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Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Halos/Evil Empire thoughts, part 4
I have to say- I'm a little disappointed. When you go to an Angels-Yankees game you expect to see fights between drunken idiots breaking out all around you. It's part of the atmosphere that I love about this rivalry. The closest anyone came to blows was over an argument about the Lakers, and the combatants quickly laughed it off. Oh well, there's always the Dodgers series.
As for the action on the field- what more could you want? Adequate starting pitching and stellar relief work, several great defensive plays, a patchwork lineup which out hit the Yank's "murderer's row," and to cap it all of, bonus baseball!
Now to pass out the boos and cheers for tonight's series-opening win over the Evil Empire:
- Boo to Alfredo Amezaga, who came into the game as a pinch runner and was promptly picked off. Though he did partially make up for his gaff with good defensive play and a sacrifice bunt later in the game.
When he got picked off first I had a flash back to the days of Julio Ramirez. In one game I remember well (mostly because I was in attendance), Ramirez entered in the late innings to run for Tim Salmon. Like Amezaga, he was caught napping and was picked-off. The following inning saw him make both a fielding error on a routine fly ball and a throwing error (this from the guy who Mike Scioscia called the best defensive outfielder he's ever seen) which lead to several runs being scored. In the next inning he comes to the plate in an obvious bunt situation. What does he do? Pops it up, of course! Needless to say, that was one of his final games with the Angels. But I digress...
- Boo to Mike Scioscia for putting Amezaga in that situation in the first place. Why are you pinch-running for Jose Guillen? He's not the fleetest of foot, but he's not Bengie Molina by any means. And why run Amezaga? He's not all that good a base runner. Of course that's blatantly obvious to Mike now.
- Boo to Mike Scioscia, once again, for attempting two straight squeeze plays with Jose Molina on third. Thankfully Jose had the presence of mind not to go on contact on Eckstien's bunt. I'm sure Mike will set him straight tomorrow...
- Boo (reluctantly) to Chone Figgins, who looked completely lost at third. A collective gasp went over the crowd every time a ball was hit to third. I don't think he made a single throw that Kotchman didn't have to scoop, jump, or stretch for. I know he's got the arm, but I think he's over-thinking his throws a bit.
- Cheers to Casey Kotchman, who is looking slick with the glove. The scouting reports on this guy's defense were right. There's gold in his future.
On an unrelated note, I think a bit too much Vlad Guerrero and not quite enough Troy Glaus is rubbing-off on Casey. He's swinging at everything! Where's this great eye I've been hearing about?
- Cheers to Adam Riggs, who came up with his first hit of the season (though not of his career, as the guy behind me was adamant) when it was needed most. No offence, but I hope we never have to see you again.
- Cheers to Aaron Sele, who put together yet another ballsy performance. 6 innings of shutout baseball against the Evil Empire is mighty impressive- even if it was done with smoke and mirrors.
- Cheers to Jeff DaVanon, who is stepping up, both offensivly and defensivly, when the team needs him. And boy, do we ever need him.
- And finally, cheers to Vlad Guerrero, who was, well... just Vlad. A couple of hits and a game-saving outfield assist is just another day at the office for this guy.
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