When it comes to finding a new general manager for the Angels, I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I have some special insider information on the specific names they might be targeting.  What I can do though, is evaluate the types of GM candidates they might go after and why.  Some options are more realistic than others and some of the more realistic ones might make you want to pull your hair out.  Let's break it down and figure who is who and what is what.

Raise your hand if you a potential general manager candidate for the Angels.  Not so fast, Moneyball Boy!

The October 4th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Forsch and Sutherland ousted, DiSarcina a possible candidate for the GM job, sources are uncertain if the Angels will show interest in Theo Epstein and much more...

The Story: The Angels have ousted assistant GM Ken Forsch and special assistant Gary Sutherland, both long-time members of the Angel front office.

The Monkey Says: Heads continue to roll in the front office and this is as good a sign as any that Arte Moreno is serious about bringing in a new leader for the front office and not just making a public spectacle to curry favor with the fans before installing another figurehead to take Reagins' place.  Of course, we can't rule it out completely because of this next story...

The Story: Gary DiSarcina and Tory Hernandez could be in-house candidates to be promoted to general manager.

The Monkey Says: DiSar would no doubt be popular amongst the fans, but he is still a guy that has been in part of the front office for a few years now and is thus infected by the Reagins stink.

Unless you happen to be talking to Tony Reagins' mother, you won't find a single person who doesn't think the Angels did the right thing by parting ways with their embattled general manager.  What you will get differing opinions on is exactly why it is Reagins was fired.

We all know how catastrophic his trades for Vernon Wells and Scott Kazmir were.  His negotiations with big name free agents are the subject of punchlines across the league.  The contracts he did actually work out mostly blew up in his face.  Even a die-hard Reagins apologist would have a hard time disputing those claims, so it is safe to say that Arte Moreno definitely had cause to kick Tony to the curb.  That's not the question here.  Ridding himself of Reagins is merely a means to an end for Moreno, we just don't know what that end is.

The October 3rd, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including all kinds of reaction to the firing of Tony Reagins, speculation on candidates to be the new GM, Callaspo involved in paternity dispute and much more...

The Story: Did Tony Reagins gets fired or did he resign?

The Monkey Says: The big quote that keeps getting putting out there was the quote from team president John Carpino that "this wasn't a plan."  I don't know how much I really buy that, though it certainly was curious that Reagins just the day before was making the rounds in the media talking about plans for the off-season.  I have a hard time believing he wasn't fired or, at a minimum, given several ultimatums that he had to operate under if he wanted to keep the job that he might've ultimately decided it wasn't worth it.

The Story: Reagins last words about his supposed plans before he got fired.

The Monkey Says: This is the talk in the media I was talking about.  The obvious quotes that catch attention are the ones about getting more creative and aggressive.  That those adjectives were the focal point of the discussion that precipitated Reagins getting let go should tell you all you need to know about what the organization thought about his ability to lead the front office in such a manner.

This just in, Tony Reagins has "resigned" as GM of the Angels, which is a fancy way of saying he was fired.  Here's the story via Hardball Talk:

If the Angels are indeed going to be “creative and aggressive” this offseason they’ll do so with a new general manager, as Tony Reagins announced his resignation.

Angels owner Arte Moreno issued a statement saying that “in moving forward, we felt a change was needed.”

Clearly huge news.  This is an announcement that Angel fans had been praying for since the disastrous 2011 off-season.  I have to say, I am slightly shocked since the Angels aren't always a reactive management team, so I did think Reagins had a shot at being give this off-season to try and save his job, but clearly Arte Moreno has seen enough.  This change at the top will have a major fallout on the entire off-season plan for the Angels, so seeing not just who, but the kind of GM they select to take over at general manager will be crucial.  Will they move to embrace statistics more?  Will they hire a big name?  Will they follow the trend of hiring a young up-and-comer?  Will they send an apology fruit basket to Eddie Bane?

I'll have more on this later today or tomorrow, but for now, just know that we are finally free of Tony Reagins era of hit-or-miss (more miss than hit) maneuvers.

With the 2011 season ending rather roughly this past week we've all had a chance to recollect on another season of baseball as it rushes past us once again. It feels like just yesterday that us Angel fans were a big heaping mess after the Angels stumbled through the opening series against the Royals, or when we got to see the first of what will be many Trumbombs. Regardless of how badly this season has ended there's no ignoring how great this season has been for the Angels, even if we did fall out of the playoffs race in a rather heartbreaking manner. This was not a failed season for the Angels, this was a jumping point for the future of the Angels organization, both on and off the field.

At least we ended our season with a shred of dignity, unlike other teams, but I won't name names.

Time for some Monkeying Around, normally a time to talk about all the Angels-related topics that slipped through the cracks this week, I am forgoing that to make some playoff predictions, but still feel free to talk about the Angels or any other totally unrelated topic you feel like bringing up.

Now, the predictions:

• First up, the Yankees-Tigers ALDS.  The Tigers are generating a lot of hype as a dark horse this year, but I don't buy it.  Want to know why?  They remind me too much of the 2008 Angels, a team that looked really good because they beat up on a lousy division and then spent the final two months of the season in cruise control.  Once the games started to matter again, it was like the Halos forgot how to play in a competitive game and wound up being embarrassed by the Red Sox (again).  I see a very similar fate unfolding for the Tigers.
• If you follow me on Twitter, you probably noticed an article I wrote stating that Texas will win the World Series.  That was something I was asked to write as part of a series, so I don't totally but into it, in case any of you were worrying I had finally lost my mind.  That being said, I actually really do like Texas' chances to once again make the World Series.  They are catching the Rays at a time where they are juggling their rotation and possibly burnt out from chasing down Boston.  That is great news for Texas because Tampa probably is their toughest match-up in the AL.  As such, I am predicting Texas to beat Tampa before moving on to the ALCS where they will once again overwhelm the Yankees' depleted rotation.
• Don't try and sell me on the Phillies being in trouble thanks to the way they limped into the off-season.  Not going to happen.  Their rotation is too good to lose to a Cardinal club that barely has half of a big league lineup, especially with Matt Holliday likely out.  I smell a sweep here.
• I really wanted to predict the Scioscia Series (Maddon's Rays versus Roenicke's Brewers), but I obviously changed my mind about Tampa.  Milwaukee, however, I like a lot.  They should make short work of a young Arizona club who just doesn't have enough pitching to hold down a scary Brewer lineup.  After that though, it will be interesting to see if the Brewer bats can top the Phillie arms.  Maybe I am just trying to be different, but I have a hunch that the Brewers will squeak past Philly in seven.  As good as Halladay-Lee-Hamels-Oswalt are, the Brewers have a potentially dominant rotation if they can get Greinke, Gallardo and Marcum all on a good streak at the same time.  That is EXACTLY what I think will happen.
• Rangers!  Brewers!  The World Series absolutely nobody will be interested in watching!!!  I kind of already spoiled this, but I don't think Texas is quite going to win the World Series.  This should be a great series since both teams can really hit, but Milwaukee has a the edge in terms of rotation.  So take solace, Texas might win another pennant, but they won't be getting the big trophy.
• Before I go, I feel obligated to completely nullify everything I wrote up above by reminding you that I have a pretty lengthy track record of being TERRIBLE at making predictions of any kind.

Or just feel free to bring up a topic of your own.  I don't really care (as long as you keep it clean) because it's Friday.