Halo Hangout » happy birthday

Happy Birthday Joe Blanton

MJ Lloyd — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:20:19 +0000

Sure, Joe Blanton is no Zack Greinke but..um..he was also once a Dodger. Last year. For 10 starts. The Angels signed Blanton to a two-year, $15 million deal last week. He’s a solid innings eater only missing extended time during the 2011 season with an elbow impingement. Which, if my mastery of the English language serves me, means somebody trespassed on his elbow. Yikes. Blanton recovered from that injury, though, to make 30 starts and throw 191.0 innings in 2012. His 4.71 ERA in 2012 may not thrill Angels fans still reeling from the loss of Greinke but he did have a 3.39 xFIP in 2012.

Blanton has the same problem that bugged Ervin Santana and Dan Haren last season. He serves up the long ball. In 2012, Blanton gave up the ninth most (29 or 10 behind Santana) home runs at a 1.37 HR/9 clip. But there is a silver lining for Blanton instead of just being able to pitch innings in bunches. Blanton’s strikeout to walk ratio has been getting better over the past few seasons topping out at 4.88 K/BB last year. That mark was second best for starters to Cliff Lee who I believe invented the K/BB stat.

With an improved defense behind him, Blanton should be more valuable than his name recognition leads people to think. In this silly baseball economy, he’d only have to be a two win player each year to more than make the value of his contract. Not a bad signing but not the front line guy the Angels and fans were hoping for. *Anibal Sanchez Anibal Sanchez Anibal Sanchez*

I may have buried the lede somewhere. Joe Blanton turns 32-years-old today, December 11. Ice cream cupcakes and pony rides for everyone! Okay, maybe not everyone. Blanton is listed at 6-3, 235. He probably doesn’t need “crushed pony to death for 32nd birthday” added to his Wikipedia page.

Happy Birthday Jerome Williams

MJ Lloyd — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:31:56 +0000

While the Angels search the Winter Meetings for starting pitching, Jerome Williams celebrates his 31st birthday on Tuesday the 4th. The Angels were expected to tender Williams a contract on Friday and will likely avoid arbitration by signing him for 2013 in the $1.9 million range. Retaining Big Dome Jerome, as nobody calls him, was a debated topic around the Halo-sphere but the righty should at least get an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot with long relief as a logical destination.

Pink Glove J-Will, still not his nickname (Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports)

Williams started 15 games for the Angels in 2012 but started the season on the DL and landed there again in June. Like most of the Angels rotation, Williams suffered from a bit of home-run-giving-up-itis, a medical condition hopefully being analyzed by Dr. Yokum, by serving up 17 round-trippers in 137.2 innings. The 13.9% HR/FB was 13th worst among pitchers with 130 or more innings. But if his 3.84 xFIP is to be believed, Williams should be better than his 2012 4.54 ERA. Even similar production in 2013 to his 2012 would produce enough value to warrant a $2 million deal. So good for you, Jerome.

For Williams, today isn’t just about stats and roles and cash. Maybe cash. Or at least a gift certificate to Red Lobster. Today is about celebrating with friends and family around a delicious Fudgie the Whale ice cream cake from Carvel. Seriously Carvel, where’s my advertising check? I’ll sell out to Baskin Robbins in a heartbeat.

Happy Birthday Mike Scioscia

MJ Lloyd — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:01:29 +0000

Angels skipper and Howard’s Appliance & Big Screen Superstore front man Mike Scioscia turns 54 on Tuesday. Scioscia has been stockpiling winning seasons, playoff berths (until recently), Manager of the Year trophies, a World Series championship and likely an unreasonable amount of flat screen TVs since taking over the helm of the Halos in 2000. While the seat got a little hot in 2012, Sosh returns to the Angels for another season in 2013 where he reigns as MLB’s longest tenured manager.

Faced (Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE)

So what do you get for a guy who has Mike Trout, aka Everything? Apparently, a closer if the Ryan Madson rumors hold true. But what else? A miracle cure seems unnecessary since he’s recovered nicely from that bout with radiation poisoning in the ’90s. His kid could use a better slash line than .234/.271/.303 at Double-A Cedar Rapids in 2012 but that’s not so much a present for Mike. The Angels drafting his son was a gift enough. Scioscia could use a facial expression that doesn’t imply he’s confused grumpy with a side of hungry but those are expensive. And no, he can’t have Jeff Mathis back.

I don’t know what to get Sosh for the b-day except for well wishes and a gift certificate to the Olive Garden. He strikes me as an endless breadstick kind of guy. Anyway, happy birthday, skip.

There’s a giant and terrifying Mike Scioscia Face cake in the break room, you guys. It tastes like chocolate and sacrifice bunts.