Wow, it's been a week since my last post? Time sure flies when you're freezing your ass off (from where I'm sitting I can look out our front window and see the thermometer on the bank...it says "-18°". And that's without the wind-chill factor). Actually I've been sidetracked by two other projects, plus there really hasn't been much Angels news to comment on. I never intended to post things on this blog just for the sake of posting something. If I felt I had nothing to comment on then I wouldn't. There are many, and I mean MANY blogs out there that post articles without content (kind of like this one if I keep this up). It's like that guy at a party who can't close their mouth, "Help I'm talking and I can't shut up". I just don't want to be one of those blogs, I want people who come here to read something actually get something to read and not just a re-hash of other blogs/websites/newspapers/etc.
Angel Videos
As I wrote above, I've been working on two other projects. The first is another Angels/Downfall video. If you don't know what I mean, here are some links to previous videos in the series: Angels Front Office Part One, Part Two and Part Three. I had been working on another video last month, but since I'm not as creative as I'd like to be...or apparently most people, I hit a dry spell and left it alone. Over at Halos Heaven, someone made a fanpost regarding the videos and asked who did them and why not make another. So I went back and pieced together another short one. Here it is:
Another Website
The other project I've been working on is another website. I like this blog network that's been set up here at Blogs by Fans, but I have zero freedom to do anything other than post articles. I can't change how the page looks by changing themes, or add links, or even change what color the background is without asking the site administrator if he can do it for me. I've created a couple other sites and found it was fun. I wanted to add more to this site that dealt with Angels history and possibly some minor league stuff, but since I can't, I decided to create a different site. A site that tracks closers and bullpen usage. The site is: Who's The Closer. If you visit this site you'll notice, besides the fact its far from a "professional" site, that it's still being put together. There's content there, but I wanted to get it up right away and add content as I go. The site is mainly targeted to fantasy baseball team owners looking for information on team's bullpen situations and save opportunities. If you're into this sort of thing please give the site a visit and let me know what you think.
Red Sox Signings
You gotta give the Red Sox some props. I know it's hard to do mainly because...well, because they're the Red Sox, but I admire the way they think. Last week they went out and signed four free agents to incentive laden deals. The four players, Rocco Baldelli, John Smoltz, Takashi Saito, and Brad Penny were signed for a total of $12.5M for next year. Obviously, as with all incentive deals, if the player has a good season he gets paid more, but then the team is also getting more. I like this. I like this a lot. Rather than going out and spending $12.5M on one player, the Sox get four. I admit there's a risk that all four won't be on the roster for any great length of time, as all are returning from one sort of injury or another, but if only one player bounces back and has the season they are capabale of when healthy, the gamble pays off. From an Angels point of view, what was wrong with Rocco Baldelli? Suppose, at worst-case, he's only able to play 2 or 3 games a week. For $.5M that's a deal, especially if he's replacing the uninspiring Reggie Willits, or Rob Quinlan. IF Baldelli breaks down shortly after the season starts and is not seen again during the season, are we led to believe there's not at least 50 players playing in triple-A who can't put up the numbers (or better) than Willits or Quinlan are capable of? In a recent interview with the Daily Pilot, Angels' GM Tony Reagins stated the Halos were going with their young players. I agree with that, as long as he's talking about Brandon Wood and Kendry Morales. Willits and Quinlan aren't young players the Angels should be giving time to, they are role players at best who can be easily replaced. Why not use one of their roster spots for a player that has potential to make an impact? One who possibly has some upside? Currently, the Angels need a #5 starter. Sure, they can go with Dustin Moseley, or one of the rookie guys, but why not take a chance on a pitcher who could actually do better than Moseley? A player like Kris Benson or Mark Mulder. Either of these pitchers could be signed cheap, and if healthy, could possibly provide a much larger return than Dustin Moseley. If the reason the Angels stick with players like Willits, Quinlan and Moseley is out of loyalty, I admire that. But at some point the organization needs to be loyal to its fans by putting the best team on the field.
I agree with you, I really like the Boston signings. I especially like the Smoltz signing, he's such a proven gamer, that if he stays healthy, I like our chances with him in the playoffs. I also like the Saito signing, his last 3 seasons were awesome, plus we wouldn't lose any picks if we signed him since the Dodgers didn't offer him arbitration. You can never have enough arms in the bullpen.
Another signing that I was hoping that the Angels would sign is Giambi, he signed a very cheap deal for a 30+ HR guy. 4.5 million? Perhaps he would only give the A's a discount, but perhaps we could have signed him for $6 million? Currently constructed, our lineup is very right-handed and having Giambi in there would have helped. Now I hope they go after Dunn. I don't understand why Reagins said that Dunn is out of the picture. Why?
I'm not one to unreasonably criticize Reagins, the Texeira signing with NY is ok since his heart was bent on going to the East coast. However, when I see Boston making these 4 moves, I don't understand why Reagins can't make just 1. Smoltz wouldn't be a bad 5th starter, at worst he can come thru for us in the playoffs. If he's injured, we have Adenhart as backup. The Tori Hunter signing was stupid, he's way overpaid. We paid a $10 million player for $18 million. His defensive skills are good, but not that much better than Matthews who is untradable.
So far I have to give the front office a D. The Rivera signing is decent, pretty cheap, but I rather have Giambi for pratically the same price. Fuentes, although he's a good pitcher, I rather have a situational left hander instead of as the closer, plus we lost a pick b/c of the signing. A situational lefty comes in anytime there's a lefthander, as a closer, he normally is saved for the 9th inning.
Anyway, just disappointed with the front office lack of good signings.
Your videos are to die for. They are absolutely classic. I have shown them to numerous people and most of them loved it. Our favorite is the second one because the dialogue goes EXACTLY with the character's actions. It's a true modern marvel.
BTW, I am the one who posted that "fanpost", as you guys call them over there, regarding your videos. I was a little disappointment with the latest installment, but I understand you just threw it together quickly. Don't try to be funny, take a deep breath and it will come to you as it did with the first 2.
I'm looking forward to seeing your future works!