Halos Heaven

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Slow news day so let's rock out!

Happy Birthday to Vladimir Guerrero | Montreal Gazette
Baseball-free Montreal says Happy 37th to its last superstar.

Angels' farm system, with Mike Trout and some other guys...
The Halo Hangout Blog talks prospects.

Pitcher's and Catcher's report in Nine Days.. Tempe Calling...

TEMPE CALLING

Tempe Calling to the Anaheim Fans
The Season’s declared and the Training’s began
Tempe Calling to the blogger world
Shoulda been a FanShot for the boys and girls
Tempe Calling now by train, plane or bus
Phony Rangermania has bitten the dust

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Our series asking what the Walkup Music for our favorite Angel players continues... What should Alberto Callaspo's Walkup music be? Well, maybe it is time for AC (new, user-friendly, self-explanatory nickname alert) to get a little confrontational while simultaneously being aggressively standoffish to all who would want to discuss his role on the team. Note: unpleasant lyrics ahead.

Nothing like a little GG Allin to make sure everyone understands that a thin line is being walked. Here is the master mauler with Don't Talk To Me...

The Angels traded Callaspo for Jason Bulger back in the day. Then they traded to reacquire him after the golden child Brandon Wood lived up to ten percent of his billing. Will Smith and Sean O'Sullivan have done nothing for the Royals while Callaspo dug the 3B slot out of the negative WAR grave that B-Wood dug for it in Anaheim.

For thanks, Callaspo gets the team handing his position to a guy who has not played it since little league. GG Allin's slogan "Most hated in the nation" may not quite apply in this situation, but AC has every right to assert the end of pleasantries in the absence of a proven heir to his hot corner throne.

If you are half as sick of mainstream media's terrible sports coverage, you will want to participate in shaping the direction of the next generation of sports media. Vote online for the direction you want it all to go in...

Have you ever watched one of those TV shows where from thousands of hopefuls, one star is born? Well, Halos Heaven readers, here's your chance to play "starmaker" and help pick the new voice of sports in social media!

XFINITY is looking for the next renowned sports social media star through its Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. The winning candidate will serve as the new voice of XFINITY in the sports social media space and go behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest sporting events in 2012, sharing exclusive insights and updates with fans.

From February 9-19, you can review qualified entry videos and vote for the contestant you'd like to see advance to the finals of the XFINITY Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. The five entrants with the most votes will advance to the final round of the contest where they will cover one of five premier sporting events the weekend of March 8-11. Fans can head today to Facebook.com/XFINITY and click on the Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest tab to vote for your favorite personality (once per day)!

Will you choose the brainiac with the encyclopedia of stats, the former jock who knows the game inside out, or the corporate type who gets the marketing side of the business? You decide. Vote today at Facebook.com/XFINITY!

...early and often...

A big thanks to Highland Halo for this...

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Yo-eleven. Less than 12, more than 10 days until pitchers/catchers report Halolinks:

• NBC Sports is doing a feature on each team's projected opening day 25-man rosters; here's what they have on the Halos: Running down the rosters: Los Angeles Angels - HardballTalk. "Texas still has more depth and minor league talent to play with, but the Angels have the better rotation and now arguably the game’s best hitter anchoring the lineup." I'm a little concerned with the drop-off of talent the Angels have after #5 starter Jerome Williams, but I hate to say it, I wasn't aware of how weak the the bullpen looks until reading in this post. The only new addition to last season's staff was 39 year-old LaTroy Hawkins, and unless the club signs one of the few remaining free agents (Luis Ayala), or one of their current relievers has a breakout season (I'm betting on Rich Thompson), the pen may be the Angels downfall in 2012.
  
• Mark Saxon's continued look at each position: Position previews: Left field - ESPN Los Angeles. There was some minor rumblings about the Vernon Wells/Mike Trout situation in left field, but Saxon gets a definitive answer, "Nothing gets Angels fans more riled up than thinking about left field; specifically, the brutal 2011 season of left fielder Vernon Wells.... Which figures to make the following comment by general manager Jerry Dipoto like nails on a chalkboard to some fans: "Vernon's our left fielder." Dipoto made that statement Wednesday, when I asked him whether there will be a measure of competition for the spot this spring." It sounds like Trout will start the season in Utah, "Guys who make their debuts as teenagers are in a selective class. He's got a huge upside and we'll make sure he gets his reps. With our current setup, there's no reason to rush him," Dipoto said.
• And speaking of teenagers, here's an interesting post from FanGraphs: High School Draftees and Elite Seasons - FanGraphs Baseball. A couple of telling stats point out the difference in drafting HS and college players, "79% of collegiate first-round draft picks reach the major leagues for at least one day. 62% of high school first-round draft picks reach the major leagues for at least one day. 32.8% (77 of 235) of elite players were drafted out of high school. Compare that to the 45.9% (108 of 235) that attended some sort of college, and we are left with the conclusion that high school players are not worth the risk. The increased reward of an increased likelihood of drafting an elite player is simply not corroborated by the numbers. Not only do collegiate players reach the big leagues at a higher rate, but collegiate players also make up the vast majority of the elite players in the MLB since the 2000 season."
• MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK...

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