California Sports Fan Blog

Ervin Santana will start the Angels’ third game of the season tonight against Minnesota, following Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders.

It’s a fitting trio of pitchers to open the season — all of them having been mentored in a way by departed ace John Lackey.

“It’s totally different (than a few years ago) when John had to lead three young guys,” said Weaver. “For me, Saunders and Santana, he set a tone. Now we all know what it’s like. We all know what a playoff atmosphere is like. There’s nobody holding anybody’s hands anymore.”

The Angels stuck with their first night batting order.

Jeff Mathis was behind the plate again, having earned the lead spot at catcher over slugger Mike Napoli with his defensive skills. It didn’t hurt that his first at-bat of the season was a home run Monday. He hit safely again Tuesday.

Click here to read the full article – By GREGG PATTON of The Press-Enterprise

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It is the one deal the Angels simply can’t avoid this offseason, the one acquisition that never has been more obvious than it is today.

We’re talking, of course, about the signing of Gary Matthews Jr.


No, not again, but the first time, which, much like the undying TV career of Tim McCarver, has turned out to be more than enough for everyone.

Painfully more.

No matter what the Angels do or don’t do during the next two months, Matthews and the $23 million they still owe him will keep getting in the way. With each passing day, his signing becomes more and more a case of subtraction through addition.

By winning the 2002 World Series, former General Manager Bill Stoneman left a legacy with the Angels. By acquiring Matthews, he left an odor.

Click here to read the full article – By JEFF MILLER of THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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They clinch fifth division championship in six years with 11-0 rout of Texas, then start the celebration — but only after an emotional remembrance of the late Nick Adenhart.

The champagne-and-beer showers, the ear-thumping hip-hop music and dancing, the victory cigars — all the trappings of a traditional division-winning celebration would have to wait.

Before the revelry came a remembrance.

The Angels clinched their fifth American League West title in six years with an 11-0 romp over the Texas Rangers in Angel Stadium on Monday night, and after a huge group hug in the middle of the infield, players and coaches quickly retreated to the clubhouse.

Click here to read the full article – By Mike DiGiovanna of Los Angeles Times

After winning the American League Player of the Month honors after setting the Angels’ club record with 33 RBIs in August, first baseman Kendry Morales suddenly fell into a rut in early September.

The switch-hitter went into a 3-for-28 skid and all of the talk about being a legitimate American League Most Valuable Player candidate began to lose a bit of its steam.

Morales was even held out of the Angels’ starting lineup on Monday to get a day of rest and to clear his head of his recent slump.

But Morales was still called on to pinch-hit in the seventh inning against the Yankees and he delivered a towering home run to right field off reliever Brian Bruney in the Angels’ 5-2 win.

And then he followed that up with a 4-for-4 performance with a walk the next day, and he was swinging the bat like he did just a few weeks earlier. Morales even singled in his first at-bat on Wednesday to reach base safely in seven straight plate appearances over three days.


Click here to read the full article – By Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com

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When it comes to defense, Torii Hunter speaks with a certain authority. Eight consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Awards provide that, as does an errorless streak spanning 264 regular-season games, dating back to Aug. 31, 2007.

When Hunter — the club’s unofficial captain — exhorts his Angels teammates to tighten the screws, straighten up and fly right, you assume they’ll respond.

“As a team, us, we need to play a lot better,” Hunter said as the Angels were preparing for a three-game American League West showdown against Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. “We need to play the game we know how to play.

“Don’t try to do too much. Don’t get caught up in the hype. Just play the game. We’ve been making mistakes that aren’t like us. We’ll clean it up. We’re going to be better.”


Click here to read the full article – By Lyle Spencer of MLB.com

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Two nights before his Angels debut, Scott Kazmir went to school, studying intently every move new teammate Joe Saunders made in shutting out the Mariners for seven innings at Safeco Field.


“I’ve got a pretty good feel for what I want to do,” Kazmir, a two-time American League All-Star for Tampa Bay, said on the eve of his assignment against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez. “But I was watching thoroughly how [Saunders] approached hitters and what he was doing out there.

“There are definitely things you can pick up on and take into your own game, especially with another left-hander like Joe.”


Click here to read the full article – By Lyle Spencer of MLB.com

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Having delivered his second career shutout, both this season, Jered Weaver was determined to share the credit the way one of his heroes, Magic Johnson, used to distribute the basketball for the Showtime Lakers.


“This was a team win all the way,” Weaver said on Wednesday night in the afterglow of a seven-hit, 3-0 shutout of the Indians at Progressive Field. “The defense did a good job for me, the offense was able to put up some runs, and Nap [catcher Mike Napoli] threw down the right fingers for me, made it happen.”

Click here to read the full article – By Lyle Spencer of MLB.com

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Identifying three candidates for the Hank Aaron Award from the Angels’ loaded lineup is a challenge comparable to the one faced by manager Mike Scioscia in deciding which nine boppers to include in his lineup on a given day.

The Angels’ choices, after long deliberation, are Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter and Kendry Morales. What made this so difficult is the Angels’ remarkable offensive depth, which has enabled the club to lead the Majors in runs scored and batting average while ranking among the leaders in slugging and on-base percentage.
The Hank Aaron Award, presented by Sharp, is awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league, with each club having three nominees. This is the seventh consecutive year that fans have had a voice in selecting the award winners.

Click here to read the full article – By Lyle Spencer of MLB.com

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Torii Hunter hasn’t played a baseball game in his native Arkansas since 1993, but he’s looking forward to testing his muscle strain in a few Minor League rehab games in Little Rock this weekend with the Angels’ Double-A affiliate, the Travelers.

He’d rather be in Anaheim this weekend, roaming center field for the Angels against AL West rival Texas. But Hunter is realistic enough to know he needs a few games under his belt to get his timing and be ready to resume what has been his best all-around Major League season as he turned 34 on July 18.

Click here to read the full article – By Lyle Spencer of MLB.com

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