I try to keep this blog non-political, and this may be my first every political post (though possibly not my last), but I'm a lifelong Democrat, and an Obama supporter. Have been since day one. I'm proud to be a current resident of Illinois (though I'm still an Angeleno at heart), and I'm proud that he represents my state.
But my dad was born and raised in Montana. I still have a ton of family back there. An aunt, three cousins (two more that grew up there before moving away), three cousin's spouses, eight second cousins, one spouse of a second cousin, and their two kids. I love the state of Montana, and I love going back to Sidney to visit my family (big fish in a small pond, someone once called them "the Kennedys of Sidney"). The Seitzes have been business owners for something like 60 years, from my grandfather's (who I never met) clothing shop to my uncle's insurance agency, now operated by my cousins.
And as much as I like living in Illinois, damn, I wish this guy was my governor.
My aunt might tell you he doesn't do enough for eastern Montana. As if a town going through a major oil boom needs governmental support. And of course, 98% of the population lives WEST of Sidney, so yeah, a politician is going to focus on that part of the state. But these are the types of politicians that make Democrats viable in the Mountain West. Just because I don't think you need an AK-47 on the streets of Chicago doesn't mean I want to take your hunting rifle away. My cousins are hunters, and they're real conservationists. That's common ground. I actually was rooting for Schweitzer for Veep, but I'll settle for Democrats in the top three positions in Montana politics.
Now we just need to get rid of the most corrupt Republicans in government up in my brother's home state of Alaska.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A's 2; Angels 1
Cross posted at Socal Sports Hub.
If you skipped this one to watch convention coverage, you didn't miss much. Neither team generated much offense, and a sloppy game from the Angels saw a sloppy play lead to their demise. Dallas Braden scattered seven hits over seven innings, allowing only Mike Napoli to score on a solo home run. He wasn't overpowering by any means. He didn't strike out a batter, but was helped out numerous times as Angels hitters swung at pitches out of the strike zone, which helped him complete seven innings without walking a hitter.
Jered Weaver actually pitched one of his better games over the last month, though we need to normalize for the offense he faced. If you haven't been following the A's very closely this season, you probably recognized Bobby Crosby, Frank Thomas, maybe Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki, and that's about it. They sent all of one batter to the plate hitting over .250 (Suzuki). Injuries, trades, and poor performances have hampered the offense all season, and it's tough to give Weaver full credit for his good numbers. Still, he only allowed five baserunners (three hits and two walks), and struck out 8.
Napoli's home run was matched by Daric Barton's third inning blast. Following a fourth inning Frank Thomas walk and a Jack Hannahan double, Weaver uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Thomas to score the eventual winning run. The Angels put one baserunner on in the ninth when Mark Teixeira reached on a two out error by the first baseman Barton, but Torii Hunter's ground ball to Crosby at short ended the evening.
Top three Angels performers:
1) Weaver was solid through seven with the numbers mentioned above. He threw 67 strikes against 41 balls and dropped his ERA by a tenth of a run.
2) Mike Napoli deserves credit for actually creating a run, which no other Angel could do.
3) The bullpen combination of Justin Speier and Jason Bulger gave the Angels a chance. It was nice to see Speier keep the ball in the ballpark for once.
Jeff Weaver of the game:
Tough call here when the whole offense is awful (though it should be noted that Vlad was resting). I've got to go with Chone Figgins, the only Angel with two hits, who still managed to get himself out on the basepaths both times. He was picked off in the first inning after a lead off single, setting the tone for the game. He was also caught stealing in the third inning.
What to look for tonight:
John Lackey brings his dominance of the A's to the mound against a less than stellar lineup, while Greg Smith goes for the A's. Smith's 6-12 record belies a solid 3.75 ERA. Scioscia wants to give Vlad a few days off his feet, but after last night's offensive display (you choose which syllable to emphasize), he may want his bat in the lineup tonight at DH.
Game time 7:05 PST; Televised on FSN
If you skipped this one to watch convention coverage, you didn't miss much. Neither team generated much offense, and a sloppy game from the Angels saw a sloppy play lead to their demise. Dallas Braden scattered seven hits over seven innings, allowing only Mike Napoli to score on a solo home run. He wasn't overpowering by any means. He didn't strike out a batter, but was helped out numerous times as Angels hitters swung at pitches out of the strike zone, which helped him complete seven innings without walking a hitter.
Jered Weaver actually pitched one of his better games over the last month, though we need to normalize for the offense he faced. If you haven't been following the A's very closely this season, you probably recognized Bobby Crosby, Frank Thomas, maybe Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki, and that's about it. They sent all of one batter to the plate hitting over .250 (Suzuki). Injuries, trades, and poor performances have hampered the offense all season, and it's tough to give Weaver full credit for his good numbers. Still, he only allowed five baserunners (three hits and two walks), and struck out 8.
Napoli's home run was matched by Daric Barton's third inning blast. Following a fourth inning Frank Thomas walk and a Jack Hannahan double, Weaver uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Thomas to score the eventual winning run. The Angels put one baserunner on in the ninth when Mark Teixeira reached on a two out error by the first baseman Barton, but Torii Hunter's ground ball to Crosby at short ended the evening.
Top three Angels performers:
1) Weaver was solid through seven with the numbers mentioned above. He threw 67 strikes against 41 balls and dropped his ERA by a tenth of a run.
2) Mike Napoli deserves credit for actually creating a run, which no other Angel could do.
3) The bullpen combination of Justin Speier and Jason Bulger gave the Angels a chance. It was nice to see Speier keep the ball in the ballpark for once.
Jeff Weaver of the game:
Tough call here when the whole offense is awful (though it should be noted that Vlad was resting). I've got to go with Chone Figgins, the only Angel with two hits, who still managed to get himself out on the basepaths both times. He was picked off in the first inning after a lead off single, setting the tone for the game. He was also caught stealing in the third inning.
What to look for tonight:
John Lackey brings his dominance of the A's to the mound against a less than stellar lineup, while Greg Smith goes for the A's. Smith's 6-12 record belies a solid 3.75 ERA. Scioscia wants to give Vlad a few days off his feet, but after last night's offensive display (you choose which syllable to emphasize), he may want his bat in the lineup tonight at DH.
Game time 7:05 PST; Televised on FSN
Friday, August 22, 2008
Twins 2; Angels 1
See also here.
Following a blistering July and first half of August, the Angels offense appears to be slowing down to June levels. They struggled to generate any offense last night, and they failed to exert any pressure on the Twins defense. They managed only one hit and three baserunners in the last eight innings of play last night, and wasted an otherwise solid performance from John Lackey. On the other side, Scott Baker threw eight innings of four hit baseball to lower his ERA to 3.74.
The Angels took the lead on a first inning home run from Mark Teixeira, his fifth since the trade. The Twins scratched out a run in the fifth inning to tie the score on a two out double from Nick Punto and an RBI single from Carlos Gomez. That was all the offense until the 12th inning.
In the 12th, Mike Scioscia made the inexplicable decision to turn to Justin Speier, who has now allowed at least one run in five of his last seven appearances (an 8.64 ERA over that span). Punto led off the 12th with a triple on a ball that, quite frankly, should have been caught by Torii Hunter. Two batters later, Denard Spann drove a single past the drawn in Chone Figgins for the eventual winning run.
Angels Top Three Performers:
1) John Lackey pitched eight innings of one run ball, allowing seven baserunners and striking out five. He pitched his way out of a jam in the eighth (which he helped create with his second error of the night), with some help from Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, who turned a nifty double play.
2) Mark Teixeira was the only Angel with more than one hit, and provided all the offense with his 5th home run as an Angel.
3) The bullpen (non-Speier division). Frankie Rodriguez, Scot Shields, and Darren Oliver combined for three scoreless innings. Each allowed a hit, and Shields walked a batter, but struck out two.
Jeff Weaver of the game:
Take your pick between Scioscia, for going with Speier when he could have extended Oliver (or gone with Arredondo), Speier (who's simply been awful this year), or Hunter, who in addition to failing to catch a very catchable ball, went 0-4 and left four runners on base.
What to look for tonight:
Joe Saunders goes after win number 15 again. The Twins counter with Glenn Perkins, a 25 year old Minnesota local with a very nice 10-3 record and a 4.17 ERA. He's struggled a bit in four of his last five starts, but tossed eight innings of scoreless baseball against the Yankees a week and a half ago. Garret Anderson looks to start a new hitting streak after having his 23 gamer snapped last night (though in all likelihood, he'll get the day off).
Game time: 7:05 PDT; Television: KCOP
Following a blistering July and first half of August, the Angels offense appears to be slowing down to June levels. They struggled to generate any offense last night, and they failed to exert any pressure on the Twins defense. They managed only one hit and three baserunners in the last eight innings of play last night, and wasted an otherwise solid performance from John Lackey. On the other side, Scott Baker threw eight innings of four hit baseball to lower his ERA to 3.74.
The Angels took the lead on a first inning home run from Mark Teixeira, his fifth since the trade. The Twins scratched out a run in the fifth inning to tie the score on a two out double from Nick Punto and an RBI single from Carlos Gomez. That was all the offense until the 12th inning.
In the 12th, Mike Scioscia made the inexplicable decision to turn to Justin Speier, who has now allowed at least one run in five of his last seven appearances (an 8.64 ERA over that span). Punto led off the 12th with a triple on a ball that, quite frankly, should have been caught by Torii Hunter. Two batters later, Denard Spann drove a single past the drawn in Chone Figgins for the eventual winning run.
Angels Top Three Performers:
1) John Lackey pitched eight innings of one run ball, allowing seven baserunners and striking out five. He pitched his way out of a jam in the eighth (which he helped create with his second error of the night), with some help from Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, who turned a nifty double play.
2) Mark Teixeira was the only Angel with more than one hit, and provided all the offense with his 5th home run as an Angel.
3) The bullpen (non-Speier division). Frankie Rodriguez, Scot Shields, and Darren Oliver combined for three scoreless innings. Each allowed a hit, and Shields walked a batter, but struck out two.
Jeff Weaver of the game:
Take your pick between Scioscia, for going with Speier when he could have extended Oliver (or gone with Arredondo), Speier (who's simply been awful this year), or Hunter, who in addition to failing to catch a very catchable ball, went 0-4 and left four runners on base.
What to look for tonight:
Joe Saunders goes after win number 15 again. The Twins counter with Glenn Perkins, a 25 year old Minnesota local with a very nice 10-3 record and a 4.17 ERA. He's struggled a bit in four of his last five starts, but tossed eight innings of scoreless baseball against the Yankees a week and a half ago. Garret Anderson looks to start a new hitting streak after having his 23 gamer snapped last night (though in all likelihood, he'll get the day off).
Game time: 7:05 PDT; Television: KCOP
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Angels 2; Rays 4
Another in my series of recaps for Socal Sports Hub.
Ten years ago, the New York Yankees had an historic season, winning 114 games against just 48 losses. Six of those losses came against the Angels. Ever since, the Angels have consistently been thorns in the Yankees collective side, true proof of which wouldn't manifest itself on a grander stage until the 2002 ALDS, a triumph the Angels would duplicate in 2005. The Tampa Bay Rays are quickly becoming the Calanaheim Angels to the Angels' Yankees. The Angels have a winning record against every team in the American League, except for the Rays, who continued their dominance over the Angels last night with a 4-2 victory.
The Angels got the ball rolling early with a home run from Vladimir Guerrero, his 23rd of the season, to lead off the second inning. They would go on to squander a great opportunity to add to the lead when Torii Hunter was cut down at the plate on a strike from B.J. Upton. And I'm serious about it being a strike. I'm pretty sure that peg went through the strike zone. The Angels added a second run in the fourth inning when Garret Anderson's double, which extended his hitting streak to 22 games, drove in Guerrero, who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Meanwhile, Ervin Santana was quietly twirling a gem. He didn't allow a baserunner until there were two outs in the fourth inning, and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, when he finally ran into trouble, and got a little help from umpire Jerry Meals at first base. Following a double by Jason Bartlett and an infield single by Akinori Iwamura, Upton hit a bouncer to first base. Mark Teixeira thought about going to the plate, and his hesitation fooled Santana, who was on his way to cover first base. Teixeira's throw to first subsequently flew by Santana and was picked up by an alert Howie Kendrick. Upton ran through first base, and it looked to me as if he thought about going to second on the error for a split second before coming to a stop. Kendrick alertly tagged Upton, and Meals called him out. Rule 7.08(c) says that a player overrunning first base must immediately return to the base. If the umpire can discern any intent to advance toward second base, the player is fair game. In Meals' judgment, Upton hesitated (a big no-no), and was in play. Joe Maddon disagreed and got the gate after letting Meals know.
Scot Shields made it all academic, however, in the bottom of the eighth. He came in with absolutely no concept of the strike zone, and walked Gabe Gross. Jason Bartlett tried to bunt him over, and Jeff Mathis' throw to first sailed into right field, putting the tying run on third and the go ahead run on second. Shields then walked the bases loaded before striking out Upton on a fastball at the knees. Darren Oliver was summoned to face lefty Carlos Pena, but he too couldn't find the strike zone when it mattered and walked in the tying run. Following a strike out of Cliff Floyd, Willie Aybar singled home Bartlett and Iwamura to provide the winning margin.
Angels three top performers:
1) Vladimir Guerrero went two for four with a homer and a double, and scored both Angel runs.
2) Ervin Santana threw seven innings of one run ball and allowed only six baserunners against nine strikeouts. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
3) Jerry Meals made a questionable call that kept the Angels in the lead until the eighth inning implosion. No one else really qualified here, so Meals gets the nod over any actual Angels.
Jeff Weaver of the game: Scot Shields, with a tip of the cap to Jeff Mathis. Shields' job is to get the Angels through the eighth inning in close games, and failed dramatically. Mathis runs a close second for not only allowing the eventual winning run to reach base with a wild throw to first, but for also striking out with a runner in scoring position.
What to look for tonight: Jered Weaver rides the roller coaster against Matt Garza. Acquired before the season from the Twins, Garza has been sharp this year with a 10-7 record and 3.63 ERA. After two straight shaky performances (nine runs in 10.2 innings), he's coming off a shut out of the Rangers. Weaver has been unreliable of late, with an ERA over six in his last four starts.
Next game: Tonight at 4:10 PDT, on FSN and ESPN2Thursday, August 14, 2008
Post-Game Report: Angels vs. Mariners (8/13/08)
If the Angels are undecided on which of their big pending free agents to pursue after the season, last night's game made the decision a little easier. Mark Teixeira struck twice for home runs, the first of which, a two run shot, gave the Angels a 3-1 lead in the third inning. The Mariners climbed back to tie the game at 3-3, in the 7th, then 4-4 in the 8th.
Following a Garret Anderson walk and Howie Kendrick double, the Angels pushed across two runs in bottom of the eighth with back to back sac flies from Juan Rivera and Jeff Mathis for a 6-4 lead. But the Mariners stormed back, getting three in the top of the ninth against Frankie Rodriguez. The Mariners got the benefit of two close calls in the inning, the first when Miguel Cairo walked on what looked like a very borderline pitch, and the second when Cairo appeared to be double off second following a line drive to Vladimir Guerrero in right field. A Jeremy Reed double and Raul Ibanez single drove three runs across to give the Mariners a 7-6 lead. Rodriguez left the game following Ibanez's single, and gave home plate umpire Gerry Davis an earful that would lead to his ejection, though it was essentially meaningless at that point.
But Rodriguez wasn't the only closer to fail last night. J.J. Putz surrendered a lead off home run to Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The scored held at 7-7 until the top of the 12th, when the Angels, having burned through Jose Arredondo, Scot Shields, Rodriguez, and Darren Oliver (who threw 2.2 perfect innings), were forced to call on Justin Speier. With two on and two out, Wladimir Balantien hit his sixth home run of the season, the 11th allowed by Speier in just 49 innings, a three run shot that all but put the game out of reach.
Top performing Angels:
1) Mark Teixeira went three for six, with two homers and three RBIs. He's now hit four homers with the Angels, and is hitting a robust .340 since the trade.
2) Maicer Izturis, hitting in front of Teixeria, added three hits, two of them doubles, in his five at bats before leaving the game with a sprained thumb, an injury he aggravated diving for a ground ball in the ninth inning.
3) Darren Oliver kept the Angels hope's alive, getting them out of the tumultuous ninth inning, and tossing perfect frames in the 10th and 11th innings.
4) Ervin Santana rates a mention for his 6.1 innings and seven strikeouts. He left the game with a lead that the bullpen was unable to maintain.
Jeff Weaver of the game: Pick just about anyone from the Angels bullpen except Oliver. Jose Arredondo inherited a difficult situation, with runners on second and third with only one out in the seventh. He allowed the tying run to score on an RBI ground out. Scot Shields allowed a double and two out RBI single in the eighth. Rodriguez and Speier melted down as described above.
Play of the game: Mark Teixeira's lead off game tying blast in the bottom of the ninth gave the Angels hope, for a few innings.
What to look for on Friday: Jered Weaver brings his roller coaster act to Cleveland against the Indians and Cy Young candidate Cliff Lee. Lee faces the American League's best offense since the the All Star break.
Game is @ 4:05 PDT on Fox Sports Net.
Following a Garret Anderson walk and Howie Kendrick double, the Angels pushed across two runs in bottom of the eighth with back to back sac flies from Juan Rivera and Jeff Mathis for a 6-4 lead. But the Mariners stormed back, getting three in the top of the ninth against Frankie Rodriguez. The Mariners got the benefit of two close calls in the inning, the first when Miguel Cairo walked on what looked like a very borderline pitch, and the second when Cairo appeared to be double off second following a line drive to Vladimir Guerrero in right field. A Jeremy Reed double and Raul Ibanez single drove three runs across to give the Mariners a 7-6 lead. Rodriguez left the game following Ibanez's single, and gave home plate umpire Gerry Davis an earful that would lead to his ejection, though it was essentially meaningless at that point.
But Rodriguez wasn't the only closer to fail last night. J.J. Putz surrendered a lead off home run to Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The scored held at 7-7 until the top of the 12th, when the Angels, having burned through Jose Arredondo, Scot Shields, Rodriguez, and Darren Oliver (who threw 2.2 perfect innings), were forced to call on Justin Speier. With two on and two out, Wladimir Balantien hit his sixth home run of the season, the 11th allowed by Speier in just 49 innings, a three run shot that all but put the game out of reach.
Top performing Angels:
1) Mark Teixeira went three for six, with two homers and three RBIs. He's now hit four homers with the Angels, and is hitting a robust .340 since the trade.
2) Maicer Izturis, hitting in front of Teixeria, added three hits, two of them doubles, in his five at bats before leaving the game with a sprained thumb, an injury he aggravated diving for a ground ball in the ninth inning.
3) Darren Oliver kept the Angels hope's alive, getting them out of the tumultuous ninth inning, and tossing perfect frames in the 10th and 11th innings.
4) Ervin Santana rates a mention for his 6.1 innings and seven strikeouts. He left the game with a lead that the bullpen was unable to maintain.
Jeff Weaver of the game: Pick just about anyone from the Angels bullpen except Oliver. Jose Arredondo inherited a difficult situation, with runners on second and third with only one out in the seventh. He allowed the tying run to score on an RBI ground out. Scot Shields allowed a double and two out RBI single in the eighth. Rodriguez and Speier melted down as described above.
Play of the game: Mark Teixeira's lead off game tying blast in the bottom of the ninth gave the Angels hope, for a few innings.
What to look for on Friday: Jered Weaver brings his roller coaster act to Cleveland against the Indians and Cy Young candidate Cliff Lee. Lee faces the American League's best offense since the the All Star break.
Game is @ 4:05 PDT on Fox Sports Net.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Foul
So tonight I did something I've never done before. I caught a foul ball at Major League game. Gary Sheffield ripped one off of John Danks into the left field upper deck at the Cell, it bounced off a co-worker, right into my hands. Pretty cool. Gave the ball to my boss's kid, who I think gave it to another kid. It's really dumb luck, and it's not like it was an epic grab or anything, but it was still kind of neat. Plus, it ought to buy me another few weeks of employment.
I still have the ball I grabbed at a Texas League game in Wichita about ten years ago, which was subsequently autographed by the legendary Mick Fieldbinder.
I still have the ball I grabbed at a Texas League game in Wichita about ten years ago, which was subsequently autographed by the legendary Mick Fieldbinder.
Orioles 4; Angels 9
After failing to push a run across last night, the Angels struck early in this afternoon's game. Vladimir Guerrero's two out two run homer in the first inning gave Ervin Santana a lead an early lead that the Angels would never relinquish. The Angels scored all of their runs in the first four innings, putting up crooked numbers in the first, third, and fourth. Jeff Mathis added his ninth homer in the second inning.
Ervin Santana sharp for the most part, allowing four runs over seven innings while striking out seven and walking none. He made two mistakes, and the Orioles took advantage of both. Luis Montanez drove the second pitch of his major league career over the left field wall for his first career home run, and Nick Markakis added a three run shot of his own in the fifth inning. Jose Arredondo took over in the eighth and retired all six hitters he faced.
The day's best...
1) Vladimir Guerrero went two for three, reached base three times, scored twice, and drove in four runs, two coming on his 20th homer of the season.
2) Mark Teixeira reached base three times in four plate appearances, and scored each time. He also delivered his first double as an Angel.
3) Garret Anderson added three more hits, one of them a double, pushing his batting average since the All-Star break to .426, and his slugging percentage to .639.
Jeff Weaver of the game: Howie Kendrick was hitless in four at bats, and left three men on base.
What to look for on Friday: Jered Weaver has had a couple rough starts over the past few months, but he's generally bounced back strong in his next outing. He'll try to get back on track against the same Yankees team that roughed him up last Saturday. The Yankees counter with young Dan Giese, making his third major league start. The Anaheim native is 0-2 as a starter, with an ERA over 5.00, but has put up better numbers out of the bullpen.
Ervin Santana sharp for the most part, allowing four runs over seven innings while striking out seven and walking none. He made two mistakes, and the Orioles took advantage of both. Luis Montanez drove the second pitch of his major league career over the left field wall for his first career home run, and Nick Markakis added a three run shot of his own in the fifth inning. Jose Arredondo took over in the eighth and retired all six hitters he faced.
The day's best...
1) Vladimir Guerrero went two for three, reached base three times, scored twice, and drove in four runs, two coming on his 20th homer of the season.
2) Mark Teixeira reached base three times in four plate appearances, and scored each time. He also delivered his first double as an Angel.
3) Garret Anderson added three more hits, one of them a double, pushing his batting average since the All-Star break to .426, and his slugging percentage to .639.
Jeff Weaver of the game: Howie Kendrick was hitless in four at bats, and left three men on base.
What to look for on Friday: Jered Weaver has had a couple rough starts over the past few months, but he's generally bounced back strong in his next outing. He'll try to get back on track against the same Yankees team that roughed him up last Saturday. The Yankees counter with young Dan Giese, making his third major league start. The Anaheim native is 0-2 as a starter, with an ERA over 5.00, but has put up better numbers out of the bullpen.
Orioles 3; Angels 2 (hits)
Bear with me. I'm doing a few recaps per week for another site, and I'm working my way back into it.
The Angels, it seems, have had a habit over the years of making guys who should still be in triple A look like Cy Young. And when that guy is a soft tossing lefty, you can guess that it's probably going to be a long night.
Chris Walters, making his major league debut thanks to a recent Hayden Penn mishap, befuddled the Angels all night with soft stuff away, getting 14 of his 24 outs via the ground ball, along with three strikeouts, the first of which coming on three straight that Chone Figgins watched sail right through the zone. He held the Angels to two hits on the night before coming out after eight innings and 104 pitches.
The Orioles picked up where they left off last night. After plating four in the ninth to tie the game the night before, they pushed two across in the first inning of tonight's game. The first four batters Garland faced all reached base, with Brian Roberts scoring on a Nick Markakis double. Markakis was subsequently driven home by Melvin Mora's single. Garland would induce a double play (one of three on the night) and fly ball to get out of the inning, but the damage was done, and it turned out to be all Walters and the Orioles needed. Luke Scott added a superfluous third run with a two out homer in the seventh.
The lone bright spot for the Angels was Shane Loux's debut. Called up to replace the struggling Darren O'Day, Loux tossed two hitless innings, allowing one baserunner via a walk.
Ervin Santana takes on Garret Olson and 5+ ERA tomorrow under the sun. Ervin has righted the ship on the road this year, but he's struggled during day games, going 1-2 with a 5.59 ERA.
The Angels, it seems, have had a habit over the years of making guys who should still be in triple A look like Cy Young. And when that guy is a soft tossing lefty, you can guess that it's probably going to be a long night.
Chris Walters, making his major league debut thanks to a recent Hayden Penn mishap, befuddled the Angels all night with soft stuff away, getting 14 of his 24 outs via the ground ball, along with three strikeouts, the first of which coming on three straight that Chone Figgins watched sail right through the zone. He held the Angels to two hits on the night before coming out after eight innings and 104 pitches.
The Orioles picked up where they left off last night. After plating four in the ninth to tie the game the night before, they pushed two across in the first inning of tonight's game. The first four batters Garland faced all reached base, with Brian Roberts scoring on a Nick Markakis double. Markakis was subsequently driven home by Melvin Mora's single. Garland would induce a double play (one of three on the night) and fly ball to get out of the inning, but the damage was done, and it turned out to be all Walters and the Orioles needed. Luke Scott added a superfluous third run with a two out homer in the seventh.
The lone bright spot for the Angels was Shane Loux's debut. Called up to replace the struggling Darren O'Day, Loux tossed two hitless innings, allowing one baserunner via a walk.
Ervin Santana takes on Garret Olson and 5+ ERA tomorrow under the sun. Ervin has righted the ship on the road this year, but he's struggled during day games, going 1-2 with a 5.59 ERA.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Broken Social Scene
These guys are very, very good. Just caught them on Saturday night for the second time (first time was Intonation/Pitchfork a couple years ago), and wow, what a set. I'll be the first to admit that they do a lot of stuff that isn't always my cup o tea, but when they're on, they're on. Good examples below (Stars and Sons, Cause = Time).
Also, they're a supergroup with a new concept: Showcase their stars. Their last two albums have been presented as "Broken Social Scene Presents (Kevin Drew/Brendan Canning). The new Canning album has the inside track for the title of my favorite album of the year, alongside the Whigs "Mission Control".
Anyway, I have a new Song of the Day up over at the appropriately named "Song of the Day" which discusses two of my favorite tracks from the new album. Check it out, in addition to the awesomeness below. If you don't like it, I can't help you.
Thanks.
Also, they're a supergroup with a new concept: Showcase their stars. Their last two albums have been presented as "Broken Social Scene Presents (Kevin Drew/Brendan Canning). The new Canning album has the inside track for the title of my favorite album of the year, alongside the Whigs "Mission Control".
Anyway, I have a new Song of the Day up over at the appropriately named "Song of the Day" which discusses two of my favorite tracks from the new album. Check it out, in addition to the awesomeness below. If you don't like it, I can't help you.
Thanks.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Frankie Rodriguez, and Questions for Anonymous and MSS
My last two posts have prompted comments regarding the potential (probable?) departure of Frankie Rodriguez following this season. MSS thinks his leaving will be good for the Angels, as he is apparently no longer the "great reliever he once was". Meanwhile Anonymous thinks we won't miss his antics after all of those saves "he almost blows".
So for MSS, is a 26 year old closer with almost 200 career saves who, by the way, just learned a new pitch no longer dominant, even while still saving well over 90% of his chances? He just dropped his ERA to 2.42, saving a 1-0 game, while retiring the games best player, and one of the AL's best hitters in the process. He made A-Rod look stupid on a 3-2 change up, a pitch he didn't even know how to throw before this season. Does anyone doubt that in a year or two, he'll probably also add a splitter to he repertoire? He is not only still dominating, he's learning while doing it. Oh, and for good measure, one of the guys you'd probably list as dominant, Mariano Rivera, he couldn't get it done tonight. Big L next to his name in the box score.
And Anonymous, does this count as one of the saves he "almost" blew? I mean, he did throw three balls to A-Rod before making him look stupid in the process. And those two fly balls he gave up were only about 70 feet from going out. Yes occasionally Frankie makes things more interesting than we'd like. What closer doesn't? Troy Percival, God love him (heck, I sponsor his B-R page) wasn't always without drama. Bryan Harvey seemed like he always walked the bases loaded before striking out the side. But I think there's a tendency to remember the drama, and unfortunately the failures, more than the successes.
You can count on one hand the guys who have been dominant over Frankie's tenure in his role. Rivera, maybe Wagner, Nathan, and who else? Frankie has been part of that group for four years now, and he's much younger than all of them. Though his save totals have been high, his work rate hasn't been outrageous. You have to ask yourself, why are there so few guys on that list? It's because it's not easy to perform at that level year in year out. That's why guys like Derek Turnbow and Joe Borowski can look great one year, and get cut the next. There are very few closers with long track records of sustained success. And of those three mentioned above, Wagner's got an ERA over 8.00 in the post-season.
So you can cheer the departure of Frankie all you want, but it will, without a doubt, weaken the Angels. They will be worse without him.
I've said this so many times I may as well get it tattooed on my forehead, but here it is again, in boldface. The comparison is not between what Frankie is and what Frankie could be, or was for one great season, or what you wish he would be. The comparison is between what Frankie is and what currently exists in the game. Regardless of the fact that he no longer mows through three innings in 25 pitches with six strikeouts, like he did in 2002, he's still at the top of an elite group of players who, night in and night out, answer the bell in the last inning and deliver their team to victory. If you can't see that, then I guess I can't help you. But facts are facts, and the fact is Frankie is one of a select few that turns the vast majority of games he enters into eight inning affairs. And yes, that's a very, very valuable commodity. The Angels will regret the day he signs with someone else.
So for MSS, is a 26 year old closer with almost 200 career saves who, by the way, just learned a new pitch no longer dominant, even while still saving well over 90% of his chances? He just dropped his ERA to 2.42, saving a 1-0 game, while retiring the games best player, and one of the AL's best hitters in the process. He made A-Rod look stupid on a 3-2 change up, a pitch he didn't even know how to throw before this season. Does anyone doubt that in a year or two, he'll probably also add a splitter to he repertoire? He is not only still dominating, he's learning while doing it. Oh, and for good measure, one of the guys you'd probably list as dominant, Mariano Rivera, he couldn't get it done tonight. Big L next to his name in the box score.
And Anonymous, does this count as one of the saves he "almost" blew? I mean, he did throw three balls to A-Rod before making him look stupid in the process. And those two fly balls he gave up were only about 70 feet from going out. Yes occasionally Frankie makes things more interesting than we'd like. What closer doesn't? Troy Percival, God love him (heck, I sponsor his B-R page) wasn't always without drama. Bryan Harvey seemed like he always walked the bases loaded before striking out the side. But I think there's a tendency to remember the drama, and unfortunately the failures, more than the successes.
You can count on one hand the guys who have been dominant over Frankie's tenure in his role. Rivera, maybe Wagner, Nathan, and who else? Frankie has been part of that group for four years now, and he's much younger than all of them. Though his save totals have been high, his work rate hasn't been outrageous. You have to ask yourself, why are there so few guys on that list? It's because it's not easy to perform at that level year in year out. That's why guys like Derek Turnbow and Joe Borowski can look great one year, and get cut the next. There are very few closers with long track records of sustained success. And of those three mentioned above, Wagner's got an ERA over 8.00 in the post-season.
So you can cheer the departure of Frankie all you want, but it will, without a doubt, weaken the Angels. They will be worse without him.
I've said this so many times I may as well get it tattooed on my forehead, but here it is again, in boldface. The comparison is not between what Frankie is and what Frankie could be, or was for one great season, or what you wish he would be. The comparison is between what Frankie is and what currently exists in the game. Regardless of the fact that he no longer mows through three innings in 25 pitches with six strikeouts, like he did in 2002, he's still at the top of an elite group of players who, night in and night out, answer the bell in the last inning and deliver their team to victory. If you can't see that, then I guess I can't help you. But facts are facts, and the fact is Frankie is one of a select few that turns the vast majority of games he enters into eight inning affairs. And yes, that's a very, very valuable commodity. The Angels will regret the day he signs with someone else.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
A Couple Days Removed
Now that the initial shock has subsided, I'm warming to this trade a little bit. I still don't think it's really in the long term interests of the club. I still think that the Angels are not likely to sign Teixeira. I still think that their pursuit of Teixeira will cost them Frankie as well.
But the positives, as have mentioned mentioned numerous places, include the likelihood of picking up four picks before the second round, and they free up plenty of money to sign those guys. In addition, if Kendry Morales' recent display indicate a real improvement, then he may not be a huge downgrade over Kotchman. To top it off, Kotchman's comments about no ties to the franchise, and the sentiment that he was not pleased with Scioscia's decision to sit him against some lefties makes it a bit easier to wave goodbye.
This team, as currently constructed, is proving that they are the best team in baseball, and as I mentioned the other day, I do believe that this makes the Angels better right now, no question. It's (hopefully) going to be a long two months while we all wait for the post-season to get underway, but if everyone remains healthy, then the Angels should be the odds on favorite for the World Series. I can live with that.
But the positives, as have mentioned mentioned numerous places, include the likelihood of picking up four picks before the second round, and they free up plenty of money to sign those guys. In addition, if Kendry Morales' recent display indicate a real improvement, then he may not be a huge downgrade over Kotchman. To top it off, Kotchman's comments about no ties to the franchise, and the sentiment that he was not pleased with Scioscia's decision to sit him against some lefties makes it a bit easier to wave goodbye.
This team, as currently constructed, is proving that they are the best team in baseball, and as I mentioned the other day, I do believe that this makes the Angels better right now, no question. It's (hopefully) going to be a long two months while we all wait for the post-season to get underway, but if everyone remains healthy, then the Angels should be the odds on favorite for the World Series. I can live with that.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
First Reaction: Don't Like It
I've written about this a bunch on other sites today, but the short version is, I'm not a fan of the Teixeira trade. I will grant that it make the Angels better today than they were yesterday.
Unfortunately, I think it makes them worse in the future. I do not think they will be able to re-sign Tex, and I think that their focus on him will also lead to the loss of Frankie. The Angels will be weaker in the bullpen and at first base next year. They've essentially dealt a productive young player for a two month rental, and in the process signaled that anything short of a World Series Championship this year is a failure.
Tex does not want to stay on the West Coast, and you can forget about the exclusive negotiating window. Tex is a Boras client, and he WILL test the market. The Angels won't outbid all of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles. And if his status hangs for a while, which it likely will with at least four teams involved, Frankie will probably be gone before it's resolved.
The Angels have either misplaced faith in their ability to bring Tex back, or they think Morales will be ready. The counter argument is that this frees up a lot of money to be active on the market AND it gets them probably four draft picks. The picks I like, but the Angels have not shown the ability to be consistently smart on the free agent market. Just ask Steve Finley, Shea Hillenbrand, and Gary Matthews. Not to mention the full court press they put on Paul Konerko.
So short run, it means they have a better chance to win. It also means they have to win, or the deal blows up in their faces. The team will be worse come November and going forward. Now they MUST sign Juan Rivera, and they may need to buy him a first baseman's glove.
I do not like this deal.
Unfortunately, I think it makes them worse in the future. I do not think they will be able to re-sign Tex, and I think that their focus on him will also lead to the loss of Frankie. The Angels will be weaker in the bullpen and at first base next year. They've essentially dealt a productive young player for a two month rental, and in the process signaled that anything short of a World Series Championship this year is a failure.
Tex does not want to stay on the West Coast, and you can forget about the exclusive negotiating window. Tex is a Boras client, and he WILL test the market. The Angels won't outbid all of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles. And if his status hangs for a while, which it likely will with at least four teams involved, Frankie will probably be gone before it's resolved.
The Angels have either misplaced faith in their ability to bring Tex back, or they think Morales will be ready. The counter argument is that this frees up a lot of money to be active on the market AND it gets them probably four draft picks. The picks I like, but the Angels have not shown the ability to be consistently smart on the free agent market. Just ask Steve Finley, Shea Hillenbrand, and Gary Matthews. Not to mention the full court press they put on Paul Konerko.
So short run, it means they have a better chance to win. It also means they have to win, or the deal blows up in their faces. The team will be worse come November and going forward. Now they MUST sign Juan Rivera, and they may need to buy him a first baseman's glove.
I do not like this deal.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Transcendent
Three years ago, while the Wrens and AC Newman were the big interests for me at the Intonation Festival, at the time curated by Pitchfork, later to become the Pitchfork Festival, it was Broken Social Scene that really blew me away. I owned "You Forgot it in People" at the time, but it wasn't until I saw them at that show that it really clicked for me, and that set was the highlight.
Two years ago it was the Walkmen and Destroyer that piqued my interest, and both were excellent, but when all was said and done, it was Ted Leo that made the biggest impression on me. He was someone I hadn't listened to very much at the time, and I left the park a big fan, and immediately bought Shake the Sheets and Hearts of Oak.
Last year, I'm not gonna lie. The lineup mostly sucked. And the people I usually go with couldn't make it. So I had tickets that went unused for Friday and Saturday, but I showed up for a couple hours on Sunday to hear New Pornographers play a few tracks from their, at that time, unreleased new album Challengers.
This year, Sunday was the big draw, with Les Savy Fav, the Apples in Stereo, Spoon, etc. But for the first time in four years, it was the one band that I really wanted to see that delivered the best performance, and easily the best set I've ever seen at a festival setting, leaving me hungry for a show at a more intimate, or at least indoor venue. Spiritualized delivered far and away the best set.
I'll admit that I came to the show expecting to hear a stripped down, mostly acoustic, mellow set of material off the new album. Most of the shows that J. Spaceman played since his return to health were of the Acoustic Mainline variety (a take off on the Electric Mainline - Pure Phase album). But to my surprise, he showed up with two awesome backup vocalists, and a fully plugged in five piece setup. And while they did the mellow stuff at times, they simply blew doors when they wanted to. He played a few songs off the new album, most notably Sweet Talk and the first single, Soul On Fire. He also reached back to Amazing Grace for Cheapster and She Kissed Me (and it Felt Like a Hit).
But the highlights came early and late. They opened with You Lie, You Cheat off of the new album (Songs in A&E). As that faded out, the band slowly worked it's way into downright numbing version of Shine a Light, from Lazer Guided Melodies. If you've got a copy of the track handy, fast forward to about the 11 minute mark, picture the sax is a guitar, and imagine that the wall of background fuzz is about 100 times louder than you'd expect, and you'll get the idea. After working through the rest of the set, they finally launched into Come Together, the one song my friend wanted to hear, and for me, that was set to be a real highlight, until they segued out of the song, into some distortion and reached back into the Spacemen 3 catalogue for arguably my favorite Pierce associated track ever, Take Me To the Other Side, which was a really terrific way to end the set. If I weren't a Spiritualized fan before the show, I would have been on the way out. It really was transcendent, and it was probably one of the five best live sets I've ever seen, regardless of setting. I'll try to link to some videos as soon as P4k puts them up.
This should be a link to their set for streaming via audio. If it's not, then enter the time and date (July 20, 5:00 pm) and it should work.
Two years ago it was the Walkmen and Destroyer that piqued my interest, and both were excellent, but when all was said and done, it was Ted Leo that made the biggest impression on me. He was someone I hadn't listened to very much at the time, and I left the park a big fan, and immediately bought Shake the Sheets and Hearts of Oak.
Last year, I'm not gonna lie. The lineup mostly sucked. And the people I usually go with couldn't make it. So I had tickets that went unused for Friday and Saturday, but I showed up for a couple hours on Sunday to hear New Pornographers play a few tracks from their, at that time, unreleased new album Challengers.
This year, Sunday was the big draw, with Les Savy Fav, the Apples in Stereo, Spoon, etc. But for the first time in four years, it was the one band that I really wanted to see that delivered the best performance, and easily the best set I've ever seen at a festival setting, leaving me hungry for a show at a more intimate, or at least indoor venue. Spiritualized delivered far and away the best set.
I'll admit that I came to the show expecting to hear a stripped down, mostly acoustic, mellow set of material off the new album. Most of the shows that J. Spaceman played since his return to health were of the Acoustic Mainline variety (a take off on the Electric Mainline - Pure Phase album). But to my surprise, he showed up with two awesome backup vocalists, and a fully plugged in five piece setup. And while they did the mellow stuff at times, they simply blew doors when they wanted to. He played a few songs off the new album, most notably Sweet Talk and the first single, Soul On Fire. He also reached back to Amazing Grace for Cheapster and She Kissed Me (and it Felt Like a Hit).
But the highlights came early and late. They opened with You Lie, You Cheat off of the new album (Songs in A&E). As that faded out, the band slowly worked it's way into downright numbing version of Shine a Light, from Lazer Guided Melodies. If you've got a copy of the track handy, fast forward to about the 11 minute mark, picture the sax is a guitar, and imagine that the wall of background fuzz is about 100 times louder than you'd expect, and you'll get the idea. After working through the rest of the set, they finally launched into Come Together, the one song my friend wanted to hear, and for me, that was set to be a real highlight, until they segued out of the song, into some distortion and reached back into the Spacemen 3 catalogue for arguably my favorite Pierce associated track ever, Take Me To the Other Side, which was a really terrific way to end the set. If I weren't a Spiritualized fan before the show, I would have been on the way out. It really was transcendent, and it was probably one of the five best live sets I've ever seen, regardless of setting. I'll try to link to some videos as soon as P4k puts them up.
This should be a link to their set for streaming via audio. If it's not, then enter the time and date (July 20, 5:00 pm) and it should work.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
WANT!
Since the end of January, I've been dieting and exercising more. The exercise primarily consists of riding my bike, which is set up on a mag trainer, for about 30 minutes a night, fairly strenuously (at a cadence between 85 and 120). I'm currently down about 40 pounds over that time. I may just need to celebrate by treating myself to one of these:
These things look totally awesome, and way more comfortable than a regular trainer.
These things look totally awesome, and way more comfortable than a regular trainer.
Friday, July 04, 2008
NHL, Free Agency, and the Kings
The Kings have done nothing in free agency this season. For all none of you that give a shit about the Kings, you can move on, but I'm actually happy about this. No free agent is going to make the Kings appreciably better than they already are, and unless you're an idiot like Marian Hossa, you wanted a deal that was of a length that would block prospects.
So the Kings go into the next season with a really awful team, but one that will be full of kids getting experience. The worst case scenario is that they're competitive and end up with the sixth or seventh pick instead of the first or second.
So this year they're going to suck. That's pretty clear. But I still think they'll be fun to watch. In 2009, they'll have two goaltenders ready to shoulder the load with Bernier and Zatkoff. The defense will consist of Jack Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Drew Doughty, Colton Teubert, Vjateslav Voinov, and Alec Martinez. The first two lines will feature Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Patrick O'Sullivan, Alexander Frolov, Brian Boyle, and Teddy Purcell. That's assuming Matt Moulson, Oscar Moller, and Scott Parse don't force their way on to those lines.
The goaltending will be solid. The defense will be skilled and very physical. The offense will produce. And the best part will be the depth. Dean Lombardi is building a team that will not only be good, but will be able to withstand injury.
Make no mistake, 2008-2009 won't be very good. But they will be fun to watch, and starting in 2009, the Kings will be ass-kickers.
So the Kings go into the next season with a really awful team, but one that will be full of kids getting experience. The worst case scenario is that they're competitive and end up with the sixth or seventh pick instead of the first or second.
So this year they're going to suck. That's pretty clear. But I still think they'll be fun to watch. In 2009, they'll have two goaltenders ready to shoulder the load with Bernier and Zatkoff. The defense will consist of Jack Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Drew Doughty, Colton Teubert, Vjateslav Voinov, and Alec Martinez. The first two lines will feature Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Patrick O'Sullivan, Alexander Frolov, Brian Boyle, and Teddy Purcell. That's assuming Matt Moulson, Oscar Moller, and Scott Parse don't force their way on to those lines.
The goaltending will be solid. The defense will be skilled and very physical. The offense will produce. And the best part will be the depth. Dean Lombardi is building a team that will not only be good, but will be able to withstand injury.
Make no mistake, 2008-2009 won't be very good. But they will be fun to watch, and starting in 2009, the Kings will be ass-kickers.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Embarrassing
There's no other way to describe it. The Dodgers basically just said "You guys suck so bad that we don't even need a hit to beat you."
I'd say that Lackey needs to go out and pick them up tomorrow, but other than hitting a couple of homers, I'm not sure what he can do. This is the most pathetic performance I've ever witnessed. I'll admit, I was hoping that Ethier's ball would go over GA's head, just so they'd have a hit.
This is quite possibly the lowest moment in the history of the franchise. This is laughing stock territory. This is losing to Appalachian State territory. This is something you never, ever live down.
I'd say that Lackey needs to go out and pick them up tomorrow, but other than hitting a couple of homers, I'm not sure what he can do. This is the most pathetic performance I've ever witnessed. I'll admit, I was hoping that Ethier's ball would go over GA's head, just so they'd have a hit.
This is quite possibly the lowest moment in the history of the franchise. This is laughing stock territory. This is losing to Appalachian State territory. This is something you never, ever live down.
Friday, June 20, 2008
You build from the net out
And Dean Lombardi has committed the Kings to doing just that. They had a tremendous first round tonight. In Drew Doughty, the Kings selected a defenseman who, alongside Jack Johnson, can lead the Kings power play for the foreseeable future. Thomas Hickey will figure into that as well. And in case you thought those guys were too small, they dealt Cammalleri, took Colton Teubert with the 13th pick, and added a third rounder next year in the process. Teubert is 6'3", and has knack for cracking skulls that dare skate through the crease.
So the Kings future includes the top goalie prospect from juniors, the top college goalie from last season, and a top four defense corps of Jack Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Drew Doughty, and Colton Teubert. The only problem I see with that group is that it only includes two Americans.
Last season the Kings, as a team, were bad. But they were fun to watch, at least for me, because they had guys I could pay attention to that were interesting players. Johnson, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Patrick O'Sullivan. This year they'll work Teddy Purcell, Matt Moulson, and Brian Boyle into the mix. Hickey may make the big club, and Doughty is very likely to be in L.A. next season.
The Kings aren't going to win the cup next year. They may not even make the playoffs. But the tide is turning, and the team is moving in the right direction. Now let's sit back and see what Dean does with the other boatload of picks he has in this draft.
So the Kings future includes the top goalie prospect from juniors, the top college goalie from last season, and a top four defense corps of Jack Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Drew Doughty, and Colton Teubert. The only problem I see with that group is that it only includes two Americans.
Last season the Kings, as a team, were bad. But they were fun to watch, at least for me, because they had guys I could pay attention to that were interesting players. Johnson, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Patrick O'Sullivan. This year they'll work Teddy Purcell, Matt Moulson, and Brian Boyle into the mix. Hickey may make the big club, and Doughty is very likely to be in L.A. next season.
The Kings aren't going to win the cup next year. They may not even make the playoffs. But the tide is turning, and the team is moving in the right direction. Now let's sit back and see what Dean does with the other boatload of picks he has in this draft.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Night to Remember
I am an Angeleno. I've lived in Illinois for almost ten years now, about seven of those in Chicago, but no matter how long I make this part of the country my home, it will always feel temporary. I will never stop being an Angeleno (I know, technically I grew up in Temple City/San Gabriel, not Los Angeles, but it's a regional thing). I rarely read the local papers here, unless I'm reading something about the Illini, or laughing at their coverage of an incredibly minor earthquake. I don't want local news. All I know about what's going on Chicago can be attributed to listening to Morning Edition on NPR, which covers some local news.
But the first thing I do every morning when I sit at my computer is pull up the L.A. Times website. I never watch the Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks, or Bulls, but I watch every Angels game, every Kings game, and the Lakers when they're on regular cable. My blood is completely Southern Californian (with a pinch of Montana thrown in there on my dad's side).
That's why what I did Friday night was so special. Due to some earlier travel plans for work that fell through, I had a plane ticket home last weekend, and I used the trip to take my parents to see John Wooden and Vin Scully live and on stage with T.J. Simers, with whom I have a smidgen of history and for whom I have a fondness. It's a night that won't soon be forgotten by anyone who attended, or by the folks at the two charities, for whom the event raised nearly a million dollars.
About 13 or 14 years ago, I was at the L.A. Open at Riviera, on the balcony overlooking the first tee when Byron Nelson walked out. I can't remember why exactly he was there, but the crowd around the tee spontaneously gave him a rousing ovation. I said to my dad at that time that there are a few people in town who would get the same reception almost no matter where they were. John Wooden and Vin Scully were among them (maybe to a lesser extent Magic, or Dave Taylor at the time). When they entered the stage Friday night, the place erupted in a standing ovation before Wooden and Scully even made it out from behind the curtains.
Simers was terrific, with his typical playful irreverence, but was massively overshadowed by the two legends, who gave as good as they got all night long. They traded jabs with Simers, regaled the crowd with stories from the Dodgers' and Bruins' past, and talked about their upbringing, their families, and philosophies for a successful life. It was a great event from start to finish, and the opportunity to spend it with my parents made the night even better.
My dad hasn't been in the best of health over the last few years. I won't go into details, but he can't quite do some of the things that he used to do. That's why the weekend was so special. I got a chance to play golf with him, something I thought I'd never be able to do again, but his condition has improved a bit recently. We watched the U.S. Open on Saturday afternoon, and headed down to Anaheim for the Angels game on Saturday night, something we did all the time when my brother, sister and I were growing up, but something we hadn't done in six or seven years. It was the perfect fathers day/birthday weekend.
The only unfortunate part of the Wooden/Scully event is that it likely will never happen again. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. There are no two figures in the Southern California sports landscape who are more iconic and legendary. If you missed it, you should really try to catch one of the replays on Fox Sports. It may not feel like it felt for those of us lucky enough to witness it in person, but it would be a good start.
But the first thing I do every morning when I sit at my computer is pull up the L.A. Times website. I never watch the Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks, or Bulls, but I watch every Angels game, every Kings game, and the Lakers when they're on regular cable. My blood is completely Southern Californian (with a pinch of Montana thrown in there on my dad's side).
That's why what I did Friday night was so special. Due to some earlier travel plans for work that fell through, I had a plane ticket home last weekend, and I used the trip to take my parents to see John Wooden and Vin Scully live and on stage with T.J. Simers, with whom I have a smidgen of history and for whom I have a fondness. It's a night that won't soon be forgotten by anyone who attended, or by the folks at the two charities, for whom the event raised nearly a million dollars.
About 13 or 14 years ago, I was at the L.A. Open at Riviera, on the balcony overlooking the first tee when Byron Nelson walked out. I can't remember why exactly he was there, but the crowd around the tee spontaneously gave him a rousing ovation. I said to my dad at that time that there are a few people in town who would get the same reception almost no matter where they were. John Wooden and Vin Scully were among them (maybe to a lesser extent Magic, or Dave Taylor at the time). When they entered the stage Friday night, the place erupted in a standing ovation before Wooden and Scully even made it out from behind the curtains.
Simers was terrific, with his typical playful irreverence, but was massively overshadowed by the two legends, who gave as good as they got all night long. They traded jabs with Simers, regaled the crowd with stories from the Dodgers' and Bruins' past, and talked about their upbringing, their families, and philosophies for a successful life. It was a great event from start to finish, and the opportunity to spend it with my parents made the night even better.
My dad hasn't been in the best of health over the last few years. I won't go into details, but he can't quite do some of the things that he used to do. That's why the weekend was so special. I got a chance to play golf with him, something I thought I'd never be able to do again, but his condition has improved a bit recently. We watched the U.S. Open on Saturday afternoon, and headed down to Anaheim for the Angels game on Saturday night, something we did all the time when my brother, sister and I were growing up, but something we hadn't done in six or seven years. It was the perfect fathers day/birthday weekend.
The only unfortunate part of the Wooden/Scully event is that it likely will never happen again. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. There are no two figures in the Southern California sports landscape who are more iconic and legendary. If you missed it, you should really try to catch one of the replays on Fox Sports. It may not feel like it felt for those of us lucky enough to witness it in person, but it would be a good start.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Fakey Fake
Always been down with one of them too
You were the fake and I was the fool
But you were too young to know all the rules
So I was the fake and you were the fool
I went to law school with a guy named Jimmy. Bostonian. Great guy, but typical Boston fan. So anyway, I was at his place tonight watching the Lakers and Celtics in game one of the NBA finals.
Let the record show that the minute Paul Pierce went down with his "injury", I predicted that he'd milk it for all it was worth, and come back in the fourth quarter. I was wrong about the timing, but right about him being a fucking faker. Seriously, have you ever known someone who injured A knee, yet couldn't put weight on his GOOD knee to walk off the court? Only Boston fans could be dumb enough to buy into his act.
It wasn't the Lakers' night. Countless shots went down only to rattle back out. And the officiating, was of course, atrocious. But this is the NBA, so I expect it to be atrocious in the other direction next week. But the point is, Paul Pierce is a faker, Ray Allen is old, and Kevin Garnett only plays three quarters per game, so I'm not particularly concerned.
Go Lakers.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Major Leaguers
When I started doing this a few years ago, and I was doing game recaps every night, I always tried to write about things I observed that maybe didn't get talked about by the broadcasters or written up in the paper. After a couple of years, I felt like I was writing about the same things all the time, and it sapped a little bit of the interest I had in writing. It just felt like I was writing things I had written before.
Last night, however, I saw something that really got my dander up, so to speak. Now, I understand that the Angels offensive philosophy is to be aggressive, and they're going to swing a lot. If you haven't figured that out by now, you haven't been watching very long. But what happened in the sixth inning was ridiculous. To take you back, you'll remember that the bottom of the fifth inning finished with the Mariners scoring three unearned runs, thanks in large part to Howie Kendrick's error on a routine grounder, and Robb Quinlan's inexplicable decision to go the long way on a throw for the third out, instead of a quick flip to second, which resulted in the second error of the inning. The defense hung Joe Saunders out to dry, and made him throw 12 more pitches than he should have to get out of the inning.
I don't know about you, but if I were a hitter due up the next inning, and my pitcher just had to work a lot harder than he should have to get out of an inning, I might want to slow things down a bit, take a few pitches, and let him catch his breath before taking the mound again. The Angels offense gave Saunders about 45 seconds. Maicer Izturis actually saw four pitches in his at bat, but Kendrick and Torii Hunter combined saw half that. Isn't this baseball 101? In the NL, if you pitcher grounds out, and you're the next hitter, you take a few extra seconds in the on deck circle. You walk more slowly to the plate. You give the guy a break.
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but this goes hand in hand with the insane number of times you see one of these guys swing at a pitch from a pitcher who has just thrown six or seven straight pitches out of the strike zone. I understand aggressiveness, but sometimes, you need to use your head. You need to help your own pitcher, and not help out your opponent.
Still, they're winning. That makes six series in a row that the Angels have had the upper hand. If they win two out of three all year, I think they'll be alright. Congratulations to Hokie Joe on win #9, and nice work from Arredondo and Frankie to lock things down. Let's see them get that sweep.
Last night, however, I saw something that really got my dander up, so to speak. Now, I understand that the Angels offensive philosophy is to be aggressive, and they're going to swing a lot. If you haven't figured that out by now, you haven't been watching very long. But what happened in the sixth inning was ridiculous. To take you back, you'll remember that the bottom of the fifth inning finished with the Mariners scoring three unearned runs, thanks in large part to Howie Kendrick's error on a routine grounder, and Robb Quinlan's inexplicable decision to go the long way on a throw for the third out, instead of a quick flip to second, which resulted in the second error of the inning. The defense hung Joe Saunders out to dry, and made him throw 12 more pitches than he should have to get out of the inning.
I don't know about you, but if I were a hitter due up the next inning, and my pitcher just had to work a lot harder than he should have to get out of an inning, I might want to slow things down a bit, take a few pitches, and let him catch his breath before taking the mound again. The Angels offense gave Saunders about 45 seconds. Maicer Izturis actually saw four pitches in his at bat, but Kendrick and Torii Hunter combined saw half that. Isn't this baseball 101? In the NL, if you pitcher grounds out, and you're the next hitter, you take a few extra seconds in the on deck circle. You walk more slowly to the plate. You give the guy a break.
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but this goes hand in hand with the insane number of times you see one of these guys swing at a pitch from a pitcher who has just thrown six or seven straight pitches out of the strike zone. I understand aggressiveness, but sometimes, you need to use your head. You need to help your own pitcher, and not help out your opponent.
Still, they're winning. That makes six series in a row that the Angels have had the upper hand. If they win two out of three all year, I think they'll be alright. Congratulations to Hokie Joe on win #9, and nice work from Arredondo and Frankie to lock things down. Let's see them get that sweep.
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