The All-Star Break Brings Many Royal Pains

Post date: Aug 11, 2010 4:33:16 AM

Tonight is the home finale for the Angels before the All-Star break, it will be broadcast on ESPN. As we finish up the series against the Kansas City Royals, we will be trying to salvage one game out of three, today's game should have decided a series winner, instead thanks to Brian Fuentes the goal tonight is not to get swept.

Many Angels' faithful blame Friday night's loss on Scot Shields and the Angels' bullpen, but in reality the responsibility falls to Brian Fuentes. It is a Closer's job to close the game, however with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Fuentes served up a ball that went too much over the plate allowing the Royals to tie and eventually win the game. I'm not going to rehash my feelings on Fuentes since by now if you have been a faithful reader, you know how I feel about him, Friday night's loss is just another example in the long list of examples that I've provided. Supporters of Fuentes argue that he's improving and that Fernando Rodney is going the opposite way that Brian Fuentes is, but I would argue that the only reason Rodney is not improving is because he is not given the opportunity to do so Rodney does not fit the setup role and as such, mistakes will be made.

Speaking of mistakes, it was a mistake not to select Jared Weaver to this year's American League All-Star team. Weaver leads all of Major League Baseball in Strikeouts and still was snubbed. In my opinion, if a player leads both leagues in important categories that are related to their specific position, they should be selected automatically. It is a travesty only one player from the host team, Torii Hunter which I'm ecstatic about, if the Angels only can have one selection on the All-Star team I'm glad that it's Hunter.

My best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy 4th of July, may God bless all of you and the United States of America.

-ICE