Daily Links for the LA Angels including Aybar feeling comfortable batting leadoff, checking in with the Angels' top prospects, Wells headed to the DL with a groin injury and much more...

The Story: Erick Aybar appears to finally feel comfortable batting leadoff.

The Monkey Says: The funny this is the title of the article calls him "new and improved."  What I see is the old 2009 version of Aybar, a guy who felt free to aggressively approach at-bats, as his is instinct, not trying to force himself into being a pitch-taker like he did last season.

The Story: Jon Heyman checks in on the top prospects in baseball, including Mike Trout, in light of all the recent big-name prospect promotions.

The Monkey Says: It is understandable that people might start getting excited about a Trout call-up, but don't hold your breath.  He is doing more than fine in Double-A, but I highly doubt the Angels would force him into the majors so quickly, especially after promising not to call him up at all before the season.

The Story: None of the Angels three first-round picks from last season have played yet this season.

The Monkey Says: All three (Kaleb Cowart, Chevez Clarke and Cam Bedrosian) will play short-season ball this year, so this is not a big deal at all.  It is just a slow news day and I thought it was interesting that these three hot prospects still have yet to see any game action.  Alas, short-season play is still over a month away, so we will have to continue to wait for these three to make their 2011 debut.

Can we make it fast too? I'm exhausted and I need sleep before I go insane. 

@

Chicago White Sox (13-22) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (20-15)

Pitching Probables: CHI – Edwin Jackson (2-4, 4.98 ERA)  LAA - Ervin Santana (1-3, 4.43 ERA)

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

So Mr. Hawk Harrelson, you think the ChiSox are going to catch a break with the Angels rotation huh? You think they'll finally pick it up against the Angels? Do you not remember this same rotation sweeping the White Sox on their own home field? Not happening buddy, especially not in Anaheim.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Los Angeles of Anaheim nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Hunter died at first, and Wells did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only Kendrys could get but a whack at that -
We'd put up even money, now, with Kendrys at the bat.

But Callaspo preceded Kendrys, as did also Jeff Mathis,
And the former was a lulu and the latter was a miss;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Kendrys' getting to the bat.

Now that Kendrys Morales is off to see another doctor and get a second opinion on his ankle, his return has never been more in doubt.  There are so few details available to us, but every Angel fan has to be wondering exactly when the slugger will finally make his return to the lineup.  I know most of you aren't doctors and don't play one on TV, but you all have a voice, so speak up and let us know when you think Morales will make his season debut.

Time to vote!

1. End of May.  Because I believe in the power of faith-healing and expect a miracle from God.
2. June.  This new doctor will get him on track and back in uniform.
3. July.  The second opinion may or may not help, but he will break through this wall if we are all patient.
4. August. Better late than never.
5. April... of next season... after a second surgery.

To place your vote, simply find the Poll of the Week in the gray sidebar to the right.

Daily Links for the LA Angels including Morales seeking a second opinion on his ankle, Walden now has a changeup, Bulger clears waivers and heads to Triple-A and much more...

The Story: Kendrys Morales is headed to Colorado to get a second opinion on his slow-healing ankle.

The Monkey Says: The Angels are trying to spin this as part of the process, but make no mistake, this is a big, scary deal.  Buried in the article is even mention that a second surgery is a possibilty for K-Mo.  In light of this news, the Angels would be best-advised to approach the rest of the season as if Morales will not be back.  Oh, and in case you still believed the Angel PR staff isn't full of crap when it comes to Kendrys, please take note that they are no longer pretending like he is just having some foot problems that are slowing him down.  This article specifically says he is having problems with the ankle now.  No more pretending like this is part of the normal recovery, he is having issues and they could be major.

The Story: Jordan Walden has introduced a changeup into his arsenal.

The Monkey Says: For him to have a third pitch, especially if he can make the changeup a good one, could be HUGE for him.  However, he did blow the first game in which he used it as a result of the pitch, so he better be smart about when to pull it out or he is going to just holster it until he can refine it some more.

The Story: Jason Bulger has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Monkey Says: Not a big deal, but Bulger does have talent and could be nice depth for later in the season.  Pitching in Triple-A will let him work out his command issues and maybe get back to being a solid middle reliever again.

I thought I was watching a pitchers' duel today, as expected, but then a game of "any lead you can blow, I can blow better" broke out.  By the final innings of the game, it didn't even seem like anyone wanted to win.  Alas, the Angels proved victorious and won their second series of the season against the best team in baseball.

Angels 6, Indians 5

I'm going to try not to get off on too much of a diatribe here, but if Scioscia lost patience so quickly with Rodney's rough start to the season as a closer, how long will it be before he loses patience with him as set-up man?

For those of you not keeping score at home, Fraudney has now allowed runs in five of his last seven appearances and he was lucky to not end up the Halo A-Hole tonight.  To put it mildly, he has been awful and probably doesn't even deserve to be on the active roster, much less pitching in the late innings of close games, yet it doesn't sound as if Scioscia is even considering a switch.

I can see why that is, but I don't like it.  When Fraudney got fired from the closer job, it was done so quickly because Walden was waiting in the wings.  Now though, there is no heir apparent to the righty-setup man role.  It should be Kevin Jepsen, but he still is getting knocked around in Triple-A.  It could have been Michael Kohn, but he's still in the minors (though looking pretty good) and has a long road ahead of him to earn back Scioscia's trust, much less get promoted again.  That really just leaves Rich Thompson, who I like very much, but it is probably too much too soon for him in the eyes of Sosh.

If Fraudney continues to let leads slip away, Scioscia might just have to bit the bullet and make a change though, even if he doesn't like his alternatives.