I know it does nothing to complain after the fact but I'm still pissed off about this.

Tonight. Angels vs. Jays. 9th inning. Gary Matthews Jr. on first. Willits at the plate. He bunts toward third. He runs straight down the line to first. Jays catcher throws the ball to first to get Willits out. Hits him square in the back. (now heres where it gets F'ed up.)The umpire rules Willits is out for running out of the designated lane to first base! and Matthews has to go back to first!

WTF!?

I sure didn't look like that to me from where i was sitting. And i had a good view. I am sure it didn't look like that to Scioscia. I was sure they were gonna toss him. But they didn't. I woulda got in the umpires face too.

But in the 10th. Juan Rivera came through with a bases loaded, one out single. Way to go Juan. Someone get that man some Tequila. John Lackey pitched wonderfully. I am so happy he is back in the rotation. Just wasn't right without him there.

All is right in the jungle. We got the W and are now 3.5 games ahead of Oakland. Nothing to do now but sit in the parking lot of the big A and play with my iPhone till I can get us outta here. Not that i don't like it here. But, I'm being told its time for some long necks. And I totally agree.

Just another Halo victory! Later y'all.

I don't live in Texas anymore so i couldn't go see it in person but i did watch the Angels/Rangers game today. I thought what the Angels and the Rangers did to honor Jackie Robinson was no less than awesome. Every player on both teams wore nameless jerseys with #42 to show respect and to honor one of baseball greatest legends and what he stood for.

"Life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" ~Jackie Robinson

Well I've waited since we lost to the Red Sox for today. The start of the regular season. And I'm glad baseball has returned to us. But how we lost to the Twins, is beyond me.

I cringed when I saw Jared Weaver make a dive for that foul ball in the first inning. Like we really another pitcher down. It's bad enough that we've got to be without John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Chris Bootcheck and Scot Shields...We need a healthy pitching staff... and soon.

I thought the warm welcome that Minnesota gave to Torii hunter, even though it was snowing outside, was a nice gesture. I think they were still picturing him in a Twins uniform. He is great player and I'm glad he is in an Angels uniform.

At the moment our winning percentage is..... .000. We shall aim to fix that tomorrow with Jon Garland pitching for the first time pitching in red against Boof Bonser. We've gotta win. We can't let Seattle stay in first for long.

Can't wait for Friday. Angels Home Opener. Woo Hoo! Thanks for reading, y'all.

I was afraid of this.

I haven't a problem with Torii Hunter. I think he is a good player. I also don't have any problem with Jon Garland. But....O.C. Why him? Why, why, why? Why did we trade him? I think the Halos should have adopted Cabrera. Just like they should Adopt John Lackey, Vlad Guerrero, Chone Figgins, and Jeff Mathis. Ah hell, adopt them all. But much to my dismay, O.C.'s now with the White Sox

With the acquisition of Garland we have even greater pitching depth. But honestly I didn't know that pitching was a problem. We still need a bat, however I don't want to see them give up 4 or 5 players/prospects for Miguel Cabrera. He would be a good addition. But I hate the gamble of giving up Howie Kendrick, Nick Adenhart, Brandon Wood and Maicer Izturis for him. Sadly, that's part of baseball. Eh, Just as long as Lackey and Figgins don't go anywhere, all will be right in the jungle.

Well this should get interesting.

Happy Thanksgiving.

According to espn.com, A-Rod's 2007 salary was $27,708,525. I'm sorry but, that's way too damn much.

I don't wanna get off on a rant here, but, I have no idea what he and his agent did to manipulate GM's into shelling out that kind of cash for him. I understand that he is a good player but holy shit, he ain't worth that much. Since when did Baseball, and all sports for that matter become all about money? I know every player needs to make a living. With endorsements and commercials he'll be just fine. Why are so many all about the cash. Doesn't anyone enjoy playing the game anymore. I know the Angels need a bat. But not him. I read in an article that if we were to acquire him that would be about 25% of the Angels payroll. That's just ridiculous. And besides....we don't need another 3rd baseman. The ones we have are great.

That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Well the Angels are out. So my baseball season is over. Just like all the other Angel fans I wish they could have gone all the way to the World Series. You can't blame it all on injuries. Yes injuries are hindering, just like they are to all teams. But we have such great depth I believe we could have got it done. Boston was just better. Plus, this is my opinion, but, if we had started the series against Boston at home with John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, we just might still be alive in the postseason.

We still had a great season. Vlad was great with 125 RBI's and 27 HR's. . After Figgins and Anderson came back from their injuries they were on fire. Figgins had an average if .330 And Anderson had that game where he drove in 10 RBI's. Lackey and Escobar had awesome seasons. Kelvim had 18 wins and Big John had 19 wins and led the rotation in strikeouts and had the lowest ERA in the American League.

Like most baseball fans, I'm already looking forward to next season.

But, alas, it is time to go home to New Orleans. It's only for a week and a half, but, it has been long enough. I was actually born in Boudreaux, Dulac, Louisiana. I moved to NOLA when I was 15. So it's considered a home to me. I haven't been home since Friday September 2, 2005. That was the day I left the Superdome on a bus headed for the Astrodome in Houston. I miss home. I wasn't sure I'd ever go back. But as time has gone by I realized I would.

I love football. Not as much as baseball. Which is sort of odd coming from a state that has no major league team. But still, I love baseball best. In the Football world, I am a Saints fan. And also a fan of the New Orleans VooDoo(AFL). I know the Saints aren't doing to well at the moment but they will always be my team. I used to go to every home game before the Hurricane. I watched the Saints-Seahawks on TV earlier. We won 28-17. Woot!

One of my friends got us tickets to the Saints-Falcons game on Oct 21st. I'm happy to be going. For a while after the Hurricane I was convinced that I would never go there again. Too many bad memories. But I've put those behind me. I'll never forget them, no, but I don't think about them all the time like I used to.

I loved baseball before I ever moved to California. But, over the 2 years I have been here, I believe that it was the main thing that got me through all the shit that happened after Katrina. Angels Baseball gave me something besides work to focus on. It also gave me a place to go and something to do in a place where I didn't know a single soul. I think it may be one of the reasons I am still only moderately insane.(hahaha) In April of 2006 I went to my first Angels game. I was hooked. It was a great game. The fans at Angels Stadium are awesome. I have been a total fan ever since. I love the Angels.

"Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out.

Also: in football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.

In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform,you'd know the reason for this custom.

Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values.

Baseball vs. Football.

Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game.

Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.

Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park. The baseball park!

Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.

Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life.

Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.

In football you wear a helmet.

In baseball you wear a cap.

Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?

Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up?

In football you receive a penalty.

In baseball you make an error.

In football the specialist comes in to kick.

In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.

Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.

Baseball has the sacrifice.

Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...

In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.

Baseball has the seventh inning stretch.

Football has the two minute warning.

Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.

Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.

In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.

In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being. Preferably a stranger.

And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!"

"Baseball & Football"~~ George Carlin

Thanks for reading y'all. GO SAINTS!

I coulda picked any of the Mariners/Angels games to go to this week. I am so glad I picked tomorrow's game to attend. It's the last chance to see the Angels play at home. And as I am sure everyone knows, it will be their last chance to clinch at home. We had our chance today. And we couldn't do it. But that's ok. I would rather be in the stadium when we all go wild and close out winning against the Mariners. They put up a good fight. But, there ain't a snowballs chance in hell that the Mariners will win it all.

And what makes it better is that our big Texas workhorse John Lackey is pitching. Confidence and concentration. If he's got that, he wont need much else. I hope the energy he brings to his game will spread through to the other guys. Get them goin'. So we can put the division in our pocket and so they can relax and rest up.

I love baseball. You can tell.

"The one constant through all the years, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that once was good, and it could be again. " ~~James Earl Jones, 'Field of Dreams'

C'mon boys. Let's do this!!!

Later y'all.

That was just beautiful. Or more so should i say, John Lackey was beautiful. I know it was the Devil Rays that they was playing but a game is a game. And a win is a win. No matter who you are playing against.

He struck out ten and had a shutout into the top of the ninth. He gives up a ground-rule double. And Scioscia comes in to take him out. I believe he coulda finished it off. I had a really close seat but i couldn't see his face but i could tell he didn't want to come out. I don't blame him. I woulda been pissed. He had come that far. Let him finish it. He's done it before. He's a great pitcher. He is a true competitor. Texas fed. Texas bred. Texas tough.

Ugh. But as they say, whoever "they" are...its all done with. We won. John got his 17th win. I got to see an awesome game. We are down to 4 games to clinch. All is right in the jungle.

Later y'all

Just because a team is 18 games out don't mean they can't screw things up for the rest of us. They are just as important as the teams that are in the race. They ain't got nothing to lose. They get to play spoiler.

It was close at the end but we came up short. Kinda disappointing. Lost 7-6. Eskie just wasn't on his game today. And the Rangers nailed him for it. Knocking him around big time. He was out before the 4th. Bootcheck pitched really well which is always a good thing. The two new relievers (Thompson and Bulger)that are up due to roster expansion pitched well too.



I had such a good seat. I was 'bout halfway up in the section just on the inside of the home dugout. I got some great pictures. And it was hot today. But not really bad. Reminded me of home a little bit. Californians should be so very grateful that y'all don't have New Orleans hot weather here. I think y'all might melt. I used to play softball in that heat. Then i played in Austin, TX. So I am used to the heat. It don't bother me much anymore.

Tomorrow's another day and game No. 67. Big John against Kason Gabbard. Another shutout from Lackey would be i nice way to end the series. Get his 17th win and put the Rangers in their place. But hey, as long as we win, I'll be happy.

THAT WAS SUCH A GOOD GAME! Well, all baseball games are good games. To me, anyways. I am so pumped and happy I might have to change my pants.

Time to get out the brooms. I'm going tomorrow for the third game in a row. I am gonna wear my lucky Cowboy boots. Every time I wear 'em at a game, we win. One of these times, when i got to a game and get there early enough to watch batting practice, I'll try to get Lackey to sign one of em. That would make my day.

Tomorrow its John vs. Andy Pettitte. Give 'em hell, John! Get the sweep and your 16th win.

Later y'all.

Good to be home. Mmmm, sunny SoCal weather, i missed you.

I am getting a little tired of people bitchin' that we didn't get Mark Teixeira at the trade deadline.

To my understanding this is how the logic flows. If we paid big money and surrendered good players to get that bat into our lineup, there is that chance that we would lose him due to his free agent status at the end of the year. Basically, we would have rented him. We would have lost double because we would have lost him and those players. Instead we keep those players and try for him at the end of the year with a longer contract

when he turns free agent. Better for everyone.

Hmm, what else.

Got home in time to watch the game. We didn't win but it was a good ending to an otherwise shitty day. I don't like Customs. I made a joke about how i was smuggling in a ferret in my pants. The woman behind the counter shot daggers at me. No my fault she cant take a joke.

We lost today. To Toronto, in Toronto. But you knew that already. 4 errors in a game. Not the worse I'm sure, but not good either. Saunders is a calm pitcher but the Jays did what they had to do to get to any pitcher. Get on him big in the first inning and stack a bunch of runs. I honestly hate turf. Its not true. On grass when a ball hits the ground in the outfield, or anywhere for that matter, it has some resistance and slows up a bit. On turf, a ball will land and just go and go. No resistance. Plus it is dangerous to the players. Just like a rubber warning track it can grab a player by the cleats and not let go. Gotta be careful. Cant afford to lose anyone. Not when we are only holding first by 3 games.

Tomorrow its Moseley vs. Marcum. Then to finish up with Toronto, Escobar goes on Thursday. Then it gets kinda difficult for the guys. Playing the last game in Toronto, which is a night game. Leave. Fly to Boston, Pass through Customs(I doubt that they are immune from that pain in the ass), then play a Double Header. If they don't change the rotation around, Lack pitches in the first game. Sorry John. But you'll get through, You're tough. Hopefully everyone else pulls through for the first and second game.

Can't wait till the next homestand. I'm goin' to the Yankee games. Those are always good games. The atmosphere is just rockin'. Kickass.

Later y'all.

Now THAT was a good game. Kind-of a run away but, if anyone needed it, it was the Halos. I didn't much care for the catcher interference call in the Magglio Ordonez at bat. However, that awesome catch in the top of the first by Gary Matthews Jr. made me happy as I'm sure it did 'eryone else. I was so sure that it was going to go over the wall and we were gonna have one of those tough, long first innings. But he came through. Someone buy that man a beer.

Good to see the contagious hitting in the bottom of the first to stack 6 runs. But sadly we lost Napoli. From the way i seen it, it looked like he might of hurt a hamstring. I know how that feels. I did it twice when i played softball. Hope it is nothing serious and he is back soon cuz we ain't be too deep in catcher. Someone from AAA might get the call to come to the show. I'd like to see Figgins catch a game. Then after that i wanna see him pitch. You know, when they have one of those games where it is a total blowout. In the top of the ninth, just give him the rock and let him toss an inning. Y'all might have to pack another foot a dirt atop the mound to help him out. Hahaha.

Speaking of the utilityman, Figgy had a night. 4-for-5. Seems to be nothing but clutch lately. Two doubles and an RBI. He on fire, batting in the .330's. Which is great because it helps in getting the other guys' motors up and running. Gary Matthews Jr. seems to be in a bit of an offensive hole lately. Tonight 4-for-3. I think. He picked a good night to show signs of life. Slumps happen to everyone. He'll come out of it. Sure glad we got him.

Weaver got off to a rocky start and only went 5. Nobody's perfect. All in all they came out on top 11-6. Good on ya, boys. One down, two to go. Then off to Seattle.

Thanks for reading y'all.