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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.

The good news is I finally got a prediction right, the bad news is that I wish I didn't.

Rangers 5, Angels 4

Mike Scioscia finally saw the light and took eighth inning duties away from Fernando Rodney and handed them over to Rich Thompson.  On paper, this was a good idea.  The man they call Chopper has been tremendous this season and hadn't allowed a run to score since April 21st, unlike Fraudney who allows runs in every other apperance, if not more frequently.

Instead, Chopper done got chopped and so did the Angels.  Needless to say, but Rich picked a really bad time to lose his control.  He'd walked only three batters all year coming into the game and somehow walked the first two batters he faced.  The real question is why it happened?  Was he nervous because of the pressure of the situation?  Did he just have an off day?  Will he get another chance to be the righty setup man or did he blow his only audition?

Personally, I think Thompson should get another shot, if only because the Halos have no other real alternatives.  Scioscia though, I'm not so sure he is going to agree.

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Los Angeles Angels Anaheim (22-18) @ Texas Rangers (20-19)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Ervin Santana (1-4, 4.81 ERA)  TEX – C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.36 ERA)

Game Info: 12:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

There's nothing like a little rubber match on the road against the division rival is there?

Early in the season though it might be, the Angels have a real chance to send a message today if they can win this series.  Doing so would give the Halos two series victories in as many tries against Texas and both series wins would have taken place in Arlington.  There is still a whole lot of season left to play after this, but these two squads don't face each other again until after the All-Star break, so the Rangers would have a lot of time to think about whether or not the Angels have their number once again.

Dan Haren has got to be feeling a little snake bit. All he does is keep going out there and putting himself in a position to win and continues to have nothing to show for it. Today it was another 7/23 of awesomeness only to see it blown in the 8th. But some clutch hitting saved the day and Walden's return to form in the ninth gave the Halos a much needed win. So for at least another couple of days, we can bask in the glow of the first place Angels. Sounds good, doesn't it...