Interview with Eric Byrnes - MLB Network's 30 Clubs/30 Days Covers The LA Angels

By Brian Waller,  AngelsWin.com Columnist -- 

This is the time of year all baseball fans look forward to. The weather is warming up, spring training games have started and each of us, no matter which team we support, have at least a glimmer of hope that this could be the season our favorite ballclub makes the post season. As fans look forward to the upcoming season, managers and coaches sift through dozens and dozens of players to put together their opening-day 25-man roster. So many different aspects go in to building a contending ballclub; the rotation, offense, bench, bullpen, minor league systems, etc. With so much information to follow from each team it may get a little overwhelming for the common fan. Fortunately, the MLB Network has an annual series called “30 Clubs / 30 Days”, the one stop shop for baseball fans wanting to scope out the competition or learn more about their team going into the season.

AngelsWin.com was provided an opportunity to discuss the upcoming 2013 season with MLB Network analyst Eric Byrnes. Many of you will remember Byrnes from his playing days with the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Seattle Mariners. Byrnes has hung up the cleats for a position on MLB Network where he shares his baseball expertise and experience with viewers around the country.

Waller: First and foremost, on behalf of AngelsWin.com I just wanted to thank you for your time today, I know you have been roaming all over the Cactus League for the 30 Clubs / 30 Days feature on the MLB Network.

Byrnes: It’s my pleasure Brian. It has been a little crazy with visiting each club in the Cactus League; I have so many ERA’s, WHIPS, and WAR stats floating around in my head its crazy. It’s been enjoyable though catching up with the teams.

Waller: Now, jumping right into it, what are your thoughts on the moves the Angels made this past offseason, was it enough to shift the balance in the AL West?

Byrnes: You know, there is a lot of talent in the AL West. The A’s are for real and aren’t going anywhere. The Rangers still have the talent to compete and win the division so they are in the mix as well. The Angels definitely improved their offense. The addition of Hamilton gives them, in my opinion, potentially the best offense in baseball however; their rotation took a hit in the offseason and has some question marks.

Waller: Speaking of the A’s, do you feel they have improved going into 2013?

Byrnes: Actually yeah. The A’s have great depth and I really think they will again compete in 2013. 

Waller: You bring up the rotation; can you give me your thoughts on the additions the Angels made to their pitching staff in the offseason?

Byrnes: Tommy Hanson, Joe Blanton and Vargas will be interesting to watch this season.  Blanton will eat innings and give the Angels anywhere from 190-200 innings. Vargas will eat up some innings as well; it will be interesting to see how he pitches this season away from Safeco Field. Hanson will be a wild card in my opinion. If he can stay healthy he is capable of putting up solid numbers. I think if two out of three of those pitchers perform well then it will result in a successful season for the Angels. On the other hand, if two out of those three pitchers falter for the Angels it will hurt their chances in the AL West.

The addition of Madsen and Burnett should really help the bullpen out; the Angels blew quite a few saves last season and I don’t think that happens again this year. The improved bullpen is definitely a positive going into the season.

Waller: What are your thoughts on Mike Trout; will there be a drop off from 2012?

Byrnes: Mike Trout is a special player. There may be a drop off because the numbers he put up last year were just crazy. I think he will have another really good season. Again, this Angels offense has the potential to be the best in baseball. They will be a fun team to watch this season.

Waller: Many fans remember you from your playing days. You played with the A’s for six seasons and faced the Angels numerous times through the years; can you share some of your experiences facing the Halos?

Byrnes: You know it’s funny; the Big A is a great place to play baseball. The fans are tremendous and get really into the games. In my opinion Angel Stadium can be as noisy as Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium. I always enjoyed playing in Anaheim because I grew up in the area. It would be great to have family and friends from the area come to the game to watch me play. It was also great to play against Troy Glaus who I played with at UCLA. We would catch up on the field and then go grab a bite and a few drinks after the game. I have a lot of good memories playing at the Big A.

Waller: Who was the toughest Angels pitcher you faced?

Byrnes: Oh man, no doubt about it…K-Rod. Frankie Rodriguez was always tough to hit. He had a good fastball and a hard, heavy curve ball. It was always tough facing him; his stuff was just plain nasty.

Waller: its common knowledge that good natured “ribbing” or jokes are played amongst players during the course of the season; thinking back to your playing days, what would you say was the best prank you were involved in?

Byrnes: Wow, good question. There are always the typical pranks like “hot foot” and stuff like that but I think the best happened when I played with the A’s. I won’t use the player’s name but there was a time we got a guy pretty good with an Icy/Hot type burning cream. In the past people have put it in someone’s jock strap but this time the cream was put in someone’s suit for the plane ride home. Needless to say, it was a long trip back home for the prank victim. No harm was done and we all had a good laugh out of it. Gags and pranks like that really help break up the monotony of traveling and the long season and help build team chemistry. 

Waller: Eric, I know you are getting ready to cover another Cactus League team  for 30 Clubs / 30 Days, on behalf of AngelsWin.com I wanted to thank you for your time today. We really appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us on the upcoming season.

Byrnes: No problem at all Brian, it was my pleasure. It will be a fun season and the Angels are going to be an exciting team to watch. I plan on following AngelsWin.com on Twitter and maybe catching up down the road.

Waller: Sounds great Eric thanks again.

30 Clubs / 30 days will roll into Tempe, Arizona THIS COMING FRIDAY (March 1st). The content covering the Halos will air on MLB Tonight Live at 10:00 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Pacific.

Fan Discussion Here

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Eddie Guardado Talks Little League Baseball with AngelsWin.com

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -- 

It takes a lot to make a successful Little League baseball season. It starts with the dedication from the people who organize the league, includes all the hard work from the coaches who run the teams, and ends with all the hours donated by the parents who make it all happen (especially the team moms!). It's a labor of love, not only for the game, but for our children. In the end, whether your child makes it into the Major Leagues or not, it's worth it because Little League teaches so many valuable life lessons.

In addition to all the above, a Little League division could not survive without financial donors. There are always costs that need to be covered and improvements that need to be made.

One of my league’s supporters is former Major Leaguer Eddie Guardado. A 17-year veteran, he made his living off of the skills he started in Little League. On the Opening Day of the season, I spoke with him about the importance of Little League baseball and some of the changes in the league since I played so many years ago. Listening to Eddie, I heard a story that both inspired and thrilled me about the connection he made with his coach so many years ago.

After interviewing Eddie, he turned the tables on me and asked me about my son and how he did on Opening Day. I showed him the video I got of my son getting his first-ever hit, a double, and RBI. And, as only two fathers could do, we reveled in the moment.

Over the course of this season, I will be spending my time cleaning up the fields, working the snack shack, fundraising and helping with all the practices. Knowing that a former Major Leaguer such as Eddie Guardado is not only doing all of the same, but also out there teaching the kids and financially supporting the league makes my time that much easier.

Click below to watch our interview with Eddie Guardado.

Eddie Guardado Talks with AngelsWin.com on Opening Day of Little League 2013 from AngelsWin.com on Vimeo.

To help support the Eddie Guardado Foundation, please click here: ww.eddieguardadofoundation.org

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AngelsWin.com's 2013 Podcast Debut

The Los Angeles Angels 2013 Spring Training season is underway, and now so is the 2013 AngelsWin.com Internet Podcast season!

Listen in as hosts Adam Dodge and Geoff Stoddart welcome AngelsWin.com Founder, Chuck Richter, to discuss …

* The new AngelsWin.com site
* The 2013 AngelsWin Spring Training Fanfest
* Their thoughts on the 2013 Los Angels Angels team

AngelsWin.com … Unraveling Angels Baseball, One Thread (and Podcast) at a Time!

Click below to listen to our first podcast of the 2013 season! 

 

Listen to internet radio with AngelsWin on Blog Talk Radio

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Last Call for Spring Training Fanfest Ticket Purchases

 

By Geoff Stoddart, AngelsWin.com Director of Social Media --

The AngelsWin.com Spring Training Fanfest is now less than 3 weeks away!  This year’s event is going to be absolutely amazing! Our scheduled* special guest include Angels owner Arte Moreno, GM Jerry Dipoto, TV announcer Victor Rojas, Tim Mead, Kole Calhoun, Randal Grichuk, Travis Witherspoon and more. You won’t want to miss it!

The final deadline for purchasing event tickets is this Friday, March 1, 2013. The rate is now $40 for adults and $20 for children.  Event tickets include adult dinner options of Blackened Fish Tacos or Chicken Enchiladas complete with salad and desert (vegetarian meals on request).  The children’s meal is chicken tenders, salad and dessert.

To reserve a seat for this event, please send payments via PayPal to: angelswinevents@gmail.com.

Still haven’t booked a hotel for the weekend? We would like to remind everyone that we have secured a special guest room rate at the Fiesta Resort of $129.00 plus tax for AngelsWin.com Fanfest attendees.  Each individual guest must make their own reservations by calling our toll-free number 800-528-6481 by Friday, March 1, 2013.  When calling to make your reservation, you must identify yourself as part of the AngelsWin.com Group.  All reservations must be guaranteed and accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. The discounted rate is subject to availability.

Finally, don't forget to order your Spring Training Fanfest gear soon so you have it in time for Fanfest weekend!  All Fanfest gear can be purchased here: http://www.cafepress.com/angelswin/9749569

This is the last call … don’t miss out!


*Attendance by special guests is subject to change based upon potential last minute conflicts in their personal or professional schedules

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Mark Langston Talks About the Opening Day of Little League

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer --

One of the things that I love most about baseball is that it constantly teaches me something new every day. As a child, it taught me how to play hard and fair play. As a teenager, it taught me how to work hard to achieve greatness. As a young adult, it taught me to maintain my faith in my team through challenges and triumphs.

Now, as a father, I am learning a whole new set of lessons as I watch the game through my son's eyes. This is his first year of Little League, and I could not be more proud.

One of the things that I truly enjoy as a fan is watching current and former Major Leaguers supporting the sport and inspiring the next generation of players. I remember rooting for Mark Langston when the Angels signed him as a free agent, and I was a fan in the stadium when he pitched a combined no-hitter with Mike Witt. So, when Mark Langston was announced as the guest speaker for the Opening Day ceremonies for the Tustin Eastern Little League, I was thrilled! Not only was he someone who could inspire my son, he could inspire me.

After listening to Mark give some words of advice to all the children present, and telling some good stories to embellish his message, I caught up with Mark for a quick interview. Click here to listen to Mark talk about the importance of Little League and what he will be doing with the Angels in the 2013 season.

Angels Broadcaster Mark Langston Interviews with AngelsWin.com from AngelsWin.com on Vimeo.

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Spring Training Rituals

By Ellen Bell, AngrelsWin.com Columnist --

I’m a creature of habit. I like traditions and rituals and history. Maybe that’s why I’m a baseball fan.

So, when I make my annual trip to Tempe for Spring Training, I look for the familiar faces and places that remind me that even in a world full of constant change, some things still stay the same. There are rituals and reminders that welcome me back every year, letting me know that another season of Angels baseball is about to begin.

Like saying hello to Casey, the poolside bartender at The Buttes, who makes a mean post-game margarita even if it’s 50 degrees and cloudy.

There’s Joe, Bill and George, my super senior buddies on the Tempe Diablo Stadium crew who greet me with the hug and smile reserved for old friends. Trust me. If you’ve never seen George dressed as a leprechaun during the St. Patty’s Day game you haven’t lived.

Then there’s Mark the Beer Guy, the iconic, 6’8” vendor whose booming, “Cold Beer Here!” can bring tears to my eyes. Incidentally, if you tip Mark, he’ll give you his latest “Mark the Beer Guy” trading card as a souvenir. According to his stats, he pours right.

But I really know that spring has sprung when I’m sitting in the stands at about 9:30 in the morning, feet up and coffee in hand, watching the Angels run out onto the grass for the first time. 40 years may have passed since I saw my first ballgame, but the sight of players hitting the field always makes my stomach flip. It’s something that never changes. And it never gets old.

What are your Spring Training Rituals? What experience makes you say, “baseball is back”?

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2013: Questions Answered, and Questions Raised

By Christian Ilten, AngelsWin.com Contributor --

The date is December 8th, 2011. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who had recently completed the 50th Year in Franchise History decided that the 2 year reign of the Texas Rangers would be halted, as owner Arte Moreno went all in, with the aid of GM Jerry Dipoto, signing a 10 year contract with slugger Albert Pujols, along with the premier pitcher of the 2011-2012 offseason, Left Handed Pitcher CJ Wilson. 2 days later, the new Southern California Superstars are introduced to around 4,200 fans at a public press conference to introduce the players to the media in front of Angel Stadium... The Angels were finally going to get back to the post season with a bolstered lineup, and what looked to be one of the best rotations in baseball, starting with ace Jered Weaver, continuing on with Wilson, Santana, Haren, and either Jerome Williams or Garret Richards would hold the 5 spot... and then... the 2012 season happened...

The Angels tied their worst club start at 6-14. Unlike the 2002 World Series Championship team though, this time, the Angels were expected to win. 20 games into the season, the Angels decided that a change needed to be made. So, with fans unhappy about the losing ways, the Halos decided to part ways with OF Bobby Abreu, and decided that it was time to bring up Mike Trout. Trout, the eventual Rookie of the Year, and the MVP runner up, would carry the team to winning ways once again, but, at the end of the year, the Angels could not grasp even the 2nd Wild Card spot, watching Oakland win the West for the first time since 2006, and the Rangers returning to the post season as well.

In the offseason, the Angels' Owner and General Manager pulled yet another "sneaky" move, signing  Josh Hamilton, swiping him away from the rival Texas Rangers. Along with a few other moves, after losing Zack Greinke, who the Angels acquired mid-season, to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, the Angels added Tommy Hanson, Jason Vargas, and Joe Blanton to fill in the 3 empty spaces in the rotation. In addition, the Angels helped the problems in the bullpen signing former Washington National Sean Burnett, and Ryan Madson, former closer who excelled years ago, but Tommy John Surgery kept him on the sidelines last year.  Madson will begin this season on the Disabled List.

Many questions were answered... yet many questions still lie ahead of the franchise. The team has once again been touted as one of the favorites to make it to the Fall Classic, but, one of the greatest questions is how the rotation will work beyond ace Jered Weaver. CJ Wilson is coming off of elbow surgery, while Hanson will pitch in the AL for the first time, Vargas has yet to proven he can stay consistent, and Joe Blanton's struggles over the past years are not reassuring either. The bullpen seemed to be locked down, that is until news of Madson's delay of rehab told the team that the he would not be ready for opening day in April.

The Angels, though these questions and many more encircle the team, once again look to win the division title for the first time since 2009. With a lineup that features Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, and while sometimes forgotten, the still prominent Mark Trumbo, the Angels will once again look to prove that they are the best team in baseball.

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We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat!

By Geoff Stoddart, AngelsWin.com Director of Social Media --

“In the beginning Chuck created AngelsWin.com. And the site was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the message board.”

We’ve come a long way since the humble genesis of AngelsWin.com. (See what I did there?) What started out as just an inkling has turned into the “Internet Home of Angel Fans!”

Technology has also come a long way since the initial launch of our website. Once accessed primarily via large desktop computers, members now want to engage with us via laptops, smartphones and tablets. Technology has changed the way people communicate and engage over the internet, and it’s clear we need to change too. But our old website’s architecture was not up to the challenge, even though we were. So the message was clear … “We’re gonna need a bigger boat!”

With all of this as a backdrop, we’re very excited to announce the launch of the NEW AngelsWin.com! Completely redesigned and rebuilt, the new AngelsWin.com will provide members with a user experience never before possible!

We’ve been kicking the tires on the new site in the background for about 3 weeks and the list of features and functionality seems almost endless. Every time we think we’ve got our arms around it all, someone discovers some other cool new thing. You’re going to love it! Especially the ShoutBox!

While the feature list is way too long to list out, I’ll hit on three of the more important ones: Mobility, Social and Customization.

Mobility
The world has gone mobile. Smartphones and tablets are the new face of technology. When building the new AngelsWin.com, mobility was our main driving force. We wanted our members to be able to access and interact with the site anywhere, on any device. The new AngelsWin.com has a built-in mobile skin that enables users of any mobile device to access our community on the go. Mobile devices are automatically detected so users see the optimum display of the site.

Social
We live in the age of social media. Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Reddit … they’re the public square of the 21st century. The new AngelsWin.com with allow users the opportunity to link their social media accounts with their AngelsWin account. (Note: you can turn this feature on or off as you see fit.)

Want to let the people in your social media circle know about a thread discussion on AngelsWin.com? Simply check a box on the thread and the topic is added to Facebook and/or Twitter immediately. Oh yeah, you can also LIKE a post or a thread!

Customization
I almost don’t even know where to start with this one. There are so many things you can customize in the new site, it’s kind of ridiculous. But ridiculous in the coolest way ever!

Do you like that with Facebook and Twitter you’re able to customize the way your page looks with custom colors, backgrounds and pictures? Yeah … we like that too, so we made that feature available on your AngelsWin.com profile page!

There are many more exciting new things about the site we’ll be rolling out in the weeks and months to come. The new architecture is going to allow us to provide you with the user experience Angel fans deserve and expect. Look for another pre-launch announcement to better equip you for the changes soon.

The new AngelsWin.com will be launched on or before February 25th. We can’t wait for you to see it, engage with it and tell your friends and family about it! It’s not just cool … it’s #Troutstanding!

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Thanks Mark

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer --

Baseball and autographs: the two go hand in hand. There’s something about being a kid, meeting a real player, and getting his autograph that is part of the national culture. It’s one of the things that all kids do, and it’s part of what makes baseball great.

Last Saturday was the “Field Day” for my son’s Little League team. This was my first experience with Little League, so I’m learning as I go. As a dad, I couldn’t be more proud of my son or glad to be a part of Little League. It’s a good organization, and watching my son’s baseball skills grow has been a pure joy.

“Field Day,” though, wasn’t a walk in the park. Little League survives on parents donating their time, sweat and resources. “Field Day” meant moms and dads donating thousands of hours to overhaul and restore the baseball fields into playable condition. My job was to rehab one of the Single-A bullpens, building up the mound, home plate, removing the weeds, and getting it into usable condition. By the end, my arms were sore.

There was one person there who didn’t have to be there who nevertheless still was: Mark Trumbo. He came out to sign autographs and meet the kids. He spent over an hour signing hundreds of baseballs, gloves, hats, shirts and everything else you could imagine.

I tried to imagine why Mark would be there. I could think of plenty of arguments against it, mostly centered around being his last weekend of freedom—in one week he’d be off to Spring Training and another 8 months of baseball. As far as I knew Mark didn’t grow up playing on those fields, so, I doubted that he had a personal connection to the area.  Sure, he might have been doing it as a favor to someone or as part of a sponsor’s promotion, but, I got the impression that he was there for another reason—inspiring the next generation of players.

When my son was very little, I got him “Elmo ‘n Daddy” a book about Elmo and his dad going to baseball game. In the story, a player, Lanky Hank, hits an unusual homerun to win the game for his team. One night, as I was reading that book to my son, we had the Angels game on in the background. Mark Trumbo hit a homerun to give the Angels the lead. From that point on, Mark Trumbo has been the hero to my son, like Lanky Hank was in the story.

As my son and I waited in line to meet Trumbo, my son got nervous. He had never asked a person for an autograph and wasn’t sure what to do. He was a little flustered and started to squirm (like most 6-year olds do). He tightly gripped the new baseball I bought him to get the autograph. It was funny to watch him getting awe struck; He started asking me all sorts of questions like “Does he have a pen to sign the ball?”, “ What if it runs out?” and “How does he know where to sign it?” I answered all of his questions as best I could, and enjoyed the moment.

Finally, we got up to meet Mark. He was polite and cordial. He asked if we were all heading out to Spring Training for the AngelsWin Fanfest again, and I told him all about our plans for March 16th. He signed my son’s baseball and took a photo with him. My son was thrilled!

When we got him, my son put his first autograph in a display case I bought him to preserve it forever. He ran into the house and showed it to his brothers and his mom and then placed it in a prominent spot in his room—one where he could see it from his bed. That night, for old time’s sake, I read “Elmo ‘n Daddy” again to him and my son said that meeting Mark Trumbo was the coolest!

Thank you Mark Trumbo for making my son’s day.

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Countdown to the AngelsWin.com Spring Training Fanfest

By Geoff Stoddart, AngelsWin.com Director of Social Media --

Forget what that groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, says. Forget the images you’re seeing on TV about snow storm Nemo. For Angels baseball fans, spring has strung! Pitchers & Catchers officially reported to Tempe Diablo this morning for the start of Spring Training! Baseball is back!

With today’s start of Spring Training, the countdown to the AngelsWin.com Spring training Fanfest begins in earnest. This year’s event is going to be absolutely amazing! Our special guest include Angels owner Arte Moreno, GM Jerry Dipoto, TV announcer Victor Rojas, Tim Mead, Kole Calhoun, Randal Grichuk, and Travis Witherspoon . There is also a little surprise we're still working on! You won’t want to miss it!

As we mentioned a couple weeks ago, the overwhelming response to the event pushed us out of the room we used last year and into the Fiesta Resort’s Grand Ballroom! This move has allowed us to increase the capacity of the event to well over two hundred, which means seats are still available.

The deadline for purchasing event tickets at the current rate is this Friday, February 15, 2013. The current rate is $30 for adults and $15 for children. Event tickets include adult dinner options of Blackened Fish Tacos or Chicken Enchiladas complete with salad and desert (vegetarian meals on request). The children’s meal is chicken tenders, salad and dessert.

Beginning on Saturday, February 16, 2013 the price increases to $40 for adults and $20 for children. It is because of this that we strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets prior to the 15th.

To reserve a seat in the ballroom for dinner and for our main event, please send payments via PayPal to: angelswinevents@gmail.com.

Still haven’t booked a hotel for the weekend? We would like to remind everyone that we have secured a special guest room rate at the Fiesta Resort of $129.00 plus tax for AngelsWin.com Fanfest attendees. Each individual guest must make their own reservations by calling our toll-free number 800-528-6481 by Friday, March 1, 2013. When calling to make your reservation, you must identify yourself as part of the AngelsWin.com Group. All reservations must be guaranteed and accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. The discounted rate is subject to availability.

Only 33 days to Fanfest! Don’t miss out!

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WBC Preview - Brazil

By Brian Waller, AngelsWin.com Columnist --

Brazil

I know I know, there are some people that can’t get excited or pumped up for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) no matter how much hype the tournament gets. It’s definitely not for everyone and there are obvious flaws in the set-up, format, etc. but I still find it very intriguing. As fans of Major League Baseball (MLB), we all have our favorite teams that we pledge allegiance to. That’s the beautiful thing about the MLB; there is a team for everybody. What I love about the WBC is that all rivalries are thrown out the window in the name of national pride. There are no Yankee/Red Sox or Phillies/Mets rivalries for about a three week span; there’s just unconditional support for players representing our country on the global stage. For this period of time Shane Victorino isn’t representing the Red Sox and Mark Teixeira isn’t representing the Yankees. Same goes for David Wright and Jimmy Rollins; they are putting their rivalries on hold and leaving their team apparel in Florida for a chance to represent the USA. Like I said in an earlier piece, the WBC is approaching fast and we plan on previewing all participating teams to get those of you interested up to speed before the tournament kicks off in early March. We covered the 2-time defending champs Japan last week; now we are moving on to the WBC’s freshest face…Brazil.

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The Tragedy of Lyman Bostock

By Rob Goldman, AngelsWin.com Historical Writer --

By 1977, Angels owner Gene Autry had committed to do whatever it took to produce a championship caliber club. In 1976 he had acquired Dan Baylor, Joe Rudi and Bobby Grich through free agency. Though weary of the process, Autry knew free agency was the fastest way to produce a winner and was prepared to take full advantage of it.

           
In the winter of 1977, the best free agent on the market was hard hitting outfielder from Minnesota, Lyman Bostock. As one of the best young talents in the game Autry ordered his general manager, Buzzie Bavasi, to look into it.

A fine defensive center fielder, Bostock could hit, run and produce in the clutch. He had finished fourth in the league with a .323 average in 1976. His .336 the following season was second only to Twins teammate Rod Carew. Gene Mauch, Bostock's Minnesota manager, called Bostock the second-best hitter in all of baseball behind Carew.

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Holiday Road

By Ellen Bell, AngelsWin.com Columnist --

For many years, I made the trip to Arizona via a quick, one hour plane ride from John Wayne to Sky Harbor. No fuss, no trouble. But a couple of years ago I decided to change things up a little and travel to Spring Training the old school way, on an All American, gas guzzling road trip.

My companion and dashboard photographer was my 83-year old father, Merle Baker, King of the Family Road Vacation. Think Clark Griswold with an AARP card. Although my dad is a veteran interstate traveler, he was a Spring Training rookie, and I couldn’t wait to share one of my favorite annual traditions with him for the first time.

I know what you’re thinking. 360 miles is a really long way to drive to watch a baseball game that doesn’t count. Yes, yes it is. But with a full tank and miles of open road ahead, driving becomes more of an adventure rather than a chore. Especially if you leave mid day like we did to avoid the hellish traffic on the 91. At noon, we pointed the car east and started out, with four days of baseball vacation straight ahead.

We passed dinosaurs, wind mills, and fresh jerky signs, all part of the typical landscape of this stretch of the 10 freeway. Usually, the scenery is harsh and brown, but springtime weather had brought in a sky full of clouds that cast shadows on the mountains and foothills.

I know this trip is generally hazy and mind-numbingly boring, but we were lucky to see stunning scenery all along the way. Long, open roads lead to long open discussions. Think about the last time you spent six, uninterrupted hours in a car, just you and your Dad.  We talked about everything and anything, and surprisingly, the trip flew by faster than I thought it would.

Before I knew it, by 6:30pm Phoenix time we had arrived in Baseball Heaven. Yes, I could have gotten there faster by plane, but for the price of one tank of gas and a 5 dollar foot long sandwich to share, I learned that this time around, the journey was just as important as the destination.

Follow Ellen Bell on Twitter @AfternoonAngel

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Where Are They Now - Shawn Wooten

By Brian Waller, AngelsWin.com Writer --

Although it’s fun to see what former Angel greats like Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds, or Chuck Finley are up to these days, I actually enjoy following up on the lesser known players that once wore an Angel’s uniform; players who weren’t mega stars but still made key contributions to the big club. I tend to think back to the championship team from 2002 when doing these “where are they now” pieces. It was a team filled with role players and unsung heroes. It was a team without a superstar but it was a cohesive unit that took baseball by storm. A player I was always fond of was Shawn Wooten. He didn’t have huge pop or blazing speed but he had heart and was a blue collar player who was determined to play the game he loved at the highest level.

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Our Spring Training Tradition

By Ellen Bell - AngelsWin.com Columnist

He was nine years old. Even though I’m only 5’3, I could rest my arm on his shoulder. His red hair was trimmed in a neat, military buzz cut and his eager face was covered with freckles.  We were on a quest.

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Here We Go Again

By Ellen Bell - AngelsWin.com Columnist

I’m a Spring Training Veteran. For the past 11 years, I haven’t missed a March in Tempe. Every year holds special memories, but last year was different. 

Last year was epic.

It was no longer the lazy, laid-back collection of afternoon games in the desert sunshine.    

Albert Pujols was was in town and the stakes had gone through the roof. Major League Baseball focused its attention on little Tempe Diablo Stadium with expectations that even the most optimistic fan couldn’t fathom. 

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A True Story

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

How do you know if you are raising your children right? It’s a difficult question, one that every parent struggles with from the moment of childbirth.

Last year, my eldest, Michael, entered Kindergarten. When he started school, he could recognize all of his letters, which as a parent, made me proud, but he could not write all of them.

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C.J. Cron | Prospect Profile

Prospect Profile - C.J. Cron

Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6’4” 235 lbs. DOB: 1/5/90
Inland Empire 66ers: .293/.327/.516 with 27 HRs and 123 RBI

How's this for an intro. In just 163 Minor League Games, C.J. Cron has put up a .296 BA, .877 OPS, 361 total bases, including 40 home runs, 37 doubles and 164 RBI. That's more than an RBI per game and he did it all with a torn labrum, an injury he suffered in his last season at Utah. Not a bad start to C.J.'s professional career after the Angels selected him in the first round of the 2011 draft.

C.J. has plus raw power, with the ball sounding loud coming off his bat. C.J. was well on the way to setting a Pioneer League record for the most home runs in short season play until he injured his knee, costing him a shot at the home run record. While his bat will carry him to the big leagues, C.J. needs to calm his aggressive approach at the plate, as he walked just 17 times in 557 plate appearances. Cron will  never be a gold glove first baseman, but he's not a liability there either, though his range is limited around the bag. Cron has below average speed.

Cron has Albert Pujols, Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales blocking him at first base so there's a good chance he ends up going the route of Billy Butler at the designated hitter spot if he crushes pitching at higher levels and improves his plate discipline. Cron will begin the season in Double-A Arkansas, though his 2013 debut may be delayed if the surgery he had on his torn labrum in August isn't fully healed.

C.J. Cron Interviews with AngelsWin.com from AngelsWin.com on Vimeo.

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HEAD & SHOULDERS REVEALS ANGELS PITCHER C.J. WILSON AS NEWEST MLB “MANE MAN”

Pittsburgh Steelers Brett "Da Beard" Keisel took a "whiff" of new Head & Shoulders "Mane Man'' L.A. Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson's hair during a media event surrounding Super Bowl XLVII, as the brand launches new Head & Shoulders with the scent of Old Spice, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Cheryl Gerber/Invision for Head & Shoulders/AP Images)

MLB Pitcher and Iconic Brand Join Forces with Old Spice to Guarantee a Double Dose of Confidence

CINCINNATI, OH (January 30, 2013) – Head & Shoulders®, the official shampoo of Major League Baseball (MLB), today announced that All-Star pitcher C.J. Wilson of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is the newest athlete to join the brand’s “Mane Man” ambassador team, a roster that includes Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Olympian Michael Phelps.

With incredible talent on the mound, a diverse portfolio of hobbies including one of the most popular Twitter accounts in baseball (@str8edgeracer), and not to mention, great looking hair, C.J. was an ideal choice for Head & Shoulders as the brand marks its third year as Major League Baseball’s official shampoo. “Head & Shoulders is an iconic brand that I trust to take care of my hair and scalp so I can concentrate 100 percent on and off the mound,” said Wilson.

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Angels Amongst Us

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

One of the things that I most enjoy about AngelsWin.com is the entire community that we have developed. When Chuck Richter started the website in 2004, I doubt he had any idea of what it would become—a vibrant community that supports and cares for one another. It’s that community that makes AngelsWin.com special.

In our community, there are many angels—people who have gone above and beyond to help someone else in need. These angels can do things ranging from praying for someone who is sick to comforting someone through the loss of a loved one. I know many who have given others free tickets to games to actually driving out, getting someone, and bringing that person to a game. And, all of this happens because of our love for our team and our connection through the website.

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Player Poetry

By Jessica Grey - AngelsWin.com Feature Writer

Although I consider watching baseball a full time job my actual day job is writing stuff.  Okay, not quite. My actual day job is running around after two preschoolers and a hyperactive puppy.  My writing stuff job gets done at night.

This may come as a shock to you, but most baseball games happen at night.  I like to say there are two seasons: baseball season and the season I actually get work done.  I’ve tried to write and watch Angels games at the same time - this could partially explain why so many baseball players show up in my novels. What usually happens is I end up on Twitter talking about the game with fellow fans.  And sometimes finding baseball commonality with other writers.  Which is how I was challenged by a tweep to write a haiku about Mark Trumbo’s home run power. 


So I did.

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