[lisa mariner]

Spring Training is here and the countdown to Opening Day has begun!

This is our season long thread for "hating on the halos" (all in good fun, of course!) and general news and notes for about our rivals in LAALand

AngelsWin is a forum I read regularly and post to occasionally, so you will see it referenced often.
(they are down for maintenance at the moment...)

This post has been edited by lisa mariner: 24 January 2010 - 04:13 PM

[Lonnie]

lisa mariner, on Feb 14 2009, 11:35 AM, said:

Spring Training is here and the countdown to Opening Day has begun!

This is our season long thread for "hating on the halos" (all in good fun, of course!) and general news and notes for about our rivals in LAALand

AngelsWin is a forum I read regularly and post to occasionally, so you will see it referenced often.
(they are down for maintenance at the moment...)

Happy bashing, Lisa!

Lonnie

[kevin_ess]

lisa mariner, on Feb 14 2009, 10:35 AM, said:

Spring Training is here and the countdown to Opening Day has begun!

This is our season long thread for "hating on the halos" (all in good fun, of course!) and general news and notes for about our rivals in LAALand

AngelsWin is a forum I read regularly and post to occasionally, so you will see it referenced often.
(they are down for maintenance at the moment...)

I look forward to seeing you at a game soon, my Mariners sweet!

[lisa mariner]

Quote

I look forward to seeing you at a game soon, my Mariners sweet!

Ditto!

btw ~ Happy Valentines Day to you and your lovely family

[kevin_ess]

lisa mariner, on Feb 14 2009, 07:38 PM, said:

Ditto!

btw ~ Happy Valentines Day to you and your lovely family

GUUUUUSH - We all just gave big love hugs!

[lisa mariner]

A recent poll at AngelsWin asked who would win the WBC

When one poster voted for Australia, another asked....

Quote

do you really believe Australia has a shot?

to which I posted the link to a recent article and replied...

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Maybe he/she hasn't heard that RRS has decided not to participate ;-)

and then the one who voted for Australia replied...

Quote

A few things from that...

1. They're actually in Melbourne now, having left Perth a couple of days ago. After that they will go to Japan, and then to Arizona. That writer needs to get his facts straight if he wants to look credible.

2. I thought it before and still do...Rowland-Smith is a selfish f**kwit who can go screw himself for all I care. I hope he fails dismally with the M's this year.

3. Haloshaven, you really need to test your sarcasm detector. Of course they don't have a chance. They should beat South Africa (it would be a disgrace if they don't) and on their day could beat Cuba. Just making it to the second round would be a massive achievement.

Now that wasn't very nice....

[lisa mariner]

Santana might miss start of season...

MLB.com

Quote

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Ervin Santana, the right-handed ace of the defending American League West champion Angels, has been shut down after a Saturday MRI traced discomfort in his pitching elbow to inflammation.

Santana, who went 16-7 for the 100-win Angels and was signed to a four-year contract the day before reporting to Spring Training, had been scratched from his first scheduled Cactus League start a couple of days ago. Three days earlier, he had felt soreness at the end of his one-inning outing in an intrasquad game.

The pitcher himself seemed unconcerned, relieved after hearing Dr. Lewis Yocum's interpretation of the MRI.

"I was worried before talking to the doctor," Santana said. "I thought it could be worse. I thought maybe I'd need surgery. I'll start playing catch next week."

Manager Mike Scioscia, however, felt the issue was serious enough to rule out Santana's availability at the start of the season.

"We'll slow him down, let the stuff in his elbow calm down, and go from there," Scioscia said. "We don't anticipate that it's the sort of setback that will cost him an appreciable part of the season."

But Santana being ready for the season now is "a bit of a stretch," Scioscia added.

As such, the Angels' season-opening rotation could have two holes, with Jon Garland, a 14-game winner last season, having gone to Arizona as a free agent.

Scioscia is confident that the depth of starting pitching at the Angels' disposal will pick up the slack, just as it did last season, when senior starter John Lackey didn't make his first start until May 14 due to a strained right triceps.

:::

Santana's activity during the offseason in the Dominican Winter League might become an issue in the wake of his injury. To the Angels' knowledge, he appeared in only two games, throwing a total of 6 2/3 innings. But according to some Winter League insiders, he actually made four appearances and logged 16 innings. His Dominican League and Angels teammate Erick Aybar confirmed that.

[KingCorran]

lisa mariner, on Mar 8 2009, 04:31 PM, said:

Santana might miss start of season...

MLB.com

Lol. I thought Lackey was their ace. Or is it that other injured guy, whats-his-face?

[lisa mariner]

update from OC Register blog...

Quote

Angels right-hander Ervin Santana was not completely honest with reporters when we talked to him this morning about his injured elbow.

Turns out it is more than just inflammation, as Santana said. The official word from the Angels is that the MRI taken after Santana experienced pain while pitching in Tuesday’s intra-squad game revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right elbow.

[lisa mariner]

LATimes

Quote

Angels ace John Lackey has been shut down because of elbow tightness, an injury that knocked the right-hander out of Friday's exhibition start and could jeopardize his scheduled opening-day start against Oakland on April 6.

The injury, which flared up in Lackey's last game, against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, could also muddle negotiations between the pitcher and the team on a contract extension. There have been discussions about a potential deal since early March.

"I don't think it's serious," said Lackey, who opened the 2008 season on the disabled list because of a strained right triceps. "I could have played catch today, but they wanted me to wait another day. . . . It's a little different than last spring. It's not that bad."

Lackey said his elbow tightened toward the end of Sunday's game, in which he gave up seven runs in four innings and failed to retire any of the six batters he faced in the fifth, when he gave up five runs and four hits, including two homers.

He was not sent for an MRI test, but he is not scheduled to pitch again until April 1, giving him nine days between starts. How many pitches he throws that day -- and how he feels afterward -- will determine whether he will be able to pitch the season opener. Lackey threw 90 pitches on Sunday.

"I definitely have to get back to 90 pitches" to start the opener, Lackey said. "The original plan was to get to 100 pitches Friday and scale back on April 1. But I won't be able to do that now."

Manager Mike Scioscia said Lackey will test the elbow in a bullpen workout before pitching in an exhibition.

"He should have enough [stamina] to pitch," Scioscia said of Lackey's opening-day start, "but we want to give this thing a chance to calm down a bit."

The Angels will open the season already without one of their best starting pitchers, Ervin Santana, who will probably miss all of April because of a sprained elbow ligament.

If Lackey opens the season the disabled list, Joe Saunders will probably start opening day, and the left-hander would be followed in the rotation by Jered Weaver, Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux.

If Lackey, who went 12-5 with a 3.75 earned run average in 24 starts in 2008, is sound enough to open the season but not ready for the opener, Scioscia could move him to the back of the rotation and have him make his first start against Boston on April 10.

If Lackey suffers a more serious setback, the Angels would have to look outside the organization for a starter and hope that Kelvim Escobar, who is far ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery and could join the rotation by the end of April, regains his 2007 form, when he went 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA.

[lisa mariner]

Sounds like Mr GMJ had a little tizzy...

Quote

Disgruntled outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. was given permission to leave camp for a day today after being told in a closed-door meeting with Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Tony Reagins that he would open the season as the Angels' fifth outfielder.

Matthews, who was scheduled to travel to Surprise, Ariz., for an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers, would not discuss the meeting. As he changed out of his uniform and into his clothes, he told reporters, "Give me a day, OK guys? Thanks."

Asked if he was being traded, Matthews said, "No."

Matthews, in the third year of a five-year, $50-million contract, has had a good spring, but he is currently behind Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera on the outfield-designated-hitter depth chart.

:::

Reagins, when asked if Matthews was in the Angels' opening-day plans, said, "Yes."

But when asked if Matthews would be an Angel a week from now, the GM said, "This game can change on a daily basis."

[lisa mariner]

Angels Morning Report | LA Times

Quote

Manager Mike Scioscia said he was "disappointed" with the reports from Joe Saunders' minor league start on Monday, a game in which the team's probable opening-day starter allowed five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings and threw 93 pitches. The left-hander was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday but was pushed back a day because of food poisoning.

"He got his work in, and his stuff picked up as the game went on, but he could be experiencing a little spring-training [dead] arm," Scioscia said. "He wasn't as crisp. Some of it could have been that he was weak from the food poisoning."

Scioscia said Saunders will throw a "power pen" later this week, an extended bullpen session that will put Saunders in position to start next Monday night's season opener against Oakland.

:::

As for Matthews, who is not happy with his role as a fifth outfielder and would welcome a trade, Reagins said today's meeting was just a follow-up to the one he and Scioscia had with Matthews on Sunday. The Angels have reportedly held trade talks with the Cincinnati Reds, which went nowhere, and it does not appear any deal is imminent.

"Both sides will maintain professionalism," Reagins said. "Gary wants to play every day -- that's clear -- and we're very clear about our position. His status hasn't changed."

The three years and $33 million left on Matthews' contract, and the fact he is coming off knee surgery, will make the switch-hitter difficult to move. But not impossible.

[lisa mariner]

Angels finalize Opening Day roster | MLB.com

Halos 2009 25-man Roster

[b][color="#FF0000"]STARTERS[/color][/b]

Num	Name	        Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	Age	DOB
34	Nick Adenhart	SP	R	R	6'3	185	22 	8/24/1986
45	Kelvim Escobar	SP	R	R	6'1	230	32 	4/11/1976 [i](15-day DL)[/i]
41	John Lackey	SP	R	R	6'6	245	30 	10/23/1978[i](15-day DL)[/i]
58	Dustin Moseley	SP	R	R	6'4	215	27 	12/26/1981[i](15-day DL)[/i]
54	Ervin Santana	SP	R	R	6'2	185	26 	12/12/1982
51	Joe Saunders	SP	L	L	6'3	210	27 	6/16/1981
36	Jered Weaver	SP	R	R	6'7	205	26 	10/4/1982

[color="#FF0000"][b]RELIEVERS[/b][/color]

66    Jose Arredondo	RP	R	R	6'0	175	25 	3/30/1984
52	Jason Bulger	RP	R	R	6'4	210	30 	12/6/1978
40	Brian Fuentes	RP	L	L	6'4	230	33 	8/9/1975
65	Kevin Jepsen	RP	R	R	6'3	215	24 	7/26/1984
68	Shane Loux	RP	R	R	6'2	235	29 	8/31/1979
38	Darren Oliver	RP	R	L	6'2	200	38 	10/6/1970
62	Scot Shields	RP	R	R	6'1	180	33 	7/22/1975
33	Justin Speier	RP	R	R	6'4	205	35 	11/6/1973

[color="#FF0000"][b]CATCHERS[/b][/color]

Num	Name	        Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	Age	DOB
28	Ryan Budde	C	R	R	5'11	210	29 	8/15/1979
5	Jeff Mathis       C	R	R	6'0	200	26 	3/31/1983
44	Mike Napoli	C	R	R	6'0	215	27 	10/31/1981
46	Bobby Wilson	C	R	R	6'0	220	25 	4/8/1983
 
[color="#FF0000"][b]INFIELDERS[/b][/color]

Num	Name	        Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	Age	DOB
19	Kendry Morales	1B	S	R	6'1	225	25 	6/20/1983
39	Robb Quinlan	1B	R	R	6'1	215	32 	3/17/1977
47	Howie Kendrick	2B	R	R	5'10	200	25 	7/12/1983
18	Sean Rodriguez	2B	R	R	6'1	215	23 	4/26/1985
43	Matthew Brown	3B	R	R	6'0	200	26 	8/8/1982
9	Chone Figgins	3B	S	R	5'8	180	31 	1/22/1978
2	Erick Aybar	SS	S	R	5'10	170	25 	1/14/1984
13	Maicer Izturis	SS	S	R	5'8	170	28 	9/12/1980
3	Brandon Wood	SS	R	R	6'3	190	24 	3/2/1985
 
[color="#FF0000"][b]OUTFIELDERS[/b][/color]

Num	Name	        Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	Age	DOB
48	Torii Hunter	CF	R	R	6'2	225	33 	7/18/1975
53	Bobby Abreu	LF	L	R	6'0	210	35 	3/11/1974
77	Reggie Willits	LF	S	R	5'11	185	27 	5/30/1981
27	Vlad Guerrero	RF	R	R	6'3	235	33 	2/9/1976
 
[color="#FF0000"][b]DESIGNATED HITTERS[/b][/color]
Num	Name	        Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	Age	DOB
24	Gary Matthews	DH	S	R	6'3	225	34 	8/25/1974
21	Juan Rivera

[lisa mariner]

I've already stated, multiple times, even in my rosiest moments I don't have lofty expectations (like winning the division or even the wild card) this season. What I do expect, and will be giddy as all get out if it happens, is slow and steady improvement in every facet of the team. That being said, I sure like the way John thinks ... and what is spring for, if not for hope? It IS eternal, right?

Warning to 09 Angels - remember the 02 Mariners? | John McGrath

Quote

...This brings us to the heart of the artichoke: Are there any similarities between the Mariners of 2002 and the Angels of 2009?

I see four. Granted, I’m squinting, but I swear I can I see four.

1. Aging regulars approaching the downward-slope phase of their careers. Seattle’s everyday lineup in 2002 included catcher Dan Wilson, first baseman John Olerud and second baseman Bret Boone (all 33 years old), along with designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who was 39. The Angels’ everyday lineup includes outfielders Vladimir Guerrero (34), Torii Hunter (33) and Bobby Abreu (35). The physical decline of Guerrero, who has endured knee problems the past three years and will be a free agent after the season, could find him following ex-teammate Garret Anderson out of Anaheim.

2. The absence of a lights-out ace pitcher. The 2002 Mariners boasted 16-game winner Freddie Garcia, 13-game winner Jamie Moyer and perennial, on-the-cusp-of-a-breakout-year right- hander Joel Piñeiro, a 14-game winner whose 3.24 ERA ranked eighth in the league – just ahead of Moyer’s 3.32, which was ninth.

But no Seattle starter posed a fear factor for the opposition. No Seattle starter was a cinch to snap a losing streak.

The Angels’ 2009 rotation is anchored by John Lackey, whose tight elbow has put him on the disabled list, along with fellow right-handed starters Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar. The injuries will force Scioscia to open the season with a rotation of Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux.

Moseley, Adenhart and Loux combined last season to win three games.

3. Post-playoff malaise. Knocked out of the league championship series by the Yankees in both 2000 and 2001, it was only natural for the 2002 Mariners to assume they’d stay busy well into October, when they’d get a third straight shot at busting down the doors of the Evil Empire. Too bad the rest of the league never got the commissioner’s office memo granting Seattle a free pass to the ALCS.

The Angels? They’ve gone to the playoffs four times since 2004, and three times were sent home after the first round. Scioscia is a master at managing egos and stifling overconfidence, but it’s fair to wonder if his team finally might drift into the comfort zone that lulled the Mariners into listlessness in 2002.

4. The 10-year itch. Baseball managers, along with head coaches in football and basketball, often lose their edge around their 10th year with the same team. Maybe the players get tired of hearing the same voice. Maybe the manager/coach gets tired of walking down the same hallway, past the same locker room, to the same office.

Piniella, hired to replace Bill Plummer before the 1993 season, reached Year 10 in 2002, then left for Tampa Bay. Conspiracy theorists insist Piniella was angered by the front office’s reluctance to pursue major deadline deals that would’ve increased payroll, but his motives were not that calculated.

He had been on the job 10 years. It was time.

By the way, this is Scioscia’s 10th year as manager of the Angels.

The Mariners didn’t immediately implode after rookie manager Bob Melvin took over for Piniella.

Melvin’s 2003 team won 93 games, enough to coax the front office into keeping the over-the-hill gang pretty much intact for 2004.

The decision was well-intentioned, but it greased the skids that accelerated a model 21st century baseball franchise’s reversion to its 1980s doldrums.

As for the 2002 Mariners, they won early, and won often, and appeared destined to achieve the lofty preseason expectations put on them. Then came September, when they got sleepy at the wheel of the driver’s seat and surrendered their control of the division.

Warning to the 2009 Angels: It could happen to you.

[lisa mariner]

Last night on AngelsWin, a thread was started about the unfortunate late inning events in Minnesota....

Shortly after that post, the A's, took the lead and ended up winning the game 6-4....

Then, tonight, the Halo closer bit the dust - 3ER in the 9th and the A's won again by same score....

Karma, I say

[KingCorran]

And then their SP from last night was killed by an idiot running a red light this morning.

RIP, Nick Adenhart...

This post has been edited by KingCorran: 09 April 2009 - 09:49 AM

[Lonnie]

04/14/09

Mariners 3
Angels 2

YOU UGLY! YOU UGLY! YOU UGLY!

Stolen from the movie "Wildcats".

Lonnie

[Huindekmi]

You ain't got no alibi. YOU UGLY!

[PositivePaul]

So am I a traitor for giving HalosHeaven a photo I took yesterday, and said photo having made it to the front page of their web site???

Naaaaaah. The Angels are still my least favorite team in all of sportsdom. Followed closely by the Stealers.

[lisa mariner]

Vladdy out at least a month...