Why Brewer fans should embrace the Halos

As promised, I have returned after the Angels' epic sweep of the BoSox to encourage you, my Brew Crew Ball brethren, to hop aboard the Halos' bandwagon while there's still time.  I therefore present, in list form, reasons why the Brewer faithful should transfer their allegiance to the Angels.  At least until, oh, sometime in Mid-November.

17.  Class.  Arte Moreno may be the best owner in sports.  Mike Scioscia may be the best manager in baseball.

16.  Jason Kendall (part 1).  John Lackey will be starting game 1 for the Angels.  He was pitching in 2006 when I took my son (then 2) to a day game at Angel Stadium.  He plunked Kendall.  Kendall charged the mound.  (Baby's first benches-clearing brawl!) Kendall and Lackey hate each other.  So you should like Lackey.  Though I suppose it's possible that their argument was over who was better-looking....

15.  The Rock.  Bill Schroeder came up with the Brewers in 1983.  He played 6 seasons, then was traded to the Angels, where he closed out the final two years of his playing career.  Let's leave Gus Polidor out of the discussion....

14.  Rule 5.  The Brewers picked up Nick Green (not the Boston guy) from the Angels.  And the Brewers got more out of Turnbow than anyone had a right to expect.  Okay, sure, he sucked after the first half of 2006, but what do you want from a Rule 5 pickup?

13.  Gagne.  Speaking of bad closers, if he hadn't been juiced with the Dodgers, the Brewers never would have wasted $10M on an awful season of his services.  So you can't cheer for the Dodgers.  And the Angels knocked out the team where he did win a World Series, then parlayed it into the Brewers signing.

12.  The Angels.  This is a team that's fun to watch (See Figgy run!  Run, Figgy, run!).  They play baseball the "right way."  And I don't mean in some St. Louis-esque, self-styled, uber-serious "right way."  I mean they hit, run, hit & run, sacrifice, get productive outs, play excellent defense, put a good starter on the mound every night, etc.  And they look like they're having fun.  It's a GAME!  Watch Torii Hunter or Vlad Guerrero smile, and you'll know what I mean. 

11.  Monkeys.  This gives you an excuse to buy a Rally Monkey.  And who doesn't like monkeys?

10.  Barry.  The Angels ended Barry Bonds' last, best, hope for a World Series ring.  Yes, it was in the process of getting their own WS win, but fans who are appalled by juiced-up behemoths should still be grateful.  I mean, sure, we had Troy Glaus, but he's gone now (and a Cardinal, to boot!), and we hardly ever let Gary Matthews Jr. play!

9.  Philly.  The Phillies knocked the Brewers out of the postseason last year.  Then they won it all.  They had their turn.  Then they released Jenkins.  You can't cheer for them again, can you? 

8.  Manny.  The Angels are the LA team that does not have Manny.  Or MannyWood.  Or Manny dreadlock caps.  Or fertility drugs.  Or hypocritical fans that booed Barry (Which I agreed with) and cheer Manny (Which I don't agree with).

7.  Damn Yankees (Part 1).  They stole the Brewers' big (and I mean "BIG") free agent last year (CC).  They stole the Angels' big free agent last year (Teixeira).  The Brewers didn't even get a first round pick, and were left with Parra/Suppan/Bush/Looper as the 2/3/4/5 after YoGa.  You should hate them for that.  That and their general evilness.

6.  ESPN.  The Angels could become the first team to knock off both the Yankees and Red Sox in one season.  They'd be doing it for the 27 teams outside the New York/New England area.  And there shall be much lamenting from Bristol, CT.

5.  Damn Yankees (Part 2).  The 5 biggest contracts in baseball history:  1. A-Rod ($275M); 2. A-Rod ($252M); 3. Jeter ($189M); 4. Teixeira ($180M); 5. CC ($161M)  (Thanks to the LA Times for pointing out this one.)

4.  2010.  The Angels host the Brewers.  They also play the Cubs and Cardinals.  Would you trade a split vs. the Crew for a sweep of both the Cards and Cubs?  I'm not necessarily promising anything, but I'm just sayin'...

3.  Jason Kendall (part 2).  I live about a mile and a half from Jason Kendall's house in Manhattan Beach.  I can walk that distance while carrying several dozen eggs.  And my son has a heckuva pitching arm.  I'm not necessarily promising anything, but I'm just sayin'....

2.  1982.  Without the Angels taking a 2-0 ALCS lead, and then getting crushed by the Brewers in 3 straight games, the Legend of Harvey's Wallbangers would be cheapened.

1.  Nick Adenhart