Double your pleasure, double your Trout!

All those early season rain-outs are finally coming being made up and that means some extra Trout action for all of us with the Travs logging eight games this week.

Since Trout is no mere mortal, he started all eight of those games and made the most of every single one of them.  His line for the week was awfully impressive, take a look for yourself:

14/30, 1 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 11 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SB

Holy Studly Prospect, Batman!  That's not just a good week, that's a good month for most players.  I think it is safe to say that Trout is starting to outgrow his Double-A environment, which is really perfect timing since the mid-season break is just about two weeks away, making it an ideal time to promote Trout to Triple-A.  Until then, he'll surely just keep destroying the competition and we will get to sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

That's it for this week, check back in next week to see what happens to our future hero.  Same Trout Time.  Same Trout Channel... err, blog.

Daily Links for the LA Angels Rodney hits the DL, pointing fingers at Tony Reagins, wondering if the Angels would trade Weaver and much more...

The Story: Fernando Rodney was placed on the DL with an upper back strain.  Bobby Cassevah was called up to take his place.

The Monkey Says: I can't help but think that the upper back problems Fraudney is experiencing have something to do with his hat always being on crooked.  Perhaps the uneven weight distribution was finally too much for his muscles.  It doesn't sound like Rodney will be gone long, not that anyone will shed a tear if he is.  What is curious is that Cassevah got the promotion over Michael Kohn.  Kohn's numbers in Triple-A are very good while Cassevah's are much less so.  I can't even begin to understand the logic there.

The Story: If anyone should be fired, it is Tony Reagins, not Mickey Hatcher.

The Monkey Says: Can't we do both?  I'm pretty sure this isn't a pick one and only one situation.

Alright guys, let's try out best not to freak out here, but I just made another crazy yet successful prediction. If this is my way of doing my part to save the Angels season I'm going to need to learn a little discipline so I don't get all power-hungry and abuse my powers. That being said, this game was huge for Wells, giving us Angel fans a flash of what we've all been hoping for all season long. My heart says that this the start of a change in Wells, but my brain says it's just a flash of what could be. If this is Wells' way of pulling the team back to the top, I like it.

 Angels 6 Mariners 3

@
Los Angeles Angels Anaheim   (31-36) @ Seattle Mariners (34-32)

Pitching Probables: LAA – Dan Haren (5-4, 2.41 ERA)  SEA – Jason Vargas (4-3, 3.94 ERA)

                                                                                   Game Info: 7:10 PM PT; TV - KCOP; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

The Angels have been playing some real bad ball as of late, yet all it would take to get them back to where they were in April is a strong series against a vastly weaker opponent. The Mariners are nice and toasty right now while the Angels have been ice cold for a while. Last time we rolled up in Seattle the Angels were in a similar situation, only to have the Mariners continue to put the hurt on the Angels season. That only makes this the perfect series to get the season back on track.

Forgive me for interrupting the giant pity party/memorial service everyone in Angels nation seems to be attending currently, but I have some important news-

The sky is not falling.  The Angels' season is not over.  The franchise is not on the verge of crumbling into a pile of ashes.

I know that may seem like a ridiculous set of statements, but I guess I just can't overcome all that pesky logic and reason floating around in my head (either that or I am amazingly good at cognitive dissonance).  Yes, the last few weeks have been excruciating for Angel fans, but two bad (OK, horrendous) weeks does not a season make.  I know it may seem like a crazy notion right now, but there is still plenty of time left for the Angels to challenge for the division crown, or at least save a little face and provide some hope for the future.

Help me spread the word, won't you?

The last few weeks have been rough for the Angels and even the most ardent fan has to admit that the season now hangs in the balance.  The not quite as ardent fan might even have you believe the season is already over.  So, the question is, which side are you on?

Sounds like a great topic for Multiple Choice Monday!

Time to vote!

Daily Links for the LA Angels including Callaspo only day-to-day with his hamstring injury, Jepsen demoted in favor of Romine, Scioscia and Hunter try to rally the troops and much more...

The Story: Alberto Callaspo is day-to-day with a hamstring injury.

The Monkey Says: Well, that's good news, for now anyway.  Hamstring injuries can be tricky, but if he manages to avoid the disabled list, the Halos might have finally got a bit of a break with an injury for a change.

The Story: The Angels called up Andrew Romine and demoted Kevin Jepsen.

The Monkey Says: Romine is just being called up to provide depth with Callaspo injured since Amarista isn't eligible to be recalled yet.  As for Jepsen, it is clear that he has fallen well out of favor and one has to wonder if he will ever be back up again.

The Story: Scioscia and Hunter try and rally the veterans to lead the team out of the downward spiral.

The Monkey Says: Is Hunter even allowed to call himself out?  How does that work?  Does he just stand in front of a mirror and give himself a disappointing look?

The Story: Tim Brown details the lack of joy in the Angel clubhouse.

The Monkey Says: Great piece by a great writer.  So great, in fact, that I am depressed just from reading it.

The Story: The Angel pitching staff is focusing on not overcompensating for the lack of run support.

The Monkey Says: I don't see how they can avoid it really.  It has reached a point where the instant the Angels fall behind, we all assume the game is over, and I am pretty sure that the pitchers think that along with the fans.

The Story: Ten Angels that you can't blame for the team's ongoing struggles.

The Monkey Says: Wow, I can't believe they were able to come up with ten.

The Story: What about Russell Branyan?

The Monkey Says: The Angels probably could stand to give Branyan more at-bats, but his slow start didn't exactly endear him to Sosh.  Still, guys like Branyan are very streaky, so Scioscia would be smart to give him a start or two at least each week to keep him fresh and to see if one of those hot streaks is about to start.

The Story: Mike Scioscia sounds as if he has given up on Scott Kazmir, finally.

The Monkey Says: It is about time, the rest of us came to that conclusion during Spring Training.

The Story: Grading the Southern California general managers.

The Monkey Says: SPOILER ALERT- Reagins doesn't grade out well.  However, saying that the Hunter signing and not the Haren trade is Tony's best deal is just plain dumb.

The Story: John Sickels gives a quick rundown of the Angel draft.

The Monkey Says: Funny that Sickels says the focus is on "upside over polish" despite so many college selections which I had presumed was a strategy aimed at collecting more polished and finished products.

The Story: Mistaken identity leads to a fan spending a game with Arte Moreno.

The Monkey Says: Wow, great story and and what a great guy is Moreno?  How many owners would really hang with the fan all game long and not just give him a quick handshake and an escort to his real seat?