<Updated by YWC>
The Los Angeles Angels continued their slow start, losing their fifth out of the last six games, this time to the Oakland Athletics, 9-4. Dallas Braden gave up three runs in six innings for the AL West-leading A's, and the Angels bullpen couldn't keep the game within reach, again.
Link to GAME THREAD if you are a masochist.
0 recs | 91 comments
Lethargic.
Suspect defense.
Crappy relief pitching.
Non-clutch hitting.
Does that summarize the home stand? Or did I miss anything?
Hope they wake-up in NY.
sothball - April 11, 2010
lethargic fits
I’ve seen more emotion on a dead person
ladybug - April 11, 2010
A kick to the head wouldn't take much effort...
…since their collective heads (with the possible exceptions of Matsui and Weaver) seem planted in their arses.
sothball - April 11, 2010
maybe someone spiked the water supply with Valium
ladybug - April 11, 2010
...but then they wouldn't cared where their heads resided.
You may be on to something…
sothball - April 11, 2010
I blame Howie Kendrick
First-pitch bunting off a new reliever when you’re down by 1 & your teammates haven’t seen the guy & when you’re not a particularly good bunter & when you have a decent chance of putting yourself in at least scoring position indicates a mental-fail that is far less excusable than the physical kind. Symbolic of a team that’s playing weirdly, unsmartly, and self-consciously.
mattwelch - April 11, 2010
but who made that call?
ladybug - April 11, 2010
Soth, most likely
Unless Howie went loose-cannon.
moosemastr - April 11, 2010
that's my point...it's not Howie-it's whoever told him to do it
ladybug - April 11, 2010
time to start "thinking" about having one of those famous closed door meetings I believe.......
norcaliangelsfan - April 11, 2010
SOmebody has got to knock some sense into our guys
halofan1 - April 11, 2010
Angels Baseball
is depressing
ryanfea - April 11, 2010
I'm thinking you wouldn't land a job,
In the marketing department. ;)
halofolife - April 11, 2010
((checks calendar for NFL training camp start dates))
Ok, yes I’m being dramatic…but right now there is NO reason to see anything positive other than:
1) Saying it’s the start of te season and it’s young so of course it will get better
2) We were such a great team the last two years, no way can we be teh suk
3) The sky is never falling over Soth
I’m willing to give #3 some credence, but I’m not one to believe in #1 or #2.
That said, things HAVE to get better because I’m not sure how they can get much worse. Although someone will outline a fail plan ;P
RedFog - April 11, 2010
The NFl Draft Begins April 22
DAD OF VLAD - April 11, 2010
thats where dynasty's get built
SenorChuckles - April 11, 2010
Haha or at least a similar distraction like ST is to get away from the NBA
RedFog - April 11, 2010
yup, hate the build up.
and NBA playoffs are almost here!
SenorChuckles - April 11, 2010
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!
I nominate Shields, he let this game get away
blochead - April 11, 2010
This rotation isn't built for losing streaks.
Santana, Kaz, and Weave will take care of NY. I’m guessing Pinero starts the Toronto series.
SenorChuckles - April 11, 2010
It would Voodoo, Kaz, and Pineiro against NY.
Unfortunately they don’t pick and choose who starts where, rather, they follow the order of the rotation.
b0rd3rline - April 11, 2010
little goals...
let’s start with a game with no errors.
NW angels Fan - April 11, 2010
dingers!
44FAN - April 11, 2010
dingerz*
Teixeira Who? - April 11, 2010
We gotta keep throwing Wood out there, but...
It’s sink or swim time for Brandon. But he’s my BOTG.
hk47 - April 11, 2010
but there were a few choices today
to choose from
hk47 - April 11, 2010
Angels Stink
worse than an august porta-john in central park.
Our blowpen is pretty shocking right now.
Very depressing.
Halo Hurricane - April 11, 2010
We prefer the term "honey bucket."
Rally Manatee - April 11, 2010
Bullpen arson squad gets BOTG
This is going to be one brutal road trip, with three games apiece in New York and in Toronto, where the Halos never do well.
Quad Fin Rider - April 11, 2010
Innings 7-9 were atrocious.
Jepsen had the best performance of the arson squad…all he did was allow a 2-run go-ahead base hit. Shields, Stokes, and Cassevah were various and worse shades of ugly.
I hope Scioscia gives the team a needed reminder that ST concluded a week ago.
sothball - April 11, 2010
first thing Gubi & Co said after the game....the bullpen sucked (paraphrasing, of course)
ladybug - April 11, 2010
Missing Lackey yet?
mustard_man - April 11, 2010
Nope
Good riddance.
chairmanofthebar - April 11, 2010
+ 1
Rally Manatee - April 11, 2010
We'd still be losing
We would just have to put up with that Texan bitching of his.
Teixeira Who? - April 11, 2010
When did the Angels turn into the Royals?
Pathetic.
chairmanofthebar - April 11, 2010
or the Cubs
ladybug - April 11, 2010
Hey now....
You wish. Cubbies are 2-4.
BeerCub - April 11, 2010
hubby is diehard Cubs fan
I’m allowed
ladybug - April 11, 2010
That game made me throw up in my mouth a little.
moosemastr - April 11, 2010
Was at the game
I know the more baseball-savvy fans want to be patient with him, but the majority of the crowd are definitely not fans of of Brandon Wood.
ihearhowie2.0 - April 11, 2010
Ya, I noticed that too
~MMP~ - April 11, 2010
Understandable.
If the team was otherwise playing well, it’d be easy to ignore the lack of hitting…and rather bad error today in the 8th inning. A 2-5 homestand doesn’t exactly encourage patience…and the presence of an otherwise capable replacement (Izzy) just adds more impatience.
sothball - April 11, 2010
well that must be the majority of the posters on the board here as well......
Pitchforks and flaming sticks are in their hands…….and they’re gathering together.
Poor Kid.
norcaliangelsfan - April 11, 2010
maybe we should change his name to Lone Wolf since it's obvious he's supposed to carry the team
ladybug - April 11, 2010
I very much agree with this and think it's an awesome nickname.
Clutch - April 11, 2010
Kenny Rogers I ain't.
Clutch - April 11, 2010
Wait a minute...
I replied to bug’s post a minute ago, then went to reply to a post down below, and this is what happens?
Redux to bug’s post:
I totally agree—that is an awesome nickname that we should use. Perhaps add “McQuade” at the end there for when he comes out of nowhere like Chuck Norris.
Clutch - April 11, 2010
that's overstating it a bit, isn't it?
I simply think people are concerned about a 1-19 start. Either he’s pressing too much, or he can’t hit. It’s up to him to prove us otherwise.
That being said, I think you have to keep trotting him out there to find out.
hk47 - April 11, 2010
....says the lead torchbearer
yeswecan - April 11, 2010
yes, because my comment says "hang Brandon Wood" doesn't it?
You can’t read, can you?
I live here in SLC, I go to a lot of Bees games. I really like Brandon Wood. I always have. I want to see him succeed…but at this point, what do we know?
We know he’s a great AAA player, but … he’s hitting .181 in 243 career at bats.
Like I said, I think we have to keep trotting the guy out there to see if he can hit MLB pitching, which he hasn’t yet.
hk47 - April 12, 2010
I know Joe Morgan is universally reviled by some.
But not by me, and when a HOF’er offers his opinion I listen. According to Joe, the average ballplayer needs at least 500 AB’s, before you can truly gauge the player in question. Like you( and i’ve said this ad nauseum), i’m not sure if B Wood will ever be as good as advertised, but c’mon people, it’s only the first week of the season. He’s gonna struggle, most young players do. Come August if Wood still can’t hit, then yes, maybe it’s time to move on to plan B, whatever that is, but not in early April. BTW hk47, this post isn’t aimed specifically at you, just the whole Wood sucks crowd.
halofolife - April 13, 2010
I agree, Morgan doesn't bother me at all
Hopefully Wood’s hitting the past three is some signs of life. I’m hoping! Would like to see the kid succeed, for himself and the team.
hk47 - April 27, 2010
I slept through this game.
It appears that turned out to be a blessing.
bc56274 - April 11, 2010
Tradition!
We suck in April often
Raaddad - April 11, 2010
Time to watch UFC 112 as I missed it, but since I heard BJ Penn got his arse kicked...
…that will at least make me happy. Cocky pig.
RedFog - April 11, 2010
not as cocky as Tito.
SenorChuckles - April 11, 2010
Well, that fight was about as exciting as today's game.
Nawt. Since UFC 100 and then the Mir/Lesnar fight, it’s been shitty as of late.
Silva vs GSP and then I’ll pay vs. torrent this stuff.
RedFog - April 11, 2010
still waiting on rampage vs. evans
SenorChuckles - April 11, 2010
Yeah they sure built that up...
during TUF 6 or whatever period that was.
Not sure who I started to dislike more…. Ok, it was Rampage. Used to like him…
RedFog - April 11, 2010
BJ got screwed over IMO
Epic Dean - April 11, 2010
Never leave it to the judges...
And Silva is so fecking boring I want GSP to shatter each of his eye sawkits.
RedFog - April 11, 2010
gsp isn't boring?
LOL
Lay and pray all day, while greased up.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - April 11, 2010
Really not
liking the pregame picks this year!!!!
im4kiss - April 11, 2010
What, you don't like being turned into a degenerate gambler?
44FAN - April 11, 2010
nope....
not at all….
Last year was fun…this year, NOT
im4kiss - April 11, 2010
Kenny Rogers I ain't.
Clutch - April 11, 2010
They really stink...
hitting, defense, pitching, morale, effort – it ALL stinks…Matsui pulling his weight, and that’s about it…
Halopauly - April 11, 2010
two dingers!
44FAN - April 11, 2010
Ugly
That game was a great example of how not to play. Wood is not making any friends. Slumps happen to everybody, but his at-bats are so ugly it really makes you question whether he has any talent. At least he was playing good defense, nice barehanded play early in the game, but then came the 8th inning error. Horrible timing. That would have kept it a 1 run game and given the Angels a chance to come back. Instead, it opened the floodgates.
RallyMonkey5 - April 11, 2010
+1
My thoughts exactly. Opened the floodgates. Costly error in a game against a weak opponent. Kudos to the A’s for taking advantage.
Downing Rules - April 12, 2010
Leadership
Would Lackey stand by and accept how this team is playing? Doubtful.
Can Tori Hunter honestly look anyone on the team in the eye and question their own desire, effort, or performance? Not right now.
Poor spring has carried over an extra week into the regular season, does that reflect more on Scioscia or individual players?
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - April 11, 2010
Benedict
Was the guy who never accepted any blame for anything. And was always quick to throw a teammate under the bus. Good riddance.
RallyMonkey5 - April 11, 2010
Tomorrow's off-day couldn't have come at a better time
Angels better be ready; the upcoming road trip will be a challenge. The Yankees are (IMO) the best team in the AL and apparently because the Canadian Dollar is kicking ass, the Jays have taken it upon themselves to start the year 5-1. A poor start is never a good thing. Finishing April at .500 now seems like a lofty goal.
Interesting standings from last year:
AL Central (on May 7 2009, games behind in brackets)
Royals 18-11
Tigers 14-13 (3)
White Sox 13-14 (4)
Twins 13-16 (5)
Indians 11-18 (7)
source
AL East (on May 18, 2009)
Jays 27-14
Red Sox 22-16 (3.5)
Yankees 21-17 (4.5)
Rays 20-20 (6.5)
Orioles 16-22 (9.5)
source
Fan Since 1981 - April 11, 2010
Great Point
thanks for digging this up. It’s only one week, hopefully they get it going.
The Blake Griffin Era - April 11, 2010
The Angels
need another closed door from Sosh.
phoenix15 - April 11, 2010
wood. if he got the out on the routine throw to first we would have only been down by 1, a much easier feat to come back from.
robi s - April 11, 2010
Wasn't that the one where the replay showed that he *did* make the throw, and the ump blew the call?
red floyd - April 11, 2010
yeah it is
that should have ended the inning at a 4-3 score.
ryanfea - April 11, 2010
Yes, by a step!
I blame SHIELDS! That guy straight out blows right now……Yesterday he gets rid of Weavers “W” like a dumb ass, and today he gets rocked again.
Wood Is doing 50% of his job with his 1 hit and great defense. Shields has done good 1/3 outings, so he’s only doing 33% of his job.
acuda27 - April 11, 2010
A bit more "oomph" on the throw by Wood...
and Shields is out of the inning.
Downing Rules - April 12, 2010
did make the throw
but wood and OTHERS need to stop skipping the ball the kendry.
clover_black - April 11, 2010
to kendry, rather
clover_black - April 11, 2010
That was a tough call...
it was so darn close … yes he was safe, but we had the benefit of a replay. It was bang-bang and it should have been an easy out with a solid throw.
Downing Rules - April 12, 2010
Pulse Check
How much longer do we downplay the Halos’ loses ?
Dono Romantico - April 11, 2010
sample size
Funke5ive - April 11, 2010
until you try to climb in the bandwagon
Rev Halofan - April 11, 2010
before I can honestly answer your question
when did the bandwagon officially start?
Dono Romantico - April 12, 2010
What do you mean by "downplay"?
Which comment on this post has “…downplay(ed ) the Halos’ loses?”
Most of the comments I read are sober. Lethargic, ill-timed bunting, terrible relief pitching, and criticisms of specific players. Not much “downplay” there.
sothball - April 12, 2010
He means ...
“It’s still spring training.”
“Keep the training wheels on for Woodie.”
“Oh, everything is fine… don’t worry about it.”
“It’s still early.”
I have been telling myself these things all week. I am trying to listen to myself.
Downing Rules - April 12, 2010
Gracias...
the current Halo roster is a team without a leader and an identity.
Dono Romantico - April 12, 2010
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