THURSDAY ANGELS ROUNDUP: Bobby Abreu Enjoys Anaheim, Eisner Enjoys Cardboard

Up next for Angels: Thursday at Chicago - Los Angeles Times
Ervin Santana vs. John Danks

Angels-White Sox Preview - FOX Sports on MSN
While Chicago is heating up, the Angels are in danger of being swept for the first time since May 15-17 against Texas. Los Angeles, which entered this series winner of 17 of 20, has not been swept in Chicago since Aug. 18-20, 2003.

Thome up to 561 homers as White Sox rout Angels - USATODAY.com
"We hit some balls hard. I thought our at bats were OK. He just pitched a good game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Three guys hit the ball right on the screws with guys on that turned into double plays."

Torii Hunter has minor setback in rehab plans - Los Angeles Times
Strength test shows area around his injury isn't strong enough for him to begin playing again.

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

Team Reports - CBSSports.com
RHP Sean O'Sullivan has been demoted twice previously after making starts for the Angels, but manager Mike Scioscia indicated O'Sullivan will remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future. "We do have a couple options if a guy is struggling or gets hurt," Scioscia said. "We think right now this is our best rotation. We hope it proves out to be that." O'Sullivan took his first major-league loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits in five-plus innings against the White Sox.

Abreu finds a perfect fit with Halos - Yahoo! Sports
Torii’s laugh and Figgy’s buoyancy and the Latin guys along the far wall, their voices carrying, riding Vladdy’s old-man gait or Kendry’s earnest stabs at English or somebody singing a little too loud; Abreu is charmed by them, how they make him feel.

"I really enjoy it here," he says. "I really do."

Funny sometimes how these things go, how the game can divert a man who is so sure of his journey, if not necessarily the destination.

rallymonkeys: Sean Rodriguez impresses the boss
"From the perspective of being an everyday player, he's opened up a new dimension being able to play the outfield every day," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said on Wednesday as Rodriguez was back with Triple-A Salt Lake following two superb games in left field in Minnesota over the weekend. "He's got enough thunder in his bat to play corner outfield. He can play second base every day, shortstop, third base. He's a baseball player, a terrific athlete.

Kendrick fights for time as bat simmers - angelsbaseball.com
"Howie, absolutely, we have as a guy who has the potential to play every day at second base," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Right now, we're getting a lot of production out of rotating them. Guys are getting at-bats. "He'll play against Danks, and he'll play against some right-handers, too. Aybar's playing at a high level, Izzy's playing at a high level, Howie's playing at a high level."

Kendry on Kendry - PE.com
We've seen other people talk about Angels' first baseman Kendry Morales. Here, he talks about himself, through interpreter Jose Mota.

Baseball Digest Daily Blog - Diggin’ In The Defensive Dirt (Part 4) — Short Stops
Today’s segment of Diggin’ In The Defensive Dirt covers short stops which rounds out our defensive review of the infield. Who will join Casey Kotchman, Craig Counsell and Andy LaRoche in the National League and Paul Konerko, Ian Kinsler and Joe Crede in the American League? Keep reading to find out how Major League Baseball’s short stops "rank out" in nine different defensive metrics.

Murder charges upheld after fatal beating outside Phillies game - USATODAY.com
Charles Bowers, 35, Jim Groves, 45, and Francis Kirchner, 28, all of Philadelphia, repeatedly beat and kicked Sale, police said. The vicious beating left Sale with a partly severed ear and severe head and internal injuries, a medical examiner told the crowded courtroom.

Treading and retreading -- The Hardball Times
The main purpose of the minor leagues is to identify, filter, and develop talent for the big club. The closer you get to the show, though, the less clear that purpose is. At the Triple-A level in particular, it's hardly a prospect paradise.

Baseball Gives Topps an Exclusive Deal - NYTimes.com
The Topps Company will become the exclusive trading card maker of Major League Baseball next year in a multiyear deal that appears to seriously hurt Upper Deck, its primary competitor in the once-vibrant business. By dropping Upper Deck, M.L.B. hopes that Topps, under Michael D. Eisner, the former chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, can invigorate card collecting, especially with young fans. The league also believes that one cardmaker can end the confusion of competitors selling multiple card series in hobby shops and big-box stores.

Kennedy leads A's past Rangers - USATODAY.com
Adam Kennedy hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning, one of four Oakland home runs in a 7-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.