FOE FODDER - THE SEATTLE TRAINWRECK

By Adam Dodge - AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

In the 1990s, Prairie View A&M University’s football program set a record by losing eighty games in a row. This fact solicits two thoughts. One: Holy Crap! The nineties were two decades ago. And two: eighty games in a row? That certainly puts the Angels recent seven game skid in perspective.

In the movies, nothing perks the murderous interest of a ravenous killer like half-naked cheerleaders and African Americans. Likewise in baseball, a single loss augments the thirst within the portion of the Angel fan base, which is dying to slaughter the manager, front office and players at the first sign of vulnerability.

Until last night’s dominant performance by staff ace Jered Weaver the Angel organization laid in the street like a decaying carcass while the rats feasted.

With the losing streak now behind them, there is reason for the Angels to be optimistic. At 13-18 and 3.5 games back of the division leading Texas Rangers, the Angels have completed one of their toughest stretches of the season. Of the thirty-one games they’ve played fourteen of them were against the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox (in Fenway). They’ve played just four division games and have not yet faced Rangers. For all intents and purposes, with fifty-three games remaining in the division, the season is just beginning and the Angels should still be considered favorites to win the American League West.

There is not an aspect of this team that should not greatly improve.

Let us turn our attention to a real train wreck in the Seattle Mariners. Arguably no team made a bigger splash this past offseason than the last place Mariners. They signed ex-Angels Chone Figgins to a four year contract, traded for Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley. Figgins is hitting under .200, Lee has made two starts and is winless, and in a shocking surprise to everyone following baseball, Milton Bradley is still Milton Bradley. Apparently crazy is crazy regardless of what city you’re in. The M’s though should be commended for the charity work they’ve agreed to do on Bradley’s behalf. Not a bad deal for Bradley. Pay me $10 million and I’ll give you the honor of fixing me. Maybe Ichiro can show him some cool stretches.

Other Notes

Jamie Moyer tossed a complete game last night at 47 years old. My dad is 52 and needs two red bulls just to mow the lawn.

Alex Gonzalez hit his ninth homerun for the Toronto Blue Jays last night. That is one every fourteen at bats. He’s homering almost three times as often this season as he has in his career. He could be a nice signing for the Blue Jays as defensive shortstops are usually high on contenders’ lists come the trade deadline. If Gonzalez continues to go deep with regularity the Blue Jays may find themselves in a good bargaining position.

Josh Beckett is a dick.