Manny Out, Tex In

Dropping into the Yard to weigh in on two of the big trades this week - Manny to Dodgers and Tex to the Halos. No real way to replace Manny, he's one of the best hitters in the game. I'm definitely glad he's out of the AL, the guy owned me. Glad to see him go, will not miss facing him. I could be throwing my best stuff and he will square up on it. The guy is amazing. I guess it was time for them to part ways. Jason Bay is solid but there really isn't a way to replace Manny. It's awesome getting Big Tex. He can swing it for sure. Got to face him several times when he was with the Rangers and was amazed at his talent. Getting a hitter the caliber of Mark is a perfect fit into this lineup. Can't wait to see the damage he will do the next couple of months. We all know what type of player this guy is so we were all ecstatic when we heard the news. At the same time, tough to see Kotch go. He was rock solid over at first base and is going to be a good player for a long time, but as you all know you have to give up something good to get that in return. I like the move. Tex is an impact player. The long ball can change the game in a heartbeat and that's what he is capable of. He drives in runs like crazy too. Impact player for sure. Thrilled to have him. With the bats and the pitching it doesn't seem like we have any weaknesses. We just need to stay healthy, focused and consistent.

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• oflarity said August 02, 2008

  I'm excited to have Tex in Anaheim, but would have preferred that the Angels give up Kendry Morales instead of Kotchman...of course, the Braves probably wouldn't have bit on that unless someone of Adenhart's caliber were included in the deal. All in all, this gives the Halos the best chance to win the World Series this year, and if that happens, I can't complain.

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• lightitup said August 02, 2008

  Life is good under the Halo! Good luck tomorrow against the Yanks, Big John!

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• 1Halo_Luvr said August 02, 2008

  Hey John...
  Right there with you on the Manny move! He is like a Vlad...and can blast even the best of the best...you included! Very sad to Casey leave the club, but I know that it was a good trade for all involved. Casey will have great opportunities in the future and he will always have "Halo Blood" running through him. Excited to see Teix on Monday in his new home. You know us Angel Fans....we will welcome him with open arms!
  
  Good luck tomorrow....not that it is needed...but bringing home a winning road record to start August is a great thing. GO ANGELS!!!!! Let's keep that Halo lit!

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  • oflarity replied August 02, 2008

    Regarding that Manny trade - I think both the Dodgers and the Red Sox made off very well. The Dodgers obviously got the big bat they desperately need. And maybe I'm alone here, but I think the Red Sox actually got better with the addition of Jason Bay. Sure, he doesn't have the name or the presence that Manny has - but Bay has more years ahead of him than Manny, obviously anything is an defensive upgrade over Manny, and I think at this point in their respective careers, Bay is an offensive upgrade. He was already hitting .283, 22 HR, and 64 RBI in a Pittsburgh lineup that is not nearly as dangerous as Boston's. Plus, as a left-handed bat, I think he makes the Boston lineup more dynamic - you can now throw out Youkilis-Ortiz-Lowell-Bay-Drew....before, if you got past the Ortiz-Manny duo, you were usually ok. Now, pitchers have to get past a 5-headed R-L-R-L-R combination that's already accumulated 86 homers and 302 RBI - and that's with all of Ortiz's time off.
• Mizzy21390 said August 02, 2008

  Go on and beat/sweep those Yankees! (from a Red Sox fan).. plz do... U guys are rly good...

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  • soxdynasty replied August 02, 2008

    Right on Mizzy!
• soxdynasty said August 02, 2008

  John, fantastic performance in the Boston game. You deserved the no hitter. Kick those Yankee butts!

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• michele said August 02, 2008

  i happened to like the yankees. but i have a lot of respect for the boston red sox

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• michele said August 02, 2008

  i also have respect for the angels

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• FIVERINGS said August 02, 2008

  Sure miss Tex with the Rangers, but he wasn't happy and it wasn't good for the clubhouse. I can still visualize him in the lineup with the current team. He has an awesome bat swing.

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  • oflarity replied August 03, 2008

    I still don't understand why the Rangers didn't hold on to Adrian Gonzalez if they weren't planning on keeping Teixeira for the long haul.
• johnlackeyfan said August 03, 2008

  Glad to see that we might have a better chance this year with Mark! hope you have a good game tommorow!

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• SouthernWebb04 said August 03, 2008

  Have to agree with you FIVERINGS, I sort of miss Tex out here for the Rangers. But, the way he went out of town, left a sour taste in my and most of the Ranger's management's mouths. I thought for sure that no AL West team would go after him, and sure enough, we'll have to play him often now.

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  • FIVERINGS replied August 03, 2008

    Kind of like losing Soriano, too. I didn't like that move either. Yes, Tex will be back to victimize us every year now.
• npcPronk29 said August 02, 2008

  Not sure anyone is going to be able to contend with you and that pitching staff. Adding Teixeira is just added fire power at this point.

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• gonzalez said August 03, 2008

  did you here that they are goin to make manny get rid of the hair.havin hair like that would drive me mad.

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• davejb851 said August 04, 2008

  As much as Manny's bat will be missed, his defense, lack of effort, and Manny being Manny attitude won't.
  With all that the Sox had, and the disruption in the clubhouse they lost 5 or 6 at home.....see a problem. Now without the attitude, and with Jason Bay the Sox sweep the Athletics.
  It's like a breath of fresh air, a change of commitment and desire.......now on to the playoffs

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• bloodbrother said August 05, 2008

  That was a pretty big Grand Slam Teix hit on Sunday, eh John? Too bad the D had a very uncharacteristic game and coughed it up. Oh well, the team was due for a bit of a clunker. Had another hiccup in the 9th tonight but the team fought back immediately to get the walk off.......walk for the win, lol
  
  keep on rolling, guys!

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• VegasAngel said August 05, 2008

  We were in Cooperstown last week (my 12yr old son played at the Dreams Park - SO cool!) when y'all swept Boston and you camethisclose to your no hitter. It was so fun to be on the east coast watching all those Boston and NYY fans squirm ... a near no-no and Tex :) I'm really excited to see what Tex can bring down the stretch, but also very sad to see Kotch go. I love watching our "home grown" guys suceed. Very glad Arredondo didn't go into the Braves deal!

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• gogators13 said August 05, 2008

  im 12 and im a pitcher in my little league im wondering wear mlb pitchers get there gloves and yea i totally agree with vegasangel it was so kewl watchin u guys kill the red sox

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• aforstner said August 11, 2008

  I'm with VegasAngel. There's nothing more beautiful than seeing Yankee and Red Sox fans - and the ESPN brass - squirm. Let's root on those Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox Angel fans!!! If they can overtake Boston for the Wild-Card we may just get a potseason without the Yankees or the Red Sox!!! That would be SOOOOO amazing!!!
  If I have to hear the National Media continue to call the Yankees - who are 5 games out of a playoff spot right now - "contenders", while the Minnesota Twins of the world - who are less than 1 game out of a playoff spot right now - are ignored (unless they're playing the Yankees or Red Sox), I'm gonna go crazy!!
  If the national media would take their New York-to-Boston blinders off they would see that the real baseball is being played elswhere. It's actually kinda sad to see the national media living in the past. They still think Aaron Boone's HR in the 2003 ALCS just happened yesterday. They can't get over it, and now they're stuck following around 2nd and 3rd place teams trying desperately to find ways to keep them relevant. It's sad...it really, really is.

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