Halos Heaven

Brewers unable to get a handle on Angels' Piñeiro - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
This was a textbook example of role reversal. For two consecutive nights, the Milwaukee Brewers used a formula to win normally absent from their bag of tricks this season. They scored early and let the starting pitching work comfortably and deep into the game. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as hot as any team in baseball coming into the series, swiped that recipe for the series finale Wednesday, salvaging a 5-1 victory at Angel Stadium. Piñeiro, a right-handed pitcher the Brewers pawed at during the off-season but declined to acquire, was dominant, lasting eight innings and allowing a run on three hits while striking out five.Piñeiro was money, falling an inning shy of his second consecutive complete game and fourth of the season. He finished with 109 low-stress pitches.

When Joel Pineiro is on, he's easily my favorite pitcher to watch.  I don't know why.  Highlights: Wilson blasts his first career homer - Bobby Wilson crushes a three-run home run to deep left, the first of his Major League career, Napoli nails a solo shot to right-center - Mike Napoli crushes a solo home run to deep right-center field, giving the Angels a quick lead in the bottom of the first inning, Pineiro strikes out five, earns the win - Joel Pineiro strikes out five over eight innings of work and earns the win against the Brewers.

MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK...

MRI reveals damage to Aybar's knee - The Orange County Register
Shortstop Erick Aybar was examined by the team's medical director, Dr. Lewis Yocum, and underwent an MRI on his left knee Tuesday afternoon which revealed damage to the meniscus, the wedge of cartilage between the leg bones in the knee joint. There was no word Tuesday night on just how much damage there was or how long Aybar would be sidelined, only that he would be re-evaluated later this week. The first option appears to be hoping the damage heals on its own without surgery.

Anyone else think it's strange how closed-mouth the Angels are being about Aybar's injury?  Could it be more serious than they're letting on so that they're not held hostage in acquiring another player?

Angels may have to go looking for shortstop because of injuries - latimes.com
With Maicer Izturis on the disabled list and Erick Aybar possibly to follow, the Angels concede they might need to acquire a shortstop via trade or free agency. "Hopefully, our injury situation isn't long-term," General Manager Tony Reagins said. "If it is, you'd probably have to look outside the organization."

Let the trade speculation posts begin!

Angels put INF Izturis on DL, RHP O'Sullivan up -  FOX Sports on MSN
Manager Mike Scioscia said Izturis hurt himself taking swings in the batting cage. This is the eighth time he has gone on the DL in six seasons with the Angels and the second time this year.

The Angels also recalled Robb Quinlan, while designating Michael Ryan for assignment.  Basically, they decided to keep Quinlan over Ryan.

Pineiro Proving to be a Bargain - FanGraphs Baseball
Pineiro was regarded skeptically over the winter, as teams were unsure of how much of the gains that he made in 2009 would carry over in the years to follow. The market basically valued him as a 1.5 to two-win pitcher per season, and Pineiro’s well on his way to exceeding that level of performance. He’s got 1.5 WAR so far this season, and if he meets his ZiPS projection for the rest of the year (4.14 FIP in 102 innings), he’d finish with about three wins above replacement. Kudos to the Angels for snagging a quality starter at a reasonable price.

FanGraphs like us.  They really like us!

Five potential trades that could decide the playoff races - Stan McNeal -  Sporting News
2. Paul Konerko to the Angels What it would mean: The void at first base created by Kendry Morales' broken leg wouldn't have to be filled by a catcher and utility players. Konerko has been one of the game's top sluggers for the past seven seasons, and his 17 homers and 46 RBIs would lead the Angels this season. Los Angeles is 12-5 since Morales' injury, but the fill-ins at first base don't deserve much of the credit. The quartet of Mike Napoli, Robb Quinlan, Michael Ryan and Kevin Frandsen has supplied six RBIs, no homers and a .254 average (17-for-67) while sharing first in Morales' absence.

It might not be Konerko, but I do think the Angels will need to, at some point, find a "real" first baseman to replace Morales.

Power rankings: Rays beat out Yanks for top spot, Braves climb - USATODAY.com
The Rays, Yankees and now Red Sox are battling for the first place in the American League East. The same goes in this weeks power rankings. The Rays are No. 1, Yankees No. 2 and the Red Sox are tied at No. 5.

Angels are at #13

Angels have iClubhouse  - The Orange County Register
Angels manager Mike Scioscia has rules about personal electronics. 30 minutes prior to the start of each game, they must be turned off. But other than that, he doesn't mind his players using their iPads and iPhones because prior to games, he might be in his office surfing the Internet on his Blackberry (which he pointed out is "more than just a phone").

How often does Scioscia or one of the player wander into Halos Heaven?

Erstad admits that he's done - INFORUM - Fargo, ND
Life after baseball is suiting Darin Erstad just fine. Instead of chasing down fly balls, Erstad spends his days corralling his 4-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, while helping feed the newest addition to the family – 3-month-old son Adam – a bottle. "I couldn’t be much happier," he said from his home in Lincoln, Neb. "I got to live a dream playing baseball for 14 years, now I’m getting to live the other side and it’s a blast."

Bugs & Cranks " The $8 Million, 47 1/2-Year Old Phillie
I remember watching Phil Niekro pitch in pinstripes when he was 45 years old. I wondered why this old gray-haired guy was starting for the Yanks, and always thought it was a novelty when his turn in the rotation came up. Jamie Moyer is presently 2 years older than Phil was at the time. Almost half of his wins have come AFTER he turned 39. And he was paid more money last night than in his first three seasons COMBINED.

Cupid strikes: Mariners bullpen catcher marrying woman he spotted in stands - Seattle Times Newspaper
Jason Phillips spotted a woman at Safeco Field last May and knew he had to make a choice: Be bold or be ignored. As the Mariners bullpen catcher, Phillips is used to anonymity, used to spending half the year tucked away in a box with pitchers. It's a thankless job that he does well and without complaint. But this time, he needed to stand out or risk eternal regret.Good story.

The only reason I've posted this link is to highlight this comment:  "At least someone in the organization can score."  Awesome.

Rolen, Baker ejected arguing called strike - Video - MLB.com
Scott Rolen and Dusty Baker are ejected for arguing a called third strike in the sixth inning

I don't make it a habit of pointing out bad umpiring (okay, maybe I do...but just a little), but this call was brutal. 

June 17 - BR Bullpen
1978 - Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees strikes out 18 batters in a four-hit, 4 - 0 shutout of the California Angels, to set an American League record for a left-handed pitcher in a single game. Guidry, who strikes out 15 in the first six innings, posts his 11th consecutive victory without a loss. The performance will help coin a new nickname for Guidry as the team's announcer, Phil Rizzuto, begins to refer to him as 'Louisiana Lightning', inspiring a new Yankees tradition as the fans begin to clap rhythmically each time there are two strikes on the batter.
1995 - Relief pitcher Mitch Williams is released by the California Angels. Williams, who considered retirement last year after being released by Houston, ends his career with a unique statistic on his resume: 526 hits and 537 walks allowed in 684 2/3 innings pitched. He is the only pitcher in major league history with more than 250 innings to allow more walks than hits.
1997 - The Freeway Series hits the street in Los Angeles, CA, and the Dodgers drive home with the first victory in this interleague play on Todd Zeile's second home run of the game. The Dodgers trail the Angels by one run in the ninth inning, but tie the game on a wild pitch and win it 4 - 3 on Zeile's homer.
2000 - Darin Erstad hits a double to get his 100th hit of the season, in the Angels' 10 - 3 win over Arizona. Erstad's hit comes in his 61st game, and he is the fastest to reach 100 hits since Heinie Manush in 1934.

Joel Pineiro, I think you're the bee's knees: