disarcina

hard to improve on Vegas Halo Fan's picks -- he pretty much nailed it with the active players group. I would agree that his SS was a stretch -- might add an OF'er nemd Puig to the list.

I re-checked Raul Mondesi's MLB stats -- he actually played 13 season (although about four of them were hanging on and hanging around) -- but GEEZ, I forgot just how good he was with the Dodgers -- he hit 163 HRs over 7 seasons with them and hit more than 30 HRs three times.....he wound up with 271 HRs lifetime and 225 SBs....... he didn't make it to 250 SBs but not that many guys in MLB history with 250 HRs and 250 SBs. unfortunately for Mondesi, his better than average MLB career and stats is over-shadowed by how he left the game and how the Pittsburgh and Anaheim organizations truly thought he was gaming the worker's comp / DL status to his benefit.......

yeah, on the 'rental' definition -- to me a rental is not a ONE year player (like Matsui). a rental guy is a near the trade deadline pick up for the stretch run and is a guy who you KNOW you won't be able to sign/ extend....... Lester was a classic rental for the A's last season........it's MLB's equivalent of 'one and done' but instead of a year, it's a month.

Mondesi just left? Didn't realize that. I know that MLB challenged his claims he couldn't play -- he played the MLB equivalent of the worker's comp (and in California he may have gotten some worker's comp benefits) system with Pittsburgh and with the Angels. MLB contended he was a malingerer......now I think his kid is playing -- I think he's an infielder with the KC Royals organization........saw him play during Spring Training. Raul Mondesi, the older, was an amazing five tool player when he first came up, won that ROY -- he could really throw the ball from RF..........but after he got some accolades his attitude changed, his diet changed, he got heavy and his skills diminished -- after the promising start he ended up with relatively short MLB career.

geez, the Orioles melt down in the late innings reminds me of some of the stuff our Halos do. Poor Buck Showalter has to sit and watch his team fall apart in the 8th inning on there.......OUCH. oh well, just another Halos victory - light 'er up.

I'd call up Grant Green and put him in LF. not the best out there but his bat is better than what we've seen from that position so far this season. And I'll go back to the Taylor Featherston roster spot -- unless this guy is going to be a full time starter for the Halos for about three seasons starting next year (and, seriously, do any of us see that happening? I mean, is he the heir apparent to Aybar at SS or going to play every day 2B at some point?) why are we sacrificing a roster spot to a guy who is going to get less than 100 ABs, may pinch run like he did the other night (for Freese, I think) and play some late inning D........ I thought that roster spot should have gone to Green out of ST.......Green can play LF, 3B and 2B (although not that great with the glove at any of those positions).

great shot of Canseco there in periwinkle -- that's a great shot because it shows two major FAILS -- periwinkle uni's and Canseco as a Halo. what flops. actually, I didn't think the periwinkle uni's and winged cap was as bad as people commented at the time -- looking back I gotta agree -- they were atrocious. Canseco is vying with Raul Mondesi as the worst short term guy for the ANGELS ever. At least Mondesi played in some regular season games (I think we was on the Halos for about ten days). Both were major crybabies after they were released by the Halos organization -- a release stemming from not only their poor on field performance but their off field antics of complaints and just making themselves a pain for the club to deal with.

is this the rental player who performed best for us or the biggest rental deal we made (which may have ended up with a bust). Greinke was a pretty bid deal for us but didn't do much and we didn't keep him. Teixiera played well for us down the stretch -- we gave up Kotchman and other players which was a pretty big deal at the time....Teixiera played gold glove 1B for us and hit well down the stretch and helped the ball club -- but I never really liked him and still don't -- he acted and sounded off like a short timer rental guy........ Perhaps the biggest pay off for a rental for us was ALEX OCHOA, the OF (where did we get him from? the Mets?) anyway, he didn't do a whole lot for us down the stretch but then in the World Series game (was it game 6 or 7?) he came up big when he was put in as a late inning defensive replacement for Salmon (RF ?) and the very next inning made a running catch of a line drive shot to the OF that Salmon would have never caught up with..........key play in that game -- helped seal the deal for the Halos W/S win.

if the Angels trade him for prospects (this year) after he signed an extension -- they would probably never get a player to sign an extension like this again. pretty sure there's a no trade clause as I think Street had one in his prior contract (no trade to specific teams) this is a good deal for both sides -- Street gets two years plus a one year club option.......... for Street and for a lot of these guys -- if the atmosphere and the playing situation is working --- it makes sense to sign an extension, stay there and even forego some money -- in the end it actually may extend a guy's career because if he does well, there's another contract waiting for him....... in this case, true, as a coveted top closer (who's shelf life can be pretty short) he would have been a top commodity in F/A. Good move by our F/O - DiPoto and company -- credit for this is theirs.......heck we are critical here of their moves from time to time -- credit due to them now on this one..

Holtby played a great game -- was nice to see those two greet each other during the traditional post-series handshake line...... I don't think anyone beats the Blackhawks..........

well his MVP season with the Cubs was truly a stellar career year. he had something like 225 HRs in 11 seasons with the Expos and 175 HR in 5 with the Cubs. I think his per season average was better with the Cubs. could have tossed a coin on this one --arguably it was his MVP season with the Cubs that pushed him over the top in HOF voting. Gary Carter -- clearly an Expo -- the most years there and was an icon there. I've been sort of questioning of Carter's induction -- but looking at his stats -- he had 19 years mostly at the catching position, 2,092 hits and 324 HRs......his career BA was .262......for a catcher -- not bad.......so I'm sort of changing my mind on whether he should have been voted in or not -- one thing is for sure -- if he's IN, Piazza has to be IN soon.

Andre Dawson's best years were clearly with the Cubs -- he played longer for the Expos and posted more career stats there but overall, Dawson really only had ONE real stellar season and that was his MVP year with the Cubs -- his other seasons with the Cubs were pretty good, too. I thought he should have gone in as a Cub - may be they picked the team with the most World Championships since 1905 -- Expos ZERO, Cubs ZERO, tie goes to the Expos --- they won ZERO championships in fewer seasons........

great game 7. NY Rangers win it in OT.......about 12 minutes left in first OT. wide open, all out hockey during the OT - the pace was incredible from a scoring chance at one end to the other over and over again until the Rangers knocked one in. Game 7, OT, wide open hockey -- I mean, it's a real crap shoot....either team wins it with a break here or there....a simple bounce one way makes the difference.

Rangers just won a great Game 7 in OT. reminds me of last year's Kings-Blackhawks series......although I thought last year's was better. Lundquist played a great game in goal for the Rangers....... Rangers going to be beat up for Game One facing Tampa Bay but I think they win it in 6.

Going to tough to top last year's Blackhawks - Kings series which went 7. IMO, that was the REAL Stanley Cup final. Not being snarky or anything (as a Kings fan) but the Blackhawks are tough...... I see Blackhawks in 6 in this one -- and then they beat either Tampa Bay or NY/ Washington. Speaking of NY/ Washington -- after their 7 game series -- either one of those teams are going to enter game one and possibly two, sort of beat up.

Rangers- Caps Game 7 at MSG -- all tied up after regulation -- on to OT....... Rangers looked lackluster earlier in the 2nd -- came alive after they tied it up 1-1 and played pretty well in the third. Caps seemed to dominate the first period and the first part of the second. ON TO OT..........winner gets Tampa Bay.

I expect the suspense over the No-No will be over early.......first inning, perhaps second.

what does it take for a manager to get in? it could be Scioscia who should get in as a manager and for what he has accomplished as a manager and as a player combined. As a player, Sosh's career numbers (even his rep as one of the best ever in blocking the plate something not allowed anymore in the game they still call baseball) don't get him there (although if Gary Carter is IN, closer than one might think). But as a manager he gets in and as a manager/ player combination he would get in in m book. I think Trout is the first true Angels player to get in (would be Salmon but he never made an All Star team let alone have numbers for the HOF -- GA probably has better career stats and he's not getting in). K-Rod may have a shot with the combination of his 62 single season saves record (I was at that game!) and then 500 saves and one other major factor which could push him in -- the decline in milestone type career numbers by others during his era.........quite simply, K-Rod may be the saves leader for the group of closers who played during his time. Vlad gets in -- as an Expo.

I thought Green should have made the 25 man roster out of ST. Cron has a sweet swing and did well during his initial September call up (was that in 2014?) but then the MLB pitchers started throwing him off-speed pitches and the result is Cron is barely hitting ,200. Green was up for a bit with us -- but that was short lived. Meanwhile -- where does Featherson (spelling?) fit in with the Halos long term??? I'll repeat what I said at the end of ST -- Unless Featherson is expected to the Halos starter at 2B or SS in the years to come -- why use a roster spot for him all of 2015 just to keep him because he's a Rule 5 guy??? Green probably could have helped us more already than Featherson has this season...........and we have another ex-Colorado Rockies MIF at SLC who we don't have to give back and can be our 4-A depth player -- Rutledge. Oh well. Front office knows best.......I guess........but IF we keep Featherson all 2015 and he gets what? 150 ABs, plays in about 70 games as a PR/ late inning defensive guy -- he'd better be playing 162 games in a starting role for us for 2016-2019 or so. Otherwise, why are we keeping him again?

Hold those horses -- this 'Chinese investors' deal isn't the first 'major development' proposal for the Platinum Triangle area --- there have been many over the years and the vacant lots surrounding the park on State College Blvd and Orangewood remain......... Arte's deal with the City was a way to make sure the development happened -- the marketing business guy vs. the city bureaucrats in a race to woo private investors?? I'll take Arte. True, land values are increasing and the economy seems to be coming back from it's decade long slump -- but still the deal the City of Anaheim approved for Arte and then pulled back would have assured that the Platinum Triangle development actually got done and increased tax revenue (property, sales, etc.) would have resulted -- and Anaheim would keep the Halos. The city now needs Arte to play nice (the city needs the team's approval for the parking lot sharing to get the project the Chinese investors want) so this should be interesting. Hopefully this may force the city and the Angels to come to some sort of agreement.......otherwise -- I don't think it's as far fetched as once thought to see the Angels leave Anaheim.

Torii is a great player and has the drive and heart to be an inspiration in the clubhouse. I was pleased to see him do well in Detroit and am pleased he is getting a chance to do well in his farewell tour (if not this year, then next) back in Minnesota where he made his name and is beloved. I was not that upset with the Halos decision to 'move on' from Torii when they did and not re-sign him -- he was coming off a great season and we all remember the great August/ Sept. stretch run putting to rest the 'he's too old and is going to wear down' stuff........but I understood the Halos were looking in a different direction....... and then, just like Torii rightfully was -- I was confused when we shelled out a lot of money for Hamilton to a LONG term deal. This is NOT MONDAY morning quarterbacking -- I don't think there was ONE person on this Board who liked that signing or the terms and wondered then -- like Torii said in his comment -- if we're doing this, why not just keep Torii??? And many here said that then. Then Torii went out and went public with his disappointment with Arte and the Angels over the situation -- I really like Arte and like most of his moves for our Halos -- but I had to agree with Torii on this one -- and to get a good guy like Torii to express any negative sentiment towards someone in MLB means it must be quite something........Torii's comments were pretty tame -- he was being honest -- he was hurt -- he took Arte at his word when Arte said the Halos just didn't have a budget for another OF'er ........and then the Hamilton signing. OUCH. Oh well. I always root for Torii and wish him well. First Ballot HOF'er in my book. Goes in as a Minnesota Twin -- as it should be. He played well for us and was a team leader.

50 year old Stadium -- although major renovations over the years - some good -- I thought the Edison International Field upgrades by Disney were good and then the subsequent stuff done when Arte took over ownership -- and some bad -- the whole what I call the LA Rams (of Anaheim?) renovation. but the article references the 50 year old Big A -- which it is............ man, that has to make some of us feel old........I remember when Tony Perez hit that HR in the All-Star game (1967?) to win it for the NL (2-1, I think) in the brand new Big A Ballpark.

glad to see Bourjos doing well in the limited playing time he's getting there in St. Louis. I always liked PJB but also understood the trade which made sense at the time and makes sense now. For all the issue surrounding Freese's performance last year and now -- the fact is we needed an every day 3B and got one in Freese who, while not performing up to expectations last year, filled the role and then we got Salas in the pen as well -- who was inconsistent last year (and at times , downright awful). Ironically, the better player in the deal for the Cards last year was probably the throw in -- Grichuck (spelled wrong) who wound up starting a fair number of games for the Cards last year and hit well for them (at times). PJB -- who I thought -- because of his all out style of play and speed -- would become a real fan favorite in St. Louis (best baseball town in America !) but it was not to be -- Bourjos got off to a slow to terrible start in St. Louis and never really recovered last season -- somehow, the normally tolerant St. Louis fans turned on Bourjos and he was the target of boos and catcalls from the St. Louis crowd - something that usually does not happen in St. Louis -- they really support their players there -- win, lose or draw. it was really strange to see an all out hustle speedster guy with a gold glove (a St. Louis prototype of a ball player it would seem) getting snubbed by the knowledgeable baseball fans of St. Louis. So it's great to see him playing a role in the Cards' success now. I'd like to see him get more playing time.

Friday's LA TIMES Business section had an interesting article about a consortium of China based investors proposing a new high rise development of condos/ apartments surrounding by retail businesses in Anaheim's Platinum Triangle, the site of so many failed to become reality development proposals over the years. The China investors would need the Angels approval to share part of the Big A parking lot - city officials, of course, want to approve the development and want the Angels to 'play ball' with the investors and the City -- the Angels, according to the article, oppose the development plans -- at least the sharing he parking lot aspect of it. I will try to post the link to the article. If the link doesn't work, the article in on Page One of the Friday (May 8th) Business section of the LA TIMES. http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-property-report-anaheim-20150508-story.html

yeah, DiSar's first year (last year) as 3B coach was rough...... I think the Halos had more guys thrown out at home plate and third base than any other team in MLB in 2014. I, obviously, think DiSar is great and have always liked him -- but his initial year as Halos 3B coach was not exactly a stellar performance. and what's worse -- last year was the first year of what a group of my baseball pals call the "Buster Posey Rule" where the catcher can no longer block the plate and needs to pretty much cede the right of way to the runner (our group contends whatever this rule was meant to do , it has ruined one of the most exciting plays in the game and made the game something other than 'baseball') -- I mean a catcher can't play the role of catcher blocking home plate any more -- sort of like telling a defensive lineman he can't sack the quarterback -- anyway the Buster Posey rule has given the runner racing home a real advantage and yet in 2014 we still had guys tossed out at the plate with this rule in place. But as bad as some of this is -- none of it can top Sosh in that game vs. the M's sending Cowgill to steal second in the ninth with two outs, the Halos down one run and Rodney on the ropes. Yeah, let's kill any rally chance we have by having the potential tying run thrown out at second to end the game with our highwire act pal, Rodney, in the process of losing command of his pitches. Great.