Thank you, Jered Weaver

Much of the joy of my being an Angels fan has come from watching Jered Weaver pitch.  Jered is far and away my favorite pitcher of all time.  He blessed us all with a great career and so many wonderful memories.

When he announced his retirement on August 16, 2017, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.  Jered provided us with years full of great memories and moments that not only made us smile, but also inspired us and made us proud.  He was special to us in so many ways and I will miss not seeing him on the mound. 

Cheryl and I were there when Jered made his major league debut on May 27, 2006.  We had actually gone to a Padres game that same day to see former Angel - David Eckstein and the St. Louis Cardinals and drove back in time for his game.  There was no way in the world, we were going to miss his debut.

I had anticipated that day from the moment the Angels drafted him in 2004.  Being a fellow Long Beach State alum – I was thrilled to know that this Dirtbag was going to be pitching for my favorite team.  His debut was one of the most highly anticipated events in my Angels’ fandom.

Jered’s collegiate career was electric.  He went 37-9 over his career and won the Golden Spikes Award in his final year as the top amateur baseball player in America.  He also walked away with the Dick Howser Trophy as the national collegiate baseball player of the year and the Roger Clemens Award as the top pitcher in college baseball.  He dominated the competition and demonstrated passion and a competitive fire that made him a larger-than-life athlete.

On May 27, 2006, he did not disappoint.  He went 7 innings, giving up just 3 hits, a walk and no runs while striking out 5.  A hometown hero was born and a fabulous career was launched that day.  He would begin his journey through major league baseball with an impressive 9-0 record and would finish his first year, 11-2, with a 2.56 ERA and a 105 K’s in 123 innings.  He was 5^th in the Rookie of the Year voting that year (Justin Verlander won the award).

I remember leaving the stadium that evening and thinking about how lucky and blessed we were to have Jered on our favorite team.  A love-affair was born.  He was all ours and over the course of his career, he would provide us with countless moments of unbridled joy.

One of my early memories of Jered as an Angel took place at a Fan Fest (back in the day when the Angels had these fabulous events).  He walked into an autograph tent; tall, lanky, with long blond hair, sunglasses on and a big smile on his face.  He exuded confidence, but you got a sense that Jered Weaver knew how to have a good time.  It was clear he was loving the opportunity to be with fans.  That day, Cheryl and I affectionately dubbed him “Rock Star.”  He looked every bit the part.

The funny thing about Jered Weaver is that although his collegiate career was legendary – he was always sort of an under-dog.  While he was dominating college baseball players, the experts who anticipated his entrance into pro-baseball never looked at him as an elite pitcher.  I distinctly remember reading about the projections and none of them matched the career he had at Long Beach State.

He was mostly projected as a #3 starter.  Many "experts" were concerned about the way he threw across his body and felt he was destined for injury. It seemed nobody expected much from Jered.

Make no mistake about it – Jered Weaver was an ace.  A true #1 starter for a good chunk of his career.  Never was that more evident than in 2011 and 2012 when he put together back to back years that were truly magnificent.  In 2011, he went 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA and finished second in the Cy Young voting.  He also had a 7.0 WAR the highest of his career.  In 2012 he won 20 games (against 5 losses) with a 2.81 ERA and third place finish in the Cy Young voting that year.

One of my greatest memories as a baseball fan was the night he threw a no-hitter.  Cheryl and I were there on May 2, 2013 when Weaver blessed us with the only no-hitter we’ve ever seen in person.  To this day, my post about his “no-no” remains one of my favorite blog posts of all time.  Whenever I introduce someone to this blog, I often share that link as their first entre into this space.

Selfishly, I’m going to miss writing about Jered.  I’m going to miss a lot of things about him, but most of all I’m going to miss just watching him pitch.  He was our version of Greg Maddux.  He was an artist, a magician and a precision mechanic all rolled into one.  The way he changed speeds and kept batters off balanced was always fun to watch; especially when his velocity began to dip and he still found ways to get outs and eat up innings.

From 2010 through 2012 he was among the elite pitchers in the American League.  His 233 strike-outs in 2010 lead the league.  Yes, our Jered Weaver once lead the league in strike-outs which makes the fact that he still found a way to get batters out later in his career, despite diminished velocity even more impressive. 

I know very well that “wins” are not a true indicator of how good a pitcher is, but never-the-less Weaver’s 150 major league wins in his career are significant to me.  I knew that every time he took the mound, there was a good chance his team was going to win.  I knew he would do everything he could to keep his team in the game and give them a chance to win.

I will miss his competitive fire and his intensity, but I will also miss the “softer side” of “Weave” as well.  He was always gracious and friendly at spring training.  He always made time for fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs.  He was the consummate professional in every way. 

I will never forget one of his not-so-fine moments as well.  It was June 20, 2009 when he faced off against his brother, Jeff Weaver and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That night, Jered never looked like himself.  Cheryl and I showed up early because we wanted to absorb this sibling rivalry from the get-go.  I vividly remember seeing Jered warming up prior to the game in the outfield and constantly looking over at his brother in right-field doing the same.  It was as if he was hoping to catch his eye and give him a friendly wave, but his brother never looked his way.

I felt like Jered was disappointed, maybe even sad.  I have no way of knowing if that was true, but that was my take.  He looked like the little brother who wanted desperately to get some attention from his older brother, but it just wouldn’t come his way.

He went on to have a horrible game; giving up 6 runs in 5.1 innings, while giving up 10 hits, walking 3 batters in a 6-4 loss.  I felt as if he was psyched out by his brother and the anxiety of going up against Jeff was just too much.  It was the only time I can remember when Jered looked vulnerable as a major league baseball player.

Again, I don’t know Weaver personally, but I’ve been able to gather an impression of him over the years.  That day in 2009 when he faced his brother and my thoughts about what Weaver went through are based in part by something I vividly remember about the 2006 post-season. 

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series that year and Jeff Weaver played a big part in all of that when he won game 5 against the Detroit Tigers.  The cameras kept finding Jered in the stands, all decked out in Cardinals gear, cheering on his older-brother, looking every bit the part of an adoring younger brother watching his hero.

Jered had just finished his rookie season.  It was refreshing to see Jered just being himself, absorbed in the moment of being at the World Series watching his brother.  Jered didn’t look like a major league star in the making – he just looked like a kid cheering on his hero.  It was just cool.

I think we can take something from the fact that Jered also took the #36 in 2007, a year after his brother was traded to St. Louis.  It was Jeff's number.

As you can see, my memories of Jered Weaver are as varied as the speed of is fastball has been over the years.  Not all of them are related to his on–the-field performance. 

My memories include his public press conference when he signed his five-year $85 million extension.  He could have signed elsewhere for more and when asked about that he simply said,  “How much more do you really need?” And with that he cemented himself as a fan favorite for life.

Yes, we are going to miss Jered Weaver.  He was easy to cheer for and it’s hard to see him walk away.  Luckily, we have memories and good times to reflect on whenever we think about our “Rock Star.”

Thank you, Jered Weaver.  Thank you for giving us everything you had every time you stepped on the mound. Thank you for those moments when you took the time to pose for a picture, give us a smile or a wave or even stop to sign a photo or baseball.  Thank you for being yet another reason why we love baseball and for why we love our Angels. 

Unacceptable

If you’re like me, you’re probably very happy that Opening night has finally arrived in Anaheim; however, you’re probably not pleased that the Angels start their first home stand with a 2-4 record.  Face it, we didn’t endure a very long off season to see the team get off to a bad start and quite frankly – it’s unacceptable.  So are the 36 strikeouts by Angel batters in the first three games.  And the six errors in the same series? C’mon; that’s not Angels’ baseball.

And then there’s the trip to Texas.  I’m sorry – but I really wanted Josh Hamilton to respond to the Ranger fans with some thunder from his bat.  I wanted him to go yard and trot around the bases while Ranger fans looked on and realized he was gone for good and how much they were going to miss him.  Instead – he gave Ranger fans what they wanted and that irked me to no end.

By the way Ranger fans - you can chant "Baseball town" all you want - it doesn't change the reality.  You're a football town and you always will be.  So don't get upset with Hamilton telling the truth.  What's the big deal.  Everyone knows the truth.  Embrace it and move on.

Sunday night was especially painful.  Yu Darvish wasn’t himself.  And we’re talking about a guy who may very well give Justin Verlander a run for his money when it comes to the Cy Young award.  A golden opportunity was wasted that night.

And for goodness sakes – if you’re going to give up a 3-run homerun to someone – for the love of baseball – don’t let it be Ian Kinsler (Or AJ Pierzynski for that matter).  Kinsler rounding the bases and pumping his fist was hard to watch.  It was painful and yet I can’t get that stinkin’ image out of my head.

I know it’s early… but we said that last year when the team got off to a horrendous start.  I don’t want to watch history repeat itself.

I don’t want this team to just show up and expect to win.  We’ve seen that before and it doesn’t work.  I want my team to play with a chip on its shoulder.  I want players that have a hunger in their gut to prove people wrong and have an “us against the world” mentality.

My expectations are high.  I want the Angels to kick butt and take names.  I want some intensity and not silly grins and giggling in the dugout. 

It’s Opening Night and I’m ready for some baseball.  I’m ready for some old’ fashioned Mike Scioscia baseball where the offense constantly puts pressure on the defense and runs come in waves.  I want at least two out of three against the stinkin’ A’s and a sweep of the Astros.

My expectations are high.  I won’t settle for mediocrity.  That’s unacceptable.  I’m fired up and I can’t wait for the game.  It’s go time people.  Let’s do this.  

Admiring perfection

I don’t care what anyone else has to say – the 2012 World Series was compelling.  I don’t think that a series has to be a see-saw affair to be worth watching.  The Giants were a likeable team with plenty of un-sung stars who came together as a team to deliver a championship to their fans. 

The fascinating thing about this Giants team wasn’t just what they did in the World Series, but what they had to overcome to get there.  As a baseball fan, I enjoyed the journey very much.  To top it off, no one really saw it coming.  A sweep on the surface of things may not seem very exciting – but when it comes in such an unexpected fashion – it can be very exciting. 

Make no mistake about it – this was a great World Series for a variety of reasons.  It was "perfect" in many ways.

The Tigers had the bigger names in Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder – but as all of us have seen first-hand – that doesn’t necessarily buy you a seat at the big boy’s table.  It’s a lesson that we learn over and over again.

I enjoyed this series because of the exposure it gave to names like Marco Scutaro and Ryan Vogelsong and how we got to learn about their stories; their struggles and what they had to do to get to where they are today.

I was very pleased that most of the baseball analysts and experts picked the Tigers and were proven wrong.  I even loved how Joe Buck and Tim McCaver discounted the Giants’ pitching – something that in and of itself was a head scratcher for sure.  It was nice to see them come back and acknowledge that mistake publicly.

I loved the fact that even though the Giants dominated – they looked beatable.  I mean, I bet you thought your favorite team could have given them a better challenge, right?  Let’s be real – when you look at the Giants on paper – they don’t astonish you and they certainly don’t scare you.  If that doesn’t give all of us hope for our own teams, nothing will.

I love the fact that Bruce Bochy is now being mentioned as a possible Hall of Famer.  I love that Sandy Alderson (formerly of the Padres) didn’t see the potential in a guy like Bochy.  Padre fans know what I’m talking about. 

And trust me, as an Angel fan who had to watch Mike Napoli come back to haunt his former team for the past two years – it’s kind of nice to see someone else feel the burn of losing someone that goes on to do great things. 

I love the idea that most people probably thought Hunter Pence had a better chance of winning a title with the Phillies than with the Giants.

It’s a beautiful thing to see a guy with a nick-name like Kung Fu Panda win the World Series MVP award.

Yes, there are many reasons to embrace this World Series as one for the ages.  It was a series that re-emphasized the importance of good pitching and good defense. 

I must admit, I get a little bit of pleasure in knowing that some Dodger fans are feeling the sting of seeing their rivals win titles in two of the last three years.

I can appreciate what the Giants did and the way they did it.  It may not have been the kind of edge-of-my-seat entertainment we have all come to enjoy, but it was grand never-the-less.  

Most of all, it makes me anxious for next year.  I can’t wait for the next story to unfold and I hope that next year it will be the Angels who rise to the occasion.  Oh boy… I can only hope.

I still hate the A's, but I do love blogging

When it comes to the Angels I almost always have something to say; however, when it comes to blogging about it, I don’t always make the time.  That doesn’t mean I don’t want to write about them – it’s just that sometimes life has a way of getting in the way of all the things you want to do every day.

I have to admit that writing a blog and keeping it up is hard work.  I was reminded of that when I read a piece recently by one of my favorite writers – Joe Posnanski who wroteabout the passing of a long-time Atlanta Braves Blogger named MacThomason.

In his piece, Posnanski wrote about the difference between all the blogs that are out there “…the real difference between them is the commitment. Few last. The idea of writing every day about your favorite baseball team fits right into the ‘sounded good when I started’ category.”

How true.

I knew that going in.  My goal when I started was to have some staying power in this game and not fade into oblivion.  It hasn’t been easy.  When I go a few days or even a few weeks without posting, I feel guilty.  I feel like I’m letting a few loyal readers down.  I even get nudges every now and then when I don’t post.

So – today’s post is for those that nudge and in a small way for Mac Thomason who had a great deal of staying power – even in the midst of fighting for his life. 

When I started this blog, I started out by telling the world how much I hated theOakland A’s.  That first post took place nearly three years ago and as I write this today – it’s the A’s and my disdain for them that inspired me to blog now.

There are lots of disappointing things about this season and there are plenty of things that make me want to rant and scream, but the one thing that bothers me more than anything else is the fact that the Oakland A’s are in a pennant race.

Are you kidding me?

I would be perfectly happy if they faded into the darkness of never-never land and became absolutely irrelevant till the end of time.  No such luck.

Lucky for me – my Angels just swept the A's (to ease some of my pain) and if everything goes the way I hope – they’ll do the same thing in four games next week.  Now – that; would make me smile.

I’m not going to go back over all the reasons I don’t like the A’s – you can find that in my original post from 2009. 

Here’s what I have to say today about the A’s.  They’ve had a good run, but quite frankly – it’s time for it to end.  Billy Beane is not a genius and there isn’t going to be a miracle in Oakland this year.  I know the hordes of Beane admirers are hoping for something more, but it’s going to end soon.  It has to.

Look – believing in Billy Beane is only going to give you false hope.  Save yourself the agony and realize that although he’s made brought a lot of attention to sabermetrics – he hasn’t found all the answers and I’m guessing he isn’t going to. 

Don’t look at me like that.  I’m telling you the truth.  That team isn’t going to win a championship in the near future, period.  Their story might make for a good movie, but it makes for a lousy season.  Just saying.

By the way – if there are so many stinkin’ Billy Beane fans, why don’t they show up at home games?  They might as well rename the ball park Tombstone – because it’s as a dead as it gets.

Enough about the A’s.  I really want to talk about my Angels; our Angels.

I know they’re not out of the woods yet – but they’re showing signs of life.  I like it.  In fact, I love it.  Now, I know some of  you would much rather ignore the recent play and focus on all the bad stuff that has taken place all season long and to that I say…Meh... 

Even when I’m at my lowest point in a season – the last thing I want to do is sit around and complain about my team with other fans.  Sure, I’ll write about it – but to actually engage in that kind of a discussion with other people is about as appealing as being stung by a hundred hornets.

There are few things I dislike more than complaining about my favorite baseball team with other fans.  Even when I’m totally dissatisfied, I can’t stomach hearing complaints from other fans for some reason.  Angels talk with Terry Smith after an Angels’ loss is nauseating.  That old saying about "misery loving company" is lost on me.

So here’s the deal; I know it sounds cliché, but let’s just take things one game at a time.  Next up is the Detroit Tigers who in many ways mirror the Angels.  Here’s a team with a big payroll and huge expectations… they signed Prince Fielder to a monster contract, have some really solid pitching with guys like Justin Verlander and yet – by most people’s standards – they’ve under-achieved. 

The Angels post-season hopes have a lot riding on every game they play from here on out and with the Tigers and the A’s coming to town, I’ll be disappointed if the stadium isn’t rocking.  Our team is playing meaningful games in September and that’s what it’s all about.  Who’s with me?

Jered Weaver continues to exceed expectations

I wanted this in the worst way; to see Jered Weaver in an Angels uniform beyond 2012 and thankfully, my wish has come true. Reports have Weaver signing a five-year $85 million extension with the Angels.

From the moment he was drafted in 2004 with the 12th overall pick by the Angels, Weaver has been battling naysayers. First, some predicted he wouldn’t be drafted in the first round because he was being represented by Scott Boras and his asking price would be too high.

Kevin Towers (who was the GM of the Padres that year) said, "We just didn't feel that Stephen Drew and Jered Weaver were worth the amount that Scott Boras was going to ask for them," Towers told XPRS, the Padres' flagship radio station.

Towers selected Matt Bush as the #1 overall pick. Matt Who? Exactly.

A lot of scouts downplayed his collegiate accomplishments (which were incredible) and many projected him to be nothing more than a #3 or #4 starter. Some projected injuries because of the way he threw across his body. Some thought he was just a lesser version of his brother Jeff.

John Manual from Baseball America said this:

1) His fastball is his only plus pitch according to most scouts. 2) His delivery creates deception but also precludes, in many scouts' minds, the development of an above-average breaking ball, especially precluding tilt (i.e., his breaking ball is a one-plane pitch, not two). 3) His bonus demands seem excessive. He's performed like Mark Prior, but his stuff should not command a Prior-like $10.5 million MLB contract in the mind of most clubs. We're hearing Weaver could slip out of the first 10 picks based on his perceived bonus demands.”

Even after an amazing debut in 2006, writers like Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus downplayed his abilities. He said, “…I've often professed the belief that Weaver is really pretty much his brother, a very solid, very valuable No. 3 or 4 starter who can eat a lot of innings and keep a team in the ballgame.” Goldstein also admitted that he “could be wrong” about Weaver in the same piece. That being said, Goldstein has been very outspoken about Weaver and he hasn't necessarily been positive about his assessment.

The list of naysayers is long and if I devoted enough time and energy to the process – I could fill this blog with page after page of stuff from people who have continually failed to give Jered Weaver the credit he deserves.

When John Lackey left for Boston, some questioned whether or not he could fill the void and become the “lead dog. I think that discussion has been put to rest. There's no question that Weaver is a top of the rotation guy; whereas, there was always a little doubt with Lackey.

Even as free agency started to near – many predicted he would become too expensive for the Angels.

Along the way, I even tempered my expectations after reading so many so-called expert opinions on all things Weaver.

And yet - here we are. Weaver is in the midst of a tremendous CY Young-like season and a fresh, new five-year $85 million contract. Not only has Weaver exceeded expectations on every level; he’s blown the doors off.

Boo-ya.

And yet… some folks still refuse to give him his due. Keith Law was asked recently who he preferred between Weaver and Justin Verlander. Law replied – Verlander and it’s not even close. Typical. I can understand how some people would prefer Verlander, but to say “it’s not even close” blows my mind.

How good is Jered Weaver?

Jered made his major league debut in 2006 along with 135 other pitchers (both starters and relievers). Of that group, he has won more games than anyone else (78). It’s a list that includes Jon Lester (Red Sox), Cole Hamels (Phillies), Chad Billingsley (Dodgers), James Shields (Rays), Ubaldo Jiminez (Indians), and Fausto Carmona (Indians). None of those mentioned have a lower career ERA than Weaver (3.30 which is even lower than Justin Verlander’s 3.57, who debuted in 2005). For a complete comparison of pitchers who made their debut in 2006, check out Baseball-Reference.com

Now before anyone gets too excited, I know full well that “wins” are not the best measure of a pitcher’s abilities. I’m also not saying that Jered Weaver is the best pitcher in the game today.

All I’m saying is that he deserves to be in the discussion and regardless of all that; I’m more than excited that he’s going to be a member of my favorite team for years to come.

By the way – a few folks have always been in Weaver’s camp.

In 2006 Rich Lederer wrote a piece called “Shhh! Jered Weaver is pretty good." By the way, Lederer's piece is pretty good as well. In fact, after going back and reading several pieces by Lederer, I'm a big fan.

AngelsWin’s Chuck Richter got it right back in 2004 with his analysis. Richter is a huge Angels fan and has an amazing Angels fan site, so his take was almost expected.

In any case...

This is a happy day; a downright joyous day to say the least. The Angels are fresh off a sweep of the Orioles; find themselves just four games behind the Texas Rangers and Jered Weaver is under contract through 2016.

I guess this signing also puts my question about the Angels finances in a different perspective as well. Nice move Angels. Well done and thank you very much.

The streak stops here

I never thought this day would get here. Here we are in the middle of July and 96 games into the season and the Texas Rangers are finally coming to town. Seriously! I mean who put this schedule together?

In any case – I’m looking forward to the three game series which begins tonight. Never mind the Angels debacle in Oakland (losing 3 of 4) and never mind the Rangers current winning streak (they’ve won 11 in a row). Throw all of that out the window. Yeah, that’s right – momentum, streaks and the like are all subject to change at any given moment. And now would be a perfect time for the recent fortunes of each team to change in my opinion.

This is a big series; at least from a fan’s point of view. I mean we all know Mike Scioscia and the players will all say it’s “just another game/series;” however, fans like me look forward to stuff like this. It’s just too bad the Angels are four games back and can’t overtake the Rangers during this short home stand.

The way I see it, the Rangers are due to start losing and the Angels can’t play any worse than they did in Oakland. Yup, the way I see it is that the way things are setting up perfectly. Seems like every time something (be it a player or a team) is going one way it all changes the moment they hit Anaheim. Opposing pitcher winless in last seven starts? Bingo, he’s going to pitch like Cy Young in Anaheim. Opposing hitter smacking homeruns like Hank Aaron? Bam, he’s going to go hitless in Anaheim.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not superstitious in the slightest (okay, maybe just a smidge), but it’s uncanny how this stuff works out. I can’t tell you how many times Terry Smith will be saying something positive or negative about a player or team’s recent history and as soon as I hear that, I’ll look at Cheryl and say something to the effect that the opposite is sure to happen next.

The perfect example is when Justin Verlander rolled into town with a big time winning streak and all kinds of success. Next thing you know – Verlander meets up with the Angels and all of that goes right out the window. I’m telling you it happens all the time.

Coincidence? Perhaps. I don’t know what it is… I just know that it happens pretty frequently and I'm counting on Terry Smith to pour it on thick about how great the Rangers have been of late.

So… all that being said, I’m feeling good about the Angels chances over the next three games. I want this. I want this in the worst way. I want to the Angels to send a message to Texas and more importantly to Angels fans that they mean business and Texas is in for a dog fight from here on out. I’m not asking for much. I just want to see my favorite team compete like I know it can.

Okay… now that all of that is out of the way; let me just say that I’ve been extremely busy of late and haven’t been able to update this blog as much as I’d like. I have a few drafts and things in the works that I hope to get up soon – including posts and photos surrounding Mike Trout’s debut. Please bear with me and thanks!

Everyone loves a parade

There seems to be this sentiment out there that if you don’t believe the Angels are going to win the west, you’re basically giving up on the team. Personally, I think that’s a bunch of baloney. Giving up would basically mean stop watching and most of all, stop caring.

That’s certainly not the case with me.

The way I see it, the Angels just aren’t good enough this year to overtake Texas. They continue to struggle to score runs and they just can’t seem to beat the better teams in the league. I don’t have to build a case against their chances; they’re done that on their own.

The perfect segue for another rant? Not today.

I’d like to go back to a happier time and that would be July 13, 2010 when the All-Star game came to Anaheim. More specifically, I’d like to share Cheryl and my experience at the Red Carpet Parade.

We were in New York for our first Red Carpet Parade and I have to admit the one in Anaheim pales in comparison. After all, the one in New York included multiple Hall of Famers and there were times when the parade came to a stop and gave fans the chance to interact with the players.

I remember teasing Tony Gwynn (who is a big supporter of El Cajon Ford in San Diego) about riding in the back of a Chevy truck. He had a good time with my comment and said something to the effect that he hoped they wouldn't see this.

We didn’t have any opportunities like that. The players whizzed by in the back of trucks, tossing out baseball cards and other chotskies along the way. They were often looking down into the bags that held all the goodies when they went by.

We kept wondering if they were going to a fire. A few did manage to wave and smile and acknowledge the fans.

As Ian Kinsler went by I couldn’t resist yelling “Get off our road!” and when Carl Crawford went by I was sure to let him know how much we wanted him in Anaheim next year.

We stood next to a Yankee fan and his son, who were actually very nice. They had traveled out from Atlanta (the dad is originally from New York and had the accent to prove it). They did their part by booing the Red Sox players. We (Cheryl and I) did our part by booing the Yankees (like Derek Jeter) Torii Hunter threw them some Yankee Fuzzy Dice, much to their surprise (and delight). Cheryl and I ended up with some Angel fuzzy dice, also to our own delight.

The players weren’t the only ones participating in the parade; the mascots were out in full force as well. It’s too bad the Angels don’t have a mascot. I guess we’re too cool for that. Whatever…

Some of the mascots I recall included Junction Jack (Astros), the Swinging Friar (Padres), Phillie Phanatic, Bernie Brewer, Billy the Marlin, D. Baxter the Bobcat (Diamondbacks), Gapper (Reds), Mariner Moose, Mr. Met, and Dinger (Rockies). I’m sure there were others.


Brian Wilson (below, left) of the Giants was amped up pretty good. He was standing behind the truck’s cab raising his fists in the air and throwing goodies into the crowd. Corey Hart reminded me of Chewbacca from Star Wars (below, right). I kept looking to see if Harrison Ford would be sitting next to him.



One surprise (at least for me) was seeing a calm, cool and smiling Jose Valverde (above left). He seemed very different from his on-the-field persona, where he appears to be a crazy man who might throw at a batter’s head at any time. I also thought the rookie-phenom Jayson Heyward (above right not in uniform) looked older than I thought he might.

Is it just me or does Ichirio (left) look a little bit like the Rally Monkey? Just saying.

The players weren’t alone. Many had family, friends or girlfriends along for the ride. It was kind of funny to watch them. You would have thought some of them believed the parade was for them, while most seemed to be soaking it all in and just enjoying the ride.

We soaked it all in too. Despite not quite living up to the Red Carpet Parade in New York; it was still a lot of fun. The fans were in a good mood and most of the players seemed to enjoy being a part of the festivities.


Some more pics below include Josh Johnson (Marlins), Josh Hamilton and his family (Rangers), Joe Mauer (Twins), David Wright (Mets).



You know I have to give some props to the Long Beach State DirtBags who were representing! Below are Evan Longoria (Rays) and Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies) who is sporting a mullet (link is to a very funny commentary from Vin Scully about "mullets").




More photos; below are Vladimir Guerrero (Rangers), Justin Verlander (Tigers), Vernon Wells (Blue Jays), and Nick Swisher (Yankees).



The biggest cheers for the day was reserved for the Angels' own Torii Hunter and Jered Weaver (as it should be).



Last, but not least are pictures of David Price (Rays), Ryan Howard (Phillies), Joaquin Soria (Royals), and the always classy Adrain Gonzalez (Padres).



Good times for sure. I'll be posting more stuff from the All-Star Festivities in the near future. I've got pics from the Homerun Derby and the All-Star game itself to share with you.

The week in review April 26 - May 2, 2010

What can I say about a week where the Angels went a pathetic 2-4? I believe the word "pathetic" kind of says it all, doesn't it? How about "uninspired" or just plain "horrible?"

There really isn't a way to sugar coat the review of the past six games. We went from the high of seeing a walk off bunt by Howie Kendrick to win the last game of the series against the Indians to getting swept in Detroit by the Tigers.

The anticipation of a classic pitching duel between Jered Weaver and Justin Verlander on Sunday didn't live up to expectations; granted, Verlander pitched a fantastic game. And did you read Weaver's lips as he was pulled from the game? He clearly didn't like being pulled.

We keep waiting for this team to start clicking on all cylinders and it just hasn't happened yet. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little restless; just a tad bit mind you. Fortunately, no one in the AL West is running away from the pack.

The week ahead has the struggling Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners on tap. the Angels will avoid Josh Beckett in Boston, but stay tuned for an interesting match up between Joel Pineiro and John Lackey on Wednesday.

Before we move on to this week, I'd like to award Torii Hunter with this week's True Grich Award. Hunter had a team high .500 OBP and .450 batting average. He also drove in six runs and had 18 total bases. Honorable mention goes to Brandon Wood who hit .381 for the week.

Time for some last minute shopping

Dear Santa,

I’ve been a good boy. Okay, I admit I’ve said a few foul things about the Oakland A’s, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and a few others. I guess I showed poor form when I said John Lackey was dead to me after he signed with the stinkin’ Red Sox. Oops, did I say stinking? Sorry about that.

No really, I’ve been so good, that I don’t even need anything for myself. My wish is for the Angels to land a top of the rotation pitcher. I know it’s a tall task, but I’ve heard your elves do some pretty amazing things. I mean Sony, Apple and the like have nothing on your dudes.

And just to show you I'm not unreasonable, your posse doesn’t even have to build one. You can just go get one. You see, there’s this guy in Florida named Josh Johnson and he’d look really good in an Angels' uniform. I’m just saying…

I might also suggest an alternative by way of Dan Haren in Arizona. I’d be willing to overlook the fact that he played for the A’s at one time. I’m accommodating that way, don’t you know?

Then there’s this super pitcher in Kansas City named Zach Greinke. If you put him on the Angels, he’d probably think he was the one getting the gift. You’d get double points on that deal. Think about it; I mean talk about win-win.

Look, people have been trying to push you out of the spotlight for quite some time now. You don’t even hear people saying “Merry Christmas” very often. I mean come on dude, helping the Angels out could really give you some good PR. You’d be bigger than Mickey Mouse. You might even get invited to Letterman.

Heck, they might even make a movie about you instead of that Grinch character. I mean you have much nicer skin than he does and everyone likes a jolly guy more than a grouch.

And think about this; the Angels owner Arte Moreno is in the billboard business. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Imagine your picture plastered along side every freeway from here to the North Pole. Boo-ya. You’re liking this aren’t you?

Now, I know this request is coming to you at the last minute and you’re probably already air born, but I figured you might check your blackberry or iphone now and then. Isn’t technology awesome? By the way, do you have a twitter account? I’d love to follow you because I bet you could tell us some crazy stories, but I digress.

Back to my request. Remember it’s not about me; it’s about the Angels. Okay, maybe I get a little bit of a benefit out of this as well; after all, I am an Angels fan. But don’t think about me here; think of the kids, Santa. It’s all about the kids. Think of how their little faces would light up if they learned that next year’s opening day starter was going to be Justin Verlander or a healthy Brandon Webb.

Seriously, tis the season for dreaming really, really big, I say and that doesn’t mean C.C. Sabathia. Not that the idea of him in Anaheim would be a bad one, mind you. It’s just that he’s probably right where he belongs and when I say “big” – I’m thinking a marquee kind of pitcher and not necessarily one that’s physically big.

Are you feeling me yet? I mean come on – Christmas came early for Seattle and even earlier for the White Sox when they got Jake Peavy. By the way, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that one. Did you lose A.J. Pierzynski’s check list? No way, that guy was good all year and yet he gets to catch Peavy. Go figure.

I’m telling you Santa we can regain your market share during this time of the year, but you need to work with me. Remember, the Angels wear the same color as you do and I’m fine if you want to make this a “red” thing. That way, no one can accuse you of playing favorites.

I guess I’d better get some sleep now. My wife Cheryl put some cookies out for you. They’re homemade and trust me, they’ll better than anything you will find in a Red Sox or Yankee household, guaranteed bro.

Thanks and Merry Christmas, big guy.