There are a lot of different angles we can take when we look at the Angels 5-3 win over the Rays yesterday afternoon. I think, however, I want to start with Mike Scioscia possibly turning over a new leaf. First we find out that he has already replaced Fernando Rodney with Jordan Walden (which I called a long, long time ago, by the way) in the closer role. Then, we see that he inserted our third string catcher, Hankie Pankie Conger, in the lineup over the struggling duo of Mathis and Wilson. Is this July, or something? Wait, he did all of this after just four games? What's next? He's thinking of lifting Kazmir out of the rotation? Now I'm dreaming.
I'm not exactly sure who this guy is and what he's done with Mike Scioscia, but I like it. How long have Halo fans been calling on Mike to make moves quickly, rather than waiting out 15 blown saves before sitting Rodney down? And all of the sudden, he has listened and acted quickly? I'm shocked, but obviously in a good way, which may be a first for my relationship with Scioscia. Both of his quick decisions paid off last night, as Conger hit his first Major League jack, and Walden pitched a perfect, stress free ninth for the save. We beat the struggling Rays 5-3, and Mighty Mike looks like a genius (okay, that may be going a little too far).
I have to start with the offense. We have been coming out hot and fast all season, so far, and it's been so encouraging to see. In the first inning, Torii Hunter picked up a RBI single, and Alberto Callaspo followed that up with a two run single of his own. Right back at it in the second, Hank Conger blasts a solo bomb, and we stepped up to a 4-0 lead against a struggling team early. With Jered Weaver on the mound, you know that's a pretty secure situation. After a Howie Kendrick triple in the fifth, Hunter would add another RBI single, as José Mota would inform us that he's shortened his swing, and it seems to be working out for him.
The Angels finished with 5 runs on 9 hits, and worked Ray pitchers for 3 walks. Howie Kendrick continued his amazing run, going 2 for 2 with 2 walks, scoring twice (the deuces were wild!). He's now hitting .429 on the season, as everyone starts to finally see why they shouldn't have been laughing when I said he'd win the batting tite this year. I know it's only been 5 games, but he leads the MLB in hits so far, so you never know. Big Game was the only other Angel to go multi in the test, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, but Alberto Callaspo should not go unnoticed. AC/DV snagged 2 RBI to bring his total to 4 on the year, and he leads the team with his .438 batting average. We were also off and running in this one, as we added four stolen bases to Kendrick's impressive triple, delighting the Tampa Bay crowd with our speed. Torii, Maicer, St. Peter, and El Comedulce all snagged bags in the game.
There's always a flip side, though, and there are some dark spots showing up that don't involve the bullpen's previous four attempts. Vernon Wells. Now, if you read the blog, you know that I predicted a so-so year for "The Contract" in 2011 with a big rebound in 2012. So far, so right. He went 0 for 4 in this one, and has started his Halo career at a .136 clip. At one point, the radio crew pointed out that the Rays may walk Hunter to get to Wells (with Howie on third base) for the easier out. Wow, that's not what you like to hear about your #5 hitter, especially when he was your "big" offseason acquisition. He'll improve, but let's hold out judgment on the trade until we finish next year, alright? It's a marathon, not a sprint.
It's looking less and less like the Angels will need to find a way to keep Mark Trumbo's bat in the lineup once Kendrys comes back. Trumbo went 0 for 4 with 2 Ks in yesterday's game, and is hitting just .176 in his big shot up in the show. Sure, I think he's going to get better, but he hasn't looked anything like his Spring version yet (or any other version of him that we've seen in the past).
So, how about Big Baby Weaver? It was his second time out, and he looked almost just as good as he did in start one. He had one rough inning where he walked two and tossed something like 22 pitches, but even then he held the Rays to 0 runs, and moved on. He finished with 6.67 innings of 1 run ball, punching out 6 and walking just 3. After 2 starts, our caveman-looking ace is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. I don't think enough can be said about this guy. It is nice to see his strong efforts get rewarded with wins, unlike last season, but every time ("every fecking time!") he does well this year, I just feel worse about him losing his arbitration hearing, while jokers like Mathis won their's. I just hope we didn't push him out the door like we did with Lackey.
23 year old Fort Worth native Jordan Walden made good on his first shot as the Halos' official closer. He pitched a perfect inning with one K to pick up the first save in what has the makeup of being a potential rookie of the year campaign, in my opinion. I think we all kind of always knew that Walden would be our closer. I mean, he's a guy with a heater clocked at over 100 MPH, he doesn't mess around by throwing junk balls, and he just goes out there and gets the job done. What more could you ask for? A wacky beard? A Guns N Roses anthem? No thanks, I'll just stick with saves as my closer criteria. Sorry Fernando, but Scioscia finally got one right.
By the way, that line drive to Maicer Izturis late in the game? That was a catch. Horrible call by Sam Holbrook.
Also by the way, how about HR-Rod hitting a jack off of Weav? Go back and read the blog from way back. I always thought Rodriguez was a hugely underrated talent, way back when I saw him at Rancho Cucamonga live and in person. Good to see him doing well with Joe Maddon and company.
Oh, and also by the way, how awful are Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon? Who decided to sign these washed up losers?
So, after a high five of games, the Angels are 2-3, sitting second in the AL West. We trail the (shockingly) 5-0 Rangers by 3 games, are (shockingly) deadlocked with the Mariners, and (not surprisingly) lead the A's (picked by ESPN to win the division, I believe) by 0.5. In about 5 minutes, the Angels and Rays will wrap up their short two game series with a morning game (for us West Coasters). We'll see Dan Haren (0-0, 1.29) try to build on his solid first outing against first time starter (this season) Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson is a talented guy, so this could be a tougher matchup than it sounds like on paper. Especially because Scioscia has slotted Jeff Mathis back in at catcher, and has put Brandon Wood at shortstop. Just when you think Mike is getting rational, he reminds you just how stupid he is.
This morning's lineup: Ma$e (DH), HK-47 (2B), Abreu (LF), Big Game (RF), Wells (CF), Callaspo (3B), Trumbo (1B), The Objectively Worst Hitter Since '94 (C), Brandon "Have You Seen My Baseball?" Wood (SS).
Hopefully this "interesting" lineup can get to the Rays early and often, and get this team back to .500.
The minor league season gets underway tomorrow to add to our fun, so I hope you're all ready.
Go Angels Go.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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