I’m also still pretty busy (and slightly disappointed about how the season ended - again), so I will not have time to write much, if anything, here on this site, but I still have “job” at AHP, where I will write something from time to time. My latest piece is about setting deadlines to contract offers and why that’s a bad idea. Feel free to check it out.

Why deadlines for contract offers are neither smart nor believable

After the start of free agency, it did not take long for some big numbers to fly around between general managers and agents. But not all contract offers are created equal. Some, especially the really big ones, come with an expiration date. Read more at At Home Plate

a) busy writing my thesis (again)

b) busy with work

c) trying to keep the At Homeplate Blog alive

So I will only sporadically post here when something comes to my mind that I could not post over at AHP. (BTW, check out this play by former Angels captain Darin Erstad!)

At least I’m able to watch more Angels games live now that I can open MLB.TV in an external player while working!

Plus I’m seriously thinking about whether I can get to Anaheim in 2010 for the All-Star Game. Boy that would be something!!!

So pay me a visit over at the AHP Blog and leave a comment to I get the illusion someone is actually reading my lousy posts.

Go Angels!

And Garland starts with a K. A good omen?

And a walk.

Snap throw from Napoli does not work, neither do several pick-off attempts.

Nice pick by Figgins at second and the double play gets turned beautifully. Score 0-0. Angels half.

GMJ called GA “ice man”. Does that refer to his hitting this season?

I’m away for the most part of the bottom of the inning, but I missed nothing.

The O’s have their first man in scoring position in Huff, who walked to start the innning.

I think I have never seen a curveball that looked so much like a change-up than Garland’s.

Garland “blows” a 82mph fastball by the hitter. Hm.

Huff scores on a single to right, but the hitter gets caught between first and second. 0-1

The Angels go down 1-2-3 against Cabrera. Not a good start when you know you probably are going to need some more runs today with Garland on the mound.

Nothing happens.

Wood pops up. Come on, kid, get going.

Another 1-2-3 inning. Bo-ring!

Reggie Willits beats Cabrera to the bag on a routine grounder. You just have to love that guy.

GMJ goes after the first pitch (to be fair, Cabrera was getting ahead of everyone) and nearly hits a double play ball, but the O’s only get the lead runner.

Another first pitch strike. I thought Cabrera is supposed to be wild?

What GMJ couldn’t do gets done by Kotchman. Double play. Inning over, still 0-1.

Some O’s get good wood on the ball, but so far, Garland has not given up another hit. Lets hope it stays that way.

1-2-3.

Hunter gets on to lead off the inning. Will GA hit the next double play ball?

No, he flies out.

Ouch. A strike-out and throw out on a delayed steal. That was really bad baseball. O’s up next.

Garland pitches to contact and the O’s hit balls right at the fielders. 1-2-3, Angels up.

Wood is on first via HBP and Figgins moves him to second with a walk. The walk - a bunt via patience, only better. (Ok, I have to work on that slogan)

Willits goes after the first pitch (!) and singles to right. Wood scores to tie the game. 1-1

GMJ brings home Figgins via sac fly and Willits goes to second, too. Did I mention I love that Willits guy?

Kotchman flies out, but the Angels are ahead, 2-1.

A double down the line put Melvin Mora in scoring position with one out.

Garland gets a groundout and a long fly out to center and escapes unharmed. Still 2-1 Angels. Lets put up some more runs guys.

GA strikes out for the second out on a pitch that appears inside.

Aybar bunts past the mound and legs it out. I expect a steal attempt now.

No steal, but Napoli singles. Brandon Wood is up.

Wow, a double steal. With two out. With Napoli. No throw.

Wood does not look too comfortable at the plate in my eyes.

Wood strikes out on a predictable outside pitch.

Garland is really using his defense today. Angels up.

Figgins is on to lead off the bottom of the 8th.

Willits bunts him over to second. Why not go with a steal attempt here?

Figgins then steals third on a half-wild pitch thanks to a sub-par throw by the catcher. Now get him home.

GMJ hits a weak ground ball, but Figgins runs on the pitch and slides around the catcher. A perfect throw would probably have nailed him though. GMJ is save at first. 3-1 Angels

Kotchman hits into a double play. On to the 9th.

K-Rod is in and Figgins is out. Aybar goes to second, Wood to short and Quinlan is in at third. Has Figgins injured himself on the slide at homeplate?

Frankie Ks former Payton for the first out.

Aybar makes a great play to get Roberts. Looks like the defense shuffling worked out fine.

A fly ball to center end the game. Angels win 3-1.

Garland did a very good job, going 8 innings, although I’d say luck played a big role here.

Aybar had a nice overall game, looking good in the field, on the bases and at the plate, he is going to stay.

Brandon Wood does not appear to be ready, he should get back to Salt Lake and work on hitting off-speed stuff and laying off balls outside.

All in all, not the most exciting game I have ever watched, but at least it was a win - without Vlad in the line-up, no less.

I hope for more excitement tomorrow.

Kotchman starts a smart double play

Owner Arte Moreno surprised some three dozen Angels fans by inviting them on an impromptu shopping spree in the team’s gift store after Friday night’s home opener.

Merisa Jensen, a 25-year-old USC senior from Lancaster who has attended the last five Angels’ home openers, said she and her sister Rachel were standing outside Angel Stadium about an hour after the game when Moreno and his wife, Carole, came out and began talking with some of the 30 to 40 people still milling about.

“Suddenly he walked over to the Angels store . . . opened the door and let in the whole group of people,” Jensen said.

The souvenir shop was closed, Jensen said, but Moreno told workers to ring up a T-shirt for everyone. Cashiers gave everybody a hat too.

Everybody except Moreno. Jensen said he was handed a lengthy sales receipt, which he signed.

I guess there will be Angels fans lurking around the stadium every game now.

Link: Moreno picks up tab
Hat Tip: Baseball Primer Newsblog

It was a nice one, three long balls, Santana was pretty good, Speier served one up (Am I concerned? A bit.), Frankie making things interesting as usual, but a W in the end. More like this please.

Also, please check out the new At Homeplate Blog, run mostly (but not only) by me at the moment.

Anyway, 3-1, that’s a good start and with the Rangers coming to town, an opportunity to keep this going and gain a few games on the M’s early or at least keep up with them should they beat up the O’s.

Kelvim Escobar’s season, and perhaps even career, may be in jeopardy because of his shoulder issue. A contribution this year is a long shot. Baseball Injury Report’s Rick Wilton guesses it is related to the rotator cuff. By the way, Baseball Injury Report was all over this last night; check it out and consider subscribing.

Lets get going!