Albert Pujols Joins 500 Home Run Club

Albert Pujols has joined the elite 500 Home Run Club, becoming the 26th player ever to do so.

The Los Angeles Angels first baseman became the first guy to hit his 499th and 500th in the same game, driving in five runs in his team's 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals Tuesday night. Both longballs came off right-hander Taylor Jordan: a three-run bomb in the first inning and another for two in the fifth.

Pujols is the third-youngest player to reach the home run milestone, just two years older than Alex Rodriguez and Jimmie Foxx, who were both 32. He also just so happened to hit his 400th at Nationals ballpark as a St. Louis Cardinal.

Oddly enough, both people who caught the home run balls were Angels fans. Roy Kirkley returned No. 499 to Pujols before Tom Sherrill, also from California, caught Pujols' 500th and gave it back after the game. Don't these people know if you hold out long enough you can get season tickets and signed merchandise? Amateurs.

The three-time National League MVP, who leads the Angels with 19 RBIs, is on quite a tear as of late. All eight of his homers this season have come in his last 13 games.

[ESPN]

Do You Love Mike Trout Enough to Look Completely Ridiculous?

Thought so.

Season Previews: Los Angeles Angels

With Spring Training well underway, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Five years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Moving right along with our preview of the American League West, get a load of the 2012 Los Angeles Angels.

Holy crap Angels
A force to be reckoned with
After this winter

Changed the dynamics
By signing Albert Pujols
And C.J. Wilson

Vernon Wells in left
Peter Bourjus in center
Love Torii Hunter!

Aybar at short stop
Howie Kendrick at second
Callaspo at third

Chris Iannetta
Will squat behind home plate with
Conger backing up

Dynamics Changing in the American League

Please enjoy this guest post...

With the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim going all in with the ten year, $250 million deal for St. Louis Cardinals superstar first baseman Albert Pujols, the dynamics of the entire American League look to be different as the Angels will join the New York Yankees as preseason favorites in MLB betting odds.

The Angels recently signed a multi-billion dollar deal with Fox for television rights to their games which all of a sudden gave them Yankee-type power and influence that they immediately put to work with the addition of Pujols, who was an instrumental leader in the Cardinals making their near impossible run as World Series champions last fall.

Albert Pujols Gives St. Louis Cardinals Fans Some Kindling Other than His Jersey

After one hot mess of a woman was recorded setting her Albert Pujols jersey on fire in her bathrobe on Thursday, I'm sure many other distraught St. Louis Cardinals fans followed suit. However, the former face of the franchise has given them some new kindling for their burning pleasure: a heartfelt open letter via the newspaper.

Upon leaving the only team he has ever known in favor of sunnier skies and a 10-year, $254 million contract, Pujols (who stated in 2009 that "money isn't everything") demanded the attention of Cardinal Nation one last time. Along with his loving wife Deidre, he took out this full page ad on Friday in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

St. Louis Woman Sets Fire to Albert Pujols Jersey in Her Bathrobe

This woman has more serious issues than being sad about Albert Pujols leaving her beloved St. Louis Cardinals for sunnier skies and millions of dollars this morning. According to her camera-wielding son, it was 9:48am on a Thursday and she was still in her bathrobe. Get your life together, lady.

Los Angeles Angels Sign C.J. Wilson for Five Years, Steal Winter Meetings Thunder

The Los Angeles Angels have had a pretty good day. In fact, they just stole the stage from the talent-hoarding Miami Marlins.

After snatching up Albert Pujols in one of the gaudiest bidding wars in the history of baseball, the Angels also snagged top free agent pitcher C.J. Wilson Thursday morning at the winter meetings in Dallas.

The left-hander will earn $77.5 million over the next five seasons in Anaheim, joining what has now become the most ridiculous rotation in the American League with Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana. Holy crap that's a lot of aces. Hopefully Wilson can figure out how to pitch in the postseason.

Albert Pujols Finally Makes up His Mind, Signs with Los Angeles Angels

Honestly, we love Albert Pujols and think he's great and everything, but we have to admit we were getting pretty sick of hearing his name and only his name above all else so far during the winter meetings. And pretty much all offseason. And during the end of the regular season when perhaps he was "playing his last game in a Cardinals uniform" every game for a straight month. Pretty sure Tim McCarver uttered that phrase at least 16 times during the World Series. That's why he's a legend, people.

The Los Angeles Angels swooped in and managed to sign Pujols Thursday morning to the tune of $254 million over ten seasons, which is absolutely ridiculous, but we all knew it would be no matter where he signed.

C.J. Wilson May Take His Straightedge Hipster Act to Anaheim and Pitch for the Angels

As if Cliff Lee ditching the Texas Rangers via free agency in 2010 wasn't a punch in the gut, now it seems C.J. Wilson is about to be a right hook to the nuts of Arlington.

The lefty ace and his stupid hipster winter hat/groomsman get-up must be enjoying free agency an awful lot. Rumor has it after a recent trip to California, he's getting awfully chummy with the Los Angeles Angels.

Wilson has a super secret meeting scheduled with the Angels' front office for this coming Monday, which will surely be the end of what could have been a beautiful re-signing in Texas. Everyone saw this one coming, though. Not only was he born and raised in Southern California, he also trains there in the offseason and loves to call the place home. One thing he does not do in beautiful, fun Southern Cali is enjoy the nightlife. Or day-drink. Two things I would do a lot of if I lived there.

You see, C.J. Wilson is what we like to refer to as "lame." He likes to refer to himself as "straightedge" -- which was only cool in the 90s when we were like 11 and couldn't reach the liquor cabinet yet.

Never, under any circumstances, trust a man who doesn't drink. Unless he has a great story about a transvestite and a lamp shade from his last known inebriation.

Haren Outduels Sabathia, Angels Creeping on Rangers

Dan Haren was the better pitcher Saturday night when his Los Angeles Angels stomped the New York Yankees by a score of 6-0 in Anaheim, bringing the Halos to within 1 1/2 games of the American League West-leading Texas Rangers.

Haren tossed an impressive four-hitter for his fifth career shutout, retiring 18 straight batters at one point. The three-time All-Star righty struck out seven and walked none for the 13th time in his 31 starts the season, marking the fifteenth time in his career he'd lasted nine whole innings.

Nelson Cruz Hurts Hamstring, Out Three Weeks

After injuring his hamstring once again, Nelson Cruz is expected to miss about three weeks of baseball.

The AL West-leading Texas Rangers confirmed a grade 1 strain Monday after reviewing his MRI. So now he gets to have an injection in his left hamstring. Ouch.

Jered Weaver Suspended Six Games for Near Beheading

Jered Weaver has been reprimanded for throwing a pitch in the vicinity of Alex Avila's head during Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The Los Angeles Angels righty was suspended six games for the brushback and fined an undisclosed amount while his manager, Mike Scioscia has to sit out one game for losing his temper. The two were ejected in the bottom of the seventh inning after home plate umpire Henry Wendelstedt had issued warnings to both teams.

It all started right after Carlos Guillen showboated his second home run of the season. Good job on those two bombs, by the way. The next pitch Weaver tossed sailed just over Avila’s noggin.

Ervin Santana No-Hits the Cleveland Indians

Congratulations to Ervin Santana on pitching his first career no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians Wednesday for a 3-1 Halos victory.

It wasn't pretty, but he struck out 10 and allowed only two base runners all day. Erick Aybar committed an error on the very first batter, totally screwing up the perfecto, but Santana walked Lonnie Chisenhall in the eighth anyways so I guess it wouldn't have mattered. He never did give up a hit, though. Pretty big deal.

Rivalries and Sweet, Sweet Redemption

Most of you may remember our Ballpark Photo Contest we held back in January, where we asked you to send in your pictures to be voted upon by readers. The winner of that glorious contest was a sassy young lady holding a pork-chop-on-a-stick at Target Field, but one of the runners up was the poor guy on the left, Atlanta Braves fan Mateo Walter and his friend David Gregory (the Los Angeles Angels fan on the right).

The two guys have an ongoing bet: during Interleague play, when one of their favorite teams inevitably loses, they have to don the winner's jersey. It's an embarrassing disaster and we absolutely love it.

Kendry Morales' Ankle Won't Heal Without Surgery

The Los Angeles Angels are once again without Kendry Morales since he has decided to undergo another season-ending surgery on his left ankle.

The first baseman has been sidelined since May 29 of last year when he busted the ankle celebrating a walkoff grand slam at home plate. He was kicking ass too, leading the club with 11 homers and 39 RBI at the time of his injury. Crappy.

Who Are You and What Have You Done With the Indians

Look out American League Central, here come the 8-2 Cleveland Indians.

The Tribe, fresh off a sweep of the Seattle Mariners, carried their winning streak to eight games Monday with a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Thanks to longballs by Asdrubal Cabrera and Matt LaPorta, along with some good defense and outstanding pitching, Talbot was able to take the shutout into the ninth inning before Bobby Abreu led off the ninth with a double on his 112th pitch. The righty was then lifted for Vinnie Pestano, who retired the Halos, 1-2-3. Talbot, who surrendered just five hits with four strikeouts and two walks, had this to say about his team's success:

"I don’t think anybody expected us to come out like this. But you look down this lineup and it’s pretty good. It's unbelievable... It's awesome. The thing is, I think we're capable of keeping it going."

Season Previews: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

With Spring Training already underway, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Four years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Finishing up with our preview of the American League West, here are the LA Angels of Anaheim.

Mike Scioscia's Angels
Could go either way this year.
Will they shine? Or Flop?

Bobby Abreu
Aging and DH-ing. Made
Room for Wells in left.

Bourjos in center (?)
Torii's getting older, he's
In right. Still bad-ass.

Kendry Morales
Fixed his broken leg, but now
Has a sore foot. Great.

How does infield look
Now? Eybar, Callaspo, with
Izturis, Hendrick?

We Thought Garret Anderson Retired Already

After 17 seasons in the game, Garret Anderson is hanging up his glove. Funny, we totally thought he retired already.

The 38-year-old left fielder broke into the majors back in 1994 and ended up compiling more than 2,500 hits, 287 home runs, and a career batting average of .293. He also enjoyed a World Series title with the Los Angeles Angels in 2002 and three All-Star selections.

Anderson spent his first 15 big league seasons with the Halos before joining the Atlanta Braves in 2009 and the cross-town Dodgers last season, in which he batted .181 with two homers and 12 RBI in 80 games.

Yep... it was time to call it quits. The old schooler had this to say Tuesday in a team press release:

"It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to retire from baseball. It was truly a privilege to play this wonderful game and for that I want to thank several individuals."

Happy trails, Gary.

[Big League Stew]

The Votes Are In!

After a 14 year wait, Bert Blyleven is can finally add "Hall of Famer" to his resume. Bert joins Roberto Alomar as the two 2011 Hall of Fame inductees announced earlier today. Alomar made it on his second year on the ballot with a whopping 90% of the vote, up from a frustrating 73.7% last year.

During Blyleven's 22 season career, he amassed an amazing 3,701 strikeouts, 287 wins, a 3.31 ERA, 2 All-star teams, 2 World Series rings, and a no-hitter. Despite being 13 wins shy of 300, he pitched an additional 79 quality starts in which he earned no decision. He also pitched an astounding 242 complete games. Aside from all of the numbers and stats, he may be even more well known and beloved by many for his colorful personality on and off the field, and for his post-baseball career.

Dodgers, Angels and Braves Tie Up Loose Ends

The Los Angeles Dodgers have given Tony Gwynn, Jr. a one-year deal worth $675,000.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who played for the San Diego Padres last season, became a free agent when his Hall of Fame father's former team failed to offer him a 2011 contract.

He's not all bad, though. Gwynn, a career .276 pinch hitter, swiped a career-high 17 bases in 21 attempts over 117 games with the Padres last year.