The May 23rd, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels including Weaver could return next week, Madson suffers another setback, Mike Trout cycle facts and much more...

The Story: Jered Weaver had a strong 75-pitch outing in extended spring training and could return to the Angels next week.

The Monkey Says: Weaver had a great line, but it was also against a bunch of scrubs, so let's not read too much into this. The real question is where was his velocity and how does his arm feel. Sure, the injury was to his non-throwing arm, but I still think there was at least a little bit of something bothering his pitching arm that the team hasn't told us about.

The Story: Ryan Madson suffered another soreness setback and won't resume his rehab assignment for 3-5 days.

The Monkey Says: Or more, because it is Ryan Madson so who the hell really knows. He just can't go more than two weeks without a setback it seems, so I don't know what level of confidence that we can have that Madson will ever be able to join the active roster and actually make a consistent impact.

Okay, so I'm trying to temper my excitement a bit about the Angels winning four games in a row. This is mostly due to the fact that, with the exception of Jake Peavy, the pitching they have faced has been less than stellar. But give credit where credit is due, the boys are hitting the pitches they are supposed to hit. The pitchers are throwing strikes and getting batters out. The manager seems to be making the right decisions. This is how we all imagind it was supposed to be. Time will tell if this is the start of the real Angel season or just another step foward before a huge leap back.

Angels 7 Mariners 1

Apologies for the gap between posts from me, I’ve been busy with my “night job” at the NZ International Comedy Festival, and also, quite frankly, I’ve been waiting for the Angels to improve.

It’s not quite happened, has it? Third worst record in Baseball, 11.5 games behind the Rangers at the time of writing, and a bullpen who must be thankful that they warm up so far from the dugout, to prevent starting pitchers coming after them with a bat. It hasn’t been pretty.

However, there are a few signs that we all shouldn’t all throw in the towel and become Dodgers fans, and not just because they suck this year, too.

The talent is starting to show through. Mike Trout is hitting .308 with 6 Home runs in May, thus far. Mark Trumbo is looking settled, Kendrick has been a one man comeback machine, and even Josh Hamilton is warming up after a dismal April.

On that note; what is it with the culture of the Angels? Two years in a row (three, if you count Vernon Wells), a huge-money star player has come to the club and struggled through April. At least Albert Pujols had the excuse of changing leagues, facing pitchers he wasn’t used to, and the change of scenery and climate. Hamilton hasn’t even moved divisions. You have to wonder if these players are too exposed to media scrutiny and the exceptional expectations brought on by such a massive payroll. But I digress…

The DL list should start to shrink. If it gets any bigger, we’ll be seeing Mike Scioscia put the pads on again himself. But with Aybar back, Weaver apparently improving, and Bourjos waiting in the wings, if they can just somehow get some bullpen arms healed, they’ll look at lot better at the end of May than they did on the first.

The month ahead should be easier, with series against Seattle, Kansas City and the Dodgers, all of whom have their own problems. Let’s just hope they don’t take them out on Anaheim.

Look, again, this week’s news headlines have shown how little a few weeks of Baseball matter, in the bigger scheme, but wouldn’t it be nice to have some good news for a change?

I’m still hopeful. For my sins. 

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The Angels' outfield defense was supposed to be a many splendored thing. With Josh Hamilton supplanting Mark Trumbo in right field, Mike Trout shifting to left and Peter Bourjos returning to a starting role in center, the Halos had arguably the best defensive outfield in all of the land.

We even joked how the Halos could play just Trout and Bourjos and still have nary a ball drop in the outfield. Ha! Ha! Ha! LOLZ. /fart sounds

Intellectually, that all still makes sense. Mike Trout and, when healthy, Peter Bourjos have range on range on range. And that Josh Hamilton guy is no slouch either when playing in the corner rather than center where he just doesn't have the athleticism anymore. The problem is that our eyes thus far hath been deceived... or at least that is what the defensive metrics would have us believe. Just look at this table of how the Angels' preferred starting outfield grades out in the most popular advanced defensive metrics. SPOILER ALERT: Negative numbers are no bueno.

The May 22nd, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels including Sean Burnett activated from the DL, the five stages of SciosciaFace and much more...

The Story: Sean Burnett was activated from the DL for last night's game with Ryan Brasier option to Triple-A.

The Monkey Says: The question is does Mike Scioscia actually remember how to use a reliever who he has actually heard of before and who is actually capable of getting people out? Inquiring minds want to know!

The Story: The Battle of Los Angeles and the Five Stages of SciosciaFace.

The Monkey Says: "Glutinous web." Congrats on having your breakfast ruined.

On the list of accomplishments that the multi-talented Mike Trout might someday complete, hitting for the cycle seemed inevitable. With his blend of speed and power, it was a question of if, not when. Well, the we just got the answer to the "when" as Trout just became the third youngest player ever to hit for the cycle as the Angels thrashed the Mariners.

So, I guess this means we get to fire up the Trout vs. Cabrera debate all over again, right? I'm kidding, obviously. Seriously, please don't do that. What you can do is realize that this is just another sign of how great Trout is. Sure, the cycle is wildly overrated and really more of a statistical anomaly than a feat indicative of greatness, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of baseball fans because of the variety of skills one must possess to achieve it. We already knew Trout possessed those skills, but I'll be damned if it wasn't fun to watch him put them on display like he did tonight.

Here is the homer that completed the cycle for him, for your viewing enjoyment:

All I know is that the fans sitting above the right center field wall where his cycle-clinching homer landed have to feel like real buffoons for letting the ball hit them right in the hands only to fall harmlessly to the center field track. That would've been one hell of a souvenir.

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The evening began with birthday boy Josh Hamilton launching a deep 2-run home run into left centerfield. The star of Arte Moreno's 2012 offseason looks like he is finally ready to climb out of his season-long funk. And that could very well have been the story of the night, but the 32-year-old's birthday bash was overshadowed by a kid 11 years his junior: Mike Trout, who made the Mariners pitching staff his personal punching bag.

The rising star is looking more and more like the absolute beast he was last season with each passing day, but tonight's game was special. Not only did the Kid match his career-high RBI total (5), he hit for the cycle, becoming the first Halo player to do it since Chone Figgins in 2006. It's hard to believe Mike Trout is only 21 years old. It's even harder to believe that he became the youngest player in American League history to ever hit for the cycle. 

Let's take a moment, in the midst of this here disappointing season, and really appreciate just how freakishly good Mike Trout is. We are watching a supreme talent, who is only getting better. Scary.

Angels 12, Mariners 0

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Game Notes

-- Jerome Williams is making an emphatic case for a permanent stay in the starting rotation. The right-hander dominated the hapless Mariners over eight shut out innings, featuring a nasty 2-seam fastball/sinker to induce tons of ground ball outs. Once Jered Weaver returns, Mike Scioscia and Jerry Dipoto may have to swallow their pride and send Joe Blanton to the bullpen. We'll see how that goes.

-- Any time Josh Hamilton is hitting balls hard the opposite way, you know he's going good. The home run he launched to left-center was crushed. Could we be seeing the beginnings of a hot streak?

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Halo Hero of the Game

Who's got two thumbs, was doused in a post-game ice bath by his teammates, and wins at everything? This guy!