The September 23rd, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including AL Wild Card tie-breaking scenarios could get crazy for the Angels, what needs to happen for the Angels to make the playoffs, the Angels shocking return to contention and much more...

The Story: A three-way tie for the AL Wild Card would create a logisitical nightmare, especially for the Angels.

The Monkey Says: If it happens, the Angels will basically finish the season in Anaheim, fly to Boston to play the next day and, if they win, then come back home to face the Rays.  If they win that game, the ALDS starts the next day in New York for two days before shifting to Anaheim again with on travel day in between!  This would be fascinating to watch, so part of me wants it to happen, but I also don't see how it could result in the Angels actually winning the ALDS.

The Story: What needs to happen for the Angels to make the post-season.

The Monkey Says: A lot of folks are hoping the Rangers wrap things up so that they mail in the final series of the season, but I'm not sold.  There is a fair amount of animosity between these two clubs and I don't see them just rolling over for the Angels.  It is also worth noting that the Rangers need to win to get home field advantage over Detroit should they meet in the ALDS or ALCS, so they could still be very motivated when they show up in Anaheim on Monday.

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim   (85-70) @ Toronto Blue Jays  (78-77)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Ervin Santana (11-12, 3.40 ERA)  TOR –Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 3.62 ERA)

Game Info: 4:07 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Today's game is pretty much a replica of yesterday's game, except for a few small facts. Henderson Alvarez may not have as much ML experience as McGowan, but he certainly has proved to a be a more reliable starter, at least for this season. He is only 21 however, and we've seen what happens to a stellar young pitcher down the line with Tyler Chatwood. Alvarez hasn't lost a game in nearly a month, which is as pretty a streak as any for a pitcher as young as himself. Santana, on the other hand, has given up 5 runs in his past 2 starts. What an ugly streak, lucky for us all streaks have to come to an end sometime, and too bad for the Blue Jays.

Normally, I would save off-season trade ideas for, well, the off-season, but in light of recent events, I think this one needs to be considered right now.  Not only that, but I'm going to turn this into a series because finding ways for the Angels to dump bad contracts this off-season is probably going to end up being something we all have to consider pretty frequently (thanks, Tony Reagins).  So here it goes, the first suggestion in a line of trade ideas that make sense (and thus probably will never happen):  Vernon Wells traded for former Angel and current terrible Red Sox pitcher John Lackey.

Let's start with the first criteria of a bad contract swap.  Do both players suck?  Let's see Wells has been on fire this month and his OPS is just .673.  Check.  And Lackey, he is carrying a 6.49 ERA, the worst ERA out of any qualified pitcher in baseball.  Double check.

Now for the actual contracts.  Wells, as every Angel fan knows all too well, is owed $21 million per year through the 2014 season.  Ugh.  Lackey's contract runs through 2014 as well, but is "only" for $15.95 million each year.  Triple check.

The Angels have unexpectedly surged into the wildcard race this week, with today's win cementing them in the race for the rest of the season. At the beginning of the season I didn't think the Angels would come this close to the wildcard this far into the season, let alone watch them fight their way past a struggling Red Sox team. Oh how poetically sweet the justice would be if the Angels trumped the Red Sox for the AL wildcard, it would be the perfect revenge against Carl Crawford. No I still haven't gotten over it, and I won't unless he watches the team he shunned in the offseason step all over his new team to make it to the playoffs. I don't think you'll have a better chance of winning a ring with the Red Sox if you're sitting at home your team that should have been thrive in the post-season. Enough about my obsession with Carl Crawford, on to last night's game.

Angels 7 Blue Jays 2 

The September 22nd, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Haren OK after being stuck by liner, considering Trumbo's Rookie of the Year credentials, a new statistical study shows Mathis' value framing pitches and much more...

The Story: Dan Haren appeared to survive getting hit in the non-pitching wrist with a line drive.

The Monkey Says: It looked bad when it happened, but the lack of updates on his condition suggests that he is OK, maybe a little sore, but still intact.  It is still possible that news might change today, but so far so good.

The Story: Is Mark Trumbo the AL Rookie of the Year?

The Monkey Says: Honestly, I think Jeremy Hellickson should get the ROY, but there are so many viable candidates this year, the voting could go in several directions.

Eight games left.  Five games back in the AL West.  3.5 games back in the Wild Card.  To some that is a dreary outlook for the Angels' chances at making the post-season.  I say KEEP HOPE ALIVE!  DON'T STOP BELIEVING!!  Call me crazy, but I still think the Angels can do this thing and here are ten reasons why: