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Washington Nationals (40-39) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (40-40)

Pitching Probables: WAS – Jason Marquis (7-2, 3.53 ERA)  LAA – Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.09 ERA)

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

Hi there, .500!  How are you doing?  It's been a long time.  I have to say, you look pretty good.  Funny, we haven't been together for weeks and I almost forgot what you looked like. 

Anyway, it's been great catching up and all and I would totally love to sit and chat some more, but the thing is, I'm totally over you and hopefully, after tonight, we won't be seeing each other again.  I'm sorry, .500, but it is time to leave you behind once and for all.

It isn't official yet, but all signs seem to be pointing to Mike Trout getting the well-earned and expected promotion to Triple-A Salt Lake this week.  Now, I have no source that can confirm this, but I can read the tea leaves to see that a move is imminent.

First off, the Double-A All-Star break started today and it is the standard time of year when prospects move up a class level.

Second, and most tellingly, Trout has not played in the Travelers' last two games and it isn't because of injury of anything.  In fact, it seems pretty clear based on his tweet just before last night's game that he has been given a pass by the organization to go out and enjoy a little rest and relaxation.  Unless they are giving Trout special treatment for no good reason, one can't help but conclude that Trout is being given a break so that he can jump right into Triple-A action after he makes his obligatory appearance at the Texas League All-Star Game this Wednesday.

I could be wrong, but I doubt it.  If I am wrong though, the promotion is sure to come relatively soon, probably at the Triple-A All-Star break instead, so the Arkansas locals best get their butts out to the ballpark as soon as they can because they may not get another chance to see Trout in person.

That's it for this week, check back in next week to see what happens to our future hero.  Same Trout Time.  Same Trout Channel... err, blog.

With the minor league seasons rolling over into their second halves, now seems like a good time to check out some of the noteworthy (good or bad) performances in the Angels' farm system.

Guy's named Garrett are always awesome.  It is just science.

The June 28th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including CJ Cron signs but will delay surgery, Mathis still frustrated after the bad calls on Sunday, but Scioscia still doesn't think instant replay is the answer and much more...

The Story: First round pick C.J. Cron officially signed with the Angels and received a $1.467 million signing bonus.

The Monkey Says: That was easy.  Cron is a kid the Halos seem to be very excited about and it is great that he signed so quickly and can actually start playing some Rookie League ball this year.

The Story: Cron will wait until after the minor league season to have surgery to repair his torn labrum.

The Monkey Says: The surgery will knock him out for several months, but the kid clearly has some real testicular fortitude to continue enduring the pain even though he played with the injury this whole college season.  If he recovers quickly, he may not miss any of the 2012 minor league season, which would obviously be ideal.

I couldn't think of a better way for the Angels to open up such a decisive homestand then with a bases loaded single in the 10th. Not only have the Angels been bad with RISP, they've been horrible in extra innings. It's nice to see them shove those problems aside, at least for one game, especially after yesterday afternoons fiasco. The Angels were long overdue for an extra innings game, so it had to come sooner or later. At least this one resulted in a win.

Angels 4 Nationals 3

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Washington Nationals   (40-38) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (39-40)

Pitching Probables: WAS – John Lannan (5-5, 3.40 ERA)  LAA – Ervin Santana (3-8, 4.22 ERA)

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

The Angels are looking to start off their homestand on a strong note tonight, all on the back on Ervin Santana. His struggles on the mound are well documented, and the Angels struggles at the plate at home are just as bad. What it's going to take for the Angels to seal the deal on this one is a well pitched game out of Santana, it doesn't need to be 8 innings of no-run ball, just something that will keep the team in the game. I guess all I'm really asking for is for Santana not to suck today, can you do that for me chief? Can you?

Many doubted if the Angels could contend for a playoff spot this season, but here they sit just two games out of the division lead.  Of course, the Halos are also one game under .500 as well, so many doubters remain.  Over the course of the next 13 games, all at home, those doubters will either be silenced or grow exponentially in numbers.

Call it hyperbole if you want, but this homestand is going to decide the course of the Angels' season.  Contender or pretenders?  Buyers or sellers?  A second half of hope or torture?  One way or another, we should have all of those answers, or at least be very close to them, by the time this thirteen-game set wraps up.

For most teams, having thirteen straight games at home would be an undeniable blessing from the Baseball Gods, but the Angels just can't do anything normally, can they?  With a 15-20 home record, the Angels will no doubt be entering this stretch with trepidation rather than temerity.  For whatever reason, the Halos just don't seem to take well to playing in the Big A.  The last time the Angels had the "pleasure" of playing at home, they dropped seven of nine games in the homestand and saw their record drop under .500, a hole from which they have yet to fully extricate themselves from.  The problem, as it has been all season long, was an inability to genertate offense (just 21 runs in 9 games, only once scoring more thant three runs in a game).  The question of why they struggled is a classic "chicken or egg" scenario.