The July 25th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Trout to stay in the majors a little longer, Scioscia wants more catcher offense, the time is now to lock up Jered Weaver and much more...

The Story: Mike Trout will stay in the majors for at least a few games even though Peter Bourjos has been activated.

The Monkey Says: If it is only for another week or so, this is a smart move.  The Halos need to be sure Bourjos is 100% and it also wouldn't hurt to have another decent bench player around until Bobby Abreu snaps out of his funk.  Of course, part of me is wondering if the Angels are keeping him in the majors just in case they find a way to dump Abreu on another team, thus creating a regular role for Trout.

The Story: Mike Scioscia wants more offense from his catchers.

The Monkey Says: Yet he keeps starting Jeff Mathis.  This confuses me.  I, of course, am hoping that this is just another indicator that my suspicions of the Angels trying to find a catch upgrade on the trade market are actually true.

In the preview to this game, I made a point of voicing my displeasure for Tyler Chatwood and his incessant nibbling at the corners.  After this game, I have to say... well, I have to say nothing because Chatwood stepped is game to correct his flaws and now the cat's got my tongue.

Angels 9, Orioles 3

It wasn't that I ever gave up on Chatwood, in fact, quite the opposite.  I've been actively rooting for the kid since he got called up.  All the sabermetricians have been harping on him for his poor peripherals, but I've been patiently waiting for him to turn those stats around (and he is, by the way) enough to get them to change their tune.  But his previous start was such a step in the wrong direction that my faith in Tyler had begun to waiver, well, waiver no more.

A bounce back start for Chatwood was never out of the question, especially since he has had a habit of alternating good and bad starts, but for him to come out and carve up Baltimore for seven innings by striking out five batters and issuing no walks was more than I could hope for.  But that wasn't what impressed me the most.  86 pitches.  That's all he needed and it exemplifies what a step forward he took.

There was no nibbling, there was no wasting pitches.  It was just attack, attack, attack from the first pitch to the last.

Now instead of trying not to lose my faith in Chatwood, I'm going to have to do my best to not get too excited, at least not until he shows this same aggressiveness in his next two or three outings.

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (54-47) @ Baltimore Orioles (40-57)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Tyler Chatwood (5-6, 3.71 ERA)  BAL – Jeremy Guthrie (4-13, 4.35 ERA)

Game Info: 10:35 AM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

I will spare you the obvious lecture on how the Halos would be wasting a big opportunity should they not win this game and thus lose a series to the sadsack Orioles right in the middle of a playoff race.  I know this.  You know this.  The Angels know this.

We are all pulling for the Angels to walk away from this game with a series win under their belts, but I am secretly hoping they leave Baltimore with a little something extra.  That something has a name: Koji Uehara.  I've been complaining for months about how the Angels need a righty setup man, but also need a reliever who doesn't get ruined by walks.  I've searched high and low for a perfect match and Uehara is that guy.  He may not throw very hard, but his BB/9 rate is a microscopic 1.64, but he also pairs that with a very impressive 11.86 K/9 rate.  The only real problem he has is he gives up a few more homers than you like to see, having allowed six this season, but since he has allowed just 23 hits in 44 innings, I think that is something the Angels can live with.

Hopefully Tony Reagins got a good look at Koji last night when he dusted the Angels in order on just nine pitches and was impressed enough to take a stroll over to Baltimore GM Andy McPhail's luxury box during today's game to work out a deal so that the Angels can get on their flight after the game with one extra passenger.

Well I usually don't do well on the prediction thing but tonight's game played out almost according to script. The early offense was supplied by Vernon Wells and Joel Pineiro sucked. The score was closer than I thought but other than that, my powers of prediction were right on. Not that it's a good thing this time around.

Angels 2 Orioles 3

-- Joel Pineiro did in fact act like a human pinata. Joel was tagged for 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He did only allow three runs so at least he limited the damage but the Orioles would have scored more if the defense hadn't bailed Pineiro out on two or three occassions. Not sure what is going on with Joel but his pitches are up and they are being smacked hard. This is something to watch out for in the near future.
-- Nice to see Peter Bourjos pick up where he left off defensively. The play in the first inning to throw out the runner at second was great and should just be more evidence that he is gold glove worthy. The 0 for 3 in the box is most likely due to rust from the DL and he should shake that off in a couple of games.
-- The Halos had chances to score tonight but once again couldn't come through when they needed the big hit. Special recognition to Torii Hunter for hitting into his 21st double play of the year. Great work; at least you lead the league in something.
-- I wonder if the Angels would consider trading for Kevin Gregg. I know he gave up the Granny last night and kinda looks a little douchy, but he is right handed and does appear to get people out. On second thought, no, he looks a lot douchy...we should just move on.
-- Oh Fernando you tease. A scoreless inning of work with two strikeouts on only 12 pitches. I know you will break my heart just when I start to trust again. But at least you looked good for one night.

Halo A Hole


I know it feels like I've been picking on Bob lately but he is representative of all that is wrong with the Angel offense. Another 0 for the game with 2 strikeouts. I know, I know he drew another walk and scored on the Wells homer, but your #3 hitter should actually hit the ball fair every once and awhile. That or drop him down in the order till he gets right with the world. This is getting ridiculous.

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (54-46) @ Baltimore Orioles (39-57)

Pitching Probables: LAA -- Joel Piniero (5-4, 4.58 ERA)  BAL -- Brad Bergesen (1-6, 5.76 ERA)

Game Info: 4:05 PT; TV - FS-W; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Four wins in a row sure would be a nice thing right about now. As much as my baseball optimistic side was in play yesterday, the pessimist in me returns with a vengence for this one. Joel "Pinata" Pineiro returns to the mound following his worst outing as a professional and faces a team that has beat the crap out of him in the past. If the Angel offense has it's usual anemic performance that four game winning streak will be just a pie in the sky dream...

Well it took them awhile but the Angels got down to business and secured their third win in a row. Ervin Santana was more than just good tonight, he was fantastic. This type of run of pitching is what the Angels need from Ervin to compliment the steady work of the big two. Throw in soem timely hitting and good bullpen work and you get another Halo victory.

Angels 6 Orioles 1

Time for Free For All Friday, a time to talk about all the Angels-related topics that slipped through the cracks this week, as well as any other totally unrelated topic you feel like bringing up.

Here are a few topics for you to discuss amongst yourselves:

• Seeing Adrian Beltre romp through the Angel pitching staff was pretty hard to stomach.  Tony Reagins' bungling of the Carl Crawford negotiations got all the press this winter, but as of today, I think we can all agree that not landing Beltre is what really hurt the Angels.  Sure, Texas overpaid him, but Beltre is EXACTLY what the Angels need right now and they blew their chance at getting him.  Now they need to hope they can convince Aramis Ramirez (the poor man's Beltre) to waive his no-trade clause to come play for them.
• I was talking with my wife the other day and she was saying something about us growing old together and how it would be nice for us to relax on our porch in rocking chairs and playing bridge.  Really?  Bridge?  I don't know how to play bridge.  She doesn't know how to play bridge?  Why would we suddenly start playing bridge once we get old and gray?  Unless a bridge instruction manual comes with our AARP cards, I fail to see how and why we would ever learn to play some antiquated game.  Getting old does not automatically make you a bridge afficionado.  Nor am I going to start wearing argyle socks, suspenders, bowties and sweater vests the instant I start collecting Social Security (but that is mostly because Social Security will probably be dead by the time I retire).
• Now that I walk home from work everyday, I've started listening to ESPN's Baseball Today podcast.  I have to say, I always thought Keith Law was smart but always had to rag on everyone and everything and didn't like him, but now he is winning me over.  That isn't because I was wrong about him, quite the contrary.  I actually have a newfound respect for him because he is a truly equal opportunity snarkist.  That takes a lot of effort and commitment and he should be lauded for his totally unbiased dislike for all things.
• It really doesn't matter to me that the owners might be trying to ram a CBA down the NFLPA's throat.  Sure, it seems underhanded, but I hope the players just cave and accept it so we aren't subjected to three more weeks of every news outlet claiming the two sides will have an agreement "any day now."
• I tweeted this when it happened, but I would like to thank the Tigers for trading for Wilson Betemit and thus preventing Tony Reagins from doing so.  It isn't that Betemit isn't a nice player, I just would've pulled my hair out watching Mike Scioscia trying to mix in another switch-hitting utility infielder into his lineup rotation.  Yeah, the Angels need a bat, but if that bat can't play everyday, I want nothing to do with him.

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.