The April 6th, 2012 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Torii Hunter tweets about interesting encounter with the police, Trumbo to get Opening Day start at third base, Angels announce minor league rosters  and much more...

The Story: Torii Hunter had an encounter with the police at his own home and tweeted about it.

The Monkey Says:  According to Hunter, the security alarm went off at his home and the police showed up with their guns unholstered, but not pointed at him.  He had to produce his ID to prove it was his home.  Obviously, this is a touchy subject because it might appear that Hunter was treated with suspicion since he was a black man in a nice home, but on the other hand, one would hope that the police wouldn't just take a potential intruder at his word that he is the homeowner.

The Story: Mike Scioscia intends to start Mark Trumbo at third base on Opening Day.

The Monkey Says: With a lefty pitching for the Royals and extreme flyball pitcher Jered Weaver starting for the Angels, it makes a world of sense for Trumbo to get the start, so this may not be the vote of confidence that some might view it as.

I believe in momentum.

It’s not that I don’t get “tomorrow is another day” and “one game at a time,” but get serious:  we live in a crazy, competitive, capitalistic world.  We play on the edge, and yes you might spot your niece a bishop here or there while playing chess but when the chips are down we all bring out the biggest hammer in our toolbox.  Ask brother Romney.  It’s better to be ahead, and the landscape changes drastically when you’re not.

Every April, May and usually partway into June I notice some Angel fans posting on boards that games don’t really matter yet.  Bull.  Every game counts, and the sooner a team gets a lead the better chance they have of winning the division.  I mean, how can you argue that point?  The “don’t panic till after the All Star Break” crowd must be doing something with peanuts I haven’t done in decades.  Or was that banana peels?

Scioscia has demonstrated his belief that getting most of the 25 man roster in on as many games as possible in one week, preferably using six different lineups, is the ultimate in managerial style.  It’s a long season, after all.  Great, I understand 162 games is a tough row to hoe but how does that fit into playing to win every day?

How the Angels do in the first three series will speak volumes about the direction and quality of the team.  For all you stat-heads 9/162 is about 5% or so of the season, although I like to see it as 1/20th.  Or consider that with an average of three games per series and 162 games that gives 54 series per season.  The schedule is three at home against the Royals, then three against the Twins and three against the Yankees away.  We’re talking six games against teams that were a total 56 games below .500 last year and three against the Yankees.

What do you expect out of those nine games?  Seriously would, 5-4 be OK with you?

The April 5th, 2012 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Abreu's attitude improving, Trumbo continues to settle in a third base, Angels set their roster and much more...

The Story: Unnamed Angel player claims Bobby Abreu is improving in attitude and becoming more accepting of his reduced role.

The Monkey Says:  That is good news, but it also means that he was acting noticeably disgruntled prior to this week for this anonymous player's comment to even be possible.

The Story: Mark Trumbo continues to settle in at third base.

The Monkey Says: Trumbo has been better than expected, but he is going to be an adventure at times.  For example, in yesterday's game he made a nice back-handed stop down the line, but failed to get properly set after the catch, causing his throw be well off-line.  To me, these are correctable issues that just come with getting more reps at the hot corner.

This might be my favorite post to write each year.  Making predictions about the coming season is just good ol' fashioned fun, and I'm actually getting better at it as shown by the predictions from last year I got right:

• 87 wins for the Angels. OK, not quite nailed, but close enough.
• Reagins not making any deadline trades because the team has no money.  NAILED IT!
• Kazmir waived by the end of May.  I overshot it by a few weeks, but I was trying to be nice at the time.
• Fernando Rodney for team LVP.  One could argue it was Vernon Wells, but Fraudney was so bad and depleted the bullpen so much as a result that I get this one on the spirit of the prediction.
• The Angels needing to scoop a veteran pitcher off the scrap heap to replace injured Joel Pineiro.  See Williams, Jerome.

Now, here are the predictions I missed horribly:

• Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter as co-MVP of the team.  I'm embarrassed.
• No Hank Conger until September.  Never underestimate Mike Scioscia's willingness to carry three catchers.

As for picking the rest of MLB, that I still suck at, so just ignore that part of last year's predictions if you don't mind. 

Alright, enough screwing around and living in the past.  Let's look ahead to this year and make some bold predictions!

I write this article just before every season.  Each time I try and think outside the box to pinpoint the most important Angel since it isn't always the most obvious choice.  This year, I tried to do the same thing but couldn't find anything outside of the box.  No, try as I might, the answer I kept coming back to was Kendrys Morales.

Morales isn't the most obvious choice, that would be Albert Pujols.  However, Pujols really isn't the most important Angel because he is such a known quantity.  Barring an act of God, Pujols is going to be somewhere in between great and incredibly great for the Angels this season.  We know this.  What we don't know is just how good everyone around him is going to be.

Enter Morales.

With a starting rotation that is almost certainly going to be one of the league's best, the big challenge for the Halos will be to score enough runs to back up their awesome starting pitching.  In other words, it is just like every other season since 2009.  And what happened in 2009?  Kendrys Morales had his breakout season and helped the Angels set a team record for runs scored in a season.  I think you see where I am going with this.

The Angels need to score more runs than last season, probably a lot more runs.  OK, maybe not a lot, but it definitely wouldn't hurt.  Having Pujols in the heart of the lineup will certainly be a big step towards that end, but even he needs some help.

Almost... there...  Opening Day is so, very close for the Angels but they do have a few housekeeping matters to tend to before Friday.  Namely, they must decide on the final bench and rotation spots.  Not exactly the most scintillating topic, but a necessary one nonetheless.  So who's going to make the team and who's going to get a pat on the back accompanied by a one-way ticket to Salt Lake?

Quick note, I'm assuming the Angels dump Bobby Abreu either via trade or just straight out release him, so that means there are two potential bench openings to consider for the purposes of this exercise.

Alexi Amarista

Why?  Because he is fun-sized!  Also, he plays second base and the outfield and can probably even make the occasional cameo at shortstop and third should the need arise.  His biggest asset though is that he is speedy and is thus could actually see a fair amount of use as a pinch-runner.

Why not?  Because umpires keep mistaking him for the batboy (short jokes never get old).  Also, if the Angels have real designs on him taking over the Izturis role next year, Amarista is better off in the minors playing daily and getting more familiar with the defensive positions that he has little experience at.

Jorge Cantu

Why?  Because he had a good year or two a few years ago.  Also, he theoretically can play both corner infield positions and provide some pop off the bench.

Why not?  Because communism works, in theory.  Also, Cantu, in practice, is a miserable defensive player and because the Angel lineup is improved this year, they have almost no need for a pinch-hitter off the bench, regardless of whether or not he actually still has pop in his bat.

Ryan Langerhans

Why?  Because Jerry Dipoto is down with OBP.  Also, Langerhans is a fine defender at all three outfield positions and swings a left-handed stick, which makes him a more ideal replacement for Abreu.

Why not?  Because he had a bad spring, which shouldn't matter but somehow probably will.  Also, the Angel outfielders are all good defensively, so a defensive replacement is not something they need.

The April 2nd, 2012 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including Abreu trade died over money, Jason Isringhausen was given a spot in the Angel bullpen, Kendrys Morales will not be limited on the basepaths and much more...

The Story: The Bobby Abreu trade to Cleveland died to disagreement over how much of his salary the Indians would pay.

The Monkey Says: Dipoto: How about $1 million?  Antonetti: No.  Dipoto: $100,000 maybe?  Antonetti: Not a chance.  Dipoto: OK, fine, $500?  Antonetti: I'm about to hang up on you.  Dipoto: Alright, final offer $1? Antonetti: Hmm... can't do it.  Dipoto: I completely understand.

The Story: Jason Isringhausen was added to the 40-man roster, assuring him of a spot in the Angel bullpen.

The Monkey Says: Izzy got all his mechanics figured out just in time to win the roster spot.  He was going to retire if the Angels had opted to release him instead.