itsKnoppUitsme

AND just think how good Trumbo will be once he is really traded!  Just like Napoli.

So now it is time to blame the poor season on Trumbo.  I guess blaming it on Puljos and Hamilton has already been exhausted so it is his turn.  Who's next? Yep, he is struggling horribly right now (as Hamilton has) but the poor season still comes down to the pitching not being there this year. Replacing 3 starting pitchers and rebuilding a bullpen is a huge task and gamble. Obviously it didn't work out.  Yeah, let's just get rid of our power production...that is the answer.

By Geoff Stoddart, AngelsWin.com Director of Social Media - 
My kid’s new school schedule has me all jacked up.  He just started middle school last week and the bus is picking him up at 6:43 am.  (6:43 am!!!!  WTH?!?!  What kind of school board does something like that to parents … errrrr … I mean kids?!?!)  So getting up with him at 5:45 am has my internal clock all out of whack. 
This morning I woke up at 4:40am and was trying to figure out what day it was.  My internal dialog went something like this …
“4:40 am, Cool, I still have an hour left to sleep.  Wait … do I?  What day is it?  Oh, it’s Sunday.  Sweet!  I can go back to sleep for hours.”  (Rolls over and tries to get comfortable.)
“Man it’s hot in this room!  I should open a window.”  (Gets up and opens window, then gets back in bed.) 
“There, that’s better.  Well … not really better, it’s still hot in here.  But it ought to start cooling down now.  You know what?  I have to pee!”  (Goes to the restroom, and then gets back in bed.) 
“There!  Window open.  Bladder emptied.  Now I can go back to sleep.”  (Checks clock again.  It’s 5:02 am.)
“Hey … it’s September.  Man the summer went by quick.”  (More tossing and turning.)
“Yup … September.  Only a month left of Angels baseball.”  (Lays there for a moment.  Eyes open wide…)
“Only a month left of Angels baseball?!?!?  No!!!!!”
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it, this has been a disappointing year for Angels baseball.  It’s September 1st and not only is the team 16.5 games out of first place, but they’re still 10 games below .500.  This is not what we were expecting when we gathered in Tempe, AZ last March for our AngelsWin.com Spring Training Fanfest. 
But do you know what’s worse than a disappointing Angels baseball season?  No Angels baseball!
It’s a loooooonnnnnnggggg winter folks.  Starting in just 29 days, we will have 5 months of no Angels baseball action! 
I get that some of you may have already tuned out.  But honestly, if you’re one of those people, you’re not reading this anyway.  If you are reading this (and thank you for doing so!), then you’re still plugged in.  Yes, you’re not happy with how the season has gone, but you’re still plugged in.  You’re addicted.  You’re a fan!
So enjoy this last month!  Cherish these last 28 games!  When the December cold is chilling your bones, you'll be longing for the game’s sights and sounds. 
The crack of the bat.
The freshly cut grass.
The pop of the catcher’s mitt. 
Many fans, myself included, have spent a good portion of the 2013 season complaining about the performances and results on the field.  There has been endless dialog and discussions about what needs to be done to fix the team for the 2014 season.  Who should be traded, who should be fired, etc. etc. etc. 
I get it.  Believe me, I do.  But I submit to you that we have all winter to perfect our hand wringing.  We have all winter to second, third and fourth guess the moves (or lack of moves) that the team makes. 
When the final out is recorded in Texas on September 29th, Angels baseball goes dark.  The field will be empty, the ballpark will be closed and the long wait for Spring will begin.  Don’t hasten that!  There are 28 games left! 
28 games for another towering #Trumbomb. 
28 games to enjoy watching Calhoun, Green and Jimenez bloom into big leaguers. 
28 games to see what #Troutstanding thing Mike is going to do next.
Folks, there are just 28 games left to watch Angels baseball in 2013.  Don’t let them slip by!  Drink it in!  Treasure it!
September 30th will be here before you know it and the team’s schedule will be empty.  The autumn and winter will feel like they last forever.  Don’t cavalierly let these last 28 games slip by.  Cherish it! 
Because you don't know what you've got …
… until it’s gone.

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Affectionately nicknamed "Peace" by his Inland Empire teammates, Stamets is the best defensive shortstop I've ever seen in person. No exaggeration.
 
Defensively, he's MLB-ready right now. Quick release, strong arm, great range, makes all the routine plays, great footwork, can turn two with ease. I know for a fact that he also impressed Omar Vizquel, and that speaks volumes about his defensive wizardry.
 
Offensively, he's a very good bunter and utilizes his plus speed. Gets a fair amount of infield hits with swinging bunts. I like his approach at the plate. I think he's capable of swiping 30+ bags and seldom getting caught. Good instincts. He can occasionally drive the ball with some authority as well. He has very good pitch recognition against lefties. I believe he'll fill out some more. Overall, with everything that he brings to the table I think Eric could be an upgrade over Erick.

Anyone who swings at as many horrible pitches as Hamilton has this year is not a good hitter. Period.
 
If he stops doing that he might regain some of that great production he enjoyed up until midway last year.