THURSDAY ANGELS ROUNDUP: Angels Sweep Royals, Kendry Morales Extends Streak

Up next for Angels: Thursday vs. Minnesota - Los Angeles Times
Jered Weaver vs. Scott Baker

Twins-Angels Preview - FOX Sports on MSN
The Angels will try to extend their winning streak to six games Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home set against the Minnesota Twins, who have given up a boatload of runs lately.

NBC SPORTS & COVERS.COM: Matchups, Odds, and Injuries

Royals' bullpen falters as Angels rally late to win - FOX Sports on MSN
The Angels never seem to be out of a game. Even with three star players out with injury, Los Angeles keeps finding ways to rally and string hits together for one unlikely comeback after another.

Team Reports - MLB at CBSSports.com
1B Kendry Morales extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a double in the eighth inning Wednesday. It is only the sixth streak of 20 or more games by an Angel since the 2000 season.

Team Reports II - MLB at CBSSports.com
Guerrero has started just 41 games this season, only two in the outfield. When in the lineup, he has not been particularly dangerous -- four home runs, 21 RBIs, a .290 batting average and .415 slugging percentage. All would be career lows and could make it difficult for Guerrero on the free agent market next winter if he doesn't do something to re-establish his credentials in the final two months of the season.

How much longer can Saunders stay in rotation? - Angels Unplugged - Los Angeles Times
At the start of the season, it would have qualified as the one question I never thought I'd be asking in late July. But here it is: How much longer can the Angels keep Joe Saunders in the rotation?

Baseball Digest Daily Blog - Guess Who’s Leading in OPS This Month?
Go ahead and take a stab at it. No cheating! Pujols? Nope. Matt Kemp? Closer. Manny? Oh, forget it. We’ll be here all night. Reason why is because it’s actually the traditionally light-hitting Erick Aybar.

rallymonkeys: What a season this is becoming
Mike Scioscia pushes buttons, athletes run out on the field, and the Angels win games.

MLB buzz: News and notes from the trade market - FOX Sports on MSN
The Angels, after inquiring on Halladay and Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren, are focused almost entirely on adding bullpen help. Orioles closer George Sherrill and Indians right-hander Rafael Betancourt are among the Angels' options.

Bill James on steroids - SweetSpot by Rob Neyer - ESPN
Bill James, after maintaining silence (well, mostly) on the subject for some years, is now ready to offer his thoughts on baseball players and performance-enhancing drugs and the Hall of Fame.

This was mentioned in last night's game thread, but here's the link to James' article (it's a large pdf file).

Jon Wilhite doesn't take life for granted - Los Angeles Times
It was an embrace from halfway around the world, from someone he might never meet. That was the gesture that touched Jon Wilhite the most.

I missed this article from a couple days ago, but it's still worth reading.