Layla and I got to the game around 12:45 and snuck in Albertos California Burritos. Not counting the traditional stadium nachos or Angel Dogs, bringing in outside grub like a Cali Burrito is hands down better (and cheaper) than any of the other food you're going to get at the stadium. We got there early enough to take our seats and grab a few brewskies.
Today's promotion ended up being Angel's fleece blankets. I feel like the Angel's PR team really dropped the ball with the calendar placement of these blankets, but they ended up being pretty useful for covering our blazing hot seats during today's 80+ degree day game. After snapping a few pictures and watching my one of my favorite Angel's video packages of all time, we were ready to start the game.
Haren's Rocky First Start
We knew the Angels were going to get in a big hole early with the way Dan Haren opened up the game. He was leaving the ball over the middle of the plate, and the Kansas City Royals were just punishing him with easy singles. It was baffling to watch these hitters put together strings of hits on a guy who had looked so dominant during Spring Training. Not one to let things get to him, Haren still managed to buckle down, put some life on his fastball and strike out 5 batters, but it wasn't enough as he couldn't miss bats and ended after 5 and a third innings.
Kendrys Morales Doesn't Miss A Beat
The real story today is not the Angels' loss, but the fact that they're best hitter from over two seasons ago has finally gotten himself healthy enough to play, and is picking up right where he left off. Many critics, myself included, thought the two year layoff would have a big impact on Morales' numbers. Would he be able to still hit the ball with power? How would his approach change after missing two seasons? Was 2009 a fluke offensively for the guy?
It's too early in the season to answer these questions, but the big fella is off to a great start to the 2012 season. After watching him stroke the ball to both sides of the field today, you can tell that he still has his eye on the ball, and he's not pulling off pitches like the rest of his teammates.
Angels Early Hitting Woes
Last year, the Angels lead the league in being shut out 50 times before the 5th inning. This year they already have two in their first two games.
This has been the theme of the last two years. This revamped offense was supposed to change that, but after two games, the Angels look exactly the same as previous years (if not slower). Today, Manager Mike Soscia baffled us by taking out his best offensive hitter from last season, and giving his fastest player a day off. I can understand why Mark Trumbo was absent from the lineup after his mistakes at 3rd base last night, but Peter Bourjos is the catalyst of your offense. He's the one who gets things started, scores runs, steals bases and generally gets in the heads of pitchers because they have to worry about someone who isn't the batter.
Soscia, instead, sent Vernon Wells to center and Albert Callaspo to 3rd base and the pair went a combined 0-9 for the day. Late in the game, Callaspo came up with runners in scoring position with one out, but was left in despite Mark Trumbo leading the team in both RBI's and home runs last year. Needless to say, Callaspo did not have a positive impact offensively in this game.
And what the heck was up with Bobby Abreau? Yeah he got a nice double down the line that scored some runs and provided the only excitement of the day, but the dude has morphed into Garret Anderson in left field (except even SLOWER). I couldn't tell if it was lack of motivation or a player knowing the limits of his body, but it sure didn't look like he was trying very hard to run down balls in the gap or shallow line drives.
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