Halos Heaven

Angels 8, Royals 6 - CBSSports.com
Torii Hunter hit his first two homers of spring, Hideki Matsui connected for the first time and Mike Napoli for his fifth, and the Los Angeles Angels beat a split squad of Kansas City Royals 8-6 on Wednesday using what will likely be their opening day lineup. "This is a lineup you'll see at some point in the season," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "This is a lineup we're excited about. These next eight to 10 days we'll get a little idea of the continuity in the workings. If we don't juggle it from here it's a lineup that makes sense."

Pineiro cruises in fourth spring start - angelsbaseball.com
Pineiro's fourth Cactus League start for the Angels could serve as his template for the season. The right-hander with the two-seam magic sailed through five scoreless innings Wednesday, getting 12 of his 15 outs on ground balls and frustrating the Royals in an 8-6 win highlighted by four homers, two by Torii Hunter and one each by Hideki Matsui and Mike Napoli.

12 of 15 outs via ground balls, 8 going to second baseman Howie Kendrick.  And this is from the Angels #5 starter.

M's Bradley embraces baseball's 'bad guy' image -  CBSSports.com Baseball
Many around baseball have a place for Milton Bradley: in a corner where angry meets trouble. Bradley has no use for what anyone thinks. He claims his own place in the game. "If I was a musician, I'd be Kanye West. If I was in the NBA, I'd be Ron Artest," the 31-year-old former Expo, Indian, Dodger, Athletic, Padre, Ranger and Cub said this week. "In baseball, they've got Milton Bradley. I'm that...Yo Milton, I’m really happy for you…Imma let you finish. But Albert Belle was one of the baddest guys of all time! One of the baddest of all time!

This is going to be fun!

Reyes, Matthews Jr. and Gaudin - New York Post
Two major league officials told me the Mets are shopping Gary Matthews Jr., and the Reds could be a possibility. It is interesting that the Mets are looking to deal a player they just obtained during the offseason. The Angels wanted to deal Matthews because he represented a huge financial blunder and because word was that he had become so disenchanted by not playing regularly that the team found him a distraction.

Are the Mets the MLB version of a train wreck, or what?  How long has GMJ been on their team, 3 weeks?

LCS scheduling format condensed - MLB.com
Wednesday's announced condensing of each League Championship Series by one off-day may be just the beginning of a formative shift in the entire playoff schedule. "This is a first step," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com before his club played the Royals in a Cactus League game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. "I think it's an important first step and could lead to a really good [postseason] format eventually."

Bene, Don Scioscia. I need a man who has powerful friends.  I need, Don Scioscia, all of those politicians that you carry around in your pocket, like so many nickels and dimes.

Angels' lineup an Opening Day preview? - angelsbaseball.com
For the first time all spring, Angels manager Mike Scioscia scripted for a Cactus League game against the Royals what likely will be his Opening Day lineup. "This is a lineup you obviously will see, whether it's Opening Day or not," Scioscia, always wary of tipping his hand, said. "You'll probably see it quite often. We've got guys battling for positions behind the plate [Napoli and Mathis] and at third base [Wood and Maicer Izturis]. "This is a lineup we're excited about."

More about yesterday's Angels lineup.

Ex-New York Mets star Dwight Gooden arrested in New Jersey -  SI.com
Former Major League Baseball star Dwight Gooden has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident. The former pitcher for the New York Mets and New York Yankees had a child in his vehicle at the time of the two-vehicle crash around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Franklin Lakes police Capt. Joseph Seltenrich said. Police wouldn't say whose child it was, but they said no one was hurt.

"Come on Billy.  Uncle Doc needs to meet my friend Ron Washington behind the Waffle House.  I'll get you an ice cream."