What To Do On An Off Day

The Angels don't play today so that gives us a chance to comment on a few things.

Should the Angels play more day games? They scored 14 runs yesterday. Even Gary Matthews got in the act with a run-scoring single and bases-loaded walk instead of his usual strikeout or double-play groundout. Jeff Mathis had a monster series, almost single-handedly winning the last two games with his hitting and base-running.

Should Howie Kendrick bat 2nd? Kotchman went 5 for 5 yesterday but Kendrick was 4 for 5 and a lot quicker on the basepaths. See all my previous entries.

Yesterday there was a trade rumor: Rob Quinlan and Brandon Wood for Mark Texeira. I'd make that deal in a second. Quinlan is a decent hitter but doesn't have much range at 3rd or 1st. (A ball went by him the other day at 3rd for a base hit and one of the announcers said, "Quinlan waves at it..." without I think realizing what he had said.) And Brandon Wood has nowhere to play; if something happened to Figgins, Isturis would be at third base. If this was an actual offer from the Braves, don't laugh at it, Tony Reagans (Angel GM), take it!

Some of the Angels' prospects are getting to the point where they either have to be moved to the big club, or traded before they get too old and their value goes away. Where are Wood and Matt Brown and Sean Rodriguez going to go? The Angels already have four starters for three infield positions (Figgins, Kendrick, Isturis, and Aybar). Where is Kendry Morales going to go? He proved he belonged on the big club last year when he hit .300 in September, and there he is toiling away in obscurity in triple-A again. I'd rather have Kendry on the team than Quinlan.

When the Angels let Troy Glaus go a couple of years ago, I told my son they'd never win another World Series without him. I'm sticking to that. 

Unfortunate Name Dept: The Angels played Cleveland in a 3 game series this week. Earlier this year I was at an Angels-Indians day game when 2b Asdrubel Cabrera came to the plate. Hecklers were yelling "Hey ***-Dribble!!!" and collapsing in laughter. I don't know if he knew what it meant but if I were him I'd change my name or go by my middle name. Maybe he could be Ozzie Cabrera. Better than ***-Dribble!

Funny Batting Stance Dept: Does anyone have a funnier batting stance than the Red Sox' Kevin Youkalis? Every time I see him wiggling his butt while batting, I'm the one who collapses in laughter. If I was a pitcher I don't think I could keep my composure enough to pitch to him.