The Halo That Shines Dimly

Today was another sad day for Angel fans across the globe. In less than one year we've lost a respected coach, a pitcher on the brink of stardom, and now we've lost our voice. Rory Markas died today at the age of 54. Since 2002, Rory did the radio play-by-play for the Angels. I always thought Rory was one of the luckiest guys on the planet. His first year on the job, Rory was the radio voice during a magical season that culminated with a thrilling World Series championship.
Rory had a perfect voice for radio. As the AM frequency would crackle through my car speakers, I enjoyed listening to his call on those endless summer nights. Every Angel fan will never forget Rory's booming voice as he trumpeted after each Angel win, "Just Another Halo Victory!" I admired Rory's professionalism. He was a natural & in an area that has been blessed with the voices of Chick Hearn, Vin Scully, Dick Emberg, Don Drysdale, and Bob Miller, this is a tremendous loss for LA media. I will never forget Rory and he will be missed by this Angel fan. Tonight, in front of the stadium, the Big A is lit in honor of Rory. Though bright, it will be dimmer than normal and Angel victories will not be the same for a long time.

RIP: Nick Adenhart (1986-2009)

Today was a very sad day for me. Early this morning, I was jolted by the announcement of the sudden passing of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. Nick along with two friends were killed in an auto accident shortly after Wednesday's game against the Oakland A's. Nick was the starting pitcher on Wednesday's game and threw 6 scoreless innings. It was his best start ever as an Angel. Adenhart was only 22 but was the top pitching prospect within the Angels organization. I have followed Nick Adenhart for the last two years and after his performance last night, I was excited because I could sense the confidence that he had in his pitches. He was great. The photo below was taken the night of his death.


The tragedy is compounded because Adenhart was the victim of a drunk driver. His life was cut way to short and it is a shame that his full potential will never be realized. I mourn for his loss and continue to pray for his family during this difficult time. You will be missed Nick but never forgotten.

New NBA Playoff Ad

The NBA playoffs are a few weeks away and the Lakers are about to embark on a pivotal 7 game road trip. They are battling against the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best overall best record in the NBA. Last year, the Boston Celtics finished the regular season with the best record and eventually beat the Lakers in the Finals.

BUT THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT! GO LAKERS!!!

My Angels

I am proud to state that my Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are the best team in baseball. Yesterday, they acquired one of the premier first basemen in the game: Mark Teixeira. For the last six years, the Angels have lacked a bonafide slugger in their lineup. It has affected them in recent years, and it has been the primary reason why they have been unable to reach the World Series. 

By adding Mark Teixeira, it will strengthen our batting lineup that features Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and Garret Anderson. Teixeira's imposing presence in the starting lineup will be incalculable. I have been waiting six years for the Angels to finally make a mid-season trade to put our club over the top. The Angels have the best record in baseball (67-40) and many sports writers now believe that the Angels will make it to the World Series. 

Now, there is some speculation regarding Teixeira because he will be a free agent after the end of this season. There are some reports that he is asking for a 10 year, 230 million dollar deal. Will the Angels choose to lock him up? That remains to be seen. But in the short term, this is a historic move for the Angels and it will definitely help them in October. 

This is a great time to be an Angel fan and I am thrilled to see what will happen in the coming weeks!

Angels Outlook for 2008

Baseball season is almost a week old and I must admit, I am very excited to watch baseball on tv again. It seems that there is a bit more optimism in within the Angel fold. We have a plethora of outfielders including the newest Angel Torii Hunter. With the signing of Hunter, it is hoped that he can provide more protection to Angel's slugger Vladimir Guerrero in the batting lineup. However, unlike past seasons, the Angels are having health issues related to their pitching staff in the bullpen and in the starting rotation. 

One shining point compared to 2007 is that Angels GM Bill Stoneman is no longer the GM. I thought it was a joke that he hoisted the 2007 AL West Division Champion banner before last night's game. Its probably because of HIM that it was AL West banner instead of a World Series flag. 

My biggest concern for the team this year is whether they will have enough pitching to get them past the stacked lineups of the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. I believe the Angels have the pieces to make the post season but I am still not convinced that they can beat the Red Sox. I was right last year (in April) when I said the Angels would crumble against the Red Sox. And I was right when I said that they did not have enough offense. I still think that the Angels are a team built to win their division but not the best team in baseball: Boston. 

Those are my thoughts on the Angels. My allegiance to my team is still as strong as ever. However, I don't want the mistakes of the past to carry over into the 2008 season.