The September 14th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Weaver to start on short rest this Sunday, Angels could pursue Jose Reyes in free agency, a look at Jeremy Moore's late start in baseball and much more...

The Story: Jered Weaver will most likely start on short rest this Sunday against Baltimore.

The Monkey Says: The team hasn't made it official, but it is going to happen, assuming that Weaver doesn't throw a ton of pitches tomorrow, but that is something Scioscia can control, so expect to see Weaver work on three days rest this weekend.

The Story: The Angels could be suitors for Jose Reyes this off-season.

The Monkey Says: I still don't like that idea, but I like it more than I did two months ago.  Part of the reason I don't like it is the injury history of Reyes and the other is the questionable trade value of Aybar.  Personally, I think the Halos would be better off signing a third baseman like Aramis Ramirez to a two or three-year deal and then platooning Izturis and Aybar at short.

Well Pineiro, it was nice knowing you for that short season and a half we spent together. Sure this rocky relationship has had its ups and downs the past season, but don't you remember what it was like just a year ago? You were a breath of fresh air to a lacking starting rotation, you helped solidify what was once a struggling rotation with just you, Weaver, and Santana being the only ones who could put up big games. I don't even recognize you anymore, it's like you're not even the same person anymore. You aren't the man that we signed on last offseason, what happened to him? I thought you were on the track to recovery, but it looks like you'll just have to spend the rest of the season in the pits of despair you've thrown yourself in. Good luck in the offseason, you're trade value just took a rocket of a nosedive.

Angels 3 Athletics 6 

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim    (80-66) @ Oakland Athletics (66-80)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Joel Pineiro (5-3, 3.90 ERA)  OAK – Gio Gonzalez (12-12, 3.43 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT; TV - KCOP; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

This is it guys, the Angels final opportunity to hit a stride and pick up those final games against the Rangers. The Yankees series turned out much better than I thought, with the Angels losing no ground, though they unfortunately dropped a game in yesterday's matchup which undoubtedly should have been won. Too bad for the Angels the A's don't roll over for them as they do the A's, in fact they're probably going to play their hearts out like THEY'RE the ones battling for a spot in the playoffs. It bugs the life out of me when crappy teams long removed from the post-season decide to step it up against a team that is desperately grabbing at any win they can get their hands on. This is where the Angels teach them their last lesson of the season, hopefully it's going to be the hardest.

Another week, another edition of the Angels Player Power Rankings:

The September 12th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Angels could trade for David Wright this off-season, the Halos honored Derek Jeter over the weekend, Jered Weaver will start on short rest again before the season is out and much more...

The Story: Buster Olney believes the Mets could trade David Wright this off-season with the Angels foremost amongst potential landing spots.

The Monkey Says: It is pure conjecture, but it makes sense.  The Angels need to find a way to inject more production into the lineup and upgrading at third seems to be the easiest way for them to do that.  Trading for Wright is a bit complicated though because his 2013 option gets eliminated if he is dealt, making him a one-year rental in 2012 (unless some other agreement is worked out).  Plus, he is coming off a major back injury, which is never a good thing for a power hitter, even if he has performed well since returning to action.  All of this makes it incredibly difficult to gauge what Wright's real trade value would be going into the off-season, but I think the Angels starting with an offer of Tyler Chatwood and Jean Segura would at least put the Angels in the conversation.

The Story: The Angels honored Derek Jeter's 3000th hit over the weekend by presenting him with a portrait.

The Monkey Says: When word first leaked out the the Angels were going to honor Jeter, a lot of Angel fans protested the idea loudly.  The team decided to sort of split the difference and still honored him, but in a private ceremony.  I sitll don't see why they felt obligated to do this, but at least they didn't make it a public spectacle.

Oh, Petey.  You let us all down today.  The Angels were so very close to a fantastic sweep of the mighty Yankees but you had to go and drop the ball, literally.

Yankees 6, Angels 5

What really blows my mind about Bourjos' incredibly ill-timed error is why it even happened in the first place.  I'm sure the sun was a factor, but it was plain to see that Bourjos dropped the ball because he took his eye off it at the last second so he could try and get the throw in as soon as possible.  What was the big hurry?  The ball was hit to the warning track, so the runner at third was going to score easily even if he made the throw of his life.  Just brutal.

In his defense, if he makes the catch, the game is still tied and the blowpen probably would've gagged the game away in extras, but I guess we'll never know.

As hard as that loss was to swallow, it really isn't the end of the world.  Going into this series, I think we all would've been glad for the Angels to win two of three and that is still what they left with.  A sweep obviously would've been great, but this wasn't a series anyone was counting on the Angels actually making up ground on Texas.  However, the last two Angel losses have been laid squarely on the shoulders of the fielders.  With so little margin for error (pun not intended), the Angels just can't afford anymore losses like this.

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New York Yankees (87-57) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (80-65)

Pitching Probables: NYY – Freddy Garcia (11-7, 3.50 ERA)  LAA – Ervin Santana (11-10, 3.18 ERA)

Game Info: 12:35 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Considering that today is the 10th annniversary of 9-11, it seems in appropriate to spend any time analyzing a baseball game, especially since that game is against the New York Yankees.  Enjoy the day and the game as you see fit and condolences to any of you who had your life touched in anyway by the events that took place ten years ago today.