2011 Personally

I had set up several resolutions for 2011(you can see them at this link: http://angelsfancrc.tumblr.com/post/2578796933/2011-resolutions). I may not have accomplished them all, but that doesn't mean I rested on my laurels this year. Here are just a few of my personal highlights in 2011:

• I got baptized this year. It was truly only since then that I have grown in the Lord. As a matter of fact, I didn't really do my own Bible reading and enjoyment until this year either. (So "Get closer to God" on my resolutions was accomplished).
• I met several new friends. Almost all of my new friends came from other schools (mainly UCLA and USC). They all basically came from the Christian clubs at the various schools. 
• Got closer to my friends, mostly the Christian Students at CSUN.
• Prepared myself for law school. Filled out applications, got some scholarships.

2011 in World Events

Well, its that time again. The obligatory year in review post. 2011 was a very important year. As a matter of fact, I would go as far as to say that 2011 was the most important year of my lifetime, at least in terms of global events. Here are just some of the things that happened:

• Arab Spring
• We saw revolutions in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. Yemen and Jordan got new governments. Syria is on the rocks. Of course, it remains to be seen the final effects of Arab Spring, but it seems that its influences is less on the direct governments on those countries, but more the fact that we are seeing more social activist movements, such as Occupy, worldwide.
• Japan Quake
• Japan had the single costliest disaster in world history when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the region, causing a massive tsunami killing over 15,000 people and costing Japan $235 billion in production losses and damages. The quake also produced the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which was considered the most dangerous in history, on par with Chernobyl. The disasters wrecked Japan's economy because of the loss of production. They're just now getting their economic foundations back together, a whole 9 months after the disaster.
• Death to the Dictator
• 2011 saw the deaths of very important people: Osama bin Laden, Libyan dictator Moammar Ghadaffi, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il just to name a few.
• Collapse of European Economy
• Greece and Italy's economies basically collapsed this year and the worth of the Euro is plunging. Meanwhile, it seems that Germany is basically keeping everybody else afloat while waiting for the economy to recover.
• End of the Iraq War
• The United State formally ends operations in Iraq, ending a major conflict that had taken up basically the entire period of my life where I was cognizant of the news and global affairs.

Ryan Braun

Today, news leaked out that Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun allegedly tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs. He won the 2011 Most Valuable Player Award. He is now facing a 50-game suspension.

This news is shocking. Every other major superstar who has been caught or has admitted use (Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmiero, Jason Giambi, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz) has been suspected. Even the biggest cynic couldn't have thought Braun was on the juice. I know I never suspected it.

I recently thought about who were the best players who played their entire careers in the post-steroid era. Three players came up. Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, and Ryan Braun. Ryan Braun won out. He was the best post-steroid player.

Post-steroid means we don't have to worry about players juicing the game anymore. Baseball has moved beyond that. Or so I thought. My trust has been broken moreso now than even when players in the late 1990s were being accused. It was the culture then. I thought we were beyond that. No player now is to be trusted either. Every player I look at, I have to wonder if they are enhancing themselves unnaturally. This is heartbreaking.

Also, he is the reigning MVP. Never before has the reigning MVP been caught like this (allegedly). What is going to happen to the award. Alex Rodriguez (2003,2005,2007) kept his MVP awards after his admission. Same with Ken Kaminiti (1996). Same with Jason Giambi (2001). But they were all caught years later, not during an MVP season. So now its easier to revoke because there is little baseball to interfere with our memories. Also, there is a clear 2nd place candidate who was very close to MVP. 3rd place isn't even close. Matt Kemp of the Dodgers himself would have won MVP if any game was influenced by Braun juicing (allegedly). That's how close it seemed to be. It's not like Braun was the only deserving player. It is in my humble opinion that Kemp was actually robbed of the MVP. But, there is no precendent for post-actively taking away an award. That's why I doubt the BaseBall Writers Association of America will revote for MVP.

It's just shocking and sad.

Albert Pujols/CJ Wilson signings

For a guy who has the term "angelsfancrc" in his URL, I sure don't talk about the Angels a lot. Or baseball for that matter. But today, I had to make a post. If I didn't, I think I might be legally obligated to change my URL. (Well, at least in CA. In Missouri, they would love it. Come to think of it, this blog might now be banned in that state now). The events of this morning were a seismic shift in the MLB and shocked the world.

Last night I had posted on Twitter that I had hoped that Albert Pujols, the free agent first baseman widely considered among the best players of all time, and CJ Wilson, the left handed free agent starter that was on the Texas Rangers, would sign by the time I woke up. I was afraid the free agent frenzy would distract me from the ethics papers I needed to write today. I had heard the Angels were in the race for both, but expected Pujols to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals (hometown discount; no way Angels would give him a good offer) and CJ Wilson to sign with the Florida Marlins (Money! Money! Money! MONEY! Some people got to have it! (Great, now I have the O'Jays stuck in my head!)) .

This morning I wake up and check facebook on my phone, like I always do. I had seen a post from LAA Insider on my facebook wall that Albert Pujols had signed with the Angels. I was still half-asleep, so I figured it would be one of those "What if?" articles that blogs do when their teams lose players they were going after. But, I noticed I had three text messages, so I read those. I was actually reading correctly. This was not a "What if?" post. I then checked my twitter for confirmation. It was true. At the time I woke up, my twitter was already abuzz with the CJ Wilson news too. So much for me being able to focus on my ethics papers today.

I would like to go over the impact of the CJ Wilson signing first. He signed for 5 years/$75 million, which coincidentally are the exact numbers I was hoping he would sign for. Yesterday, I was praying the Angels would not sign CJ Wilson. I was figuring he would want 6 years/$110 million. I did not want that much money going to a guy who would be our 3rd best starter and has only been pitching in the starting rotation in Texas for 2 years. Not a lot to go by there. I was hoping we would sign Mark Buerhle, another free agent starting pitcher, even though there weren't even rumors of the Angels pursuing him. He signed yesterday with the Marlins for 4 years/ $58 million. I was hoping maybe Huroki Kuroda, who still hasn't signed.

Well we got CJ Wilson for terms I am extremely pleased by. This move, I feel makes the Angels rotation the strongest in MLB outside of maybe the San Francisco Giants (although they traded a good pitcher away in Jonathan Sanchez) or the Philadelphia Philles (o-ver-rat-ed). I mean, it strengthens our strength and adds depth and at that price, I'm not complaining to have the best starting pitcher on the market sign.

Of course, CJ Wilson shocked nobody. He had been rumored for a while to want to go to the Angels. It was the big kahuna that shocked the world. Albert Pujols. The most iconic player of our generation. The guy who had roots in St. Louis. He signed in Anaheim for 10 years/ $255 million.

Now I am not a fan of long-term, blockbuster contract. If I was a GM, I would not have made this deal quite honestly. Yes, he's the best player in baseball, but that type of contract financially hampers a franchise. It limits the ability to make moves or to resign your players.

Today, I am happy that I am not the GM of the Angels. I, for once, am happy about the Angels signing this blockbuster deal. We get an iconic player. This is the only player we have had in our history that is an established icon and can continue to perform like an icon for at least a portion of his time with the Angels. The only players who can be considered icons to play for the Angels were Nolan Ryan (before he became an icon) and Reggie Jackson (about five years past his prime).

Also, we were embarrassed last offseason. We were in the race for Carl Crawford. He practically begged to join the Angels. Yet, somehow, he winds up in Boston (quite possibly the only team I hate. I have stated that I refuse to get intimate with a girl who is a Red Sox fan. I wasn't joking). So instead, we trade our great offensive hitter (Mike Napoli) and take on what is unanimously considered the worst contract in baseball (Vernon Wells). Napoli is traded to our rivals and helps them nearly win the World Series. Wells, statistically, actually cost the Angels at least one game in 2010. Yea. It feels good to actually make some offseason moves and be considered winners in an offseason for once.

Also, it helps the Angels gain a foothold in Southern California sports. They've always been second tier to the Dodgers. Well the Dodgers are trying to find new ownership and are in a bit of a downward spiral. But it won't be long for the Angel's opportunity to expand in LA to close. I'm glad the Angel seized the opportunity. They took the publicity of an icon and honestly, people will be talking about the Anaheim team for a while. The Dodgers, for once, will be in the Angels shadow.

Also, Angels fans will get to watch historic milestones that will be remembered by our fanbase. That is what baseball is about. Building memories. Every Angels fan will be a part of a special moment when Pujols hits his 500th, 600th, and possibly 700th home runs. That alone will be worth it to a lot of fans. I almost feel bad for St. Louis fans because I feel that they should've been a part of this process, not us usurpers. We cheated them of the big moments.

Let's also not forget Pujols is still a productive player. Yes, he statistically has been on the decline the last couple years. Those statistics also are still near-MVP number. If he can produce to the caliber he is capable of and has shown even the last two years, the Angels are championship contenders, especially with that rotation. Speaking of building memories, a World Series title is more important than the individual milestones (I dont think a lot of Angels fans remember where they were when Reggie JAckson hit his 500th HR, but we all know where we were when that last out was made in October 2002).

Yes, ten years is a long time. Pujols probably won't be worth it after five or six years. The money might be too much for us to be able to resign Dan Haren. But I will worry about those things when they come. For now, I am going to enjoy that for just this once, Anaheim is on top and has one of the best players in baseball history.