Midsummer feel on opening night

Some comments and opinions on a balmy, summer-like opening night at Angel Stadium:

• The highlight of an otherwise toned-down, uneventful pregame ceremony was a heartwarming tribute to Preston Gomez, the late, beloved Angels executive who died on Jan. 13 at age 86 after devoting 65 years of his life to professional baseball. Anyone who has spent any time around this organization misses Gomez, one of the classiest people you could ever meet. The start of a new baseball season just doesn't seem the same without him.

• In his first official Angels at-bat, the ultra-selective Bobby Abreu typically works the count to 3-2 before singling up the middle. Vlad Guerrero, the next hitter, swings at the first pitch and grounds out meekly to the pitcher. Some things never change.

• Manager Mike Scioscia ranks his top three post-spring-training young (meaning still a year or two away) prospects: 1. Hank Conger, catcher. "He could hit in the big leagues right now," says Scioscia. 2. Jordan Walden, pitcher. The 100 mph kid had it up to 96 on his fastball in Arizona. "It wouldn't surprise me if he's here with us in the second half," says the manager. 3. Peter Bourjos, the 22-year-old center fielder who is the fastest player in the organization. "He can do a lot of things."

• By the way, isn't it time Matt Brown was ranked among the Angels' Top 10 prospects? I know he's 26, and scouts say he doesn't have great "tools." But since when is hitting not a tool? The kid averaged .320 at Triple-A last season and absolutely mashed the ball all spring (.468 average, .787 slugging percentage), leading the team with 19 RBIs. Scioscia and the Angels are now convinced he could start for a lot of teams in the major leagues.                                                            

• Oakland's starting rotation is shaky, to say the least. But the A's lineup, with Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera and Jason Giambi, is a huge upgrade from a year ago. Ask Jack Cust. He hit third, fourth or fifth for the A's all last year. Now he bats eighth.   

• Let's see, there were already two splintered bats in the first four innings on opening night. Sure glad major league baseball fixed that bad wood problem.

• Howie Kendrick is the Angels' early hitting star, driving in one run with an opposite-field single, then smoking a fifth-inning home run deep into the right center field bleachers. Scioscia's best decision of the spring was moving Abreu from the No. 2 spot in the batting order, where he had him originally, to No. 3, elevating Kendrick to the second spot. Both players are better suited for their new slots.

• In a move sure to worry Angels fans, Scioscia had to move Guerrero from right field to DH right before the game when his star player reported "tightness in his chest muscle." You never want to hear that, especially on opening night.

• Joe Saunders, who continues to be the Angels' most underrated player, dispensed six and two-thirds crisp, shutout innings, allowing only three hits, to pave the way for the 3-0 victory. He is not flashy, so people don't talk about him much. But start for start, Saunders might be the most consistent pitcher on the staff.

-- Steve Bisheff

Bobby Abreu #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim wears a patch embroidered with the name "Preston" to recognize the life of former Angels special assistant to the general manager, Preston Gomez during the opening day game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on April 6, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Athletics 3-0. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Comments

[Brian]

It's nice to see the LA Times finally has an Angels blog and Steve Bisheff is back. I guess I'll have to check this blog out every night.

Was Vlad's chest muscle as sore as Joe Saunder's arm was dead? Maybe it was an excuse to just have him DH? I wish Vlad would just start DHing a lot more. He can keep his career going a lot longer. The Angels don't need his defense, they need his bat.

[Tim]

Lets thank the LA times for putting the best sports writer in Souther California back out there for us to read!

Howie is not the typical #2 hitter (NEVER WALKS) but I do agree he is going to excell hitting there this year.

Matt Brown was so impressive this spring, That I'm ready to package Figgy and B. Wood to San Diego for Jake Peavy. When John Lackey leaves in free agency this winter it won't be as bad if we have Peavy.

I'm not ready to drink the Joe Saunders coolaid yet. I don't think he can do what he did lats year....BUT he looked really good last night!

[Terry Crow]

Good to see the "dean" of SoCal sportswriters back in action. Bisheff has forgotten more than the rest know. He is a true insider and I look forward to his blog.

[Darryl]

Bravo for giving Bisheff a platform. Arnie may not always appreciate Steve's comments, but that speaks to the value of a good sports columnist.

All this good young talent ready for The Show, but blocked? Do I see future trade bait if most of the starting rotation remains on the DL?