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Angels blog ~ The latest on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, by the Orange County Register Sports staff

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Fox Sports aiming for a new low

July 14th, 2009, 3:58 pm by Al Balderas, staff writer

As if the underground cam in front of home plate, the one that doesn’t show you anything worthwhile wasn’t bad enough, Fox Sports has come up with another gimmick that is sure to be more annoying than listening to Tim McCarver in the broadcast booth.

He’s known as the Batting Stance Guy. His real name is Gar Ryness. This is a guy who imitates the batting stances of major league players. I watched a clip of him and didn’t find him as funny as his buddy working the camera. I also failed to see the entertainment value.

Evidently someone, somewhere, thought he was funny enough that they thought he should be a part of the Angels’ and Dodgers’ telecasts. Fox Sports (in this case Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket) will show a clip of him doing his thing when baseball resumes after the All-Star break.

Ryness will do one of his imitations and viewers will have until the end of the game to guess who he was trying to be. That’s when the answer will be revealed.

Ryness was on David Letterman’s show the other night. Though I didn’t see it, here’s a clip of his “talent”.

I hate to think of what Fox has left in its planning stages.

Posted in: Angels • Dodgers • • | 3 Comments »

Angels losing grip on Santana

July 14th, 2009, 11:49 am by Al Balderas, staff writer

Not that Santana.

We’re talking about GianCarlos Santana, the younger brother of Angels’ pitcher Ervin Santana.

Despite the past success of the Angels to land Latin American players (Erick Aybar, Jose Arredondo, Kendry Morales, Ervin Santana), ESPN’s Jorge Arangure said that the recent firing of international scouting supervisor Clay Daniels might have cost the Angels a legitimate shot at the younger Santana. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • Ervin Santana | 1 Comment »

One NYY fan wants Scioscia in pinstripes

July 13th, 2009, 1:36 pm by Al Balderas, staff writer

The Angels swept the Yankees in what turned out to be three entertaining baseball games this past weekend.

But you know what’s even more entertaining when something like this happens? The reactions by Yankees’ fans. They’re just as entertaining as the reactionsposted by Angels’ fans after the Angels were knocked out of the playoffs by the Boston Red Sox.

Yankees fans are the ones who come to the stadium in droves, wearing a variety of T-shirts to remind non-Yankee fans of how great their team is. Or was. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels | 5 Comments »

Morales and his disappearing trick

July 13th, 2009, 7:30 am by Al Balderas, staff writer

Late last season, reporters asked Angels’ owner Arte Moreno if he was planning to spend the big bucks to go after Mark Teixeira.

Moreno used that opportunity to send a vote of confidence toward Kendry Morales, stating that the then-minor leaguer was ready to step into the role as the team’s everyday first baseman in the event that Teixeira signed elsewhere.

You could almost hear us rolling our eyes in disagreement.

Turns out, Moreno knew what he was talking about. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • Arte Moreno • Kendry Morales • Mark Teixeira | 6 Comments »

Rivera’s trip results in day off

July 11th, 2009, 12:02 pm by Al Balderas, staff writer

Juan Rivera trip at first base on Friday night landed him a day off.

Though he says he should be able to return to the lineup on Sunday, he is not in today’s starting lineup. Interestingly enough, the tightness in his right leg and charlie horse in his left leg means that Chone Figgins can get a half-day of rest. Figgins will be in the lineup but as the designated hitter.

Angels manager figured that without Rivera to play DH, this would give Figgins a chance to take it a little easy by not having to play in the field. Brandon Wood, recalled on Friday, will start at third.

YANKEES’ LINEUP

Derek Jeter, SS

Johnny Damon, LF

Mark Teixeira, 1B

Alex Rodriguez, 3B

Hideki Matsui, DH

Jorge Posada, C

Robinson Cano, 2B

Eric Hinske, RF

Brett Gardner, CF

Andy Pettitte, P (8-4, 4.53)

ANGELS’ LINEUP

Chone Figgins, DH

Erick Aybar, SS

Bobby Abreu, RF

Mike Napoli, C

Kendry Morales, 1B (has hit safely in his last 14 games)

Gary Matthews Jr., CF

Howie Kendrick, 2B

Brandon Wood, 3B

Robb Quinlan, LF

Jered Weaver (9-3, 3.15)

Posted in: Angels • Chone Figgins • Juan Rivera | 1 Comment »

Guerrero, Hunter placed on DL

July 10th, 2009, 11:06 am by Al Balderas, staff writer

The Angels placed outfielders Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter on the 15-day disabled list Friday morning.

They have recalled infielder Brandon Wood and catcher Bobby Wilson from their Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake.

Guerrero has a strained muscle behind his left knee. This will be his second stint on the DL this season.

Hunter has an adductor strain on his right side. He will not participate in next week’s All-Star Game.

Posted in: Angels • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero | 22 Comments »

Dodgers, Angels join forces on final All-Star ballot

July 8th, 2009, 12:46 pm by Al Balderas, staff writer

Perhaps there is an advantage to being called the LA Angels instead of the Anaheim Angels.

The Angels and Dodgers have joined forces in an attempt get Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Angels’ all-everything player Chone Figgins into next week’s All-Star Game.

Both teams’ websites have both players pictured and both websites are encouraging their fans to “Vote SoCal”.

The two players were in the mix but trailing in the latest vote count, released Tuesday, and the deadline to vote will be at 1 p.m. (Pacific) on Thursday.

Anyone who votes for Kemp will be entered into a sweepstakes and will have a chance to meet the outfielder, according to the Dodgers’ site.

You can vote at the Dodgers’ website, or at the Angels’ website. If you would prefer to cast your vote via text (preferably while you’re not driving) you can do that too, provided you’re a Sprint, Nextel or Boost subscriber. Just text the word “VOTE” to 1122 and you’ll receive a ballot.

To vote for a specific player, send the appropriate code to 1122. Text A1 for Figgins, A2 for Brandon Inge, A3 for Ian Kinsler, A4 for Adam Lind, or A5 for Carlos Pena.

If you’d like to return the favor (to the Dodgers) by voting for Kemp, he’s N2. Cristian Guzman is N1, Mark Reynolds is N3, Pablo Sandoval is N4, and Shane Victorino is N5.

Posted in: Angels • Chone Figgins • Dodgers | 1 Comment »

Was Weaver snubbed or a victim of circumstance?

July 6th, 2009, 7:30 am by Al Balderas, staff writer

Was Jered Weaver really snubbed by AL All-Star manager Joe Maddon?

Some seem to think so.

Maddon selected eight starting pitchers when he drew up his All-Star roster. He didn’t have much choice when it came to picking Mark Buehrle and Zack Greinke. Since all teams have to have at least one representative, and no one else from the White Sox or Royals seemed worthy, Buehrle and Greinke were added to the roster.

The other starters are Josh Beckett (Red Sox), Roy Halladay (Blue Jays), Felix Hernandez (Mariners), Edwin Jackson (Tigers), Justin Verlander (Tigers), and Tim Wakefield (Red Sox). Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • Brian Fuentes • Jered Weaver • Mike Scioscia • Torii Hunter • • • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

Angels could have three at All-Star Game

July 5th, 2009, 10:32 am by Al Balderas, staff writer

Angels center fielder Torii Hunter and closer Brian Fuentes are headed to the All-Star Game. Both have been there before. But they could be joined by a first-timer — third baseman Chone Figgins.torii-smiles

Hunter and Fuentes were chosen by Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, who will be running things from the American League dugout. Figgins is one of five American League candidates in the online “Final Vote” balloting to name the last player on the A.L. and N.L. rosters.

This will be the third time Hunter has been picked as an All-Star but his first since joining the Angels. He was tabbed as an All-Star in 2002 and 2007.

The outfielder is batting .303 this season with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Fuentes, one of the top closers in the league with 23 saves this season, was an All-Star pick in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

This would be Figgins’ first All-Star Game. He is batting .316, with 22 extra-base hits and 26 stolen bases. He has also emerged as one of the top defensive players in the league.chone-figgins

The A.L. ‘Final Vote’ candidates are Figgins, Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge, Rays first baseman Carlos Pena and Blue Jays DH Adam Lind.

The N.L. candidates are Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, Diamondbacks infielder Mark Reynolds, Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman, Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval and Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino.

Voting runs through Thursday afternoon.

The game will be played on July 14 at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium.

Posted in: Angels • Brian Fuentes • Chone Figgins • Torii Hunter | 2 Comments »

Where’s Howie?

July 4th, 2009, 4:09 pm by Al Balderas, staff writer

Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick isn’t one for making grand entrances but the Angels won’t mind if he makes one today.

The Angels have taken the field for batting practice and Kendrick is not among them.

Turns out, some inclement weather in Colorado Springs caused his flight - and return to the majors - to be delayed.

He’s due to arrive sometime before the first pitch, which would be a good thing since he’s scheduled to start at second base.

Stay tuned…

Meanwhile, here are tonight’s lineups. If a change is made, you’ll see it here.

Angels’ lineup

Chone Figgins, 3B

Bobby Abreu, RF

Torii Hunter, CF

Vladimir Guerrero, DH

Juan Rivera, LF

Kendry Morales, 1B

Maicer Izturis, SS

Mike Napoli, C

Howie Kendrick, 2B (if he’s here on time)

Sean O’Sullivan, P (2-0, 3.00)

Orioles’ lineup

Brian Roberts, 2B

Adam Jones, CF

Nick Markakis, RF

Aubrey Huff, DH (The O’s are 9-1 when he homers)

Luke Scott, LF

Ty Wigginton, 1B

Melvin Mora, 3b (Hasn’t homered in a career-high44 straight games)

Gregg Zaun, C

Robert Andino, SS

Jason Berken, P (1-5, 6.44)

Rest in Peace, Steve McNair.

Posted in: Angels • Bobby Abreu • Chone Figgins • Howie Kendrick • Juan Rivera • Kendry Morales • Maicer Izturis • Mike Napoli • Sean O'Sullivan • Torii Hunter • Vladimir Guerrero | 1 Comment »

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