The 110 Report » Gary Matthews Jr.

Gary Matthews, Jr. Headed to New York, Angels ‘Stoked’

Johnathan Kroncke — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:54:06 +0000

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 good use when they sent reserve outfielder and resident malcontent Gary Matthews, Jr. to the New York Mets, agreeing to pay more than $21 million of the remaining $23.5 million left on his contract.

It’s not often you see a team is willing to pay a player that kind of money just to go away, but in this case, it’s a welcome sacrifice. … [visit site to read more]

Gary Matthews, Jr. Headed to New York, Angels ‘Stoked’ - The 110 Report - The 110 Report - A Los Angeles Sports Site

Gary Matthews, Jr.: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

Johnathan Kroncke — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:45:18 +0000

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 more reserves filing for free agency already, the team’s chief concern has become a bench player who is still under contract for two more years.

Perhaps, though, that is why Matthews chose to make his irritating move now.

The starting outfield for the Angels is already set, but the team did have three outfielders enter the free agent market this week in Vladimir Guerrero, Robb Quinlan, and Reggie Willits.

Guerrero may be offered a contract, but it likely won’t amount to much and expectation are that he’ll be flailing away for a new club next season.

Quinlan has been a fine reserve off the bench, but his defensive abilities are somewhat limited and the Angels have plenty of young talent coming down the outfield and infield pipes—where Quinlan serves as a backup.

… [visit site to read more]

Gary Matthews, Jr.: Should He Stay or Should He Go? - The 110 Report - The 110 Report - A Los Angeles Sports Site

Angels Throw Away Game 2: Yankees 4, Angels 3

Bill Seitz — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:32:04 +0000

Just an atrocious way to end a game that the Yankees tried to give away. I don’t even know what to say after this one. Time and time again the Angels had chances to take control, and time and time again they refused to cash in. For some reason, the Angels have not come to the ALCS prepared to play, and it has cost them the first two games of the season. They wasted an excellent effort from Joe Saunders and Kevin Jepsen, and now they head back to Anaheim with a must win game on Monday afternoon.

The Yankees got the scoring started in the second inning. Nick Swisher worked a two out walk, and Robinson Cano tripled him home. Derek Jeter’s third inning homer gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead. The Angels got both runs back in the fifth inning. Maicer Izturis led the inning off with a ground rule double, and Erick Aybar singled him home. After Chone Figgins was hit by a pitch, and Torii Hunter walked, Yankees starter A.J. Burnett threw a wild pitch that scored Aybar to tie the game.

The bullpens battled it out into extra innings, with Joe Girardi burning through his best pitchers early, while the Angels went to the 10th with some of their best arms unused. In the 11th inning, Gary Matthews walked to lead off the inning. After Aybar bunted him to second, Chone Figgins singled him home to give the Angels a 3-2 lead. Mike Scioscia called upon closer Brian Fuentes to end the game, but he surrendered a lead off home run to Alex Rodriguez that tied the game. It came on an 0-2 pitch, but in Fuentes’ defense, the ball barely cleared the wall in right field, and would have been a routine fly ball in every single professional ball park in the country. Only in the joke of a ball park they built in the Bronx would that be a home run. Yankee Stadium is really an embarrassment to baseball.

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Angels Throw Away Game 2: Yankees 4, Angels 3 - The 110 Report - The 110 Report - A Los Angeles Sports Site