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Tuesday, April 22, 2008 |
Dear Tony Reagins: Red Sox 7, Angels 6
Hope you like your division title, 'cause once again, the Angels aren't up to beating the Red Sox at Fenway. Like it or not, the AL flag is going through Boston, and this team is still getting pushed around there. I don't see the talent in this club to change that. Sorry.
And by the way, Weaver, turning into your brother isn't very nice.
Update: Kotch homered to tie it in the top of the 8th but that was as far as it got, since the Sox picked up a runner in the bottom of the frame for the go-ahead run.
Other stuff:
- Torii Hunter grounded into another double play. The Angels are incredibly now only tied for second in that category in the league (with 27, with Detroit), behind only Toronto (31).
- Vlad was 1-for-5. This is his coldest start ever, from what I can tell, and not just as an Angel. It's time he were benched a game or so.
Labels: angels, recaps, red sox
Comments:
Beyond Tony Reagins, Scioscia needs to sit down with Baseball Reference for 5 god-damn minutes and figure out what everybody else already knows. Jesus, I can't handle this crap. The Rays have an easier time beating the Red Sox than we do, and I promise it's not actually as hard as we're making it.
TAKE A F'ING PITCH.
Vlad needs to sit.
TAKE A F'ING PITCH.
Vlad needs to sit.
What REALLY pissed me off about this game, aside from the fact that Weaver seems to have forgotten all about whatever he did in spring training to amass a wonderful win-loss record there, is that the Angels were essentially spotted a four run lead by an emergency callup and still couldn't win.
Despite Vlad's struggles (and I'm convinced that he's either injured or finally slowing down, since he's striking out about twice as often as he has throughout his career), the offense was not the problem tonight. Six runs should be enough to win a ballgame, with a nominal "ace" on the mound. It's clear that virtually the entire staff is intimidated by the Red Sox and/or Fenway. Shields yielded the game-winning hit, which is par for the course for him against Boston. I can't fault Darren O'Day for giving up a HR (but to Ellsbury?!) because, well, he's Darren O'Day.
What bothers me the most is to see Juan Rivera languishing on the bench. The guy has all of 18 AB on the year, while GMJr. has 80. Throughout their respective careers, Rivera has hit for a better average, but he has also slugged for a higher percentage and gotten on base more frequently. In other words, he has been flat-out better across the offensive spectrum. GMJr. might be a better defensive player (debatable - more versatile, anyway), yet Scioscia's insistence on using him as a DH neutralizes his best skill. It's mind-boggling, not to mention infuriating.
What bothers me the most is to see Juan Rivera languishing on the bench. The guy has all of 18 AB on the year, while GMJr. has 80. Throughout their respective careers, Rivera has hit for a better average, but he has also slugged for a higher percentage and gotten on base more frequently. In other words, he has been flat-out better across the offensive spectrum. GMJr. might be a better defensive player (debatable - more versatile, anyway), yet Scioscia's insistence on using him as a DH neutralizes his best skill. It's mind-boggling, not to mention infuriating.
strategic game decisions aside and i know i hate the BoSox as much as anyone else, relax. losing one game in the 3rd week of April at Fenway, we needn't write off October. Likewise, nobody proclaimed us AL Champs after taking 2 of 3 from Cleveland a few weeks back.
while its a definite possibility to again win the West, then get knocked out of the playoffs, this IS a stronge team offensively and defensively than last year. I know that much.
i'm not going down the 'we're doomed' path - i'm waiting for October. Half of the MLB experts already gave the 2008 World Series to Tigers. I'm in the other camp and will wait to see what plays out.
while its a definite possibility to again win the West, then get knocked out of the playoffs, this IS a stronge team offensively and defensively than last year. I know that much.
i'm not going down the 'we're doomed' path - i'm waiting for October. Half of the MLB experts already gave the 2008 World Series to Tigers. I'm in the other camp and will wait to see what plays out.
Honestly, the Angels seriously need to reassert themselves tonight. It's probably a little early in the season for a beanball-fest, but when Dustin "Foul-mouthed Lawn Gnome" Pedroia goes 4 for 5, your pitchers have to step up and reclaim the inner half of the plate.
Weaver, I don't know. He goes from striking out the side to giving up home runs. He clearly got his consistency from his brother, and we need somebody to deal with that ASAP. I don't know if Butcher is that person, but every time I see him spin around on the mound after throwing a bad pitch I see Jeff Weaver yelling at Orlando Cabrera for throwing home and killing a run at the plate instead of turning a double play.
Scot Shields should not pitch in Boston, ever. Career stats like that aren't hard to understand. A lifetime 17.65 ERA means you DO. NOT. PITCH. in Fenway Park. Ever. Okay, Scioscia?
I will write a check to Jon Garland if he wins us this game tonight.
Weaver, I don't know. He goes from striking out the side to giving up home runs. He clearly got his consistency from his brother, and we need somebody to deal with that ASAP. I don't know if Butcher is that person, but every time I see him spin around on the mound after throwing a bad pitch I see Jeff Weaver yelling at Orlando Cabrera for throwing home and killing a run at the plate instead of turning a double play.
Scot Shields should not pitch in Boston, ever. Career stats like that aren't hard to understand. A lifetime 17.65 ERA means you DO. NOT. PITCH. in Fenway Park. Ever. Okay, Scioscia?
I will write a check to Jon Garland if he wins us this game tonight.
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