An Angel series win over the Mariners in which winning two out of three wasn’t bad.
Game 1 – Angels 8, Mariners 0
Game 2 – Angels 4, Mariners 3
Game 3 – Mariners 8, Angels 1
Los Angeles Angels of AWESOMENESS
- There is nothing like facing a team even worse than you to cure a little losing streak, eh? After watching this series I don’t know how anyone ever thought the Mariners were going to win the AL West. Those guys can’t hit… at all. Seriously, in each game Seattle started multiple players with batting averages beneath the Mendoza line. Even worse, they had some terrible hitters due up with the game on the line in the second game and they didn’t even have anyone worth using as a pinch-hitter for the likes of Rob Johnson.
- Even though they on scored five runs in the last two games of the series, shelling Felix Hernandez in the first game had to make the Angel hitters take several deep sighs of relief, especially Kendry Morales who made his video game commercial come true by blasting a huge double off of King Felix.
- Speaking of sigh of relief, how about that Hideki Matsui? Godzilla picked a heck of a time to snap out of his slump and win the second game for the Halos. It was made only better by whoever it was in the Angels TV production truck that had “Godzilla” by the Blue Oyster Cult queued up and ready to go at the end of the inning. That was just awesome.
- Maybe the Angels have more depth than I gave them credit for? Ryan Budde certainly impressed in his start by handling Weaver’s gem whilst belting his first career home run. Kevin Fransden caught the shuttle up to Seattle just in time to make a spot start and collect three hits in his Angel debut (though his defense left a little to be desired). Even Mike Ryan (who should’ve been on the roster since Opening Day) proved to Scioscia that it is actually a good idea to have a lefty bat off the bench when he came up with pinch hit that very nearly helped the Halos win on Saturday. If I were Robb Quinlan, who took the collar in his start on Sunday, I’d start updating my resume.
- Ignore the fact that Joe Saunders walked five batters in 5.2 innings. Ignore the fact that Joe Saunders allowed three extra-base hits in 5.2 innings. Instead, let’s just focus on the fact that he kept the Angels in the game by only allowing one earned run. Baby steps, Joe. Baby steps.
Los Angeles Angels of FAIL
- And here it comes. The first signs of Fernando Rodney turning back into a pumpkin. He somehow managed to walk three batters in one inning on Saturday and came away unscathed, but he scared the crap out of me because I know that he goes through long spells where he can’t find the strike zone, just like on Saturday. Maybe it was just a fluke, but I’m going to be very interested to see how he looks in his next outing.
- Hey there, Brian Stokes. How you been doing? Yeah, anyway, I’m going to have to go ahead and ask you to leave. You might throw hard, but you have zero business on a major league roster. Now that the Angels are carrying only 11 pitchers, they can’t continue keeping you around to suck, even when mopping up. I know they need to DFA you, but so be it. Frankly, I doubt anyone else really would claim you.
- I know Sosh needed to rest Hunter (knee) and Matsui (old) on Sunday, but if I ever see a line-up with Rivera hitting fourth, Kendrick hitting fifth and both Reggie Willits and Robb Quinlan playing, I am going to stab myself in the eye.
- Even though the Angels should just be happy to have ended their losing streak, it did hurt a little but to lose out on the sweep, as well as becoming the team that ended up losing to the Mariners to snap their own embarrassing losing streak.
Halo Hero of the Series
Weaver > King Felix. No arguments.
I said before the series started that Weaver needed to do whatever it takes to win his start for the Angels and end the losing streak, including throwing a perfect game. I never thought he would take it so literally and come within eight outs of twirling a no-hitter on Friday. That was the exact kind of start the Angels needed to inject some life into the team and get their mojo going again. In other words, it is the exact kind of start they should have expected from a real ace and there should no longer be any doubt that Weaver is that ace.
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