I apologize in advance, but I must make this recap as short and sweet as possible. Without further ado, here is today's much anticipated recap.

Tigers 5 Angels 4

If you are the kind of fan that can't get enough of their favorite Angel player, then Twitter sure is for you.  Several of the Halo players are active Twitter users and the things they say, well, let's just say that they lie somewhere between insightful and inane.  Let's take a look at what the Angels are tweeting this week!

Victor Rojas provides some enlightening TV viewing advice - @VictorRojas29 Just watched the Joey Chestnut highlight from yesterday & when it ended, I burped. I can imagine how he feels.

• Can someone get Victor some Rolaids?  And maybe the TV remote since he can watch something good for a change?  Heck, earlier that day he was saying he was watching 2012, but was basically too lazy to change the channel.

Vernon Wells panders to the military - @VernonWells10 Happy 4th of July!! Thx to all the troops for our independence!

• I wonder if this is the first time Vernon has been able to wish a happy 4th of July since he played in Canada up until this year?  Maybe he just observed Canada Day on July 1st.  Or maybe he celebrated both and thus got twice the fireworks action!

Howie Kendrick thanks his peers for his All-Star vote - @HKendrick47 I appreciate the love guys. It feels great to be voted in by my peers. I'm definitely excited! Once again thanks everyone.

• My only wish would have been for Howie to be able to thank the fans, only Angel fans couldn't even get Howie into the top 5 of AL second baseman in the voting.

Pain and philosophy from Torii Hunter - @toriihunter48 Getting hit in the hand last nite was painful but it's a long way from the heart. No broken bones just bruised. Be back real soon.

• I love Torii, but he uses platitudes like that all the time in his tweets, blogs and interviews.  Normally this wouldn't be a problem, expect I think it is going to lead to him having a long, illustrious post-baseball announcing career where he ends up being prominently featured on Awful Announcing.

...and finally, we save the best for last.  Every week, we're going to play a little game called "What the hell is Angels prospect Chevez Clarke tweeting about?"  If you don't follow Chevy... don't.  He might be insane.  His tweets consistently make no sense and always seem to be one sentence from the middle of a conversation, only he isn't talking to anyone.  So, without further adieu, here are a few of Chevy's "unique observations."

@OfficialChevy Eagles sore with eagles... Turkeys get left behind

@OfficialChevy So when I come back... I'm havin comeback parties.. Need to set something up asap.. Hmu... Who trying pull up with me tho...

• I'm not sure what is worse: the bad grammar, the sloppy spelling or the nonsensical ramblings.  Also, if eagles "sore" and turkeys get left behind, what happens to chickens, parrots and penguins?

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Detroit Tigers (45-42) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (46-41)

Pitching Probables: DET – Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA)  LAA – Tyler Chatwood (5-5, 3.83 ERA)

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

The Texas Rangers are persistent ones, stil holding on to first place in the midst of this 4 game win streak. It isn't to hard to do that when you're facing the Baltimore Orioles of all teams, while it speaks wonders for the Angels that they're able to keep it up against a real contender. A win today would give the Angels their 5th win in a row, their 2nd series sweep on this homestand in which the Angels are 7-1. Of all the starters the Angels put their trust in to bring home the sweep it comes down to Tyler Chatwood, and I couldn't feel more comfortable.

The July 6th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Weaver and Kendrick are All-Stars, Reagins says he can add payroll at the trade deadline, Fernando Rodney recovering slowly from his back injury and much more...

The Story: Jered Weaver and Howie Kendrick were named to the 2011 American League All-Star team.

The Monkey Says: Old news, I know, but I didn't get a chance to comment yet.  Weaver was an obvious choice and should be the front-runner to start the game (especially since Verlander will start on Sunday and end up ineligible).  Kendrick, though, is a bit of a surprise.  I actually think he very much deserves to make the team, but I thought Ben Zobrist would get his spot instead.

The Story: Tony Reagins says he can add payroll at the trade deadline and expects to do so.

The Monkey Says: This is a surprise since it had been reported earlier this year that the payroll was maxed out.  Reagins makes it sound like he has no ceiling, but I don't believe that.  I suspect any addition he will make at the deadline will be or a minimal financial addition, such as a righty-setup man like Mike Adams who shouldn't be due more than $1 million or so.  A big addition just doesn't seem like something the Halos can afford, financially and prospect-wise, even if they say they can.

It may be early to speculate on the AL Cy Young race, but I would say it is safe to say that Justin Verlander is the presumptive favorite for that award going into the break.  I would also say that Jered Weaver might actually be better and more deserving. 

But that doesn't really matter, because Dan Haren was going toe-to-toe with Verlander tonight, and he might have just rocketed his name into the Cy Young conversation as well.

Angels 1, Tigers 0

Oh sure, Haren doesn't have that shiny no-hitter on his resume, but after his sterling effort tonight, he does have a one-hitter and now a two-hitter to his credit so far this year.  The fact that he spun his gem against Verlander, who was just as on top of his game as Haren was, should only enhance Haren's accomplishment.  It is one thing to throw a shutout when you have a six-run lead, but it is quite another to do it with just a one-run margin of error.

Of course, despite his continued great season and now this specatular start, Haren isn't on the All-Star team and may not get added as an injury replacement since he is going to pitch on Sunday and thus end up being ineligible to pitch, so I worry that Ron Washington will just snub him altogether.

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Detroit Tigers (45-40) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (44-41)

Pitching Probables: DET – Charlie Furbush  (1-1, 2.49 ERA)  LAA – Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.14 ERA)

Game Info: 6:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Holy Spicoli, this team's actually back in first place! Well, tied for first with those insufferable Rangers. A mere week away from the All-Star break this team has an actual chance to take the lead in the division and charge headfirst into the second half with a foot up on the Rangers in the standings. There's a pretty good chance this ends up turning into a two team race seeing as how Oakland is carving a comfortable little niche in the cellar of the division while Seattle is likely to flame out long before the season ends. 

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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Pitching Probables: LAD – Chad Billingsley (7-6, 4.22 ERA)  LAA – Joel Pineiro (3-8, 4.08 ERA)

Game Info: 5:05 PM PT; TV - ESPN, MLB Network; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

We interrupt your normally scheduled Game Preview for a special interview.  With tonight's game being the featured ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, I was given an opportunity to interview Sunday Night Baseball's own play-by-play man, Dan Shulman to get his thoughts on the Angels, the Freeway Series and the state of the game today.