game. We went into the 9th inning with a 1-run lead. And what happened then?

We lost by two

Which just happens to be the number of runs Figgins cost the Angels in the eighth inning.

We're not going to agree here.

You’re combining an “unacceptable” stamp of the foot with a boatload of superstition that assumes everything that happened after the Figgins-Napoli play at the plate would have transpired exactly the same. Moreover you are assuming a speedy Ellis doesn’t beat out the throw, or that Morales handles it appropriately. None of these things are remotely givens.

How can anyone argue with that? It’s Johnny Carson in a cheap spangled turban stuff. I don’t do fortune telling, so I’m siding with FanGraphs on this one.

And if there is one thing Turks know well, it's turbans.

And you're ignoring the fact that trading a run for an out is the right decision there

As taught by every coach at every level of play.

Yeah, and not only that ...

The rest of the team is to blame as well, for not putting enough hypothetical runs on the board to give Fuentes enough of a cushion to blow.

This if if if stuff is bullshit of the highest order. Thanks for being sensible, Turks.

In Fuentes' defense...

He was squeezed by the ump on that walk. Or did that refill of cerveza’s blind you? :)

Hey, I agree that Figgy made a good play and that a RUSTY Naps blew it by not squeezing the glove. But, the rule is to go to first — trade a run for an out.

Nick was getting squeezed all night.

And the walk isn’t what cost him. Not either making the play on Suzuki himself or letting Napoli do it is what cost him.

Throwing home in the first place was the wrong move.

For the exact reason of what happened.

plus him and Aybar are doing nothing to prove to me they belong on the field anymore than 3 wood

I dunno, Aybar's been pretty good so far.

Besides the one mistake, Figgy’s been lights out.

Except when he has to stand out there waving that big heavy wooden thingy.

Figgins has 4 runs in 3 games.

He leads the team in that regard.

Why do we expect that Brandon Wood, with his hacktastic .191 average over 183 ABs in the Majors is suddenly going to light up the park? The guy has 55 Ks against 4 BBs. Figgins has 3BBs in three games.

Don’t take spring training stats as reality. Wood may yet have a pulse, but he’d have been facing junkballing lefties with good sink and breaking stuff, and those pitches have destroyed Wood up ’til now.

If we're gonna lose......might as well let him take his hacks in the Big Leagues.....

instead of sluming around AAA…………..this team is in some need of some serious pop…..1 HR in 3 games…..is not gonna cut it

I get the fan longing for "pop".

I just don’t get the fan assurance that Wood gives us that on day one. Or day one hundred and one.

It’s peculiar to me that folks are impatient with a player that has scored four runs in three games, but are willing to sit out Wood “taking his hacks” and just making outs, all on the hope that he might do something one day. Matt Brown and Chone Figgins both outhit him in spring, and spring training stats mean nothing. And hitters with K:BB ratios like Wood has rarely perform in the majors.

I’ll take the runs now. I don’t view Wood as competing with Figgins to begin with. I look at him as competing with Quinlan and Matthews.

Figgins has a profile. Among leadoff men, he’s in the top quintile in runs per plate appearance, and Bill James calls him the most efficient baserunner in the game. He has a place on this club. It’s players like Quinlan and Matthews that are completely redundant.

People

Naps DROPPED the ball. I feel like I am taking crazy pills

He did.

If the ball had been thrown to first, as it should have been, he would not have dropped it. I give an equal share of blame to both myself.

I realize that.....but why throw home with a four run lead?

Why the hell not?

The play was right in front of him, he thought he could get the man out, and it was an easier throw than to first base.

First base is a guanteed out

and MUCH MUCH easier play for the fielder accepting the throw. It’s something you learn by the age of 12.

Also, gentler angle and no runner in the way between release point and the glove you are throwing to.

I can see both points of view and yes, it probably was a mistake

But no way in hell did it cost us the game. The leadoff walk to Giambi was much more critical.

A ball that shouldn't even have been thrown to him

And Cust would have been safe anyway.

No, he'd have been called out.

Ump was clearly about to gun him down when he noticed the ball.

He was safe on the replay

I think the ump was ready to call him out, but would have ended up calling him safe. Wrong play. Boneheaded decision by Figgins. Something you learn in little league, and he screwed it up. Figgins plain and simple cost them the game.

Fuentes gave up 3 runs.

If Figgy goes to first, it’s 4-2. I don’t think Figgy is the one who cost them the game.

Actually, that was their first run

And the next batter struck out. It would have been 4-1.

yup......

Huh.

I guess I thought the wild pitch scores someone.

Nevertheless, 3 runs in the 9th still costs the win.

You got that right, Zu

Voice of reason. Thank you.

the 3 runs in the 8th hurt just as much

1 run in the 8th scores regardless.

It’s a save situation and Fuentes comes in either way.

Right....

and like I said above….a closers mentality is gonna be different with a 3 run lead….then it is with a one run lead….

which is why Fuentes probably pressed too much thus walking the leadoff guy……and starting the blaze yet again…

I will say though……if he cant handle a one run lead like this….he wont be the closer for long…

The way I see it, it's immaterial what happened before Fuentes came into the game.

He had a lead, he’s the closer. He gives up the lead, and the game, he gets the blame. That’s how it worked with K-Rod, and that’s how it works now.

The worst Figgy was guilty of was making a risky play

but Naps caught it, and it looked to me as if the runner would have been out at home had he held it. I don’t think Figgy forced Napoli’s error. Thus, while Figgy did arguably make an error in judgment, it was a lesser error than Napoli’s, and Napoli made several. At least, that’s how I see it.

rspencer - April 8, 2009 reply

WiHaloFan - April 8, 2009 reply

Fuentes = teh suck

Sorry, I’ve seen him with the Rockies too much.

scareduck - April 8, 2009 reply

YaY Adrock !

Boo Frankie Fuentes :(

Figgins, not even a question

If he just takes the out for the run and doesn’t throw to the plate, they get out of the eighth with one run against and still win the game. Figgins blew this one.

Here's my donation

haha a little comedy in a horrible game

WillGoAngels27 - April 8, 2009 reply

Fuentes pitched with some bad luck

But WTF was Gary doing on that play. Nomar isn’t going to hit the ball over your head very often anymore, and he just plays it on a hop with the game on the line. Get Willits up here ASAP.

What's more embarrassing is that ...

Nomar got the big hit. Ouch.

Only because Gary was playing so deep and made no attempt to actually catch the ball.

I realize this is the wrong thread for this, but...

Did Bill MacDonald get fired?

bc56274 - April 8, 2009 reply

His voice was on that jack commercial just now.

Nah, hes all good

she’s 23

so he says

Yeah, I read that.

So this is just a day off for him, an evening to go cruising local community colleges?

bc56274 - April 8, 2009 reply

He

had a volleyball game to do today… but yeah!

alright

i take back blaming gary in the past thread for his terrible read. I’ll just blame fuentes for getting in napoli’s way for that ground ball, i’m not sure if a lefty is even supposed to go for that ball.

jtkelly86 - April 8, 2009 reply

Bring the GMJ DFA picture back!!!!

WillGoAngels27 - April 8, 2009 reply

Fuentes

He’s paid to close games and he looked like garbage tonight

Epic Dean - April 8, 2009 reply

This thread sucks.

;) Time for some alone time with Lindsay.

and with no cubicle

you can be as loud as you want to be ;)

Does anybody think that GMJ's poor attitude is affecting his play?

Matthews Jr

He should have caught that ball. I bet that ball is caught 95% of the time. He was a defensive replacement.

brian8065 - April 8, 2009 reply

Stoneman should be fired retroactively for his performance

I hope he didn't loaf on that ball on purpose.

I have noticed in the recent games I have watched that GMJ looks pretty lost out there.

One good diving catch, sure, but everything else is an adventure. I don’t get it.

Results are Up

Bad HHers not using the new submission methods properly

scottnak - April 8, 2009 reply

I blame Figgins

I don’t care that Napoli dropped the ball (and if the Umpire had called him out, he’d have been wrong anyway), because Napoli should never have been receiving the ball.

Figgins throws to first, no flood gates. From the moment he threw home and the run scored, I just had an unending sinking feeling.

Your right

never assume a professional Catcher can actually catch a ball

lol so you think throwing home with a 4 run lead is an appropriate play?

Is that what I am understanding of all this defense of Figgins?

getting an out is always an appropriate play

dropping a ball is never appropriate.

Granted I wasnt watching the game........

but was he most defintely out had Napoli caught the ball?

You're right

You clearly weren’t watching the game. He had the throw beat.

thats why I asked the question.....

I did not know….

I think you misread my question.

My bad

I misread your post. Sorry.

He was safe on the replay. The ump appeared ready to call him out, but had not made any definitive signal.

its okay man.....

im totally with you on all of this……..

um was about to ring him up until he saw the ball fall out

I cant believe this play either A pitcher always knows to move out of the way the ball was Nappoli

Napoli

Getting an out?

So you agree that Figgins screwed up then?

dead horse.

Right

Because it’s just so easy to make that play with guy barreling down the line and the throw arriving late when you still need to make a tag.

IT WAS THE WRONG DECISION. IT COST THEM TWO RUNS.

What is so hard to understand about that?

What's hard to understand about it is that you've never played a game of baseball in your life

It was a reaction play. And even if you think it was boneheaded of Figgins to throw home, how can you still explain away the NINTH inning? That is where we lost the game, dammit

Good lord, you're a douche

Seriously. What kind of lame-ass response is “you’ve never played a game”. You don’t even fucking know me.

Carney is that you???

;)

I would have thrown home on that play

OK, so I’m a dick. By your logic, then, I cost the Angels the game? Get a grip, man.

And you would have been wrong

But no, by my logic, you did nothing wrong since you weren’t actually playing. The professional who has been playing his entire life and STILL made the wrong decision cost the Angels the game.

That's the problem

it’s NOT a reaction play.

This is baseball, he’s a professional. The highest level I ever played was Colt leagues, and even I KNOW that if you are in the field, it is 100% your responsibility to know EXACTLY where to throw the ball BEFORE the pitch is even thrown.

There was precisely 1 correct place to throw the ball in this situation.

Figgins did not throw it that way.

Little League kicks Pony's ass.

;) (just thought I’d stir the pot a bit more than it already is)

I played little league, too

Sorry, no pot to stir here.

In fact, I played on the same field as ALL TIME GREAT TIM WORRELL.

Actually, at that age I think it's Senior League

Little League is equivalent to like Mustang or Pinto or some other horse.

That's right. At least out here in SoCal.

Little League over 12 is Senior League. Kind of the AYSO equivalent of Pony ball (13-14). [Orange Pony All-Stars were National Champs in 1971. Take a guess how I know that.] Then Colt (15-16). Then American Legion (17-18) if you are not playing travel ball.

That was you? What was your position? :-D

Clutch - April 9, 2009 reply

I think we've made our arguments loud and clear on this......

people just dont see it the same way………

live to fight another day

answer me this

Who had the greatest impact for the loss?

greatest?

Soth for deviating from the the system :)

non-save situation.

The greatest?

I guess that technically would rely on who you believe to be the creator of the universe, no?

Nothing.

It’s hard to understand why it’s more important than the wrong decision which cost 3 runs by our closer.

the fact that he caught the ball, made the tag, then dropped that ball

sounds pretty fundamental to me.

Do you get scared when people run at you? Cause I thought MLB catchers could handle that

Only he never caught it

Since Cust had the throw beat, and Napoli had to start the move to make the tag before the ball got there, because it was the wrong goddamn decision.

OK it WAS the wrong goddamn decision but it did not cost us the game

Fuentes did. You don’t walk the leadoff man with a 1-run lead in the 9th unless you are prepared to get the rest of the opposition out somehow.

I’m sorry but I don’t like what I see in Fuentes’ makeup as a closer. I would be much happier with Shields or Arredondo taking the ball in the ninth, because they have the kind of stuff that can produce quick outs.

he was fine in the first game.......

"Fine" is not good enough for a championship-caliber club

Sorry to quote the Soth, but I’m pretty sure that is what he is telling the press right now …. followed by “turn the page”

OK, let me re-organize his post...

“he was PERFECT in the first game…”

lol, love ya Downing ... !

:)

I love you, too halo-bro!!

lol the Soth screwed the whole pooch up anyways.....

by not starting Shields in the 8th…….he deviated from the system.

"The System"

is in full effect if a SAVE SITUATION exists. The score was 4 nil, man. That allowed Sciosc to work Arredondo a bit longer.

Physical errors or poor outings happen

They’re unfortunate, but over the course of a season, they’re inevitable.

Mental errors are unacceptable.

Ding ding ding.

I agree with you that mental errors are unacceptable

But that wasn’t even that much of a mental error, nor did it cost us the game

Not knowing where to go with the baseball before it's hit to you

is pretty much the simplest of mental mistakes, and an unacceptable one i any context. He had one play to make, and didn’t make it.

I'll take a Figgins mental mistake in the 8th

over Fuentes giving up 3 runs in the 9th and blowing a save any day of the week.

Amen, Anteater

What I dont understand is how you can say that is better...

because you dont know how the 9th woulda gone had the game been 4-1……instead of 4-3……….which is what it shoulda been.

Nope, we don't know what would have happened.

What we DO know is what DID happen, and what happened is that Fuentes coughed up 3 runs.

Im gonna give you the bottom line cause you seem to miss it

9th inning begins.
Fuentes enters the game with a lead
9th inning over
Fuentes leaves the game down by two.
Everybody together: its the closers job to CLOSE the game.

Thank God

No I get it........

The difference between me and you on this subject is simple…..

You look where the END was…………

I see where the end BEGAN………..

What norcaliangelsfan said

plus, and this is important:

Players are going to have bad physical outings where they don’t locate, and don’t perform to par with their physical abilities. It happens. Even the best hitters get hits 30% of the time.

What Figgins did was unforgivable in the scheme of baseball. He forgot T-Ball practice #1, Section #1, Rule #1: KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH THE BALL BEFORE THE PITCH IS MADE.

You idiot!!

They don’t pitch in tee ball!!! I’ll bet you never even played the game!!!

okay THAT was the first time i laughed all night

Rev Halofan - April 8, 2009 reply

Hahahahahaha

you caught me.

I was just too freakin’ good in T-Ball, so they skipped me straight ahead to the Cubs’ AAA-affiliate.

Well they sure as hell probably don't get bitched out for making a reaction play and throwing home either

If you were my dad, I’d be in tears every other inning for mental mistakes.

But if he was your dad.....

he would have had you prepared……and thus you wouldnt have screwed up :)

:)

I thank my lucky stars again for my own dad

You're probably right.

They’re also not making millions of dollars, and they’re still learning. It’s assumed that the guys with the big contracts actually know what they’re supposed to do with the ball when it’s hit to them.

thats what you learned first?

I learned to CATCH a ball first.

Actually I probably learned to throw first

or at least around the same time.

And along with learning HOW to throw, you learn WHERE to throw.

And, if you're a pitcher, especially a CLOSER ...

You learn how to throw strikes in the top of the 9th with a 1-run lead. You do NOT walk Jason Giambi to start the inning.

As I've already stated a couple of times

I find total mental collapses to be more abhorrent than physical let-downs.

The greatest players of all time get out 65% of the time, don’t homer even 10% of the time, and the greatest pitchers of all time still blow 10% of their games, etc., etc. It comes with the territory of the physical limitation of humankind. Even if I will gladly blame him for sucking as badly as he did, his mistake is, at least in THIS context, more forgivable than just absolutely not KNOWING what to do with a baseball…something hammered into your head from the earliest days of play.

Mental Errors like going after a ball you had no business going after?

The A's got lucky too

Ball rocketed off Ziegler’s leg and goes straight to Chavez.

True. But beside the point of the conversation.

A pitcher isn't supposed to go after a ground ball right in front of him?

It was a miscommunication, but someone has to take charge and call the other guy off there.

Honest opinion, Suzuki runs well and I don’t think Napoli would have had him anyway, but that’s neither here nor there.

It wasn't right in front of him, it was down the first base line.

Naps wasn’t that far behind him, a good throw beats him.

It was certainly in his area of responsibility

What if he doesn’t go after it and Napoli stumbles out of the box? You’d be here bitching that Fuentes didn’t make an attempt to play the ball.

No, I'd be bitching about Naps stumbling out of the box.

You are the one who has admitted to having a personal vendetta against one of the players involved in this discussion, not me.

You aren't exactly the biggest Brian Fuentes fan ...

Really?

All I said was that K-Rod is better. If I say Albert Pujols is better than Kendry Morales, does that make me not a fan of Morales?

Ah. Great semantic breakdown...

You just pulled a Keanu Reeves in The Matrix move… i shot slo-mo bullets at you. ;)

Keanu Reeves. Great actor

He would have made the play that Figgins botched, AND would have done Fuentes’ job for him by saving the game, all with a smug look on his face, while remembering all his difficult lines.

I have? Please show me where.

Please quote the post where I claim a personal vendetta against a player. It should be easy, since you’re sure I’ve done it.

Well, okay.

Imagine if Figgins could get on base

Did I mention I hate Chone Figgins. He’s fucking dead to me.

“I hate ”http://www.halosheaven.com/2008/10/3/627306/alds-game-thread-bos-laa#9168469" >Chone Figgins" seems pretty unambiguous to me.

Oops ... Seitz throws home when he should have thrown to first.

Nice catch Zu, unlike Napoli :)

Let's try again.

Link to quoted post.

are you part elephant?

LOL......

Stu Long is a man of many talents.

Not really.

Seitz made a really big point of it.

Apparently so big that I don't even remember writing it

Not that I didn’t write it apparently, but sheesh, I’ve probably said that about every player on the team at some point or other, including the whole bottom part of the order in the Sox series.

And just so it’s out there, the decision he made tonight is worse than anything he did in that series.

LA Seitz - April 9, 2009 reply

It wasn't so much his performance in that series as his

cumulative playoff performances IIRC. You even made a somewhat less hate-filled post about it on your blog.

Anyway, if you say it isn’t so, than it isn’t so and I’m glad of it.

I seem to remember being kind of surprised you were saying it at the time. That’s why it stuck.

I hate Matthews a trillion times more than Figgins

And I don’t blame him for last night.

Actually, I don’t hate Figgins at all, but I was very frustrated by his playoff performances. That was heat of battle stuff.

LA Seitz - April 9, 2009 reply

TY

that was so not on Naps

BOTG - K-Rod

For not signing with the Angels when he had an opportunity, thus causing the multitude of mistakes that led up this loss.

At least he had a Maalox moment save in Cincinnati tonight against the Reds.

BBFan1 - April 8, 2009 reply

This is awesome!

If GA wasn't so lazy he would have caught the ball that Matthews let drop in front of him, and we would have won.

FanGraphs says: Blame Fuentes

By far and away he has the worst WPA of -.735

The next worst is HK ; -.113

does Fangraphs account for mental mistakes?

Did you also blame Josh Paul in game 2 of the 05ALCS?

uh yeah....it was a bonehead move......

just like Figgins……

haha, thats funny

You cant blame this all on Figgy

I dont blame it all on Figgy......

but he started it……..

Its like the house getting lit on fire……..

I dont blame the house for getting burned down…….

I blame the person who lit the match.

Yes... when in doubt apply the tag...

especially when a douche like AJ is in the batter’s box.

Not the same thing at all

Figgins should have known where to throw the ball before it was hit to him.

Paul’s sole point of blame is not tagging Pierzynski. If you’re in the mindset of Paul at the moment and believe yourself to have cleanly caught the ball…and there’s as little doubt in your mind as there is on any catch of the ball…then why should it even OCCUR to you to tag Pierzynski? Easy answer…it shouldn’t.

The A's season is finished

Mosely had a quality start and Ade had 6 SO innings.

They are our 6th and 7th starters on the depth chart.

Saunders, Lackey, Santana, Escobar, Weaver, Ade, Mosely

good perspective

No! Not perspective!

Because that means one must realize there are still 159 games to play.

More perspective

The Yankees are 0-2. What will The New York Post have to say about this?

We might need an overflow thread for this post-game bitch session!!!

;)

Aye sorry Downing ...

Having a real shitty day and this just makes it worse.

And then I gotta back up my man Desmond. He owes me some cash for this.

I went to the game tonight

and I thought all was well, but two things bugged me. We will lead the league for most singles because 9 hits and 9 singles. Also, Matthews can’t hit but he is supposed to play defense and…cant catch the ball. But all in all we need to start shaking some things up a bit. Long season I think we will manage to put it all together and come out on top.

angelskid2210 - April 8, 2009 reply

RIP Brian Powers!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200804080.shtml

Holy shit! It was EXACTLY one year ago today that Speier blew it in the 9th inning.

April 8th, 2008. Angels are leading 3-2. With two outs in the top of the 9th and no one on base, Speier issued a walk and then a HR to Hafner. Angels lose it 4-3.

(Frankie couldn’t pitch the 9th because of the ankle problem)

This is all a set-up folks.

Give the A’s some glimmer of hope, then smash that hope to hell at a more opportune time.

Better we get rid of the nasty BS early right?

RIGHT FUENTES??
Yeah. That’s what that was. Alright. You’re still cool…

scottnak - April 8, 2009 reply

Let's get back onto the Billy Mac gossip.

Hey folks...

there’s a great special on “When Yellowstone Erupts” on Science Channel in HD. Fuentes shouldn’t watch this as it is too explosive.

lol

This is scary shit man!

We’re in for a huge eruption in the next sixty years!!!!!

Wait are we talking about BillyMac?

Or Yellowstone

Pigtail girl hopes it's sooner than that.

panther

gansta

Turned that off...

the final scene of Commando is heating up!!!!

"don't bother my friend, he's dead tired"

Hahahahahaha. Rec'd

But in 60 years, pigtail girl won’t be much to ‘erupt’ over.

Oops, goes with norcali's post

Billy (Joel) Mac sings:

And when shes walking
Shes looking so fine
And when shes talking
Shell say that shes mine

Pigtail Girl … la la la …

Ringo Starr's "You're Sixteen"; an ode to young love

You come on like a dream,
Peaches and cream,
Lips like strawberry wine.
You’re sixteen. You’re beautiful. And you’re mine. (mine, all mine)

You’re all ribbons and curls, ooh, what a girl,
Eyes that sparkle and shine.
You’re sixteen. You’re beautiful. And you’re mine.
(mine, all mine, mine, mine)

You’re sixteen. You’re beautiful.
It’s a crime????

CURSE OF THE PIGTAIL GIRL

It will stick with this franchise for another 100 years.

This team does not appear to me that it was ready to start the season.

Fielding spotty. Hitting spotty, with regulars looking rusty. Baserunning gaffe. Mental mistakes. Shaky bullpen. I know that it’s only 3 games, but these things were supposed to be all straightened out several weeks ago.

Nothing crisp about these guys right now.

Agreed 100%

what exactly is Spring Training for?

Apparently it's for batting a meaningless .400

and tricking the team into thinking you have an ability that justifies you being in the game more than Brandon Wood.

yeah I hate having thoughts of hoping someone goes down.......

but I want 3 Wood to come play with the Big Boys in some way

We'll be OK. Turn the page.

7pm cant come fast enough

Im curious why Weaver is 4th in the rotation.....

anyone know why?

He had a stiff back for a while

might have something to do with it.

oh thanks.

Just the way it set up out of spring training

Agree. Funny thing, only the starting pitching has been good.

Pitchers generally have the edge in the first couple weeks

or so I’ve heard.

Blame it on the WBC.

;)

Holy shit! I just saw what happened to Brian Powers!

… sorry for being ignorant about this, but I just spent the last day and a half in the hospital after being mugged in London.

What a horrible thing to happen. I hope they catch the people responsible.

Jesus.

Are you okay?

Yeah

Broken elbow, massive contusion on right hip. Laptop and mobile phone stolen.

I got in one punch but I couldn’t even slow them down. Have to talk to the cops later today again.

damn :(

Glad to hear you made it out at least…
What’s the situations about the guys who did this to you?

scottnak - April 8, 2009 reply

I don't know yet ...

One of the guys whacked me in the hip with a club or a crowbar or something to knock me down. I got up and hit one guy but not hard enough to knock him down. Then they were running like hell with my laptop and phone. I chased them but I couldn’t catch them. Both guys were smaller than me and in retrospect it was probably stupid of me to try to chase them. A young guy walking his dog saw what happened and tried to chase them too but they got away.

The cops are coming around again this morning to take another statement and there is hope that CCTV footage will show something. The guy who whacked me from behind was in the off license buying cigarettes at the same time as me, about 5 minutes before it all went down.

jeezus!

That’s insane :( Man. I’m really glad to see you posting here.
Crazzy to think that if this had gone the wrong way we likely would’ve never known :(
Scary thoughts…

Hoping for the best these punks get caught and punished rightly!

scottnak - April 9, 2009 reply

Thanks Scott ...

This explains why I didn’t play the guesses last two games!

Damn.

How many were there?

2 guys

One whacked me in the hip from behind and grabbed the laptop, while the other guy grabbed my mobile phone out of my hand.

Man, that blows.

Holy crap, I can’t imagine what I’d do if that happened to me. The phone would be a small loss (5 year old sprint piece of crap) but my laptop has my whole damn life. The important stuff is backed up, of course, but still.

The laptop is what might do these guys in.

It’s inevitable that it pops back up on the internet soon. And once it does, there are ways.

Stirrups - April 9, 2009 reply

I think the mobile phone might get them as well

It has a tracking code and the cops can trace it to a location.

Yeah, I was about to say.

Cell phones are pretty easy to turn into mobile tracking devices. All the movies I watch say so.

I don't know about that ...

… but I called my cellphone company and just by giving them my phone number, they knew what something called a IMEI tracking number. I thought it was kinda creepy that the mobile phone company knows SO much about my whereabouts, but in this case it might be kind of handy.

However, I’m not holding out too much hope. Even if the cops can track the phone there is no guarantee that the guy who is found holding it was involved in the assault/theft …

Thoughts?

Pfft.

I know everything about BASEBALL. Crime and punishment is someone else’s specialty. :-P

I will agree with you ...

… there ain’t much you don’t know about baseball ! :)

Well hopefully the cops will catch them

It was a serious assault and theft using a weapon of some sort.

To be honest, I am lucky to still be here. That’s what they told me at the hospital and so did the cops. If I would have fallen wrong and smashed my head or something it could have been sayonara.

Losing the laptop sucks. It’s still just sinking in, really. I just feel bad for my wife having to listen to me fighting with these guys in the street and not knowing whether I was OK or not. She really went through hell … not knowing.

The cops offered to try to call her, but (believe it or not) I couldn’t remember my own wife’s mobile number, and it was stored in my phone.

I believe it

I remember a few of the numbers of friends and family, but in general I rely too heavily on them being in my phone at this point, and could easily forget a good number of them.

And given your situation, it’s really not hard to believe at all.

driving last year

walking this year…

Feel better dude.

Rev Halofan - April 8, 2009 reply

Thanks man

I’ve been a bit unlucky lately but nothing like that poor Brian Powers guy. I can’t imagine what his family must feel like.

Sorry about your misfortune...

yeah, what a ridiculous thing to happen in our stadium. Hope those guys are apprehended and punished.

Thanks for your thoughts but I am okay

The worst part of it was when I got mugged I was on my mobile phone with my wife. She heard the whole attack and she did not know for several hours if I was alive or not.

Whoa man.......

glad you are okay…..I can see why you might be in a bad mood lol

Yeah. Sorry about being grumpy.

its okay.......

Im grumpy too….I hate losing to the A’ss

Kinda makes an argument over blame of the game seem ...

STUPID.

You are right there, pal

What are you talking about?

Whoa, whoops...meant to link, not post

It's okay to post pics in the post-game threads now.

Rev said so.

“Wait, what kind of pictures?”
::Opens up porn website::
…
“Not those kind”
…
“Oh”
::Closes porn site::

XD

Highland. Friend. You need to take care, man.

And pick a new strategy for living well. Start buying a Sunday dinner for a local rugby team or something. Spread some serious good karma amidst a bunch of major league ass-kickers. Good things will come.

Get rid of closer

Brain Fuentes Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get rid of him…..

Just a tad premature

that’s NOT what she said.

Silver lining...

the defending World Series Champion Phillies are also 1-2.

Yeah, but they played a mile over their heads last year and had no business in the series

Whoa...

the blame of the game poll results look like a big middle finger being pointed at me sideways.

The universe is flipping us off tonight.

That’s all there is to it.

you said it.

your post was 2 minutes before the crash...

and we were talking about the halos bad luck run …

Just got back home from the game.

In retrospect, I should have known we were gonna lose. True story. On the way to the big A, I was pulled over by the CHP on the 91 freeway, me and the cop were BS’ing and talking baseball, come to find out, he was from NorCal, and yes, an A’s fan. Then, to top it all off, ran into my ex-wife, with her new hubbie, at the Mickey D’s on State College Blvd. next to the stadium…en route to the game. If karma truly is a defining force in the world, i’m gonna play the lottery later today, since I and the Angels have had our fill of bad luck!! Losing to choakland sucks ( along with higher insurance rates)

halofolife - April 9, 2009 reply

What'd you do to earn that ticket?

Well....

I live in the I.E. and didn’t leave till 3:40, the CHP clocked me at Ninety. I told the officer I was in a rush to get Tony LaRussa to his next AA meeting. He didn’t find it funny.

halofolife - April 9, 2009 reply

LOL Panther