Angels Baseball Rants and Raves

The guys come to the end of the road. The NFL commitments are just becoming to much to continue justifying this little labor of love. To the 500 or so who have enjoyed the 188 episodes, Steven and I say thanks for listening and we hope we have grown your love for the Halos. This sure looks like a most promising season being 22 games over .500 in the middle of August usually means a visit to the post-season.

With the trade deadline looming, Jeff cannot be contained in his frustration at the inevitability of inaction coming from the Angels front office. Not once during tonight’s game was GM Bill Stoneman seen on the phone. Though celebrating a sweep of the very talented Tigers and looking forward to pulling away from the Mariners this upcoming week, all eyes will be on Tuesday at 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time.

Steven and Jeff go at it in their varied assessments of our favorite Los Angeles team of Anaheim. Reviewing the Ervin Santana demotion, Joe Saunders promotion, and Jose Molina trade, there is much to kick around. Steven is despairing over the lack of the long promised bat and Jeff suggests that the mysterious bat may not be out there. They do agree that this weeks homestand will tell us a lot.

All-Star week had its good times and two of three from the Rangers is good enough. Jeff demonstrated that the burning of the part of the reason for the tough times were those Dodgers tickets which I burned last week. Vlad wins the HR contest, Frankie saved Putzz from becoming an All-Star loser. This week we see if Colon and Santana can right their respective ships in Tampa Bay.

We find ourselves in a conundrum where we have gone into the All-Star break tied with the Red Sox for most wins (53), but are playing like dookie. Jeff takes some responsibility for things and burns some Dodgers parking stubs he found in the car... just in case that was the cause of the bad mojo. The guys then join the frey with the, “whom am I more angry at, Colon or Santana?”

Okay, we get swept by the worst team in baseball, but still hit the mid-way point in the season with our best record ever -- despite the ship being all banged up! Me think it could be a lot worse. Could be the Mariners who are red hot and now without a coach (insert Nelson laugh here).

So many missing pieces -- injuries and we just keep winning. No one can explain the tear we are curently on, but why ask questions when things are going this well. Next comes a week of games against last place teams. Jeff rants on players unwilling to pay hurt and longs for the old days when a player would have to be practically dead before being forcably removed from the game.

Join the party as the boys celebrate the Angels taking five out of six from the cross-town rivals. The Dodgers just do not stand up to the clearly superior team (heck, Sunday it was our “B” team).

Feeling good about having the most wins in the Majors, has the guys in a celebratory mood. We break down our brief visit to Cincinnati and were disappointed that no Bengal was arrested while the Angels visited. Bring on the Dodgers!

The guys were afraid to do a show because the team is playing so well. Okay that’s a lie, but it is amazing how well the team is playing. Still all banged up, but everyone is doing their part which has the Halos off to the best start in team history.

The guys are in rare form as they relish (mmmm relish) being tied for the best start in team history. Jeff longs to win more World Series Rings than that team from the Bronx and to feed the 29th to any Yankees fan who happens across his path. Bring on the Twinkies (mmmm Twinkies.)

Maybe back in Brooklyn, people worried about dodging trollies, but these Dodgers were pathetic. It was a lovely sweep of “that other team from L.A..” Angels are the hottest team in all of baseball and we are doing it with a banged up ship. Imagine the possibilities of the team we thought we would put on the field back in March!

Maybe back in Brooklyn, people worried about dodging trollies, but these Dodgers were pathetic. It was a lovely sweep of “that other team from L.A..” Angels are the hottest team in all of baseball and we are doing it with a banged up ship. Imagine the possibilities of the team we thought we would put on the field back in March!

Maybe back in Brooklyn, people worried about dodging trollies, but these Dodgers were pathetic. It was a lovely sweep of “that other team from L.A..” Angels are the hottest team in all of baseball and we are doing it with a banged up ship. Imagine the possibilities of the team we thought we would put on the field back in March!

After dropping the first game to King Felix and the M’s we righted the ship and proceeded to win the series up north. José Guillen was kept in check and even made a few errors to help us in our ill feelings towards him. Emma Miranda is introduced in this show since she woke unexpectedly from her afternoon nap.

No deer or antelope playing, just some Angels unloading on a divisional rival. With the smell of last season's benches clearing brawls fresh in the air, Texas decides to reinstate the hostilities by beaning former clubhouse mate, Gary Mathews Jr. Guess that's what old friends are for. We take three of four and expand our lead in the west to two games.

Who cares that they are one of the best teams in baseball and that we cannot hit to save our lives... we took care of business. Benching Hillenbrand was a good start in this limbo process of waiting for the healing.

In what is possibly the goofiest show to-date, Jeff and Steven break down a frustrating weekend of losing 2 of 3 to the Chicago White Sucks. Do not miss this one -- even made me laugh.

Though it is always frustrating to split with a team as bad as the Royals, we are holding serve while getting everyone healthy and heading home where we dominate. Keep the faith.

Jeff draws an important distinction between a rival and a team that one really hates as the guys recap taking two of three from the men in black from Chicago's south side.

Sorry to miss a show, but the NFL draft is killing us. We have good news to report on the most recent home stand and Jeff was fortunate enough to attend both of the day games this week. Loads of fun... but now the road.

Shame we cannot play them everyday as the Halos complete the sweep of a team they have owned over the past few seasons. With the return of "Bad Weaver" and the irritating Jose Guillen, the emotions ran high and we managed to score runs to support the always strong pitching.

In what is looking an AWFUL lot like a continuation of last season's story of "ship all banged up," people playing out of their natural positions, errors leading to unearned runs, and needing just one more solid bat, the team loses its sixth in a row. The guys are not all to happy about this either.

So many horrific memories from that damned ball park and now we have a few new ones to file under the I would rather not talk about that file. Of the three games we got a chance to play, we were outscored 25-3. Fortunately sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it snows.

The team took an advantage and turned it into a big mess by dropping 2 out of 3 to a team of nomads playing 450 miles from home. A lot of second guessing Scioscia going on, but we are only in the second week of the season.

Splitting a four game series might feel like kissing your sister, but when it is the dreaded A's we'll take it. As expected the games were very close, full of drama, and even some brush back pitches between some guys who don't like each other too much. The guys go through it all and cover the latest news in a double show. Make sure you grab both parts one and two.

Trying something different by covering an entire series and breaking it up into smaller parts for easier consumption. Listen to them all together or one day at a time to spread out the fun. You make the call. This time we celebrate sweeping the opening series of 2007.

Trying something different by covering an entire series and breaking it up into smaller parts for easier consumption. Listen to them all together or one day at a time to spread out the fun. You make the call. This time we celebrate sweeping the opening series of 2007.

Trying something different by covering an entire series and breaking it up into smaller parts for easier consumption. Listen to them all together or one day at a time to spread out the fun. You make the call. This time we celebrate sweeping the opening series of 2007.

Trying something different by covering an entire series and breaking it up into smaller parts for easier consumption. Listen to them all together or one day at a time to spread out the fun. You make the call. This time we celebrate sweeping the opening series of 2007.

Trying something different by covering an entire series and breaking it up into smaller parts for easier consumption. Listen to them all together or one day at a time to spread out the fun. You make the call. This time we celebrate sweeping the opening series of 2007.

The guys are back from the big night at the Big A and have so many stories to tell. They bring you so close to opening night you can practically smell the hot dogs and taste the beer.

The stories and interviews continue from the great state of Arizona as we count down t opening day. Jeff has to make a secret confession having acquired one really good seat for opening day which leaves Steven at home with children. The drama builds.

Jeff and Steven go position by position to evaluate who will be where and how they are faring thus far this spring. Jeff gives the team an A- while Steven gives them a B+. It is the Matthews Jr. situation which keeps us from getting too giddy.

Jeff and Steven go position by position to evaluate who will be where and how they are faring thus far this spring. Jeff gives the team an A- while Steven gives them a B+. It is the Matthews Jr. situation which keeps us from getting too giddy.

Jeff and Steven update all things Cacti and are feeling good about how the team is shaping up for 2007. Cursory glances are made at the divisional rival A's, Rangers, and Mariners and the changes they made in the off-season.

Steven declares it Howie night because of an outstanding Spring outing today against old friend Bud Black's new team, The San Diego Padres. Get caught up on the fun and don't miss Sunday afternoon's game against Oakland on KCOP 13 in the L.A. area.

Trying to reel in the enthusiasm of a baseball noob 'aint easy, but Jeff does his best. The Matthew Jr. situation is looked at and the Saturday game will be available on FSN West and MLB TV.

Jeff and Steven are back for the second season of Angels Baseball Rants and Raves. The guys look at what went wrong last season, what happened in the off-season, and look forward to the 2007 season. What happened to the promise of a "big bat?"

Jeff and Steven make an appearance to put an official end to the 2006 season. We wrap up everything about the season and anticipate the glorious grind of 2007. Jeff is giving love to the Oakland Athletics as they have advanced to the American League Championship Series and Steven hopes the Tigers will scratch their eyes out.

After a nine day hiatus we're back to update Angels fans about the team we love. Though things are grim, we are still hanging in there. If Seattle can take one more game from Oakland, then our fate is in our hands. We'll see. Right now we are five back with six to play.

The great choke of 2006 does not appear to be in the cards for the Oakland Athletics. Not with Frank Thomas magically staying healthy and putting up MVP kinds of numbers. Today's loss drops us six back with 13 to play. DANGER! DANGER!

Not sure what the end will entail, but for tonight we inch closer to the idle Oakland Athletics. Seldom used Jose Molina provides the only offense as he hits a two run homerun in the fifth inning to go along with some pretty terrific pitching.

Time is running out on the 2006 Angels baseball season. The team gets one-hit against Freddy Garcia today on get away day in Anaheim. Jeff figures we can lose four or five more games before our season is finished.

Actually Steven did need to call the doctor, but the Angels are so NOT DEAD YET! Look out Athletics, you look like you are playing scared. Though we needed 11 innings to get it done, that just made it so much sweeter. 4 1/2 games and counting.

With not too many opportunities to make-up ground, the Angels blow this one tonight losing to the hatted Chicago White Sox 3-2. Jeff mock-rants on John Lackey knowing better than to give-up any runs with our poor offense.

Steven tries to take over the show with predictable results. He thinks just because it is his birthday weekend he can be "the man." Fortunately the Angels game was good enough to compensate. Joe Saunders keeps the great pitching rolling for the good guys.

With a three game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, the Angels keep their play-off hopes alive, wining today 8-4. Off day tomorrow gives the guys some necessary rest. Darrin Erstad is given love by Jeff for returning as the team leader just in time.

Picking up ground on Oakland while winning a very exciting game sure is fun. High drama continues for fans of the Glorious Grind. Maybe, just maybe we can make things interesting for the 2006 season. Still not sure we could manage a playoff win with this team, but one thing at a time.

Home after very little sleep and beating up on Baltimore is a great way to begin a home-stand. Jered Weaver makes the lone run he received in support stand up as he pitched a shut-out through 7 innings. With Oakland losing, we are still hanging in there.

The Angels manage to take a series against the team with the best record in baseball. Sure they have not been playing that well, but it is still positive momentum. Kelvim Escobar pitched like a Big Dog and got a much deserved win. More errors and unearned runs, but we come home happy.