Halos Heaven

Sixth sins: Rangers' failure to close out Angels in 6th leads to 6-5 loss - Dallas Morning News
The big blow in the sixth was a three-run double Bobby Abreu off Darren Oliver . Frandsen scored the tying run on a Jeff Mathis one-hop smash off Elvis Andrus' glove after moving to second on a wild pitch. Erick Aybar followed Mathis with a third straight single to chase Scott Feldman , who had retired the first two hitters in the sixth on eight pitches. Oliver walked Howie Kendrick, then hung a 3-2 curveball to Abreu. "I hung a curveball, and he did what he was supposed to do with it," Oliver said.

I've had a rough week, so I unintentionally fell asleep in the second inning of this game (I know, what kind of fan am I?)  So it wouldn't be right for me to comment on the game, but I can provide some highlights...Angels fans applaud Vlad in his return - Vladimir Guerrero receives a warm welcome from Angels fans as he steps up to the plate in a Rangers uniform, Abreu clears the bases with a double - Bobby Abreu doubles down the right-field line to clear the bases, breaking the tie and putting the Angels up by three in the sixth, Vlad crushes a two-run shot to dead center - Vladimir Guerrero belts his 16th home run of the season, chasing in Josh Hamilton and cutting the Rangers' deficit to one run.

Rangers-Angels Preview - 6/30/10 - FOX Sports on MSN
Texas is planning to recall Omar Beltre and give him the start Wednesday in his long-delayed major league debut. The 29-year-old right-hander was considered one of the club's top prospects, but was unable to enter the United States from the Dominican Republic for five years because of visa problems. Beltre was 0-2 with a 1.25 ERA in five starts this season for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was 0-5 with two saves and a 2.39 ERA in 15 appearances overall, and will take the ball in place of Colby Lewis, who was pushed back to Friday. Scott Kazmir (7-6, 5.42) takes the mound looking to end his struggles at home. The left-hander has lost three straight starts at Angel Stadium, posting an 8.36 ERA in those games, and is 2-3 with a 6.84 at home this season. Kazmir's problems in Anaheim continued Thursday, as he gave up five runs with three walks and hit a batter in a 10-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his previous four June outings with a 2.35 ERA - all of them coming on the road. He is 6-2 with a 2.37 ERA in 11 starts versus the Rangers but lost in his most recent outing against them, allowing four runs in seven innings of a 4-3 road defeat May 17. Kazmir has had success against Hamilton, holding him to 3 for 12.

I'm always nervous when the Angels face a rookie, especially one making his MLB debut.  And one who has problems getting a visa for 5 years.

Mike Trout is so good - Angels blog - The Orange County Register
How good? Here’s Keith Law’s top 25 prospects in all of baseball, updated today: "3. Mike Trout, OF, LA Angels. Oh, just call him up already. The way he’s going, he probably could handle it. Previous ranking: No. 14″ He’s behind Domonic Brown of the Phillies and Desmond Jennings of the Rays.

Sam Miller points out what Trout would look like if he were in the majors right now (using MLE) and who he'd be better than.

Big A revamps food for All-Star Game - Fast Food Maven - The Orange County Register
And the king of the stadium grub will certainly be the hot dog. An estimated 23,000 dogs are expected to be sold at the game, which is why Angel Stadium created several new frankfurters to entice fans. This year, the stadium launched Major League Dogs. The two stands feature five new hot dogs, including the Halo Dog, the Chicago Dog, the Kansas City Dog (topped with smoked brisket), the Boston Dog (topped with baked beans) and The New York Coney (topped with chili and cheese). Another new dog dubbed the Foot-long Rally Brat ($9.50) is also being sold exclusively in premium ticket-holder seats. Served on an Italian subroll, the beef/pork bratwurst is topped with sauteed onions and fresh sauerkraut. "I think they’re going to blow [fans] minds," Chef Dekker said of the new hot dog lineup.

Wait.  The foot-long dog is only being sold in premium ticket-holder seats?  We poor slobs don't rate?  Are people with more money just used to 12" wieners?  No wonder I'm poor.

Angels wrong on Guerrero - The Orange County Register
It’s a great week to make fun of the Angels, and not just because they’re trailing a team so financially distressed that baseball has had to bail it out. At this stage, the Rangers have a better chance of making the playoffs than they have of making their payroll. Failing to re-sign Guerrero hasn’t worked out too well. But it’s hardly the worst decision the Angels have made in recent years. That trophy was retired the day they signed Gary Matthews Jr., the winner of this franchise’s lifetime underachievement award.

I'm warning you ahead of time, this is a Jeff Miller post (yeah, that Jeff Miller), but the line about the Rangers making the playoffs rather than payroll was good (although linking to it felt like digging your wife's wedding ring outta the dog's pile of poop). 

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels - June 30, 2010 - MLB.com Preview
Omar Beltre will take the hill for the Rangers on Wednesday against Scott Kazmir and the Angels in Anaheim, and Hamilton will look to extend his career-best 22-game hit streak. For Beltre, the start will be the end of a long journey. The 26-year-old wasn't allowed to enter the country from 2005-09 after being caught in a human-trafficking ring in the Dominican Republic, but he got his visa this year in time for Spring Training. After posting a 2.39 ERA in 15 outings (five starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City, he got the callup and was penciled in as the starter after Colby Lewis' start was moved to Friday.

Human-trafficking? 

Cliff Lee goes distance for Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees -  FOX Sports on MSN
The Mariners ace beat the New York Yankees in their ballpark yet again, pitching his third straight complete game to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 7-4 victory Tuesday night. Lee (7-3) beat New York twice in last year's World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies, including Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. He also won the ballpark opener for Cleveland in April 2009.

Wouldn't this guy look good atop the Angels rotation?  Never going to happen unless the club signs him as a free agent, but just think about it.

South Carolina Defeats UCLA; Gamecocks Win Program's First National Championship - Michael Huang -  Sporting News
It seems fitting that a Royals draft pick was the last batter in the last College World Series game at a ballpark in which Royals Triple-A players have competed for 41 years. South Carolina outfielder Whit Merrifield, Kansas City's ninth-round draft pick this month, singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning Tuesday, vaulting the Gamecocks past UCLA 2-1 and giving the school its first baseball national championship.

There's a Cocks joke in there somewhere, but sadly, I going to pass.

Rays designate Blalock for assignment - Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Bay Rays designated designated hitter Hank Blalock after Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Red Sox to make room for outfielder Gabe Kapler"The at-bats were not going to be there," Maddon said. "The opportunity was not going to be there."

Another contestant on, "Is He Better Than Quinlan?"

Yankee Fan On Cellphone Catches Ground Rule Double With His Face - Deadspin
Ever get stuck next to the guy in your section who won't get off his cellphone? Well, this video is for you.

Cool.

BeinaMovie: Make A Reservation Moneyball

Apparently they received the go-ahead to start filming the Moneyball movie.  Here's a link if you want to be an extra in the stands.

June 30 - BR Bullpen
I was going to point out some interesting things that happened on this date, but I was too lazy.  Oh, by the way...
Happy b-day:
1972 - Garret Anderson, outfielder; All-Star