Have you met Maicerto Callazturis?  If not, you really should get to know him because he has been far and away the MVP of the first quarter of the Angel season.

Sure, Danred Wearen has done an amazing job of leading the pitching staff while the Halo offense has been anything but impressive, but he still isn't the MVP.  No, as great as he has been, this team still wouldn't be in first place in the AL West (oops, not anymore, thanks blowpen) at this early stage if not for the decidedly unexpected offensive contributions of Maicerto Callazturis.

Two have become one to form: MAICERTO CALLAZTURIS!!!!

At this point the Angels aren't just losing close games, they are throwing them away. This is the second time Walden has blown an easy save and pushed the game to extra innings. We all new there was an extra inning game or two in store for us this week, there always is. I hate that.

Angels 4 Athletics 5

Daily Links for the LA Angels including Morales to undergo surgery on May 26th, Segura hurts his hamstring, meet the young Angel stars this weekend and much more...

The Story: Kendrys Morales is set for surgery on May 26th.

The Monkey Says: Read that article closely because it says six months is the minimum recovery time.  That still gives him plenty of time to be ready for next season, but it also suggests that his recovery could last much longer and we all know how that goes.

The Story: Top prospect Jean Segura has landed on the DL with hamstring problems.

The Monkey Says: Segura is probably the Angels' best position player prospect after Mike Trout, so hopefully this isn't anything serious.

The Story: Peter Bourjos, Jordan Walden and Tyler Chatwood will be signing autographs at the OC Dugout on May 21st.

The Monkey Says: Well, according to some folks, the world is supposed to end May 21st, so hopefully you can get your autograph before the rapture starts.

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim  (22-19) @ Oakland Athletics (20-20)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Joel Pineiro (2-0, 1.33 ERA)  OAK –Brett Anderson (2-3, 3.21 ERA)

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

Look behind you, quick! Do you see that in you're rear-view mirror? It looks like there are TWO team's in hot pursuit of the Angels, and we just happen to be walking right through there front doors. Do the Angels need some breathing room in the AL West in order to re-compose themselves after a tough series at Texas? Yeah, they do. They only way they will find that breathing room is by working over the A's this series. Do you think they can do it? I can, especially seeing the way this team has performed on the road.

Greetings, class.  As you all know, the first quarter of the baseball school year is in the books.  I know how excited we all are that the class has performed so well as a whole, but I am the teacher and I am contractually obligated to hand out your individual report cards.  Take a seat everyone, it is grading time!

This is the best Hollywood could do when casting a movie about a "hot" teacher?  I mean, I guess she's good enough for a blog post, but a whole movie?

I'm not entirely sure that anybody deserves to be the Angels' primary setup man, but someone has to do it, right?  The patchwork Angel bullpen has been barely holding itself together this year, but the troubles they are having in the eighth inning are threatening to make everything fall apart.  After a rash of meltdowns in the past week, it is time get this thing figured out once and for all.  But who is the right man for the job?

Time to vote!

Daily Links for the LA Angels including Wells still weeks away from a return, surgeons cast a doom-filled projection for Morales' injury, Chatwood making Kazmir expendable (or is he?) and much more...

The Story: Vernon Wells is going to be out at least three more weeks.

The Monkey Says: That is no good.  It doesn't sound like the team is too interested in seeking help outside the organization to replace Wells, but I suspect that might change if Vernon doesn't feel a lot better in two weeks.

The Story: Surgeons say arthritis could be a big reason, and future problem, for Kendrys Morales' continued ankle woes.

The Monkey Says: It is important to note that these surgeons have not examined Morales, however, they say some pretty ominous things about Morales possibly having developed an arthritic condition that could put his ability to play at full capacity, if at all, in real doubt.

The Story: The Angels are not panicking about the loss of Morales.

The Monkey Says: Nor should they be.  Last year, his loss was sudden and demoralizing, but this season it was somewhat expected and merely disappointing.  I still firmly believe the team needs to move aggressively to land a big bat to bulk up their lineup though since they were somewhat counting on getting Kendrys back to provide that boost.