Halos Heaven

Quinlan's Goofy Swing - May 31, 2009 reply

kendry needs more toe tapping and foot action

to be on the Q level

W H A T A C O M E B A C K ! ! !

No love for vladdy in the vote?

Clutch Double

WillGoAngels27 - May 31, 2009 reply

it was a bloop

clutch yes, lucky yes, a single that he took 2nd on the throw home on….

Yeah but still.

haha

WillGoAngels27 - May 31, 2009 reply

He’s the pop-up master recently.

Yeah

If not for Figgy’s speed on the basepaths, Vlad would have been gunned down. He was lost between 1st and 2nd.

I made a lose pic for rally purposes. It worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hahaha

I'm going the throw this one to Jason Bulger.

Came in and put up two clutch innings of relief when we really needed it.

indeed

saved the game

+1

A LATE ADD to the tpoll

I had mistakenly thought Bulger had given up an inherited runner. He is there to vote for.

Well, to be fair, he DID get his bacon saved by some clutch defensive plays and bad baserunning by the Ms.

But still, heck of a job, and pitched well enough to get the outs.

so glad I watched the game when at 8-1 I considered getting some work done

also I’m w/ Zu, Bulger getting out of that mess he inherited was HUGE

I'll second that.

All of it.

ReggieBullits - May 31, 2009 reply

Gave my tickets to this game away

So glad the person I gave them to got to see a good show. On the other hand, my wife’s birthday is Tuesday, so I’m glad I got the shopping for that done, too.

scareduck - May 31, 2009 reply

Now THAT is looking at the glass half full!

I can not believe that the sig on that post reads “scareduck”!!

Stirrups - May 31, 2009 reply

Yeah I was happy to leave to go play softball...

and listen to the comeback on the radio on the way there….

K3YEROUT - May 31, 2009 reply

That's more like it!

TheAntiSox - May 31, 2009 reply

F YEAH

AND FU

Guerrero

44FAN - May 31, 2009 reply

uhhhhhh

what?

Im not even going to ask.

Wait i have to.
Where did you get this? Are you Jackie Chan?

WillGoAngels27 - May 31, 2009 reply

Nice open eyes

the asian guy has

Also Aardsma was co-panther

he couldn’t throw anything close to a strike, If Abreu doesn’t swing at ball 4 that game would have been over even earlier.

What a big hit by K-Mo

So clutch and exactly what we needed!

I'm guessing you had a loss thread prepared

Kaine - May 31, 2009 reply

did i ever

oh boy

Funny!

EXCELLENT!

scareduck - May 31, 2009 reply

I was hoping for a GS

for my PGG

Is the ball rolling?

Just what we needed! Love It. Too bad now we have a travel day…

ALucky22 - May 31, 2009 reply

Yeah, this win is really going to be what gets the team going in the right direction. A 2-4 homestand is really what you want going on the road against Toronto, Detroit and Tampa Bay.

your a genius. i hope you keep up your awesome post. your insight is unmatched on this blog. thanks

HALO_86 - June 1, 2009 reply

A positive win like Sunday's is something to build on...

2 – 4 sucks, but I think you might agree that it is much better than 1 – 5, lucifer.

Good argument for any of the choices

but that clutch hit by kowbell is what we needed in the worst way.

UCIHalo - May 31, 2009 reply

Some patience, a little luck, some bad pitching from the opposition

and one clutch hit made us winners.

UCIHalo - May 31, 2009 reply

LOL

check out Vlad’s AB in the 7th…

Pay special attention to pitch three

Listened to this on the radio up here in the NW

Dave Niehaus was bummed and i nearly drove off the road when K Mo got the hit.

Phyz distorted his mic

im sure Rex wasn't helping with his screaming ;)

howiestheman - May 31, 2009 reply

Looking at the box score I cant help but laugh at the ERA's

Santana: 9.50
Rafeal Rodriguez: 7.36
Bulger: 4.87
Speier: 5.31

Its so absurd its funny (but only after a win).

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

When I left work it was 8-1 Starbucks…

WHAT THE HELL DID I MISS?!!

Zoe Necrosis - May 31, 2009 reply

lots and lots and lots

and lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lotsand lots and lots

Ass-kicking reversal of fortune.

Bulger is the man, and the Panther

mattwelch - May 31, 2009 reply

+ 1

I dunno

2 shutout innings against Seattle seems a little weak for Panther Honors. This IS the Mariners after all…

but this IS the Angels bullpen were talking about.

It all started

Wiht Izturis pinch hitting for Howie and drawing a walk. I love Howie and don’t want to give up on him, but maybe he needs to get another taste of the minors, like Santana did in 2007.

Then either SeanRod plays 2nd, or Figgins moves over with Wood playing 3rd. Either way, a big upgrade in power, and with Howie hitting .225, we’re not losing any average.

RallyMonkey5 - May 31, 2009 reply

I think they'll give him til the All-Star break before making a move....

Were still not quite a third of the way through the season…

I had a fever

AND KOWBELL FARED PRETTY WELL AS A CURE

Oh yeah....AND TEXAS LOST!

for what its worth.

It's worth a lot, in my opinion

I can’t believe I only got to see up to the top of the 6th… there’s got to be some way I can see the rest of the game replayed somewhere… somehow… the universe isn’t that cruel.

Zoe Necrosis - May 31, 2009 reply

C'mon, Torii

GRAND SALAMI and we’re debating who the panther is? Have we lost all reason?

LazorkoRules - May 31, 2009 reply

Torii had a two run homer, not a grand slam.

But that was admittedly pretty big.

Well, it was still pretty cool.

LazorkoRules - May 31, 2009 reply

It was to yesterday’s game what Spiezio’s homer was to 2002 WS G6. “We’re in this thing” was all I could think of after Torii got a hold of that one.

I voted Torii

Funke5ive - May 31, 2009 reply

What a ride!

Fan Since 1981 - May 31, 2009 reply

it looks like that ride at Knott's

ladybug - May 31, 2009 reply

If you look at it from the Mariner’s perspective … It looks like that SS Mariners waterfall pic.

I was watching, and then commented in the 6th after closing to 8-5...

…and that comment was followed by pop-ups by K-Mo and Naps. I figured I jinxed them.

I refused to comment for the 9th inning rally…didn’t want to jinx it.

So yes, the 9th inning rally FTW was successful ‘cause I didn’t post a comment…and if that’s ALL it takes for my Angels to get on a hot streak, I will remain “dormant” for future game threads (especially when a rally is in progress).

WHAT A RALLY!!!!!!! This could be just the spark this team has needed…

Awesome comeback

but what the hell is up with Santana? Two craptacular outings and both happened at home..

Northwest Angel - May 31, 2009 reply

Santana is in spring training form...

…give him about 2-3 more weeks, and I think you will see a much better pitcher (unless there is more damage to the ligament than has been described in the media).

He looked really bad at times today, decent at other times. He could probably use 2-3 more weeks in re-hab assignments.

Not so sure

I think the velocity would still be there in spring training; it’s the stamina (i.e., going 100+ pitches) that would need to get built up. If he doesn’t get his fastball up into the mid-90s in a hurry, it might just be better to get him fixed. If he’s going to need surgery, well, the sooner he gets it, the sooner he’ll be back.

jjackflash - May 31, 2009 reply

I think Santana is the Angels answer to Bret Saberhagen…….every other year he’s great.

man........i missed a helluva game apparently

norcaliangelsfan - May 31, 2009 reply

just watch the 9th in the replay.

A loss would have been better IF and ONLY IF:

Ervin’s fastball had consistently hit 93 – 95 mph, he racked up 9 Ks in 6 innings of work, and he held the M’s to 1 run

Something is VERY wrong with Ervin. His fastball is gone. And he gave up a home run to ENDY FREAKING CHAVEZ! That’s like a Tusken Raider getting his ass kicked by an Ewok.

Fan Since 1981 - May 31, 2009 reply

+1

for working in an Ewok reference into this thread.

PitPerc - May 31, 2009 reply

This is my concern too.

Ervin looks bad. It isn’t just ST arm. His velocity is way down – that doesn’t bode well.

jimmuscomp - May 31, 2009 reply

just got home from the game

epic win. the whole game i was kind of just joking around with my friends but in those late innings, and especially the 9th, the crowd was so into the game, it was awesome. 1st walk off win ive attended and it was amazing

Sorbo182 - May 31, 2009 reply

lucky you

;)

Biggest surprise among many...

Speier is WP.

The Truth Is

Without Justin Speier, the Angels would be 0-49.

ttsec - June 1, 2009 reply

Oh baloney.

44FAN - June 1, 2009 reply

Maybe, JUST maybe...

They can use this as a rallying point. It’s no game-ending GS a la Torii in 2008, but I’ll take ANYTHING that can turn this team around. Granted, not every team is the Seattle Mariners.

moosemastr - May 31, 2009 reply

Dont play with my emotions like that Rev

The buzz in Anaheim is that Kendrick and Erick Aybar might be going to AAA Salt Lake in preparation of calling up Brandon Wood and Sean Rodriguez

norcaliangelsfan - May 31, 2009 reply

yeah Rev, are you just making this up or what?

That would be so freaking sweet!

blochead - May 31, 2009 reply

What an awesome excercise in mediocrity/futility.

we need a little pop in our line-up and...

wood and srod might be the answer. wood just needs ab’s to prove he can mash and srod is believe it or not (not counting independent minor leagues) tied for 2ND in all of professional baseball right now in hr’s, only behind adrian gonzales s.d. (19) and tied w/shelley duncan (aaa for the skanks, 18). soth will give the guys in the clubhouse every opportunity to right a wrong, then next on the pecking order are the guys on the farm before a trade could happen.

thejd - May 31, 2009 reply

I want to eat crow on this but

I just dont feel that S Rod is going to do anything but be Kendrick part 2, without the annoying commercials that is.

Hey, you know what, thats a big enough plus for me.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrise01.shtml

Based on what?

Sean Rodriguez and Howard Kendrick aren’t remotely similar hitters. Kendrick was all contact coming up in the minors, while Rodriguez has a plus power and patience profile. Kendrick had a grand total of 77 walks in the minors. Rodriguez had 321 through last season.

Rodriguez has a more typical profile that projects better in the MLB than Kendrick, whose lack of patience and strikezone discipline is clearly sending his career into a tailspin.

Turks Teeth - May 31, 2009 reply

Just this

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
2008 23 LAA AL 59 187 167 18 34 8 1 3 10 3 1 14 55 .204 .276 .317 .593

Not exactly a small sample size, but those are just stats, what do they know?

yeah...55 strikeouts and 34 hits...

ouch. Of course, Wood sucked for most of his time as an Angel last year too. Both are doing better than they did last year in AAA…only one way to find out!

dude...

SRod plays Defense too remember…I love Howie, but his is no SRod with the glove!

K3YEROUT - May 31, 2009 reply

what?

SRod just made his 11th error of the season today.. so unless you’re talking about “Eybar” potential, then i’m not sure where you’re getting that he’s so great with the glove..

b0rd3rline - May 31, 2009 reply

and much, much more eyebrow.

I'd be astonished if Aybar was demoted.

Where’s that “buzz” coming from, somebody’s back fillings?

And what’s with the hating on Figgins with a dig like this:

Chone Figgins is not really contributing, as he is only good for a smattering of singles on occasion and almost two weeks lapsed between his 19th and 20th Stolen Base.

So what? The guy has a .378 OBP and is one the top two players on the team in runs, walks, steals and OBP. What more do you want from a leadoff guy? He was on base three times today, and just got off a 15-game hit streak. Meanwhile, his defense has prevented numerous runs.

I’m all for demoting Kendrick and Aybar to give Rodriguez and Wood a shot for a month, but not at the expense of Figgins, who has been one of the brighter spots on the team. I call this temporary madness “Absence of Wood” disorder. I’m sure there’s a little pill for that.

Turks Teeth - May 31, 2009 reply

Sad :(

I missed the rally.

27up27down - May 31, 2009 reply

Tough crowd

I don’t understand the Figgins hate. Among all MLB leadoff hitters, he has one of the best OBPs, he’s stolen the second-most bases (and with a better success rate than the current leader), and his 32 runs scored is near the top of the list, even though he’s been backed up by Aybar, Izturis, and Kendrick most of the year. And he plays a great third base and is an awesome defensive sub just about anywhere on the diamond. What more do you want? Would you rather have Soriano? He hits the ball a long way…when he hits the ball at all. His .305 OBP and -2.5 UZR in left field look really nice too.

Also, why demote Aybar? His defensive play is fine, and he’s the last hitter in the lineup. The ninth spot in the order has a .656 OPS across the AL, and Aybar is currently at .704. Again, what more do you want from a shortstop? Yunieksy Betancourt has a .631 OPS and an awful glove, but he’s been the Mariners’ starting shortstop for three years!

But I agree about Kendrick. He needs to play in the minors until he can tell the difference between a slider in the dirt and a fastball down the middle. Send him down, bring Wood up, play Figgins at second, and then maybe the grumbling about Figgins and Aybar will calm down.

Suboptimal - May 31, 2009 reply

Yea Figgy is doing so much better than HK and considerably better than Aybar.

Agree

I’m not there with the Figgins hate, esp with his above average defense at 3rd

LazorkoRules - May 31, 2009 reply

The point is a good one.

Why demote Aybar? Good question, yes he is the 9 spot guy most of the time. With a .704 OPS again good for a 9 hole guy.

My reason is simple, he does nothing to get the fans excited. Other then making horrible throws to K Mo on a regular basis so we can see how good our first baseman is getting at picking balls in the dirt. Could you imagine how many errors he would have with a crappy defensive first baseman? The routine plays greatly outweigh the tough ones. He is not making the tough ones either. Added with not doing very much on a regular basis, bored. It would be this way even if we didn’t have Wood waiting in the wings.

These are MY reasons, not to be reproduced, or retransmitted without the written consent of Pendletonmike. Or the USMC, because they own him until December 2009.

pendletonmike - May 31, 2009 reply

Totally disagree with you here.

TheAngelsAngels - May 31, 2009 reply

You guys are on crack...Figgy is hitting .296...

he’s our leadoff hitter, catalyst, plays excellent D, and primary base stealer. The guy is going nowhere before free agency in the fall!

K3YEROUT - May 31, 2009 reply

the guys at LL weren't very happy

Karma.

27up27down - May 31, 2009 reply

My heart bleeds

The Limey - June 1, 2009 reply

If GM could have developed an engine that ran on the anger generated at LL

they wouldn’t have had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today.

Fan Since 1981 - June 1, 2009 reply

4.5 GB

If we keep it together, and the Texas Rangers’ pitching explodes like the Hindenburg, we got this.

Knowing Texas, their starters and bullpen gotta come down sometime.

27up27down - May 31, 2009 reply

Its usually when their home games are in Heat

that even Satan migrates away from.

suck it .500

TheTypingFiend - May 31, 2009 reply

M’s got lucky Saturday night huh?……..a lot of teams seem to be lucky against the Angels this year.

I sense...a butthurt M's fan

I havent felt this since…..

me an M’s fan?

You have yet to make a positive comment

Fans of other teams often disguise themselves, show up here, talk shit like they are commiserating and laugh while they are doing it. It is hard to tell them from grumpy Angels fans. You are pretty grumpy, but hey there is lots to be grumpy about.

Rev Halofan - June 1, 2009 reply

Difference between positive and denile

Have been an Angels fan since the 70’s. I remember their first division title in ‘79 and the Yes We Can excitement that surrounded it. I remember the death of Lyman Bostock, Don Baylor being named MVP, and watching Nolan Ryan throw his no-hitters. I went through the crushing defeat of ’82 and of course ’86. Brian Downing and Bobby Grich are my favorite all time Angels. The fact that someone comes on here and actually says something negative about the Angels and they then are accused of being a “plant” from another team is called paranoia. The Angels are just not that good this season….deal with it. Yeah I’m a grumpy person in general….my friends deal with it….why don’t you. The sky must be blue all the time for you and the sun must shine upon you 24/7. I’m a realist, I say what I feel and what I see on the field. The Angels are a .500 team.

There’s a difference between being a realist and being 100% pessimistic. We have been dealing with your grumpiness — in every single one of your posts…

Yes, they are playing 500 ball — RIGHT NOW. There are blue skies ahead for this team in 2009. Hopefully we can turn you to the light. Keep posting here for a few weeks and you might be able to write something positive about this team.

Turn me to the light?….you sound like that loser Vic the Brick on Fox radio. Do I want to see this team turn the corner?…of course I do. So far during the first two months of the season they have been a .500 team with rare clutch hitting, too many errors and horrible relief pitching. Is there any sign yet that any of that will get better? They had a great comeback yesterday……..one game does not mean they are going to the light. It means they were close to having a 1-5 homestand. That sucks against the White Sox and Mariners. If they come back from this next road trip with say a record of 3-6 or 4-5 will you say what a great trip it was? Or will you say WOW they are so close now, it’s all coming together.

Secretly your friends don't like you...

only my experience from dealing with grumpy friends while being on the 24/7 sunny side (which apparently in an insult in your eyes.).

I am just trying to be real for the eternal realist in you.

TheAngelsAngels - June 1, 2009 reply

Vic the brick — What the heck is that? So, now I’m the loser for being positive?

I understand your point about being realistic. I really, really do. I am, outside this realm of HH, a generally pessimistic person, especially about the Angels. However, I cannot see mailing this season in and saying “this is a 500 team” going forward.

If anything, this is a team that has seen its share of horrible luck thus far. They have been beset with some amazing circumstances and yet are still at 500! How lucky we are to still be in this race given what has happened this year.

Now, can you see my point of view or are you still busy with your own?

I’m always busy with my own…..they are .500 after 2 months of the season and there is no sign they are going to be any better. What signs do you see? The bullpen still sucks, no clutch hitting which would have given the team a few more wins this season, no power which is essential when you need to score runs quickly late in a game. What do the starting pitchers have to do to get some wins?…….pitch no hitters every damn game? You tell me what you see in this team that has you thinking that they will be a much better than .500 team come the end of September.

The big pieces are coming together.

It might take some time, but most of our big-timers are returning, and fingers crossed they’re going to get back to where they were before all their injuries and what not.

We haven’t even reached the all-star break yet. Our big-shots aren’t even in full gear, and you know what? We’re still in this thing. Barely peeking over .500 and we’re still SECOND PLACE in the AL West.

A pack of blessings light upon our back; we just need the time to get back into 2008 shape. And seeing how some of our players are finally balancing it out (Bulger especially) (save Aybar and HK), the future is semi-bright for the Angels.

Remember how the Phillies managed to slowly climb back to the top of the NL East last year? Baseball is a great sport because there are so many ways you could improve.

The Phillies had a much better team than the Angels. Rollins, Howard, Utley, and then they add Ibanez….who the Angels could have had if they actually weren’t so cheap in going after Abreu. The Angels just need time to get back into 2008 shape?……uhhhhh, they lost again to the Red Sox in the divisional series. 2008 wasn’t that great after all.

Signs of improvement on the horizon:
1. Lackey and Santana JUST came back
2. Brandon Wood walks on water.
3. Vladdy has been injured and could get hot.
4. Abreu has only ONE HR and averages like 15-20.
5. Morales looks good and let’s hope he keeps it up.
6. The starters led the league in ERA even without the top dogs. Matt Palmer still has yet to turn back into a pumpkin even after the stroke of midnight.
7. Tragedies and bad luck have ravished this team thus far in 2009… the bad luck and misfortune cannot go on any further unless you believe it will.
8. Bullpen has been horrible; and it can only improve as past performances of the top 3 have indicated (Shields, Arredondo, and Fuentes).

You are certainly looking at it all wrong. A few bounces and a few breaks, as you even said, and we have a lot more wins. We are not that far off. The glass is 3/4’s full and yet you still say it is empty.

So let me get this straight

I spend 5 seasons building a blog and you show up one day and piss on it and I am supposed to accept you for the piss-ant bitter loser that you are. Fuck off. Deal with that like your “friends” supposedly deal with your callow personality.

Rev Halofan - June 1, 2009 reply

Yeah get it straight

Didn’t realize that anything negative said about the Angels here wasn’t allowed. Why don’t you go fuck yourself and let people that don’t agree with you that all is well with the team let their opinions be read without people like you saying I’m wrong about everything. If you think this team is so fucking great fine…..so be it…….I think they will finish around as a .500 team and miss the playoffs. You have spent 5 seasons building a place for people to come and leave remarks about the Angels……..you have done a great job with it…..I liked what I saw and decided to check it out, but dear god we are in the US of A and I can think and write whatever I feel like about this team. You don’t like it then you best call your site here Halos Heaven….But Don’t Enter If You Don’t Think The Angels Will Win The World Series.

The point is...

You never seem to have anything positive thing to say about the Angels.

Not even a “well Torii is doing pretty well?” No “Palmer was really a surprise this year?” I think what makes your comments seem worse than they are is because you seem to always see the cup half empty instead of half full.

I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m fine with how you express your views. It may be that you love the Angels so much that it pains you to see them do so mediocre. By looking it your posts, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see you are really disappointed with the way this season is turning out, and understandably so. But the way you express your frustration just isn’t rubbing off the right way I guess.

Please, guys, let’s not make this into a flame war. I think that we all love the Angels here. Through good or bad, let’s endure this season. Together.

Jeez dude...

…the difference between you and a bullet between the eyes is the bullet is more painless.

I hope you find some joy and happiness in your life. In the meantime, start your own “Mr. Happy” Angel blog. With this attitude, I’m sure you’ll get lots of traffic…

sothball - June 1, 2009 reply

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.......

You guys make me laugh……I love getting people like you all riled up. It’s a hobby of mine.

It's not a healthy hobby, but...

No hard feelings, right?

It might be a little cruel to get your laughs from making other people upset, but at least you find humor in something, right?

Some people bring happiness where ever they go…….you bring happiness when ever you go.

AND WE ARE ALL HAPPY

because I banned your little ass. GuhBYE!

Rev Halofan - June 2, 2009 reply

Hey, even if the Halos finished at 0.250, I’d still be cheering. If someone else had hopes that they would make the World Series that year, I would state my case once and then let it go. If they still believed the Angels were going to make the Series with a 0.250 record, let them. It’s called “being a fan.” We can all get along here as kool-aid drinkers and as pessimists. Just don’t piss in the pissimism. You’ve gone overboard. Give some positive posts and we might think you are really a fan.

Downing Rules - June 2, 2009 reply

awesome again

HALO_86 - June 1, 2009 reply

Aybar praised...

Scioscia praised Aybar’s throw to the plate that gunned down Ichiro. Gotta admit, that was a superb throw.

Real life isn’t always sunshine and blue skies…….or the Angels winning every game. Real life is maybe the Angels aren’t that good this year and they will be a .500 team and hopefully during the off season they tweak a few things and become really good again.

However

In real life you always have to have a little room for optimism, bud.

It’s been rough, and it’s not like I’m looking for a 100-62 season. I just have faith that the Angels have the shot of winning the division again this year too.

You know what? .550-.570 is great already for me, see as how we had a sloppy start this year.

S Rod

2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI last night…

TheAngelsAngels - June 1, 2009 reply

I <3 S-Rod