Hoops McCann

I've watched many an Angels game...so many that I considered poking my own eyes out (but, then...I just go an watch the Cardinals highlights and all is well again). The Yankees offense is terrible...actually, putrid is a better description. Outside of Cano (Gardner to small extent), no one in that line-up can hit. Texeria...Hafner...Wells...Nix...Stewart. You gotta be kidding me...that is almost a AAA line-up.

3 for 14...three singles..1 RBI. He's garbage.

What is truly amazing is that Cozart bats second in the Reds line-up (god bless, Dusty). An OBP of .272 this season (.280 or so for his career) and slugs about .380 or so...for a whopping OPS of .650 or so. And this is the clown that bats in front of Joey Votto. He's got a good glove, but he is woefully insufficient at the plate.

1. Pettitte v. Wilson - even or a slight advantage Yankess 2. Phelps v. Hanson - even or a slight edge to Yankees (better peripherals on Phelps) 3. Sabathia v. Weaver - even or a slight edge to Angels (Sabathia has been pretty pedestrian this season) Comes down to offensive production...and having seen Texeria and Youk flailing away at pitches, plus having Vernon Wells in the line-up, I think the offensive futility is pretty even. Should be a good series, besides the obnoxious Yankee fans in attendance, that is.

less than zero.

well said. In fact, that is usually the hallmark of bad teams. Close and late situations tend to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Trout Honestly, no one else on the team deserves a spot.

Besides, the Albert Pujols and Josh Hamiltoncontracts don’t really let you go into rebuild mode. This really seems to be the crux of the issue in terms of rebuilding or even how to do it. I dont see how the team can go into rebuild mode with the contracts of AP and Hamilton on the books. It would make more sense to have AP go for surgery and hopefully come back next year to the 2012 level (or better, which I think he is capable of). No team is going to assume the contracts of AP...plus, I am certain he has a no-trade in his contract and will veto any trade. Hamilton, again, I dont see anyone taking on that contract unless the Angels eat a good portion of it. Maybe the Yankees would be a potential partner...or even the Phillies, but teams that could assume a chunk of his contract are few and far between. What I think is easier to be rebuilt is the pitching...both the starting and relief. Maybe package some starters and prospects for some #1/#2 (only if they have a year or more on existing contracts). Dont want to get into the same issue w/ Grienke and expensive rentals. In the long run, it never works out.

Does a closer really need more than one pitch? Mariano has one pitch. His cutter is devastating...hitters know its coming and coming and coming, still cant hit it. Now, Frieri isnt Mo, but he's been pretty good last season and as of recently.

this loss encapulates the season pretty well....a microcosm of the season so far. poor pitching...poor bullpen...poor pen management...poor baserunning...poor situational hitting.

That escalated quickly...

Have to question Sosh bringing in Kohn...or at least leaving him in when it was clear he had next to no command. Uribe was just sitting on his fb...

Ellis almost got that...that was some serious range. Good thing he didnt.

Dodgers pen is vulnerable...they pitched quite a bit in the series against the Cards. Plus, they really arent that good, so the Angels just need to be patient...wait for their pitch and get some hits. Not to worry...the Dodgers pen will blow this.

Ouch...that hurts. Need to yank CJ...now!

Didnt look like that easy of a play for Aybar...sure, he should have had it, but it wasnt an easy play. I think CJ blocked his view a bit and it was hard to react. CJ has really let it go this inning..his location has been poor as he's left a lot of his breaking balls just hang.

location...location...location. That wasnt a good location on that last pitch.

Are they fitted?

I'm asking for Angels/Redskins...where did you buy it? MLB on-line? That's a good charity, at least.

You actually like those? I think they look pretty hideous and I'm from Missouri...where camo is an official color.

The Dodgers pen is not very good...outside of Bellisario, they have been torched.

Gonzalez has been on fire recently...he single-handedly kept the Dodgers in the series against the Cards and he seems to be the only offensive threat this series. Make sure he doesnt beat the team in future games. That VanSlyke kid is a big, big boy.

What are the chances that Donny Baseball gets canned after this series? I think when the Angels take at least 3 of 4...that will be about it for Mattingly.

I think the pitching has played a massive role in this, but yeah...it is a different team. Good pitching...good situation hitting, especially w/ RISP. All in all a very good turn of events.

About 3 feet short...