tomsred

None of those scenarios were spur of the moment.

Absolutely right Eric.  Funny how fans think zero thought is put into these situations.  If zero thought were put into these situations I could understand why they many times go wrong.  The scary part is someone actually rationalized  that they were the right thing to do.

Sometimes things don't go as planned.  This is hardly a disaster, there are a lot of things in life that happen that are a lot more difficult than dealing with a losing baseball team.  Keep it all in perspective.  Things didn't go well in Boston yesterday, that's a real disaster.

If you listen to fans long enough, we will not have a serviceable team, they would fire everybody.  Fans are reactionary, the organization can't afford to be reactionary - they need to be strategic, and take a longer term view.

.....and focus on firing another person.

Excellent - +++++

It's the manager's job to be sure the team keeps its head up & shoulders back during tough stretches. Scioscia looks detached & disinterested. May be time to cut ties with him. He used to be able to rally these guys and preach OGAAT to the players and it was well received.

 

The only one in the clubhouse that looks like he's having fun is Lucho.

I think you are reading too much into their expressions.  They look like they have a lot of fun when they win, and if they look like they are loose when they lose, well the fans don't like that at all because why should they be loose and happy when we can't be.  Scioscia tries to keep things on an even keel because he knows the season is so long.  It's detrimental to get too high or too low because you can't sustain the former, and you don't want to sustain the latter.  If you want to see what can go wrong when you replace someone like Scioscia with a fiery type you don't have to look any further than the Francona to Valentine transition last year - disastrous.

If Scioscia is replaced Arte better have someone real experienced and well qualified to replace him with before he pulls the trigger.  Fans are very reactionary, they don't think things can get worse.  They sometimes think that anything is better than what is happening currently.  The truth is that the wrong move here could set off a chain reaction of mistakes.  DiPoto would push real hard for someone loyal to him and who agrees with his philosophies.  I'm not sure I trust DiPoto enough to let him take greater control.  His performance is every bit as suspect as Scioscia's right now.

I hope that Arte has someone outside the organization who he can turn to for some advice on this one, someone impartial who is extremely experienced in baseball operations.  Like a former GM or owner who has navigated this minefield before.  He has to shut down on listening too much to his GM, manager, fans, and press/analysts and really think about what can be done to achieve the objectives he wants.

This team is going through the motions.  Something has to happen aside from closed door meetings.

By that you mean something you can see and witness?  Good luck with that one.

Ya,

Ya, it's just unreal how bad these starters have been. I mean Hanson, Blanton and Vargas aren't anyone's idea of all stars, but Hanson and Vargas have ERAs above 6 and Blanton is around 8.

Much like I was with Hatcher this time last year, I'm at the a new voice couldn't hurt stage with Butcher, and hey maybe it sparks the staff into not being as terrible.

Just exactly is this "new voice" going to say?  Butcher will probably go first, but it should be DiPoto.

The only differential that matters is our win/loss differential (that's minus 6).

"Bang the Drum Slowly" needs to be in the top ten.

My top ten:

Field of Dreams

Bull Durham

61

Bang the Drum Slowly

Moneyball

A League of Their Own

The Natural

Pride of the Yankees

Bad News Bears

Major League

Actually I like both of these guys, and they are like two peas in a pod.  Both are a little freaky and offbeat.  I could see where they would probably bond, and I understand why a lot of fans find them too weird.

Watch dancing with the stars.

I cannot stand that show, and my wife has to watch every freaking minute of it.

Put my dick in a blender and hit 'puree'

Let me know how that one works out Alice......

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^

I kind of got burned out with the long winded calls from "Greg from Ventura" and "Dick from Whittier" a few years ago, but have not noticed them this year.

Maybe that means they "found" each other, and are on the phone with one another right now, probably both talking at the same time.

Hamilton 2-4, 1 HR

Post your predictions here for season game #14,  4/16/13 Angels at Minnesota.  Game time is set for 5:10 pm PST.

Winners from tonight's season game #13 vs. Minnesota are shown below.  The next Scoreboard update will be on 4/17/13 following the final game of this series.

4 Points, 2 Points

None

3 Points

HeavenlyHalos  (Trout 2-4, 1 single)

JAHV76  (Pujols 1-4, 1 single)

Kenny  (Trout 2-4, 1 double)

Peyton  (Trout 2-4, 1 double)

Tank  (Trout 2-4, 1 double)

1 Point

Ochocinco!  (Trout 1 double)

AZMike  (Blanton 4 ER's)

TCB  (Trout 2-4)

Troutipoo27  (Pujols 1-4)

Mark68  (Blanton 4 K's)

Jellybean  (Bourjos 1-4)

The Angels  (Pujols 1-4)

ZachMartin1994  (Blanton 4 ER's)

Angels N Skins  (Trout 2-4)

tdawg87  (Blanton 1 walk)

paws  (Iannetta  1 BB)

nando714  (Blanton 4 ER's)

SoCalSportsFan  (Trumbo 1 double)

Geoff Stoddart  (Bourjos 1-4)

Not a coaches fault.. all on the guy who assembled the pitching staff.

You got that one right!!!  Terrible job by DiPoto.

I also love the DQ Blizzard sign behind home plate, kind of fits the occasion.  Blanton probably feels like he is in a white out.

I guess there is no Marine Layer in Minnesota?

He got a great fastball - if you're a player on the opposing team.

I bring in food to most games as well.  I peaked out some time ago on most of the tasteless stuff they sell there.  The Micky Enzo pizzas are okay, if you get them from the walk up counter, they are fresher and warmer that way.

I've seen worse, try "PULLHOSE".

What's the Angelswin popcorn of choice, so I can better enjoy this thread?

Orbil Retinblockers.  Inside each bag you will find a small gift, either a Jeff Mathis bubblegum ball, or a small sample bag from Vlad's Mom of freeze dried chicken and rice.

Blanton 5.0 IP, 2 K's.

one key issue has been the starters' inability to go deep into games.  Only Richards has made it past the 6th, and he wasn't even supposed to be in the rotation.  Our starters going longer will make the bullpen look better - less innings from the weaker pen guys.

Yeah, that's a big issue.  Getting through 7 innings and occasionally eight would take a lot of heat off the weaker bullpen guys.