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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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Cliff Lee’s sore foot, and other nuggets

February 8th, 2010, 6:37 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

New  Seattle Mariners left-hander Cliff Lee is having what is termed as minor foot surgery, and won’t be able to throw when Seattle pitchers and catchers report Feb. 18.

My definition of minor foot surgery, like minor heart surgery, is when it’s someone else’s surgery. 

Take a deep breath and relax, Angels fans. When you see my review of how the Mariners won’t be all they’re cracked up to be, just like the Yankees, you will understand. …  

Say it ain’t so: As if I needed another excuse to avoid Milwaukee, there’s the Bud Selig statue. Maybe it’s a hoax: The Sporting News story headline says “Bewers will honor Bud Selig with statue.” Bewers?

Will Bud’s statue go next to the one for Jeff Suppan?

I miss going to Major Goolsby’s after games, but sorry Wisconsinites, that’s about it for Milwaukee and me.

Pair of elevens: I think it’s great that Omar Vizquel is going to honor shortstop Luis Aparicio in Chicago by wearing Looie’s retired No. 11 for the White Sox.

The oldtimer in me would be more excited if Aparicio was wearing it, and Vizquel was playing second base, a dream pairing of Hall of Famers. Ozzie Guillen would love it, too. …

Who knew? Steve Phillips and Tiger Woods allegedly have something in common.

Posted in: Angels • Chicago White Sox • Hall of Fame • Milwaukee Brewers • Seattle Mariners • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

An Angels hopeful is in the Caribbean Series

February 4th, 2010, 8:32 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Angels non-roster invitee Michael Ryan, a 32-year-old former Twins outfielder, is playing for defending champion Venezuela in the Caribbean World Series.

As I noted in a comment on Bill Plunkett’s recent post about the Carib Series, the Edgar Alfonzo on Venezuela’s roster is a 25-year-old lefty who is the ex-Angel’s nephew.

And former Angel Ken Oberkfell (Dominican Republic) and former Angels Triple-A Manager Max Olivaras (Puerto Rico) are managing two of the four teams.

Ryan had two hits in Venezuela’s opening loss to Mexico, and is 2 for 9 in the series.

Posted in: Caribbean World Series • • • • | 4 Comments »

Angels take it a year at a time this time

January 20th, 2010, 9:15 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

After buying out his arbitration years (plus one year of free agency) with last winter’s four-year, $30 million deal with Ervin Santana, the Angels have gone with one-year deals this time around.

The contracts of Jered Weaver, Howie Kendrick, Mike Napoli and Reggie Willits will cost the Angels about $10.3 million in 2010, after the quartet earned $3.38 million combined in 2009.

Weaver got $500,000 more than Santana did in the first year of his deal. It will be interesting to see next time if Weaver also tops the $6 million owed Santana for 2010.

The Dodgers, who bought two years of arbitration apiece from three of their young stars, will pay Jonathan Broxton, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp a combined $14 million in 2010 and $23.2 million in 2011.  That trio made about $5.4 million in 2009.

I’m estimating the Dodgers saved themselves up to $10 million in 2011, should the trio remain healthy and productive.

Posted in: Angels • Dodgers • Ervin Santana • Howie Kendrick • Jered Weaver • Mike Napoli • Reggie Willits • • • | Post a Comment »

Tejada’s Haiti trip evokes spirit of Clemente

January 19th, 2010, 11:59 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Miguel Tejada is still looking for a job, but he probably picked up more than a few fans for life with the trip he made to Haiti.Astros Mets Baseball

The free-agent shortstop (who’s willing to play third) first sent a van load of food, water and medicine to Port-au-Prince, then went to the Haitian capital personally via helicopter.

When I first heard this story, my mind immediately flashed to Roberto Clemente, New Year’s Eve 1972  and the death of the great outfielder. Clemente was aiding earthquake victims in Nicaragua when his heavily laden DC-7 crashed in the waters off Puerto Rico.

Clemente was among my favorite players, so I can’t be too objective when I say I never saw a better hitter or stronger, more accurate outfield arm. Twelve Gold Gloves, 12 All-Star selections and two World Series championships were among his more impressive feats. I wore No. 21 in high school because of him.

Clemente was NL MVP in 1966. Tejada was AL MVP in 2002. But the one thing that they truly have in common is their selfless, good samaritan natures.

Among the comments I have read about Tejada’s trip to Haiti included one that mentioned he was making up for his past transgressions. He lied about his age, in part to get signed. And he lied about PEDs, for which he was convicted of perjury, and received probation in lieu of prison and/or deportation.

Maybe that’s the way some must look at it. For me, I think I just have a new appreciation of Miguel Tejada.

Posted in: Uncategorized • • | Post a Comment »

Voting for McGwire: Thumbs up or down?

January 11th, 2010, 12:53 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Should Mark McGwire, in light of his steroids admission Monday, still receive my Hall of Fame vote?Sosa Drugs Baseball

That is what I have been asking myself since the story broke, in the form of a news release and apology by the St. Louis Cardinals’ new hitting coach.

I did not vote for McGwire in his first season of eligibility, because I did not rate him a first-ballot Hall of Fame candidate. But I have voted for him in the past three elections.

Should I decide to not vote for McGwire again because of his admission, that would mean I would have to never cast another vote for a proven, or admitted, user of performance-enhancing drugs.

Sorry, suspected just doesn’t cut it for me. And names, revealed illegally, from secret and alleged anonymous testing as part of a collective bargaining agreement, make no impression on me whatsoever.

If say, Troy Glaus or some other 2002 Angel confesses to using, do I call for the franchise to vacate its World Series title? I think not.

I don’t know if my McGwire vote (or nonvote) will be influenced by public opinion. but I would like to know what you think. So please post comments.

What a weird world. McGwire comes clean. Next thing you know, Pete Carroll will take an NFL job.

Posted in: Angels • Former Angels • Steroids • • | 12 Comments »

Poll: Who should the Angels turn to on TV?

January 7th, 2010, 10:21 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

As assignments go, having to look at who might replace Rory Markas as the Angels TV play-by-play announcer is obviously one story I wish I didn’t have to do.

As I wrote in today’s slide show, replacing Markas in the hearts and minds of countless Angels fans will be impossible. He was very good at what he did, and he was well-liked, sentiments expressed often even before his untimely passing.

Someone will get the job, however. Some readers have already expressed their thoughts.

Here’s a chance to do so again, with a poll of some of the candidates, real or imagined, that might join the Angels broadcast team.

Post your own choices in comments, please.

Someone has to replace the late Rory Markas on Angel telecasts. Tell us who you think would do the best job, working with Mark Gubicza:
View Results

Posted in: Angels • Rory Markas | 37 Comments »

Blyleven update: Near-miss ‘encouraging’

January 6th, 2010, 11:52 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

I just got off  the phone with Bert Blyleven, who missed election to baseball’s Hall of Fame by five votes in his 13th year of eligibility.

“I thought it was going to be close — my wife Gail and I did,” said the former Angels right-hander, now an outstanding Twins broadcaster. “Of course it’s disappointing to have to wait another year, but you try to stay upbeat.”

Blyleven said he was encouaged by the increase in his vote total, and he sounded much more positive about the experience than he did in our conversation last year.

Told that it’s a near-certainty that he and second baseman Roberto Alomar will go into the Hall in 2011, Blyleven said: “I think that’s great, because I was a teammate of his father (Sandy Alomar Sr.).

“I can give my acceptance speech in Dutch, and Roberto can do his in Puerto Rican.”

Blyleven, who was born in the Netherlands but grew up in Garden Grove, was told he might have to be more politically correct than that as a Hall of Famer, and that it’s Spanish, not Puerto Rican.

“No, I don’t have to be politically correct,” he said. “I am going to change all that once I get in.”

Blyleven said he was saddened by the passing of Angels broadcaster Rory Markas, and that he was happy and excited for outfielder Andre Dawson, the only 2010 Hall of Famer voted in by the writers.

“As I said on MLB Network, I still got to play a kid’s game for a long time,” Blyleven said, “and I am so close to being honored in Cooperstown. That’s an immense feeling … it is hard to describe.”

The long wait continues for Blyleven, 58, who is in good health and finally can see light at the end of the Hall of Fame tunnel.

But, considering my own recent brush with mortality, I told him to make sure he doesn’t get hit by a train.

Posted in: Bert Blyleven • Former Angels • Hall of Fame • • • • | 1 Comment »

No Bert Blyleven in HOF again … Andre Dawson only

January 6th, 2010, 11:06 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Former Angels right-hander Bert Blyleven missed election to baseball’s Hall of Fame once again, this time by the slimmest of margins.

Andre Dawson was the only player elected, as seeming first-ballot cinch Robby Alomar missed, too.

Blyleven received 400 votes, the high in his 13 years on the BBWAA ballot. That is 74.2 percent; 75 percent is required for election. Blyleven will remain on the ballot for two more years — given the percentage he achieved today, he seems a cinch for next year.

Blyleven told MLB Network, in a live interview, that he was “a little disappointed, but I just got a phonecall from Harmon Killebrew. He said hang in there, you’re going to be in there.”

He congratulated Dawson, and he was happy with the improvement in his percentage from 63 percent last year, but also added: “Five votes short is a little on the sad side.”

There were five blank HOF votes submitted. If each voter had emulated those five geniuses, everyone on the ballot would have been ineligible next year.

Alomar got 73.2 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility. He, like Blyleven, would appear to be locks in 2011.

I’m sure Blyleven’s 60 shutouts, 3,701 strikeouts and 287 victories will get five votes better in 12 months. Otherwise, it’s a shame.

Posted in: Bert Blyleven • Former Angels • Hall of Fame • • | 5 Comments »

2010 prediction: Matsui as AL All-Star DH at Big A

December 31st, 2009, 10:21 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Here is one bold prediction for the New Year: Hideki Matsui will be the American League starting designated hitter in the July 13 All-Star Game in Anaheim.angels-all-star-logo1

Matsui is still productive (just ask the Phillies), and he is out of the New York shadow cast by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. He will still have lineup protection, too, in Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera.

If Morales picks up where he left off in 2009, he should be a solid contender for the first base start against former Angel Mark Teixeira — if Angels fans vote like other franchise’s fans do, especially online.

Torii Hunter was having an All-Star-worthy season before he got hurt. Bobby Abreu has been in two All-Star Games, but never on the AL side. Here is a chance for the fans to correct that, and put him on the field in Anaheim.

Posted in: Angels • Hideki Matsui • Kendry Morales • Mark Teixeira • Torii Hunter • • | 1 Comment »

More money matters: Salaries way out in left field

December 30th, 2009, 12:51 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

What, exactly, did the Angels miss in not signing Jason Bay? Or, by not driving Matt Holliday’s price up for the St. Louis Cardinals?

The Angels missed out on spending a whole lot more money for someone who isn’t demonstrably better than incumbent left fielder Juan Rivera, in the first case.

Associated Press

Associated Press

In the second case, they missed offering even way more cash to a 30-year-old who is not yet identifiable as even a borderline Hall of Fame player. Yet somehow Holliday merits an eight-year deal?

Only in the mind of Scott Boras and whoever he convinces, but Tom Hicks is almost out of the business, and Holliday is no A-Rod.

I am no statistical maven, and I really don’t like projections. But I like what fangraphs.com does with actual numbers produced.

So, here’s a little comparison, one that many of you probably already made. The columnar numbers indicate Wins Against Replacement for 2009, value for 2009, and actual 2009 salary:

Juan Rivera: 3.4 WAR, $15.1 M value, $3.3 M salary

Jason Bay: 3.5 WAR, $15.7M value, $7.8 M salary

Matt Holliday: 5.7 WAR, $25.6 M value, $13.5 M salary

That tells me Rivera, at more than four times his salary, was a far better value than Bay, and now Bay’s pay has gone up.

Someone might actually pay Holliday his value, but five years from now Angels fans will be glad their team did not do so.

At that price, I would much prefer someone more comparable to Hank Aaron than Wally Berger, who was a fine player for his first eight seasons, but crashed at 31 and never made the Hall.

Posted in: Angels • Free Agency • Juan Rivera • Scott Boras • • • • | 5 Comments »

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