# Rough week for MLB's Angels **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 9, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520 "2009-04-09T16:06:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/1 "2009-04-09T16:06:47Z")
A fan was killed at the Angels’ stadium after the Opening Day game: [Link](http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-angels-fan-dead9-2009apr09,0,5769572.story) A pitcher who’d appeared in the same game (?) was killed in a car crash that night too: [Link](http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-nick-adenhart-killed10-2009apr10,0,5362563.story) That’s just mind-bogglingly tragic. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/2 "2009-04-09T16:40:59Z")
I posted about it in the Death Pool thread, but yeah- this is just awful. Adenhart was a 1st round pick, and at one time was the top pitching prospect in the minors. He ran into a buzz saw last year, but the Angels gave him another shot at the majors due to injuries to Lackey and Santana. He was 22 years old. The kid pitched his ass off last night. ☹ At least they caught the fucker who was driving the hit-and-run minivan… :mad: Here is a picture of the car [Adenhart was riding in](http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/09/angels-starting-pitcher-killed-after-ball-game/)- three of the four occupants are dead, the fourth is in hospital. I am guessing they might cancel the game tonight, but no word yet from the team. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/3 "2009-04-09T16:42:20Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > A pitcher who’d appeared in the same game (?) was killed in a car crash that night too: [Link](http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-nick-adenhart-killed10-2009apr10,0,5362563.story) Adenhart was killed after last night’s game- I don’t think he pitched on Opening Day. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/4 "2009-04-09T16:53:10Z")
Man. I got no love for the Angels but six scoreless in your fourth ML start, then some asshole kills you? Fuck, man. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/5 "2009-04-09T17:05:36Z")
Just so tragic to see any kid this age lose his life. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/6 "2009-04-09T17:39:19Z")
I was wrong- he WOULD have gone in the first round, except that he had a terrible elbow injury right before the draft, requiring Tommy John surgery. The Angels picked him anyway. > [@](#): > > Adenhart’s rise with the Angels reflected his faith in the team and the team’s faith in modern medicine. As a senior at Williamsport High School in Silver Spring, Md., in 2004, Adenhart was projected to be one of the top picks in baseball’s annual draft, which would have made him an instant millionaire. > > However, two weeks before the draft, Adenhart suffered an elbow injury so severe that reconstructive surgery would be required. > > The Angels picked him anyway, in the 14th round of the draft, where signing bonuses generally run four figures instead of seven. At that point, Adenhart had planned to have the operation, then attend the University of North Carolina, play for its baseball team after rehabilitation and rebuild his status as a prospect. > > But the Angels, confident in the success of the procedure popularly known as “Tommy John surgery,” convinced Adenhart to sign with them and rehabilitate under their care. They persuaded him in part with a $710,000 signing bonus, roughly what he would have made had he been drafted in the second round. Good guy, good team. This sucks. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/7 "2009-04-09T19:08:14Z")
things like this are the 2x4 of life. reminders for us to live and appreciate each moment. a very, very bad decision by a 22 year old kills 3 people. his hopes and dreams are over. his reality will be a jail cell. a 22 year old lives his dream of playing major league baseball. then is killed by a 22 year old. there is so much anguish. so much heartbreak. so little that can be done to “fix” it. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/8 "2009-04-09T19:10:36Z")
Oh Christ, check this out from Faux News- > [@](#): > > Andrew Gallo, 22, of Riverside has a history of drunk driving, was behind the wheel with a suspended license and is currently in custody facing felony charges, according to authorities in Fullerton, Calif. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/9 "2009-04-09T19:42:23Z")
I’m listening to the White Sox game right now on the radio. Ed Farmer mentioned that he was talking to Scioscia last week and Scioscia said Adenhart wasn’t just his most promising pitcher going into the year, but a great player to work with - there was nothing he wasn’t willing to learn or face. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/10 "2009-04-09T23:30:46Z")
Being a baseball fan, I frigging hate Scott Boras. However, Nick’s mom asked him to speak at the press conference on behalf of the family, and **he broke down and sobbed like a little girl**. I had no idea he was even partly human. ☹ Also, a chunk of concrete fell off the stadium the other night, grazing a fan. The 20 or so people in that section were relocated to an empty dugout suite behind home plate. The Angels play in one of the oldest stadiums in the league (1966). WTF?!? ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/11 "2009-04-10T00:34:47Z")
I was at last nite’s game. Nick pitched out of any trouble he got himself into. The bullpen let him down, but he pitched great. I was so confident that this was his breakout year, I drafted him for my fantasy league. This morn when I heard the news, I called my mom and both of us cried. The US needs to get tough on drunk driving. It should be murder if you drive drunk and kill someone. The first offense for driving under the influence should be 30 days in jail and it should be some serious jail time for the second offense. My condolences go out to his family and friends. This is just sad. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/12 "2009-04-10T01:11:43Z")
**deb** , the penalty for 1st offense DUI is 30 days (at least it was for me), but it’s usually suspended. And word around the courthouse this afternoon is that Gallo will be charged with multiple murder counts. I’m jealous that you were at the game last night- we figured we had all season to see him pitch, and that he would just get better and better. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/13 "2009-04-10T02:11:55Z")
> [@deb2world](#): > > The US needs to get tough on drunk driving. It should be murder if you drive drunk and kill someone. The first offense for driving under the influence should be 30 days in jail and it should be some serious jail time for the second offense. I have no faith in the police or the legislatures ability to handle draconian measures with any semblance of care and tact. Drunk Driving is stupid, but imprisoning everyone who has a glass of wine at dinner and drives wouldn’t improve things. Arbitrary limits and mandated sentences are equally stupid and useless. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/14 "2009-04-10T02:28:18Z")
From doing some google searching, it appears that the driver can be charged with murder. [Cite](http://southern-california-dui-defense.com/grossvmdui.html) ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/15 "2009-04-10T17:50:32Z")
**EJsGirl** , I know what you mean I thought for sure he was going to be our 5th starter. I am still heartbroken, It is like losing a family member, he was one of our team. I have watched his progress thru the minors and was excited about him getting a shot this year, now we just have the what if’s. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/16 "2009-04-10T19:20:17Z")
Tell me about it- my husband knew of him as a high school pitcher, and told me his story after the draft. We’ve been watching him closely, and this is just terrible. I went to my first Angels game in the summer of 1967- I was three weeks old! 🆒 Been a big fan ever since, even in those years when we couldn’t **give** our tickets away. The Angels are as much a family as a franchise- Gene Autry certainly saw his players that way, and after a few false starts ( 😉 ), I think Moreno & Scioscia are carrying that legacy forward. I wish we were going tonight but Red Sox tickets go fast… ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/17 "2009-04-10T20:07:55Z")
Iwish I had my tickets left to give to you. But I sold them earlier this week. I only hope it was to Angles fans who need to go to the game. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/18 "2009-04-11T02:01:12Z")
The pregame show at the Angels-Red Sox game was tough. I’m glad that Jim Adenhart is there tonight. I watched grown men cry during the national anthem. Big, tough, major leaguers. Play ball, boys. I promise it will help, a little. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/19 "2009-04-11T02:10:42Z")
And I watched 'em cry again during the moment of silence on the field, before the announcer said “Thank you- now let’s play ball.” Everyone in uniform, for both teams, came out and paid tribute. Nicely done. Jerrod Weaver is pitching, after writing Nick’s initials in the dirt on the mound, which bears Nick’s number. The Angels are only fielding 24 players tonight. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-week-for-mlbs-angels/492520/20 "2009-04-13T18:17:14Z")
I taped the game adn watched it later. I sure needed that tissue I had on hand. Unfortunately now I am waiting for the next shoe to drop.