Final Score in Kansas City: Angels 3, Royals 6
The Angels awoke in Kansas City Labor Day morning with the chance to do what only two teams visiting that city since 1969 have ever done: take every single home and away game from the Royals. The Orioles did it in 1970 and the Yankees did it in 1998. But the ball bounced a funny way a few times early and a belabored Ervin Santana saw some bad luck push those balls inches away from perfection. The end result was a deficit to the Royals that for once this season could not be overcome and the Angels finished 9-1 against Barbecue Blue this season. They went 4-3 on this 7-Game road trip and are looking, quite frankly, exhausted. The tiredness has finally slipped to the heretofore stellar gloves just when the bats are consistently dozing and the pitching staff needs the quicker innings that only fine leather can induce.
High up on Monday's Sheet list are Maicer Izturis who was as unclutch as a player can be with 2 GIDPs - each with Figgins on base. Of course, why was tired little Mice Man playing today? And why was Chone Figgins not running on some of those pitches? Figgy has looked tentative to terrified on First base this seas, already in contract paranoia of being picked off first base with other teams' front office personnel watching. The result has been a tippy toes approach to secondary leads and today it cost the Angels plenty.
Meanwhile Bobby Abreu is looking like a birth certificate from World War 1, making a costly error in the outfield on a routine play called "Don't let the ball dribble past your glove while you are charging in." Grampa Bobby has shown patience at the plate, but perhaps it is because he is napping and only comes alive when their are not kids on the bases distracting him from hitting an easy 1-Run homer late in games when the Angels are so down that opposing pitchers toss AARP discounts his way.
The foggy, dazed and dull Halos travel home to face Felix Hernandez tomorrow night, like a bad dream or a pathetic sequel to last Wednesday's Seattle buttkick.
0 recs | 38 comments
Had to give it to Maicer
two no out GIDP
Figgi4life - September 7, 2009
No doubt.
But I don’t get the Rev’s Chone-bashing today. The guy was on base four of five times, and once again, turned some nice leather in the game.
I really think, at this point, Figgins was caught dickin’ with the Rev’s girl at some point. The guy leads the AL in runs and walks, is third in steals, yet in the fevered universe of Halofania, Figgy is in “contract paranoia” and “cost the Angels plenty” today.
Um, no. The double-plays Maicer hit into were fairly textbook. It wasn’t Chone’s faulty running game that cost us today. Had he got thrown out at second, I’m sure Rev would have steered the man to his rhetorical grave with yet another wobbly turn of phrase.
Turks Teeth - September 7, 2009
IF Figgy's league leading..
…Caught Stealing doesn’t make him tentative, what does?
Rev Halofan - September 7, 2009
K-Mo left 6 on base according to gameday....
but either way to GIDP for Clutch Tits isnt getting it done.
norcaliangelsfan - September 7, 2009
Given that the error was his own fault, I'm going with Voodoo.
Zu Long - September 7, 2009
Me too.
That error was huge — it totally shot his rhythm, and it got is pitch count high early.
red floyd - September 7, 2009
Halos looked tired today...
Should give Abreu and some others a rest…let Wood get a few swings…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - September 7, 2009
It's Maicer
He was horrible today. I also think Rivera needs a day off. Maybe HK47 could play a little more. Mathis was his usual horrible self. GMJ pinch hitting instead of Howie or Napoli was bizarre.
hk47 - September 7, 2009
maybe if Santana pitched like a big leaguer, none of the above would matter
ladybug - September 7, 2009
Abreu should be up there too.
I know hes not a stud out there on defense but he was shit out there.
SenorChuckles - September 7, 2009
Still can't buy a hit w/RISP
Only one of those errors came around to score, but the offense had plenty of chances against crappy KC pitching. Felix Hernandez again tomorrow. The way the bats are looking, Kazmir needs to be perfect.
Suboptimal - September 7, 2009
Might be time
to let Howie play more.
he’s hitting .373, .951 ops since the all star break, 27 rbi in 31 games.
Move izturis around the infield to get some rest for aybar, figgins, and howie.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - September 7, 2009
I'm sure Howie is well-rested
seeing as how he never plays…but I get your point and I agree with it. Howie needs to play more. I think Rivera needs some more rest too.
hk47 - September 7, 2009
Rivera rest = GMJ
I’d rather watch Juan ground out 3 times a game than see GMJ’s buffoonery out there.
Gorbachav5 - September 7, 2009
Izturis by a mile
Kendry left guys on base and had an error, Santana pitched poorly and hurt his own cause with the error on what should have been a doubleplay, and Bobby had the terrible play in right field, but the worst performance was from Mighty Mouse.
When the leadoff gets on base four times and never scores, and when the #3 hitter goes 2-4 with a 2B and a HR, there must be something amiss with the #2 hitter … and there was. Those two doubleplays were devastating.
Start Howie at 2B. Use Maicer as roving utility player 3 times per week. Move Vlad and Kendry up in the lineup, keep Torii at #5.
Brody - September 7, 2009
Now we're doing the A-Rod critique
How dare Bobby Abreu only hit 1-run homeruns! How dare he get a double with nobody on base! What a selfish, unclutch player he is!
With those 75 RBI’s in his last 89 games and all that.
Gorbachav5 - September 7, 2009
why not just give his career numbers
instead of face reality that he is old and tired and fading in the stretch
Rev Halofan - September 7, 2009
Because there is no evidence to support that
Tiny sample size.
Gorbachav5 - September 7, 2009
Much more effective than GA at this point
They might be both tired old men, but I prefer Bobby right now.
highlandhalo - September 7, 2009
Kazmir kicks ass tomorrow
He still needs a good nickname. Get those Angels-capped brains working!
highlandhalo - September 7, 2009
ANGELS
THE ANGELS ARE FINE-MAYBE THEY DO NEED A LITTLE REST AND MAYBE WOOD SHOULD PLAY SOME-BUT—SINCE WHEN HAVE WE HAD A BETTER MANAGER THAN SCOSSIA?!!—IM SURE HE WILL FIGURE IT OUT——-GO AMGELS!!! AND PUT THE DH IN THE NL!!! THE NL IS NO MATCH FOR THE AL-THE NL HAS AT LEAST 7 CRAPPY TEAMS AND THE AL HAS ABOUT 3 CRAPPY TEAMS—AND THE AL WILL WIN THE WORLD SIERRIES JUST LIKE THE ALL-STAR GAMES-THE NL HAS TO CATCH UP AND PUT THE DH IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!
spc7@verizon.net - September 7, 2009
yes......
go AMGELS.
norcaliangelsfan - September 7, 2009
too close to Weaver's parents jerseys that said Dogels and Angers.
so no for me
44FAN - September 8, 2009
Well...
The Dogels do Anger me…
red floyd - September 8, 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Sam Elliott in the role of Bill The Cat.
Awesome. Yes! Totally made my nightly visit!
Stirrups - September 7, 2009
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
clover_black - September 7, 2009
be nice
remember your first beer?
Rev Halofan - September 7, 2009
LMAO
Figgi4life - September 7, 2009 via mobile
I ALSO AM VERY GLAD WE HAVE
MIKE SCOSSIA?!! AS OUR MANAGER
howiestheman - September 7, 2009
YEAH!!!
Haha man I need to go drinking with you!! I’ll be sure to make a drunk post soon!
angelskid2210 - September 7, 2009 via mobile
All caps + excessive use of exclimation points x alcohol = Rec'd
halofan4life - September 7, 2009
David Crosby is a Halos fan?!?
I actually thought he was most likely dead by now
Quad Fin Rider - September 8, 2009
Dude...
Look at your keyboard. See that key just to the left of the “A”? It’s called “Caps Lock”.
Please learn how NOT to use it.
red floyd - September 8, 2009
I woulda started Wood, Kendrick, and Willits today
Let Figgy, Abreu, and Aybar sit. Sure, those were the guys who brought any offense, but if you’re gonna lose, let some geezers rest. It’s pretty obvious they’re playing tired, and this is a hellishly long stretch of games here.
mattwelch - September 7, 2009
Why enter the game assuming were "gonna lose"?
Seems a bit defeatist. The three you’d like to sit were collectively on base nine times today.
I mean I get fantasy baseball. But the S&M variety, well, I don’t know. Abreu looked tired in the field, I’ll give you that. But the sticks were there.
Turks Teeth - September 7, 2009
Free HK!!! Free Brandon wood!!
Come on Izzy is a nice compliment player who can fill in for any infield spot. But seriously splitting tome with Howie who is now hitting makes no sense. And this whole Mathis catching more than Napoli is getting tiring! Where’s King Conger!!!
angelskid2210 - September 7, 2009 via mobile
It sure takes a long time for KC to play a ballgame...
Our boys were falling asleep out there.
44FAN - September 7, 2009
BOTG: Santana
Guess it was Gods way of punishing him for having bad acne.
Funke5ive - September 8, 2009
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