Bleacher Report - Articles by Scott Fowler

Oh Captain, My Captain: Scotty Niedermayer Re-Ups With Ducks

Scott Fowler — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:29:38 -0400

The Anaheim Ducks re-signed former Norris Trophy winner, and team captain, Scott Niedermayer today ending speculation as to the defenseman's intentions for the upcoming season.

The Ducks got his services for one more year at $6 million. This is a small discount for his services from this past year's $6.75 million salary.

The greybeard captain assured team officials of his intent to return over the weekend, prompting the trade of fellow defenseman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia (more on that here).

It also hastened the return of Teemu Selanne, a long time Anaheim winger and franchise leading scorer.

Selanne cited Neidermayer's return as emphasis on the team's desire to win now, as opposed to rebuilding the team, and both players are excited at their prospects.

Looks like GM Bob Murray knows what he's doing after all, eh folks?

Now we just have to finalize the deal for Wiz, get Frenchie and Marchant back and rock this.

I can't wait for September!

Juan Rivera: Man Crush

Scott Fowler — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:38:51 -0400

Ok, remember 2006?

That's when it started for me.

Who is this guy?

He's so different.

Where has he been all my life?

Ok, so that's a little much, I'll admit.

Or is it?

In 2006, Juan Rivera hit .310 with 23 HRs and 85 RBIs in 124 games.

He was on fire from July to August.

He was pencilled into starting LF last year, maybe platooning with Garret Anderson, and he would certainly have a number of DH opportunities.

Then, it all went awry.

He severely broke his leg in winter ball and took the majority of the 2007 season off to recover, appearing in only 14 games.

2008 was rough, too, for a variety of reasons, and the slugger-in-waiting was limited to 89 games with the Angels' outfield depth chart his biggest opponent that season. (Outfielders Garrett Anderson, Torii Hunter, Vlad Guerrero, and Gary Matthews Jr. all competed alongside Rivera for playing time.)

Then the off-season happened, and to be honest, I was a little bummed.

Juan Rivera made it to the off-season a free agent, able to sign with any team, alongside lifetime Angel left fielder Garret Anderson.

In a move that surprised many (read: Me), the Halos ponied up for an extended contract, all but handing Rivera the starting role with his shiny new three-year contract.

Angels fans said goodbye to a declining Anderson and hello to their first new left fielder for years to come.

And what has happened?

Rivera has responded well to playing time and seems to be starting to get hot—real hot.

The 30 year old turns 31 on Friday, and he has had a wonderful season so far. In 66 games, he's batting .307 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI's, with three homers coming in his last six games.

With Angels' sluggers, Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu, struggling to produce home runs, the Angels have suffered only a small dip in home run production thanks to the resurrected big bat of Rivera and the just-getting-his-legs-under-him Kendry Morales.

Throw in catcher Mike Napoli's ability to get streaky with the long ball, and the Angels' new-found power potential has been an absolute revelation for Angels fans and management alike, providing hitting depth that the Angels of old did not have.

Top it off with Torii Hunter's amazing MVP numbers (17 HR's, 56 RBIs, .306 average, and about all the highlight-reel catches you can imagine in CF), and the Angels have some formidable presence in the box for the first time in years.

The best part, however, is not found in the box score but rather the field: Angels baseball is suddenly fun again.

Sure, the bullpen is still shaky at times, and our infield is a big question mark from time to time. Yet, all in all, the Angels are just starting to play to their potential.

Isn't it fun to watch, halo fans?

My man crush on Rivera is growing each day.

The Angels are a full 10 games above .500 for the first time this season, and they hold a two-and-a-half game lead on the AL West, with their next two games coming against second-place Texas in Arlington.

The starting pitching, young, old, and in between, has been lights out.

And all seems right in the baseball universe.

Let's keep that halo lit, fellas.

Most Underrated Player: Season Over for Angels' Scot Shields

Scott Fowler — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:49:24 -0400

Angels fans suffered a blow this weekend, even while their team was romping on the field at home for a change, mercilessly sweeping a visiting Padres team from down the 5 freeway in San Diego.

What was lost in all of the positives this weekend, and also in the debacle that has been the Angels bullpen thus far, was the end of the season declaration from one Mr. Scot Shields.

Shields's season ended this weekend when the 33-year-old opted for surgery to repair his injured knee, the same surgery undertaken by teammate Gary Matthews Jr. this past offseason.

Many people looked at him this year and said he was done, said he was horrible. He'd lost the ability to get 'er done.

But what most people don't realize is just how good Shields has been for this Angels team these past few seasons.

Saves are sexy, and it's easy to see why: gunslinger enters from the 'pen to shut down the opposition. They're usually flashier. They yell. They fireball. They finish the game on the mound.

They get 62 saves handed to them to pad their resume then jump ship (I have a whole other article to write about how over-rated the closer/save number is/has become. More on that another time).

Set-up men are different.

With baseball having evolved into a formulaic style game, much to the chagrin of many fans, the set-up man has evolved into a sort of wanderlust destination.

None of the fanfare of starting. None of the showmanship of closing.

Set-up men rarely get the mention for their work. The good ones (and they are RARE) quietly go about their business, getting it done game in and game out, before handing their games off to the closers to get all the glory.

Nowhere has this been more true than in Anaheim for the past five seasons, where reliever and set-up man extraordinaire Scot Shields has taken the mound.

His numbers speak for themselves.

From 2004-2008, Shields averaged over 28 holds per season. Couple that with 28 wins (almost as many losses, sure, with 26). He's also appeared in an average of 70 games per season during that span, including a whopping 78 games in 2005.

Shields has been so good that he's practically defined the eighth inning set-up role all on his own.

In 2007 and 2008, Shields lead the league with 31 holds in each season. Saves are sexy, but those chances only come if the team maintains the lead.

Shields got four good pitches. A "show-me" pitcher, hitters have to beat him to hit him, as he usually throws strikes and makes batters rise to the challenge. He amassed 432 strikeouts over 425 2/3 innings between '04-'08, while yielding only 163 walks.

But without strong legs to support his dominance, Shields, like the rest of the bullpen he anchors, struggled this season.

At least now Halo fans know why.

Angels fans—especially THIS Angels fan—hope he returns as strong as ever: the unquestioned, unparalleled, undeniable heartbeat and metronome of this Angels 'pen.

The eighth inning is so scary without him.

Angels Survive Bullpen Collapse, Take Series in Toronto

Scott Fowler — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:16:55 -0400

Okay, here's a little insight about me.

I grew up in rural northern Ontario, Canada, near towns called Cochrane and Hornepayne, literally in the middle of nowhere.

From a sports perspective, I only had the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Canadiens to root for.

I moved to California in the fall of 1987 and went to my first Halos game in '88. I met Kirk McKasckill, fellow middle-of-nowhere Ontarian and an Angels pitcher, and became an instant preteen Angels fan. That has progressed to the fan I am today.

I still have vivid, happy memories of the Blue Jays' World Series victories in '92 and '93, and Joe Carter is among my all-time favorite players.

That said, I still want the Angels to hammer the heck out of the Jays whenever they play each other, but they have struggled north of the border. The Angels are 36-64 at Rogers Centre (formerly the Sky Dome).

The Blue Jays are among the better teams in the AL East this year, and are exceeding all expectations, buoyed by a power-offensive group and lead by one of the best pitchers in baseball, Roy "Doc" Halladay.

Doc was called up and pitched two games in '98, but since then, he's consistently been one of the strongest pitchers in all of baseball, with a career record of 140-67, a 3.48 ERA, and 1369 strikeouts.

Needless to say, he's owned the Angels so far this season. Halladay struck out a career-high 14 batters in a 6-4 victory in the first game of this series on Tuesday.

In Game 2, the Angels' bats showed up to support righty Jered Weaver, who pitched yet another gem, striking out 10 through 7.0 innings on the way to an easy 8-1 Angels win.

Which brings us to today.

Maybe it was the time change, the exchange rate, or any combination of Canadian Beer (that stuffs like moonshine!) and poutine, but once again, the Angels bullpen imploded.

John Lackey got the start and pitched a solid game, boosted by a productive offense—minus Erick @!#$@#ing Aybar and his 0-for-5 day (I'm not letting my desire for him to be sent packing go. Ever. Period.). Lackey left the game with a 5-2 lead going into the eighth inning.

Then the bullpen came in.

As is normal so far in this horrific nightmare of a season, the 'pen ruined Lackey's chance for his much-deserved second victory of the season.

Darren Oliver could only throw the ball down the middle and gave up three earned runs on three hits while getting no outs. Justin Speier stymied the Jays a bit, but gave up a sac fly, which allowed the Jays to tie the game at 5-5 going into the ninth.

Luckily, the Angels strung together a few hits in the top of the ninth, and with runners on the corners, Aybar to round into a double-play. But at least the runner scored.

Brian Fuentes came in and pitched a strong-ish bottom of the ninth, putting two men on but getting the save despite a ridiculously squeezed strike zone provided by the homeplate umpire.

The Angels dodged another collapse, but I think this should act as further proof that we need bullpen help.

I personally think we should platoon Fuentes and Kelvim Escobar at the closer role, and leave the middle stuff to Oliver (for lefties) and Jason Bulger. Everyone else has been a liability this season.

Let Matt Palmer keep going as a starter 'til he blows up, and let Escobar get three- and even six-out saves. Whatever it takes to keep the bullpen from blowing any more leads.

Up next, the Halos hop to Detroit for a three-game set with the Tigers.

Anaheim-Detroit: A Homer Preview

Scott Fowler — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:39:05 -0400

Ahh, yes, it's that team again.

The defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.

Hockeytown.

The Winged Wheel.

The Joe.

The Octopus.

Whenever someone brings up hockey, especially in the last 10 or so years, the talk always shifts to Detroit. Home of four Stanley Cup Championship teams since '96-97, the Red Wings are the real deal.

Nicklas Lidstrom, perhaps the greatest defenceman of all time, is actually known as Mr. Norris in hockey circles. (The Norris trophy is given to the best defenceman in the NHL). Since 1999-2000, Lidstrom has earned the award six times in eight seasons.

The other two winners not named Nicklas? Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger (Yep. Both Ducks now.).

Let's take a step back from gushing about just how good Lidstrom really is, though, and look at this whole Red Wings team.

Up front, Detroit has probably the deepest talent in all of hockey. Forwards Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Hossa, and Johan Franzen combined for 137 regular season goals and 163 assists this year.

That's unbelievable, but what's scarier is that they had SEVEN other players with between 10 and 23 goals.

That's not depth, that's just flat out scary offense.

On the defensive side, beyond Nicklas "Mr. Norris" Lidstrom, the Wings have Brian Rafalski (who'll miss Fridays game), Nicklas Kronwall, and Anreas Lilja, all great shut-down defenders.

In net, they have the veteran Chris Osgood. Many folks will argue his value to the team, but a proven Stanley Cup veteran goalie is never a bad thing to have. His backup is journeyman Ty Conklin, a serviceable goaltender with the potential to come up big if Osgood struggles.

NOW THEN...

The Ducks counter with their new look blueline corps. Stallwarts Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, and Francois Beauchemin are joined by late season acquisitions James Wisniewski and Ryan Whitney to form a line that absolutely shut down the top-seeded San Jose Sharks' offensive units.

The Ducks' blue line also helped propel them into the playoffs, with the Ducks finishing their lackluster season on a 10-2-1 roll to earn the eighth seed.

Up front, the Ducks have the RPG Line: Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry, and Ryan Getzlaf. All three of these players have the skills necessary to completely take over a hockey game, and their gritty style of play will be counted on heavily in this series.

The Ducks also have veteran Teemu Selanne in the fold and second-line contributions from Todd Marchant in the face-off circle help their cause. The Ducks' fourth line played an amazing series in San Jose, with players like George Parros and Rob Niedermayer helping shutdown San Jose lines and also contribute offensively.

The Ducks will no doubt continue to ride the brick-wall play of netminder Jonas Hiller, who all but supplanted former starting goalie (and Conn Smythe winner) J.S. Giguere after an inconsistent season by the legendary netminder. Should Hiller falter, and there are no indications that he will, the Ducks have Giguere as a backup, an embarrassment of riches no NHL team would complain about.

The real key in this series in the Ducks' ability to play without taking foolish penalties.

The Detroit Red Wings' power-play unit is an absolute machine, and the Ducks will not be as successful in killing of power plays as they were in the first round.

That said, I think role players like Andrew Ebbett and Todd Marchant will be huge factors in the series, and I am going to go on record saying the Ducks will steal one of the first two games in Detroit.

Ducks in Seven.

Angels Defeat Orioles, 3-2; Make it Three!

Scott Fowler — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:37:19 -0400

It's official.

The Angels are on a winning streak!

The Angels won today, their second game in Baltimore, after a pair of back-to-back home runs by Torii Hunter and Kendry Morales in the seventh sealed the deal.

Justin Speier pitched a perfect seventh while Jose Arredondo gave up a single, a wild pitch, and some other hi-jinx before settling down and getting three outs in the eighth. Brian Fuentes then picked up the save, his fifth, in the ninth inning.

Up next?

The launching pad that is the New Yankee Stadium.

With the way the Angels hitters are coming together, it could be a very offensive series with the Yankees, no matter who their first baseman might be. (.206? Really, Tex!?)

Sharks-Ducks: Anaheim Perseveres, Beats San Jose 4-1 for Series Clincher

Scott Fowler — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:46:20 -0400

The tone for this one was set early.

Sharks center Joe Thornton, perhaps miffed from previous battles with his Ducks counterpart Ryan Getzlaf, or perhaps tired of reading how "No Show" Joe disappears in the playoffs, or a little bit of both, started this game with a flurry of fisticuffs.

The second the puck was dropped for the opening faceoff, Thornton and Getzlaf were at it. The puck hit the ice, the gloves flew off, and they tangoed the night away, both landing significant lefts and rights, though Thornton probably won the battle.

He lost the war, though.

The Sharks scored first, during a power play, and looked to continue the streak that has seen every team to score first during this series go on to win the game.

The Ducks really weren't feeling that, though, this time.

Not here.

Not now.

Not happening.

The Ducks pulled even with a goal of their own from Corey Perry, tying the game at one.

That was it for the Sharks.

The Ducks then scored on a wacky rebound, created when Anaheim's veteran Teemu Selanne threw a puck into the crease and had it bang off a Sharks player's stick for the goal.

Francois Beauchemin got a similar bounce off an opposing stick on his blue-line bomb for a 3-1 lead in the second.

With less than three minutes remaining, Getzlaf completed the Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) by scoring again for a final score of 4-1.

Next up for the Ducks, the defending Stanley Cup Champions Detroit Red Wings.

The Ducks lost the season series to the Wings this year, but that's no surprise.

They also lost the series to the top-ranked, top-seeded, Presidents trophy-winning Sharks.

This series is too tough to call, but since we're a Ducks fan site...

Ducks in six!

Ducks Vs. Sharks: Anaheim Takes 2-0 Series Lead Back Home

Scott Fowler — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:30:31 -0400

San Jose, CA - The San Jose Sharks must be thrilled to be returning to Anaheim.

The Sharks dropped their second consecutive playoff game (and third straight) at home to the "upstart" Anaheim Ducks Sunday, losing 3-2.

Let me first explain that I personally never really considered the Ducks upstarts in this series.

OK, maybe a little.

In all fairness, the Sharks won the President's Trophy with the best regular season record in the NHL.

The Ducks, playing undisciplined, unorganized, unsuccessful hockey for much of the season only made the playoffs eighth seed with a miracle late season surge powered by GM Bob Murrays trade deadline acquisition group.

That said, the Ducks were under performing all season.

This was supposed to be the Sharks year, though.

After years of regular season success followed by playoff futility, the Sharks and their rookie coach Todd McClellan were supposed to exorcise demons of years gone by. Instead, these Sharks, headed up by "No Show" Joe Thorton, look headed for another disastrous playoff exit.

That said, this series is far from over, and this Sharks team knows how to win.

Center Joe Thornton is desperate to shed his playoff folding resume, something that has long followed the talented center throughout his playing days in San Jose and Boston.

The Ducks still need stop taking stupid penalties, too.

Not going to comment on the Zebras, though many have, in regards to this series.

The Ducks live and die by the edge of fair vs. foul play, and their reputation didn't just come out of nowhere.

Good teams rise above things like bad calls.

Bad teams crumble and start throwing the blame.

Sunday's game was also great because all three Ducks' goals were scored by players who didn't originally break camp with the team. Rookies Andrew Ebbett, Drew Miller, and phenom-in-training Bobby Ryan combined for all three Ducks goals, demonstrating the depth necessary for a prolonged playoff run.

Goaltender Jonas Hiller, longtime backup to struggling 2003 (corrected thanks to Jason Bruck) Conn Smythe winner J.S. Giguere, has looked the cool, at ease veteran in this series.

Ducks: Put the whining to the officials crap in your back pocket and sit on it.

Let 'em call the stuff they're going to call, serve your two minutes and learn from it.

The Ducks have 'em on the ropes, but it's up to them to put 'em away.

Ducks in six...

Dear Mr. Scioscia: Angels Suggestion

Scott Fowler — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:34:13 -0400

Dear Mike,

I'm a big fan of yours. Just let me get that out in the open first and foremost—huge fan.

Second of all, I know that this season has not gone as planned.

Having three of five starters on the DL to start the season must be difficult, and adding your biggest offensive threat and another starting pitcher to that list of hurt players certainly isn't helping.

I also want to go on record and say that I, for one, don't think you need to do something drastic, like sign Pedro Martinez, or Paul Byrd, or any other free agent starting pitcher.

Not yet, anyway.

No, in fact, I am writing you regarding your offensive potential.

I love Chone Figgins, too, but Gary Matthews, Jr. should not be your next-in-line option for Vlad Guerrero.

Vlad's falling apart. He runs like he has two wooden legs, and, even after successful knee surgery, he will never be what he was in his 20s.

Time's a bitch, after all.

But why are you in love with Figgins at third base? I know he's great, and a defensive upgrade over your younger guys, but I think it's now time for pop instead of defense. Defense will save runs in many cases, but it doesn't matter much if you're not putting up runs of your own.

It is with that in mind that I suggest your roster and lineup should be as follows:

LF Chone Figgins
2B Howie Kendrick
DH Bobby Abreu
CF Torii Hunter
RF Juan Rivera
C Mike Napoli
3B Brandon Wood (or Matt Brown?)
1B Kendry Morales
SS Maicer Izturis/Erick Aybar

I realize this won't win any popularity contests with people like GM Jr., but Abreu's glove is horrible. Even though Rivera is better suited for LF, I think he'd be a marginal upgrade over Abreu defensively.

It's time to bring up some pop and see what it can do.

If Kendry and his 1-for-100,000 with runners in scoring position this season deserves time for his first big crack at the bigs, Brandon Wood does, too.

We've already seen the Dallas McPherson story play out, and to lose Wood and have him blossom somewhere else would be disingenuous, at best.

By the way, Speier's starting to come around, eh? Let's hope it stays that way.

Sincerely,

Scott "The Big Geek" Fowler

Nick Adenhart, 1986-2009

Scott Fowler — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:02:10 -0400

Three people—including Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart—were killed and another person was seriously injured at an intersection in Fullerton, Calif., early this morning in a three-vehicle crash that authorities said was caused by a motorist who ran a red light.

Forget baseball.
Forget Pro Sports.
Forget anything and everything that doesn't matter.

Like many my age, my freshman year in high school was a difficult one. I struggled to find my place socially, personally. I made a friend in the music department. Music was long my passion, and Tim shared it.

Tim was great, a friend, a senior, passionate musician, and a great student.

Then one day, shortly after his 18th birthday, Tim was sitting in his car at a red light. A drunk driver, who'd been pulled over just moments before and released, reacted poorly, and struck Tim's vehicle.

Tim died that day.

I remember the funeral. It was my first.
I remember the questions, the anger, the tears, all of it.

I'll never forget.

Last night, a man named Andrew Thomas Gallo, also only 22 years old, made the biggest mistake of his life.

One which he'll never forget.

He chose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, drunk.

That decision killed three people, one of whom was a rising star in the professional sporting world, just finally tasting his dream.

Filled with promise, Adenhart was the future of the Angels staff. Now, the organization suffers his loss.

For a team that is built entirely on chemistry, on picking each other up, on bonding, on playing like a family out there for all the fans to see, this must be the ultimate sucker punch.

No baseball here today folks, just this.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

Anaheim Ducks: Time To Blow Them Up

Scott Fowler — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:50:03 -0500

The question must be a difficult one for a GM.

Do I blow up this team that has shown no signs of turning it around this season?

Even if they do turn it around, do we have enough talent to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup we won only two years ago?

Am I making the right decisions?

Do I blame the coach (who led us to that Cup only two years ago)?

Do I ship the soon to be UFA, the grey-beards, the marquee names? (Pronger, Scott N, etc.)

Are my goaltenders THIS bad for good?

Any number of these lines of questioning probably cause new Duck General Manager Bob Murray to lose sleep at night. Worse still is the rapid decline from Cup contender to no-show, top of the heap to postseason golf pro. Many fans of the game say that GMs in hockey set the tone of the team more than any other professional sport. Brian Burke's early season departure for the bright lights of NHL in Toronto sure didn't help this team find its identity at all.

Maybe that's part of the problem, too.

Under Burke, the team was charged with being rough and tumbled. Taking the ice, never falling into the trap of playing another team's game, the 2007 Ducks forced their way to the Cup skating, banging, and playing rough hockey. Many longtime supporters of the NHL cited the Ducks as goons, and players such as Chris Pronger have been marked men by the league ever since.

The Ducks made an early exit in last year's playoffs to the Dallas Stars, a team that didn't get much farther than the Ducks, and a team that Anaheim had considerable problems with all season last (and this) year.

Then there's this year. Sure, the Ducks brand of bringing the body is constantly met by league officials with penalties. All season long they continued to take the body and get called for it. Once they started spending more time in the box than on the ice, you'd think something would click for a team only two seasons removed from being Stanley Cup champs. Instead, last week's game against the Kings marked the Ducks giving up two power play goals during 5-on-3 man advantages.

One of which was to Scotty Niedermayer, serving his second box break of the night, both of which resulted in Kings goals.

Maybe it's not the lack of identity under Bob Murray.

Maybe it's the coach.

Randy Carlyle brought the Ducks their first Cup and is among their all-time leaders for coaching wins. He's no doubt responsible for the brand of hockey it took to win the Cup, but he's also the captain of the ship that lost, 8-4, at home last Sunday night to the lowly Atlanta Thrashers. His line combinations have been a downright awful mess.

Trying new things only gets you so far, and trying to spark something with a new line has limited potential even when it clicks and works. Making new lines and mixing up your M.O. just outright screams of desperation. From there, the players feel it. Opponents feed on it. Everyone suddenly is looking at each game as an uphill battle, and things start to fall apart.

The reason Chris Kunitz, Andy MacDonald, and Teemu Selanne had success as a line three years ago wasn't just their speed and skill: It was their familiarity with one another, having been line mates for a considerable amount of time, and having the built-in comfort level that comes with knowing what to expect of your line mates.

Maybe the players stopped listening to their coach, also.

If that's the case, the emotional leaders of this team, like Captain Scotty Niedermayer, need to deliver a good swift kick in the pants to every member of the group. Sure, we've had moments of individual brilliance recently: Bobby Ryan's been a rookie stud, Corey Perry came back from suspension and provided immediate consistent offense, and Getzlaf has been the best player on the ice night in and night out.

It's clearly not enough.

This team is playing as if they should win every game by virtue of their talent on paper.

They make stupid decisions with the puck.

They pass like flat-out crap.

They get drawn into taking stupid penalties night in and and night out.

Potential NHL poster child Corey Perry takes EVERY freakin' hit against him personally, retaliates, then whines about getting called on it.

All of it happens ALL the @#()$* TIME.

In past stretches like these, (which were much shorter than, say, entire seasons?) they could rely on their goaltending to win them a couple here and there, and suddenly that option is gone, too.

Stalwart J.S. Giguere, another emotional leader of this squad, has been completely lost since the unfortunate death of his father. Even the goaltender himself has admitted to feeling lost and lacking confidence out there, unable to get anything going in any positive light. Backup Jonas Hiller has faltered too, allowing easy goals in his past few starts, despite his previous flashes of excellence. His game was back this past game against Buffalo, and let's hope it's a sign of him righting the ship a bit. He literally preserved the game for the Ducks, who once again came out flat to open a game and got a few lucky bounces.

Maybe it's something to build on.

Probably not.

This all makes for the perfect storm for a rookie GM trying to take the reigns of a hockey team in a southern California market where even the lowly Clippers draw increased market share. The Ducks were almost relevant in this town when they won the Cup, and a slip in the standings this drastic stands to undo all the steps made by all of his predecessors in establishing the team, and the sport, as a strong local entity.

The Ducks are halfway through a brutal six-game road trip that started in Detroit (L, 5-2), Columbus (W, 5-2), and Buffalo (W, 3-2, thanks to Giguere).

Boston, Dallas, and Chicago remain, beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m., EST.

Some Ducks players might not return home from the trip as Ducks, with the NHL trade deadline looming (Mar. 4) and the Ducks ending their trip Mar. 3 in Chicago. Should the team decide to blow it up, and they've got every reason to do so, many players, such as Pronger and Scotty N., might be valuable trade commodities to teams facing playoff potential.

Rumors already swirled regarding Pronger, with (former Ducks GM) Brian Burke in Toronto desperate for a tone-setting marquee name for his storied franchise. Niedermayer is also being rumored with some regard by his former team, the New Jersey Devils.

Ducks Giguere, Perry, and Getzlaf have no-trade clauses, but it's fair to assume everyone else is fair game on a team crashing and burning like this one.

Breaking news: Today has the Ducks sending Chris Kunitz to center the Pittsburgh Crosby/Malkin line for defenceman Ryan Whitney, 26. With all of 28 NHL games under his 6'4", 230-pound frame, the youngster is more than a trade deadline deal: He's a statement.

Duck, we're blowing it up.

It's fairly accurate to say that this six-game road trip had better be an epic success for this Ducks team, or it won't be "this Ducks team" much longer.

It will be up to these Ducks to show what they're capable of, because if they've already done that, the only place you'll see these Ducks come playoffs is at the country club.

Anaheim Ducks Begin the Sell-off

Scott Fowler — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:36:54 -0500

Ducks traded veteran Chris Kunitz today to Pittsburgh for Ryan Whitney. Kunitz is rumored to be joining the highly touted line of Crosby and Malkin for the Penguins playoff push.

Whitney, 26, (6'4" 230) had two goals and 11 assists in 28 games last year and has been slowed a bit by injuries. The young defender fills a gap the Ducks have beyond this season, in their defensive corps that stands to lose a large number of players to free-agency this off-season.

Kunitz was by far one of my Favorite Ducks, so thanks for the great years, Chris. Hope life w/ Crosby treats you well, you were a class act, and a great member of the Ducks in both the team and community.

Looks like the GM believes this is time to blow it up.

Angels Add Free Agent Bobby Abreu For One-Year, $5 million

Scott Fowler — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:01:21 -0500

The American League West Champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finally did something of note this offseason after acquiring free agent right fielder Bobby Abreu.

Abreu, a former Yankee, is a career .300 hitter with a string of 100 walk seasons from 1999-2006. He's a patient slugger who will is capable of 16-20 home runs, and brings both speed and patience to the Angels.

The Halos, who balked this offseason, letting record-setting closer Frankie Rodriguez jump to the NY Mets, also lost out in the bidding war that saw Mark Teixeira sign with the Yankees. But the Angels finally pulled the trigger on a bat.

Granted, it's not the answer to the questions they had, but its still a great piece of the puzzle.

Abreu brings high pitch counts to an Angels lineup notorious for being hackers under hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. He also brings speed and somewhat declining defense.

On paper though, this all adds up to be a net gain over the loss of lifetime Angel Garret Anderson, as Abreu has better speed and discipline in the box than GA.

Lineup projections look something like this—on paper at least:

Figgins, 3B
Kendrick, 2B
Abreu, RF/DH
Guerro, RF/DH
Hunter, CF
Rivera, LF
Napoli, C
Morales, 1B
Wood/Izturis/Aybar, SS

Given the No. 3 and No. 5 hitters, Vlad should see better pitches in the clean-up spot, in a potential bounce back year for Guerrero following offseason knee surgery. It's not Tex, but I'd rather have Abreu in the lineup than Gary Matthews, Jr., and Reggie Willits.

GM, Jr. is a better field, but his bat has all but disappeared.

Willits has yet to hit a professional home run. Abreu's got 241 of 'em.

Juan Rivera Officially Signed: Angels Complete Deal with Starting Left Fielder

Scott Fowler — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:06:16 -0500

And it's: Juan Rivera! Sources close to the team say that the Halos are close to re-signing Juan Rivera to a three-year contract. You'd have to assume this is for the full-time, everyday LF job.

I can't imagine Juan coming back to be a bench guy, as I'm sure he could have, and may have, received offers for starting LF jobs from other teams. This is a kudos to Angels management, in my opinion.

The guy has proven his leg is healthy, and he's also shown that with regular playing time, he is quite capable of a 20 to 25-home run season.

This may also signal the official exit of Garrett Anderson, who, according to his agent, still wants to play everyday in the outfield. Personally, the thought of GA in another uniform is tough to think about, but baseball's a business, and the law of diminishing returns still applies.

Anyway, look for more info here once this wraps up and is official.

UPDATE: It's official—three years/$12.75 million!

K-Rod NYC Bound...?

Scott Fowler — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:50:58 -0500

Looks like K-Rod is NYC bound....

No, not THOSE pinstripes...

The other team. The one even less relevant than the yankees of late. At least, they have been in September.

Francisco Rodriguez and the Mets have agreed to terms of a three-year, $37 million deal.

What? Isn't that almost...exactly...the three-year, $36 million offer he had from the Halos?

Yep.

Turns out the market, like the Saves record, wasn't as big to the other teams as it was to K-rod.

I like K-Rod, he's been great for the Angels, and has been a true stud of a closer for us since joining the team and buoying a World Series victory in 2002.

But all this means is no more white knuckle "I can strike anyone out with my Slider at anytime" moments in the ninth of close games, only to have the batter NOT swing, draw the walk, and put runners on and make 'em scary. His newer changeup has been a great addition, but he's still...I dunno. never quite got the ego right.

That's what happens when you win the lottery on your first ticket (2002)—you expect it to last forever.

Good luck in the weaker hitting NL. This season should be great—not as many NL hitters have seen your stuff, and it'll make their knees go all wobbly.

Angels Musings: Turkey Day Rumor Mill

Scott Fowler — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:14:48 -0500

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and here's the latest on the Halos' winter dealings:

The Mark Teixeira hunt has it all—drama, a villain (Scott Boras), a big enemy (the Yankees/Red Sox), and a surprise ending.

Where will he sign? No idea. My gut still says Halos, though good ol' Mark Whicker of the OC Register's gut says differently.

The Angels are playing their hand slowly, letting the market for Teixeira really establish itself. Hopefully from a squalid offense perspective, this is so the Halos can swoop in and make the best offer on the table.

It's sort of become a bit of a stand off, stare down, with the Yankees and Red Sox. Boras says he's got offers on the table Teixeira can accept, but you know he's probably somewhat peeved at the way it's playing out, with neither of the biggest players (Yankees, Red Sox, Angels) showing any signs of cracking.

In fact, the Angels are doing the exact opposite, and spinning up interest in a potential contract for free agent pitcher CC Sabathia.

Not that we need another ACE pitcher.

Sabathia has made it public he'd like to return to California to play baseball, where he grew up. Additionally, he's also said he'd like an NL team to play for so he can hit (trivia tidbit: CC had last years seconnd longest home run at Dodger Stadium, a mammoth blast at 440 feet—courtesy of hittrackeronline.com).

That didn't stop the Yankees from ponying up a huge contract offer for the pitcher, at six years and $140 million. The fact that CC didn't jump on that offer has a few people in the industry wriggling, including the players union, who is pressuring CC to take the biggest offer on the table for the sake of setting the market for other pitchers that much higher.

I, for one, hope he doesn't take the biggest money deal and plays where he wants.

I also hope the Angels game doesn't come back to bite them in the a..er, END because they played the staring game w/ Boston on Teixeira.

Rumors flying out of Anaheim suggest an offer to CC is coming in the next few days and is in the $140 million range, which could be interesting.

Reagins did say he had the funds to get both Sabathia AND Teixeira. You have to think that an Angels' Sabathia signing would drive Teixeira's price somewhere...I'm not sure personally on if it would make it higher or lower, but it would certainly serve a message to Boras. Rumors that he wants a minimum 10-year deal are out there, but who knows what the market will bear?

I personally also think the Red Sox are only showing interest to drive the price up on the Yankees and Angels.

More to come I'm sure on these two signings.

In related news, veteran Angels left fielder Garrett Anderson, an unrestricted free agent, has signed with Scott Boras. Boras has publicly said GA wants to play everyday, and would welcome any offers, especially from National league clubs. Interesting. Maybe the decreased NL offensive production would be easier to play LF? Anyway, he says the doors still open for a Halo Re-up, but who knows if the Angels are even looking there?

Angels in the Offseason: Halo Rumblings

Scott Fowler — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:51:32 -0500

How's that pic for an attention-getter?

I'm back. It's been a while, and I know I needed to write something when I saw my name all but disappear from the top 10 Angels writers on the site.

Mark B and I are community leaders for God's sake, and while he and I have been in touch several times this offseason, we've both been reticent to talk "Angels baseball" after such a dismal October run by the team.

That said, I'm still not looking back because my Doctor won't let me.

So instead lets' talk about the future! That is, the future roster of this team.

Lots of talk this week centering around the Angels tactics regarding a certain trade deadline acquisition named Mark Teixeira. We all know he slugged and played amazing D all the way home for the Angels, but now what?

With his free agency already declared by uber-agent Scott Boras, the Angels started this week with some PR statements about making a sizable offer to Mark Teixeira prior to losing their exclusive bargaining rights this Friday. They then recanted, saying they weren't going to give Boras his "starting point" to shop to other teams, and decided to keep their cards a little closer to their chests for the time being.

Personally, I'm glad, because throwing down the gauntlet to someone of Boras' reputation is deadly. The Halos know they want Tex, and have publicly declared him their top priority this off season, but I think waiting for the first go-round is smart.

Of course, that means everything else has to wait, too. For the first time in his 15-year pro career, left fielder Garrett Anderson isn't on the Angels roster. The team had the ability to pick up an option on the somewhat aging GA, but chose the buy out option instead. GA has publicly stated a desire to work something out, even hinting at a hometown discount, and the Angels sadly haven't said much in response.

I realize this is a business, but GA even went so far as to discontinue services with his agent and will represent himself for his first run through free agency. As a Halo fan, I can't imagine GA in any other uniform. Out of loyalty alone, Arte, you and Mike should say, "Here, pal, three years, $28 million, and retire a Halo."

Baseball, though, is a business, and I'm sure there's a lot more to it. Just throwing the fans' perspective in there. If you're really leaving, GA, you're a class act, and I publicly promise you a full article "career in review." There's not enough space in this one to do you justice. Let's hope I don't have to write that piece. Truly a class act.

Other rumblings that affect the Angels...

Rumors that Randy Johnson was interested in the Angels were squashed by the team today.

Outfielder Juan Rivera will become an unrestricted free agent Friday, and I, for one, think he should be brought back. Sign him before he gets too used to the idea of playing everyday somewhere else for a real three-year starter contract—he's the real deal, and he's completely over that broken leg thing.

K-Rod—ahh, yes. K-rod. Owner Arte Moreno all but said he didn't want him back this week on the Sports Lodge (my new favorite morning radio show, by the way...check it out here). This is in reference to the number of deals the Angels offered the young closer this year, something on the order of six offers, all rebuked by the player and his reps.

As the market suddenly seems to shrink for the closer. Seems not all baseball loves his numbers—Angels included—and he and his agent have backed off from previous salary range demands. Should be interesting to see, but I think some team will overpay him and then can enjoy the luxury of his white-knuckle ninth innings. K-Rod, you got the ego in the '02 series and never played as good as you thought you were since. Slow the ego, and pitch.

In related AL West news, division rival Oakland made the first big splash of the offseason, acquiring left fielder Matt Holiday from Colorado. The 29-year-old Holiday is a great power and defensive upgrade, and will undoubtedly add some pop to Oakland's roster.

That's all for now, folks, more to come as the winter unfolds. Keep it here and www.ocsportsgeeks.com for my insight on the Halos!

BREAKING NEWS! Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke Steps Down

Scott Fowler — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:26:13 -0500

11:06am - Brian Burke is no longer GM of Anaheim Ducks—News Conference this afternoon will bring new info!

Long speculated to be the top choice for the GM role of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brian Burke has stepped down.

He will be replaced by Senior VP of Hockey Operations, Long tenured Hockey Exec Bob Murray.

TSN.ca is reporting that though Burke will remain in an advisory capacity with the Ducks for the remainder of his contract, Murray will have final say on hockey decisions.

The move has come quickly. Meeting just last week with ownership, Burke informed the team he wouldn't be renewing his contract beyond this season for family reasons. Burke has family on the east coast, and ventures back and forth two to three times a month.

Additionally, Burke himself has said that Toronto is the Vatican in terms of hockey teams and history or importance in the league. Many rumors have flown since his former college friend, Ron Wilson (another former Duck Coach), was picked as the new Leafs Coach, and speculation was everywhere that, even though under contract, Burke was pulling the strings and lining up the Toronto Maple Leafs in anticipation of his contract's expiration.

This is easy in the California sports landscape. The news conference won't even get top billing among local sports stations, though it will be a blurb. He'll disappear and re-appear in Toronto and few in Anaheim will have any idea, sadly.

Seven Issues the Angels Must Address This Offseason

Scott Fowler — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:27:32 -0400

Hold on to your hats, Angels fans. This is going to be a long, drawn out, hard to swallow article.

But then again, so was yet another early October exit.

Turn off the Halo.

It's time for some painful analysis in my post series "year in review" piece.

This is what the Angels need to address this offseason, period.

1. Gamesmanship

2. Teixeira

3. Vlad

4. Closer

5. Catcher(s)

6. Team Approach (especially Mickey Hatcher)

7. Pitching

Let's just get into it.

Gamesmanship

The Angels show up, do their jobs, and go home.

I'm not saying that the individual players don't have heart.

I know they do.

What I'm saying is maybe Scioscia's ability to get the team to turn the page so well on losing games is part of the problem, because they don't feel the burn from losses.

Maybe they'd play a little harder, a little more emotionally, with their hearts on their sleeves, like the (god I hate that I'm saying this) Dodgers, or Red Sox, or Tampa Bay.

Maybe they need a little more spit in your eye attitude and win at all costs swagger.

I'm a total homer for this next line, but the 2002 team could win. Any game, any time, anywhere. They had an aura that whatever adversity they faced, they had the tools to overcome it.

Good pitching? Work the counts!

Lots of offense? Produce more runs and manufacture in spots 1-9.

Rough outing by the pitcher? Great defense.

This year's team never seemed to step up for each other, and I don't know why.

Every team member will tell you that the club had special chemistry this year, lots of camaraderie, and Scioscia starts that with his usual training camp antics in spring. The team wins and loses together—they just don't do it on the field.

When Lackey needed a modicum of help from his teammates in both games of this series, the defense folded like a house of cards. Sure, Kendrick and Aybar are playing in their first real postseasons, but that shouldn't matter.

So was Lowrie, who hit the game-winning single last night.

Lester's only in his second.

All those two did was show up and execute—and the Angels' execution, top to bottom this series, was suspect at best.

The heart of the order had hits, but how many were singles? I think something like 90 percent of them.

Batters three, four, and five in a lineup aren't there to single and get one base. They are there to move the runners along. Granted, there weren't many runners, but there weren't any extra base hits anyway, so it's a push.

Napoli brought it.

Lackey brought it.

Everyone else showed up and hoped it would be enough.

That's what makes the difference, and that's why I'm actually really worried about this postseason.

Not because of what we have or don't have come spring training.

You can't teach hunger, fire, and gamesmanship.

I don't know if any Angels have enough (minus Lackey, Shields, and maybe Napoli).

Mark Teixeira

My biggest fear with Teixeira is that he's the best free agent of the year and has said himself that he never even had Anaheim on the radar until he arrived here.

Will a two-month battle with the boys in Anaheim and the experience of playing here be able to change that?

Sure, our ownership is dedicated and great, and the fans show up every night, but he might have a real sour taste too.

If the Angels can't win with this lineup, how are they going to do more with less next year?

He's obviously looking for a big payday, and Arte Moreno has said he doesn't see us increasing the payroll ridiculously this offseason.

Wonder what he's saying now that we lost.

Regardless, it's going to take some big bucks to sign Tex long term, and I think the Angels have to be as aggressive as possible to bring him back.

Period.

Their offseason needs to begin and end with Tex as priority number one.

Vlad

Boy, he better have offseason knee surgery. He runs like he's got wooden legs.

He's got a team option for next year that will obviously be picked up, but what beyond that?

He's obviously in decline. Surgery definitely has the potential to help, but in the long term, he's obviously better suited for a full time DH role.

I say tear up the option year, plunk him with a moderately high 3-4 year deal, and put him on the pine as a DH and spot starting outfielder.

Even if the knees are healthy, they won't be for long.

Closer

K-Rod.

Talk about letting your mouth cash checks.

When he had to go to arbitration last year and lost, he was visibly upset with the organization for not recognizing his talent and respecting him.

He then went out and set the single season saves record, destroying the previous one by five saves.

Then he no-showed in October.

I think the problem with Frankie—and I hope to god that October was a lesson learned—is that he suddenly wasn't as good as his ego thought he was.

He was lights out as a rookie when he entered and propped up a pitching staff en route to the Angels' first World Series Championship. He was stellar the following season and has slowly started to decline ever since.

The problem with winning it all on your first shot is expectations and assumptions.

If you win the lottery on the ticket you bought on your 18th birthday, you have no concept of how lucky you are.

That's the problem with K-Rod. He's had it easy with these Angels.

Lots of opportunities to close out games, and lots of help in doing so, too.

He walks a lot of batters now. He gives up tons of singles and doubles (HRs? ask Drew). He's not 1-2-3 lights out at all anymore, though he flirts with it from time to time and still has electric stuff.

He hasn't evolved as a pitcher. With the exception of the new changeup, he still thinks he has the stuff to get by any batter at any time. I get that that is essential to a closer's mental makeup, but he takes it too far, relying on stuff out of the zone and constantly banking too much on batters chasing stuff they used to when he was new and exciting.

Frankie: You're a talented pitcher with great stuff. Stop being a thrower and learn how to be a pitcher.

You're going to cash in somewhere this offseason, and while you said all the right things about the Angels being first choice, you better mean it and offer a hometown discount.

You got one by being here for the last six seasons.

The Catcher(s)

Napoli.

Barring injury, full time. Period.

Spot start anyone else. No more pitcher-specific tandems. I don't care. He's the only one who can hit—and that, right now, lost the Angels the ALDS (hitting, not Mathis. Jeez, I'm not that mean.).

Team Approach (Mickey Hatcher)

Mike Scioscia is amazing.

Ask anyone.

Situational baseball can only get you so far.

It's called the regular season.

Sure, manufacturing runs can be successful in October too.

It just hasn't been for the Angels in six seasons.

You know what does work?

Working the count.

Not wasting outs sending runners on a "What if" ALL the time.

Not wasting outs in the ninth inning of a tie win-or-go-home ball game by bunting over to third.

You have a runner at second with nobody out and three batters to move him home?

GAME IT.

Put the bat in the hitter's hands. Don't take it out.

Micromanaging rarely works in business and really only exists when it has to.

Keep it the same way in baseball. Situational hitting and running and the whole bit work well as they are intended.

Situationally.

(Is that a word?)

They can't become the absolute end-all be-all.

In 2002? Scioscia did stuff purely on hunches. He flew by the seat of his very experienced baseball pants and plugged and chugged as needed.

He needs more of that.

Sure, the bunt works when executed, but what about when it's not?

And Mickey Hatcher needs to pull the "swing at everything" stick out of his behind.

Learn to work the count. That's how you get to good pitchers. It's how you win playoff series.

Pitching

Arredondo is great and could take over with Shields on a split platoon for closer if K-Rod bails or is "allowed to go elsewhere."

I think the team's got great pitching.

Problem is, we need to lock it up long term.

Saunders, Santana—get 'em done.

CC Sabathia wants to pitch in California.

Make that phone call and do more than kick the tires.

Garland's contract.

The easy call is Lackey.

He's another guy in an option year, and you have to realize that he wants to win. He's loyal to a fault and bleeds Halo Red better than anyone, and he is the one TRUE 100 percent gamer on the team.

He has to know you're committed to winning.

He doesn't like losing, especially in October, and isn't afraid to call out all the players at fault. He leads by example and gives you the best chance to win of anyone.

Period.

You have to do what it takes to get him to sign here long-term so we keep the junkyard dog in the yard where he belongs.

The Angels had a great season, but I'm going to say one final thing.

The Yankees are a team that is expected to win, year in and year out. After a decade of mediocrity—by their standards, not baseball's—the team's fans are upset.

They're frustrated.

They boo their star players when they slump.

They shout passionately at the out of town fans, and they show up and expect their team to play their brand of baseball to their utmost ability.

The Angels' fans have always quietly been happy when their team does well, showing up for games, cheering all the way, and enjoying the ride.

Finally, the Angels had expectations, and they didn't live up to them.

At all.

Expectations breed contempt, and I think the Angels' faithful are starting to expect more from these halos.

I know I am, and I can't stand losing.

Welcome to expectations central, Angels.

I hope you can start to live up to them.

One More October to Forget

Scott Fowler — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:33:47 -0400

The Angels season ended in a very familiar way last night.

The Angels, shocked and awed, standing quietly, watching the Red Sox celebrate another series victory in October.

Third baseman Chone Figgins stood near third base, hands on his hips, drinking in the moment quietly.

Silently.

Emotionally, Angels fans are a mess.

The LA Times made mention that we are the new Atlanta Braves, and I have to concede that's a damn fine comparison.

Highlighting a postseason appearance run of 14-straight seasons, the Atlanta Braves only won the World Series once in that span.

If you were a horse with those numbers, you'd be glue.

The Angels are looking more and more at themselves this morning, and what they see, they truly can't like. 100 wins this season was the most of any team in baseball, and better than any Angels team before it. It all meant nothing but 1-3 in October, and another first round ousting at the hands of the Red Sox.

On paper, the Angels might be considered the better team, but come October, they just don't show up.

This is particularly difficult given the management stylings of the team. Execute. Play small ball. Do the little things.

In this play off round, they didn't do any of them. Some can blame the spotlight, but winners want the ball when it matters. They want the chance for the at bat to win the game, the series, to drink in the moment and get the job done.

I can't say with any conviction that aside from maybe John Lackey, the angels have winners on their club.

They play the game well during the regular season, show up, get the job done, though usually barely. The Angels won something on the order or 65 games by one or two run margins, and while that's good enough for wins, it's not good enough when it counts.

The Angels had 43 men left of base this series, in 4 games.

I think Howie Kendrick left 42 of them, or so it seemed.

Boston's Dustin Pedroia, Kendricks 2nd base counterpart for the Sox, had a horrible series that followed and MVP worthy season, and what did he do tuesday night with the game on the line, early?

He banged one of the monster.

Pedroia:Gamer.

Kendrick:?

That about sums it up for this series.

The Sox are gamers and do what it takes to win, regardless of the situation.

The Angels are great ball players who play the game like it's their job. And while they may love their job, they don't leave it all on the field.

If they did, they'd still be playing, maybe even celebrating, october baseball.

No ridiculous running gaffes that get marquee players thrown out by 30+ feet.

No bobbled routine popups, miscommunicated or otherwise.

No routine grounders turned into RBI's.

No 0-for's in the ALDS.

No missed bunts.

Winners do what it takes to win, and losers always talk about how proud they are to be in the game. Sean Connery, in the movie "The Rock" said it best:

"Losers always talk about their best. Winners go home and @#($* the Prom Queen"

Next year, and here we go again, already talking about next year and it's Tuesday, October 7th, the Angels are going to be a very different team, and it goes without saying that the "new look Angels" aren't going to be anywhere nearly as good on paper as the Angels were this year.

These Angels.

The ones who just lost the ALDS.

Again.

Angels-Red Sox: Angels Persevere, Put Off Series Sweep in 12

Scott Fowler — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:52:40 -0400

12 in a row was just sitting in the backs of their heads.

After getting to Boston ace Josh Beckett early in the first, and only coming away with one run, the Angels must have felt like the series clincher was closing in around them.

A mis-communicated pop fly that (to borrow a hockey term) split the D in shallow center scored three with two outs, and the Halos were suddenly down 3-1 in Game Three of the ALDS in Fenway.

Enter Mike Napoli.

In my pre-series article, I actually called the Angels in four.

At least they're still playing in Game Four.

I also called Mike Napoli out as the player most likely to have a huge series.

Boy was tonight one hell of a start.

The Angels are nowhere near done with this series yet, and they face an even harder test tomorrow when Jon Lester takes the mound.

Now, I also called the Angels out for having no heart, or at least for not playing with it.

I'll hold my tongue a bit, but tonight's game was more about perseverance than attitude. What did happen, though, is the Angels found out first hand that they can win a game against this team in the postseason, snapping an 0-11 skid against the Red Sox that went back 22 years.

Hats off tonight go to:

Napoli

His two-run shot and solo homer were enough to keep the Angels in it, until he scored on Erick Aybar's single in the 12th, which was also enough for the win.

Figgins

Great production from the top of the order tonight and a fabulous night with the glove at third.

Scot Shields

Having had his share of problems against Boston, especially of late, it was great to see him come in and do it tonight. The curve was off the charts, and the heater was the perfect complement.

Weaver

Great job to come in in a bullpen role for the starter, and pitched a great game, giving his team the win.

That's the good that came out of tonight's must win, and I just want to say that if the Angels can finally turn the page, maybe tomorrow they can get a hit when it matters, having left a dozen or so runners on base again tonight.

Go Lackey.

Go Halos.

Two wins in one day, ok fellas? Bring it back home.

Boston Red Sox Continues Dominance, Sets Stage for ALDS Sweep Sunday at Fenway

Scott Fowler — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:32:18 -0400

Championships are won and lost with two things: Heart and Confidence.

Both were on display yet again in Anaheim where the defending World Champ Boston Red Sox took Game Two of their ALDS series with the Angels.

In my previous article, I mentioned that Boston had gamers, and that the Angels, for all their success, really lacked that "get it done" mentality.

Once again, the heart of the Angels order continued to hit the ball, though not powerfully, as Mark Teixeira, Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter all had productive nights.

The Angels even managed some drama late in the game.

I'm not going to get into a detailed recap here. Most of you watched the game, or at least the highlights, and aren't reading this for any sort of play-by-play.

I am, however, going to pull a total about face and chastise my favorite team.

Tonight, I'm not pulling punches.

I'm letting it all hang out, and I'm starting right now.

Why this series is on the ropes:

1. Pitching

I wrote in my preview of Game Two that Santana would have to be error free tonight to give the Halos a fighting chance, and for the most part, he pitched well.

Well, except for that whole "Four-run first inning" thing.

The middle relief core tried to do their thing, and they escaped some jams late in the game to keep it within striking distance.

K-Rod, in what very could have been his last appearance as an Angel, was decent in the 8th, but got lit up in the 9th, all personified when J.D. Drew, the Sox outfielder who'd been plagued w/ back problems of late, showed the Angels that his back feels fine by belting a top of the 9th two run homer to recapture the lead.

2. Heart

I understand that baseball is a game of numbers. Let's look at some from this series.

Number of...

Angels extra base hits this series: 1
Angels Left on base by Howie Kendrick: 11
of Boston Red Sox runs scored with 2 outs this series: 8/11
of Extra base hits by Boston Red Sox this Series: at least 9 (I'm not lookin 'em up)

I love the Angels. I love Kendrick. I bleed Halo red.

I don't sense that this team has the spark.

They lack that player that takes 'em to the next level—that gets on and causes problems, a la Jacoby Ellsbury, David Eckstein, the super utility version of Chone Figgins (though he redeemed himself somewhat tonight, getting on base three times, and even tying it in the 8th, before, well, see above.)

The Red Sox have swagger. They walk into a stadium knowing they can beat any team, anytime, anywhere. They are the reigning World Champs, and they continue to act like it.

This entire series they've brought the game to the Angels, and the Angels have been on their heels.

The meat of the Angels order, all batting roughly .400-.500 this series, have not combined for an extra base hit.

Think about that.

Until Figgy tripled in the 8th tonight, the Angels had 18 consecutive singles, and are something like 50+ post season innings without a home run.

Jason Bay has two in as many games, and this is the first playoff series of his career.

You can't win playoff games single-ing all the way. Not when you're playing the Red Sox, again, in October.

3. Confidence

I thought for a minute that Figgins triple in the ninth would be the one that started it all. My brother-in-law and I high fived, screaming at Figgins on third, and celebrated the first extra base hit for the Halos of this ALDS.

Then GA popped up, fouled out.

That personifies this team. They go up there and they hope they can get base hits.

The Red Sox just go up there and hit.

I've spent a good deal of time on local radio call ins, and on this site, and my own blog talking about my frustration at the Angels lack of Media respect, and lack of coverage throughout baseball. I always thought it had to do with the time zone, or ok, this year the AL West sucked so bad, the Dodgers (2-0 in their series Vs. the Cubs, I might add) would have won it. We won 100 games, best record in baseball, some real sluggers in Hunter and Teixeira, this year was different.

The reason the Angels play under the radar of every outlet in the nation is because while they are absolutely built for the regular season, they can't get it done against one team in October.

That one team just happens to face them every time they get there, and the series shifts to their home stadium Sunday, in Boston.

In the football movie The Replacements, Gene Hackman coaches a ragtag bunch of scab players through a player strike, and in the big playoff game moment typical of all sports movies, he goes to the locker room at halftime, losing considerably, to the reigning champs.

A reporter stops and asks him what it'll take to turn the game around in their favor, and he says simply:

"Heart. Loads and Loads of heart."

The Halos have mine in their hands, and the rest of their loyal fans, too.

It's up to them to do something about it Sunday.

Nothing like baptism by Fire.

Beckett.

Fenway.

one and out.

We'll see quickly if they have what it takes to prove every sports columnist in the country wrong.

Go Halos. Time to show 'em what your made of.

Ervin Santana's Charge: Don't Make ANY Mistakes. Period.

Scott Fowler — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:53:11 -0400

Good teams find ways to win ball games.

In Game 1 in Anaheim John Lackey was pitching a gem.

Up to bat in the sixth was Jason Bay, the new "at-least-he's-not-Manny" left fielder for the Boston Red Sox, and two time strike out victim to unflappable Lackey.

One pitch hangs a little over the plate when he's looking fastball, then lands in a bullpen, and the whole team unraveled.

Well, the whole team but Lackey.

Not that it mattered, since he'd be replaced an inning later.

A starting pitcher's job, by definition, is to go out there and give your team a chance to win a ball game, and John Lackey did just that, and then some.

Problem is, so did their guy.

What's his name again? Oh yeah, Jon Lester. The kid who won the deciding game of last year's World Series. The Kid who overcame cancer AND pitched a no-no this year vs. KC.

I admit I could probably beat KC with my wickedly deceptive changeup, but that's a whole other story.

Neither team blew up the runs or hits in Game 1, but the Angels are going to have to respond in Game 2 to stand a chance in this series.

To get it done this time, the Halos will have to concentrate on the following areas:

1. Productive At Bats

Jon Lester got ahead of a lot of hitters, especially once he found his rhythm, as he often does, in the third inning or so. Dice-K, the Sox starter in Game 2, is very similar, and often struggles early.

Howie Kendrick took one at bat to around 12 pitches and continued to make Lester work for it.

The rest of the Angels lineup swung at everything.

Literally.

Stuff in the dirt, stuff outside, fooled on the breaking ball, all of it. That's got to change, especially early, so they can put some early runners on and establish their own tempo in the ball game.

Which leads me to...

2. Stop Pressing. It's just another game.

At the end of the day, it is just another game. It seemed like every Angel, with the possible exception of Lackey, was waiting for the Boston Red Sox to bring the game to the Angels.

That is as much of a recipe for disaster as I can imagine when playing the Red Sox. If you get suckered into playing their game, you will lose ball games.

Relax. Wait for your pitch. Focus on the little things. Do your job, be patient in the box, in the field, and ESPECIALLY on the base paths (this means you Vlad). Be confident in YOUR brand of baseball. It got you 100 wins this season and if you continue to play, or manage to do it a little bit, it will continue to reward you in the post season.

3. Support your pitcher.

Something apparent in John Lackey's statements today, and his exit approach to the dugout last night, spoke volumes (and I'm not talking about the loud expletives and glove smash in the dugout).

He said afterwards, and I'm paraphrasing a little, that it's tough to be in a position where you can't make a mistake and when one mistake can cost you a ball game.

Lead off hitters at the top of the order are supposed to "set the table". If you look at the box score last night, batters 2-5 did their jobs. Not exceedingly well, or even with any extra base hits (another whole article), but they got hits. The problem was there was never anyone on base when they did.

The entire Angels' mantra is get runs while you can, manufacture, manufacture, manufacture.

It's tough to do when you're up there pressing, swinging, and hacking.

Take a deep breath.

Have fun.

Enjoy the moment, and you'll enjoy the outcome.

Up next? Game 2 Post Game, tonight. Stay tuned.

The Top 10 Reasons We Hate Our Favorite Teams

Scott Fowler — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:16:56 -0400

With the upcoming American League Division Series between the L.A. Angels and Boston Red Sox, Bleacher community leaders Scott Fowler and Michael Lemaire decided they'd take a different approach to this year's series.

The two mental giants sat down and produced what will be the first installment of a series of articles about this series.

Without further ado, I give you the Top 10 Reasons Why We Hate Our Teams, by Scott Fowler and Michael Lemaire, in no particular order

Lemaire Reason No. 1: Not a single true Boston fan gets to attend games, especially during the playoffs.

The ticket prices soar through the roof and every drunk McCarthy, Flanagan, and O'Shea has to watch the game from the Cask N' Flagon while nursing their eighth Miller Lite. Meanwhile, all the families and corporate fat cats make it into the game, participate in the wave (damn communists), and politely clap for a Ortiz home run like they are at the opera.

Fowler: (Reason No. 1) Oh, man, at least you HAVE fans. Here? The Angels sell out almost every game, right? Sure, we're sold over three million tickets this year, great, right? Too bad when we play the Yankees, Cubs, White Sox and Red Sox, our fans are QUIETER than the visiting lunatics. How can you tell if a fan is an out of towner is at an Angels game? He's the one cheering.

Lemaire Reason No. 2: All the attractive players are on our baseball team.

The problem with these guys is that they bring out the often drunk, always obnoxious, pink hat wearing female fans. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are the main culprits. I mean Ellsbury I can understand, look at that physique and that bone structure, but Pedroia? Did I miss something? When did 5'6" guys with neck beards and a little paunch suddenly become such heart-breakers? These women and their "Jacoby will you marry me?" signs...

Fowler Reason No. 2: Angels fans are always trying to borrow a gimmick

We've got the monkey. That's enough! We don't need to try a new seventh-inning-stretch song every season to try to copy "New York New York" or "Sweet Caroline." Let it go!

Bring the cheerleaders with their air (and silicone?) cannons out to shoot T-shirts into the stands while you play the kiss cam thing, bring out the monkey if we're losing, it's close, and it matters, and let us sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The End.

Lemaire Reason No. 3: The end of our batting order.

If you stick to conventional wisdom, the end of our batting order (7-8-9) will look something like this....7. Jason Varitek, 8. Jed Lowrie, 9. Coco Crisp. I mean, does that really scare anyone?

I will admit that Lowrie is much better than the Artist Formerly Known As Lugo, but Varitek and Crisp would have probably been the last kids picked for the sandlot games this season.

We have enough offensive woes, being without J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell, and now we are basically resigned to the fact that our catcher is going to swing at the ball about eight seconds too late, and our center fielder is going to pop out to the pitcher or ground out to second base.

Fowler Reason No. 3: Those Howards TV Ads. Oh My @(#$* God!

I absolutely adore Mike Scioscia, ever since he stopped by my High School Baseball practice and actually sat with the catchers (I caught all four years). He's a class act all the way and knows baseball like few other people.

He is hands-down the reason this team is as successful as they are, year in year out. He's a players manager, and he's a great guy in the community.

Holy crap can he not act.

Seriously Mike, if I ever see you in another Howard's commercial that poorly written, I'm actually never going to shop at Howard's again, and PLEASE don't do more clever stuff w/Howie Kendrick and the name tie-in either. Leave the kid alone.

No more Howard's commercials. Not today, not ever.

Lemaire Reason No. 4: When did the Red Sox become the new Yankees?

I loved it when the Red Sox were the lovable losers that people loved to root for, whether they were a fan or not. Now I have to deal with people who call us fans obnoxious and accuse our team of buying our championships. Guys! We are Boston...Rich Garces? Cowboy Up? Papelbon's Irish Jig?...Nobody going for it? Well so what...We are the defending champions...so there.

Fowler Reason No. 4: FOX SPORTS WEST AND KTLA

Holy freakin' crap in my pants,

If Mike Scioscia hawks another HDTV, all while I'm sitting at my house, four miles from the stadium, watching the @#($* game on a 62" Mitsubishi w/1080p with a signal that looks like it was shot with my !)(@*# cell phone, I'm going to stab someone in the throat with my remote.

There's nothing worse in the world than turning to the game, flipping to the HD counterpart on Fox Sports West and finding that the channel has the "this channel is reserved to broadcast HD signal, when available" message.

And KTLA? You just suck. Period. At least FSW has half the games in HD. You don't even BROADCAST in HD. it should be a rule that you can't advertise HD TV's on NON-HD NETWORKS

Lemaire Reason No. 5: TERRY FRANCONA'S MAN CRUSH ON MIKE TIMLIN

Look, I will be the first to go to bat for Mike Timlin. He is from Texas, he ain't afraid of anybody, and he wears the same sweaty and smelly camo shirt under his jersey for all of his games. Also, he was fantastic for the team since he was signed in 2003. He has been great in the playoffs, and everyone felt really confident when he went in.

Now, his ERA is 5.66, his WHIP is 1.62, and he has given up nine home runs in just 50 innings. Yes, you read that right, he pitched 50 innings. Look, I understand Terry Francona loves the guy, and I understand he has earned a few innings here and there.

But we are trying to win a championship, and Mike Timlin is doing is best impression of John "Way Back" Wasdin. Every time he comes in now he tries to throw a fastball by the hitter, and the ball either goes over the monster or puts a big freaking dent in it.

Yet Terry Francona was either in the bathroom while this was happening, or he plugs his ears and does the "lalalala I'm not listening" move when Timlin is in because Tito keeps sticking him out there.

Fowler Reason No. 5: Chone Figgins never bats leadoff when he DHs

WHY? What impact does defensive positioning have on batting order? Seriously, he's a DH so he has to hit in the bottom of the lineup? Why? DH's can't run? "Suddenly, yes, it's Chone Figgins, their DH, he's...omg..he's stealing second. LOOK AT THAT Everyone! A designated hitter who can run! I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime."

FORGET TRADITIONAL POSITIONAL BATTING ORDER.

Play with what works best for scoring and generating runs. Period.

Lemaire Reason No. 6: We are Manny-less and people are happy about it

Fowler: Angels fans definitely are, but go on...

Lemaire: Yes, Jason Bay has been great since he came over from Pittsburgh...Fantastic actually, and yes, Manny Ramirez is a spoiled, enigmatic, and clueless player...But Christ Almighty can he rake.

The only player who has been better than Bay since the trading block might be Manny Ramirez. Bay has never played in the postseason, Manny has, and he has played really well. Fans in Boston always seem to defend the trade by saying, "Well, Manny pushed an old man...That's wrong."

It's true, but sorry? I didn't know we were trying to win an ethical championship. I thought we were playing baseball and no one scares pitchers more than having to face David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez back-to-back

Fowler Reason No. 6: Francisco Rodriguez isn't the best closer in baseball

I know he had an amazing year, but if you put Scot Shields or Arredondo in the same role, with 100,000,000 save opportunities, they'd both have broken the record, too.

Seriously, K-rod's probably among the top five closers in the game, but there are better closers out there. More lights out, less heart-attack inducing, the whole nine. Sure, he's pomp and circumstance, that big celebration after every save, a kiss to his grandfather watching down on him, and he's got GREAT stuff, but he's also giving more and more walks, and people realized the only way to counter his slider is to not swing at it.

Seriously, the line on K-Rod is either:

1 IP, 2 Ks, 0 BB, 0 Hits with 12 pitches, 10 for strikes,

it's 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 H, 18 pitches, 9 strikes

I don't want him to go next year, but for the amount of money he's going to want this offseason, if it's him of Tex? Enjoy the Mets, K-Rod *pound pound* PEACE OUT *points to the sky*

Lemaire Reason No. 7: The Red Sox making the playoffs means Dan Shaughnessy gets to write more articles about the Red Sox

Shaughnessy writes for the Boston Globe, and he used to be a fantastic writer, but now he is slowly turning into a bitter old man. Even when the Red Sox win, Shaughnessy loves to get on his high horse and points out Red Sox flaws or questions that will plague the Red Sox.

I mean, I don't understand why ESPN needs to give these guys a larger platform to show their arrogance. I would like to see them drop a cage on Shaughnessy and see him go mano a mano with a member of the Red Sox. Maybe Timlin will be useful after all.

Fowler: At least you have sports writers, which brings me to my Reason No. 7: Our Local Coverage BLOWS.

In light of all the "national" (Bristol, evil four-letter empire) media attention being lavished on any team that plays its games before 6 PM Pacific time, you'd think our home town writers would step up,

DiGiovanna at the LA Times is great, but even in our own back yard, where everyone knows we win ballgames and divisions year in year out, the Dodgers are still L.A.'s team in the local press

Seriously, T.J. Simers, what about the Angels? You too, Bisheff, and the rest of you. Where's the Halos love? We've only won the division four out of the past five years.

Fowler: which leads me directly into my Reason No. 8: The Dodgers.

Lemaire: I don't want to get in the way of the creative juices

Fowler: I know this is supposed to be a "what I hate about the Angels thing" but one of the things I hate the MOST about Angels games is Dodger fans.

They pile into the stadium, and seriously, these people are ALL the same people that make up Raider Nation in the NFL. I actually saw two fights, about baseball break out in one game vs. the Dodgers, and the people fighting were Dodger fans—They even fight themselves!

Owner Arte Moreno is in love with the marketing idea of the L.A. Angels (of Anaheim), and while I'm in the OC and think it's lame, I get it. He was actually close to being L.A.'s team, then they went out and got ManRam, and the Angels clinching the division fell to a PAGE SIX snippet in the Times' sports section, all because of the @)#($* DODGERS.

Lemaire Reason No. 8: Daisuke Matsuzaka and his love for walks

Dice-K, statistically, had a great season. I mean, what team in baseball wouldn't take 18 wins, a 2.90 ERA, and 154 strikeouts? But nothing gives me a heart attack like watching Dice-K dominate the first two hitters of the inning, then walk the next two, give up a single to load the bases, and then get someone to line out to left field.

It's great as long as that is what happens...every time. But I have this unfounded fear that Dice-K will hang one of those fabulous splitters to someone like Vladdy Guerrero and Guerrero will hit it all the way into Oakland.

Stop walking people, and I think everyone in Boston would love you more big guy.

Fowler: I'm almost out of ammo!

Lemaire: Yeah, I know! I think I got two more

Fowler: I can come up with two...

Lemaire: I will go with No. 9, give you time to think..

Fowler: Go for it.

Lemaire Reason No. 9: Celebrity Fans

The negative side-effect of the new success of the Red Sox means that they are turning into the new hot spot for any celebrity or pseudo-celebrity that happens to Boston. Ben Affleck is a fan, and Stephen King is a fan. But why do I have to watch the rest of the people as well?

As a matter of fact, I don't ever want to turn on NESN and watch Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy talk about how Mr. Affleck and Mr. King are in attendance, and hear another long, boring story about how they have been lifelong fans. Spare me!

Show the one or two hot girls that actually get to Fenway, or show some drunken idiot singing with his shirt off, just please don't show any more celebrities.

Fowler Reason No. 9: The Wave

It's 2008 people. I think professional sports, as a whole, were finished with the @!^#$ WAVE 25 years ago. Hell, by the time the first wave made it all the way around for a second time, it should have been done. Three weeks ago, I'm at a game, it's the bottom of the eighth, a few runners on, some potential for a tying or go-ahead run and the only time people in the whole damn stadium react is when the wave comes back around to their section?

W.T.F?

People sitting near me "oh, get ready, wait for it, wait for it, here it comes! GOYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and sit back down. Me, mumbling under my breath, then standing alone in my section, cheering as rookie Sean Rodriguez hit's a go ahead triple in the eighth...

Except for the section who happened to be wave-ing. Bastards, all of 'em.

Lemaire Reason No. 10: The Red Sox aren't as good as last year, and the Angels are better

This isn't something I hate as much as it's something that petrifies me. The Angels are zero for their last millennium against the Red Sox in the playoffs, but as you already mentioned, it's 2008 people, not 2007, and not 2004.

The Red Sox have had more injuries than the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Angels actually have the occasional guy who can hit the ball over the fence this year. Angels fans don't annoy me yet, but I am very afraid that that will change after the ALDS

Fowler Reason No. 10: The Angels Can't Beat Boston in the Postseason

If it's the 1986 Angels (though I would like to say hi to Bill Buckner, here) or ones from this decade, the Halos haven't won a single game versus the Goliath from the East in the postseason in 22 years.

I don't care how good you are, that number sits in the back of your head. Visions of ManRam destroying a Frankie cut fastball that plopped right over the plate (which, incidentally, I think landed only last week, somewhere near Biloxi). Or Garrett Anderson's pink eye, or Jarrod Washburn's one pitch to Ortiz to end the series before it began in '04, the Halos' only kryptonite comes from beantown and wears a "B" on their caps.

All in all, we both want this series to be fun, exciting great baseball. It's got all the makings of a great series, and we'll be here to rub each others noses in it every step of the way.

Keep an eye out for us, we're not going anywhere yet.

And Michael's here for at LEAST three more games this season.

For Michael Lemaire, I'm Scott Fowler saying: GO HALOS and good night.

Angels-Red Sox in ALDS: What to Watch for

Scott Fowler — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:22:55 -0400

The playoff picture in the American League isn't quite finished being painted, but one thing is certain: the Angels and Red Sox will be at it again come October.

For the Red Sox, this could be the best news they've had, especially of late. They have absolutely owned the Angels, historically, having beaten them in nine (yes, NINE) consecutive playoff games dating back to 1986.

For the Halos, it's also a chance to dispel history and chase all aspects of their own mini Boston curse out of sports columns everywhere.

In a sense, though, the Boston Red Sox can't lose this series—not in a media sense, anyway. Their fans, too, already have a built-in excuse, which leads me to my first of three key factors to this series.

1. Red Sox Injuries

The Red Sox limped into the postseason this year, with a spatter of injuries to a pretty solid core of their talent.

Mike Lowell, for starters, is banged up, and taking him out of the lineup takes out a proven October performer from the offense. Defensively it's a minus too, because Kevin Youkillis is a downgrade at third base.

J.D. Drew is nowhere near 100 percent, and that is another significant minus to the team's offensive production.

Limited to just 28 games in the second half, Drew has had some nagging injuries this season, and has only played recently. He started the first game of the Yankees doubleheader in right field and went 0-2 at the plate.

Both Drew and Lowell will work out at Anaheim today, and Coach Terry Francona is evaluating both players' levels of ability before he finalizes his playoff roster.

The bigger question has to be Red Sox ace Josh Beckett. Beckett's usual Game One start has been pushed back to Game Three in this series, and that has to play into the Angels' favor.

2. These Angels and These Red Sox

The league, and especially media, are of the opinion that the Angels still can't swing with the big boys in the A.L.

Looking at select stats, the Angels led the league with 61 victories that were by one or two-run margins.

Maybe I'm a bit of a fan, but isn't that all it takes to win ballgames? Do the rules change in October and require that every team win by huge margins? I mean, sure, the Yankees put up great numbers of runs this year—good enough to finish third in the A.L. East and out of the playoff picture.

Angels GM Tony Reagins, in his first full year behind the team, made some aggressive maneuvers this season. He plucked perennial Gold Glove center field Torii Hunter out of last season's free-agent market, then traded heralded youngster Casey Kotchman for potential rent-a-slugger Mark Teixeira at the trade deadline.

Teixeira's numbers match up almost identically to another trade deadline deal. Namely, the one that sent Mr. Kill-the-Angels-in-October Manny Ramirez up the I-5 freeway to the Dodgers.

Teixeira's glove is a plus at first base, and his bat is a huge upgrade. He's hit .358 since coming back to the AL with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 54 games. He's also heading into his first October, and he's an unproven playoff performer, but the Angels will take those odds any day of the year.

The Red Sox are banged up—we've already established that. However, they're also not the same team that swept last year's Angels en route to another World Series victory.

Say what you will, but Manny Ramirez has absolutely owned the Angels in the postseason. Jason Bay is much more than a serviceable fielder and player. He's even among the upper echelon of ability in the league, but he is no Manny Ramirez.

The rest of the Red Sox can hurt you, too, any day of the week. But being banged up, and missing the ManRam, this team isn't quite as frightening come October as they once were, with perhaps the best one-two punches of the modern era in Ortiz and Ramirez.

3. Mike Napoli, ALDS Stud

What? A platooned catcher? You bet your baked beans a platooned catcher.

Napoli is a great catcher and works particularly well with Angels ace John Lackey. He has been absolutely murdering the ball of late, and hitting for average amazingly well in the second half.

He hit .453 in the month of September with six home runs and 13 RBI, and is, dare I say, en fuego, of late.

Watch for him to continue his hot streak and put some power into the bottom of the Angels' batting order.

All in all, the ALDS is shaping up to be a great series, with a variety of undertones that stand poised to take their moment in the spotlight.

After it's all said and done, though, the Red Sox have their injured excuse built right into this series. Even when the Angels win, they'll not get full credit.

But I'm pretty sure the Angels and their fans are okay with that.

Halos in four.

100 Win Season is Best in Baseball: Is It Enough?

Scott Fowler — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:47:14 -0400

Anaheim - It took them three tries to get win number 100 this season, but the Angels finished in dramatic fashion Sunday, their final game of the regular season.

Their record? 100-62.

Good enough for the best record in baseball.

Good enough for the best franchise record of all-time.

Good enough to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, on the heels of the American League All Star Game victory securing home-field advantage for the World Series.

Is it good enough to win in all? The Angels certainly hope so.

Skipper Mike Scioscia told the LATimes Kevin Baxter that the Angels have had an amazing run, but the regular season doesn't really mean much.

"I don't think anything that has happened in the regular season is going to affect what these playoffs are about," said Scioscia. "This is about getting there and executing pitches if you're a pitcher, making plays on the defensive side and [having] good at-bats"

That hits home for Angels fans for a variety of reasons. First off, the Angels have won the AL West four times in the last five years.

That sounds great on paper.

They've also lost nine straight playoff games.

All to the Boston Red Sox, their first round match-up in this years ALCS, beginning Wednesday.

Secondly, the Halos have all but limped into the post season in recent years, culminating in last years miserably banged up offense that at one point had a blind Garrett Anderson(the left fielder had pink eye so bad he couldn't open one eye) and Reggie Willits batting cleanup with the bases loaded and the game on the line.

This year stands to be much different.

First, the Angels won the division handily, so they had the opportunity to rest their banged up lineup. This means that players like Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick, all nursing nagging injuries, are rested and in better position to start the post season than recent years. It also means the pitching staff hasn't been heavily taxed of late (minus the two drubbings delivered over the weekend from Texas Friday and Saturday).

Secondly, the Angels aren't the Punch and Judy hitters they've been in years passed. They have legitimate power threats, and a variety of them at that.

All-Star trade deadline acquisition Mark Teixeira is the most obvious upgrade in terms of pure home run power. Center Fielder Torii Hunter is a huge upgrade both offensively and defensively over Gary Matthews Jr.

Mike Napoli is killing the ball and finished with 20 home runs and a .273 batting average (which is compelling mostly because he was batting just .203 at the all star break). The Angels even have pop on the pine, with Reserve outfielder Juan Rivera capable of putting them out, coupled with Brandon Wood and Kendry Morales who've both shown that they can swing with the big kids.

Finally? The Boston Red Sox are not the same team they were a year ago. Perennial October stud Manny Ramirez is doing his thing up the freeway in Chavez Ravine for the NL West champion LA Dodgers. Jason Bay is a great fielder and hitter, but he's no Manny Ramirez.

Ace Josh Beckett, hands down the best active playoff pitcher in all of baseball is nursing his oblique and his start has been pushed back to Game Three, at the earliest. Mike Lowell is also hurt, and he has been a huge playoff plus for the Sox. This leaves John Lester and Dice-K as the starters for Games One and Two in Anaheim.

Lots of understory in this upcoming series, with much more to come.

Up Next: The Three Keys to Beating the Red Sox

Anaheim Ducks Report

Scott Fowler — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:21:00 -0400

Update! Hockey!

In August!

So on the ongoing Mats Sundin debacle has far reaching effects. So far reaching in fact, that it effects us here in Anaheim.

For those of you hockey fans who don't know - - and if you're local fans, that might be the case - - Mats Sundin is the (former) Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He began playing one year contracts last year, not sure if he wanted to retire or not. This off season, he's received huge 1-2 year offers from a variety of clubs, and has yet to make up his mind on what he's going to do.

What the HELL does this have to do with the Ducks, you might ask?

Well, here's how it breaks down...

Selanne wants to come back. That's sort of the media opinion around the league, and we all know fairly certainly that he only wants to play for the Ducks. The problem THERE is cap space. The Ducks have NONE.

The most obvious person in trade discussions to MAKE cap space for the Ducks is veteran Defenceman Matthieu Schneider, and his $5M+ salary.

The problem, though, is this: The teams that are interested in Schneider also appear to be the teams with offers or interest in Sundin, and are waiting to move on Schneider until Sundin decides what he wants to do this season.

This leaves the Ducks in a "wait-and-see-what-Sundin-wants-to-do" position by proxy, along with the rest of the interested hockey world.

For me? Sundin's probably my favorite player. As some of you know, I grew up in Northern Ontario, Canada, and Toronto is the team I grew up loving.

This is rare for a kid from Ontario, as most of them like the Canadiens, the Red Wings, or the Oilers.

Aside from former Leaf Captain Dougie Gilmour, and winger Wendell Clark, Sundin's among my favorite player.

Probably right up there with my favorite Duck, ever, Teemu Selanne.

So Sundin - - Take your time - - you've earned it - - but don't take too much more.

Mark Teixeira Traded to the Angels

Scott Fowler — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:25:00 -0400

They pulled the trigger.

Mark Teixeira was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Casey Kotchman and a pitching prospect.

Casey, you will be missed and we wish you all the best in the world. You were really among my favorite Halos and you were a class act. This is beyond bittersweet.

“I’m just excited to go to Atlanta and play for (manager) Bobby Cox,” Kotchman said before leaving Fenway Park for the airport. “At the same time, my teammates here, to leave them, I’ll be pulling for them. Other than that, there’s really not a whole lot I can say.” - Yahoo Sports.

The Hunt for a (Halo) Red October starts now and welcome to Anaheim, Mark.

Kotchman, you will be missed.

Coming to Anaheim doesn't seem too bad for Teixeira either. A free agent after this season, Teixeira wields the (formerly) mighty Scott Boras as his agent and rumors are that he'll seek a ten year contract deal in the $200M dollar range.

"We can talk about contracts after the season," Teixeira said on a conference call. "My No. 1 goal is to play great defense and drive in runs for the Angels. . . . I'm very excited to be in a pennant race. It gives you a little extra pep in your step."

Certainly, the Angels have moved away from former GM Bill Stoneman's days. Whether or not their current GM Tony Reagins is the man behind the curtain remains unclear: Many suspect it's more GM by committee of Reagins, owner Arte Moreno, and manager Mike Scioscia.

Whatever it is, the old system of "standing pat" at the trade deadline is gone.

Some are even calling Reagins the Ninja GM for his seemingly stealthy ways of acquiring talent at the last minute. He swooped in and took free agent Torii Hunter off the market in a signing nobody saw coming this past offseason and apparently yesterday's trade was no different, coming together after all the rumors had sort of died down.

Whatever happens, nobody can say the Angels aren't trying to win the whole thing this year, and have emerged as favorites for a World Series title.

Love it or hate it, all the writers, fans, and pundits clamoring for a big bat just got their wish.

Los Angeles Angels: Trying a New Tactic

Scott Fowler — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:47:00 -0400

So yesterday I wrote that the Angels don't have the bats to take them to October, and what do they do? They promptly go out and score 14 runs against Cleveland.

Granted, it was just one of those days. Cleveland had 11 runs, and even though the Halos had scored 14, they still needed K-Rod to close it out.

So with that in mind, let's play a little game.

The Angels can't hit.

They'll never set records for runs scored in a game this season.

Big Daddy Vladdy hasn't hit two homers in a game in what seems like forever.

There's no gas in the offensive tank.

Torii Hunter won't hit .300 this year.

They won't score more than six runs again for a month.

Please don't think I'm blaspheming.

We'll talk more later...

Angels In The Offseason: Reality Check

Scott Fowler — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:45:41 -0400

Look at that picture of Mike Scioscia. He looks...Aware.

Aware that his team has the best record in baseball, the best closer in the game, a monster of a hitter in right, arguably the best pitching staff in the game...

...and not a shot in h-e-double-hockey-sticks to come out of the AL in October.

I've put off writing this article for a long time. We're talking years here, folks. The Halos have been my favorite baseball team since I moved to Southern California in the fall of 1988 and I went to my first game at the Big A.

The Angels are perfectly run. From the owner down, this is an organization that prides itself on playing smart baseball. They move runners, force other teams to make plays, and are consistently among the best teams in baseball under manager Mike Scioscia.

The problem: Never has so much been done by so few.

What I mean by that is that they're missing the key ingredient, that je-ne-sais-quoi that guided them to their first World Series victory in 2002. That year, they got in on a wing and a prayer in the wild-card and surprised the Yankees to take the AL crown.

They didn't win that series because former utility player Scott Spezio hit a single. They won that series because he, and other Angels like him, hit the long ball. The Angels had offense, in spades, and it won them that title.

Sure, their timely pitching, hitting, and baserunning helped, but the point is that they produced enough offense so the stellar parts of their game were that much better.

The quote about Spezio is actually from teammate Tim Salmon. He was asked sometime last year (around the end of July) about his thoughts on the Angels, who at that point, much like now, were atop the AL West.

Tim Salmon said the same thing. The Angels won because they had enough offense.

I don't feel like they do this year. Much like they didn't last year, the year before, the year before THAT, or pretty much any year since 2002.

Here's the thing, Halo and non-Halo fans: The Red Sox are a beast in October.

I'll admit it. When they won in 2004, I was happy for them. They deserved it and the way they did it was heroic. Something to savor for all time.

Ever since then? Can't stand 'em. Their fans, too.

And I'm Irish Catholic. Boston's second only to Dublin in terms of my heritage and what I'm all about. But this is a tangent I need to recover from.

Is there a solution to the Angels offensive woes? I'm not sure. Personally, I love Casey Kotchman, but do I love him more than say, Mark Teixeira? What about Matt Holiday? Sure, the Angels already have four million starting outfielders, what's one more? Are his numbers padded because he plays in a vacuum in Colorado? Dare I even ask...what about Barry Bonds?

I know the solution is not having Maicer Izturis batting third as the protection for Vlad Guerrero.

And for the record? I don't want to be right on any of this.

Sadly, I just think I am.