Likes & Dislikes from Freeway Series.

Did anyone else read that Hideki Matsui popped a foul ball into the parking lot during the final AZ Spring game and busted Arte Moreno's car? Classic. Welcome to the team, Godzilla.

Now that the crew is finally back in their rightful Anaheim home, the Angels got it on in the traditional Freeway Series last night to wrap things up on the preseason schedule. It ended up being a nice 4-3 Halo victory, with Brandon reportedly crying in the crowd and his brother Jon reportedly missing the game to play World of Warcraft. Ha. I hope they both read this. Either way, there were a couple of things that Halo Nation liked about last night's game, and a couple of things that we didn't like.

Likes:

> Ervin Santana pitched really well after starting rocky. After allowing Los Azules to get a run in each of the first two inning, El Rosario really settled down, doing work on Manny (0 for 3), Kemp (0 for 3), and Loney (0 for 3). Man, the Doyers heavy hitters are so good! E-Daddy finished with 4.67 innings of 2 run ball, allowing 5 hits, but punching out 9! Facial. He looks completely ready to get the season started.

> The bullpen held tight. Jeremy Hill, a minor league acquisition, went 1 inning of 1 run ball. But, Francisco Rodriguez (the second best Angels prospect nicknamed F-Rod behind former Quake Fernando Rodriguez) went 1.3 innings of shutout ball, Jason Bulger added an inning of perfect ball, and game winning pitcher (and most gigantic white due on the field that day) Kevin "Big Country" Jepsen went one inning of shutout ball to close things out. The bullpen is going to be either the saving grace or the detriment of the Angels in 2010. Saving grace would be nice.

> Hunter's opposite field bomb. It was nice to see Torii go yard to the old right field bullpen on the up and away fastball by Clayton Kershaw. I was surprised that it had enough to get out, but it sure as heck did, and it was Big Game's third of the Spring (all three failed to hit the owner's windshield).

> Peter "El Burro" Bourjos goes 1 for 2 with a walk. El Burro has been an up and coming LSF stud for quite some time, and it was nice to see him get on base 2 out of 3 times in the game. While he definitely won't earn the extra outfielder spot, he'll be here eventually (or, possibly, be pretty impressive trade bait).

Dislikes:

> Seeing GA in a Dodgers sweater. I cheered him on, just like everyone in the stadium, but it was weird watching "00" take those nice easy swings and splitting the outfielders for his patented double. GA finished 1 for 2 with 3 standing ovations.

> Erick wasn't '09 Figgy at the top of the order. I know we're just looking at this indiviual game, but Erick "Bunt Master" Aybar went 0 for 3 on the top of the order. I know he'll pan out there, or get replaced by Ma$e, and I have confidence in him, but in the first game back at The Stadium (albeit a Spring Training game) you've got to get on base if you're the #1.

> The Abreu Project also went 0'fer. Scioscia has had some critics about wanting to start Bobby Abreu in the two hole this year. I definitely haven't been one of them, as I think that it's a perfect fit. However, it sure would have been nice for Mike if BA would have move 90 feet up the base path.

> Robbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb! It's looking more and more like Andrew was right earlier in the Spring when he said, "The extra 'B' is for Bees." Quinny has not really had a productive Spring, and he went 0 for 1 after taking over for Kendry at first base in last night's game. Is there any chance that you have Quinny on the opening day roster? Maybe just for solidarity's sake? We'll miss you in SLC, homeboy.

Tonight is the Los Angeles version of this series, with the Angels heading up the 5 freeway to the Stadium Way exit to try and make it a Freeway sweep against the Doyers. Neither team has a chance to finish the Spring at .500 or better, but it'll still be an exciting preseason farewell. Newbie Joel "JAP" Pineiro is slated to start for the Red Hats, and hopefully we'll get to see what Woody can bring to the table in the final game of the warm up fixtures. Then, on Monday evening, live on ESPN 2, it is opening day for our favorite hard ball squad as Jered Weaver and the Halos go against Scott Baker and the Twinkies in a 2002 ALCS rematch. Big Baby is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in his career against Minnesota, while his counterpart is 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA against the Angels in his career. What a nice way to start things off on our AL West title defense. It's a four game series, and it's going to be a barrel of fun.