Death To The "Co-Ace."

Dan Haren pitched a freaking gem last night. 7.3 innings, 2 hits allowed, 6 Ks, and just 1 walk. He outdueled Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, who may be the hardest luck loser in the bigs this season, and helped the Angels pick up a sweep against a semi-solid NL team to start this long homestand. So what if our only run was scored when Howie grounded into a double play? It worked, didn't it?

With the victory, The Chessmaster is now 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA, and is showing that he's starting to feel settled in Anaheim. It's great. I'm happy, he seems to be happy, and the Halos are getting hot at the right time, keeping within striking distance of the 2010 American League Champions in the division race. 

So, what could possibly be making me frustrated right now? 

"Co-ace."

With Dan Haren putting up decent numbers over the first half of the season, the media and the fanbase feel compelled to give him a label. God forbid he just be "Dan Haren, a really good pitcher." No, that's not good enough. It wouldn't be fair to simply just appreciate him for what he is. Instead, we need to bring him up on an equal level with Jered Weaver, our true ace. Rather than just appreciate the fact that we have an impressive ace and a really solid #2, we have to meld them into one, give them the same labels, and call them both our "Co-ace."

I hate it.

Jered Weaver is 9-4 with a 1.97 ERA. Dan Haren is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA. Where do we get that they are co-aces? Let me ask you this question, you who espouse the "co-ace" label: Who would you pick to start game seven of the World Series? 

Case closed.

We have one ace and one hell of a #2. Let's be happy with that, and call it what it is. Something tells me that Dan Haren won't mind (and I know Weaver will appreciate it).

We're 42-40, thanks to going 8-2 over the last 10 games, and we sit just 1.5 back of the Texas Rangers. Halo fans are starting to come back to the bandwagon, though us real fans never left (and were actually enjoying the ride much more, with all the extra space to stretch out our legs). Seattle is 4 back of the lead, with the A's sitting 7 back. I'm so pleased to see them struggling, especially since I live in the Bay Area now.

After an off-day today, the Angels match back up with the Doyers for the weekend, with their eyes on another series win. The Blew Crew are in even worse shape than the last time we met, even though that was just a week ago, and that should make for a fun battle over the next three days.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē