[Program Update] Monday March 17th's episode, entitled "Interview with Haunted Baseball Author Dan Gordon, and a Rapid Fire Review of Spring Ball," is now available.

Go Angels!

All is Not Right

posted by Erica on Friday, April 11, 2008

All is not right in the world of baseball. Kansas City is leading their division. Detroit had a goose egg in their wins column for the first seven games. And the Los Angeles Angels are hitting home runs.

Not only are they knocking out bombs but they're finding the g-spot. Out of the gutter – I'm talking about grand slams. Apparently Mike Napoli liked what he saw Torii Hunter do on Monday night against Joe Borowski and decided to follow suit against former Angels pitcher Paul Byrd on Wednesday.

And to add to the long ball theme, Vladimir Guerrero, Garrett Anderson and Casey Kotchman all hit out of the park - all off Byrd with the exception of Vladdy who went yard on Jensen Lewis. The Angels have hit 14 home runs in their first 10 games.

On the mound, Angels are pulling off some surprises as two key starters, John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, and star closer K-Rod are out with injuries. Dustin Moseley landed safely with a win Wednesday despite some turbulence against the Tribe, giving up four earned runs in the sixth inning. But he went six innings – something Ervin Santana has also been able to do. Santana lasted six innings in his first two outings but unfortunately six was also the number of runs he gave up to the Indians in his start against the Tribe. And another pitcher contributing in this time of pitching need – Joe Saunders. So far, he's clocked in 16 innings for the Angels, giving up only one earned run.

And you know you're getting curve balls when GA is quoted with having some spunk in his answers. He told the media after Wednesday's big win, "There are some guys on this team that can home runs…I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it." That is some passion in defense of team that prides itself on being a small ball team that can have the flexibility to move players around. Granted all the excitement could have been blown in the delivery. But GA, no one can complain when you're still hitting them out three months shy of your 37th birthday. And you have been fairly loyal to the Angels.

Of course these games are a blip on the 162 radar map but for now, to quote one of the most over used and abused cliché in sports media, if this is all wrong, I don't want to be right. (Well minus the Detroit part – no team has made it to the post season after going 0-7 to start the season.)

****What I do want to rectify is the production halt we've been experiencing. I can't blame the writer's strike since it's been long over and I am not in the guild. But I did need to take a brief hiatus for personal reasons. We should be back in full effect with podcasting and blogs in the next couple of weeks. Go Halos!

Notes:

• K-Rod's ankle is sprained and he is listed as day to day.
• John Lackey is supposed to start throwing this week.
• Smiley Howie Kendrick is expected to make an appearance this weekend recovering from a hand bruise.

Spring is in the air, and so is podcasting

posted by Erica on Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Spring training is here and so is our podcast revival! Look out for updates and weekly episodes of Angelscast, beginning with today's episode that includes a discussion of K-Rod, cockfighting, and much more.

Go Halos!

Mitchell Report

posted by Erica on Monday, December 17, 2007

As mentioned on Sunday's show, here is a link to the full 400-page Mitchell Report:

Read the Mitchell Report (PDF)

Who Needs a Podcast...At Least for Right Now

posted by Erica on Sunday, November 11, 2007

When I sat down today to record my podcast, I realized there was something missing: my voice. Yes, for some reason I have been plagued by laryngitis for the second time in a month in a half. I of course took the natural step of googling laryngitis and one of the causes was defined as: prolonged straining of the voice.

Hmmm, maybe it was screaming Saturday for Illinois and Wisconsin to usurp the leaders of the Big 10, reinforcing how transparently weak the conference is...or maybe it was cheering on Colt Brennan to join the Heisman race frontrunners in lieu of Darren McFadden who along with the rest of the Razorback team folded yet again. Regardless, I decided to use the written word for my halo dish this week.

Trade Rumors

Whatever you do Arte, don't lose Howie Kendrick. He's so young, he's practically like a prospect. Yet, he played like a veteran this year. Kendrick and Maicer Izturis have been rumored to be on the table in a deal that would send Marlins slugger Miguel Cabrera to the Angels. Izturis and Kendrick won't free up that much of the salary. And Kendrick is way too valuable given his cost.

Why not just shell out some money to Team A-Rod instead?

Awards and Honors

Congratulations are in order. Vladimir Guerrero snagged his seventh Silver Slugger Award, something he sealed with 25 homers for the 10th season in a row. He's also batted over .300 for a straight decade, being only one of four players to do that in the past 50 years. Ichiro Suzuki was the only other silver slugger from the AL West, of the nine recipients in that league.

Orlando Cabrera picked up his second Gold Glove which should be surprising to no one. After only tallying 11 errors and maintaining a .983 fielding percentage, Cabrera stole the shortstop gold glove spotlight from Derek Jeter who's owned the title for the past three seasons. Up until May 4th, Cabrera hadn't committed a single error on the season, setting a MLB record at shortstop for the longest streak without an error. This defensive consistency is on top of the offensive talents he brings to the field, typified by his .301 batting average for the season.

Another congratulations, a bit more overdue, is needed for Rick Smith, the Angels trainer who was inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame. He certainly earned some recognition after this past injury-plagued Halo season- the Angels DL was more crowded than the Chavez Ravine parking lot. Smith trained for the Angels Double-A affiliate in El Paso before ascending to the Majors in 1978.

Halo Updates

Now in Angels "news," Bartolo Colon, a free agent, will most likely not be part of the Angels' pitching rotation come Spring 2008. In actual pitching news, Minor League pitchers Nick Green and Warner Madrigal were promoted to the Angels 40-man roster.

Green boasted a 107-32 strikeouts-to-walk ratio in 28 starts for the Arkansas Travelers. Hopefully that efficiency on the mound in the Minors will translate to the Majors, something the Angels struggled with in the playoffs.

Madrigal is a closer that hails from the Dominican Republic who had 20 saves in 22 outings for Class-A Cedar Rapids.

Guess Who's Back?

Dallas McPherson and Chone Figgins' wrist.

McPherson got back out on the field in the Arizona Instructional League this fall. Figgins underwent wrist surgery, the same kind Erick Aybar had, and is now recovering. And my voice and Angels podcasts should be back in a few days so stay tuned.

Congratulations Tony Reagins

posted by Erica on Thursday, October 18, 2007

It's nice to know that stories like Tony Reagins still exist. The new general manager of the Los Angeles Angels worked his way up from what would be the equivalent of the mail room in any typical corporate atmosphere.

On Tuesday, Reagins stepped in as the 10th GM of the Angels, and the third minority GM in the Majors. (Omar Minaya of the New York Mets and Ken Williams of the Chicago White Sox are the others.)

But not too long ago, Reagins was figuring out which bat boys and bat girls needed to be where and when. And before that? Interning. And even when he first started technically working, he did so for free. He mentioned in an interview on ESPN radio Tuesday that when he first got a raise it was a $500 bonus - a 500 percent raise has never seemed so small.

Sixteen years later, he now makes a decision of not only who the bat boys and bat girls are but who's actually swinging the bats.

His childhood sounds somewhat like Vladimir Guerrero's. His mother raised him and his three older siblings on her own, working two jobs. Reagins' dad died of cancer when Tony Reagins was four. And his story of rising to the top and defeating the odds just fits perfectly into the miracle making story that is the Angels organization.

Questions concerning trades and moves have already been rocket fired at Reagins by the press and the biggest one of them all is: will he simply be a puppet to former GM Bill Stoneman who remains in a consulting role for the Angels or will he work with owner Arte Moreno to beef up that lineup?

That's definitely a wait-it-out situation but in the meantime, let's just enjoy the sweetness of such a story, and hope for more in the future.

For all the criticism Stoneman gets, you can't deny his 4-for-8 record in post season appearances. And also throw in a World Championship ring and three division titles. But, anyone who can shed some new light on the situation of near miss trades year after year will be warmly welcomed with Angel wings.

And maybe next October Reagins can add his name to the list that includes Williams and Bob Watson, the only two black GMs to hold World Series titles. The sports world can always use more of those stories.

Monkeys Will Be Uncaged in Boston

posted by Erica on Wednesday, October 3, 2007

It might appear like David and Goliath. The Angels shouldn't come out victorious in the ALDS for several reasons.

Boston is stacked with talent both offensively and on the mound. David Ortiz couldn't be a bigger threat at the plate. And Big Papi has a few friends on the roster to back him up.

As a starting pitcher, Josh Beckett hasn't been able to do anything but win. And when he gets tired, the Red Sox have one of the best closers in the league to say goodnight.

Based on this season, the odds are not in the Angels favor. They are 4-6 against the Red Sox this season. In mid-April the Angels were swept by Boston and they were swept badly. 10-1, 8-0, and 7-2 highlighted the scoreboard. That's not a sweep, that's just punishment for showing up at Fenway.

The Red Sox are not afraid of the Angels in the postseason the way the Yankees have been. Boston delivered a 1-2-3 punch to the Angels in 2004 - one of only two memories the Halos have of the Red Sox in October play.

When they played each other three years ago, the Angels only took the lead once in the entire series. In Game 2, the Angels went ahead 3-1 in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI by Vladimir Guerrero. They lost the lead the following inning.

But the glimmer of hope bedazzled on the t-shirt of a rally monkey is that the Angels are a better and different team now than they were in 2004 and a closer match to Boston than it appears at first glance.

In 2004, the Angels were clearly living in Boston's shadow of statistics, with the exception of team batting averages. The two teams shared the same batting average of .282 to lead the A.L.

But Boston had a better team ERA, more RBI's, and a lot more bases to name a few areas of their superiority. Boston had the confidence statistically going into the postseason of 2004 that the Angels did in 2002.

But the playing field in 2007 has evened out just enough to open a few windows for the Angels. The Halos edged out the Red Sox in team batting average at the close of this season. The Angels also handed out a few more strikeouts than their foes in Beantown, to be second in the A.L. for that category.

Another change between 2004 and now is the difference in wins and losses is much tighter. The Angels record for this year stands a mere two games worse than Boston's. In '04, Boston had six games up on the Angels in the wins/losses category.

The personnel differences from 2004 to now play a huge factor as well. Game 1, in 2004 featured Jarrod Washburn against Curt Schilling. We soon found out Washburn had peaked in 2002 with his 18-6 record so his absence is not too missed. As far as Schilling goes, three more years doesn't make it easier on someone who is dancing around retirement.

John Lackey is taking over that opening spot for this series - the same pitcher who led the Angels to a 2002 World Series win in Game 7. He'll have his challenges with Beckett, but he has a lot of power rooted in his competitive spirit and inning endurance.

Bartolo Colon was the second 2004 ALDS victim on the mound facing Pedro Martinez in Game 2. Colon, suffering from reoccurring elbow pain, is now completely out of the picture - along with Martinez.

Kelvim Escobar was the last ditch effort to save the Angels from a sweep in 2004, going head-to-head with Bronson Arroyo. He was nowhere near having the control of his game as he does now, this season being a career-best. His matchup against Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 2 is the one most likely up for grabs given that neither pitcher has faced the other team this year. Escobar's veteran status in the postseason offers a slight advantage.

Jered Weaver will roll in at third in the pitching rotation, young and eager to snag some postseason victory. And he will be using his youth to battle the sagacious Schilling. The Angels' time at the plate will factor into wearing down the Red Sox expert.

On the batting side, the Angels bring a lot of new faces to the roster but ones with big eyes. Baserunning, stealing, bunting, and walks will all make their appearances on the Mike Scioscia's stage of small ball. Meanwhile, we expect to see the BoSox swinging.

Big Papi will be the hardest threat to contain but Home Run Derby champ Guerrero isn't a bad counterattack. And since he'll be getting rest at DH, he should be ready to do what he does best: chase balls and make them into hits.

The Angels are the 2004 team plus pitching and a whole lot more chemistry. So while the Red Sox look like they're in line for an '04 repeat, the monkey is ready to rally.

Welcome, New Postseason Listeners!

posted by Angelscast on Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Just a quick note for everyone out there listening throughout the Angels' postseason run. Angelscast is completely FREE to download and listen to. You can subscribe via iTunes or listen right from this website (audio player is on the right). Schedule note: Normally new Angelscast episodes debut twice a week but we are going to be releasing additional playoff episodes for the ALDS:

Thursday Oct. 4th (a.m.)
Friday Oct. 5th (p.m.)
Sunday Oct. 7th (a.m.)
Monday Oct. 8th (a.m.)

Stay tuned to the show and this space for more news. Also, we rarely mention it on the show so here's a reminder that it's easy to sign up to be notified whenever a new episode of Angelscast is released:

We hope you enjoy Angelscast, and most importantly, Go Halos!

ANGELS CLINCH!!!!

posted by Angelscast on Monday, September 24, 2007

Congratulations to the 2007 AL West Division Champion LA Angels on winning the division today! Stay tuned for special playoff episodes of Angelscast, which will began on Monday October 1st.

Send us an e-mail at hosts@laangelscast.com or give us a call at 323-319-6395 and let us know what winning the division means to you!

Go Halos! 11 more wins to go!

Saving Shielderman

posted by Erica on Monday, September 10, 2007

Frankie Rodriquez's complete crumbling on Friday night was a good thing. His immediate deterioration had a silver lining. What is that lining? Scot Shields.

If the Angels recovered first-half-of-the-season Scot Shields, then the recent shortcomings of K-Rod might be worth it. If Shields got out the evil that had encompassed his pitching ability with that ball he chucked during his throwing session this week, then great! No one was injured. Doesn't that last statement sound weird in regards to the Angels. No injuries.

Anyway, on Friday against Cleveland, Shields struck out three of four batters he faced and more importantly stopped the bleeding. He cruised out to the mound with the bases loaded and two outs. He struck out the first batter to end the inning and appease many of the 40,000 fans who had risen from their seats to cheer on the Shields revival.

Prior to that, Rodriquez gave up a solo home run to Ryan Garko in the ninth to tie the game at 2-all. John Lackey, whose victory in the game was compromised because of K-Rod's performance, did not show any concern about the Angels closer. He said Rodriquez "has been too good for too long," and is convinced he will "figure it out" in the postseason. On the season, Rodriquez is 5-2 with just over a 3 ERA but in the past 10 games, he is posting over a 10 ERA, managing only one save.

But, there's something to Lackey's optimism, an outlook that manager Mike Scioscia shares. The focus was on the fact that Shields could very well be back. K-Rod's inconsistency definitely comes in waves, whereas Shields has tended to be on or off. If he's on now, that's a gold mine heading into the playoffs. It's so valuable, it's worth the inning of gutt-wrenching discomfort experienced by fans watching that Garko bomb.

K-Rod has time to bounce back - a 9-game lead in the AL West confirms that. Shields needs to be steady right now. So losing a save, to save a pitcher might just be worth it in the long run.

The Official's View in Judicial Review

posted by Erica on Saturday, August 25, 2007

The batter steps into the box. The count is 1 and 2. The batter focuses on appearing steadfast and menacing in the face of a pitcher hungry to retire his opponent. The pitcher releases, the batter reacts, assuming the ball is somewhere in the vicinity of the strike zone, and the batter initiates the swing of his bat. In a split second, the batter second guesses the accuracy of the pitch and wrestles to pull the bat back over the imaginary line that determines a strike or ball.

That imaginary line isn't so much an envisioned marking over the plate but is more the imaginings of the umpire about whether the batter swung around or not. This is the subjectivity of umpires in Major League Baseball - a notion akin to the power nine men and women in black robes have when ruling on court decisions concerning the Constitution. One word is so powerful it can paint two opposite pictures from one event in reality: interpretation.

For example, the interpretation of whether Reggie Willits swung or held off in the bottom of the eighth inning on the August 20th Angels-Yankees game prompted skipper Mike Scioscia's emergence from the dugout. Arguing happened next. Scioscia's ejection followed that. Luckily for the Angels, a game-winning double by Ryan Budde in the 10th inning ended that succession of events.

On Saturday night in the Toronto-at-Anaheim series, the umpires had to determine if the tag on Howie Kendrick happened before Maicer Izturis scored home in the bottom of the fourth. This would establish if the Angels would receive credit for Izturis' run. In a split second, the third base umpire had to decide if Kendrick was out and, if so, if he was out before Izturis crossed home. Upon seeing instant replay, the tag at third was questionable but was definitely a blink of an eye before Izturis reached home.

This interpretation by the umpires marked a crucial shift in the momentum of the game. At that point the score was tied 2-all and the Angels would have had the go-ahead run score. The Angels ended up losing 9-2 (something they seem to do more of than less of when playing the Blue Jays).

The role of Supreme Court justices is to act as guardians and interpreters of the Constitution. There is no one to veto the Supreme Court's collective decision. Similarly, umpires are considered representatives of Major League Baseball and any judgment they make, such as whether a runner is safe or not, is final, according to the official rules set forth by Major League Baseball. The word "judgment" can easily be substituted with "interpretation." So many of our country's rules, with varying degrees of consequence, are dictated by interpretation.

Of course in baseball, like in the judicial system, there is a documented appeal process. But, in both the Majors and the Supreme Court, ultimately the decision rests in the personal view of what is right and what is wrong. Instant replay serves merely as a proof of what technically happened but is not used to override the interpretation an umpire sticks by. This could be akin to throwing out DNA samples that help prove a suspect's guilt because the DNA was illegally obtained.

The bottom line is that crucial decision-making lies with one or two officials in black, whether on the field or in the court room. Of course the latter situation actually affects us all whereas the former is just baseball. Yes, it's just baseball and we have to remember that. But, it's interesting how much authority we vest in a few individuals, in so many aspects of life.

In November, if you want a shot at MLB interpretation, umpires in the league are hosting a camp to teach you the basics of "He's out," and "Stttttttttttttttttttttttrike." Field instruction and in-class education will be taking place November 4-11 in Compton and Long Beach respectively.

I imagine, it's all in interpreting what they tell you.

Technical Issues

posted by Angelscast on Friday, August 24, 2007

We're currently experiencing minor technical difficulties and the posting of new episodes of Angelscast will resume next week.

Thanks for your patience and in the meantime please feel free to e-mail us at hosts@laangelscast.com or you can call our 24/7 listener call-in line at (323) 319-6395. Go Halos!

Double Header Detriment

posted by Erica on Friday, August 17, 2007

You can't deny double headers are grueling and tiring - and that's just from the armchair. For one, if there's a day/night double header, there's an uncomfortable lapse in between. If it's an afternoon/night double header, that's a lot of baseball in a row by the same two teams...even for fans.

As far as the people actually exerting physical activity, it seems a little tough as well. Double headers tax the bullpen. They tax everyone in the franchise for that matter. Double headers make it that much harder to get up the next day and face the same team. It's especially demanding when you're on the road such as with the Angels who are in Boston right now in their four-game-in-three-days series.

So far this season there have been 13 double headers in Major League Baseball, with the Angels-Boston series making it 14.

If you think the likelihood that the majority of double headers would split, you will be surprised. If you think when a team's hot they're hot-even for 18 plus innings within 12 hours-then this won't be news.

From 2002 through 2006, about 56 percent of double headers have been won by one team (a two-game sweep), according to ESPN data. In 2004, 23 out of 39 double headers ended with one team victorious for the entire day.

The Angels current double header is more than just grueling, it's unimaginable. It started with a road trip in Toronto heading straight into the Boston series without a break. And to cap it off, the Angels do not have a day of rest between their Boston series and their New York homestand which starts Monday. I hope they have some Ambien for that return flight.

The Angels aren't too successful with double headers either. In the past five seasons, they have either split or lost. But remember, they've only played three. That's the punishment for living in ideal weather conditions - you don't get as much double header prep. But, the miniscule detriment to their record is definitely worth the lifestyle.

Rally on Monkey.

Angelscast Listener Call-In Line

posted by Angelscast on Tuesday, August 14, 2007

As promised, we now have a call-in line for the show! Our goal is to make Angelscast as interactive as possible, and now you can have your comments and questions played 'on the air!' Just dial in and press 1 to leave a message...it's that easy. The number to call is 323-319-6395.

Look for more updates and website features to be rolled out over the next two weeks as we gear up for the stretch run.

In the meantime, Go Halos!

He Wins, We All Lose

posted by Erica on Thursday, August 9, 2007

In the wake of Barry Bonds surpassing Hank Aaron's home run record, we have to not only reflect on the purity of this benchmark but on the skepticism inherent with all accomplishments in professional sports.

Terence Moore of the "Atlantic Journal Constitution" made this point on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" this week: all records in sports that are broken during this era will be questioned. He underscored exactly why so many fans are incensed by Bonds running away with the hallowed crown suitable for only a home run king.

Many people have consciously and subconsciously become disillusioned by sports, a part of society that has been drowning in suspicion of rampant steroid use among other offenses. Some parents probably cringe at the thought of their little ones using terms such as idol and hero to describe players they follow. There's an immediate wonder at the slight weight change or muscle growth of major leaguers. There's not just a cloud but a thunderstorm of doubt.

Players such as Babe Ruth, Aaron and Frank Robinson didn't undergo that kind of scrutiny. They simply were gifted athletes who worked extremely hard. Of course there was nothing simple about their situations or their personalities. They had to deal with cultural scrutiny unrelated to baseball. Robinson and Aaron broke through stone cold racial barriers while fighting off the fists of bigotry. And Ruth was as famous for his extracurriculars as he was his hitting. But there was never a question of their athletic integrity.

With Bonds winning rights to this title, we as a society lose the ability to watch in amazement without hesitation. Immediately following home run number 756, an online poll surfaced, asking who really holds the home run record: Bonds or Aaron. This baseball landmark is soured whether you support Bonds or not.

And who suffers the most from this? The fans. Instead of this milestone unifying people in a moment of grandeur, it's polarizing. It leaves an apathetic film on our once rose-colored glasses.

From a media standpoint, the fury spawns great TV. Interesting discussion, points made at exhaustion, an ability to expand an argument to 80 different viewpoints. And it's important in initiating more examination into the hyped up world of sports. But simultaneously, this moment in history feels defeating.

So much talk surrounds the shift in focus onto Alex Rodriguez and when he will steal that crown right off Bond's irregularly sized head. Of course, A-Rod's moment of glory will also go to trial - not one resulting from a George Mitchell investigation but the greater courtroom of public opinion. People will wonder: Did he use? Rodriquez and Bonds are friends and often shared tips. What kind of tips? How did A-Rod managed to stay healthy and avoid injuries?

We have lost the ability to sit back in awe when watching a brilliant moment in sports - we now sit back and think about whether it's okay to cheer for an athlete who may or may not have abused their position of power and influence.

We have lost the ability to distinguish some athletes from politicians.

We have lost our youth.

But maybe when Bonds hit 756, we won a little reality.

Check Out Our Brand New MySpace Page

posted by Angelscast on Thursday, August 2, 2007

We encourage all Angelscast listeners to visit our brand new Angelscast profile on MySpace. Add yourself as a friend to stay up to date on all the latest Angelscast news and events, and post a comment or send host Erica Bardin a message if you have a question or comment that you'd like read 'on the air.'

Visit Angelscast on MySpace

Go Halos!

Amazing Race(s)

posted by Erica on Friday, July 27, 2007

No salary cap. No parity. No victories unless you're a Yankee. Doesn't matter right now. There are some amazing races right now in Major League Baseball. The races right now are not quite as but almost as good as a lying contest over performance enhancing drug tests starring Floyd Landis, Barry Bonds, and late entry Michael Rasmussen.

In the West, starting with the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners, a competition of who can lose more games while staying atop the A.L. is keeping baseball interesting. And in the N.L., the Dodgers and Padres are offering some entertaining pitching duels. Both have potential Cy Youngers (Is that a word?) With the combination of probably the best pitching in baseball and decent batting power, the Padres have a better chance to see the checkered flag fly first.

The Angels and Mariners race right now is thought provoking because it's hard to tell if the Angels' pitching sunk to the Mariners' level or if … Seattle's silent bats are mimicking their friends in So-Cal. With the Angels coming up on a tough schedule in August, starting with none other than a visit to Safeco, they could lose the lead for the next couple of weeks…lose it temporarily of course. But, Seattle's young bullpen will pose to be a problem down the stretch. As far as a potential trade for the Angels before Tuesday, it certainly won't be Mark Teixeira, if a trade happens at all. There's more of an argument for Troy Glaus, considering the Angel's glaring need at third base, and the former Angel and native Southern Californian knows the system. And it wouldn't be as costly as giving up Scot Shields (which would never happen) and Casey Kotchman which would be necessary to get Teixeira. Even though the Rangers' first baseman makes less than Glaus, Texas will not settle for anything but a premium pitching deal.

Switching lanes, to the A.L. Central, Detroit and Cleveland are keeping up the neck-and-neck theme in baseball right now. Detroit is stacked across the lineup and showcases a solid starting rotation, headlined by no-hitter ace Justin Verlander. Jim Leyland pulled an impressive managerial move from last year, sandwiching Kenny Rogers between Jeremy Bonderman and Verlander in the rotation. Cleveland is doing so much more than the rest of its division with what appears to be a lot less. Pitching drops off after C.C. Sabathia, despite a recent slump, and Fausto Carmona, but, several batters have had some timely streaks. Catcher Victor Martinez is second in the majors for catchers, right behind Russell Martin.

In the other part of the Mid-West, the Brewers and the Cubbies are fighting each other off like savage lions. Milwaukee proved to us all this year that they don't just produce beer; they produce wins as well. And Chicago has finally caught up, producing runs. And much to Lou Piniella's delight, Derek Lee made it back into the lineup this week.

Moving east, the races are heated. Even though the Yanks are a good six to seven games behind their hated foes, we all know the A.L. East is a race. And a bit of a tighter, more traditional race is of course happening with the Mets and the Braves. The biggest problem the Mets have to worry about right now is Carlos Beltran's strained ab muscle. I guess that's what happens when you're a Gold Glove outfielder, with 20 homers under your belt halfway through the season. Jose Reyes and David Wright should be able to manage. And if the Yanks keep A-Rod happy and healthy as well as continue to heat up their other bats, they will continue to narrow that gap. Sound familiar?

What this amounts to is that this is great for baseball. The New York/Boston fight isn't anything new. But the recent surge of the Mets production over the past few years is very entertaining. Milwaukee is a great new player at the table and fans are blessed with experiencing another resurrection of the beloved yet oh-so cursed Chicago Cubs. The Chicago White Sox opened up a spot for the Indians this year. And out west, the A's have done the same for Seattle. The Dodgers and Padres' tennis match is a great display of pitching and is the perfect Southern California rivalry.

So to all those contenders, try to avoid becoming too much of a frontrunner just yet. It's more fun this way.

Check Us Out/Subscribe in iTunes

posted by Angelscast on Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Angelscast is now available (for free!) in Apple iTunes! It's the best way (and a totally free way) to tune in to die-hard Angels fans just like yourself talking about your favorite team.

Please subscribe to our show in iTunes to receive new episodes as they're released. We've got a bunch of new features we'll be adding to the website in the upcoming weeks, so stayed tuned for more info on that as well. Go Halos!

Sign Up to Be Notified When New Episodes Are Released

posted by Angelscast on Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Starting today, if you sign up in the box below, you can have an e-mail notification sent to you whenever a new episode of Angelscast is available. It's an easy way to keep up with the latest from Angelscast host Erica Bardin.