disarcina

Angel Oracle -- 'how come our acquisitions don't seem to fare as well, seemingly/" Well, we probably don't mention them as much as we do the flops -- and there are plenty of those deals --- but the Ernesto Frieri pick up from San Diego has worked out real well for us. And that was another 'change of scenery' thing -- Frieri got lit up in his final SD appearance and was not that effective in the appearances before that one. He came over to the Halos and become our closer and put up some great stats the second half of 2012..........now he's in that role again because, quite frankly, Madsen isn't going to be able to fill that role at any point in 2013 unless they're using there in September as the equivalent of a late season call up or early starting ST for 2014. but the Frieri acquisition has been a good one for the Halos.

YEP. Dogs are in last place. Good news for everyone right now is that the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks are in the playoffs providing a diversion for a bit here. Both tied up even 2-2 in series....very nice win for LA Kings tonight -- third period dominance was great!

great win tonight!! Series is all tied up. We really need to win Game 5 in St.Louis and then back to Staples to take the first round series. Kings really dominated in the third period.......seemed like the first 17 minutes of the period were all played at the Blues end of the ice......St. Louis finally made a little but of run late and Quick needed to make a save or two -- but the Kings seemed to be in either in the attacking zone the entire third or once they got the two goals to take the lead, they seemed to be kicking it back into the Blues zone the rest of the game.........St. Louis couldn't get anything going on offense third period...... St. Louis playing tough -- much better than they played against us in the regular season........We need to get that road win in St. Louis that we seem to have (power play in OT) when we gave up that fluke goal that Quick manned up and took the blame for but then quickly asserted --- time to move forward........ Hard to believe that Vancouver may get swept out of the playoffs by San Jose......not surprised at all by the Sharks winning the series -- didn't expect the brooms to be out, though. Would not be surprised if 7th seed Detroit wins round one vs 2nd seed. Anaheim Ducks -- I don't care were the Red Wings are seeded -- they're always more like a one to three seed team to me.

assume he's not looking much better these days than his playing days........ he was always in the running for ugliest player award...... the classic baseball card of the pitcher for the old Kansas City Athletics and Otis Nixon were usually 1-2. trying to think of the A's pitcher's name -- the visual of his baseball card still haunts the memories of Topps cards collectors everywhere.

today's LA TImes article notes the Halos right now have one of the lowest rated minor league organizations (in terms of top level prospects) in MLB. the listing you provided is part of the reason. The Haren deal that looked pretty good at the time, really killed us in that regard. every deal mentioned above made sense (well, we did give up a lot for a Greinke rental) at the time. Santana? I think we made the right move. Truly a case of a change of scenery having a positive impact on his fortunes. You may recall like some other former Halos hurlers who were let go and then did well -- Santana's outings at the end of 2012 were awful......he wasn't getting many folks out and was giving up a lot of dingers. The Tommy Hunter for Jerome Walden was a deal that was questioned a bit at the time -- but we needed a rotation guy and had to give up something to get him.......Walden's another one who needed a change of scenery -- after being thrust into the closer role that one year (was it 2011?) and had all those saves only to sort of hit the wall IP wise at the end of the season.....never quite the same sense but always had potential -- Atlanta now probably limiting his use to a set up and pre-set up guy and he's probably doing well in a place where pitchers always seem to develop well and do well.

we're dying here guys.......it's a repeat of 2012 but with an even higher payroll. the Baltimore series losing 3 of 4 at home in the fashion we lost the games we lost...........well, it's tough to watch these guys. and, there's plenty of empty seats at the park. friend of mine and her family went to Sunday's game -- bought tickets Saturday, day before, had seats behind the plate for $12. and it's only early May. How's Arte doing? Must just be going nuts. Look, I like Scioscia. Think he's been a great manager for the organization -- but we're quickly getting to a point where if things don't change real soon, there will need to be a change just to mix things up and get this team going again. As it is, I predict that the A's will win 16 of 18 games against Houston and the Rangers will win something like 14 of 18 -- if we're ten games back and those teams get that kind of advantage within the division, well, it's going to be real tough to get back in this thing....... last year the Halos played pretty well AFTER April but the April record just doomed them. For the 2013 Halos, it may be the April/May record and the division rivals' ability to run up the wins vs. the Astros.

we're playing tonight to end up with a 10-16 April record.........this is very much like last year -- a poor April haunted the Halos all season and ended up costing them the season. can't dig yourself such a huge hole that you then must climb out of. Well, we're better than Houston...........

Williams pitched well today.

great sweep against a very good team........ good performance by our pen, too. things looking up even if some players still behind schedule/ expectations.

well, he did play this past weekend series in Toronto -- and if you will recall, even with the Halos, he tended to hit well north of the border. some may recall the series two years ago where he hit 3 homeruns (2 in one game) in a series at Toronto.......didn't do much against anyone else or anywhere else, but in Toronto, he hit well, perhaps he should have stayed there.

I read the article -- missing in all of this (and the coverage I've seen including this article) is -- what is the position of MLB and the Commissioner's Office. this comes down to a battle between the big market teams (Angels, Yankees etc.) who are cutting their own deals (better deals) with Ticketmaster vs. MLB and all the other teams who have contracts with Stub Hub -- MLB is getting a cut from Stub Hub while the individual teams are getting the cut from Ticketmaster. MLB needs to weigh in on this. What should happen is that MLB should have the exclusive right to negotiate re-sale issues for all MLB teams but MLB teams (big market teams primarily) should get dollar for dollar credit as to their take (5% or whatever it is) as to their obligation to pay the MLB 'luxury' tax. With the battle at the state legislative level -- at some point, MLB is going to have to weigh in and my two cents says they weigh in on the side of Stub-Hub -- in fact, they almost are contractually obligated to do so.........

ah, great stuff -- and while the dog reacts off the bat -- I'm pretty sure it was actually a reaction to his owner standing up........ my dog does the same thing -- when something good happens for the Halos and I start moving, clapping, yelling -- Oscar (my dog, a highland terrier, goes nuts). Same thing when the LA Kings score a goal.........my wife says it was cute at one time (but is now getting very old.......oh well). But I love the video and it does look like the dog has read the ball off the bat. Looks like there's two dogs in the video......what sort of dog is that -- looks like a terrier-poodle mix of some sort.........my dog is a highland terrier (a Westie) looks pretty much like the dog in the video but Oscar is built like a little tank -- a pure bred highland terrier....... good stuff -- thanks for posting that.

Kazmir remains a mystery -- led league in strikeouts (or near the top in that category) for about three years when he was with Tampa Bay. Angels scout him and he has fairly decent (stat wise) final three starts in Tampa Bay uni. Angels trade for him and he has a contract through the following year (so he's not just a rental). I think the Halos re-signed him. Not sure. Then he just stinks up the place with the Halos -- can't get anyone out. Angels give him plenty of time and opportunity to right the ship - he can't. He ends up playing for some Independent League team (I think in Texas) and his line there is terrible. Winds up with Cleveland at Spring Training this year......shuts down the Halos in a ST game. now he's sort of in the rotation for Cleveland (what is he? a sometimes fifth starter?) and today he gets lit up in a game that the Indians lead by double-digits. hard to figure what's going on with the guy.........oh well. If he does manage to comeback and win some games (perhaps 10-12) with the Indians this year -- let's not hear it about how the Halos should have been more patient with him. The Angels gave him every chance........when he was let go, he had been ineffective in almost every role the Halos placed him in.......and I don't think his minor league rehab outings went well either.

actually, today's (Saturday's) LA Times puts some context into that comment --- it mentions that Torii had dinner with Mike Trout and some other former Halos team-mates in Newport Beach on Thursday night --it's a restaurant there that many are probably familiar with -- Arte Moreno stopped by the restaurant as well -- and greeted Torii and they exchanged pleasantries...... anyway, I can just see a media guy calling Hunter's cell phone or texting him while he was at the restaurant or seeing him there and asking Torii questions. So Torii responds ; :Hey, I am here (at the restaurant here tonight) just to eat" and from that, the reporter gets his quote without the context of the location........ oh well. Nice to see the Halos light it up big today........go for the sweep tomorrow. If they can sweep a very good team like Detroit - that's good news. Means things may be turning around.

Torii.......2-4 with a double, run scored and RBI.........also a Standing O from the fans first AB. wish our group would have reprised TORIITOWN for at least just this game.........oh well. Torii was a great Halo........and good for all of MLB. Hope he has a monster year for Detroit.......he seems to be off to a good start -- right where he left off last year. Good for him.

Ah, it's tough for me to say anything negative about Torii Hunter........had great years with us and gave us a fabulous final season. He didn't leave us, Halos left him.........and that's OK. Really like the guy, always will.

Had to watch the pre-game ceremony from Dodger Stadium tonight - they did it up right. Rachel Robinson and her daughter, Don Newcombe and members of the Campenella family on the field before the game. well done. Harrison Ford threw out first pitch.......... and now the Dodgers face Bud Black's Padres for the first time since the brawl.......Carlos Quentin likely not even in the ballpark --he's suspended.

Braves seem to be back to developing good starting pitching again and then Hudson's back healthy and pitching well. Strong pen,too. Too bad Chipper's gone. But he had a good run and his all star game finale was great.

Going to go see it. Looking forward to it. Meet the Press had interviews with Ken Burns and Rachel Robinson on today -- great stuff. Ken Burns made the point, which I think is very apt and have thought so for some time -- Jackie Robinson does not get enough credit as truly being one of the greatest civil rights leaders of all time -- in a way that transcends baseball and sports........baseball was the medium but the impact was far broader than that. Today's LA Times had some very good articles -- one was about Magic Johnson's role in making sure tomorrow night's festivities at Dodger Stadium are first class all the way. Bud Selig, always trying to do the right thing but lacking judgment at times, appointed some sort of an MLB Ambassador's Committee to help nurture Jackie Robinson's legacy in today's MLB -- and he appointed some good people to the committee -- but one guy he didn't appoint who is as good as an Ambassador for almost anything and should be a no-brainer for the commish's effort -- MAGIC JOHNSON. I'm really looking forward to how the film portrays the scene in Cincinnati when the fans there were really being nasty to Jackie Robinson during his first road games there and Dodger shortstop Pee Wee Reese (a Kentucky native) goes over and puts his arm around Robinson to help shut up the crowd.......a truly great moment in sports history.

Today's win was nice.......actually almost necessary......but let's not get ahead of ourselves -- it's still Houston. We should have swept them at home. Minnesota is next and they are struggling this year -- if we can get the games in (weather issues back there -- and it's no longer the Metrodome -- thank goodness - what a lousy place to play ball that place was -- probably worse than the Kingdome in Seattle -- which was awful).........but Halos need to take two of three in Minnesota and then the six game home stand that will determine if the Halos will get off to a half-way decent start in April or if it's 2012 all over again and a lousy first month dooms the entire season. A real test coming with Torii and the red hot Detroit Tigers coming into town followed by Texas........would be real nice if we went 5-1 on the homestand -- I think we can sweep Texas if everything goes right -- I don't think we can sweep Detroit........I'd be happy with winning the series.

5 ZIP loss at HOME to the Astros..........just when you thought things could not get worse......... what's going on here? I like Mike Scioscia as our manager a whole lot -- he's a great guy and has been great for the franchise.......but something's going on here with the DiPoto-Scioscia relationship or lack of same. I don't think Mike S. likes the new 'world order' / pecking order in the Angels' franchise organizational chart..........there's a mis-match/ mis-firing of the operation running smoothly. Sadly, if this keeps up and we're right back where we where last April (which, really cost us the season last year).....something might happen here which I did not think we'd see -- Scioscia being replaced..........because DiPoto's not going anywhere. My pick would be Bud Black --- so perhaps the best move now is to wait out the season unless things get really worse (how can they?) and then do like the SF Giants did with Bochy and the Padres.......just grab Black and let the Padres (and their suspended OF'er Carlos Quentin) get a new manager. If it's not Bud Black -- start looking at guys from Arizona that DiPoto dealt with -- that seems to be the DiPoto pipeline..........and with DiPoto's AZ background and time and a lot of time spent in Scottsdale/ Phoenix -- well, there's a lot of baseball career guys living and hanging around Phoenix during the off-season so it could be a connection there, too. I like Scioscia but I'm starting to see a possible exit scenario here.......... TJ Simers a little rough on everyone connected with the Halos this AM -- mainly Arte -- but I don't think Arte really lets this type of stuff get under his skin -- another 5- ZIP loss to Houston AT HOME, might, though..........remember, the Halos really need to go 14-4 or better vs. Houston this year to be in the playoff hunt.........and now they're a horrible 0-1. Better win the next two.

AAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHH. 2-7 -- behind Houston.

Thank the MLB schedulers -- way to go -- three weekend series (of 12 overall) vs. Houston. 2-7 record combined with a lot of Houston games (on weekends) means season attendance will hover around 2.1 million instead of anywhere close to 3 million.

thanks for reporting that. Halos have not been swept by Oakland at home since April 11, 2013.

Need rotation help and some pen depth NOW.