Up next for Angels: Friday vs. Texas - Los Angeles Times
Joe Saunders vs. Scott Feldman
Rangers-Angels Preview - FOX Sports on MSN
Though Los Angeles (64-42) has a 4 1/2-game lead over Texas, the Rangers are 7-2 against the Angels this season. Texas took two of three in Anaheim from July 6-8, and should be confident despite dropping three of four at last-place Oakland this week.
Angels 9, White Sox 5 - FOX Sports on MSN
Now that Vladimir Guerrero is hitting the ball out of the park again, the Los Angeles Angels are downright giddy about how good they might be. "Oh boy, it's going to be exciting," said Bobby Abreu, who along with Guerrero, Jeff Mathis and Erick Aybar went deep in the Angels' 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. "When the man gets hot, we all want to be on base for him. He's going to drive in a lot of runs and we're going to score a lot of runs."
Team Reports - CBSSports.com
RHP Ervin Santana allowed four runs, four hits and four walks in the first three innings of his start Thursday -- then no runs, one hit and one walk over the next three. Thirty-nine of the 58 runs Santana has allowed this season have scored in the first three innings of his starts. Fifty-four of the 90 hits he has allowed have come in those innings.
Team Reports II - CBSSports.com
The next two months could be very important for Guerrero. It is his last chance to re-establish his credentials before heading onto the free agent market next winter. Between a torn pectoral muscle and a strained muscle behind his left knee, Guerrero's production has dropped to career-low marks.
Angels' Bobby Abreu joins an elite group - Los Angeles Times
He becomes sixth player in history with 250 home runs, 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs, 1,000 runs batted in, 1,000 walks and 300 stolen bases.
Here's a Thought: Kevin Jepsen, Jose Arredondo, and Deceiving ERAs - Bleacher Report
So, while ERA shows Jepsen and Arredondo to be terrible, and FIP shows them to be great, in reality, it looks like Arredondo is poor and Jepsen is very good.
rallymonkeys: Matthews feeling validated
His .247 batting average isn't impressive, but he has numbers that clearly demonstrate that he has elevated his game in clutch situations. Matthews is batting .295 with runners on base, .344 with runners in scoring position, .455 with two out and runners in scoring position, and .571 with the bases loaded.
Angels Baseball partners with UC Irvine Medical Center and the American Red Cross for a blood drive to honor Nick Adenhart - angelsbaseball.com
Angels Baseball Monday announced the organization is teaming with UC Irvine Medical Center (Orange, CA) and the American Red Cross on Saturday, August 29th and hosting a blood drive to generate and increase the much needed blood supply for patients in need. The blood drive will take place from 8 AM - 2 PM in the Exhibition Center at Angel Stadium, located next to Gate # 6. Fans who donate will receive two free tickets to a future Angels' home game. The event will also feature raffle prizes, including autographed Angels' merchandise.
Starting Five: Texas Two Steps Back of Boston in Tightening Wild-Card Race -- MLB FanHouse
On the eve of a critical series with the AL West-leading Angels, Texas got seven innings of three-run ball from unheralded rookie Tommy Hunter to beat the A's and stay 4 1/2 games back of Los Angeles in the division. The win also pulled them within two games of Boston, which lost to the Yankees, in the wild-card race.
Mets could be willing to deal Billy Wagner by postseason-roster deadline
Wagner, who turned 38 two weeks ago, still has about 10 days left of rehabbing in the minors. He's expected to pitch today with Single-A St. Lucie, take a day off, pitch another single game, and also pitch back-to-back days later next week. He may then be asked to pitch at a higher level before being activated from the disabled list. In his first three appearances, which came in the Gulf Coast and Florida State Leagues, Wagner gave up one hit while striking out four and walking none in three innings. He is said to be hitting 94 mph.
August 7 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on August 7.
0 recs | 53 comments
Any word on Arredondo coming back up?
Last I heard he was struggling with location.
clover_black - August 7, 2009
Matthews gets enough crap around this message board
I think from time to time, you have to throw a bone the guy’s way, and with Hunter and Guerrero out, he was proving to be a solid, if not fantastic option, off of the bench. And in the end, that’s all you can ask from someone when they’re clearly not going to make the money they’re paid. Besides, the money is the Angels’ front office’s fault, not his.
Caseys Kiss of Death - August 7, 2009
+1.
Nothing to marvel over, but adequate defense and some timely hits.
sothball - August 7, 2009
All I know is
Santana damn near has the worst fastball in the league right now, according to fan graphs.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - August 7, 2009
That's a really cool stat about Abreu
Higz - August 7, 2009
Abreu a Hall of Famer?
Monkeyspanked - August 7, 2009
I think so...
Monkeyspanked - August 7, 2009
As of today? Probably not.
I suppose it’s debatable though. He’ll probably get in just because he played almost his whole career on the East Coast.
Higz - August 7, 2009
Being a Phillie for most of your career
is hardly a ticket-punch.
Caseys Kiss of Death - August 7, 2009
I was kind of being sarcastic
Higz - August 7, 2009
As for Matthews
I’m glad he has come through with runners on, but his defense is bad, not Willits bad, but it’s still pretty bad and he has no pop. 2 homers in over 250 plate appearances, I’m not feeling it. He’s a number 8 hitter when Mathis catches, and a #9 hitter when Mathis doesn’t play, I’m glad he’s proud of himself for proving to the world he can hit in the 8 or 9 hole to the tune of a .638 ops. He’s an overpaid cheater who sulks like a little bitch on the bench, whether he is playing or not. Oh yeah, once again, he’s going to take it down to the wire on whether he gets more hits than strikeouts (58 : 59), which sucks for a dude with 2 dongs … or 1 dong for that matter, ha. Do I wish it was him who was in right field when Willits dropped the Ortiz double in game 2, and looked like a chicken with its head cut off in game 4, ABSOLUTELY, but that’s about the only time I can recall wishing Matthews was playing baseball for this team.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - August 7, 2009
Did he happen to violate your mother or something, too?
You’d swear we were talking about Jose Guillen in here.
Or that I was talking about Dustin Moseley.
Caseys Kiss of Death - August 7, 2009
he'd bitch about the '27 yankees
and his handle would be “gehrig’s goofy swing”. :)
SCHalo - August 7, 2009
"Ruth's Goofy Run"
howiestheman - August 7, 2009
i'd be fine calling out one of their highest paid players if he put up a sub .650 ops
if “the nothing” can parlay this last week into a month, and parlay that into the rest of the year … he just might finish above .700 ops
He thinks he is proving something, and I just look at his June + July splits and laugh.
If August ended today he’d be the man though.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - August 7, 2009
um...wow..
blochead - August 7, 2009
i voted no
and i like GMJ. he’s gotten lots of PT since Torii’s been out but still hasn’t gotten into a groove offensively. i’m just glad we have won a lot of games while he’s been in the starting lineup.
SCHalo - August 7, 2009
Everybody ready for the inevitable flame war with LSB?
Mayheminthehood - August 7, 2009
i am excited
Beat Texas!
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
Beat Texas
i wanna go to a game but I don’t know if i can..
princeton11loveshalos - August 7, 2009
The Rev and Adam are going to be busy...
There may be a few casualties…
The Limey - August 7, 2009
Hopefully Highlandhalo gets a few drinks in him...we may need it.
Mayheminthehood - August 7, 2009
I already have the oven heated up...
44FAN - August 7, 2009
Some STATS on GMJ:
He is batting .190 from the right hand side which is terrible. HOWEVER, credit is due where it is due. GMJ is batting 455. with RISP and two outs. That includes 25 RBI’s in 39 AB’s.
Lets compare that to Torii Hunter who has had 37 AB’s with RISP and two outs and is batting a pedestrian .270 and only 18 RBI’s…
GMJ more clutch than Torii? Dare I say YES….
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - August 7, 2009
yes but...
Torii is Torii
and
GMJ is GMJ
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
Torii is “Hula Dula the domino Rula”
Downing Rules - August 7, 2009
what? Thats all ya got?
I think GMJ should get his due. I mean they practically have the same amount of AB’s in that situation and GMJ is killing it in the clutch….not saying hes better than Torii(duh…) but the guy deserves some credit.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - August 7, 2009
true...
I was at ‘80s retro night when Gary hit that huge 3-run double which definitely rose his stock in my books BUT my point is that Torii Hunter is the kinda guy you can really feel loves the game and loves the Angels… He’s out there with the Hunter’s Hundred and really making a name for himself not just on the field but off the field with the community and as a representative for the franchise… Gary just doesn’t do stuff like that, I don’t know the guy so I am not gonna judge is character or anything however, he is far from being the kinda of player, on and off the field, Torii Hunter is. Simply put, do you ever see GMJ winning an AL MVP with the Angels, what about Torii.
That’s what I meant by Torii is Torii and GMJ is GMJ.
GMJ will always be at best the 4th outfielder on this Version of the Angels, on that note RESIGN BOBBY!! (look for me on Tuesday night with my Resign Bobby sign)
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
To me it is GMJ's defense that is severly lacking compared to Torii's.
He just does not chase a ball down like Torii, and I have noticed he often seems to put the brakes on about two steps before he reaches a fly ball and lets it drop to the ground in front of him. That never happens with Torii out there.
44FAN - August 7, 2009
its funny too because the ChiSox announcers...
kept praising how good of a fielder he was during the series. (I got the non-premium MLB tv package so i only get away team announcers when i watch.)
Oh and speaking of which, the announcer for the ChiSox has to be the most annoying announcer on television. The dude sounds like he just walked out of the Kentucky derby after downing a 6 pack of Natty Ice. Hawk Harrelson? Barf.
“And you can put it on the boooooooooooard. YEAH. YEAH” (Ugh…I wanna shoot myself listening to this guy.)
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - August 7, 2009
I don't think GMJ's fielding is all that bad on average, he just does'nt have the hustle Torii has.
GMJ knows he is never going to be the everyday CF as long as Torii is healthy so I think he just does’nt care as much whether he gets to every ball he can.
44FAN - August 7, 2009
Some of Harrelson's phrases are irritating
However, theie enthusiasm toward the sox is second to none. He refers to the teaam as “we” when they are losing. He’s a fan first and an announcer second, unlike a certain douche who broadcasts for the halos.
halofan4life - August 7, 2009
+1
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
According to fangraph's UZR
GMJ ranks 108 out of 113 for CF.
LINK
WiHaloFan - August 7, 2009
But hey,
At least it’s better than Jacoby Ellsbury. That’s a plus. Right?
halofan4life - August 7, 2009
Yeah, that surprised me
I thought Ellsbury was a good defender…must be that ESPN-type spin I’ve been reading.
Did you notice how far down Vernon Wells was? He must be really crappy.
WiHaloFan - August 7, 2009
113 out of 113 does not a gold glove make.
The biggest surprise to me (and I’m not hip to UZR and of course I’m biased towards halo players) was that Hunter ranked middle of the pack.
I would definately expect a 8-time consecutive gold glove winning center field to have a higher metric rating than -2.3. Of course like I said, I’m not on the up and up as to what UZR measures.
halofan4life - August 7, 2009
There was definitely a Jepsen Bulger hate fest going on..
for good reason too. But aside from speier and a couple bad outings. Them along with Oliver have been pretty damn solid. Even to the point where I’m not too worried about their performance in the playoffs. Given we have at least a 2-3 run lead. Playoff games are usually tight though so I know we aren’t out of the woods yet. The brandon woods to be more specific. zing!
RexTookMyStash - August 7, 2009
if we make it to the playoffs.... (no bad mojo coming from me)
we know what kinda performance we will get from our starting pitching/bullpen…
when Lackey pitches the other team will score 3/4 runs
when Weaver pitches the other team will score 4/5 runs
when anyone else pitches the other team will score 5/6 runs
the only question is can our offense score more runs than that and my answer to that question is…
yes
if this confuses anyone don’t worry i am still formulated a fan post with statistics and all… look for it in Sept.
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
that’s if anyone cares what i think… which you probably don’t :)
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
man back up your assumptions with some proven statistics...
its a sure way to help people begin to care what you think (and researched).
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - August 7, 2009
once I got the time...
I will do my best to organize my thoughts in a concise, researched version… for now they are just that, my thoughts
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
For what it's worth, your thoughts make sense to me.
AlanFalcon - August 7, 2009
Here's to giving Soth a shiny new sort leash for the members of his bullpen.
44FAN - August 7, 2009
I'm thinking Bulger will be big in the playoffs
Hopefully!
Monkeyspanked - August 7, 2009
Positive big or negative big?
Downing Rules - August 7, 2009
Or perhaps
it’s time for some preemptive dietary restrictions, so he doesn’t become david wells big?
Caseys Kiss of Death - August 7, 2009
GMJ's .343 with RISP is awesome
he’s only good for 1 hit a game but he usually makes it count. I still didn’t vote yes tho.
Fred Fredrix - August 7, 2009
We’ll be at the game tonight. VLADDY KNOCK ONE OUT!
firebird81 - August 7, 2009
Smoltz got released...
I wonder if he could help us out of the pen.
Nashdiesel - August 7, 2009
on the Drive
Bigsy was saying he doesn’t want to pitch out of the pen but I dunno if it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get him as a 5th starter just down the stretch… maybe not pitching in that hell-hole they call fenway would help him out
trojanangelfan - August 7, 2009
He looked TERRIBLE last night
I would take Matt Palmer over John Smoltz in a heartbeat.
Rev Halofan - August 7, 2009
I'm kind of hoping he joins the Rangers.
AlanFalcon - August 7, 2009
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