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

@
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.

It is a mystery that confuses even the most ardent of Angel fans: why can't the Halos win at home?

At 15-20 at home, the Angels have some real soul-searching to do to solve their home-related issues and they best do it soon since their next 13 games are all in the friendly confines of Angel Stadium.  Of course, you can't solve a problem lest you know what is causing it.  So, what do you think is the root of the Angels' inability to play well at home?

Time to vote!

The June 27th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Torii Hunter not sure when he will be back from his rib injury, not all Halos are anxious to return home, Abreu's status as a Venezuelan great is growing and much more...

The Story: Torii Hunter isn't sure when he will return to action.

The Monkey Says: Since Torii was struggling anyway, it would be stupid for the Angels to bring him back before he is 100% healthy.  Frankly, Hunter could use some rest as he has started every game this season up until he got hurt, which really is more an indictment on the Angels' lack of depth than a credit to Hunter's ability.

The Story: Some Angels should be wary of their upcoming extended homestand.

The Monkey Says: The home struggles of the Halos are well documented, but to assume specific players just can't hit there is a little outlandish.  We're dealing with very small sample sizes here, not to mention that some of the listed players in the article aren't exactly hitting well on the road either.