Angelsjunky

I just realized something. I've been an Angels fan for over three decades and will always be an Angels fan, through thick and thin, but it just struck me that I don't like this team and haven't really liked it for a few years now. It isn't the win-loss record, it is the composition of players, the attitude, the fire and soul. This team just doesn't have and hasn't had it for a few years. Sure, there are players I really like; Lucho has been a godsend, and it is hard to dislike Aybar, or Weaver and Trout. And I can't say that I "hate" any single player. But what I'm talking about is the team as a whole. 2002 was eminently lovable because it was comprised of long-time homegrown players and well-selected veterans that gave it the chemistry that brought us a World Series. Even the 2004-09 teams--none of which made it back to the World Series--had a certain charm, from the Shields/F-Rod bullpen to the plucky energy of Chone Figgins to the free swinging chaos of Vlad Guerrero. But this team? It seems lifeless, soulless, undisciplined, and mercenary. I hope this changes, that they somehow find the magic and gel as a team. But it is hard to see it right now, and it is hard to like this team.

North Dakota has the same voting power in the senate as New York, Texas, or California. Think about that. Tell me, Constitutionalists, why that makes sense.

Gay sexy time is legal. No worries now, mtangelsfan .

Yes Lifetime, I don't take much of the Bible seriously - especially the parts about killing gay people or children or raping and stoning women. The Bible condones all sorts of atrocious acts. As for Christianity, it depends upon what you're talking about. I have huge respect for some variations of Christianity, but generally not the type you see proselytized in mega-churchs and on TV, or that informs the politics of many Republicans. But I have huge respect for Meister Eckhart, David Steindl-Rast, Matthew Fox, Thomas Merton, Teresa of Avila, Hildegard von Bingen, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and Jesus of Nazareth, among others.

I don't hate anyone - I love the sinner (Christian) but hate the sin (Christianity). Seriously though, I don't hate Christians or Bible believers. I don't hate any group of people, or any individual that I can think of (even Dick Cheney!). I do dislike fundamentalist thinking of any stripe, and that includes militant atheists, and I do find most iterations of organized religion to be overly--but harmlessly--simplistic at best and often a mockery of the original teachings of the religion's founder, and at worst...well, its pretty bad (see "Spanish Inquisition" or "Westboro Baptist Church" or "conversion therapy").

A counter-argument, Lifetime, is that people who can safely use guns shouldn't have a problem with stricter regulation. But what about kids that use guns to commit suicide? What about the mentally ill that use guns legally obtained? The point being: guns are too easy to come by. I personally don't get the obsession with an object that's raison d'etre is to kill another living being. But even so I'm not saying guns should be illegal, just far more strictly regulated. We're pretty far from the days where the right to bear arms had actual relevance.

Who do you think I hate, Lifetime?

Well, the nation of Australia bears this out, at least according to the hilarious clip on the Jon Stewart show tonight. But it is also common sense: lower accessibility of guns = less guns = less shooting of guns. I for one don't understand why Americans are so fixated on guns. I mean, grow up boys.

If it wasn't for the lovely town of Asheville I'd say let them do it - break the whole state off and let them drift into whacko fundamentalia, and while they're at it take the rest of the Bible Belt with them. Just make sure they don't have nukes as the thought of a Evangelical nation with nuclear weapons scares the bejesus out of me. Apocalypse, here we come!

An embarrassing day for American politics, proving that the system doesn't work. A joke, really. Stop? No. Reduce? Yes. Stop? No. Reduce? Yes.

I don't see an option for Gary Matthews Jr.

"We put ourselves in this situation," Dipoto said, "and we have to figure out a way to get ourselves out." Way to spread the responsibility around, Jerry.

Is this a serious question?

Ocho, I meant both.

Man, what a season. Hopefully the boys will get their shyt together in the meantime and come out ready to rumble tomorrow.

I dabble with these thoughts but am inconclusive.

Uh, have you looked at their actual numbers though? Grichuk: .243/.349/.378 Lindsey: .108/.214/.135 Bandy: .200/.294/.200 Not exactly encouraging.

No. The kid has, what, 2 starts in AAA? I'd rather see Blanton and Williams swap before bringing up Schugel. Put Blanton in long relief for all of these games where the starter goes out in the 4th or 5th inning.

10-17 sounds right.

Chuck, your first post should have read: "What's worse - Angels pitching or anal leakage?"

Just for the sake of comparison, 4 out of 14 is 29%. Last year's World Series champ, the Giants had 93 out of 162 - which is 57%. That's about double the number as the Angels which is a world of difference.

Actually Garret didn't - he gave up 4 ER in 6.1 IP. Hanson has one, Weaver one, and Wilson two.

Starting pitching. It hasn't just been mediocre or even poor - its been terrible: 4 quality starts out of 14 does not given a team a chance to win.

...is fast becoming one of my favorite Angels. Love him.

I feel the order of the universe restored. Thank you, Josh.