vlad27

Solid choice. Scioscia guided a team who suffered multiple injuries, mid-season adjustments, and underperformance from marquee players to 98 wins, a 20 win turn around from last season.

I agree - he deserved to win it

Royals in 4 obviously

He also makes it seem like he has gone above and beyond to be on the field - yes he got cortisone shots but I think that is just part of the job - he gets paid millions of dollars he should do Everything he can to play and satisfy that contract .

Shoemaker was out for a bit too - he didn't complain and he put together a great start and didn't complain

He found It comical that he was booed after his 3rd at bat - he says that like the fans are so quick to judge - but he is forgetting 2 seasons of sub par play with a big fat contract that we have had to endure . Those boos in my opinion are not just for 3 at bats they are for 2 seasons of frustration

Also I think anyone athlete / performer / actor / musician etc etc needs to realize how incredibly valueable fans are to what they do .

I am a musician and I fully realize that without fans and people supporting my gigs , buying CDs,merch etc that I would not get to do what I do. I am always genuinely glad for their support .

Despite the sour ending to the season, I still really miss watching the Angels play. I watched all 165 games so there's a pretty big void now that the season ended.

I'm an Angels fan more than a baseball fan, so watching other teams play does nothing to me.

I agree completely

We will see how much of a buzzsaw they were when the O's destroy them in the ALCS.

I'm believing this whole buzz saw thing - somewhere on Orioles win.com there is this same thread

Why on earth would the Mets make that trade?

they took Mo Vaughn

I am not sure that Josh has a true passion for the game. He's an incredibly talented baseball player when he wants to be. For him it seems a means to an end. He achieved that end when he got his generation changing contract for him and his family. He seems to approach the game as if people should cut him some slack for reasonable things like struggling after an injury or layoff and he doesn't get that his contract obliges him to a different set of standards and expectations.

Fans are not reasonable. It's just how it works. Instead of fighting it, he needs to own what he's now obligated to and suck it up when it's called for.

I agree and I surely see a lack of passion when he plays

Hamilton was my least favorite MLB player before he got here and nothing has changed.

He signs the contract then immediately shows up skinny as hell from some absurd "juice" diet. The next season in the ninth game he slides headfirst into 1st base with some faux hustle and then vows to do it again? That, combined with his "blindfolded kid trying to hit a pinata" at-bats has me completely out of patience with his BS.

CJ is ineffective but at least he cared enough to pitch through pain in 2012 with bone spurs in his elbow. He pitched well in '13 and early '14 before being ridden onto the ground (led MLB in pitches thrown) earlier in the year. I wouldn't be shocked if he's been pitching through some injury again.

Disar was my previous "least favorite" but at least he never stole his contract.

"blindfolded kid trying to hit a piñata " that's the perfect description

I remember when Sosh pulled him after Lackey threw a shoe. I sided with Sosh on that one. I didn't want Lackey to breakdown in the stretch.

right cause then he'd get shot and turned into glue ...

I wouldn't shed any tears if Howie was gone.

homegrown guy had a really good season - keep him no reason to trade him

I think most of the club stays. We get another starter and tweak the bullpen and bench.

This team won 98 games with Hamilton playing 89 games and Calhoun and Richards missing a lot of time.

What's wrong with giving the crux of the team another go-round? They're not old.

agreed

Speaking of marketing I'm sure the networks are THRILLED with a Baltimore / KC ALCS - ha!

I've written it once, I've written it a thousand times...the NFL's popularity is not a victory of the game of football. Its current success is a triumph of marketing. The NFL, with its broadcasting allies, understand that the present day American wants a good excuse to cook, eat, drink and sit in front of the TV where we can compare over-sized jerseys and tattoos. Plus, in the MMA era of trash talking and lifted trucks, the NFL is a likely ally.

Baseball, with its hushed tone and - in the post-season - five or seven game series, is not built for instant gratification or tough talk. The NFL marketing department has mastered the art of feeding our present day event-ized mentality where TV viewers are looking for an excuse to sit on their asses and eat and get hammered. Every game is marketed with an angle, even if the teams involved are chum.

I'm surprised that the NBA is ranked so low. I would bet those umpteen time outs in the final few minutes are part of its lack of popularity.

I agree with your statements about the popularity of football - very well said

I truly hate football - sports are done for after baseball season

He started Wilson in Game 3. Of course he should be fired but not just because of that horrible decision.

Its also just plain time for a CHANGE at the manager position.

Trade for Francona to be the next manager, the Cleveland Indians aint going to be in the playoffs next year anyways.

what choice did he really have ?

No way he gets fired - no way he should be fired - he took a team with starting pitching that was hit hard by injury , a team that had Ernesto frieri closing games for a good period of time , a team that had major slumps from almost Every star hitter etc etc to the best record in baseball -

I will say though that him sticking with Hamilton all 3 games was a real mistake - it was obvious that he wasn't even near the ball in any of his at bats - and why was Cron in there for 3 games ? Still he's not getting fired

Technically, yes. Nobody does steroids on the field.

I'll bet Arod did - there weren't cameras on him 24/7 Ill bet he injected himself during s pitching change or something

Wilson shouldn't have made the postseason roster

if we had a healthy Richards and or Skaggs we wouldn't have - not a lot of options

I can't be the only one who thought this thread was gonna be about the ALDS.

count me in on that

"Fire Sosh because Richards and Skaggs suffered season ending injuries. Smart."

I kept thinking about how different this would have been if Richards started game two and Shoemaker started game three. Then I conclude that not much would be different since the hitters didn't show up.

if that happened we would have a game tonight but be down 2-1

We're probably still in this series with a healthy Richards in Game 3. Wilson doesn't even sniff the mound in this series. Garret's absence truly hurt us.

I like the look of this team going forward. Add a starter and CJ is less of a liability. Hamilton, on the other hand...not sure what we can do about that.

I agree I'm thinking had we had Richards he would habe gone I'm game 2 and yesterday a Shoemaker victory - still would be down 2-1 but sure better than being done

Sucks that their bats got cold over just a 3-game span after kicking ass over the long haul.

While the outcome was disappointing, I'm really proud of the team.

Too bad you don't get accolades for being the best over 162. It's a crap shoot in the playoffs and I can just say I'm stoked we finally made it back!

While Hamilton & CJ sucked down the stretch, there's so much to look forward to when thinking about this club's chances heading into the 2015 season.

I for one have turned the page and I'm proud of the job Jerry, Scioscia and the players have done this season.

agreed - this was a great season - it hurts today but overall we have to be glad to be s part of a great season from our team I'm hoping this taste of the postseason leaves our guys hungry to get back next year with better results

If he didn't get fired after 2013 he's not getting fired after winning 98 games and taking a team that had a battered starting rotation and slumps from every major hitter to the postseason .

I like Scioscia and rarely jump on the firing bandwagon but I will say that sticking with Hamilton was terrible - yes every one not named Calhoun or Aybar sucked this series hitting wise but Hamilton looked completely lost at the plate and it was obvious from game 1 - also why Cron for 3 games - I like his power but I dont see why he got 3 starts - regardless of that Scioscia is not getting fired nor should he

Let's keep this on topic.

As good as the Angels were this year, they could have been way better. That's the upside, so I think 2015 will be a great year for Angels baseball.

Fill third base and get an elite SP. Freese was a bust, in my opinion. For a home run guy, he didn't come through, and he's not fast. I think Grant Green will get the nod.

Hamilton needs to really change his swing. It's becoming quite a detriment when he tries to guess on pitches. He's always late on fastballs because of it.

Wilson needs to be dealt. Everyone has him figured out. His stuff doesn't cut or break anymore, and his control is garbage.

Put Green at third, pick up a couple more lock down relievers, throw money at a starting pitcher, and cut the coaching staff.

I agree I think 2015 will be a great year for us - a lot of positives going forward - as for Hamilton I think he is done he looks unable to hit a baseball - I see him getting dealt with Us eating his whole contract or close to it - CJ could be dealt but I see him staying and being our 4 or 5