There are always warning signs to addiction.
Addicts often experience mental and emotional instability, changes in physical appearance, and a sudden rejection of family or friends.
Fans, then, are addicts.
First and foremost, we are fanatics, the root of the term “fan.” We cheer wildly in large groups of strangers for players most of us have never met. We dress up in costumes ... 26Feb2010 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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The East Coast is frozen solid. The South has been hit everything from floods to blizzards. The Pacific Northwest is soaked torrential downpours.
Here in the Southwest, we call that baseball weather.
The weather outside might be frightful for the rest of the country, but down our way it just means Spring Training is right around the corner.
Out in sunny Arizona, pitchers ... 19Feb2010 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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With pitchers and catchers due to report to Spring Training this week, the race to find the next ace for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is about to heat up.
Typically a strength in Anaheim, it was the Angels' pitching staff that set an ominous tone at the start of the 2009 season.
John Lackey injured his shoulder just weeks before ... 14Feb2010 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim got a long-overdue lesson in math this week. They learned about the age-old principle of addition by subtraction.
It's simple. All you have to do is subtract $21 million of useless player from the payroll and you'll wind up adding emotional stability and tangible worth to your squad.
On Friday, the Angels put their lesson to ... 22Jan2010 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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GM Tony Reagins says his Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could still make a move or two this offseason, noting the team's lingering need for a fifth starting pitcher and a utility man off the bench.
Like most of what he and his predecessor Bill Stoneman say, this sounds like another half truth.
The Angels do indeed need have a few holes ... 21Jan2010 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Another Angel has been given his halo far too soon.
Rory Markas passed away at his home in Palmdale. He was 54.
Markas spent the last eight years as the primary radio and television play-by-play man for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He also called games for USC's men's basketball team and served as a reporter for FOX 11 KTTV in ... 5Jan2010 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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It is only late December, and already the offseason for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim feels like it's winding down.
Most of the big fish that dominated the post-Word Series headlines have already been caught and what remains is little more than bait for future trade hooks. Two monsters still lurk the depths, but each appears to be circling one ... 29Dec2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Roy Halladay is in Philly. John Lackey is in Boston.
Now is the winter of the Angels' discontent.
Just days after baseball's Winter Meetings ended, after which GM Tony Reagins claimed his team had laid “groundwork,” the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim watched their hard work melt away like snow in the coming spring.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, or if you've ... 20Dec2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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John Lackey pitched the first game of a double-header between his Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park back in 2007.
The Angels' ace had looked good, dominant even, all season long. But that just wasn't his day.
After surrendering five runs in the first inning, Lackey walked off the back of the mound and muttered ... 14Dec2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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When Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings got underway on Dec. 7, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were said to be serious contenders in the bidding war for outfielder Jason Bay.
By week's end, Bay remained unsigned and Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters his team had “more pressing needs” to address.
Scioscia may have meant a new starting pitcher, but he ... 12Dec2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Continued
The thrill is gone. At least in Anaheim.
Chone Figgins, the spark plug for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, has left sunny Southern California behind in favor of the soggy skies of Seattle.
Well, that, and a four-year contract reportedly worth $36 million.
Shocking as it may be to some—and ... 5Dec2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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At times, it seems the sporting world is built entirely on cliches.
On any given episode of SportsCenter, you'll hear a veritable bottomless pit of inane comments: We're taking it one game at a time; it was a team effort; we need to bring our A-game tonight.
Clichés are omnipresent in every major and ... 3Dec2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Roy Halladay's pitch hand is strong.
So strong, in fact, he's got practically every team in the Majors falling all over themselves to make sure it belongs to them.
Top prospects, proven starters, first born children—all being offered up like sacrificial lambs to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Halladay's unique services, but ... 25Nov2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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All Angel baseball fans remember Dallas McPherson. McPherson was the stereotypical "can't miss" prospect, who posted video game-like numbers in the minors - a combined 40 home runs at AAA Salt Lake and AA Arkansas in 2004 - yet failed to produce when called up to the big leagues. The 6'4" hard-hitting ... 22Nov2009 |
Joey Kaufman |
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Mike Scioscia added one more piece to his incredible 2009 season: He is your American League Manager of the Year.
A more appropriate choice there never was.
In a rollicking, emotional season filled with tragedy and triumph, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 97 games and another divisional crown, thanks in large part ... 18Nov2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Baseball's hot stove season is finally in full swing, and rumors are flying out of the ballparks of every contender in both leagues.
From the Big A, reports are swirling in left field, where the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may make a significant upgrade with the potential acquisition of Curtis Granderson from ... 13Nov2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Hardly a week had gone by since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were eliminated from the playoffs before they hit their first offseason obstacle.
His name is Gary Matthews, Jr.
In what will likely be an emotional and turbulent offseason for the Angels, who saw no less than three star players and several ... 7Nov2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Continued
The most exciting event in baseball happened in the last 24 hours.
That's right, Bobby Abreu resigned with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim!
Let's face it, I care more about my dog's opinions on philosophy than the achievements of the New York Yankees. Congrats to them on a great ... 5Nov2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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[caption id="attachment_12970" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="The Angels had a tough time against the Yankees\' offensive power."][/caption]Well, it's finally over.
After 171 grueling regular and postseason games, after all of the ups and downs, tragedies and triumphs, the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim are getting a ... 29Oct2009 |
Johnathan Kroncke |
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Excellent analysis of Dodgers roster for 2010: http://yallkiltit.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/dodgerblast-spring-training-roster-analysis/ 
I was with the UCLA Alumni Band; I sat in the 4th row of the box seats, a few rows ...
Joey, your right, but what were you thinking was going to happen? whats your point here? you called every UCLA ...
I was at that game as well. Where'd you sit? 
Murshed Zaheed aka Nestor is a government employee and if you google his name you will find it is many ...