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Y E S T E R D A Y . . .

Athletics 6, Angels 1: This is just getting ridiculous. The Angels’ offense continued to perform at a kindergarten level as the Halos posted their fourth defeat in the last five games. The offense has now scored two runs in the last 4 games. Let me repeat that: 2 RUNS IN 4 GAMES! A hitters’ only meeting before the game was supposed to turn things around, but guys seemed over-anxious. I watched as many a hitter swung at first pitches, bad pitches, and pitcher’s pitches. The Angels better right the ship of they’ll come out of this series with the 2nd place A’s breathing down their necks.

Dodgers 4, Astros 1: Did So-Cal baseball return to the dead ball era without anyone telling me? This is what the Astros brought to the table last night: a struggling Roy Oswalt and a mess of a clubhouse where one of their pitchers recently choked their GM and essentially got himself ostracized from baseball. That, apparently, is a winning recipe against this woeful Dodgers squad. The now have scored two runs in their past 3 games in large part because they have a disabled list that could be profiled on Lives of the Rich and Famous there’s so much wasted money sitting there (Andruw Jones, Pierre, Furcal, Nomar, Schmidt).

T O D A Y . . .

Athletics at Angels (7:05 p.m. PST, FSN): Don’t expect the offensive output to get much better for the Halos in this one, as the red hot and actually healthy Rich Harden takes the hill for Oakland. Don’t count out the Halos though because they send their own would be ace to the mound in Ervin Santana. And I know this team is full of free swingers but showing the slightest amount of patience, as Erick Aybar did last night in working two walks, would go a long way in fixing things. It could be something as simple as oh I don’t know….NOT SWINGING AT THE FIRST PITCH!

Dodgers at Astros (5:05 p.m. PST, PRIME HD): The Dodgers send Clayton Kershaw to the hill against Wandy Rodriguez hoping their offense can give the young phenom some support out there. Luckily for the Dodgers their awfulness just falls in line with the rest of the NL West, allowing them to be in much better position than they were last year at this time. Let’s see how this team looks when (if?) they get all their pieces back together.

N E W S W O R T H Y . . .

• NBA Free agency kicks off today in what has become sort of its de facto opening ceremony: two Clippers (this time Elton Brand and Corey Maggette) opting out of their contracts to look for more money glory elsewhere.
• The Lakers on the other hand sent offers to their two restricted free agenst, Ronny Turiaf and Sasha Vujacic.
• Andrew Bynum’s agent has made it known his client wants the max extension next summer. Yikes.
• As mentioned early, Juan Pierre is headed to the D.L. and will probably be out 4-6 weeks.
• The Kings will be looking to add some veteran presence in free agency this offseason.
• The O.C. will be represented very nicely on the this particular U.S. Olympic team.

C O L U M N S . . .

• T.J. Simers takes a look at the Wizard of Westwood and learns that he is set in his ways. Substance over style, a well-played game vs. just an entertaining one, oh yeah — and no tattoos. John Wooden has earned the right to take this seemingly uncool attitude. And if you every attend a game at Pauley Pavillion you’ll notice the “coolest” man in the room being approached by a bevy a young, beautiful coeds and being looked at in awe by male peers a like.That man is John Wooden.
• Bill Dwyre knows how to fix fan’s perception of NBA. The perception that there is an officiating bias that always seems to exist in some form. Dwyre suggests a basketball style Mitchell report that names names and doesn’t sweep anything under the rug. Good luck with that Dwyre. David Stern runs the league with an iron fist and will reject that suggestion faster than you can say Donaghy.
• SportsHubLA Column of the Day: In celebration, or maybe it’s mourning, of Corey Maggette and Elton Brand opting out Mark Whicker looks at how a promising Clippers team, that was supposed to challenge the Lakers for So-Cal basketball supremacy, has completely fallen apart. Here let me write that column in 10 words or less: injuries, poor free agent signings (Tim Thomas), and most importantly Donald Sterling.

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