Kazmir Unimpressive in Win, Abreu Reaches Milestone. Halolinks

Royals offer up a forgettable clunker in 7-2 loss to Angels - Wichita Eagle

A similar opportunity beckoned early again against Angels starter Scott Kazmir, who permitted six of the first 12 Royals to reach safely. That window closed when Billy Butler grounded into a double play in the first, and Mike Aviles did so in the third. "Usually, you tip your hat when a guy shoves it to you," center fielder Willie Bloomquist said. "It wasn’t like (Kazmir) was painting on us. We just couldn’t get anything going." Kazmir, 4-5, wasn’t particularly sharp in throwing 103 pitches in just 5 2/3 innings but permitted just one run.

MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK...

Unlike the other day when the Royals heaped praise on Ervin Santana, the Kansas City players weren't too impressed with Scott Kazmir. Within the linked article, Royals manager Ned Yost said, "We smoked the ball a lot, Sometimes, that’s just the way the game goes. To Kazmir’s credit, he was effectively wild tonight. He’s got enough juice on his fastball that he’s tough to hit." "Effectively wild" might be a diplomatic way of saying "he was lucky". As far as highlights go, here's a couple: Hunter powers a solo blast in the seventh -Torii Hunter launches a towering blast deep over the left-field wall in the seventh inning. Frandsen falls into dugout chasing foul ball - Kevin Frandsen falls into the dugout while tracking down a Jose Guillen foul ball in the fourth inning. Here's where Kansas City's center fielder Willie Bloomquist does his impression of a younger Torii Hunter: Bloomquist ends the first with a diving catch - Willie Bloomquist makes an acrobatic catch to retire Juan Rivera and the Angels in the first inning. And, Bloomquist dives for the out in the sixth - Willie Bloomquist lays out to rob Bobby Wilson of a hit in the sixth inning.

Angels-Royals Preview - 6/3/10 - FOX Sports on MSN
Greinke continues to find it difficult to pick up wins, losing his second straight outing Saturday. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner gave up one run, five hits and three walks in six innings in a 1-0 loss at Boston.Greinke is 1-3 with a 4.09 ERA in five career starts against the Angels, going 0-1 with a 0.56 ERA in two last year as the Royals gave him a total of one run of support. Guillen has the best numbers of any Kansas City hitter against Jered Weaver (4-2, 3.01), going 8 for 18 with four doubles. Weaver went 0-4 with a 5.64 ERA in four outings against the Royals before ending that skid in his lone start against them last year, allowing one run over seven innings in a 2-1 road victory Sept. 9. The Angels right-hander is 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA in his last four outings, yielding one unearned run over seven innings Saturday in a 5-1, 10-inning win over Seattle.

In the polar opposite of yesterday's pitching match-up, this afternoon's should be excellent as both teams' ace will face off in the final game of the 4-game series.

Chicago Cubs in talks with L.A. Angels to trade Derrek Lee, sources say - chicagotribune.com
Excellent baseball sources are telling us the Angels and the Cubs may be involved in trade talks that could send Derrek Lee to L.A. The Angels lost their starting first baseman, Kendry Morales, last weekend when he broke his leg in a celebration after he hit a walk-off grand slam. Lee was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup because of tightness in his right hamstring.

Like any deal that may take place, it all depends on who and what the Angels give up to get it done. Derrick Lee? Sure, he'll do. At the right price.

Shake up at the top for Angels' offense - The Orange County Register
Erick Aybar has been the primary leadoff hitter, starting 52 of the Angels' first 54 games in that spot. But that might be changing. Scioscia tried a new combination at the top of the lineup Wednesday, starting Maicer Izturis in Aybar's place at shortstop and batting leadoff with Howie Kendrick second.

Juan Pierre.

Abreu hits 500th career double - FOX Sports on MSN
Los Angeles Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu hit his 500th career double against the Kansas City Royals to join an exclusive major league club.

Congratulation Bobby.

Guerrero taken to hospital after hit above eye - FOX Sports on MSN
Texas Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero (that still sounds weird to me) was taken to the hospital after he was hit in the face with a ball during batting practice. Guerrero was scratched from the lineup after a ball he hit ricocheted off the top of the cage and struck him above the left eye, resulting in heavy swelling. He is day-to-day after X-rays taken at a hospital showed no structural damage, and the eight-time All-Star insisted through an interpreter after the Rangers' 9-5 win over Chicago that he could have pinch-hit if needed, no matter how bad he looked.

I always think it's funny when they say, "X-rays of his head showed nothing".

Mickey Mouse statues arrive in So. Cal - MLB.com
The statues are being placed in "high-profile areas" throughout Anaheim, Los Angeles and surrounding areas in Southern California, including Angel Stadium, Anaheim City Hall, Downtown Disney, the Kodak and El Capitan Theatres, L.A. Live and the Hollywood Walk of Fame area, according to a league-issued news release.

One was placed outside of Rev's house. The Red Sox one. Right on his doorstep. On top of his Angels doormat.

The media bias - SNY.tv: News
I don't mean this to slight traditional reporters, and I hope it doesn't sound like any sort of pretentious new-media manifesto -- I would be foolish to suggest I know what makes for a successful Web enterprise with the Internet still in adolescence. And I understand how anyone raised or trained in more traditional forms of media might struggle with the concept of fans providing news filtered through their own perspectives. But again, all media, and everything else, is filtered through someone's perspective.

Dave Cameron would disagree.

June 3 - BR Bullpen
1932 - Lou Gehrig hit four consecutive home runs and narrowly missed a fifth, and Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle as the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Athletics 20 - 13. The Yankees set a major league record for total bases with 50 and both teams set a still-standing record for extra bases with 41.
Happy b-day:
1971 - Carl Everett, outfielder; All-Star
1978 - Juan Rivera, outfielder

Hula Dula doing his thang: