Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory.

Pathetic.

That is really the only word that can be used to describe the Angels Bullpen right now.

After Brian Fuentes blew yet another save in the 9th inning last night (why Scioscia keeps running that blown save waiting to happen out there, I'll never know), Scot Shields was in rare form last night. He looked incredible, against every other batter... but the ones in between scraped across the winning run.

I could get on the Offense for not playing better against one of the worst pitchers in the league, but keep in mind that Joe Saunders, when playing in Anaheim, has been one of the worst pitchers in the league. He went out and threw his best game of the season. True, he was helped by some great defense behind him, but when isnt a pitcher who throws a great game helped by his defense?

The blame for last nights loss is squarely on the shoulders of three men. First and foremost, Mike Scioscia. Why on earth, when your pitcher has a complete game shutout going, do you bring in the most inconsistent closing pitcher of the last 3 years? Then, when you need to bring in a pitcher to shut them down for an inning in the tenth, do you bring in a past-his-prime pitcher who is only still on the team because of what he has done for us in the past?

The other two who are to blame are obviously Fuentes and Shields, but Shields least of all. I think he is still as shocked as we are that he still has a job with the Angels, let alone is being called into the most important inning of the game.

Fuentes shouldn't be closing anymore, and thats not Fuentes' fault. True, he sucks, but bringing him in wasnt his call, it was Mike's.

Mike Scioscia... for the love of god, when your pitcher is throwing a shutout, regardless of the inning, pitch-count, or runners on base... leave him in the damn game. Don't go to the shakiest bullpen in the American League. We could have drawn a game closer to Texas last night, who lost to Chicago, due to Bullpen problems of their own, but instead, we still sit 3.5 games back, wondering what could have been.

Time to Replace the Left Side of the Infield.

And 80% of the Bullpen, 2/5ths of our rotation, and the hitting coach.

Brandon Wood does nothing but strikeout and not field well. Erick Aybar does nothing. Brian Stokes, Brian Fuentes, Kevin Jepsen, and Scot "LOL" Shields are all failures in the bullpen.

Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir look lost on the mound, and I like Mickey Hatcher, but I'll be damned if our hitting is going to be this pedestrian all season long. Hitting was supposed to be our strong point coming into this season. The only offensive piece we lost that produced last season was Figgins, and he isn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard in Seattle. Our hitters are swinging too much, or at the wrong times. The swings look sloppy, and as Hunter said the other day, they are making anyone they face look like Cy Young.

Our terrible pitching is turning around the seasons of guys like Adrian Beltre, JD Drew, and Johnny Damon. Our terrible hitting is turning around the seasons of guys like Bonderman, Lackey and Dice-K.

I hope and pray that when the Angels travel to Seattle, one of the worst hitting teams in the league, the Hitters can scrap together enough runs, and the pitching can be enough to get us at least 2 or 3 wins on this, so far, MISERABLE road trip.

I turned off the game at 11-6. I cant imagine its going to get much better. I've already wasted 3 hours of my day on this awful performance. They arent getting any more from me.

Thoughts:
- At least Jeremy Hermida still has that sweet chin beard. Looks good man.
- I'm happy for Mike Napoli, who finally broke his homer-less streak, but I still have to admit I'm excited for the eventual return of Jeff Mathis.
- Even Boston does the damn Wave? I thought they were REAL baseball fans...

Oh, and on a brighter note, I added a new site banner and my twitter feed. The twitter feed wont always be about baseball, but when I'm at the games, or the games just go too late for me to write a blog that day, it will be a good place to find my thoughts.

Angels Record: 12-18 (I assume)
Outlook: Mad. REAL MAD.

Is Fernando Rodney dead or something?

Thanks Kevin Jepsen. Thanks a ton. I think its pretty cool that you figured out a way to instantly pitch us out of a close game.

Ok, maybe not instantly, it took about 50 balls, a few walks, a token Big Papi double play, and a terrible play in the outfield by Juan Rivera. Still though, it seemed like it went from 1-1 to 4-1 almost instantly.

So, is Fernando Rodney dead or something? I mean, in a pretty important game (for it being only May 4th), that is TIED, wouldn't you want your best reliever to come into the 8th? Then, to add insult to injury, Coach Mike decided that the best option to stop the bleeding in the 8th was our good buddy, Scot "LOL" Shields. Its almost like we are trying to lose. I hope its so we can make one of the most epic comebacks in Major League history, and not so everyone has an excuse to leave town.

Tonights game wasnt all bad. Mike Napoli finally seemed to find his stroke. Eric Aybar fell down trying to avoid a tag, and that made me laugh. I like when I can laugh at Aybar, even in a loss.

I'll be honest, the game isnt even over yet, and I'm writing this. I dont think I can watch much long, and the hockey game between the Sharks and Wings is winding down, and its a close one.

But lets face it, its already 5-1, and the bases are loaded again. This is a loss.

Tomorrow, though, is a MUST win. Yeah, a must win game in May, sue me. Its our first game against Anaheim's very own Benedict Arnold: John Lackey. He might as well be in the dugout sipping tea and munching on crisps. Damn backstabber.

Angels Record: 12-16
Outlook: Must. Beat. Lackey.

This is getting really old.

First off, kudos to Macier Izturis (Why the hell isnt this guy starting every day?) and Erick Aybar for breaking up the 1-hitter, and later, the shutout. Eat it Verlander.

Todays game was a really entertaining pitching duel... up till the dreaded fifth inning. Why does it seem like our pitchers are amazing till the 5th inning? It seems to me like a stamina problem, which would be on the training staff. Also, lets blame the Pitching coaches, and Scot "LOL" Shields. Anyway, after the Tigers took a 4-0 (and later 5-0) lead, it just got depressing.

Verlander retired 23 in a row before Izturis got a single in the ninth. There were a couple more hits, a few "Defensive Interference"'s and a run later... Matsui grounded out to end the game.

Cool Story, Angels

A few thoughts from todays very early (and short) Angel game:
- Aybar isnt taking as many pitches as he was last year, neither is Abreu. We need these guys to start taking more pitches at the top of the lineup if we are going to have a shot at winning the division. I dont care if you strikeout looking, because it seems like you are only striking out swinging 0-2 or 1-2 anyway.
- Weaver looked fantastic till the Tigers got a few bloop hits in that 5th inning, then he got frustrated, like he always does. Why on earth is everyone on this team so predictable?
- I know he is the final link to the 2002 World Series team, but its time to designate Scot "LOL" Shields for assignment. Hopefully he will get picked up by a NL team with a struggling pen, so he can have a mini career resurgence in a weaker league.

Also, I'm watching MLB Network while writing this, the Tampa Bay Rays powder blue unis are pretty awesome looking.











Oh, and Fister is no-hitting the Rangers for the M's right now. There, I said it. Now he will blow it, and Kinsler will hit a bloop single. Eat it, Fister!

Angels Record: 12-14
Outlook: At least we are in a very winnable division.

Public Enemy #1.

Screw You, Johnny Damon. I'm sick and tired of you completely destroying our pitching (albeit, our terrible pitching). If you could please stop hitting the baseball to all parts of the field (including out of it), and stealing bases, etc. Angels Nation would greatly appreciate it.

In case you missed it, Johnny Damon not only doubled and later scored the tying run in today's (VERY early) game. But in the bottom of the ninth, off of Scott "LOL" Shields, he hit a walk-off home run to end the game.

I mean, it could be worse. The Angels could be the Mets, who are currently losing 10-0 to the Phillies and look like its only going to get worse.

Just a few thoughts from todays game:
- Watching Eric Aybar struggle to play fundamental baseball is one of the most painful experiences of my life.
- I was pretty sure Victor Rojas and Mark Gubicza were going to come to blows over a disagreement over Aybar's decision to try and throw out Damon at third base (the run that would eventually tie the game). They sadly did not.
- Its good to see Morales turn around this week after an incredibly slow start against the Indians.

Record: 12-13
Outlook: Once we start playing the crummy Western Division, things will get better... I hope.