Well, another year of Angels baseball is upon us. Gone are perennial fan favorites John Lackey, Chone Figgins, and Big Daddy Vladdy. New faces include Hideki Matsui, a mediocre 5th starter, and a reliever with such weak credentials he can’t even supplant Brian Fuentes in our bullpen.
A weak off-season to be sure, but by far the most disappointing off season decision was NOT castrating Scot Shields and sending him out to pasture.
Scot, now the last remaining player from the ’02 championship squad, is back in the pen. His role remains unclear, as Fernando Rodney looks to get a lot of 8th inning action, but his goal remains the same. To wreck any game in which he pitches. My biggest fear is that Shields’ ineptitude on the mound will lead to Matsui committing hari kari in the dugout.
Corky had better watch his back. A couple of false steps and he’ll be backing up Scott Schoeneweis at a charity softball game in Victorville. One can only hope.
Schoeneweis doesn’t pitch for charity.