Well, I called for a sweep in the Halos' four game series with the M's. I thought a sweep, combined with the Red Sox handling the Rangers a little bit, would have been enough to shut the critics up. Of course, the Angels got me 3 out of 4, which I appreciated. Sadly, the Red Sox didn't hold up their end of the bargain, and we still sit 4.5 games back after all that. So, at 50-45 and still 4.5 games back of Texas, what did we learn about this team and our second half hopes after this successful weekend against Seattle?
(note: Thursday's game was already covered, and you can read about it in the post, "Angels Fist their way to victory")
Friday (3-2 Angels):
+ We learned Jered Weaver actually can win a close game. The Caveman went 7 innings of 2 run ball, not only to win his 9th of the year, but to beat Felix Hernandez (who had the CG loss), his seeming new rival. 5 Ks and 0 walks provides hope that Weav will pilot this team in the 2nd half.
+ We learned Brian Fuentes can pitch a perfect inning for a save.
+ We learned Howie is a doubles machine. He went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, and he scored once.
+ We learned Erick Aybar is still ale to steal a base.
+ We learned that Jeff Mathis must like to give the Nap Heads fodder for talking cream on him, as he was the lone hitless starter.
+ Finally, we learned that the Angels are the kind of team who loves to run themselves out of an inning (see the 2nd). Right Franny?
Saturday (7-6 Angels):
+ We learned Juan Rivera still has IT. With the score 6-6 in the 7th, JR sent a ball into the seats to basically win the game after Jepsen tried to hand it to Seattle. His jack cancelled out the Mariners' attempted comeback, as they march from 1-6 to all tied up. Magic Juan-d went 3 for 4 with 3 runs and a RBI in the game.
+ We learned that Mike Napoli wants this HR lead. Elbow Macaroni went solo job in the 3rd and finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs and a RBI. I think he was just glad to be back behind the dish.
+ Speaking of being glad to be somewhere, Kevin Frandsen plays a mean first base. Picking throws in the dirt and going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI may have just opened the door for the Bradon Wood experiment version 2.0 at third base.
+ Reggie Willits doesn't suck, despite Mark Saxon pointing out his lack of homeruns. 2 for 4 with 2 RBI had the crowd chanting his name yet again.
+ Finally, we learned Joe Saunders is having an off year and we'll just have to get used to it. 6 innings of 4 run/10 hit ball with just 3 Ks isn't like him...or is it? Is anyone talking about Fernando Rodney going out an getting another shutout inning?
Sunday (2-1 Mariners, in 10):
+ We learned the Angels didn't feel comfortable staying at 3.5 back.
+ We learned Ervin is the new Jared. He pitched 7 innings of 1 run ball with 7 Ks in the loss. In his last 14 starts, the Angels gave him 60 runs over seven wins and just 7 runs in the other seven outings. Um, I hope he's not angry.
+ We learned Chone Figgins is batting .228, and we don't miss him.
+ We learned that Kevin Jepsen is kind of hitting a rough patch, losing the game on a M's rally in the 10th. Again, did anyone notice Rodney's scoreless inning? This guy is like a machine that no one is talking about.
+ Finally, and maybe the best tid bit from the post, we learned that Scott Kazmir is off to the 15 day DL! Ah! The dreaded injured because I suck so bad. Thankfully, Maicer Izturis has been activated and Paul McAnulty was optioned to AAA. The word is that Kaz has "shoulder fatigue," but it's interesting this comes after allowing a franchise worst 13 earned runs in his last outing. Can you go to the DL for injuring your pride? The Angels have yet to announce a spot starter for Kaz, but all sources put it as either Trevor Bell or Sean O'Sullivan (I'm pulling for Sully). It is going to be such a boost to get Izzy back.
After an off day today, it is either put up or shut up time for the Halos now. We have officially entered the part of the schedule that will make or break our season. We have two at New York, four at Texas, three at home with Boston, and three at home with Texas as we work toward August. Imagine where we could be in the standings after the next 12 games. This is huge. We open tomorrow in New York against Phil Hughes (11-2, 3.65) and the Yankees. Everyone in NY is excited because Alex Rodriguez is sitting on 598 homeruns for hid career, and I'm just hoping the Halos can get out of this short series without giving him the satisfaction of 600. I'd let it happen, of course, if I could get the two game sweep. I'm hoping Hughes will be too sad to pitch after being the All Star loser of record last week. Best of luck to the big question mark scheduled to pitch for my boys in Tuesday's opener.
How about a quick tour of the recent MiLB clubs as I continue to try and kill time at work?
Stingers- The Bees start a series with Fresno tonight after busting Sac Town 5-3 yesterday. Matt Palmer work 2.3 innings of shutout ball in rehab work for SLC and Nate Sutton gets the LSF Man Of The Match Award for going 1 for 4 with 2 RBI, getting a RBI single in the first, and being a part of the hit parade in the 5th. The UCSB alumni is now hitting .280/2/29 in 71 games with an impressive .361 OBP.
Travs- Arkansas busted Tulsa 6-1 last night, as they head into their series tonight against NW Arkansas. Will "Fresh Prince" Smith went 6 innings of 1 run ball to improve to 5-8 with a 5.53 ERA across three levels of MiLB action this year. LSF Man Of The Match and CF Tyson Auer (who has already racked up huge mentions in the blog) went 4 for 5 with 3 runs and a RBI, getting 7 total bases, including an unlikely 9th inning solo jack.
Quakes- RC gets ready to go against Stockton again tonight after a 5-2 win yesterday. Eddie McKieman pitched a shutout inning for his 19th save of the year (2.97 ERA). The LSF Man Of The Match honors go to super prospect Mike Trout for hitting his first single-A homerun. The CF was called up after hitting .362/6/39 over 81 games in Cedar Rapids (low-A), and has already stepped in to make an impact in high-A ball. Just 5 games in at the new level, and he already has a .364 OBP.
Enjoy the off night, Halos, it's about to get real serious out there.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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