Okay, So That's Over....

Well now, that wasn't too good of a road trip, was it?

A 1-7 record. Scoring just 10 runs. Four of them in the first game of the trip. A .214 team batting avg., .551 OPS. A team 5.40 ERA. Defense not making anybody forget about 2006.

Having your two best hitters plunked and missing the next few games (in Howie's case a few weeks). The rest of the offense unable to pick up the slack. Pitching that looks hittable.

But it's done and now time to come back to some home cookin'. The Angels had a bad start in '02 and came out fine. I think they can turn things around and get back to where they should be.

No time to hit the panic button.

Aybar Should Not Steal

Erick Aybar may be a fast runner but he isn't a good base stealer. So in the ninth inning trailing by one Scioscia puts Aybar in to pinch run and has him try to steal second base. Aybar is thrown out to end the game. And what really hurts is that Kendrick is at the plate. A 4-for-4 Kendrick is at the plate. The percentages here dictate that you let Howie swing the bat. Aybar cannot be allowed to try to steal a base in such an important situation.

And some people agree.

What!?

It's just been one week and Rich Lederer is saying maybe K-Rod has lost a little something.

Is it the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end for K-Rod? I don't know, it might be neither. After all, the season is less than a week old. But he looks more like Don Stanhouse than his old self in the early going.

Everyone struggles occasionally. Everyone. Way too early for the speculation.

Ooooorrrr... Maybe K-Rod isn't doctoring the ball this season.

No, it's just a bad start. Check out Seitz's blog for why the accusation is crap.

1-0

Okay, that was good. Lackey was shaky, he threw 96 pitches over his five innings of work and walked four but managed to keep the Rangers in check. The bullpen was superb (I'm not counting Oliver's performance), allowing no hits and no walks.

Matthews was pretty much sensational with his glove (except that little pop fly) and added a walk and a hit along with it. But the man of all men was Kotchman who homered, singled and walked. If this is a sign of things to come this will be a very good Angel year.

Nothing like starting off the year with a win. Now if they could just tack on 99 more....

National League 2007

Okay, time for me to look into the future and see the senior circuit results.

Mets 90-72
Phillies 87-75
Braves 81-81
Marlins 75-87
Nats 69-93

Cardinals 85-77
Cubs 84-78
Astros 83-79
Brewers 74-88
Pirates 67-95
Reds 66-96

D-Backs 88-74
Padres 86-76
Rockies 80-82
Giants 76-86
Dodgers 71-91

NL Winner: Diamondbacks

American League 2007

Here are my predicted standings for the AL in 2007

AL West

Angels 93-69
A's 86-76
Rangers 84-78
Mariners 72-90

Central

Indians 90-72
Twins 89-73
White Sox 88-74
Tigers 87-75
Royals 60-102

East

Yankees 93-69
Red Sox 88-74
Blue Jays 84-78
Orioles 80-82
Devil Rays 74-88

AL Winner: Angels (OF COURSE)

I'm optimistic that Napoli, Kendrick and Kotchman will help the Angels improve upon last years offensive perfomance. And the defense can't be as bad as last year, can it?

Cheaper by the (Half) Dozen

So I packed up the kids (six of them but not all mine) and wife and headed out to Anaheim for the 2007 Angel Fan Fest. The rain stayed away for the 90 minute drive and we arrived shortly after noon.

I wanted to get some autographs but with only three hours left until closing the kids wanted to go on the rides. I may have been the adult but there was six of them and they wanted to move around after being cooped up in the van. So the rides it was. Over and over and over and over again. I think I personally was dragged onto the ferris wheel by my 4 year-old daughter no less than 6,471 times.

We did get a few minutes to go into the big tent and sign up my three daughters to the Angels Junior Club. A nice deal where you get vouchers for tickets to three games, a t-shirt and best of all, the kids get to go to the front of the line for "Kids Run the Bases" days at the park. This year will mark the sixth year my kids will be members.

While in the tent I saw the line to get pictures with Mike Napoli (my new favorite) and Jeff Mathis. A very looong line. A line I would love to have stood in but it was after two and Napoli was due on the big stage with Chone Figgins at 2:30.So back we went to ride.... what else? The ferris wheel.

All in all, I think I'm doing my part to create six lifelong Angel fans.