MVN: Most Valuable Network

Baseball's a funny game. A beautiful game.

And the really great thing about it is its length. 162 games. The cream rises to the top. The playoffs, sure, anything can happen. Especially in the first round, which is too short. Should be seven games. Come on, after six months of grinding it out, you can be eliminated in the equivalent of a weekend series? Three lousy games? Ridiculous.

But not in the regular season. In the regular season you have to earn it. A hot streak, a hot pitcher, a missed suicide squeeze won't do it for you. You have to gut it out, and be better than the other teams. Period.

Which is why the Angels are back in first place. Finally. Feels like it's been an entire season already.

And hey, there was a moment there when they were sinking and the Texas Rangers were rolling and things could have turned into 2010. This season could have been lost. Still could be, of course. More than half the season to go. But it doesn't feel like it. It feels like finally, the Angels are starting to play like the team that hit the century mark last year. Actually, I hope they're not that team. I hope they're better. Don't want to see another first round exit (would somebody PLEASE beat the Boston Red Sox in the east!)

They're sill iffy on power, despite the recent surge. Still iffy in middle relief. Still a cold spell away from the annual 'fire Hatcher' chant.

But they're playing better.

Lackey looks like himself again. Vladdy seems ready to get hot. Aybar's playing smart. Rivera is ready. Napoli's swinging at pitches down the middle of the plate instead of taking them for strike three. And Fuentes looks pissed off enough on the mound to be a shut down closer. Hell, it's almost time to get giddy (don't though, that always leads to a losing streak...)

Once concern, though. They're tearing it up against the National League, and as I've stated before, the Angels are the best National League team in the American League.

Will the wins, and confidence, carry over to league play?

This time, I think they will.

Okay, so he's not Manny. Manny's hair seems to have infinite amounts of hits in it (of course, we now know what else is in it.) Not Vlad's. His hair had become an albatross. A liability. An anchor. It had turned a power hitter into David Eckstein. Fooled me. I actually thought it was because Vlad swung at every pitch like he was on deadline. I thought it was because he was so off balance after every swing, he looked like an ice skater about to fall on their you know what. I thought it was because Vlad seemed to think that adjustments were things only for car mechanics. But it was the hair. There were no more hits left in the hair. Who knew? He looked like the old Vladdy. Hair flying, bat wailing. But there was no more pop. No more punch. No more power. Vlad was one... Read more

A win always feels good. It often covers up the problems. But when you've had as many blunders as the Angels have had lately, the problems are worth mentioning, even after a nice 11-6 clubbing of the Padres (sorry Buddy Black, wish it weren't you.) On the plus side, great hitting, both situational and with runners in scoring position. Guys were taking pitches, working the count, going after their pitch. Mostly. Some good aggressive base running. And Palmer was solid, if not spectacular. It shows he never should have been taken out of the rotation. On the 'did they not get the message from Scioscia yesterday' front: Vladdy. What to do about the Vladdy problem. And yes, right now it is a problem. He is the weak link in the line-up. He continues to defy logic by swinging at pitches so far off the plate they were probably meant to... Read more

Hey, Angel fans, Mark from Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove asked me to do some more Q&A on the Angels for FBHS. I wanted to share the questions and my answers (BAB) with you. You can check out Mark's site at:http://fantasybaseballhotstove.blogspot.com/2009/06/leave-chip-on-ervin-magic-santanas.htmlFBHS: Magic Santana looked terrific last time out. Ok he didn't "look" terrific because I didn't see the game, but I'm hoping you did. Did you notice anything different compared to the two outings he had before the most recent start?BAB: One thing that has become clear about Ervin 'don't get too happy' Santana - he needs to be pushed to succeed. When everyone is praising him and there is a sense that he is destined for greatness simply by showing up on the mound, he smiles and laughs... and loses. Not enough drive, not enough focus. When he is demoted to the minors and people question his ability, he gets... Read more

Vladimir Guerrero. Probably no more needs to be said. All one hsa to do is watch Vladdy up there flailing away at any pitch this side of the universe, and it's obvious. Vladdy goes up to the plate with one thing in mind: see the ball, hit the ball. Which is great in T-ball. But major league pitchers have a funny habit of throwing it where they want it - not where you do. Friday's game, June 8. A great win - that almost got away due to a wasted opportunity in the 8th inning. You know the moment. First and third, one out, the man Vladdy at the plate. Perfect situation. Star hitter, game on the line. This is what Vladdy is paid those millions for. First pitch, up and in, no chance to hit it, the perfect chance to go up in the count, except for one problem... Vladdy... Read more

A few quick thoughts after a two and four homestand. A walk never felt so good. Kudos to Rivera for understanding the situation and not trying to be a hero. It just goes to show how a little patience can pay off big time (hello, Vladdy?)Santana to the bullpen until he finds himself, Palmer stays in the rotation. Palmer looked great his last start (thanks for nothing, Fuentes.) Moving the ball on both sides of the plate, changing speeds, working it. Escobar in the rotation, but at the ready to take over the closer role. Fuentes is okay, but Escobar is lights out. He'd put that bullpen back in order in a hurry. Problem is, with Santana looking like 2007, they need Escobar back in the rotation, too.Keep Kendrick as far away from Vladdy in the line-up as possible. Kendrick gets in his own head faster than a psychiatrist. He's... Read more

Back on track. That's what it feels like. Sure, they lose 1-0. But then Saunders does what we knew he would do after his last outing, and throws smoke and mirrors. Shields starts to protect leads again. And Fuentes does what he got signed to do.In other words, we're primed for another October disappointment.Sorry to be the buzz kill. No one is happier than me that the Angels are playing better. The question is, better than what? Better than earlier in the season? Yes. Better than last year? Not even close. And we know how last year ended up.The Angels play like the only National league team in the American league - which would be great if they were in the National League. But this is Earl Weaver's league. This the Boston Red Sox's league. This is the league of the three-run homer. The Angels require three hits to score... Read more

Well, I'm glad that's over. Let's just forget the whole thing ever happened. Not the Nick Adenhart tragedy, of course. No one can forget that, especially not his family. But the baseball season up to this point. Forgettable. And finished. The season starts here. What has turned things around? Why are the Angels playing so much better? I have a theory, although no one's going to like it. I don't even like it. But I have to say it. The return of Oliver? Nope, although it's helped. Palmer? No, starting pitching hasn't been the problem. Vlade getting hurt. That's right. I'm saying Vlade's injury has made the team better. Before you boo me out of the building, just hear me out. I love Vlade. He's great. Special. A good guy. Clean. Never makes trouble. Sets the tone for the team.And that's the problem. Vlade's a free swinger, and when he's... Read more

Okay, that was ugly. For those of you who suffered through it - and even for those of you who didn't - the Angels bullpen just disintegrated. Again. Blew a game. Again. Broke the hearts of Angel fans everywhere. Again. 10-9 to the Yankees. A 9-4 lead in the 8th. Are you kidding me? The Angels used to torture the Yankees, not get tortured by them. Teams without bullpens are teams without championshiops. We were spoiled for so many years. From Percy to K-Rod, we expected perfection and nearly got it. Now we've got Fuentes. And it stinks. Even worse are the guys in front of Fuentes. Other teams probably start popping champagne when the Angels go to their pen. This season is sinking faster than an Escobar slider. Quite frankly, Scioscia is not a guy who can manage without a strong bullpen. Not many can. But he especially is... Read more

Okay, that was ugly. For those of you who suffered through it - and even for those of you who didn't - the Angels bullpen just disintegrated. Again. Blew a game. Again. Broke the hearts of Angel fans everywhere. Again. 10-9 to the Yankees. A 9-4 lead in the 8th. Are you kidding me? The Angels used to torture the Yankees, not get tortured by them. Teams without bullpens are teams without championshiops. We were spoiled for so many years. From Percy to K-Rod, we expected perfection and nearly got it. Now we've got Fuentes. And it stinks. Even worse are the guys in front of Fuentes. Other teams probably start popping champagne when the Angels go to their pen. This season is sinking faster than an Escobar slider. Quite frankly, Scioscia is not a guy who can manage without a strong bullpen. Not many can. But he especially is... Read more

Hey, Angel fans, thought I'd pass this along for those of you who might be interested. Mark at http://fantasybaseballhotstove.blogspot.com/2009/04/fresh-out-of-oven-la-angels.html recently asked me some interesting questions about the Angels. His questions and my responses (BAB) are below.Thursday, April 23, 2009Fresh Out of the Oven: LA AngelsTough season so far for the Angels on the field, but even tougher off the field. The team is still grieving as Steve from the Big A Baseballblog discusses.FBHS: In one of your recent posts you mentioned a Torii Hunter quote that referenced how the Angels are clearly still grieving and it takes it's toll on the field. Obviously you can't put yourself in the minds of the players and the team, but looking at what they are saying in the papers and how they are conducting themselves on the field have you noticed a change from the Red Sox series to the Tigers series in their... Read more