Angels Message Board

The last 24 hours, I have been monitoring the Angels official team message board. Most of the posts agree with me in that we need to clean out the front office. I came across this great post by a fan. I thought it was hiliarious.

Hot Stove notes!

Angels
Free agents likely to pursue:

SS - David Eckstein (Cardinals)
1B/OF - Darrin Erstad (White Sox)
C- Jose Molina (Yankees)
OF - Jose Guillen (Mariners)
P - Paul Byrd (Indians)

A source close to club who did not want to be named said that the Angels were interested in obtaining pitcher Jarrod Washburn (Mariners)and St. Louis super sub Scott Spezio along with Cardinal teammate Troy Percival.

In other news Tim Salmon is working out again in hopes of getting a non roster invite from Bill. Also, Troy Glaus may have his contract terminated by Toronto and if the rumors of HGH are true then he could fill a power void at 3B for the Halos

Minor League News:

Stoneman has brought in Alex Ochoa from Japan and Bengie Gill from the Mexican League to provide organizational depth. They will play in Salt Lake City.

I Told You So

Yes, those were the four words I was referring to on my previous blog. All season long I was criticized for not being a "true" Angel fan because I doubted our ability to score runs. The Angels have had an anemic offense for the last three years and enough is enough. We have been fed lies by Arte Moreno and Angels GM BIll Stoneman. They do not want to win. They are satisfied only if there is "meat in the seats". Just as long as the Angels hit the 3 million mark in attendance every year there will be no need for real change.

The smallball approach has failed and I think the Angels need a new approach. The Angels must be built with the mindset to defeat Boston. No exceptions. Anything less than and WS is unacceptable. Getting to the playoffs is not enough. Vladdy is not getting any younger and we owe it to him to add some REAL protection in the everyday line up. Getting bounced by the Red Sox again in three straight is an embarressment and if the Angels do not make any significant moves this offseason then they never will.

My suggestions:
1. Fire Bill Stoneman (He is a failure)
2. Fire Mickey Hatcher
3. Sign Andrew Jones
4. Trade Santana, Figgins, and another top prospect for another bat
5. Do not resign Bartolo Colon

Those four words...

Its not time yet to say it but if the Angels don't bring their "A game" on sunday, say goodbye to another dissappointing season.

The Second Season

The MLB playoffs begin tomorrow with an awesome triple header starting with the Philadelphia Phillies vs the Colorado Rockies, the Angels vs Red Sox, and the Diamondbacks vs Cubs.

Of course, the Angel game will be my priority and I am excited that the Halos are in the playoffs after a year absence from October play. The Angels are nursing a few notable injuries, Gary Matthews Jr was left off the playoff roster because of a knee injury and Bartolo Colon because of a sore arm. Vladimir Guerrero will not play in RF because of tendinitis but will DH and Garret Anderson has an eye infection but stated that he is fine.

The Angels have not experienced a great deal of success facing Boston. Going back to 1986, the Red Sox have been the perverbial thorn in the side in the Angels. In more recent memory, the Sox swept the Angels in the first round in '04.

I feel that the Angels have a deeper bench compared to 2004 and have a better situational offense than in 2004. Not since 2002 have the Angels had the ability to come from behind. This year, we led the majors in that category and I think before this series is over that stat will be a factor. I will list a few keys to tomorrow's game and I will be recaping the Angels postseason as it unfolds.

Keys to Game One
1. Lackey Must Control His Emotions On The Mound
2. 1st to 3rd. Angels Must Pressure The Sox Defense With Agressive Baserunning
3. Don't Try to Do Too Much With The Bat
4. Angels Led The MLB In Comeback Wins
5. Ignore The Past!

Odely Chivas

Last night, I went to my first ever real soccer match. It was between Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire. I have been following soccer and the British Premier League more than ever before and I am finally realizing how popular and exciting this sport really is. The game was at the Home Depot Center in Carson and it was packed out with fans of both teams. The Chivas are extremely popular with Mexicans and they are very passionate about their goats.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco is the most popular player on the Chicago Fire and is treated as a God among most of the mexicans. He was a player on a team that is the arch-rival of the Chivas team in Mexico. Half the stadium went banannas whenever Blanco touched the ball.

The game was exciting and had a little bit of everything. Skirmishes at midfield, numerous yellow cards, penalty kicks, ejections, and contraversy at the end of the match. The stadium was surprisingly loud from start to finish and it was a great experience. I think that my admiration for soccer great tremendously last night.

American Gangster

Who wants to see this with me??

School

I can't wait for school to be OVER. I am dying right now.