- The Story: It is first base by committee for the Angels. The Monkey Says: For now, at least. Sooner or later the team will realize they can’t get by using the likes of Mike Ryan and Robb Quinlan and that Mike Napoli won’t be good enough defensively. If they are still in the running for the AL West by the end of July, expect them to seriously pursue trade options (Adam LaRoche, please remain on standby).
- The Story: Jeff Mathis is close to starting his rehab assignment. The Monkey Says: That should put Mathis about two weeks out from returning to the active roster which should create a tough decision for Mike Scioscia since Napoli is on fire at the plate right now. Moving Naps to first on a more permanent basis is only going to work if he can field the position, but that seems unlikely given how little practice time he will be able to get.
- The Story: How can Mike Napoli smooth out his streaks? The Monkey Says: I like the notion of not having him catch as a way to keep him fresh, but the reason Napoli is streaky is just that he can often get too pull-happy and that isn’t going to change no matter where he plays or how frequently he plays.
- The Story: Scot Shields has recaptured his old form… on occasion. The Monkey Says: The sun shines on every dog’s ass every once in awhile. I know we all have a fondness for Scot, but he looks to be about as done as done can be and the sooner the Angels admit that, the better off they will be.
- The Story: Check out the Darin Erstad Charity Auction. The Monkey Says: There are some really impressive items up for auction, so if you have the extra cash, feel free to buy me something.
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