Halos Heaven

Mariners 12, Angels 5(8) -  CBSSports.com
The Seattle Mariners pounded Jered Weaver for eight hits and six runs - five earned - over 4 1-3 innings in a 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Weaver, expected to be the Angels' Opening Day starter, had his second consecutive sub-par outing. He walked five San Diego hitters in 3 1-3 innings his last time out. Against the Mariners, he walked none and struck out three. "I was working on off-speed stuff today and a new slider I've been working on," said Weaver, who went 16-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 2009. "For the most part, I just fell behind (hitters). I'm not really concerned about it. I'm just working on stuff until the season starts."

I think Weaver's new off-speed stuff needs a little more work, but if he's not concerned, then I'm not concerned...much.  But I want to know, are these runs he's given up this spring off of this new pitch or his old stuff?

Angels’ lineup is dinged up - latimes.com
Nagging injuries have limited shortstop Erick Aybar (elbow, forearm), right fielder Bobby Abreu (strained side) and designated hitter Hideki Matsui (knees) to less than 18 Cactus League at-bats each. But Manager Mike Scioscia said he's not concerned. "These guys don't need 70 or 80 at-bats," Scioscia said. "You're talking anywhere from 35 to 50 and these guys will be ready to go. And they're definitely going to get that easy."

Okay, follow me.  Breathe in, breathe out.  Now repeat, "The Angels have depth.  The Angels have depth."

Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer agree to eight-year contract extension -  USATODAY.com
The Minnesota Twins and Joe Mauer have agreed on the third richest contract in baseball, an eight-year, $184 million deal that will keep their MVP in the Twin Cities well into what may be a Hall of Fame career.

Just in case you haven't heard.

Reds 6, Mariners 2: Don Wakamatsu rips umpire over Milton Bradley "witch hunt" - Seattle Times
"To me, it's almost like a witch hunt,'' he said. "I mean, it's almost embarassing to me when egos get involved to the point where they don't even give a guy a chance.'' Merry ejected Bradley for arguing a fourth-inning strikeout call on a full-count pitch that seemed high. Wakamatsu admitted that Bradley did say something to Merry as he walked back to the dugout -- he couldn't tell what -- but added that the umpire's trigger was too quick. "Again, I think it's pretty blatant that some guys have it out for him.''

"Witch hunt"?  I don't think there's much of a hunt needed with Bradley.  I mean, he flies in on his broom, wearing his pointy hat and black cape and acts like a witch.  Next thing Seattle will try to tell us Jose Lopez is a third baseman.

Jose Lopez-Chone Figgins experiment is final: Lopez will play 3B, Figgins 2B to start season - Seattle Times
Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu has let both Jose Lopez and Chone Figgins know that he's pleased with the progress they've made at their respective positions at that they will open the season at third and second base respectively.

Oh.

Fantasyland - Watch the Documentary Film for Free - SnagFilms
Based on the bestselling book by Sam Walker, Fantasyland, directed by Stephen Palgon, traces a single season in the expert baseball league Tout Wars. But this wasn’t any ordinary season. This season an outsider, a fan, a non expert, would compete against the greatest minds in fantasy baseball including the founder of Tout Wars and one of the icons of the industry Ron Shandler. To compete against the experts, Jed Latkin, a financial analyst from New York is willing to do anything and everything in his quest to win Tout Wars. Jed is more than just a fantasy baseball player, he puts the "fanatic" in fantasy.

I watched this the other day.  Pretty entertaining (and free!), even if you're not into the fantasy baseball thing.

My goal with Halolinks is to have them posted so that when you get to work, grab your coffee, turn on your computer and open Halos Heaven, they're ready.  However, you might want to grab a bagel or chat up the receptionist (or grab the receptionist) on Monday mornings because making my self imposed 8am deadline might not happen every week.  I have a goofy work schedule that makes Monday mornings kind of tough for me.  The links will be here, just not as early as the rest of the week.  Thanks.