Ronald Martinez - Getty Images
Jered Weaver, with murder glinting in his glaring eyes, attempts to incapacitate home-plate umpire Brian Knight with a hardball to the noggin.
Hey, we can wear red too! said the team currently being sold to the highest bidder. The Walker, Texas Rangers just may just imitate themselves into their first AL West title since the last Ice Age.
With their meager playoff hopes almost literally dangling by a thread in Arlington this weekend, the Angels stumbled through yet another near miss against the Texas Rangers. Jered Weaver pitched six moderately effective, if inefficient innings, although he was consistently jobbed by home plate umpire Brian Knight on inside pitches to left-handed batters. Cliff Lee on the other hand didn't even break a sweat over 8 1/3 sleepy innings, effortlessly dangling pitches low and outside to Abreu and Matsui for called strikes.
But the Angels' unmaking was ultimately their own doing. A lolly-gagging Bobby Abreu allowed Vladimir Guerrero--yes, the Vlad Guerrero who could barely move last September--to leg out a double on a sharp ground ball in the decisive sixth inning. He later scored on a double by Josh Hamilton, breaking a 1-1 tie. Hamilton also scored after Howie Kendrick prolonged the inning by failing to make an admittedly non-routine play on Nelson Cruz. Mike Napoli provided a brief glimmer of hope in the seventh with a solo home run, but he would be the last Angel base runner.
The Angels made the most talked about move of the off-season today, but unfortunately their new monster-hitting utility fielder couldn't make it to the ballpark in time to bail out the Angels' mediocre lineup. Cliff Lee should count himself lucky, because Alberto Callaspo would probably have hit 4 homers, driven in 19 runs, and pitched 17 scoreless innings all while showing off his glove in right-field, at third base, and behind the plate.
Game Thread Roll Call: norcaliangelsfan, UK Halo, ryanfea, Epic Dean, opiejeanne, TheKingfish, Moondoggy, HalosFanInNorCal, Dono Romantico, bc56274, Big Easy Halofan, TheQuestforMerlin, The-Snake, Quad Fin Rider, hk47, IE Angel, agent_99, ladybug, cath619, WiHaloFan, LAASurfin, mastermind565, sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher, Gokyle45, stuck in Romania, sothball, blochead, Angels_48, SalmonStream, Angelsrthebest101, Slyintine, PhiSlamma, highlandhalo, deejayelleseven, Suboptimal, gyoung08, rdf8585, GutterDem0n, RedHatHalo, angelsfan7, bballfan57, Jack Kerouac, Dontbatvlad4th, phoenix15, eyespy, AlohaHalofan, robi s, dr-awkward, Kingfish1, cupie, Brody, princeton11loveshalos, OMG!!, maze88, joeyz34, RedFog, The OC Disorder, robbiesqp, Fred Fredrix, Nashdiesel, teopeht, LittleCupcakes, K3YEROUT, SenorChuckles, Commander_Nate, firebird81, clover_black, jdsailors16
Total Users: 68 • Total Posts: 825
0 recs | 120 comments
Bad News the Angels Lost again
GOOD NEWS I found out that i am having a son
BOTG – ABREW
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
CONGRATS!
Clutch - July 22, 2010
Congrats
Gokyle45 - July 22, 2010
I thought Vlad was your son
Suboptimal - July 22, 2010
i am having another
FAIL for birth Control
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
Don't say that--some of us hope to be so lucky.
Clutch - July 22, 2010
awww.
good luck and hugs. :)
cath619 - July 23, 2010
Practice, practice, PRACTICE!
…and best of luck.
LAASurfin - July 23, 2010
the practice part is definitely important...
laxtonto - July 23, 2010
dude, once you stop trying it will happen
first kid – Accident
second – surprise
third – shit what happened
DAD OF VLAD - July 23, 2010
Haha, nice.
And I’m still a long way off from even trying at this point, so it’s all good.
Clutch - July 23, 2010
Good luck going from one on one to a zone defense.
We’re at 1 kid now, figuring going for 2 in a year or so. Then the question will be whether or not 3. And it will be converting from one on one coverage to zone that scares me.
snowhor - July 23, 2010 via mobile
will you change your name to
DAD OF CHONE?
cath619 - July 22, 2010
Dad of Ian Josh Nelson Vlad Neftali
Epic Dean - July 22, 2010
it will be
DAD OF VLAD, FINN, JILL, ETC.
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
Congratulations!
I commend you for doing your part to increase our beloved team’s fan base; well done, sir!
Quad Fin Rider - July 22, 2010
Congrats Vladdy Daddy
You guys are just having too much fun
Raaddad - July 22, 2010
Condoms........
they arent illegal.
norcaliangelsfan - July 22, 2010
The deep abiding stupidity and fecklessness of Tony Reagins.
End of statement.
Turks Teeth - July 22, 2010
I heard
that the SOS and Will Smith trade for Albert Pujols fell apart at the last minutes so Ninja went with Crespoooooo
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
Can we trade Reagins for a del taco combo
Dono Romantico - July 22, 2010
I wish
Gokyle45 - July 22, 2010
So you think Ninja makes these moves without Sosh's approval?
Fred Fredrix - July 22, 2010
Who's Ninja?
I know who Worthless Sack o’ Shit is, but not this Ninja fellow.
snowhor - July 22, 2010 via mobile
Ninja, who brought you Torii "Face of the Franchise" Hunter, Mark Teixeira, and the thing that used to be called awesome Scott Kazmir for the end of 2009 before he imploded in the postseason and this year.
Don’t forget, it was Arte, not Tony, who (probably justifiably) closed the wallet and mandated to stop the talks with Teixeira in 2008.
He’s made some in hindsight crappy moves (Kazmir this year—remember he was awesome for all of his starts in 2009 after we acquired him and his crap only started, unpredictably, once we got to the postseason; arguably Vlad and arguably Matsui, but not Lackey), and some at the moment more than likely crappy moves (Callaspo)—but I still have faith, given his prior record, that he can get some good shit done. He just better do it soon if he hopes to save this season.
IMHO jumping the gun and getting Callaspo now instead of reassessing to see where we stand after this Texas series was the bad move, but in hindsight maybe it will work out. Does anyone know, for example, if Callaspo has historically been really good against Texas? Maybe that’s the specific impact Reagins is looking for here. OR maybe not. But who knows. I still have faith in the Ninja.
Clutch - July 22, 2010
I totally agree with the last point.
Why did they jump to get Callapo now? Seems like desperation.
Why not wait to see what happens through these games with Texas? I doubt either SOS or Callapso will have much impact. Ah well.
sothball - July 22, 2010
Exactly. Ah, well.
Clutch - July 22, 2010
No.
Kaz was an awful trade since day one.
Figgi4life - July 22, 2010 via mobile
yea his ERA was very nice
but his stats suggested a pitcher with a higher ERA and he got to face a bunch of lousy offenses like the M’s and A’s several times.
MH252525 - July 22, 2010
historically he excelled against the red sox and yankees
didn’t he?
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - July 22, 2010
It was
The prospects we gave up to get him were not worth it.
Gorbachav5 - July 23, 2010
How is
an ERA+ of 262 and a 6.4 k/9 over 36.1 innings pitched “awful”?
Clutch - July 23, 2010
It was an awful trade because he was an expensive pitcher under a multiyear deal, had a history of injury and sported a nice 5.92 ERA for TB at the time of the trade.
That he pitched well for us for 36 innings was shocking and I don’t know how anyone could have predicted it. His track record suggested we’d end up with the Kaz of this year versus last year.
snowhor - July 23, 2010 via mobile
And, again, how does a career of three or four years with a sub-4 era imply
That he would be as awful as he has been this year, when his bad performance with TB last year was ONE bad year in the midst of 3-4 great ones?
Clutch - July 23, 2010
Calling his previous years great ignore his durability issues.
It’s the history of injuries that would suggest his future performance to be shitty. Last year he threw 110 or so shitty innings before we traded for him. Combine that with the durability issues and I think it’s pretty clear that we were acquiring a broken product.
There is no sense in trading away decent prospects and taking on Karmis’ contract. This was a blantant salary dump by TB, but Reagins treated it like it was a real trade.
It was a play straight out of the Bill Bavasi School for Ruining Your Franchise for the Foreseable Future. Classes must be offered at CSUF.
snowhor - July 23, 2010 via mobile
Why speculate?
What case would be made by claiming Tony is a puppet as well as a dupe?
Turks Teeth - July 22, 2010 via mobile
I didn't say he was a puppet, I'm saying all these deals are discussed with the teams's manager beforehand.
Fred Fredrix - July 22, 2010
Sigh
At least we are almost to the point where I don’t have to get stressed out about this season anymore.
ryanfea - July 22, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyFyAqLtHq8
JDT217 - July 22, 2010
HEY EVERYBODY LOOK AT ME
i am a troll and suck my own dick – JDT217
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gx-N-kdIXk
JDT217 - July 22, 2010
Thanks for some great music
Personally I’m a Rock N Roll guy, but if thats your style over in Texas thats cool.
Gokyle45 - July 22, 2010
Ah yeah, some good classical music. Thanks a lot.
TheKingfish - July 22, 2010
Really?
Close game, two great teams, Angels lost… Go again tomorrow…
FormerLSBUser - July 22, 2010
Angels didn't even put up a fight
ryanfea - July 22, 2010
waiting for crespooo to arrive
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
Yea they did
Two line drives in the ninth, just didnt fall… Still got talent, it was ace vs. ace tonight… lets see if CJ can hold up tomorrow, which I kinda doubt. Not over until the fat lady sings.
FormerLSBUser - July 22, 2010
True
This is going to be a great series.
boomer1 - July 22, 2010
flagged for offensive comment in your signature.
;)
Downing Rules - July 22, 2010
Bobby Abreu - Makin' the case to DH next year like errday
Commander_Nate - July 22, 2010
Shouldn't he have to make that case by actually being a good hitter, not just a poor defender?
snowhor - July 22, 2010 via mobile
one game
doesn’t decide a series
phoenix15 - July 22, 2010
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be how it works these days
Commander_Nate - July 22, 2010
Looks like there's something to be jinxed in SEA right now.
A certain horse-faced guy.
cath619 - July 22, 2010
did you know?
there are great schools in the boston area
DAD OF VLAD - July 22, 2010
Watching the game
it just wasn’t Weaver’s day. Those bloop hits and grounders got past the IF (although how Abreu can’t field Vlad’s hit is beyond me). You see a lot of bloops and grounders combine for the Rangers while the Halos didn’t. Today wasn’t a Texas beatdown, more of the baseball gods not shining for the Halos.
phoenix15 - July 22, 2010
I think I'm gonna watch a James Bond Movie
That guy always wins.
ryanfea - July 22, 2010
luckily for us
a certain Giant named Bonds almost never won.
phoenix15 - July 22, 2010
I vote Callaspo
The others are expected to suck. Welcome to the club… Again.
AlohaHalofan - July 22, 2010
So
we predicting the outcome of this series already? Was it over when the Anaheim Angels lost Game 1 of the ALDS, ALCS, and WS? We got Callaspo back, so everything’s all right again.
phoenix15 - July 22, 2010
The only guy left from 2002 is Scot Shields.
Robviously - July 22, 2010
Torii has started the second half off awfully
I believe he’s 6-31 with 1 RBI thus far.
Im no saber nerd or nothing but ,I know thats just not gonna cut it from the 3 hole.
I could talk about Rivera and Matsui but that’s a waste of thinking.
deejayelleseven - July 22, 2010 via mobile
uh Rivera has been pretty solid........
something 15 for his last 40……
norcaliangelsfan - July 22, 2010
Good thing he hits 4th then?
Wytelitning - July 22, 2010 via mobile
Number Juan has helped carry my fantasy team the last two weeks or so
He even stole a base!
Commander_Nate - July 22, 2010
Chins up fellas! Still a lot of baseball season left.
We’re not done yet.
RexTookMyStash - July 22, 2010
I said that on like April 10th...
you are right, though. Just gotta win the next three, doggone it.
Downing Rules - July 22, 2010
i thought today was wednesday
:(
double :( :( after watching the replay.
weaver loses because of basically 3 pitches, all with 2 strikes in the 7th. Maybe not even because of 3 pitches, if Abreu could play baseball.
Lee was getting a little more room off the corner … must be pretty sweet, that guy doesn’t need help.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - July 22, 2010
Adding salt to the wound, Lackey's throwing a no hitter in Seatlle right now (thru 7)
This is my obvious attempt to jinx said no hitter
Chone's Chonies - July 22, 2010
good job, it worked!
sunshine thermometer - July 22, 2010
JOHN LACKEY HAS A NO-HITTER GOING???
Oh wait, we’re not supposed to say that or the Baseball Gods might overhear us!
Quad Fin Rider - July 22, 2010
Just like always, couldn't finish the job
Chone's Chonies - July 22, 2010
Frustrating, but well played game tonight by both teams.
Rangers just had a couple fall and the Angels didn’t . Take solace in the fact that the Rangers are in a financial mess right now. Ryan said that they may not be able to afford Josh Hamilton’s arbitration in the off season.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/21/2352573/nolan-ryan-tells-court-rangers.html
Doctor Wu - July 22, 2010
Sucks for them
TheKingfish - July 22, 2010
Frustrating, but well played game tonight by both teams.
Rangers just had a couple fall and the Angels didn’t . Take solace in the fact that the Rangers are in a financial mess right now. Ryan said that they may not be able to afford Josh Hamilton’s arbitration in the off season.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/21/2352573/nolan-ryan-tells-court-rangers.html
Doctor Wu - July 22, 2010
whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite
LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINES.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - July 22, 2010
In reading the article...
….he (Ryan) made this plea in the hopes of speeding up the auction. The creditors want to slow down the auction to allow other potential bidders to get financing in order.
In a version of this article I read earlier today (can’t find at the moment), the Rangers are already selling playoff tickets!
sothball - July 22, 2010
I'm sure Bud Selig will find the money for Hamilton's arb to give to his god ol' buddy Nolan Ryan
when he needs it. Ryan is just crying wolf. Last week he said the court proceedings were keeping the team from making any international signings. Bud will not let the poor Rangers down you can count on that.
44FAN - July 23, 2010
ooops
Doctor Wu - July 22, 2010
I really hate that the Rangers wear red
jtkelly86 - July 22, 2010
How about making them wear periwinkle then?
Quad Fin Rider - July 22, 2010
Me too.....
I agree it’s a case of “Halo Envy” with them adopting red as one of their colors and picking up ex-Angels every chance they get. And not only does it bug me that the Rangers wear red, but they also switch off and wear red some days and blue other days, not counting the different away game colors. They need to pick a dang color and stick with it. When you see the fans in the stands, they’re a mix of red, blue, and white shirts. There’s never one predominant color.
I’m a native Californian, who unfortunately, has spent the last 9 years living in Texas north of Dallas, so I end up seeing quite a few Ranger games, and of course, all of our games have the Ranger commentaries. One of them actually said during tonight’s game that the “Angels were like gum on the Ranger’s shoes.” A tad cocky for a team that hasn’t made the play-offs since 1999, don’t ya think?
figgiesdaman - July 22, 2010
Rangers have been wearing red off and on since the mid 90’s…
sdson - July 23, 2010
They also only wore their reds against the Angels last year
I think they broke it in September, but red was only used at home against the Angels.
linkbruin - July 23, 2010
Vladdy? DO? Molina? Red jerseys?
Sounds like a textbook case of Halo Envy
I suggest therapy and medication.
3rd Echelon - July 22, 2010
Rec'd.
Clutch - July 22, 2010
6 games son..6 games…
sdson - July 23, 2010
LOL
Ok the Rangers have been wearing red since 1972. Not at the main color but in the 90’s it became the main color until Hicks took over. They brought it back a few years ago and only wear it at home. They are 19-5 wearing the red uni. As for Vladdy, DO and Molina, DO was a Ranger from the begining and will always be a Ranger. Vlad, you guys gave up on him now he is coming back to haunt you. Molina well he really isn’t that good but better than what we have had which isn’t saying much.
I suggest therapy and meds for you. Check the standings 6 games is a lot to cover and the Rangers are playing well and Cliffmas comes every 5 days.
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
Cliffmas also leaves every November
Just letting you know so you don’t put cookies out and have them go to waste. In fact, send them my way if you want.
Commander_Nate - July 23, 2010
California-shaped ones?
cath619 - July 23, 2010
There's other shapes?
Commander_Nate - July 23, 2010
I love you, man.
cath619 - July 23, 2010
Methinks the Lackey no no has been broken up
:)
RexTookMyStash - July 22, 2010
this game coulda gone either way..........
just not the way we wanted.
Live to fight tomorrow……….series and season isnt over yet.
norcaliangelsfan - July 22, 2010
Didn't TEX have red jerseys before the Angels did?
Just sayin’.
It does seem like they are trying to “steal some swagger” by wearing the red jerseys. Seems to be working. They have a hell of a team and I tend to think that CJ Wilson is right: They are the better team. We just have to beat the better team. GO HALOS, YOU CAN DO IT!
Downing Rules - July 22, 2010
they had one back in 1984
then we had started using it in 2007, with them starting again in 2009
eyespy - July 22, 2010
Rangers had red as their main color in the 90's
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
True, but I was only looking at the all red jersey.
Back in the mid nineties to 2000 their main color was red, but they wore no red jersey that I know of.
eyespy - July 23, 2010
Go Lakers
Angels_48 - July 22, 2010
+1
vladtheimpaler - July 23, 2010
I didn't even need to watch the game
Any time Mathis’ name comes up in a BOTG poll, I’m voting for it. And let’s see if I was justified… 0 – 2, 2 K’s, 2 SB’s against. He did pick someone off, which is nice, but that guy is depressing with a bat in his hands.
It’s gotten to the point where I can predict his at bats.
Pitch 1: Swing through a fastball.
Pitch 2: Foul off a fastball
Pitch 3: Take a waste pitch for a ball
Pitch 4: Miss by about 3 feet on a low breaking ball
Walk back to dugout
Get hug from manager
Gorbachav5 - July 23, 2010
I've been off on assignment for the last 24 hrs
Callaspo, what the……..What…….Why………
Welcome back home Callaspo.
Tough loss to the Rangers. Heartbreaker. Let’s see what happens over the next 3 days.
vladtheimpaler - July 23, 2010
Angel Cast-Offs, the IRS and Other Delights
Well HEE HAW Rump Rangers.. Like all bankrupt derelicts ya’ll just keep on spendin money you don’t have. Are all the lines of credit maxed now Big Tex? Well much obliged Gomer but outside of the Great Republic we city boys call that FRAUD. The real FIASCO will be when Ranger Season Ticket Holders like Caligirlzrock, Brian, Alysia Flores, Dorian and HCE show up for the game and the Feds have padlocked the gates they way they done Willie Nelson back in the day. Oh well maybe MLB will let you bring back the team under a new corporate name. How about Ko Tex Ritter and his band of Tam Pons?
A D B - July 23, 2010
You're an idiot.
Pocket Ninja - July 23, 2010
I second this
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
A D B = A Dumb Bastard?
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
Captain, the Universal Translator is down
Commander_Nate - July 23, 2010
Speaking from the Top
Tonight I attended this game and had the pleasure of sitting in the club level (row 1 behind home plate)… Side note, the railings at Ranger stadium come up to your knee’s…. No wonder the fireman fell off the club level.
Anyways enough about the Texas drunks. It’s a miserable feeling when your team loses at an opponents ballpark, especially when your obnoxiously cheering on your team the whole time, and they decide to lolligag around the outfield and let Vlad (yes 2010 Vlad, bad knees and all) run out a double. I did have the privilege of sitting near Tony R. and I walked by his box, while he was sitting next to Tim Mead, and said to him, “way to bring Callaspo back, now let’s get Prince”. Tony nicely leaned over the railing of his box and said, “thank you”. On the way back to my seats, Gubby saw my Angels attire and gave me head nod, and actually yelled down, “Go Halos”.
Sure it was cool getting some love from the Angels "big shots, but nothing would have made me happier, had we knocked Cliff Lee around. I’m going Saturday night and Sunday night, and I can promise you right now, I will be THAT guy screaming louder than anyone trying to get these guys to finally pull their heads out, and play some Angel baseball, because it’s now or never.
SMUangelFan - July 23, 2010
I've never seen Vlad run that fast as an Angel.
Tim and Arte must have been scouting Cliff Lee!
44FAN - July 23, 2010
now we can focus
on shedding payroll so that we can sign cliff lee and carl crawford = world series 2011.
there are already too many teams that use red in baseball (mostly in the NL, for whatever it’s worth). stick to blue, texas.
Kernel - July 23, 2010
you mean like these?
Colors are colors. I look at jersey in the same view as European soccer kits. Unless you have a longstanding brand that is completely recognizable in your sports as yours and yours alone, it is good to change it from both a PR/Marketing and Revenue perspective.
laxtonto - July 23, 2010
I thought the Halos were always red
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
no
the streets will be running red with the blood of rangers fans
DAD OF VLAD - July 23, 2010
fail
Downing Rules - July 23, 2010
Trolls abound.
Downing Rules - July 23, 2010
look at boomer1 picture
shows some real troll talent
DAD OF VLAD - July 23, 2010
Thanks
I came on here to say this was going to be a good series and HH took it to another level with the Red uni comments. There is a sick joke there to be had with this
But I won’t go there.
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
Oh BTW
Congrats on the new kiddo!
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
Great avatar. Go sooners. A bunch of my friends went there
hauldog - July 23, 2010
Thanks hauldog
Just trying to get some friendly banter going. Don’t mean to troll.
boomer1 - July 23, 2010
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