The Angels return home after abusing the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals on their seven game road trip. Halo offense is off the charts right now even without mainstays Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera. Currently Los Angeles is first in MLB in batting average (.284) second in runs scored (509) and fourth in OPS (.790).
The biggest issue for the Angels right now has got to be the performance of starting pitcher Joe Saunders. Saunders suffered the only loss on the road trip in Oakland and was pummeled by the lowly Royals. LA Times blogger Steve Bisheff asks the question “How much longer can Saunders stay in the rotation“? With no viable options other than Matt Palmer, Shane Loux & Sean O’Sullivan within, the answer is probably “the foreseeable future” unless GM Tony Reagins pulls off a trade for a starting pitcher.
Terry Evans has been recalled from Salt Lake City to give the bench some added outfield depth. O’Sullivan has been optioned back to AAA as the Angels wont need a 5th starter again until August 8th and he will not be available to pitch on four days rest this coming Saturday. That start will likely go to Matt Palmer but nothing has been officially decided. Evans is batting .290 with 19 homers and 66 RBI in 93 games for the Bees.
Bobby Abreu is getting it done with 47 RBI in his last 45 games. Abreu may be the steal of the winter free agent signings in MLB. The Angels might be wise to keep him around for another season.
Today the Angels unveiled the 2010 All Star Game logo. 2010 will mark the first time since 1989 that Anaheim has hosted the All Star festivities. The team sent a group of front office officials to take in the 2009 game last week in St. Louis to take notes.
“We’re bringing this thing west now to Southern California, and we’re looking forward to putting our signature on the 81st All Star Game” said Angels VP of Communications Tim Mead.
“Arte Moreno: Angels not out of Halladay/Lee sweepstakes according to Bill Shaikin from the LA Times.
Angels owner Arte Moreno said today that the club remains interested in acquiring an ace starter and has not heard anything that would preclude the pursuit of the likes of Toronto’s Roy Halladay and Cleveland’s Cliff Lee.
“We’re keeping all our options open,” Moreno said. “If we can see a fair deal for someone we believe can help our team, we’re going to compete there. We don’t have any financial constraints.” More
FSN is adding Gar “The Batting Stance Guy” Ryness to the Angels broadcasts.
NYJets rookie quarterback and 2009 Rose Bowl Champion and MVP Mark Sanchez, who is a supporter of the Hollenbeck Youth Center, will throw out the first pitch on July 23rd.
UP NEXT – Twins at Angels
TV: FS-W (Thurs & Fri) FOX 11 (Sat) KCOP (Sun)
RADIO: KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330
Thurs – Scott Baker (8-7, 5.10) vs Jered Weaver (10-3, 3.48)
Fri – Francisco Liriano (4-9, 5.33) vs John Lackey (5-4, 4.39)
Sat – Nick Blackburn (8-4, 3.44) vs Undecided
Sun – Anthony Swarzak (2-3, 4.15) vs Ervin Santana (3-5, 6.79)
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