California Angels

I am continuing my RBI baseball posts after a little bit of a break. That last post was so large in scope that I had to take a whole week off to recover. However before I delve into the Angels RBI prowress, I would like to talk a little bit about the Tigers game I went to today against the Yankees. Ive been to three Tigers games so far this year and they have all been horrible. Firstly I have seen Nate Robertson pitch in all three games that I have attended, a feat that even Steve Sparks didnt achieve, when their was a run in which it seemed like every game I went to for three years Steve Sparks pitched.. Now I have nothing against Robertson or his goggles but it would be nice to have a little variety when I go to the games. Secondly the Tigers have lost all three games Ive been too, which makes me feel personally responsible for their current position of being three games under .500. And lastly not only have they lost the games but theyve lost quickly, with none of the three games lasting over 2 and a half hours. However tomorrow should be an exciting day with the MLB debut of Justin Verlander. Now on to the Angels, and Ill try to keep this one shorter than the last post.

Lineup:

1. Gary Pettis. I love Gary Pettis because he was such a thin guy and as I mentioned in an earlier post us tall skinny guys have to support one another, and Gary Pettis checked in at 6'1 and 165 which is about an inch shorter and twenty pounds heavier than me, so he qualifys. He also had the appearance of a skinny crackhead who looked like he had straggled in off the streets outside old Tiger, a look that someone like Tim Raines always hoped for but could only dream about. Pettis is also the most exciting defensive outfielder that I can barely remember for the Tigers and won a couple of gold gloves with them. The Tigers were also able to steal him from the Angels, as they traded Dan Petry who gave them to horrendous seasons before re-signing with the Tigers and later becoming a serviceable color man for the always wildly entertaining and sorely missed UPN 50 Tigers broadcasts. Hes good for his speed on RBI especially if you hit grounders to the left side of the infield he can usually beat them out and remain disruptive on the basepaths.

ER: 6.5/10

2. Doug DeCinces. I dont know much about DeCinces in real life other than the fact he was overwhelmed with the task of taking Brooks Robinson's third baseman job for the Orioles in the mid 70's. This game came out towards the end of his playing career, but he is still a dangerous power hitter and servicable although he is a little out of place batting second it seems.

ER: 7/10

3. Wally Joyner: Joyner is a great lefthanded power bat on the game and owner of a career I never quite understood, because his best seasons were his first two and he never really reached the power numbers he enjoyed during those first two years for the remainder of his career. For someone who played there whole career outside of Detroit I have quite a few favorite Wally World Memories. 1) He broke up Walt Terrell's no hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth or so my dads told me. 2) He had a buck knife thrown at him at Yankee Stadium which hit him handle end first and landed sticking straight into the ground. 3) He was a free agent disaster for the Royals for about 3 years when making 4 million dollars was still a big deal. and 4) on the night of my prom which me and my friends skipped to go to a Tigers Angels game we heckled Wally mercilessly for all 12 innings of the game, like a day or two before he quit. So much for a victory lap type season, I like to think I played a direct role in his demise.

ER 8.5/10

4. Reggie Jackson. I think Reggie is the most powerful hitter in the game and a constant home run, extra base hit threat. However his career pales in comparison to hall of famer who doubled Jacksons numbers, Steve Chilcott who was wisely selected No.1 over all by the Mets ahead of Reggie in the 1967 draft. Wait Im mistaken Chilcott never made it to the majors and flamed out after six minor league seasons. Sorry Mets fans. I think I would have liked Reggie in his hayday because he seemed like a total prick, and for some reason I like athletes who are pricks, probably for the same reasons that all girls do, which explains all my friday/saturday night posts. but enough of that.

ER 9/10

5. Brian Downing. This guy is OK, hes got decent power but hes slow as hell. He played for the Angels forever but always had a tough postseason as he would change his stance so that he batted with both hands around his neck, which proved ineffective.

ER 5/10

6. Bobby Grich. I remember nothing of this guy as he had played his full carrer and retired by the time I was 3. I never play with him in RBI either because of Anaheims deep bench. I know his name gets tossed around as one of the games most underatted players and had a monster season as a second baseman for the Angels in 1979, as well as being an excellent fielder. Apparently was also a hero of Clint Barmes, when Grich wrenched his back carrying an air conditioner up a flight of stairs.

ER N/A

7. Dick Schoefield. Schofield had a long and unremarkable career, and never plays in RBI because of the bench depth. Schofield was the third overall pick in the 1981 draft and was a disaster of Cade Gaspar proportions.

ER N/A

8. Bob Boone. He also gets taken out. I detest the Boones for some reason. I never liked Brett or Aaron and therefor dont like the man who spawned them. So hes out. It also seems like I read somewhere that Bob Boone was a prick, and he was a crappy manager. Also he was almost traded to the Tigers in the mid 70's after a drunken agreement between the Tiger's and Phillies GM's, which is how most trades were handled in the Randy Smitth era 20 years later.

ER N/A
Bench.

Rick Burleson: Another Angel who was before my time I usually sub him for Boone. Hes a consistent hitter with decent speed, second fastest next to Pettis. In real life had a series of rotator cuff injuries which affected his career.

ER 6/10

George Hendrick: Solid power of the bench, whom I usually sub in for Schofield. Hendrick was involved in a trade that sent the incomporable John Tudor to the Cardinals from the Pirates and allowed him to be on RBI. He was another Angel whose career was essentially finished before I can remember.

ER 6.5/10

Rob Wilfong: His career was essentially over too by 1988 and I dont remember him. Never really used in RBI either.

ER N/A

Ruppert Jones: A member of the 84 Tigers. Also the first person selected by the Mariners in the expansion draft a title he would later share with the distinguishable Nigel Wilson and Dave Nied. I usually sub him in for Grich and hes pretty good. Hits for decent power and average on the game.

ER 7/10

Pitching: Mike Witt: Witts ok on this game. He doesnt throw all that fast and he doesnt have a lot of movement but hes good for four innings or so to start the game. He pitched a perfect game in reality, and was a bust for the Yankees who traded Dave Winfield to get him. He was also over 10 feet tall and weighed 126 punds.

ER 6/10

Don Sutton: No matter what anyone says this guy is the worst hall of famer ever. Based strictly on the 1989 Upper Deck cards where he was still rocking the ghastly late 80's perm. Jesus Christ who honestly thinks perms are good looking on guys, or on anyone. Also I hate him on the Braves telecasts. Hes good on the game though as hes got some pretty wicked movement, and decent speed, it also seems like I can get a good 5 to six innings out of him on a regular basis.

ER. 7.5/10

Doug Corbett. This guy sucks, no speed, no movement avoid at all costs.

ER. 1/10

Donnie Moore. I dont like to get sentimental but this guy was a sad case. It feels creepy bringing him into a game, it would be equivalent to playing Tecmo Bowl with Ray Finkle on the team, I mean if Finkle ever really existed. Im sure many of you know the story, well not many because not many people read this blog. But he gave up the game ALCS home run to Dave Henderson which lost the series. Felt personally responsible sending his career into a tail spin. Was out of baseball in a couple of years feared being rememberd only for surrendering Hendus homer so he became remembered for something even worse. Battled depression and then killed himself and his wife in front of their three children. I blame Red Sox fans for his death, because they suck and its another reason to hate them, no matter how absurd.

ER 7/10