Hello My Halos…2010!

I’m ba-a-a-ck!  And so are my Angels…better than ever!  (Fingers crossed!)  The off-season was a real mix of hope and heartbreak, much like the 2009 regular season.  We saw our beloved Figgy go off to Seattle and Big John Lackey is now a member of the Red Sox Nation.  Big Daddy Vladdy is a Ranger and “Godzilla” Matsui is our new DH. 

In a move I thought was more shocking than any player shuffling, the Angels released their veteran broadcasters, Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler.  Total bummer.  But the low point of the off-season was the sudden passing of Rory Markus who was slated to take over the TV broadcasts full-time with Mark Gubizca.  Rory is sorely missed but his trademark phrase, “Just another Halo victory!” will live on with all Angel fans. 

What’s a baseball fan to do when the season is over?  Like everyone else, I trudged through the winter waiting for that ray of sunshine known as “Spring Training”.  Okay, so I didn’t see any snow but we did have a few days in the 50′s.  And I’ll admit I watched a handful of football games.  (There was money on the line.)  But by March 11, I knew what I had to do.  I packed up my car and headed east to…Arizona!  My White Sox-loving Uncle Marbles and his baseball-neutral wife, Aunt Rocks, have a condo in Surprise where they escape the sort of winters (pictured above) the Windy City is known for.  I arrived Thursday night and my uncle and I spent Friday hitting a few of the training fields.  This was the first time I’ve ever gone to Spring Training and unless I’m missing something, the grounds at Tempe Diablo stadium are less than fan-friendly.  The fences around all of the training fields were wrapped with tarps, affording hardly any views of what was happening within.  Were the Angels practicing some kind of top-secret, super-special, completely-classified, never-before-executed, one-of-a-kind plays???  I guess I’ll never know.  So, we headed over to the White Sox / Dodgers training camp and spent a few hours wandering around the beautiful grounds with a very fan-friendly roster and facility map, given to us upon our arrival.  It pains me to admit the Dodgers do anything better than the Angels but it looks like they do.

On Saturday, Uncle Marbles and I headed to the KC Royals stadium which is just a few blocks away in Surprise and …SURPRISE!!!  3rd row, 1st base, right behind the Angels’ dugout!  Woohoo!  I was in halo heaven.  Ervin Santana threw 3 gorgeous innings before they got their butts royally whooped but I didn’t care.  My Angels were so close I could smell ‘em!  By Sunday afternoon, everyone had hit town…mom, sis & her fiance, other sis and her daughter from North Carolina, another uncle from Chicago (die-hard Cubs fan), and more friends from out-of-town…just in time for the Angels / Cubs match-up.  I had bought tickets well in advance and we had an entire bench of seats on the left field side. 

What a blast!!!  Again, the Angels couldn’t hold onto their lead but the final score meant nothing.  What is important is a new family tradition was born.  How cool is that??? 

Finally, tonight was the Angels’ opener versus the Twins.  It’s going to take me a little time to get used to not seeing Chone Figgins in the lead-off spot.  At least Erick Aybar is a little speedster too and the patience at the plate he has picked up from Bobby Abreu was evident as he chewed through 9 pitches before taking a walk in his first at-bat of the night.  Love it.  Matsui?  Hmmm.  I’m not feeling the love yet.  I’m glad to see so many Angels fans warmly welcome him tonight but I still don’t get it.  If Vlad Guerrero’s age and health were such an issue, does it really make sense to acquire a DH who is one year closer to getting his AARP card than Vlad?  Yeah, I know…World Series MVP, whatever.  I’m not completely sold yet. He definitely had an impressive night tonight with a 2 RBI single and a solo HR.  That’s the least he could do for the fans holding up the huge “Matsui-land” signs in the stands.  We shall see.