Watching Jeff DaVanon

So Jeff followed up his historic game Wednesday with a lovely at-bat on Friday. He legged out a single and later scored after taking evasive maneuvers to steer clear of a line drive. He went into the dugout and was never seen again. Curtis Pride stepped in at DH. At the end of the game, we finally learned that Jeff sprained his ankle and is day-to-day.

Further updates confirmed this, and he is expected back mid-week.

His return to action may be anticlimactic though, as Troy Glaus made a triumphant return to the Angels yesterday, and it is hoped that he will quickly be a huge contributor at DH.

Salmon was put on the DL to make room for Troy.

Jeff returns to the dugout after hitting for the cycle

So I returned from Europe yesterday and went to sleep way early and I will regret this choice until my dying day because Jeff hit for the cycle last night!!

How cool is that?

Just try to argue that Jeff fades by August.

Jeff became just the 4th Angel to hit for the cycle. Accomplishing the feat before him were Dave Winfield, Dan Ford, and Jim Fregosi (who did it twice). Not bad company to be in.

I've seen players come close to the cycle this year. Figgins had a chance twice I think, and I believe Quinlan also had the opportunity.

Quinlan was the one, according to Jeff's post game interview, who told him he had to try for it and hit a home run. So Jeff swung away as hard as he could, and got the homer. Jeff reportedly kept the lineup card and the homerun ball, and plans to make a special gift of them for his dad, former futility infielder Jerry DaVanon.

People always ask me "why him, why Jeff?" This is why. He's a bench player who just hit for the cycle. How can you not love that?

Since coming off the DL Jeff has changed from Mr. June into Mr. all-year-long and has been hitting .375 with an OBP of .419 and a SLG of .650

So I am pretending to not be jetlagged by surfing for Angel's news, and I am so excited that we beat the Yankees! As an added bonus, I spied a certain player's name scattered healthily throughout the game summaries. It's enough to just warm the cockles of my heart.

Despite all the news I've been watching (because my other option is Happy Days subtitled in arabic) there is no baseball news over here. None. It isn't even on the bloody sport ticker. I can tell you all about how sad people are that the UK marathoner dropped out of the race. I can discuss in detail the men's coxless sculls. But not a single thing about baseball.

Europe sucks. The bacon is weird and there is no baseball. And I am so bloody tired!

So anyone playing the Josh Paul drinking game got pretty drunk yesterday.

AK can wear high socks all he wants, but it doesn't seem to be helping his play.

I have to go on another business trip, so there won't be any updates in the next week. Unless I can convince my husband to do them. And don't hold your breath on that front.

I get at least one hit a day on people searching for Jeff's wife. I find that strange.

We watched Friday's game from the comfort of our home, and devised the following drinking game for people who don't like to drink. If you like to drink, you should reverse it. And I like Josh Paul, but still...

If Josh Paul actually catches and maintains control of a pitched baseball, drink

If Josh gets a hit, drink

If Josh throws out someone trying to steal, chug

If Josh participates in a successful play at the plate, chug

You come here for Jeff news, and I have none to offer. I went to Saturday's game, eschewing Friday's due to what I can only decide must be "delayed sympathetic back pain" and you won't ever see me at a day game because our seats are HOT and SUNNY! Anyway, Saturday was sadly lacking in any sort of Jeff action. There was some on Sunday, but just nothing particularly exciting. I did not miss AK this weekend, I didn't even notice he wasn't playing.

I like the new order. I'd actually forgotten that the batting order was something that could be changed.

From www.angelsbaseball.com

DaVanon back: Outfielder Jeff DaVanon, who was out since July 24 with lower back spasms, was activated for Tuesday night's game after finishing up a three-game rehab stint at Triple-A Salt Lake in which he batted .625 (5-for-8) with a home run, an RBI and four runs scored.

Jeff DaVanon / RF
		Born: 12/08/73 Height: 6'0" Weight: 200 lbs Bats: S / Throws: R More info: Player page Stats | Splits Team Site

"It's great to be back," DaVanon said. "Especially when the team is winning. It feels good to be part of it again. It's never cool to be in the minor leagues."

DaVanon said he was relieved that the back problem cleared up after a few weeks, which wasn't the case two years ago, when he missed three months of the minor league season with a similar problem.

"It hurt a lot, obviously, because I wouldn't have been on the DL if it didn't," DaVanon said. "But the thing that hurt the most was just the fact that I wasn't out there playing."

The Angels optioned catcher Wil Nieves back to Salt Lake to make room for DaVanon on the roster...

Jeff came off the DL yesterday and made a brief and forgettable appearance in the game.

The game, by the way, sucked.

Jeff played in Salt Lake Friday and Saturday and walked away with a batting average of like .700 or something insane. However, the Times reported yesterday that he "twisted his foot" in the game Saturday, delaying his return to the Angels for a day or two.

Has anyone else noticed that Quinlan runs like a machine? It is amazing.

We've won 4 in a row! Against some of the worst teams in the AL... but never mind that.

Jeff was reportedly sent to Salt Lake for rehab assignment.

In a new low for me, we actually listened to the last half of the game on the internet. Jeff did not come to the plate though, and I don't think he played at all in the game.

UPDATE: Jeff went 1-2 and had a stolen a base, and a walk. I guess he started the game in center and batted 2nd, and was already gone by the time we were listening.

I cannot believe I listened to a minor league game on the internet because of the chance that Jeff might play.

Shane Halter played though. I don't think he had an error, but I could be wrong.

Check this out.

Some people carry their obsessions a little too far if you ask me.

My husband says it's for charity and I should be nice.

Really I'm just jealous that other people have bid on it before I got the chance.

Although, it isn't exactly pretty. They can have it. I have my eye on the lovely one that GA's family did. Kidding, the plates are all ugly. Why would anyone want these things in their homes? And why would they spend 50-250 dollars on them?

I hang down my head
I hang down my head and cry...

hang down your head and cry,
cause our poor team is going to die.

I'll think no more on this game.
Sometimes you basically do everything right and it just doesn't go your way.

We'll simply speak no more of it, agreed?

Did I mention Jeff gets off the DL soon?

Raul Mondesi, aka the bane of my existence, was released from his contract with the Angels according to reports published this weekend. He took 2 leaves of absence recently to deal with the ongoing "family" issues in the D.R.. One leave was authorized, and one was not. He was supposed to be doing rehab in Orange in the hopes of again becoming a productive player or at least an asset of some variety. He ultimately played with the team for about a week. Although he did make appearances in the dugout when the A-team battled the D-team in the freeway series-- one can only assume he did that in the hopes of reminding his former team of his existence, since anyone with eyes could see that his days with the Angels were going to be anything but long and storied.

Rumour has it that Jeff will come off the DL as scheduled, and without having a rehab assignment.

There were games and stuff this weekend, right? We need to play better than *that* at home against Seattle. Come on! It was gratifying to see Quinlan get some respect and do so well. I think he's the best 3rd base replacement we've had, and I'd like to see Figgins put in at SS or 2nd. If nothing else Q is a massive improvement over Halter as a utility infielder. They should have put him on the roster ages ago.

Say what you will about his playing, there is a reason that Spezio retains a special place in the hearts and minds of Angels fans. He signed and chatted with fans before every game, was kind to absolutely everyone, showed good humor both with the fans and in interviews. No one that has joined the team in the past year really has that same way about them that Scott and Ecks and even Kennedy have. Instead we have Jose "Oh is it photo-op day?" Guillen. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have Guillen. But I can still mourn the loss of Scott.