No Figgins, Guerrero, or Lackey for Angels in 2010: Arte Moreno Fooled Us All

Arte Moreno had us all fooled.

Thanks to the free agent signings, the stadium improvements, and the winning ball club, we all thought Anaheim was a big market city.

We loved the atmosphere at Angel Stadium, the rally monkey, and the perennial winner.

You fooled us all, Arte!

I looked the other way when the Angels lost Chone Figgins—no easy task when you consider it was a loss within the division.

I understood when word came that no attempt was being made to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero. 

I cringed but was open-minded when word came of the team's interest in Hideki Matsui.

Now comes word that John Lackey will be wearing red in 2010. Boston Red Sox red.

For the first time in years, I can see that the emperor has no clothes.

This economy is adding pressure in a lot of different areas to a lot of different people. Corrupt companies are not surviving, high-priced merchandise is sitting on the shelves, and mid to low market teams are skipping this year's free-agent signings.

The Angels, it turns out, fall into the latter category.

Losing Figgins was about money. Losing Lackey is about money. Contemplating Matsui is about money.

The Angels can absorb the loss of Figgins with Brandon Wood, but how does the team expect to survive losing Lackey?

Torii Hunter was fooled.

When asked about the possibility of his Angel team acquiring both Lackey and Roy Halladay, Hunter said, "I want to do both. Why not be greedy and do both?"

Teams based in New York and Boston are greedy. Teams based in Anaheim and Milwaukee simply hope for the best.

The Angels' hope rests on acquiring Halladay. If that happens, it will come through trade and not a free agent signing, so money shouldn't be a big player in the decision. At least not 2010 money.

By signing Lackey, the Red Sox send a message to all of Anaheim. It's the type of message a big brother may send to the little brother who got a lucky punch in. It's a reminder message. 

The Angels may have gotten the better of the Sox in 2009, but Boston remains the big fish. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it would appear, were just a puffed-up blowfish, not the big bad shark we all thought we were supporting.

You fooled us all, Arte Moreno.

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