Daily Links for the LA Angels including Heyman doubts the Angels can keep Weaver, Locker goes high in the NFL draft, Scioscia tries to temper expectations for the youngsters and much more...

The Story: Jon Heyman basically thinks the Angels are too inept to keep Jered Weaver.

The Monkey Says: This is just the stupid national media not knowing much about the Angels.  Heyman says the Halos have a history of letting their own top free agents "get away."  More like walk away, Jon.  Seriously, who have they lost that they wished the had kept?  Figgins?  Nope.  Lackey?  Nope.  K-Rod?  Probably not because of his attitude.  Glaus?  Maybe, but hardly a big regret.  The Angels are smart and they will have the money to keep Weaver if they really want to.  The only real obstacle I see is their tumultous relationship with Scott Boras.

The Story: Angel prospect Jake Locker was drafter #8 overall by Tennessee in the NFL draft.

The Monkey Says: So much for him possibly sliding and reconsidering a baseball career.  Now the Halos will have to hope he flames out quickly in the NFL instead.

The Story: Mike Scioscia warns against inflated expectations for the youngsters.

The Monkey Says: I hope the Halos listen to their own advice too.  Let's not forget how much they overrated Erick Aybar after one good season and how they maintained high expectations for Brandon Wood even after the evidence started mounting against him.

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (14-11) @ Tampa Bay Rays (14-11)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Ervin Santana (0-3, 5.51 ERA)  TB -- David Price (3-2, 3.19 ERA)

Game Info: 4:10 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

What is up with this schedule? Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago that the Angels played Tampa Bay in a two game set before having to fly all the way across country to have their home opener? Now they are back in the sun belt for a three game series before four more with the Red Sox? So by this time next week the Halos will have played more games against the AL East then the West and a total of 8 games vs. the Sox and 5 against the Rays. I feel like this sort of brutal opening to the season may have repurcussions later in the season. On top of that we now get the Rays as they are starting to hit and the pitching is starting to solidy as opposed to the last time we visitied when Tampa still had the two juicer Manny Ramirez and his below the Mendoza line batting average to take advantage of. No such luck this time out.

The Kendrys Morales injury saga took another dark twist yesterday when news broke that the Angels slugger was being sent off to see a foot/ankle specialist after suffering yet another setback in his rehabilitation from that devastating leg injury.  For a guy who we were originally promised would be more than ready to go to start this season, it sure seems like a lot has gone wrong and his return still seems so very far away.  It is hard not to think the worst for Kendrys right now, but until we learn more we all must find a way to NOT panic over this latest bump in the road.

I'm not going to press it.  I'm not going to press it.  I'm not going to press it.  Ahhhhhhh!  I want to press it so much!!!!!!!!!!

Daily Links for the LA Angels including Morales being sent to see a foot/ankle specialist (uh oh), Pineiro and Downs activated, Palmer demoted, Bulger put on waivers and much more...

The Story: Kendrys Morales is being sent to see a foot/ankle specialist.

The Monkey Says: The Angels are actually only calling him a foot specialist, but the guy is an ankle specialist too which is important since, you know, Morales broke his ankle.  I hate to sound like an alarmist about this, but given his slow rehab process and this bit of news, we should probably start bracing ourselves for some very bad news.

The Story: The Angels have activated Joel Pineiro and Scott Downs from the DL, demoted Matt Palmer to Triple-A and designated Jason Bulger for assignment.

The Monkey Says: All these moves were very much expected.  Palmer has been spotty in the rotation and doesn't have much upside, so it is no shocker to see him get sent down rather than Tyler Chatwood.  As for Bulger, this move was inevitable due to his struggles this season.  With his injury history and command issues, there is a pretty good chance he will clear waivers, but he may decide to try his luck in another organi.zation anyway.

The Story: Mark Trumbo is trying to find his way out of his slump.

The Monkey Says: What worries me about Trumbo is that he is falling into the same trap that Brandon Wood fell into, constantly falling behind in counts 0-2, never walking and getting punched out breaking balls.

Despite some major control issues from Haren, he still managed to turn in a quality start with 1 unearned run through 7 inning. Fuentes came back to Angel stadium, and us fans were treated to an oh-so familiar sight of a blown save and an extra innings debacle.

Angels 1 Athletics 2

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Oakland Athletics (11-13) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim  (14-10)

Pitching Probables: OAK – Tyson Ross (1-2, 4.82 ERA)  LAA – Dan Haren (4-1, 1.46 ERA)

Game Info: 4:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West/ESPN; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Tonight the Angels get a real chance to show early season dominance in the AL West. We should all get together and thank our lucky stars the sweep is in the hands of Dan Haren. 

It seems like it was just yesterday when Angel fans were worrying themselves sick over whether or not Peter Bourjos was going to be able to hit enough to keep his stellar glove in the lineup this season.  Well, worry no more.  With a slash line of .321/.356/.556, Bourjos has not only proven he can hit "enough," but proven that he is a real offensive weapon.  The only problem now, and what a good problem it is to have, is for the Angels to figure out how to best utilize Bourjos' unique offensive talents.

The thing about Bourjos that made so many question his ability to hit at the big league level is that he has several flaws in his game.  What we have seen of him this year though is that he can be so good at the things he does do well that he can more than offset those flaws.  This puts Mike Scioscia in the delicate position of trying to get the most out of Speedy Petey's strengths without inadvertently exposing his weaknesses in the process.