Game Rewind: Angels 10, Mariners 0

When it comes to playing in the AL West, the Angels employed the old adage (with a slight twist), if you can’t beat ’em, then beat ’em into submission.  For all of the troubles the Halos have had against their division rivals, the Angels have now rung up two straight ass-kickings of AL West opponents.

Another clobbering of a division rival?  High fives all around!!!

It took them almost all season long, but the Angels are finally getting the idea that they are going to have to take care of business within the AL West if they hope to win the division yet again.  This little epiphany comes not a moment too soon with 18 of their remaining 32 games against AL West foes.  Now they just need to hold onto the thought and keep the beatdowns coming.

Angelic Accomplishments:

• Attaboy, Juan Rivera!  He’s been struggling at the plate lately but looked locked in tonight and was rewarded with a home run.  Better yet, he saved me the from having to write a tirade about why Morales wasn’t hitting in front of Rivera with Juan slumping.
• Granted, it was basically against Seattle’s Triple-A team, but Trevor Bell looked strong in his bullpen debut.  Still, anybody who can do anything to make the Angel bullpen more stable is A-OK in my book.
• I wanted to give Vladimir Guerrero the Halo Hero for his two-homer, 4-RBI night, but Saundo outdid him.  Nonetheless, Big Bad Vlad absolutely crushed the ball and continues to look like a force to be reckoned with down the stretch for the Angels.

Devilish Details:

• I sure hope that Bobby Wilson isn’t the PTBNL in the Kazmir deal because Jeff Mathis is driving me crazy.  I know Mathis is a defensive wizard and all, but I am pretty sure that he leads to league in striking out on three pitches.  I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when Steve Physioc mentioned that he “really struggles offensively on the road.”  Ummm, the guy is hitting .209 on the year, he struggles everywhere Phys.
• Speaking of struggling catchers, let’s not forget about Mike Napoli.  It looks like it is time for his monthly reminder that it is OK to try and hit the ball to the opposite field every once in awhile.

Halo Hero:

• Joe Saunders

Fantastic work from Joe Saunders who battled through a rough first inning to end up with seven shutout innings of three-hit ball.  Nobody needed this kind of great start better than Joe Saunders and he really stepped up to make it happen.