.jpg&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "Mike Trout and the sophomore slump that wasn't")
Game Recap 10/1/12: Curtain Call - Angels 8 Mariners 4
Well there we go guys, it was a great season while it lasted but it had to come to an end. I'm not even mad that the A's clinched the Wild Card and knocked the Angels out of the playoffs, I care that absolutely no one gave the Angels a helping hand these last two series. I have newborn hatred for the Mariners, and especially the Rangers. They couldn't even make it interesting and win even the first game of the series, they just went and tossed it away from the very beginning. Don't even get me started on the B.S the Mariners pulled during their series against the A's.
I'm legitimately happy that the A's clinched, it really couldn't have gone to a more deserving team. I don't believe the Angels really "deserved" a playoff spot with the way they played when it really came down to crunch time, not like the A's. They earned it, the Angels threw it away. Well....more like they/re bullpen, but tomato tomato.
That didn't work as well as I expected. If the Angels can fix their bullpen in the offseason and completely take the West by storm next year. Now we can just hope the Angels bow out gracefully and sweep the Mariners to close out the season and get back to work in preparation for next season
Dammit this is going to be a depressing recap to write.
Game Recap
-- So the A's clinched a playoff berth while the Rangers rolled over oh so considerately for them. All I know is the A's better sweep the Rangers and knock them away from clinching the West, I'll be unfathomably pissed off if the Rangers just pull an easy win our of their ass tomorrow against the A's.
-- Mike Trout got a bunch of base hits and RBI's and stuff. That was pretty cool. He's coming pretty close to tying the all time record for runs scored by a rookie. Yeah that's pretty cool I guess. I....I just can't get over that he promised us the playoffs and we still missed. I felt comfortable and secure with him giving us his word, but oh well....that's baseball for you. It's a heartbreaker.
-- Some other stuff happened. Howie Kendrick had 4 hits (WTF), every reliever that appeared had a scoreless inning except Richards who gave up an earned run, and C.J Wilson was pretty good. Oh, and the A's clinched too and the Rangers were assholes against. Don't hate on my guys but I'm already looking at A's shirts to buy in preparation for my postseason support of them. Can't really hate on an explosive young team like them for "doin their thang", might as well back em while they're at it. Because screw the Rangers.
Halo A-Hole
Fuck you, Fuck you, Fuck you.
Seriously. You couldn't even have made it interesting for us.
Fuck you.
Just kidding, good luck in the playoffs guys you earned it.
Nah just kidding there again. Fuck you
Feels good to have got that out of my system.
(Fuck you guys)
Yes, we should lash out and blame every team around us for the Angels' failure. Classic! I'm glad you worked it through since it seemed to help the return of sanity down "past the fold".
On the bright side, it looks like the team will hit 90 wins (unless they wallow in self-pity to finish the season). On the minus side, they have precious little to trade to improve the bullpen. They may have to hope for improvement from most of their existing bullpen. Maybe Morales can be traded for a decent reliever and a blocked, near-ready minor league third baseman somewhere. JeDi MUST be researching this situation. Trading Morales must not be wasted on just relief help; an everyday player has to be in the mix.
On the bright side, we start the next season with Trout in the outfield! The whole team will be better for it. But, damn, Mike, he needs a day off once in a while. And right from the start. You know you won't be able to resist playing him every day during crunch time when he's worn down to a nub. On the dark side, I worry that they may see Pete as a good trade chip (one of the few they have). That means a whole lot more Vernon Wells. Mr. Two Hits Every Third Game, with the occasional home run randomly scattered throughout the season.
There are more of these. If we see the same percentage of improvement from Mark Trumbo next season he would have to be a bright spot. But, same as Trout but for different reasons, he needs to get a day off on a regular basis to regroup mentally. But, overall, it was still a much improved season. The problem lay in our inflated expectations. The Angels couldn't just improve, they needed to put a dent in Texas' division stranglehold and I do mean head-to-head. They didn't need Billy Beane to wave his Bellatrix Lestrange Memorial Model magic wand and somehow, some way, improve like they did. And they really didn't need many players to not just play to our inflated expectations, all they needed to do was meet their career norms.
We have seen throughout the free agency era that teams making the huge free agent splash will "flop" (flop v., to fall below desired result; n., a team that falls below the desired result; ex., to be a flop) the next season. But they will often turn it around the following season. We can hope for that, at least.
Let's hope Texas gets swept and they lose the division for not doing their part. You are right, the way our Angels played the whole season, we really did not deserve a spot. Tori Hunter, Trout, Weaver, Frieri (most of the time), Aybar showed heart. Obviously some more than others. I really do not think this team will be enough. Yes, the bullpen needs to be revamped, but we still are facing a good Texas and Oakland team. They will be there for a while. My opinion is, Resign Hunter, Greinke, and Morales. Cut Isringhausen, Hawkins and maybe restructure Santana's or Haren's contract for less money. I actually think the Angels should trade Kendrick. I thought he would one day he would develop into a Robinson Cano. Maybe they can trade him with Izturis and Kendrick to get something. Idk. The infamous Wells, try to get rid of him. Downs I'm up in the air about him. What happened to Geltz" the rookie? Just my two cents. Obviously some of my wishes are farfetch, but we can all imaginary GM's.
@Omar22222 Who do we replace Kendrick with? Second is as much of a black hole around baseball as third is. Oh, how I miss the steroid era! Everyone 15-40 will have to totally rethink the way they view stats in a vacuum and lower expectation.
@Omar22222 And Trumbo can be the fill-in first baseman. How about we trade the one more year of Morales we have for help elsewhere? Just a suggestion.
