Maicer Izturis

Did you know that Maicer Izturis is the first player in Angels' history to have a last name beginning with I? I did.

Mike Scioscia

Did you know that Scioscia's teams enjoy bunting, and advancing the man from second to third, and taking the extra base? It's a shame that Scioscia's style of play has been so ignored by the media - you'd never know it from the commentary of baseball experts like Tom Brennaman, but the Angels are so unique that you might say there is a kind of "Angels baseball" that differentiates them from everyone else. Their prospects are required to bunt and hit-and-run throughout the minor league system, for God's sake! I hope this neglected genius gets discovered, and quick.

Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton put on a show for the ages last night with his record-breaking 28 HR first round performance in the Home Run Derby. Several of his home runs travelled over 500ft as 55,000 New Yorkers were chanting "Ham-il-ton! Ham-il-ton!" I must say, it got a little dusty in my place.

Joe Posnanski

Joe Po is one of the best baseball writers and bloggers working today. His Banny Logs on every Brian Bannister start are amazing, and his thoughts on random stuff like different regional driving styles and foods that seemed amazing when you were a kid but now seem repulsive (he's dubbed these "pixifoods") are always interesting.

Rich Harden

Another repeat, but bear with me. This year it's been extremely difficult to procure Red Sox tickets, so my first game isn't until 8/2 against the A's. But it just so happens one of my favorite pitchers ever is Rich Harden, A's ace - until now. Harden was traded to the Cubs yesterday (my early World Series pick). Though this obviously ruins my chances of seeing him pitch this season, it will probably do wonders for my fantasy squad as Harden has more K/9 than any other starting pitcher and is now moving to the NL.

Josh Hamilton

Josh is the current favorite for Feel Good Story of the Year, not to mention the AL triple crown. After battling with severe drug addictions Josh turned into a super-Christian who flat out rakes. As Babby said when I drafted him for our fantasy league:

Who's Josh Hamilton?

Gabe Kapler

Welcome back Gabe. You're a soldier.

Bill James

The world's most famous baseball statistician, Bill James is responsible for an entire school of thought called Sabermetrics. A current employee of the World Champion Boston Red Sox, James was recently listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2006. His influence has recently begun to stretch past baseball as some call me the Bill James of slow pitch softball.

Brad Radke

Brad tragically lost his Florida home and most of his possessions and sports memorabilia to what can only be described as a “mold catastrophe”. However, what can never be lost is that although he was offered in approximately 189 trades during the season, the 9-game winner was the motivational anchor of the Mordecai3FingerBrown pitching staff and helped lead the way to their first Fantasy Baseball championship in 2005.

Chase Utley

I've been mad at Chase ever since he hit a save-blowing home run off Papelbon on June 26, 2006. But how can you stay mad at a guy who posts his workout videos on his website? I know I can't.

Don Orsillo

The voice of the Red Sox, Don was easily the most excited person I've ever seen when I asked to take a picture with him. My only gripe is that he doesn't understand it always takes two pitches to fall behind 0-2.

Rich Harden

Harden possesses one of baseball's most electric fastballs to complement an absolutely devastating splitter. He's also a bitch.

Apr 8 Harden will miss his scheduled start on Tuesday due to a strained lat muscle, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Billy Mueller

Some call him a modern day warrior...others, a consummate professional. Me? I think he's a mean mean guy.

Lance Zawadzki

We wish the best of luck to our friend as he heads off to extended Spring Training with the Padres. Posted from my iPhone.

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Given that today is Valentine's Day, I figured I would honor my first true love: George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. His accomplishments - almost 600 career home runs, 10 straight Gold Gloves from 1990 to 1999, 8 straight games with a home run in 1993, etc. - speak for themselves. And he's always done it with style and grace. Junior and February 14: sweet emotion.