Angels beat Sox and A's to go to 2-0.

Wait, you thought I was going to post on the Celtics/Clippers game? Was there a Celtics/Clippers game? I'm not sure I knew that, despite watching the entire thing with the only Clippers fan I know. How do you choke in the greatest rivalry in all of sports? Indeed. Meanwhile, my eyes are focused on the beauty of Arizona, as the Angels have started Spring Training with all the hope of every year before. Winning, even if it is in the preseason, is a whole ton of fun. 

The Halos opened things up with a huge win over the Chicago White Sox, busting a 12-3 win all over the face of Guillen and company. My most hated Angel (yes, again), Mike Napoli, had a two run double in a three run third for a 1 for 2 afternoon. On the pitching side, Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo each pitched a scoreless inning, with Gas Can (yeah, we're all back to the famous LSF nicknames) earning the win in the game. If you can believe it, thanks to a sixth run eighth inning, the up and coming Dominican Rafael Rodriguez earned himself a Spring save in a 9 run ball game. Other notables in the game were SS Hainley Statia going 2 for 3, Hank "Smoke Weed Everyday" Conger went 2 for 3, and Freddy Sandoval who also went 2 for 3. What a way to start things off. 

And then to follow that up with a 3-1 win over the Athletics? Classic stuff. A tight two run win allowed brand new closer Merced, CA native Brian Fuentes to shut the door with a scoreless final inning to earn his first Angels save. Fuentes is off to the World Baseball Classic. Will USA win this whole thing thanks to our new BFF? The story of the game, however, might have been prospect Jordan Walden, who struck out three, allowing just two hits in his first start of the Spring. Walden punched out 141 fools to lead all minor league Halos last season, with a 2.76 ERA in 27 starts (in single-A Cedar Rapids). Our 1B giant Kendry Morales put up with a 2 for 3 day, and was joined by Brandon Wood with a pancake (that's going way back). Kevin Jepsen also did pretty damned well on the mound. Any time we beat the A's, I'm proud. 

The Red Hats (actually I think the hats are blue in the preseason) will continue their fun times in Arizona with games against the Rockies, Brewers, and Royals over the next three days. I know that the preseason means nothing according to you, but I don't really agree. It shows off the young guys, and when the Angels have done well in the pre, they tend to do well in the real thing (or, thang). Let's keep it rolling along, boys. 

The WBC starts next weekend, so I hope you all have your National Pride ready to rock and roll. 

By the way, with Garret Anderson going off to the Atlanta Braves, you obviously have all been waiting to find out who my new "current" favorite Angel is. Of course, Wally Joyner is the best of all time in my opinion, and GA has been my personal Halo fav since 1994, but who will it be from here on out? I always went on record saying that if GA retired/left I'd shift my allegiance to Orlando Cabrera, but it's pretty clear that the option has been taken away from me. So, as we continue our journey to the 2009 season, I'm ready to unveil my new favorite Angel. Are you on the edge of your seat? 

Howie Kendrick.