6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Angels Survive Another Bullpen Giveback: Angels 6, Rangers 5

Bobby Abreu's bases-clearing double in the sixth was the big news in this game, one which dampened the Rangers' title hopes after hauling Vlad Guerrero back to the park he had played so many games in over the last four years. He never did get his wish to hit 50 homers in a single year, but he did get a standing ovation from the assembled crowd. He also belted a two-run homer off Kevin Jepsen, which seems about par for the late-innings course for the Angels bullpen these days.

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Ely, Kemp, Loney All Get 'Er Done To Take San Francisco Series: Dodgers 4, Giants 2

John Ely finally got his first win since May 22, Matt Kemp made a pair of fine catches to save his pitcher, and James Loney came up big with ducks on the pond. Winning on the road against teams ahead of you in the standings — nothing finer!

Dodgers recap • ESPN box

Angels Get To Face Unknown Minor Leaguer Omar Beltre

I'm not optimistic about the outcome. On the other hand, he is a righty, albeit with very good strikeout rates (10.5 this year with AAA Oklahoma City).

Aramark Releases All-Star Game Menu

I got this a couple days ago, but I'm not sure if this doesn't represent anything I didn't already know; what I think is the most useful info is the changes in concessions, probably covered elsewhere, but here for completeness:

• Clyde Wright’s Bar-B-Que (Gate 1) - Traditional Tennessee barbecue, developed with former Angels’ All-Star pitcher Clyde Wright
• Diablo’s Fierce Barbeque (sections 127, 244 and 416) - Classic, saucy sandwiches and sides
• Major League Deli (Section 223) - Specialty sandwiches from around the league (including the house-braised pastrami, California turkey club, corned beef and more)
• Major League Dogs (sections 259 and 424) - Famously “topped” hot dogs from around the league, including the Angels “Halo Dog” (bacon-wrapped 6/1 all-beef hot dog, topped with charro beans, shredded jack cheese and pico de gallo salsa)
• Toro Sushi (Section 124) - Sensational sushi, sake & Japanese beers (prepared fresh in front of guests)
• Panini Café (Section 112) - Gourmet grilled sandwiches, fresh salads and wine
• CHIX (Section 103) - Everything chicken, prepared fresh (mixture of healthy and tasty chicken offerings)
• The Grand Stand (throughout the stadium) - Reinvented classic ballpark fare
• Sweet Spot (sections 103 and 412) - Ice cream, cookies, candy and more (offering specialty candies and confections)

Labels: angel stadium, angels, dodgers, giants, rangers, recaps

After last Wednesday's catastrophe of a game, you would think the Dodgers — and maybe Joe Torre — might think a little harder about how to win ballgames. But no; Jonathan Broxton, whose talents seem to be right up there in the Hall of Very Good category, but never quite the next ethereal level, gagged up a four run lead and took the loss. Really, not quite as embarrassing as the baserunning blunders in the Angels game, but enough to make you think they don't even belong in the same breath as the top teams in either league.

Much as I want to agree with MSTI — and I think they make some good points, especially the part about Broxton being overused lately — I do think he clanks when it counts, and this is not just about him being tired. I suspect he'll be one of the first voted off the island when arbitration eligibility hits, and precisely for nights like this one.

ESPN Box • Dodgers recap

Labels: dodgers, recaps, yankees

The Angels took the rubber match of this series, though at first it didn't appear as though that would happen. The Rocks took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth on the strength of an unbelievable performance by Jhoulys Chacin, who at that point had six of his nine recorded outs on strikeouts; but then he stumbled the second time through the order, and Mike Napoli crushed a three-run homer to give the Angels the lead with one swing of the bat.

The Angels picked up more in the fifth when Howie Kendrick grounded into a double play that scored Brandon Wood from third, but the Angels really blew the game open in the bottom of the eighth, when Juan Rivera hit an RBI single and Brandon Wood blasted his first career grand slam to make it 10-3, the final score. Great game and series by the Angels, who needed one.

ESPN Box • Angels recap • Facebook photo slide show

Labels: angels, recaps, rockies

Friday's game got dreary quickly after the introduction of Fernando Rodney, who let the Rocks tie things up and eventually necessitated extras, and more exposure to the Angels' Achilles heel, their notorious bullpen. Tonight's started with a bang:

Hideki Matsui unloaded one into left center, an opposite field blast that carried the Angels to victory. Victory, that is, despite Joe Saunders (lately bad) and the bullpen (bad all year long). Rodney got some measure of redemption by pitching a scoreless ninth, and Fuentes nailed down a save despite giving up a one-out walk — somehow, he got Miguel Olivo to line into an inning-ending double play. He's burning up his luck at a crazy pace, lately.

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Labels: angels, recaps, rockies

This hit the AP news wires as speculation on Tuesday but was lately confirmed by the Reds' official blog an hour or two ago: Gary Matthews, Jr. was signed by Cincinnati after the Mets DFA'd him on June 12. The Angels owe him $17M, the Mets, $1.7M.

Labels: ex-angels, mets, reds, transactions

In BPro today:

18. Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Cook HS (GA)
Inside the Pick: Seen as more of a late first-round talent, Cowart moved up to the Angels, and was a surprising selection for them, as he's considered a tough sign. What He is: Cowart is a fantastic athlete and a two-way talent, but someone many teams preferred as a pitcher. As a third baseman, he's a switch-hitter with power from both sides and a downright pretty swing. He's even an average runner, and his arm is strong.
What He is Not: Cowart's defensive reviews, other than his arm, are a mixed bag, and he'll need to improve his reads, footwork, and the accuracy of his throws. He's an aggressive hitter who looks to mash early in the count, and will need to temper his approach.
Path with the Angels: The Angels have very little when it comes to prospects that play on the left side of the infield, so there's nothing blocking Cowart's progress long-term.

More there on the Angels' other two first-rounders, Taylor Lindsey and Ryan Bolden. And, geez, whoever thought that the Halos' middle infield machine would come to a clanking halt like that?

Labels: angels, draft

Time for a trip to Batlantis!

Labels: dodgers, funny

There were gaffes a-plenty on both sides last night — including an 18-minute blackout delay that pushed an already long game (thanks to a lot of singles scoring) to 3:52 — but the biggest gaffe might have been Scott Kazmir. Incredibly, with the halfway mark coming up, Kazmir still has only four quality starts, the worst of any starter. Acquired to be John Lackey insurance, he may as well be a fifth starter; he basically is now, anyway.

Unfortunately, he's not being paid that way; he's owed $20M through next year, with a $12.5M club option for 2012. Tampa got out from under his contract at exactly the right time; the only thing I can hope at this point is that he's injured and hiding it.

But back to the other gaffes: the Angels ran themselves out of a first inning rally when Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter erased themselves trying to steal second and third, respectively, Torii to end the inning. And in the bottom of the sixth, Brandon Wood got caught napping between first and second, which eventually led to Jeff Weaver nearly picking him off by the act of merely walking to the basepaths, recalling the ridiculous CS2, unassisted from six years ago. Willits at third decided then to either attempt to score with Weaver's back to him, or just likewise lapsed into somnambulism, for he was eventually the out made, CS 1-4-3-2-5.

Daylight opened up for the Angels after they chased Charlie Haeger — who came within one out of his first season win — because Autopilot Joe called on Ramon Troncoso. Now, I don't know if you are a Facebook friend of Frank McCheap — who, incidentally, has a new vitriolic blog — but I am, mainly despite the bashing. You will find little regard for the McCourts in this corner, but one thing they have not been — at least on the free agency side — is cheap. However, he did yield one entirely useful status update on Wednesday, and that was to keep Troncoso, Belisario, and Sherrill out of close games. That proved pretty good advice, because with two on and two out in the fifth, Troncoso came on and allowed both his inherited baserunners to score. I really don't know what — if anything — is going on in Torre's head these days, but it doesn't appear to be about baseball.

Anyway, as I said before, there was an 18 minute delay early in the seventh inning, which undoubtedly altered the game's character to some degree, because Francisco Rodriguez was wild and bad. Or, the Dodgers offense showed up, take your pick. Either way, the Dodgers avoided a season sweep by the Halos. Reviewing the teams' histories, the Angels have been swept by the Dodgers, since the invention of interleague play, exactly once, in 1997, a year that wasn't too kind to the Angels, when they finished 84-78, losing 0-4 to the Dodgers that year. Oddly, both home and away series that year were midweek affairs, as this one; in any six+ game set, neither team has ever swept, thought the Angels have never won less than two, and this is the third time for them going 5-1 against the Dodgers. Too bad Texas drew Pittsburgh, and the Astros stink this year.

ESPN Box • Angels recap • Dodgers recap

Labels: angels, dodgers, recaps

The duo the team reached agreements with were SS Taylor Lindsey (37th overall) and CF Ryan Bolden (40th overall). Lindsey signed for $873,000, and Bolden went for $829,800. Still unsigned are the Angels' top three picks, 3B Kaleb Cowart (18th overall), RHP Cam Bedrosian (29th overall), and OF Chevez Clarke (30th overall). Cowart was recently named Baseball America's prep player of the year.

Labels: angels, draft

I'm still rubbing the astonishment out of my eyes, for there's something carnally wrong about the way last night's game ended. Brian Fuentes had no business getting out of that jam by having Russell Martin make the last out at second on a baserunning blunder, the Dodgers' second of the inning, the first being Matt Kemp getting picked off second. Jamie Carroll's pinch-hit flyball single to shallow left center should have tied the game; but Martin's wide turn at second left enough air between him and the bag that Juan Rivera threw a dart to dash the Dodgers' hopes.

On top of all that, apparently there was a controversy over whether Fuentes balked on the pickoff throw that nabbed Kemp. MSTI says it went uncalled, and while I was watching the game at the time, I still for the life of me do not understand why balks do or do not get called. (Memories of Kevin Malone has an animated GIF that conclusively shows an uncalled balk; Fuentes' knee was, in fact, bent.)

Matt Kemp started the night with a two-out line drive in the first that was right to Kevin Frandsen, and that set the tone for the Dodgers, who just couldn't get runners home. Joel Pineiro wobbled early, then settled down and retired fourteen straight until he walked Andre Ethier to end his night in the eighth. John Ely pitched nearly as well, recalling the Ely from his first half-dozen starts or so, but he took the collar for the loss. Given how well he'd pitched earlier, I was shocked to see him with a 3-5 record. Not much to say there.

ESPN Box • Angels recap • Dodgers recap

Labels: angels, dodgers, recaps

That's funny. The Mouse had a whole 30 teams' worth of mice out there, with a photo contest.

Labels: angels, haha, red sox

What genius decided the Dodgers/Angels interleague series should be mid-week, anyway? It was so odd that even Vinny commented on it during the game. I have a hard time getting to the park midweek, so it was something of a shock to me.

Kershaw pitched an excellent game through five, but came up short in the sixth when he gave up a three-run jack to Bobby Abreu, this after allowing only a single and a pair of walks in that span, and retiring nine straight after Howie Kendrick's leadoff single in the first. (And by the way, how is that Howie-at-leadoff experiment working? In small sample sizes (5 games, 23 plate appearances) he's hitting .364/.391/.636. That's a lot closer to what I expect from him than his season numbers.

The Angels pecked away at the Dodgers in the seventh with a long two-out rally that might have been even longer had Juan Rivera not been immediately picked off third after being balked over from second. Ay, yi, yi. The Angels mustered four straight two-out hits to retaliate, and cleared a three-run lead for good. It proved even impossible for Fernando Rodney and Brian Fuentes to mangle affairs, though they (Rodney in particular) did give it a good try. Fortunately for the Angels, with no outs and men on first and second, Matt Kemp hit into a double play. I have been on the record as opposed to Ned Colletti's comments against Kemp, but maybe MSTI's comment implying he's been overused isn't far from the truth? He's having a miserable June, and perhaps a day off.

ESPN Box • Angels recap • Dodgers recap

Labels: angels, dodgers, recaps

This was Joe Saunders' second wretched game since his June 9 CG against the A's. Don't let that fool you, though, because only Scott Kazmir has a lower percentage of quality starts this year (31% for Kazmir vs. 43% prior to today for Saunders). And by giving up a home run to Geovany Soto, he broke a four-way tie for second place for home runs allowed, with Jered Weaver, Joel Pineiro, Saunders, and Kazmir all collecting ten each; this was Saunders' eleventh. The outing also tied for his shortest of the year, his last 2.2 IP game being April 22 vs. Detroit. For several years now, Baseball Prospectus' super-geniuses have been warning us about him turning into a pumpkin because of his lack of a dominant pitch, and it might just, finally, be coming true.

By the fifth it was obvious that Saunders wasn't going to do anything to relieve the stinkbomb he'd unleashed in the early innings. With all the scoring, it was a slow game anyway, so I elected to use the time instead to take care of some overdue yard work. I came back and in passing noted that Brandon Wood got another hit, so he's starting to look, at least a little bit, like he might be figuring things out. I've said that before, of course, but perhaps he's better off playing short anyway.

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Labels: angels, cubs, recaps

His father passed from injuries sustained by a kick from a horse.

Labels: deaths, dodgers

Honestly, I was just happy the Dodgers managed to tie the game in the seventh. Broxton will lose a few games for you, but he generally will win more; this was one in the L column, unfortunately.

ESPN Box • Dodgers recap

Labels: dodgers, recaps, red sox

Jered Weaver can come up with the occasional stinker — his May 18 implosion against Texas, for instance, or his six-run turdsicle against Oakland on June 8 — but far more often he's been the team ace, the go-to guy you want on the mound to stop a losing streak. He didn't have a skid to contend with to start the game, but did extend the Angels' little winning streak to three.

The Angels got to Ted Lilly early, with a Howie Kendrick leadoff shot setting the tone for the game. The Angels then proceeded to make it 4-0 on a Juan Rivera bases-clearing double. By the end of the day, Brandon Wood had a multi-hit game (2-for-5), and even Weaver got a hit. Torii Hunter hit a two-run jack in the sixth to make it 6-0, and the Angels just kept nicking the Cubs thereafter until they doubled the score.

Weaver, of course, was dominant, and took over the MLB lead in strikeouts, fanning eleven along the way to notching his seventh win of the season. And all this despite the wind blowing out, one of the reasons Wrigley can be among the league's most treacherous to flyball pitchers.

The Cubs' season isn't over by the calendar or the elimination numbers, but between Lou Piniella's miscues and watching the end of career Derrek Lee (and possibly end of career Aramis Ramirez log frequent flier miles on the DL), the Cubs are stuck firmly in neutral this year. Though the Angels aren't nearly the team they were two years ago, it looks like they'll at least manage to avoid that fate this year.

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Labels: angels, cubs, recaps

Administrivia: Away, Now Back

It's been a week since I last posted, but a busy one at work and elsewhere, capped off with a brief trip to San Francisco, and my first-ever visit to the land of the Dodgers' native enemies, AT&T Park (photos to come). All that has lead to this blog getting the short end of that stick. My apologies to whoever may still be following here.

Things I Missed: Roster Notes

• I see that Jeff Mathis is back among the 25-man roster for the Angels. The team DFA'd Michael Ryan to make room.
• Shockingly, Erick Aybar was injured in a take-out slide in the series opener against the Brewers. Stranger still, there's apparently hope that the torn miniscus may not be as badly damaged as initially thought, because he was seen walking without pain.
• The Angels recalled Brandon Wood. Hold your breath.
• Robb Quinlan went back down, and Mike Napoli will probably replace him for the rest of the year at first.
• Maicer Izturis promptly got put back on the 15-day-DL.
• Sean O'Sullivan is back up.
• Chad Billingsley went down, and Travis Schlichting went back up.

Man, that's a lot for just a week.

Angels Survive Late Cubs Uprising: Angels 7, Cubs 6

This one gave Helen a lot to love, especially late in the game; the four-run ninth keynoted by a no-outs three-run jack by Tyler Colvin was especially galling. Carlos Silva took the proximate loss for the Cubs, but the real turd that lost the game was Bob Howry giving up three more runs that really, ultimately put the game out of reach. Great news if you're the Angels, but it's part of a longer stretch of very bad decision-making by Lou Piniella that makes you wonder if he's senile.

On the plus side for the Angels, they got another six-inning game out of Kazmir, and some of the guys who needed it — Brandon Wood and Jeff Mathis in particular — got hits. And what was Howie Kendrick doing at the top of the order, besides not getting on base?

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Manny Gets Mixed Reviews As Boston Slays The Bullpen: Red Sox 10, Dodgers 6

Whatever happened to those Hooters promos for the home team scoring ten runs or more? They were all over the place a few years ago, and completely dried up in 2008 or so. The Fenway faithful could have qualified after this one, only this time Monasterios couldn't handle the job. I remember at one point — in the bottom of the fifth, in fact, after the game was long lost and Travis Schlichting was called on to mop-up duties — that they were intentionally walking David Ortiz to get to ... Kevin Youkilis? It worked, but that's nothing like what you'd call approval.

ESPN Box • Dodgers recap

The Very Air Abounds With Ironies: Padres 3, Orioles 2

So, let me see if I have this straight:

• Frank McCourt, a native Bostonian, tries and fails to buy the Red Sox.
• He purchases the Dodgers, successfully, in one of the most heavily leveraged transactions in MLB history.
• The team he previously rooted for routes his current team, and this despite using one of Boston's former marquee players.
• This left him dependent on the club from his estranged wife's native city, Baltimore, to at least hold on leads of 1-0 and 2-1 (going into the 9th), in order to keep pace with his team's current principal rivals in the standings.

Of course the Birds fail.

ESPN Box

Labels: angels, cubs, dodgers, injuries, orioles, padres, recaps, red sox, transactions

Top 3rd

Joel Pineiro reached on a swinging strikeout. That is high comedy. Russell Martin made a great attempt in the stands on a pop foul on the first pitch to Maicer Izturis; it deflects off his glove, and a woman narrowly missed giving up her dinner to the Dodger catcher. Izturis bounced into a great double play started by Furcal. But on the play, Pineiro advanced to third, and Bobby Abreu cashed him in to make it 1-0 Angels. Matsui slammed a grounder right at DeWitt to end the frame, but the Angels took the lead early.

Bottom 3rd

Joel Pineiro gets out of the inning, retiring the Dodgers in order, the last out being Andre Ethier lining out to Robb Quinlan at first. It was a "you've gotta be kidding me" moment.

Bottom 4th

After getting Manny to strike out, Pineiro gives up a line drive solo blast just over the glove of Abreu to James Loney to tie the game 1-1. Pineiro retires the next two in order, but the damage is done.

Top 5th

Billingsly walks Pineiro and eventually hits Torii Hunter to load the bases, and then gives up a bases-clearing double to make it 4-1 Angels. The ball tips off Andre Ethier's glove, who narrowly missed making a highlight-reel catch to save the game for the Dodgers.

Bottom 5th

After Martin reaches on an infield single, Billingsley attempts to bunt him over to second, and Pineiro falls on his ass fielding it, so both end up safe. Furcal bounces into a 4-6-3 double play, and Martin strikes out looking to end the threat. Sometimes, you just wanna laugh. Or cry.

Top 6th

Billingsley loads the bases, starting with — uncredibly! — a walk to Joel Pineiro. And that's the end of his day.

So, naturally, Joe Torre brings out ... George Sherrill.

My brain may explode.

Sherrill walks the first batter he faces — Abreu, who is known for his ball-four-friendly approach to the game — to make it 5-1 Angels. Vinny announces that this is the first time Pineiro has scored three runs in his career.

And another bases-clearing double, this one from Hunter (and why is Torre letting Sherrill face righties?), makes it 8-1 Angels. It's becoming a rout pretty early.

Top 8th

Justin Miller got Joel Pinero for the first time tonight. A good sign for the Blue.

Aybar grounded out to short, and the crowd sounded like they could care less. It's been that kind of a night.

Top 9th

Miller's been nails for the Dodgers. Outside of a two-out double to Izturis in the last inning, he hadn't allowed a baserunner. That changes as soon as I wrote that, because he gave up an infield single to late-innings left field replacement Reggie Willits with one out, DeWitt throwing the ball well away from first base, and Loney saving him from an error by leaping off the bag.

Napoli collected the Golden Sombrero with his fourth swish.

Helen: So, will you not say he sucks this time?

No, Howie Kendrick's two-run jack does not suck. 10-1 Angels.

Bottom 9th

Manny bounced out. Easily, cheaply, the whole offensive night for the Dodgers in one at-bat. Two down.

Loney, the only Dodger to drive in a run or score a run, bounced out to end the game. Pineiro got a CG win to go 5-6 on the season.

And the Pads have loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth in San Diego to jeopardize the Dodgers' division lead.

And the Pads win on a walkoff sac fly.

ESPN Box

Labels: angel stadium, dodgers, live blogging, recaps

The former Oriole will join the AA Arkansas rotation. Cabrera always was said to have good stuff but awful control, and has never had an ERA under 4.00 in his career.

The Angels released 2008 30th-round draftee Jayson Miller to make room.

Labels: angels, minors, transactions

Per the Rev. Surgery's over. Not really a surprise; I figured that would be the most likely outcome considering how badly he injured his ankle.

Update: Confirmation from the Register.

Labels: angels, injuries

Dodgers Sweep Cards: Dodgers 4, Cardinals 3

How did this happen? I was as shocked as anybody to see the Blue blow past the Cards, who have given them trouble every year the last decade, it seems. Doing some research, it turns out that the last time they got a three-game home sweep of St. Louis, it was a very magical year indeed: 1988, and specifically, July 18, 19, and 20 against a fairly weak Cards team (finishing 74-88).

Manny Ramirez (first inning homer) and Blake DeWitt (a two-run single) drove in all the Dodgers' runs, and against Adam Wainwright, of all people. When Clayton Kershaw gave up Ryan Ludwick's no-doubter to left in the fourth, the immediate thought was, oh boy. But he settled down and finished seven innings. Broxton got himself into some little trouble in the ninth — but with the help of a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God ground rule double off the bat of Yadier Molina that prevented Albert Pujols from scoring from first, no further damage occurred. In the end it was a narrow thing.

ESPN Box • Dodgers recap

Angels Maul Oakland: Angels 7, A's 1

Sort of retribution for the previous night's 10-1 battering. Great game by Hokie Joe, who went the distance.

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Dodgers Hired A Psychic

The McCourts so don't deserve to run this franchise.

Frank and Jamie McCourt paid him to help the team win by sending positive energy over great distances.

Shpunt says he is a scientist and a healer, not a magician. His method could not guarantee the Dodgers would win, he says, but it could make a difference.

"Maybe it is just a little," he said. "Maybe it can help."

In the five years he worked for the Dodgers, he attended just one game. Instead, he watched them on television in his home more than 3,000 miles from Dodger Stadium, channeling his thoughts toward the team's success.

Shpunt's work was one of the best-kept secrets of the McCourt era. The couple kept it hidden even from the team's top executives. But from e-mails and interviews, a picture emerges of how the emigre physicist tried to use his long-distance energy to give the Dodgers an edge.

The McCourts, who are embroiled in a contentious divorce, declined to be interviewed about Shpunt. Through their representatives, Frank said it was Jamie's idea to hire him and Jamie said it was Frank's.

Update: Noted in the comments at MSTI's piece on this topic:

At one point, Shpunt also tried to heal a player. In 2005, Jamie referred outfielder Jayson Werth to him for treatment of a wrist injury, after Werth had told her of his interest in alternative medicine, according to Cohen and representatives for Frank and Jamie.

Werth had one in-person healing session and one distance healing session, apparently not successful. In 2008, as he emerged as a star with the Philadelphia Phillies, Werth said Dodgers doctors had misdiagnosed the injury and that he did not get proper treatment until he went to the Mayo Clinic on his own. He made no mention of Shpunt.

Labels: angels, athletics, cardinals, dodgers, mccourts, recaps, stupid ideas

Yes, I know the last time the Angels were in first place was after play on April 5, when they beat the Twinks on opening day. But yesterday's win represents a hard slog to even catch up to a mediocre Texas team; moreover, as the current unified AL standings make clear, the Angels, with their current record, wouldn't even qualify for third place in the AL East.

The Angels knocked out a couple on Bobby Abreu's first inning homer off Ben Sheets, and when the Angels came back for more in the fifth (on an Erick Aybar triple and Howie Kendrick's infield single), that was all they needed, Brian Fuentes on the mound in the ninth or no. Scott Kazmir posted his second-longest game of the year, giving up only one run. Fernando Rodney showed in the eighth why Detroit was happy to let him seek his fortune elsewhere, getting himself into and (largely) out of trouble.

Finally, I wanted to make a mention — if tardy, and only in passing — of the Angels 9-4 win in Seattle on Sunday, which completed a road sweep of the blue-and-teal northrons. Mainly, that's because of something David Pinto forwarded that, owing to the usual time constraints, I failed to comment on at the time. Namely, while the M's haven't been mathematically eliminated, they are getting close to a point where they may as well be. Of course, they did beat Texas in Arlington behind a Cliff Lee complete game, but they really need to sweep the Rangers, and hope the Angels fall apart, too. There's too many teams ahead of them for this to look anything like hopeful at this point, and though comments like that have a way of coming back (remember "the Giants is dead" from 1951?), it would be one of the more remarkable comebacks in late memory.

ESPN Box

Labels: angels, athletics, mariners, recaps

In the Arizona Republic:

Glendale spent $158 million to open a ballpark complex in 2009 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. The city expected to receive $142 million from the sports authority. The latest forecast puts the figure at $79 million, and the money won't start flowing until 2021, four years later than expected.

And the Cubs may not get the money they wanted for a new spring training complex.

Labels: cubs, dodgers, spring training

Here's something fun for late on a Sunday: telephone promos for The Empire Strikes Back.

Labels: offtopic

Why, on the MLB.com Media Center page is Gameday not given as an option? I don't mean MLB At Bat, I mean Gameday. At Bat is big, flashy, and crashy. It gives me no additional data that I can't get from Gameday, and it's more gee-whiz than useful. Every time I go to the Media Center page, I click on the At Bat link, and immediately switch to Gameday. Why not give me the option on the Media Center page?

Labels: mlbam, tech

Chad Billingsley had things nicely in hand for six innings, but Joe Torre left him in one inning too long, and that was the ballgame, as the normally steady Dodgers relief corps fell apart. MSTI's analysis of Ramon Troncoso's sudden fall from grace also explains much, above and beyond Joe Torre's overuse of him this year; basically, Troncoso, who was the root cause of much of this game's catastrophic nature (despite the loss being charged to Bills), has had peripheral collapses every year for the last three seasons, this one included. He's walking more, striking out fewer, and getting fewer ground balls. Not a good way to stay on the team, honestly.

ESPN Box • Dodger recap

Labels: braves, dodgers, recaps

A big six-run sixth and a four-run seventh pretty much slayed the M's in their tracks yesterday. What blew me away was Ryan Rowland-Smith — I do have a soft spot in my heart for Aussies in the game — pitched an acceptable five innings, but it was the bullpen that thoroughly imploded, with Torii Hunter taking advantage to the tune of three RBIs. Incredibly, the Angels were the beneficiaries of ten walks, a mark they had previously set 65 times, the most ever being 14 on September 24, 2000 in Arlington (a game they won 9-2) and May 8, 1976 vs. Cleveland, which they won 4-3. Fun as those excursions are, it's worth noting that the Angels still lead the league in walks allowed, and they have the record to prove it.

The recent trips through the dregs of the AL have helped the Angels above the .500 mark for only the second time this year, and two games over for the first time. It's imperative they beat the bad teams, of course, and Seattle is a truly wretched squad, especially offensively. Casey Kotchman and Rob Johnson, their seven and eight hole hitters respectively, started and ended the day with sub-Mendoza averages, and Chone Figgins and Milton Bradley are within hailing distance of that dubious mark.

Going back to the Toronto series, the Angels have won nine of their last twelve. That's pretty good, but it's still lousy squads.

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Labels: angels, mariners, recaps

I Hate Getaway Day Games: Angels 5, Royals 4

At first, I was upset by missing this one entirely; I had my iPhone on vibrate, so when the MLB At Bat app alert ticked on, I didn't hear it. Too bad, because this one completed another Angels series win.

On the other hand, even though the Halos led the whole way, and Jered Weaver pitched another gem, I did miss

• Howie Kendrick having another 0-fer game in the two-hole. Dude, snap out of it.
• Kevin Jepsen exploding for two runs while making only a single out.
• Brian Fuentes surrendering a two-run jack to right-handed slap-hitter Willie Bloomquist. At some point Scioscia has to start paying attention to his platoon splits against righties, currently .263/.364/.711. Right? Am I right?

ESPN Box • Angels recap

Not My Kuroda: Braves 4, Dodgers 3

Hiroki Kuroda actually only gave up three earned runs, but the other kind counts too, and that's what sank the Dodgers. The offense didn't do much against Braves starter Kris Medlen — when I heard Vinny call his name on the radio, I assumed it was a typical Anglophone mistake pronunciation of Medellin, also the Columbian capital. But no, he was born right here in Artesia. He sure did a number on the Dodgers, who scored all their runs facing Aussie Peter Moylan, who allowed all his inherited baserunners to score. Thus the game.

A couple of injuries also marred this one: Jeff Weaver was announced but failed to take the mound; he apparently has a blister. Also, Casey Blake failed to make the start because of back spasms, and is presumably day-to-day.

ESPN Box • Dodgers recap

Vin Scully To Follow Dodgers To Fenway

To broadcast the interleague series against Boston. Yay!

Messenger Duly Shot In Baltimore: Dave Trembley Fired

They should fire Peter Angelos. Third base coach Juan Samuel will take over.

Fortunately, The Great Irish Author Is Long Dead

... or else the other other James Joyce would be getting the umpire's calls, too. Ironically, the living, not-author, not-umpire is a Tigers fan.

Dodgers Activate Charlie Haeger

The Dodgers activated Charlie Haeger from the 15-day DL, and optioned Travis Schlichting to AAA Albuquerque.

Bud Selig: 28-Out Perfect Game To Stand

And that's for the best.

Labels: angels, braves, dodgers, firings, funny, injuries, managers, recaps, royals, transactions, umpires

At The Biz Of Baseball, Bud Selig praised the Tigers for their handling of the situation (which was as graceful as could be asked of any men), while "[applauding] the courage of umpire Jim Joyce to address this unfortunate situation honestly and directly." He also said, "I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features."

My boss made an eminently sensible suggestion: have five-man umpiring crews, with the fifth man in the press box, watching the game on video. Most of the time he won't be needed, but when he is, the other umpires can call on him at any time by radio for a call on a close play. (Presumably, postseason umpiring crews would consist of seven men.) This would have two positive effects from the umpires' perspective:

1. It would provide more employment opportunities for umpires, a carrot for the use of video.
2. The video umpire would give immediate relief to the home plate umpire, or any other umpire, disabled by a foul or other hard-hit ball, play, etc. so that play could continue with a full traditional four-man crew.

Getting the call right is important. But finally, I would like to say something to those people who say that we should simply ask the commissioner's office to overturn the game result. We are far better off with a system whose rules, limitations, and failures are knowable in advance than one where outcomes can be decided after the fact. Ultimately, such a system would be a disaster for everyone, players, umpires, owners, and fans, because no win can then ever be final.

Labels: indians, rules, tigers

Radio silence since Sunday, ayup, in which span —

• The Angels completed a series win against Seattle, their second of the month, and pretty effectively buried them at seven games back, where they remain today. The Angels surprised the hell out of me by bouncing back from the horrific news about Kendry Morales' multi-month injury by pounding Seattle pitching, a fusillade that included a three-run, walkoff jack by Howie Kendrick, who needed one in the worst possible way. The broadcast team has been nattering on about how well he's done since being demoted to the bottom of the order, and it's true.
• The Dodgers beat the Rockies 4-3 to complete that series win to give Clayton Kershaw a win on a short start (5 innings). Outside of the pitiful Snakes, the NL West is fairly tightly bunched. And speaking of Arizona ...
• ... the Blue beat Arizona at home by scores of 5-4, 1-0 (in 10), and 1-0 (again, this time in 14), on, respectively, a walkoff balk (Casey Blake scored the winning run), a walkoff homer (by Matt Kemp), and a walkoff RBI single from Garret Anderson, who probably deserved the tenth-inning boos he got when he struck out with none out. As MSTI observed, it's probably saved him from a DFA, but his average is still only .157. (And yes, yay, for Travis Schlichting and his four scoreless innings. And, slightly ironic, the Dodgers couldn't beat ex-Dodger Edwin Jackson.)
• The Angels beat typically lowly Kansas City, with Ervin Santana and Scott Kazmir getting the wins (7-1 and 7-2 respectively, with Torii Hunter blowing one way out of their yard), and Joel Pineiro taking the abuse on Wednesday (6-3).
• You may have heard about first base umpire Jim Joyce robbing Tigers starter Armando Gallaraga of a perfect game with a blown call eight and two-thirds innings into the game. So 28 outs is what it takes for a perfecto these days. There are calls all over to expand the use of instant replay (and as Jay Jaffe tweeted, "BRING ON THE F*CKING ROBOT UMPS YESTERDAY".
• Ken Griffey, Jr. finally, finally, finally retired.
• In news around the division, it's time to end the Casey Kotchman experiment in Seattle.

Labels: angels, diamondbacks, dodgers, ex-dodgers, indians, recaps, rockies, royals, tigers