Let's face it, the current series against the Rangers has been an unmitigated disaster.  With the Angels now seven games out, their playoff hopes are looking pretty bleak.  But they say that desperate times call for desperate measures, so we here at Monkey With a Halo have come up with ten unique moves the Angels can make in order to get themselves back in the AL West race before it is too late.

There has to be some way for the Angels to up-end the Rangers still, right?  Right?  Anyone?

We can still totally win the AL West, I mean c'mon, it's just a 7 game deficit! So what?? We got still got a month and some change left to play baseball, this Angels club can come back to win it in that stretch, it's not like there's only a handful of games left in the season. Maybe if last night's loss wasn't so demoralizing I would be a little chippier and optimistic, but at this point I'm mentally preparing to throw in the towel and call it a season. I reckon you guys should do the same as well.

Rangers 4 Angels 3

The August 18th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Jerome Williams called up, Chatwood's rotation spot in jeopardy, Scioscia says Conger isn't ready to come back up and much more...

The Story: The Angels sent down Trevor Bell and called up former top Giants prospect Jerome Williams.

The Monkey Says: Williams has put up some pretty good numbers in Salt Lake this year, but he is also 29 years old and not been in the majors since 2007.  It is possible that he may finally have gotten over his arm problems and other performance issues, but it would be foolish to think Williams is anything more than a stopgap measure at thsi point.

The Story: Williams may take Tyler Chatwood's rotation spot.

The Monkey Says: While I don't know if Williams can offer much, I am in favor of this move, even if it is only temporary.  The Halos should probably at least see what Williams can offer and Tyler could use the break to try and work out his issues on the side so that he can get back on track this season.

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Texas Rangers  (71-52) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (65-58)

Pitching Probables: TEX – C.J Wilson (11-5, 3.28 ERA)  LAA – Ervin Santana (9-8, 3.10 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

This is it; the Angels have fallen a season high 6 games behind the Rangers with little over a month left in the season to play. Seeing as how the Angels have 8 games left to play against the Rangers this is a manageable deficit, although the Angels would need to win these final 2 games in the series to prevent this from getting out of hand. Leaving this series 4 games behind the Rangers would give the Angels an underdog shot at taking the AL West, and both you and I know how well the Angels thrive as the underdog. Well, maybe they haven't been able to do so since 2002, but if they can bring back even a tiny piece of that magic then we'll have a very interesting final month of the season. Everything could come down to the wire on this one.

I might get thrown out of the Angels blogosphere for even suggesting what I am about to write.  Honestly, the only thing I can think of that might draw a more vitriolic reaction would be to channel my inner-Lyle Spencer and write a puff piece on all the "intangible" benefits Jeff Mathis brings to the team.  I'm sure I'm going to regret this, but I think that there is a pretty good chance that Vernon Wells' absolutely terrible season might actually be the result (at least partially) of good old fashioned bad luck.

OK, OK, relax!  Put down the stones.  Holster the slings and arrows.  Step away from the tar and feathers.  I'm not just saying that to be provocative or because I suffered major head trauma, I actually have some real statistical evidence to back up that seemingly absurd assertion.

Your prayers are answered, Vernon.  Someone is finally going to get your back.

The August 17th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Garrett Richards placed on the disabled list, Pineiro moves back into the rotation, revisiting the Napoli trade and much more...

The Story: Garrett Richards has been placed on the disabled list with an abductor strain and Trevor Bell and Horacio Ramirez have been called up to help out the bullpen.

The Monkey Says: Bell and Ramirez were badly needed after the bullpen got taxed on Monday, but they aren't sure to stick around very long (in fact, Bell has already been sent back down, no replacement has been announced yet).  Andrew Romine was also demoted to make room for both relievers.

The Story: Joel Pineiro will return to the rotation to replace Garrett Richards.

The Monkey Says: One good relief appearance hardly convinces me that he is fixed, but I'm not sure the Angels really had much better options.  If this doesn't work out though, I suspect the Halos will finally give either Trevor Bell or Jerome Williams a shot, especially since it will probably be during a time when the Angels aren't playing for much anymore.

I'm not saying that the Angels' season is over, but the fat lady definitely seems to be warming up her vocal cords backstage.

Rangers 7, Angels 3

The Angels needed to come out strong tonight to respond to last night's tough loss, if only to show the Rangers that they weren't dead yet.  Instead, they acted like an obedient dog and rolled right over almost from the first pitch.

Sure enough, Chatwood gagged up two runs to start the game.  Exactly what the scuffling Angel lineup didn't need, an early deficit to try and overcome, nor did the beleaguered bullpen need Chatwood expending a bunch of pitches so early in the game.  Even had Tyler been able to right the ship after that, he was obviously headed for an early exit.

The worst though was the way the offense went out of its way to prove just how totally inept it really is.  In very un-Angel like fashion, they got the leadoff man in each of the first three innings.  Unfortunately, they "took advantage" of those baserunners in a their usual tragic way.  That leadoff man was erased without ever becoming a threat in the first and second inning by way of inning-ending doubleplays.  Then in the third, the Halos finally broke through to plate a run with one out, starting what might have been a comeback rally to get back in the game.  Or at least they would have had they not run themselves right out of that inning.  Aybar made an out on the very play the run scored on by stupidly trying to take an extra base, which was quickly followed by Peter Bourjos getting picked off at first base without Holland ever actually making another pitch after the run scored.  Any life the Angels had in them died when Bourjos got picked off as they managed just two more baserunners before sparking a meaningless rally in the ninth inning.

I am contractually obligated at this point to point out that the Angels could still win the next two games and claw their way back to four games back, which would keep them alive in the AL West, barely.  But after another pitiful effort, I really have very little hope of that happening.