The Big A: Anaheim's little slice of heaven

Outdistancing such quibbles is the world-class customer service that owner Arte Moreno and staff insist on. And a family vibe that surpasses every other Southern California sports venue -- no F-bombs exploding all around, no near-fights over beach balls. From a family standpoint, the Angels have it going, the lousy hot dogs notwithstanding. If you are going to serve me a lousy hot dog at a ballpark, just go ahead and poison me, for I will be that miserable.

The baseball itself? Mostly sublime. The Angels (46-37) boast more .300 hitters than the Gashouse Gang. Most nights they come ready to knock down Gibraltar with their ash and maple bats.

Some gripe that the Angels lack pizazz, but I don't see that. Out on the main lawn, Torii Hunter does the work of two men. He's nursing a groin pull now, but if he played on one leg and without a glove, he would still be better than half the center fielders in the game.

And Chone Figgins (sounds like English pudding, doesn't it?) is as gutty a little infielder as the game has to offer.

Vladimir Guerrero? I am a major fan of oddball physical feats: Garo Yepremian throwing a football, Carlos Zambrano throwing a fit. So to watch Vladdy run the bases at this stage of his career brings me a beer-like joy.

The other night, he reminded me of those videos you see of a deer that wanders into a convenience store only to be trapped in the toiletries aisle, all legs and adrenaline. Let's hope his bum wheel mends quickly.

"See that man run?" I tell my 6-year-old.

"Yeah?"

"Don't ever run like that," I say.

Honestly, an Angels game contains all that is good about going to a ballpark. In person, there is more perspective, more nuance. You can appreciate the way the defense moves with each pitch. You can worry for the infielders at dusk, as they struggle with a monster pop-up against a cotton-candy sky.

Baseball isn't a game; it's way bigger than that.

And these Angels get it right.

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Erskine also writes the "Man of the House" column in Saturday's Home section.

chris.erskine@latimes.com