Weekend Countdown: Same Old, Same Old – Angels @ Twins

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (60-40) @ Minnesota Twins (52-50)

Game 1 Starters: LAA – Ervin Santana (3-6, 7.29 ERA)  MIN – Nick Blackburn (8-5, 3.75 ERA)

Game 1 Info: 5:10 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West, Radio-KLAA 830 AM, KFWB, KWKW 1330 AM

Game 2 Starters: LAA – Joe Saunders (8-6, 5.02 ERA)  MIN – Anthony Swarzak (3-3, 3.74 ERA)

Game 2 Info: 4:10 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West, Radio-KLAA 830 AM, KFWB, KWKW 1330 AM

Game 3 Starters: LAA – Jered Weaver (10-3, 3.71 ERA)  MIN – Glen Perkins (6-6, 5.42 ERA)

Game 3 Info: 1:10 PM PT TV-KCOP, Radio-KLAA 830 AM, KFWB, KWKW 1330 AM

Well, it looks like the same old, same old for the Angels.  The trade deadline has come and gone and the Angels have decided to dance with the girl that brung ’em… even though that girl is about 30 pounds overweight and has unibrow.

For better or worse, this is what the Angel roster is going to be for the rest of the year (save a few minor league promotions and demotions).  We can bitch all we want (and I did a little bit earlier) about Tony Reagins failing the team but it won’t fix anything.  We’ll just all have to suck it up and make the best of it.

THREE Questions:

• Can any of the three Angels starters this weekend provide a glimmer of hope?  With no new additions to the rotation the Halos need two of their three struggling starting pitchers to exorcise their demons and prove themselves capable of manning a post-season rotation spot.  The have 62 games to figure it out, so they better get cracking.
• Can Juan Rivera’s leg survive the weekend?  The Metrodome Astroturf is unforgiving and the plan seems to be to DH Juan all three games so that should hopefully save him from injury.
• How much did the lack of trade deadline activity affect the morale in the Angel clubhouse?

TWO Predictions:

• The Angels bullpen blows at least one lead just to prove Tony Reagins is an idiot.
• Sean Rodriguez and Brandon Wood will finally merge into one super-prospect called Seandon Woodriguez.  The Angels will promptly call him up and have him sit on the bench for two weeks without getting a single at-bat.

ONE Wish:

• I wish that J.P. Ricciardi wasn’t a moron so we could all watch Roy Halladay start on Saturday instead of Colonel Saunders.

ZERO Tolerance for… the bullpen.  I already vented enough about this today but suffice it to say that the Angel relievers are on short notice.  With Reagins opting not to get some bullpen help it is now put up or shut up time for each and every reliever.

Leave your own questions, answers, predictions or wishes as a comment or just hang out with us during the game or even chat with us on twitter (@MonkeyWithAHalo).