Jerry's Kids Get Spanked by Angels: Omar wonders "can you really not fire 25 guys?"

Two Ramon "sleepyHEAD" Castro-size helmets guard the entrance to "Angela" Stadium; I hear they are a great place to meet other white elderly baseball fans.


Excited to make history by attending the first game of the Manuel Era, how was I to know that, after sitting in an hour of constant traffic on the 5 freeway, I would arrive at a game that was essentially over in the first inning when Reyes childishly threw a tantrum and left the building after tweaking a hammy and being removed from the game? Yes, that disturbing event led to the insertion of Damion Easley at shortstop, which led to butchered play after butchered play until the Angels had an insurmountable lead (read: 2 runs). I was there folks and this was awful to watch. Any other Manuel in the National League East sits Reyes down for a game to think about showing up the manager and embarrassing the already red-faced franchise. I recommend this course of action heartily. But Manuel has already shown he is Willie-lite by already letting Reyes off the hook without a disciplining that would show this team he means business. Who is to say Oberkfell will even want to manage this mess by the end of the season?

Setting all the off the field drama aside, recall the fact is that the Mets got Johan Santana to dominate. And he has not been dominating. He may be in the near future (second half), but I have seen him just about each time he pitches and "dominance" is the wrong word to describe his performance. "Past his primey" would be a better word, if that was a word. Tonight, he was getting hit hard. Sitting behind the plate drove this home. Hard. Smack. Thwack. Swack. All over the park. It made me sick.

I could say a lot more about the putrid Met defense, and I will soon. I could also say that by the end of this game, even the Mets ball boy had to be fearing for his job. But for now, I'll let my lousy pictures do the talking.


There is nothing to do in Anaheim but at least the park isn't hard to find. Just follow the traffic.














2 or three of the 7 current Mets catchers shown here shagging during BP.















New Met shags some balls for Christ.















Joe Smith manages to keep his cool with fans around.



















Angels stadium voted best view of the freeway, 35 years and counting.



















My seats...not too shabby.




















Not a good sign---expected Manuel to bring out line up cards, but i think this was Sadly Alomar Sr. I thought Jerry promised Sadly would not be coaching third?















Oh shit, this is the new regime. Does this guy want to win? How does Delgado not DH?????















Angels Stadium--I haven't seen this many happy white folks since they renewed M*A*S*H















One odd feature of the park: are those sniper nests?




















Jose Reyes, right before he injures himself and throws a hissy fit at Manuel during the first minute of the game. No further pictures of this since my head was buried in my hands.



















Mr Bungle replaces Reyes, ruins my evening.



















Radar gun or Mets baseball IQ? hard to say.



















Jerry Manuel's Bermuda Triangle Defense. Marlon, Tatis and Easley. $137 mil. Amazin'.














This guy is an animal. And I have to note, his back looked fine to me.



















The stadium was packed. Lil Jeffy, if you're paying attention, I figured out why...



















Not the smoking embers of the Mets playoff hopes. California people just like fireworks.



















The whole story.















As I left the park, i couldn't help noticing Gene Autry in oddly Delgado-esque fielding position.