Final Score in Detroit: Tigers 5, Angels 1 ... Justin Verlander dominated the Angels bats to the extreme Sunday afternoon while a cruising Jered Weaver hit the 5th inning of his shutout and forgot for a minute that he was in a pitching duel. A minute was all the Detroit bats needed as they banged out 3 runs in rapid fire. Jason Bulger gascanned another that inning and one more in the 6th to put the game out of reach.
Verlander pitched 8.1 innings of 3-hit ball over the Angels at Comerica Park to complete the 3-Game sweep-sweep-sweep of the Angels. It was Weaver's first loss of the season. Mike Napoli was mediocre at best behind the plate for Weaver and contributed to the afternoon's negative sublime by striking out 3 times.
Are the Tigers this good or are the Angels this bad? Johnny Damon cooled down quickly form his walkoff hit, leaving 7 men on base, but Austin Jackson's 3 for 5 afternoon and backup catcher Alex Avila having 2 hits helped to wear out the Halo arms. A late rally in the 9th inning produced a run for the Anaheim 9 but buh-buh-buh-buh that's all folks. On to Boston hoping to turn around a road trip that has seen them sink below .500 to 12-14.
Roll Call for the GAME THREAD is after the poll.
Roll Call: Figgi4life, angelfan1954, halofan4life, ryanfea, Rev Halofan, M.Napoli For President in 2012, Epic Dean, Angelsrthebest101, 44FAN, UK Halo, ~MMP~, Slyintine, princeton11loveshalos, norcaliangelsfan, TheKingfish, 101halo, K3YEROUT, Red, ladybug, Raaddad, Quad Fin Rider, The Limey, Ed@northridge, mattwelch, angels all star 2010, eyespy, Suboptimal, RedHatHalo, MH252525, DAD OF VLAD, BP Scanner, PhiSlamma, b0rd3rline, angelsfan7, RexTookMyStash, chairmanofthebar, yeswecan, bc56274, Angels_48, Drizzy23, UCIHalo, Northwest
Total Users: 42
Total Posts: 533
0 recs | 46 comments
these guys
seem to be on auto-pilot. No spark, no chemistry, no “IT”.
the only guy I’ve seen smiling is Torii.
ladybug - May 2, 2010
maybe he shouldn't smile
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - May 2, 2010
A "sweep sweep" of the Angels?
Is this a swipe at “Bam Bam”?
Clutch - May 2, 2010
Abrooo
Is BOTG
Figgi4life - May 2, 2010 via mobile
man
pathetic baseball all around. pitching, offense and defense and dont forget the blowpen.
Drizzy23 - May 2, 2010
Fire Sosh
i hate losing streaks
DAD OF VLAD - May 2, 2010
As of yesterday, the Angels still had the toughest schedule in baseball...
in terms of strength of schedule, we’re still 1st in the MLB, and we’re still only 1 or 2 games out of first.
A little perspective for those who simply want to state, “the angels suck!!!!!1.”
We’ve played some hot teams and lost some close games; our pieces are still there and always have been. Sunshine fans piss me off more than our record lately.
Just my humble opinion.
RexTookMyStash - May 2, 2010
Angels have also played 17 games at home
Rudy4three - May 2, 2010
that reminds me of another thing to be happy about..
we’re not the mariners.
RexTookMyStash - May 2, 2010
The Mariners are the ultimate of UZR
UZR!!!!
Mariners!!!!
UZR!!!!
UZR aka Ultimate Zone Rating.
And the Mariners are the ultimate……………….the ultimate…
…sleazy wah-wah guitars, sizzling hi-hats, swirling strings….. oh yes, yes…………….the ultimate……UZR is the ULTIMATE ….. the ultimate….yes…yes
Wait a minute. What the hell was I talking about and where the hell am I?!?!?!
XYZ123 - May 2, 2010
Let's not forget how closely they follow their sabermetrics...
RexTookMyStash - May 2, 2010
@RexTookMyStash
You speak my sentiments 100%. I say give the Angels a little more time to get things in sync. It may be cliche to say that it’s a long season, but it is, and our guys are in it for the long haul.
agent_99 - May 2, 2010
I will second this post...up to a point.
We have also see some absolutely terrible umpiring…both in our favor and against! Shame on MLB. :(( You are ruining the game.
First and foremost totally agree with this:
Where I will diverge…
- I have consistently seen shoddy defense from this bunch…“unAngelslike”
- Mental errors abound
- Naps is lost worse than Wood. Naps can’t hit or field or call games, at least Wood fields (most of the time).
- I honestly thought Maicer was going to play nearly everyday for someone as the “super sub.”
- Willits should only play as a late game replacement or pinchrunner. Is it total heresy to say HGH Jr would have been the 4th OF we miss?
- Matsui’s value…I can’t seem to put a finger on it.
- Torii doesn’t look healthy…just sayin’
- Our hitting has to offset the lack of range in the OF…so far, not happenin’
- Pitching constantly walking batters and serving up HR’s
- Pitching gets ahead in the count and then nibbles…especially SP leading to early exits due to high pitch counts
- Shields needs to be in extended Spring Training or something
- Someone besides Palmer needs to be able to give us 2-3 quality IP out of the bullpen
I know Mike and Tony want to see what they have for the first 6 weeks or so…evaluation time is running short…
Tigers are pretty good right now!
K3YEROUT - May 2, 2010
Great post...
I think a lot of our issues are addressable though. I mean, we’re not exactly the pirates, mariners, or baltimore. We actually have something to build around. We’re not a team that’s already calling this a rebuilding year or already looking towards the 2011 season.
Aside from home runs given up and walks, we’re in the middle of the pack in several key stats. And this same concept goes for our fielding and hitting, we’re not in the basement in any single area.
MLB-wise, it’s a pretty spread field this season thus far as well. Aside from the NL central, every division in baseball has 1st and 2nd place separated by 1.5 games or less. Furthermore, half of baseball is under .500 on the season.
No ones clinched yet and the AL west is ours for the taking still.
Final note: we’re playing boston next, a team who just got SWEPT by the Orioles! GO HALOS!
RexTookMyStash - May 2, 2010
Agree. Except
“- Pitching gets ahead in the count and then nibbles…especially SP leading to early exits due to high pitch counts”
Kaz and Weave always have had (and always will have) high pitch counts. Piniero, however should not. Ervin K’s a lot of guys, so his could be high, and Saunders should be average, IMO.
Figgi4life - May 2, 2010 via mobile
Couldn't have said it better
Like I’ve been telling my buddies yesterday, the AL West is gonna be a close, nerve wrecking race till the finish without a doubt. Yesterday the last place on the AL west was only half a game behind. Versus other divisions ranging from 3-11 games behind.
maze88 - May 2, 2010 via mobile
But...
at least the way I see it, these are the types of tough teams we’ll be playing in the playoffs (though I think that’s lost this year), so is it still OK to fall back on that “oh they’ve got a ruff schedule” excuse? To me that’s not good enough, this is just the signal of another early exit for the Angels (once again if they make it which I’ve now lost faith).
Dontbatvlad4th - May 2, 2010
Does that mean you're going to post a retraction after we make the playoffs?
RexTookMyStash - May 2, 2010
It means he's going to say "I told you so" when the Twins or Tigers eliminate us in the first round.
I sure hope he’s wrong, though.
Downing Rules - May 3, 2010
I'm glad I was out behind the plate, on a local park field, instead of watching this apparent stinker.
red floyd - May 2, 2010
It could be worse
at least the Halos are losing against playoff teams. Every team the Halos faced (except the As and Indians) have been going to the playoffs these past years. With the team out of sync, there’s no way to beat them. The Angels need a spark to get this team going. Someone needs to catch on fire before the team catches on fire.
phoenix15 - May 2, 2010
Soth needs to put the kibosh on any partying
Early to bed, early to rise…..and practice like hell on days off
ladybug - May 2, 2010
Ugh, just woke up, and saw the score.
Jeezus, What is the deal with Bulger? The good news is Verlander didnt get the hat trick with B Wood.
Wally's World - May 2, 2010
Angels gotta get their shit together
i remember Mark Saxon on espn.com said he doesnt think the Angels will make the playoffs because they arent particlularly great at anything. We’re a good team but we arent dominant at anything and you can see that because one night the bats will fail, another night its bad defense, then its bad starting pitcher, bullpen, etc. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe they’ll wake up and go on a run for soon here but I cant help but kinda agree with Saxon’s points.
desecrator09 - May 2, 2010
them's is fightin' wurd's
eyespy - May 2, 2010
Yeah that’s something I’ve noticed, we can’t hold everything together, something inevitably fails every night, we just can’t even seem to keep it together. It’s weird.
Dontbatvlad4th - May 2, 2010
Taking 2 out of 3 from the World Champs last week
wasn’t too shabby
Raaddad - May 2, 2010
On a lighter note.
I got my tickets to the May 15th game in the mail today!
b0rd3rline - May 2, 2010
where do you live?
I want mail 7 days a week!
MH252525 - May 2, 2010
haha
RexTookMyStash - May 2, 2010
Loma Linda
We get mail on Sunday’s instead of Saturday’s. Some religious thing.
b0rd3rline - May 2, 2010
trAdition
Dono Romantico - May 2, 2010
are we there , yet ?
Boston ?
Ed@northridge - May 2, 2010
Man, I hate losing.
Thankfully, the fact that it’s May alleviates the pain.
moosemastr - May 2, 2010
I forgot the game was on and turned it on in the 5th inning...
…and saw the score was 0-0. My first thought: Maicer must not be playing. Checked the box score, no Maicer. Now we’re:
6-3 when Mighty Mouse starts, 6-11 when he doesn’t
45 runs when Izzy starts, 57 when he doesn’t
5 runs avg when he starts, 3.3 when he doesn’t
Some of these games where another run or two might have made the difference are gonna hurt when we’re battling for our playoff lives in Sept.
Fred Fredrix - May 2, 2010
Izturis has a shoulder problem right now, which is limiting his throwing
~MMP~ - May 2, 2010
Oh ok, I didn't know that.
Fred Fredrix - May 2, 2010
The Napoli Blues
Oh Nipples, oh Nipples, oh where have you gone?
I got a bad feeling that something went wrong
You’re certainly in a hitting rut
And I never thought I’d say this, but
Sothster please hurry Shotgun Mathis along
Raaddad - May 2, 2010
it is
pretty sad when Mendoza hitter Mathis is leading the team in BA.
phoenix15 - May 2, 2010
Scary thoughts right there, gonna be ok?
;)
K3YEROUT - May 3, 2010 via mobile
Mike Napoli was the only player to hit a double on Saturday against Detroit.
I know chicks dig the long ball, but you are not a chicky.
44FAN - May 3, 2010
Boston is actually 11-14
In 4th place, 7 games back of the Rays after getting swept by—yes—the Baltimore Orioles!
Our favorite closer lost the game in the ninth, btw.
Raaddad - May 2, 2010
And
He lost it after advancing the runner to second…by throwing away a pickoff attempt :D
Figgi4life - May 3, 2010 via mobile
Fuentes was pitching for Boston?
red floyd - May 3, 2010
Undermanaging as Dangerous as Overmanaging
I love Sosh most of the time, but the latter half of this week really left me frustrated. In two different situations, mike let his starters go too long. With Piney, it cost us at least 4 runs, and put the game ot reach. Yesterday with Weaver, it cost us at least two. I understand that its early and you have to let guys work some things out, but when your fighting just to stay at or barely above .500, you would think that Sosh would activate the pen a little earlier, and stop bringing them in when the game finally gets out of reach.
angelsfaninsc - May 3, 2010
I hate when the Angels get swept but Verlander pitched one of his best ever
and he knew it which is why he asked for and got the ball after the game, he was holding the ball in one hand while fist bumping anf high fiving his team. It was one of those “he was in the zone” magical games for him so I’m not surprised we lost. I don’t think an All Star team of the best hitters in the league would have done well against him Sunday.
steelgolf - May 3, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Halos Heaven to post a comment.