The July 20th, 2015 edition of Los Angeles Angels news including Angels rained out at home for first time since 1995, Halos scouting Jay Bruce and much more…
The Story: The Angels were rained out at home for the first time since 1995.
The Monkey Says: Meanwhile I’m sweating my balls off up here in Seattle with 90+ degree heat. Nothing makes sense anymore. Thanks, Obama!
The Story: The Angels were scouting Jay Bruce, but called it “due diligence.”
The Monkey Says: Because what else would they say? They can’t tip their hand. Bruce is suddenly an intriguing option now that he finally seems to be bouncing back after a terrible 2014 campaign and slow start to this season. He’s exactly what they need behind Pujols, but nobody seems to know what the Reds want for him. He was a salary dump as recently as two months ago, but now he might be the second-best bat on the market.
The Story: Jon Heyman continues to hear that Arte Moreno loves the idea of Bud Black taking over as GM.
The Monkey Says: Yeah, this rumor is really gaining legs. I’d guess the Angels want to wait until after the deadline before making any real move towards him so as not to further disrupt the staff at such a crucial time, but the rumors about this are strangely silent from the Bud Black camp. Perhaps he wants to see if he can land a manager gig first.
The Story: Nick Cafardo hears the same Bud Black rumors, but that Matt Klentak is a strong option as well.
The Monkey Says: Those seem like two very different ways to go, but they also seem like options 1A and 1B at this point.
The Story: Jerry Dipoto declined to “open closets, dig up bones” in a recent radio interview.
The Monkey Says: He was as diplomatic as he could possibly be, but by declining to deal with the skeletons he referred to, he did basically acknowledge that they do exist. Not like that is a surprise, but still.
The Story: The Angels front office is moving on after Jerry Dipoto.
The Monkey Says: This is notable because it is the Angels putting Matt Klentak out there for everyone to see. He is the one who got to talk to the reporters and make the right statements about moving on and having a good relationship with Scioscia. Not a bad first audition for him.
The Story: Keith Johnson has been named the new player information coach.
The Monkey Says: He was a long-time minor league manager for the Angels, but he now takes on the role vacated by Rico Brogna.
The Story: Grant Green is looking to establish himself.
The Monkey Says: Fat chance. He is up again with Vinnie Pestano being sent down. Green probably only got the call because Alfredo Marte is on the DL in Salt Lake. Robertson is getting starts over Green in left, so this seems like another in a long line of stints in the majors for Grant where he rides the pine.
The Story: Mike Trout once again tops the Fangraphs trade value list.
The Monkey Says: Ain’t nobody scared of that contract extension.
The Story: Looking further into Mike Trout’s claims that pitchers work him differently when Albert Pujols is producing.
The Monkey Says: This is kind of misleading, there have been changes over the time period, but nothing causal. It could very easily be that pitchers are just trying different things to get him out, because whatever they were doing isn’t working. He’s adjusted to the high fastballs, so pitchers need to do something different.
The Story: Mike Trout and the changing face of baseball.
The Monkey Says: Baseball just isn’t the kind of sport right now where one player can stand in for the whole league. Just look at television ratings. Local games do very well and allow teams to thrive, but national games flop. This is just a sport that is consumed regionally, so why would anyone expect any one player to resonate nationally?
The Story: C.J. Wilson bought a $2.37 million home in Corona del Mar.
The Monkey Says: Boy, it sure is going to be awkward if the Angels end up trading him at the deadline.
The Story: Sherman Johnson’s adventures with BABIP make him one of baseball five most compelling fringe prospects.
The Monkey Says: If the Angels trade him at the deadline, I might cry.
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