SCUSE? Hank Conger joins the opening day roster.

It is being reported around the sports media today that the Los Angeles Angels have announced their 2011 Opening Day Roster. The Halos will open up the season Thrusday night against the Kansas City Royals.  The announcement of Jered Weaver as the opening day pitcher would only be surprising if it surprised anyone at all.  

What did surprise me and pleasantly surprise me is the Return of King Conger to Anaheim.  Like any good blogger, I have a story about Conger from last year.  I have a friend who is a friend to the Conger family and shared with me some plans that fell through.  Last year, Hank Conger along with Mark Trumbo, were scheduled to meat up with Hank's father in Las Vegas to celebrate a successful season in Salt Lake.  With reservations finalized and transportation planned, a phone call changed all that.  Both Conger and Trumbo had to post-pone their post season vacation to report to Anaheim as they were called up when the roster expanded in the Fall.  Needless to say it was a proud moment for the Conger family to see their son playing in the big league, in Anaheim. Conger's contribution in the late fall wasn't anything awe inspiring, but was nice to see a home grown prospect, a local boy, getting his shot.  Conger, was first introduced to the Angels, as their first-round pick in 2005.  In reality, Conger could be expendable when one of the six players starting the season on the disable list return.  Because of his brief time in the Minors, Conger still has plenty of options that make him a likely candidate to be moved back to Salt Lake when Morales or Pinerio return to the line ups.  But in the mean time, I'll be rooting hard for King Conger to give Scioscia another difficult question to make.  Conger joins Bobby Wilson and Jeff Mathis, both have had very respectable Springs.  Last year Scioscia ran the team with three catchers, which was a blessing when Mathis and later Wilson both spent time on the DL, while Napoli filled in at first for Morales.

In closing that photo is an autographed game used Hank Conger bat.  I will always cherish this gift from my friend.  "SCUSE"

We will win with what we got...

I originally designed this for Halos Heaven the best Angel Community site on the Interwebs, prior to the Trade Deadline.  I was against the Angels pursuing anyone but pitching.  Because even last year, towards the trade deadline I wasn't confident that Lackey would be coming back.  And Figgins was the only guy I could see being traded from the Major League Roster.  Looking at this picture though is kind of depressing.  I was hoping Lackey would return to the Halos-- He gone.  I was hoping Vlad would retire an Angel-- He gone.  And of course Figgins and Darren Oliver also left the team, along with Escobar and Arrendondo. 

With all that being said, the Angels I think had to make that move for Kazmir.  And I think that move alone will really make a positive impact for the Angels in 2010.  And it looks like I need to make a new graphic to include the Diamond Aces of; Weaver, Kazmir, Santana, Saunders, and Piniero. 

Today is the day!

And...there it is, the first pitch of Spring Training for the STL Cardinals. 8 months of baseball obsession ahead.

I saw this tweet and just had to echo this sentiment, with the exception of STL Cardinals for the LAA Angels. I think most Angel fans have been counting down the days until our team returns to the field. And today is the day. In a little over an hour and a half, the Angels will take the field for the first time this year against a rival. The game will be played against the White Sox at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Joel Pineiro takes the mound. Does Morales start today? Will Wood prove why he'll get that starting 3B start? Will Aybar fit in that lead off spot. Will we miss Figgins, Lackey, Vlad, or Oliver? This will be step one, in many to return to the ALCS.

Good luck Halos.

Joel Pineiro to the Angels -- My 2 Cents

 I recently e-mailed famed sports radio show host, Roger Lodge and the Sports Lodge on AM830 about the signing of Joel Pineiro.  Here is the original letter.

Hey Roger,

I don't love this deal, but I'm okay with it.  For 2 more million, we probably good have had Ben Sheets who when healthy is a dominant pitcher.  Pineiro certainly makes our pitching staff better, by adding a lot of strike outs and a lot of innings to eat.  It makes Palmer more versatile being able to shift from bullpen and spot starts when players or injured or need a night off.   

Frankly, I would have loved to see the Angels pursue former Yankees Ace, Chien-Ming Wang.  The dude is revered in Taiwan and when healthy has the stuff to be an ace.  He won't be available until May, but that isn't any different with last year waiting on Lackey to be healthy.  His last year in New York his mechanics were off.  But he's been rehab-ing and with Butcher lending his tutelage, we could have had another good arm come May.   And Palmer could have filled the 5th spot until Wang was healthy.

Jay Cal

Roger got a quarter way through the letter when he made a very good point that should be addressed.  I'll paraphrase that what Roger said was something like When Ben Sheets is healthy he is dominant, but when was the last time he had a healthy season, nobody know how his arm will hold up.  A very good point.  Pineiro is healthy.  His strike to walk ratio was the highest of all MLB pitching last year.  He discovered his sinker last year in St. Louis.  And the Angels are a very aggressive defensively, which makes a great fit for the Angels.  Many people will try to make the argument that Pineiro isn't nearly as good as Lackey.  Those people are confused.  Pineiro doesn't have to be better than Lackey.  Pineiro has to be better than Matt Palmer and the bevy of Triple A starters who stepped up to the plate after the passing of Nick Adenhart.  Pineiro is a legitimate #2-#3 on most teams.  He ranks right now as the 5th man on the Angels strong pitching rotation. 

So my thoughts on Pineiro are unchanged.  He's probably the best available option, I don't love this deal.  But it makes sense.