ScottT

oh brother. Howie's good season has nothing to do with the season being over already. That's ridiculous. Oh and Howie didn't have a crap year last year. It wasn't as good as this year for sure, but it was hardly crap. The notion that he doesn't play well under pressure or he is not a championship caliber player is utter hogwash.

Have an hour long tv special about it.  Drive up his price. 

Depends on the return, naturally.   It'd have to be pretty good.  Kendrick isn't quite 30 and has two and a half more years left on his deal for about $23 million. I'm still in the camp of five or six people that think this year isn't over.  Trading Kendrick will hurt your team for the next year or so, most likely... maybe for the amount of time left on his deal.   Even if you think thist year is over, you should definitely have hope for next year.  Lindsey isn't good enough or close enough to be a factor.  
 
Getting young pitching is tough.  Jerry Dipoto did it... but did so with a good major league pitcher, not a solid second baseman having a great year.

Tipping is a nuisance. 

I'll watch regardless.  Frequency might depend on the Angels record a bit, but I became a fan when the playoffs were out of reach.  
 
Consider this, though.  We all know the Angels are playing below expectations.  Hamilton and Pujols have been big disappointments.  Even considering their production... and everyone else's... the Angels should have a much better record.  
 
People have joked on here for a while about Pythagorean records.  The Angels should have a better record according to that... but if you go beyond.... look at the team AVG, OBP, SLG, etc... they should be even better... even over .500.  http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/
 
This year has been a mess.  Iffy decisions, bad individual performances, considerable injuries, and... some bad luck. There are few moves to make, considering the state of the farm system, contracts, and young talent that you just shouldn't deal.  Everyone wants drastic moves to be made, but I still think you've gotta ride it out for now.  Maybe in a month you look to make a move at the deadline, but that won't be easy.  

Pujols has been doing well over the last couple weeks.   He's hitting .314/.373/.569 in June.  He's walking more and striking out less.  His first out today was hit very well... to dead CF.  Mariano Rivera has made many look foolish.  The hits the Angels got weren't exactly struck well.  Those guys could have easily looked somewhat foolish.
 
This team isn't going anywhere without Pujols or Hamilton.   They could make a run if one performs well.   If both turn it around, they should make it interesting.  Calling for them to be benched is absurd. Well, Pujols, anyway. He has a 118 OPS+ and 1.2 WAR.  Let's see how it plays out.  Last year, it got better.  Hamilton is a different case.  He is only a year removed from being a very good player, though.  You've gotta give it more time.  
 
Also... even if you think the Angels overpaid for either of these guys... I don't think anyone predicted both to decline this much, this quickly.  Free agents are normally overpaid... it is simply a matter of supply and demand.  I don't remember much outrage over the signings when they happened.  There were a lot of happy Halo Honks.
 
 
Now, there are countless calls for Scioscia to be fired, Dipoto to be fired, and Arte to publicly to admit he is an idiot (or something like that).  I still maintain that they have had some bad luck, the organization isn't incompetent, and you need to have some patience. I don't think Scioscia has changed much as a manager over the last 15 years.  I think Jerry Dipoto is the best GM the Angels have had in recent memory. I think Arte Moreno wants to win a World Series. There are some holes there, but this team isn't where they are in the 2013 standings because any of the three are incompetent... or even below average. 

It has become somewhat common to recognize some great players from visiting teams when the player is going to retire.   Even rivals have done it.  I don't care to be handed a worthless Mariano Rivera keepsake at the game, though.  Not sure what the point is.  It isn't gonna sell any tickets.  Give him a rocking chair and tell him how happy you are that he is retiring.  

Game 3 was the best game ever.  Maybe a slight exaggeration, but I doubt I'll ever forget it...
 

Wow. 
 
Back away from the computer.  

DowningRules' Friday Night Shenanigans

DowningRules' Friday Night Shenanigans

You mean, everyone, including yourself?

I have no clue what you say to someone batting .220
"So.....you dickheads going to earn your paychecks?"

Little did we know he was 24 when he struck out 225 batters in Low A... and 26 when he made his MLB debut.  Can't blame him for doing that, though, and it helped his career greatly.  Who knows if he ever would have made it otherwise.  One of my favorite Ramon Ortiz moments was him speaking after the World Series victory parade.  Don't know what he said, but he was clearly excited.  

Ortiz deserves mad props for persevering.

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

I am going to say that the Angels are going to win the next two games. With Weaver and Vargas going and the Dodgers two worst pitchers I look for good things. I am tired of these Debby Downers.  

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

2005

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

Angels are 8-1 in their last nine games. You are all whiny bitches.

Not sure the Angels' fan base justifies a new stadium. Ticket prices here are so low compared to bigger markets.  Minnesota's new stadium is awesome, but their attendance is down a bunch already, because the novelty has worn off a bit and the team isn't doing well.   The Angels don't have a huge amount of people that are willing to spend $50 per ticket for midweek games.  A new stadium would shift things a bit, but how much and for how long?