Wednesday Halolinks: Albert Pujols Gets Lost At Camden, Mark Trumbo Finds Outfield Seats

Eastern most in quality, western most in ass-kicking. Yes, it's time for Halolinks:

• Angels 7, Orioles 3 - MLB News - FOX Sports. ''It's just a testament to what a career he's had,'' teammate Mark Trumbo said. ''He sure didn't wait very long. Best hitter in this era.'' Yes, I'd agree with Trumbo's statement that Pujols is the best hitter of this era, but what up with the diva attitude from Albert? "If Pujols was impressed with the feat, he apparently had no desire to talk about it. Long after the game ended, he still hadn't arrived at his locker." Damn.
  
• I like rooting for underdogs, long-shots, and gritty guys: Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles - June 26, 2012 - MLB.com. "In the top of the seventh, Trumbo hit a solo shot to straightaway center field to pad his team lead in that department. And then, just for good measure, Hester hit a solo homer to left field in the eighth, putting the finishing touches on a monster offensive showing against the team that released him in April. "I don't need any extra reason to get up for a game," Hester said about getting back at his former club. "Besides, I don't know if I'd be here if they didn't release me." Well said Uncle Hester, well said.
  
• Angels put on a powerful performance - The Orange County Register. "Pujols wouldn't know that (Camden Yard has the third most home runs in the A.L.). He had never played at Camden Yards before Tuesday. But he went 2 for 5 with a double and a home run (a two-run shot in the fifth inning) and has now hit a home run against every team he has faced in his major-league career and in 32 different stadiums." Oh I see, the reason he didn't show up at his locker after the game was because he got lost with it being his first time at Camden. One word: GPS
  
• I've got to stop finding things to bitch about in regards to Angels baseball. The team has been playing fantastic for over a month, they're competing for not only a wildcard spot, but the West division, and they've got the most exciting player in baseball playing for them: Angels-Orioles Preview - Yahoo! Sports. "Los Angeles (41-33) has won 23 of its last 31 to help shake off an early season slump after beating Baltimore 7-3 on Tuesday. The Angels, who won two of three versus the Orioles from April 20-22 and seek a sweep of this two-game series, have outscored opponents 68-36 while winning 12 of 13 on the road." We fans sure are spoiled.
  
• Doesn't this seem a little weird: Angels' Mike Trout gets hometown support in Baltimore - latimes.com. "Trout grew up in Millville, N.J., and with this week's two-game series marking the Angels' only visit to Baltimore this season, more than 1,000 of the town's residents made the two-hour drive down Interstate 95 to see him play." Not that Trout is from New Jersey, or that he had a bunch of friends and family in the stands, but why do the Halos only play two games in Baltimore? I know it's been around for awhile now, but I still haven't decided if I like inter-league play. I know I don't like the fact that the Angels will play more games in Denver than they will in Baltimore. That just doesn't make sense to me.
  
• Say What, Mike:"Mike's playing at a high level, and he obviously has the potential to do some of the things he's doing on the field," manager Mike Scioscia (Trout settles in as AL batting leader - Yahoo! Sports). Let's see, is he saying Trout has the potential to do something he's already doing? Kinda like I have the potential to write snarky comments about a certain major league manager.
• BBTN on Angels' chance of winning division - ESPN Los Angeles. "Karl Ravech and Barry Larkin debate whether the Angels can win the AL West or if they're just battling for a wild-card spot."
• Okay, maybe he might be a decent pitcher: Darvish finishes strong to get 10th win - FoxSports. "Darvish is tied for the AL lead in wins and is in the top five in strikeouts. According to baseball-reference.com, his 106 strikeouts are the ninth most in history for a pitcher's first 15 major league starts." He still looks like a girl - which makes his success all the more disturbing.
  
• There are rumors the Brewers might be looking to deal Zack Greinke if they're not able to sign him to an extension. I doubt the Halos have the pieces to put together a deal for a pitcher like that, but wouldn't that be awesome! GM expects a quiet trade deadline - ESPN Los Angeles. "One report indicated the Angels are looking for another reliever, probably left-handed, and a Triple-A caliber starting pitcher that would be an upgrade over the talent they have beyond Jerome Williams and Garrett Richards at the back of the rotation. Not exactly earth-shattering stuff."
• LaTroy Hawkins on how the game has changed - ESPN Los Angeles.
  Markazi: What attracted you to the Angels and why did you sign here last December?
  Hawkins: Two guys: Jerry Dipoto and Larry Corrigan. I believed in what they were doing and we have a good chance to win here. They had a good team last year and they came up short, and I knew they were going to have a good team this year even before they signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. That just made the decision even sweeter.
• I haven't heard of this guy at the OC Register before. That doesn't mean he sucks, just means I haven't heard of him, but this doesn't make any sense to me: Turn up heat on local rivalry - The Orange County Register. "All three games of the Dodgers-Angels series were sold out this past weekend at Angel Stadium, which gives ammo to the argument that an all-California division of Angels-Dodgers-Padres-Athletics-Giants might be something fans would embrace." The reason the games were sold out was because it only happens once a year. If baseball were to re-align the division with all California teams, the "special-ness" of the occasion would be lost.
  
• This is crazy-bad. Apparently in New York players don't actually have to make the catch to record an out: Fan catches ball in stands, ump calls Indians batter out anyway - HardballTalk. "He’s out, DiMuro said, despite the fact that Wise didn’t have the ball and despite the fact that DiMuro was right on top of the play. MLB has instituted a new rule that states "If a Yankee player makes a good attempt to catch a foulball, the visiting batter shall be called out". By the way, here's the video of the play.
• This call is bad, but not as bad as the screw up above: Manny Gonzalez Submits His Nominee For Worst Blown Call Of The Year - Deadspin. "Claim to fame: Making am inconceivable safe call on the Cubs' Steve Clevenger, despite being perfectly positioned."
• This is just stupid: Reds Closer Aroldis Chapman Celebrates A Save By Doing A Double-Somersault.
• I don't know who I feel more sorry for: Hatcher returns to Dodgers as special assistant to GM - angels.com. "The Dodgers, the team Hatcher spent six years with as a player, announced Monday that they have hired the former hitting coach as a special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti. In his new position, the 57-year-old Hatcher will "devote time helping with player development as well as assisting the Major League staff," a club-issued release specified."
• Matt Kemp: No Bryce Harper in Home Run Derby - Yahoo! Sports. "There's been talk of adding Harper and 20-year-old Mike Trout of the Angels to the All-Star festivities. Trout should be playing in the game (and he might) but the Derby would be a way for one or both to participate for certain. Harper might not hit one ball over the fence, but he would get more people to watch than Ethier would. Which leads me to this: Why is Major League Baseball entrusting a marketing decision to a player?"