Even after Nick Adenhart had reached the Majors, the promising pitcher would wax nostalgically about his most memorable games in youth baseball, lucidly thinking as far back as when he was an eight-year-old.

So when his mother, Janet Gigeous, contemplated the appropriate way to honor the memory of Nick, killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver in an Orange County accident in the wee hours of April 9, the decision was easy.

Thus, Janet and Duane Gigeous have set up the Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund to support youth baseball leagues throughout the country.

“Looking back over Nick’s career, he had very fond memories of playing Little League and Pony League baseball,” said Janet. “There were other possible directions for us to go in, such as anti-drunk-driving programs, but we felt strongly about the baseball side.

“So this will be our work. It’s a good way to honor Nick.”

Donations to the Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund can be sent to:

Geier Financial Group
2205 Warwick Way
Suite 200
Marriottsville, MD 21104

Contributions will go toward helping defray expenses of youth leagues in Baltimore native Nick’s tri-state area, as well as in leagues around the United States.

Source: AngelsBaseball.com

Red Sox 4, Angels 5

A long, dreadful…….horrible day for David Ortiz. Ortiz finished the game going 0-7, while leaving 12 runners stranded on base. The biggest offensive contributers for the Los Angeles Angels were Jeff Mathis and Torii Hunter.

Mathis hit an RBI single in the 12th inning, Hunter had a two-run double and an RBI triple, and the Angels beat the Red Sox 5-4 on Thursday. Ortiz has gone 144 at-bats since his last home run on Sept. 22 against Cleveland’s Zach Jackson at Fenway Park. He is one at-bat from equaling his longest dry spell in the majors.

“A guy like that who’s big and strong, he’s going to knock out eight home runs in 12 days somehow and he’s going to catch up with everybody once he gets that swing down,” said Hunter, Ortiz’s teammate in Minnesota. “I’m almost 100 percent sure both those injuries have a lot to do with his homerless streak.

“When you have a wrist injury and a knee injury at the same time, it messes up your mechanics and you’re trying to figure out ways to hit while you’re hurting,” Hunter added. “So you’ve got to tweak your swing — and that’s not his swing. But he’s going to be fine. I just told him, `Just go out there and do what you do, and at the end of the season watch what you have.”

Ortiz struck out three times — once with the bases loaded in the fourth — and left the bases loaded again in the 12th against Jason Bulger (1-1) with a dribbler in front of the plate.

Juan Rivera led off the 12th with a single against Manny Delcarmen (1-1). Pinch-runner Reggie Willits advanced on Erick Aybar’s sacrifice and scored when Mathis lined a 1-1 pitch to left-center.

Pedroia had four hits in his return to the lineup after missing two games because of a groin strain. One was a two-out RBI single against reliever Scot Shields that tied it 4-all in the eighth — increasing Shields’ ERA to 7.90 in 16 appearances.Ervin Santana, one of the mainstays of the Angels’ injury-ravaged rotation, made his season debut after missing the first 32 games because of elbow pain. The right-hander, who pitched in his first All-Star game last season, allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings.Brad Penny was charged with four runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings.

Source: ESPN

I’m back. Sorry for the lack of posts of late. I have found myself to be extremely distracted by school as I am nearing my graduation. Anyways, let’s get on with the baseball and the 2009 season.

Many fans see the American League West as one of the weakest divisions in all of baseball, but what they don’t know is that it has been won by Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles in the last 8 years. So, that will firstly tell you that it is not a one team division.

Los Angeles Angels perspective: The reigning AL West champions are again the favorites, according to numerous ESPN analysts. Even though they’re off to a rough start, it is still really early.

The Mets talked to Brian Fuentes, as did the Cards, but as the former Rockies closer watched the free-agent market play out, he became intrigued by the possibility of landing in Anaheim. And three weeks after Francisco Rodriguez signed with the Mets, Fuentes inked a two-year, $17.5 million deal with the Angels. “It’s kind of a unique opportunity,” says Fuentes, a California native. It’s not often you get a chance to replace the guy who holds the single-season saves record. Sure, there’s pressure, but Angels fans will be happy to know that Fuentes was about as efficient as K-Rod last season. The 33-year-old lefty converted 88.2 percent of his save chances, while K-Rod made good on 89.9 percent. With Scot Shields still around to handle the eighth inning, and young flamethrower Jose Arredondo flashing closer stuff, the Angels should once again have a deep bullpen, which has been a driving force on their road to winning four of the past five AL West titles. Fuentes won’t save 62 games, but if he’s still salting them away deep into October, no one will complain. — Buster Olney

I like the fit of Brian Fuentes. Not too many AL players have seen him before, giving him the immediate advantage. The only thing I’m worried about is the pitching. John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Kelvim Escobar are all projected to return some time in early to mid May. This will allow the Angels to move Dustin Moseley and Shane Loux into the bullpen, moving Jason Bulger and possibly Kevin Jepsen back to AAA Salt Lake.

Here’s a look at their spring training preview I wrote back in February.

Projected division position: 1st Place

Top Pitcher: Joe Saunders (Due to injuries of Lackey and Santana)

Top Hitter: Bobby Abreu

MVP: Torii Hunter

Wow. What a game. First, Tim Lincecum, the 2008 NL Cy Young award winner was lights out! 3 IP and 3 strikouts, with no hits or runs alowed. I thought we were doomed. Then we go up 3-2 going into the 9th. The a 2-out 2-run homer by Ryan Rohlinger. But, that didn’t cut it. Bottom of the 9th, Brad Coon hits a walk-off 2-run homer! I freaked. Great game all around. Anyways, here’s the box score, and here’s the recap….

ANGELS 5, GIANTS 4
at Tempe, Ariz.
Friday, March 6

Giants at the plate: Ryan Rohlinger maintained the Giants’ streak of homering in each Cactus League game with a two-out, two-run drive off Jason Bulger in the ninth inning. It briefly put San Francisco ahead, 4-3. With two out and nobody on, Bulger hit Emmanuel Burriss with a pitch to prolong the ninth. Bengie Molina went 2-for-3, lining a first-inning RBI double and a third-inning single that set up Rich Aurilia’s run-scoring groundout.

Angels at the plate: Los Angeles erased its short-lived deficit as ex-Giant Luis Figueroa doubled on Billy Sadler’s first pitch leading off the ninth and Brad Coon homered on an 0-1 fastball. The Angels broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth as Kendry Morales singled with two outs, stole second and scored on Mike Napoli’s single. Earlier, Morales’ fifth-inning leadoff single, Los Angeles’ first hit, sparked a two-run uprising that tied the score against ex-Angel Ramon Ortiz. Morales proceeded to third on Howie Kendrick’s single and scored on Chris Pettit’s groundout. Ryan Budde was hit by a pitch before Peter Bourjos hit an RBI single.

Giants on the mound: Tim Lincecum again was dominant, walking one and striking out three in three no-hit innings. Recovering from the elbow ailments that have plagued him most of the past year, Merkin Valdez pitched a perfect fourth inning in his first Cactus League appearance.

Angels on the mound: Los Angeles pitchers have allowed just 23 runs in eight games. Dustin Moseley couldn’t quite match his previous start March 1, when he pitched two scoreless innings against Kansas City. Moseley yielded two runs and five hits in three innings this time.

Cactus League records: Giants 4-6; Angels 7-1

Up next: The Angels will make their second trip to Tucson in six days when they confront the Arizona Diamondbacks. Los Angeles’ John Lackey and Arizona’s Dan Haren will meet in a matchup of top right-handers.

Didn’t really pay THAT much attention to this game. I just want to see some more starters in the lineup. KC pretty much had their opening day lineup out there today. We only had, I think, 1 starter in the starting lineup. But, we still won. Two pitchers that are fighting for the 5th spot in the rotation, Dustin Moseley and Nick Adenhart, both pitched today. It’s a tough choice between the two. And, since Kelvim Escobar’s progress is going really well, I say put Adenhart in there for a month until Kelvim gets back, just to see if Adenhart is major league ready. Anyways, here’s the box score, and here’s the recap….

Angels 6, Royals 4
at Tempe, Ariz.
Sunday, March 1

Angels at the plate: Reggie Willits singled and walked twice in three at-bats, stealing a base. Mike Napoli banged a two-run single, and Terry Evans had two singles, driving in a run. Sean Rodriguez doubled and walked in three at-bats, Chris Pettit delivered an RBI single, and Freddy Sandoval doubled and drove in two runs.

Royals at the plate: David DeJesus singled twice and walked, scoring a run and driving in another. Willie Bloomquist singled home a run and scored, and John Buck had a double and walk, scoring a run.

Angels on the mound: Dustin Moseley, launching his bid for the fifth starter role, delivered two hitless innings and finished with a flourish, striking out the side: Mike Jacobs, Alex Gordon and Buck. His only blemish was a two-out walk in the first inning. Nick Adenhart, also launching his bid for the starter’s job, yielded one earned run in two innings on two hits and a hit batsman, striking out one.

Royals on the mound: Gil Meche had a rocky outing, surrendered three earned runs on four hits and a walk, striking out two in his lone inning of labor. Henry Barrera worked a scoreless inning with a walk and strikeout.

Cactus League records: Angels 4-1; Royals 2-2-1.

Up next: The Angels travel to Tucson, Ariz., to face the Rockies on Monday at 12:10 p.m. PT. John Lackey gets his first start of the spring for the Angels against southpaw Franklin Morales of the Rockies. Lackey said he’ll be looking to put his fastball in good spots and just regain the feel of pitching again in a game. Expected to follow him to the mound are right-handers Fernando Rodriguez and Ryan Brasier, along with southpaw Alex Torres.

The Brewers handed the Angels their first lost of the spring. It’s pretty crazy that my friend that graduated high school last year, one class older than me, is now playing for the Brewers. He made an appearance in the Brewers’ game yesterday, scoring a run. He’s also the son of Lenny Dykstra. If anyone’s interested, my friends name is Cutter Dykstra. He’s really good, really knowledgable of the game. He could make it big in the coming years. Anyways, enough of that. Here’s the box score. And here is the recap…..

Brewers 5, Angels 3
at Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix
Saturday, Feb. 28

Angels at the plate: The Angels were held scoreless on three hits until the sixth, when Chris Pettit and Ryan Mount hit RBI singles off Brewers Minor Leaguer Matt Ginter. Matt Brown tied the game at 3 in the seventh with another RBI single, but the Brewers pushed ahead in the bottom of the frame and sent the Angels to their first Cactus League loss.

Brewers at the plate: Ryan Braun played seven innings in his final tuneup before departing for the World Baseball Classic, hitting a go-ahead single in the third inning and then doubling and scoring an insurance run in the seventh. Prince Fielder also hit an RBI single for Milwaukee but aptly named Minor Leaguer Brent Brewer delivered the key hit, a solo home run in the seventh that snapped a 3-3 tie and sent the Brewers to their second straight win.

Angels on the mound: Starter Shane Loux worked around three Brewers hits in two scoreless innings of work before reliever Scot Shields surrendered Milwaukee’s first run on a walk and a hit. Rich Thompson worked a scoreless sixth inning but took the loss after surrendering a pair of runs in the seventh.

Brewers on the mound: Right-hander Braden Looper was scheduled to make his unofficial Brewers debut but was scratched minutes before the game when he tweaked a muscle in his lower back. Eddie Morlan, who was supposed to appear in relief, moved up to start and held the Angels scoreless in two innings despite allowing a hit and three walks. Minor League right-hander Richie Gardner (1-0) took the win and Nick Green notched a two-inning save.

Cactus League records: Angels 3-1; Brewers 2-1-1

Up next: The Angels host the Royals on Sunday with two of the four fifth-starter candidates on display. Right-hander Dustin Moseley will start opposite Royals right-hander Gil Meche, and Nick Adenhart is scheduled to work in relief. Adenhart was supposed to pitch the Angels’ Cactus League opener on Wednesday against the White Sox, but he was scratched because of the flu.

The Angels moved to 3-0 with the win. It’s really nice to see some of our youngsters get the job done. Here’s the box score. And here’s the recap…

Angels 5, Rockies 3
at Tempe, Ariz.
Friday, Feb. 27

Angels at the plate: Bobby Abreu’s first two hits in an Angels uniform were doubles. Bobby Wilson singled twice, walked and drove in a run, and Mark Trumbo doubled and singled. Sean Rodriguez doubled in a run, Hainley Statia singled and walked, Freddy Sandoval had a single and sacrifice fly and Luis Figueroa had an RBI single.

Rockies at the plate: Garrett Atkins had an RBI double, and Brad Hawpe singled in a run, leaving the game after lacerating his left pinkie sliding into second. First baseman Edwin Bellorin doubled and scored on outfielder Dan Ortmeier’s double.

Angels on the mound: Starter Sean O’Sullivan yielded two runs on two hits and a walk in his lone inning of work. Fernando Rodriguez struck out four without a walk and gave up two hits in two scoreless innings. Southpaw Alex Torres had two strikeouts and a walk, facing the minimum six hitters in two innings, and Ryan Brasier delivered two perfect innings.

Rockies on the mound: Southpaw starter Greg Smith surrendered three hits and three earned runs in two innings. Lefty Glendon Rusch worked two scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing two hits.

Cactus League records: Angels 3-0; Rockies 0-3.

Up next: The Angels make their first road trip when they face the Brewers on Saturday in Phoenix at 12:05 p.m. PT. Right-hander Shane Loux, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, gets his first start of the spring for the Angels against Braden Looper of the Brewers. Heading to the World Baseball Classic, Scot Shields and Brian Fuentes (Team USA), Jose Arredondo (Dominican Republic) and Rich Thompson (Australia) are expected to follow Loux in their final tuneups before joining their Classic teams. Matt Wilhite also is scheduled to throw an inning.

After scoring 12 runs against the Chicago White Sox, the Angels come back with a whopping 3. There were only 3 players in the starting lineup that will make the starting lineup come April, so I can’t really complain. For an extended look, here’s the box score. And here’s the recap….

Angels 3, Athletics 1
at Tempe, Ariz.
Feb. 26, 2009

Angels at the plate: Kendry Morales went the opposite way for a line-drive single and pulled a double into the right-field corner. Kevin Ramos, who will play in the World Baseball Classic for Panama, tripled and singled home a run. After getting robbed of extra bases twice in the opener, Brandon Wood doubled and singled in three at-bats. Reggie Willits had an RBI single, and Jeff Mathis doubled and scored.

Athletics at the plate: Jack Cust blasted a solo homer, his first of the spring, down the right-field line. Ryan Sweeney singled twice, and Chris Carter doubled.

Angels on the mound: Starter Jordan Walden showed why he is a favorite of scouts, striking out three hitters in two scoreless innings, including veterans Cust to end the first and Rob Bowen to close the second. Walden yielded two hits and no walks. Brian Fuentes made his debut in an Angels uniform and worked a scoreless third, striking out Eric Chavez and retiring Cust after yielding a pair of singles.

Athletics on the mound: Starter Sean Gallagher surrendered three hits, including a double and triple, but worked out of jams in both of his innings, striking out two and walking one. Brett Anderson yielded three hits and a walk in a two-run fourth, his lone inning of work.

Cactus League records: Angels 2-0; Athletics 0-1-1.

Up next: The Angels host the Rockies on Friday at 12:05 p.m. PT. Sean O’Sullivan will start against Colorado’s Greg Smith.

In the words of owner Arte Moreno. The Angels have won four of the last five American League West titles. Even more impressive, six consecutive seasons of drawing more than 3 million fans. And Angels owner Arte Moreno plans to keep it that way, regardless of how America’s economy is.

The Angels’ opening-day payroll will be a robust $117 million, down slightly from the $125 million the Angels closed 2008 with but still among the six highest in the game.

Arte Moreno isn't worried about his team during this tough economic time.

“I have a lot of money invested, and I don’t want to be in a position where every three years I have to sell off players because we’re losing too much money,” Moreno said.

Team President Dennis Kuhl said sponsorship renewals — income generated from radio rights, advertising, scoreboard and outfield-wall signage and game program ad sales — were on track to equal or exceed 2008 levels.

The team entered spring training having leased 72 of 76 luxury suites in Angel Stadium — those suites have been sold out for several years — and season-ticket renewals for premium seats, in the lower bowl between the dugouts, are running at about 95%.

The Angels raised some ticket prices on high-demand seats this winter, but there were no increases on tickets in the upper-deck view level and on day-of-game tickets.

There will be no increases on parking (still $8) and basic concessions, and there are plans for discounts — some as high as 40% for season-ticket holders — on team store merchandise.

According to a recent USA Today survey, at least 16 of 30 teams are freezing or decreasing prices for season-ticket holders. And, in some cases, organizations are going to great lengths to keep their fans.

I love Arte Moreno. He runs his team and stadium so well. Food, parking, everything is so cheap. Just look at this article, the Angels rank #1 in fan satisfaction in MLB and #6 in all of sports.

I only wish it was on TV. I got to listen to it on my computer, for free. Thanks to the Angels, they made an agreement with MLB.com so all Angels Spring Training games will be radio broadcasted for free! Anyways, here’s the recap.

Angels 12, White Sox 3
at Tempe, Ariz.
Feb. 25, 2009

Angels at the plate: Cleanup man Mike Napoli, robbed of a hit in his first at-bat, cracked a two-run double in the third to left center. Hainley Statia doubled twice, scoring a run and driving in another. Hank Conger drove in three runs with a pair of singles, Freddy Sandoval doubled, singled and drove in two runs, and Ben Johnson

cracked an RBI double.

White Sox at the plate: A.J. Pierzynski’s second single, a liner to left, produced a pair of runs in the second inning. Josh Fields singled and doubled, scoring a run. Jerry Owens opened the game with a drag-bunt single and had a sacrifice fly.

Angels on the mound: After Matt Palmer yielded two runs on five hits, Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo each pitched a perfect inning of relief, Shields striking out one man and Arredondo a pair. Rich Thompson delivered two perfect innings.

White Sox on the mound: Starter Clayton Richard worked two scoreless innings, giving up one walk. Octavio Dotel was nicked up for three runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Lefties Matt Thornton and Randy Williams each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Cactus League records: Angels 1-0; White Sox 0-1.

Up next: The Angels host the Athletics on Thursday at noon PT. Jordan Walden will start for the Angels against Sean Gallagher of the A’s.