Mind your P's & C's Halolinks:

• Many, if not all of the 30 major league teams has at least one former big-leaguer in camp on a minor league contract. Typically those players are making their last ditch effort to hang onto a major league job, to get one more chance at a championship, collect that final check, put off growing up, or simply trying to squeeze out one more year doing the thing they've dedicated their entire life working towards. In Angels' camp are Jorge Cantu and Ryan Langerhans, Cantu, Langerhans looking for a chance - angels.com. "I think they're both really interesting to us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Ryan's a guy that is a left-handed bat, and is a good defender in the outfield. And Jorge is really interesting, because this guy was an RBI machine." ESPN has more on Cantu: Jorge Cantu at another crossroads - ESPN Los Angeles. "Obviously, I'm not going to start. We all know that, because these guys have their nine already," Cantu said. "But I took a chance to come here, because this is such a power team. I feel like I still have a lot of skill to contribute."
• A look at the new Halo starter: Spring offers Angels' C.J. Wilson relief from busy lifestyle - angels.com. "This year, Wilson is already making an impression on his new teammates. "I've been impressed with just seeing how hard he works," Haren said. "He's in the weight room, he's running, and that was something that I witnessed from the outside." From the outside, Weaver and Haren admittedly disliked Wilson. He pitched for the enemy, and they're old school about that sort of thing. Now that he's on their side? "I love him," Weaver said with wry smile."

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It's that time of the year again, when every baseball writer is trying to fit the tired and over-used phrase "Hope springs eternal" into their headline or lead. Well, my eternal hope springs for today's Halolinks:

• With all of the news about those two guys who signed with the Halos back in December, some have forgotten about the first deal Jerry Dipoto made as Angels' GM. The deal that started the most awesomest off-season. Ever!: Angels' Iannetta looking forward to fresh start - Yahoo! Sports. "Iannetta is a .235 career hitter but he produced a .370 on-base percentage in 2011. The Angels ranked 21st in the majors last season with a team OBP of .313. Iannetta promises discipline at the plate. "I don’t look to walk at all, but I just don’t like getting myself out," he said. "I’m not against swinging at the first pitch if it’s there. If it’s a pitch that I can do something with early in the count or if it’s the 12th pitch. I’m not going to chase." That .235 batting average might look pretty weak, but it's almost 50 points higher than the average put up by Jeff Mathis. The OBP is 145 points higher! Kinda like going from Alberto Callaspo to Adrian Beltre.
• Mathis' shortcomings in the batter's box wasn't noticed just by fans: For many fans, Chris Iannetta is a great catch for Angels - latimes.com. "The leadership qualities Jeff had, the job he did behind the plate, that's the kind of stuff fans don't really see," Haren said. "They see what's flashed on the scoreboard and, unfortunately, he was hitting .200 with a couple of homers. I can sympathize with the fans too. They get fed up at some point."
• Very good article by Morosi on the Angels' owner: Albert Pujols in spring training just one reason for optimism for Los Angeles Angels - FOX Sports. The clouds parted, the sun spread beams of light from heaven, and then, "Moreno didn’t arrive on a golf cart, nor was he flanked by an entourage, because he’s more than capable of supervising the grounds on his own. He wore black boots, black jeans and dark sunglasses, along with a red Angels shirt. He looked regal and fit. He walked with purpose. He was possibly the youngest 65-year-old I have ever seen." Sorry, got carried away. We fans are very fortunate to have an owner such as Moreno guiding our favorite team. He gets it. From off field stadium stuff, to on field needs, "Look at Morales. Did you see him hit?" Moreno said, thinking back to batting practice. "That was a missing piece — a big missing piece. It’s like if you don’t have Weaver." That's a great way of looking at Morales' contribution to the batting order by comparing losing Weaver in the rotation.
  

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Here are a few President's Day Halolinks and other baseball news for your perusal:

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Other-stuff (not double-stuff) Halolinks:

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I spell relief, H-a-l-o-l-i-n-k-s:

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I want Albert to be my Valentine Halolinks:

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Slow news day so let's rock out!

Happy Birthday to Vladimir Guerrero | Montreal Gazette
Baseball-free Montreal says Happy 37th to its last superstar.

Angels' farm system, with Mike Trout and some other guys...
The Halo Hangout Blog talks prospects.

Pitcher's and Catcher's report in Nine Days.. Tempe Calling...

TEMPE CALLING

Tempe Calling to the Anaheim Fans
The Season’s declared and the Training’s began
Tempe Calling to the blogger world
Shoulda been a FanShot for the boys and girls
Tempe Calling now by train, plane or bus
Phony Rangermania has bitten the dust
Tempe Calling time to work on that swing
and the arms throw to anyone but Mathis catching

The Albert is coming, the wall zooming in
Baserunners jogging, balls hit to heaven
A nuclear offense and we have no fear
‘cuz Tempe is burning and we live by the heater!

Tempe Calling to the American League
Forget October baseball except on TeeVee
Tempe Calling to the zombie East Coast
Quit piling on, you’ve got nothing to boast
Tempe Calling and the stadium shouts
We'll win one for Nick at the dawn of the Trout
Tempe Calling, see we don’t like to lose
Think of October and that diving Nelson Cruz

The Albert is coming, the wall zooming in
Baserunners jogging, balls hit to heaven
A nuclear offense and we have no fear
‘cuz Tempe is burning and we live by the heater!

Now get this
Tempe Calling, yeah they might make a stink
‘cuz you know what we blogged, and you know what they drink
Tempe Calling at the dawn of the spring
After all this Let’s get Arte his ring

The Albert is coming, the wall zooming in
Baserunners jogging, balls hit to heaven
A nuclear offense and we have no fear
‘cuz Tempe is burning and we live by the heater!

Shout out to Ryan Morrison for inspiring these lyrics.

Yo-eleven. Less than 12, more than 10 days until pitchers/catchers report Halolinks:

• NBC Sports is doing a feature on each team's projected opening day 25-man rosters; here's what they have on the Halos: Running down the rosters: Los Angeles Angels - HardballTalk. "Texas still has more depth and minor league talent to play with, but the Angels have the better rotation and now arguably the game’s best hitter anchoring the lineup." I'm a little concerned with the drop-off of talent the Angels have after #5 starter Jerome Williams, but I hate to say it, I wasn't aware of how weak the the bullpen looks until reading in this post. The only new addition to last season's staff was 39 year-old LaTroy Hawkins, and unless the club signs one of the few remaining free agents (Luis Ayala), or one of their current relievers has a breakout season (I'm betting on Rich Thompson), the pen may be the Angels downfall in 2012.
  
• Mark Saxon's continued look at each position: Position previews: Left field - ESPN Los Angeles. There was some minor rumblings about the Vernon Wells/Mike Trout situation in left field, but Saxon gets a definitive answer, "Nothing gets Angels fans more riled up than thinking about left field; specifically, the brutal 2011 season of left fielder Vernon Wells.... Which figures to make the following comment by general manager Jerry Dipoto like nails on a chalkboard to some fans: "Vernon's our left fielder." Dipoto made that statement Wednesday, when I asked him whether there will be a measure of competition for the spot this spring." It sounds like Trout will start the season in Utah, "Guys who make their debuts as teenagers are in a selective class. He's got a huge upside and we'll make sure he gets his reps. With our current setup, there's no reason to rush him," Dipoto said.
• And speaking of teenagers, here's an interesting post from FanGraphs: High School Draftees and Elite Seasons - FanGraphs Baseball. A couple of telling stats point out the difference in drafting HS and college players, "79% of collegiate first-round draft picks reach the major leagues for at least one day. 62% of high school first-round draft picks reach the major leagues for at least one day. 32.8% (77 of 235) of elite players were drafted out of high school. Compare that to the 45.9% (108 of 235) that attended some sort of college, and we are left with the conclusion that high school players are not worth the risk. The increased reward of an increased likelihood of drafting an elite player is simply not corroborated by the numbers. Not only do collegiate players reach the big leagues at a higher rate, but collegiate players also make up the vast majority of the elite players in the MLB since the 2000 season."
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