Vlad throwing out the first pitch tonight

[brianvargo]

I'd wear the Vlad shirt that the Angels gave away at a Sunday game in 2004 - if it still fit!

 

I wish I were there in person to see the first pitch, not to mention the game that follows, but I'll make do with watching from my living room with my girls, who are equally antsy for baseball to start.  Vlad is one of my daughter's favorite Angels, even though she was only two years old when he left.  She's got taste!

[Richard]

I hope R. Munkee is in attendance to see this. 

[nate]

Awesome, I hope they show it on the pregame show.

[Stradling]

Will he throw a doinker?

[TeemuTrout]

I wonder if we'll retire 27 twice

 

I love Trout, but they never should have given him number 27. Vlad deserved to have it retired. He was THE Angel from 2004 to 2009.

[Don]

I love Trout, but they never should have given him number 27. Vlad deserved to have it retired. He was THE Angel from 2004 to 2009.

I'm with you man. He was the best player the Angels had post-Baylor and pre-Trout.

[Streetkid]

Seriously, I looking forward to seeing Vlad.  It's one of the great moments in Angels baseball when he singled off Papelbon in the 2009 Red Sox beatdown to win the final playoff game against them.  Thinking about it, that was our most recent great moment.  It was priceless.

"The pitch to vlad and its lined into center field it falls in front of ellsbury... figgins scores!  here comes bobby abreu to score!  and the angels have rallied off of jonathan papelbon to take the lead in the 9th inning!  Vlad Gurerro gets the clutch hit!"

 

I got so many chills just typing that.  I'm pretty sure I have the sound bite somewhere on my PC at home. RIP Rory!

Edited March 31, 2014 by Streetkid

[TeemuTrout]

^Sadly, that's the last truly great Angels moment.

[eaterfan]

2 no hitters since then. Being too young to remember Nolan Ryan the no hitters were awesome.

[Streetkid]

Here's the call:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v7148797/?query=2009%2BALDS%2Bredsox

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

If they have any trouble filling seats hopefully his kids are all with him to enjoy the game after.  

[nate]

Here's the call:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v7148797/?query=2009%2BALDS%2Bredsox

 

That was such an exciting moment.  Sweeping the Red Sox was the ultimate redemption.

 

RIP Rory

[Richard]

Can we fix the title to also include Vlad retires an Angel as well? Very happy to see Vladdy get the send off he deserves.

 

@Alden_Gonzalez  2m

#Angels are signing Vlad Guerrero to a one-day contract today so he can retire with the organization.

Edited March 31, 2014 by Richard

[SoWhat]

Can we fix the title to also include Vlad retires an Angel as well? Very happy to see Vladdy get the send off he deserves.

@Alden_Gonzalez 2m

#Angels are signing Vlad Guerrero to a one-day contract today so he can retire with the organization.

That's awesome

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Vlad trying calling the Expos via collect call. They did not answer.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

BTW I've been very vocal against the Angels retiring Salmon's number. But I'd love to see them retire Vlad's number.

Yes, it's illogical when you compare stats and tenures but watching Vlad was pretty damn electrifying and I always felt he could carry the Angels on his gimpy back and legs. Salmon was just one of the guys in the lineup... But I always had excitement and anticipation for when Vlad came to the plate.

Great guy who probably could have played a year or two longer if luck had gone his way.

[NJHalo]

I hope R. Munkee is in attendance to see this.

Miss the Munkee. He is probably on another board ripping on Trout for being overrated.

[Jobu]

Here's the call:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v7148797/?query=2009%2BALDS%2Bredsox

 

I pulled the audio a few years ago. Attached if anyone wants to ... I don't know, make it a ringtone??

VladsHit.mp3

[SoWhat]

@Alden_Gonzalez: Vladimir Guerrero on entering the Hall of Fame: "Hopefully if I do it's with the #Angels. The #Expos aren't even around anymore."

[vlad27]

So cool !!!!!

[disarcina]

I'd retire Salmon's number before Vlad's -- only reason I would not retire both is that because pretty soon you run out of numbers unless you want number 105 out there.

 

but IMO it's a no brainer --- in the history of the Halos' franchise there have been probably THREE (and after this week FOUR) 'franchise players'

 

1. Jim Fregosi

2. Nolan Ryan (ironically traded for Fregosi)

3. Tim Salmon

4. MIKE TROUT (aleady!)

 

 others perhaps (arguably) coming close would be: Brian Downing, Bobby Grich, Chuck Finley, Garrett Anderson, Vlad....I am sure I missed a few others.

 

but, really, other than the FOUR listed who were (are) clearly the face of the franchise -- the kind of player who when the team name was mentioned you thought : this guy!

 

Jim Fregosi was the first real face of the fanchise player -- then came Nolan Ryan and really Tim Salmon was the first one after that and his spot there was cemented when he raised that championship trophy to the fans after the 7th game World Series win in 2002 at Anaheim.

 

And now, Mike Trout is the face of not only the Angels franchise but the face of MLB as well.

[disarcina]

and, yeah we can't retire number 27 for a while anyway........

[Kenny]

I didn't know he was going to sign a one day contract to retire as an Angel.

I'm glad I wore his shirt today.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Vlad looked good for a 52 year old.

[vlad27]

As a huge Vlad fan this was a very very cool thing to see today - very classy . He did a lot for this organization and it was nice for him to get to retire as an Angel . As for his number It should be retired but how do you do that with Trout wearing it ? You surely don't ask Trout to change it - I guess you could go the Yankee route and retire the same number twice - cause I'm thinking Trouts will be when all is said and done .

Really should retire Salmons number too