Starting pitching options for the Angels

Bronson Arroyo has signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and it's hard to believe the Angels haven't made a bigger push for someone like him - though I like the Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs acquisitions as far picking up two young guys who can potentially be viable starting pitchers, I was hoping the Angels could pick up a durable veteran who can pitch around 200 innings for at least the next couple of seasons [even though Arroyo is closer to 40 than to 20].

According to what I read, the Angels put out an offer to Matt Garza, but took it back quickly, so Garza ended up signing with Milwaukee - the two key free agent starting pitchers are Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana.

I think either one has shown enough ability, skills and aptitude as Major League pitchers - but maybe there is a certain distrust in either one that make them sort of iffy pick ups.

Maybe the Angels should throw caution to the wind and attempt to sign one or the other - however, I don't know if the Angels would be willing to reunite with Santana and Jimenez seems like basically a younger version of Santana, which means neither one is a suitable option unless the Angels.

Trade with "é rayhahn, rayhahn" - adding depth to my Angels collection

Minnesota Twins fan and card blogger Rhubarb_Runner saw my 2012 Topps Tribute pack break on my blog and wanted the Joe Mauer base card - he wanted to do a bigger deal though I was stumped, wondering what other card I really have for trade?

MAYBE THIS SITUATION ILLUSTRATES HOW I CAN USE MY INSERT DATABASE THAT I'VE WORKED ON - I sorted my database of inserts to look for Twins cards and actually found some trade bait.

I put together a list and was eager to see if there was any interest in the cards I rounded up - apparently there was interest and after thinking about the cards I was actually going to be sending and what I was getting back, I relented to get something done.

I don't want to be too greedy about keeping most cards featuring players - that aren't exactly 'my guys' from 'my team.'

I got jersey / memorabilia cards [of Ervin Santana and Howie Kendrick], a 2008 Topps Heritage Chrome refractor of Mike Napoli and a handful of Angels inserts and serial #'d cards - some nice cards to add to the collective.

Congratulations Ervin Santana - no hit pitcher

The only time I thought about Ervin Santana before learning he threw a no-hitter was when I was at All-You-Can-Eat Japanese restaurant by the mall in Orange, California - I was headed to the restroom and among the pictures posted along the wall of patrons who have been to the restaurant, was a picture of Santana with one of the 'chefs.'

'Hey, that's Ervin Santana,' I said to myself.

I thought while Santana is not quite up there with Jered Weaver and Dan Haren, he's been pretty good when he is locked in - he has a nice and smooth pitching delivery and through the up-and-downs he's had, he has actually had a solid career record as an Angel.

When getting back to the table, I wondered if he had pitched today - I think the Angel game was at 9:30 a.m. and I wondered if I'd catch a replay later on.

I had no idea he pitched quite a game in Cleveland - I was flipping around radio stations and one of the local sports ones mentioned they were about to interview Angels catcher Bobby Wilson once the Angels got into Detroit for their next series, because the big story of the day was Santana's no-hit feat [despite allowing one unearned run in a 3-1 win].