2013 Quarry Unlimited - #23 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Part 2

Thursday, 2 January 2014

After reviewing the Angels 2013 roster, I am left with a nagging question regarding fandom in modern baseball that I first remember hearing in a Seinfeld I think.  Instead of cheering for baseball teams, we are really cheering for laundry.  The reason I bring this up is because there are 4 former Rockies (including 3 former starters) on the Angels.  I love the fact that Brad Hawpe was able to make a slight comeback this year, but it was more of a nostalgia feeling instead of actually cheering for him.  This is why I appreciate guys such as Todd Helton, Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins, and Mariano Rivera that spend their entire career in one uniform, but at least two of them have already retired and the others probably aren't far behind.  I guess there are going to be guys like Tulo, Clayton Kershaw, David Wright, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, and Joey Votto that could be in that category in the future, but it's increasingly unlikely.  Tulo was involved in trade rumors this offseason, Wright and King Felix are likely to leave as free agents in a couple of years, and who knows about the rest.  I realize that Pandora's box is already open regarding free agency, but I can't help but wax a little nostalgic for the good old days of cheering for my team and not just my uniform.  Let's take a look at the second half of the 2013 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

My Top 5 Angels Cards
1. Jered Weaver
2. Erick Aybar
3. Brendan Harris
4. Kole Calhoun
5. Mike Trout

I love a good complaining photo and the Jered Weaver is a perfect example of a complaint.  I guess he is arguing a play at the plate after a wild pitch based on the positioning of the catcher.  The Erick Aybar double dip card showcases both entertainment value and impressive flexibility.  Nice combo.  The Brendan Harris is all about the background of Angel Stadium.  The interplay of colors is just fantastic on that card.  The Kole Calhoun card features the Angels uniform from back when I liked them, the mid 80's California Angels.  It also has a nice darkness quality to it.  Finally, I couldn't go by without mentioning the fantastic expression on Mike Trout's face.  He looks like the perfect cross of a kid on Christmas morning and a demented clown.



Coming tomorrow - #24 Miami Marlins

Thanx for reading.

comments | | Read More...

Daily Book Graphics #1389

©1975

comments | | Read More...

10 Necessary Elements of an Author Website

Here's one of my agenting secrets: If a query catches my interest and a website link is included in the signature, I will click on the link. There are certain things I expect to see on an author website and other things that add to the experience. Whether you're building a website from scratch or are planning to update a current one, here is a quick checklist of ten necessary elements for an author website.

Professional Photo

The photo on your website should be a step above an Instagram selfie. A first impression is still a first impression - even if it's online. If you don't want to pay a photographer to take professional head shots, it's easy to emulate the process at home. (Check out this blog post for some tips.)

Two Bios

A bio is a crucial part of an author website. Two bios is even better than one. Write a short bio with only the most important information. Then, write an even longer bio for those of us who are too curious for our own good and need to know everything.

Book Information

As an agent, this is the section of your website that I'm most interested in. Make sure you include brief descriptions of your completed manuscripts (and maybe even your work-in-progress). This is an easy way for agents to know what you're working on (especially if you write different genres and/or categories). Having book information on your website is also a great idea to entice potential readers early on. If you're already published, then you'll want to include links to where your book(s) can be purchased.

Contact Information

This is so important and often overlooked. Always include an email address that you check on a regular basis. A contact page is also a great place to include the name and contact information of your literary agent (if you already have one).

Publicity Page

This is where you can link to interviews, guest blog posts, or any other type of publicity you've taken part in. It's an excellent catch-all page to promote your smaller work.

Events Calendar

If you're a social butterfly, let people know what events you'll be attending. Listing conferences and other writing events shows that you are dedicated, willing to learn, and eager to network with others in the industry.

Social Media Links

I think it's safe to assume that one of the reasons you have an author website in the first place is because you want to promote your work. Having easy links to your social media accounts encourages potential readers to follow you whichever way is easiest for them.

Simple Design

Don't let yourself get too wrapped up in the design of your website. Clean and simple is best. Let the content shine through.

Recent Blog Posts

If you're going to have a blog attached to your website, make sure it is updated on a regular basis. There's nothing worse than clicking on a blog link only to see that it hasn't been updated in fourteen months. It's best not to blog at all than to only write a post once a year.

Something For Your Readers

Remember that it won't only be industry folks visiting your website. You get digital bonus points for having something special for your readers. It's up to you to be creative and decide what you have to offer.

comments | | Read More...

2013 Quarry Unlimited - #23 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Part 1

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Last year, once again the Angels had the biggest free agent signing of the year, a really great manager, and the "best player on the planet" on their team and were once again a huge disappointment because...well you know...you have to pitch too.  Another reason why the Angels are not a very good team is, along with the Marlins and my Rockies, the Angels have one of the worst owners in all of baseball.  The Rockies ownership thinks they are smarter than everyone else, but aren't.  The Marlins owner is more concerned with gutting the business and making a profit than running a baseball team.  However, the Angels owner reminds me of when Daniel Snyder took over the Redskins.  He is looking for a collection of big names, never mind how they all work together out on the field.  For the time being, it isn't working and it doesn't look like it will be working in the near future.  Let's take a look at some team trivia.

ANGELS TEAM TRIVIA

# of players to play in a Angels game (1993-2013) - 387

# of those players to have a Angels card (as of today) - 292

% of Angels players to appear on a Angels card - 75.5%

Big names left out - Russell Branyan, Andres Galarraga, Glenallen Hill

# of new Angels in 2013 - 25

Total # of Angels in 2013 - 49

position on last year's list --   #22    =  DOWN 1

Let's take a look at the first half of the 2013 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with the team card leading the way.

I'll be back tomorrow with Part 2.

Thanx for reading.

comments | | Read More...