What a boring game! I turned it off somewhere around the 40th inning…. well maybe it was only the 13th but it seemed like 40. I guess it’s a good thing they did manage to finish the game in 15 innings, and the home plate ump must have made the correct call at home plate in the 15th (unless he was tired and wanted to go home?!) instead of like in the 10th when replays showed Navarro (I’m pretty sure it was Navarro, I was half asleep by then) slid under Martin’s tag and should have had the winning run. And had another bad call not erased Kinsler at 2nd (when Tejada missed the tag) in the same inning, the winning run could have scored one hit earlier.

So instead the game drags on for 5 more dull innings (maybe the 14th and 15th weren’t dull but I don’t know if they were or not because I didn’t see them and neither did most of the fans in attendance who’d already left the stadium a long time ago), forcing the managers to use pitchers they promised not to use and showcasing (not!) the second tier of all-stars rather than the starters (who were for the most part well-selected for a change).

Instead of letting the game drag on into boring extra innings (and past midnight for you poor east-coast fans) when the 2nd team all of a sudden gets the majority of the playing time, how about ending things a bit differently? Take a page from soccer when they inevitably have a 0-0 tie after overtime, only to settle things with a penalty-kick shootout. The All-Star game should do the same thing if the game ends in a tie after 10 innings. Settle things with a home run shootout! Heck, one dumb idea deserves another.

With a fixed 10-innings-max game, the managers can get everyone in the game without having to worry about saving players, and make sure everyone who’s there gets a chance to play, as they deserve. Pitchers can go one inning without the teams having to worry about running out of pitchers. Josh Hamilton can be pulled after 2 at-bats without his replacement getting 10 (or was it only 4?) AB’s.

So for those unusual occasions when the game is tied after 9 innings, give them one inning to score. And if they don’t, the manager selects a 9-man lineup (or the starting lineup is used), a pitcher from among the team (or managers) to throw gopher balls to the hitters, and the leagues alternate hitters. Rules could be similar to the Home Run Derby except only give each guy one out instead of 10, and of course the home runs count for the team not the individual player. You may get to the last guy in the AL with his team down by 3 homers but he could still have a slim chance to tie if he hit 3 homers before making an out. 

Or pitch to three guys from one team (equivalent to an inning) until they each hit a home run or make an “out” (an “out” as in the Derby) and make it sudden death, with the home team getting a chance to tie. One home run from among the three guys in the first “inning” could win it. If it ends in a 0-0 or 1-1 tie, the next group of three guys gets to hit in the next “inning.”

However you set up the rules though, it would be a quicker and less taxing (as well as more exciting and/or dumb) way to end the game than watching a bunch of 2nd-team all-stars who can’t even hit a sac fly (reminds me of an Angel game!). 

I almost got the Friday lineup correct, the only thing I missed was Rivera in LF for Anderson at DH (and maybe that wasn’t such a good idea since Rivera had some trouble with a couple low liners). Batting order was the same though!

Last night’s order would have been difficult to pick with Figgins away until the Boston series. I guessed that Mighty Maicer might get the call at 3B and lead off, but didn’t guess that Matthews and Quinlan would replace Anderson and Kotchman. Another stump-the-fans move, since the latter are hitting well against left-handers and the former aren’t hitting at all lately. So what happens? They both go predictably hitless (although Matthews made a great running catch in the early innings). When Kotchman got on base in the late innings after coming in as a defensive replacement for Quinlan, you could see him talking to A’s first baseman Daric Barton and it looked like Barton was asking him why he hadn’t started the game and Kotchman was shaking his head and saying, “I dunno.” It’s not like he needed a day off after the Angels had a day off in the middle of last week, and the All-Star break coming up.

Yesterday Ervin Santana showed why he deserved to be an All-Star, although I think the Yanks’ Mike Mussina deserved to be on the team too, maybe in place of one of the many closers that were chosen. Earlier in May it looked like the NL might crush the AL this year the way some of the NL players were hitting the ball early on, but they’ve cooled off and the AL hitters have caught up. Looks like another AL win this year, let’s say 6-2.

Scioscia’s lineup today?

Isturis 3b

Kotchman 1b

Guerrero Rf

Hunter Cf

Anderson Lf

Rivera DH

Kendrick 2b

Mathis C

Aybar SS

(Although I still wish he’d put Kendrick 2nd instead of Kotchman – notice how Kotchman’s BA has dropped almost 20 points?) 

Today’s Yahoo Sports preview for the Angels – A’s game is a bit wierd. Talking about last night’s game when the Angels scored a season-high 11 runs, the preview states:

“The big night at the plate came despite former All-Star outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. sitting out for the second straight game. The slumping Matthews, batting .186 (8-for-43) in his last 15 games, was replaced in left field by Garret Anderson. This series could be an ideal time for manager Mike Scioscia to reinsert Matthews in the lineup. Matthews is batting .417 (5-for-12) in three games at Oakland this season, and would be facing a rookie pitcher in the opener.”

This is ridiculous. The Angels scored 11 runs because Matthews wasn’t in the lineup. His replacement, Juan Rivera (not Garret Anderson as stated above), went 3 for 5, scored 2 runs in the middle of Angel rallies after his first two base hits (instead of killing rallies like Matthews frequently did), and would have gotten the game-winning hit with his third single had Rangers outfielder Brandon Boggs not made a great throw to the plate to cut down Torii Hunter in the top of the 9th. 

Why would Manager Mike want to reinsert a guy who isn’t hitting for a guy who’s been hitting light’s out for the past couple games? The only reason I could see is to get another left-handed bat against rookie right-hander Sean Gallagher, recently acquired from the Cubs. But even then I wouldn’t do it. Matthews had half a year, and that’s enough. I like Gary and he’s got a good glove, but with Rivera coming back strong he’s no longer needed, and I hope he stays on the bench for the rest of the year (or the rest of his contract or until/if he’s traded).

Which brings me to the guys who are saying the Angels should make a deal for the Braves’ Mark Texeira. After watching the four Angels-Rangers games in Arlington and the way the ball jumps out of that stadium in the heat, I wouldn’t trust any player who put up big numbers while playing half their games in that stadium (except maybe Ian Kinsler). Case in point: Gary Matthews Jr. I’d rather have Kotchman’s glove than Texeira’s bat anyway.

When is Kendrick going to be moved up to 2nd or 3rd in the batting order? The way he’s crushing the ball, it’s a bit mystifying why he’s hitting in the bottom part of the order. Move him up, maybe get him another AB each game. Heck, even Angels’ broadcaster Rex Hudler said he sees Kendrick hitting 2nd or 3rd eventually (maybe he’s trying to give Manager Mike a hint).

And I wish they’d give up on Kotchman in the 2 spot. Good hitter but he’s not a fast runner, and actually takes away options rather than adding options, when Figgy gets on. Is Casey a threat to bunt the runner over and draw the infield in? I don’t think so. Is he speedy enough to outrun a double-play ball? I don’t think so. If anything, put him third and get Howie (or at least Mighty Maicer) in the 2 hole.

I missed on yesterday’s lineup, but only because Aybar was moved down to the bottom of the order (he’s not as practiced at situational hitting as Isturis is, according to the logic of the day) and everyone else got moved up a notch. I was right about Maicer not being in the lineup, but for the wrong reason. Apparently his hamstring tightened up again. So for today’s lineup prediction, I’m going for a shocker: Manager Mike will use the same lineup two days in a row! Yup. Remember, you saw it here first (or at least you would have if I had any readers):

Figgins 3b

Kotchman 1b

Guerrero Rf

Hunter Cf

Anderson Lf

Rivera DH

Kendrick 2b

Mathis C

Aybar SS

Let’s see, what will the batting order be today? How will Scioscia juggle the lineup to insure the team doesn’t hit? One good thing: reports yesterday said Scioscia and Hatcher had a talk with Gary Matthews about him sitting out for awhile while they give Juan Rivera some looks. It’s about time!!!!!

One other note: since Scioscia is the best manager in baseball and he’s got the team’s best hitter (Howie Kendrick) batting eighth, how come Rangers’ coach Ron Washington doesn’t bat Ian Kinsler eighth? He’s not as smart as Mike Scioscia…

According to Yahoo Sports: “Wednesday’s lineup was the 73rd different one used by Angels manager Mike Scioscia in the first 91 games this season. He has used the same lineup in consecutive games just once since April 7.” No wonder the team doesn’t hit! Duh.

Anyhow, let’s guess what Mike’s lineup will be tonight. Since he almost never ever repeats the same lineup two days in a row ie the above quote, we’re safe changing last night’s lineup. However the only change I think he’ll make is playing Aybar instead of Isturis, since Isturis had 2 hits last night. The only other change might be to put GA in left and DH Rivera. So I’m going with:

Figgins 3B

Kotchman 1B

Aybar SS

Guerrero RF

Hunter CF

Anderson LF

Rivera DH

Kendrick 2B

Mathis C

I don’t like Kotchman hitting 2nd because he’s not a speed guy. Put Isturis/Aybar or better yet Kendrick in the 2 spot to give them more options if Figgy gets on base, like a hit and run or a bunt. I also don’t like Vlad in the 4 spot because if the top 3 don’t get on (as happens all too frequently) Vlad is stuck leading off the 2nd inning. Put Vlad back in the 3 spot, move Kotchman to 4 or 5, and stick with that order. Don’t keep switching guys around after 2 games of not hitting in a new spot, like he did when he tried Howie in the 2 spot after he came back from the DL. Give the guys a chance to settle in. Please. Or the Angels will be looking at the same playoff result as last year. If they even hold off the Rangers and make the playoffs at all.

When Eric Aybar got hit on the hand by a pitch day before yesterday and had to leave the game, it looked like the Angels might be without four infielders for the near future. Without Aybar, Figgins, Kendrick and Isturis how could the Angels hope to compete? This thought must have gone through the minds of every coach and player when Aybar left the field, and they haven’t scored a run since.

Aybar came back yesterday and was able to play because the injury was to his left pinky finger, which didn’t affect his fielding, or hitting when batting right handed because of the way he grips the bat. But the aftereffects of his having to leave the game the day before hadn’t worn off. It didn’t help that Garret Anderson was sitting on the bench after homering three times in the KC series. And now Figgins is on the DL…

None of the replacement infielders has stepped up. Sean Rodriguez has been great in the field but isn’t hitting much. After watching Brandon Wood for a week I’m wondering what all the fuss was about. And Rob Quinlan is adequate as a backup but if he isn’t good enough to play every day at 3rd when Figgins is out, maybe he shouldn’t be on the team.

Third-base coach Deno Ebel may have killed a rally in the 5th when he held up a hard-charging Rodriguez at third after Gary Matthews’ double. I wouldn’t always assume that the throw to the plate from the cutoff guy is going to be on target. If Rodriguez gets thrown out at home the inning is over, but the way the Angels have struggled scoring runs in this series made it imperative that they get something going here. Instead they get nothing when Aybar grounds out.

And as usual they left the bases loaded in the eighth. How many sac flies do the Angels have this year, two? They can’t hit the ball to the outfield with one out and a runner on third.

More after today’s game, which is about to start…

Note to Mike Scioscia: Stop juggling your outfielders already!!!!!!!!! It’s throwing everyone off-sync. Start Anderson, Hunter and Guerrero every game when they’re playing on grass and DH Matthews. Or use Anderson in left at home, and Matthews in left on the road.  

Another note to Scioscia: When Kendrick comes back bat him 2nd and move Matthews down to 7th. Matthews leads the team in RBI’s but his batting average is pathetic.