Tuesday Halolinks: Tigers Get Into Angels Pen, Trout Okay

Down-n-dirty, quick-n-easy Halolinks as I prepare for my road trip to Dyersville (more on this in a later post):

Would it be completely negative to write "it was bound to happen"? I mean, geez, the bullpen has been brilliant recently, wasn't a slight "bump in the road" to be expected? Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers - July 16, 2012 - MLB.com LAA Recap. "From the time Ernesto Frieri was acquired on May 3 to the end of the first half, the Angels had the second-best bullpen ERA in the American League at 2.60. In four second-half games -- and with the non-waiver Trade Deadline now only two weeks away -- that same relief corps has surrendered 11 runs on nine hits and 11 walks in six innings. The Angels can only hope it's a small hiccup." Let's just hope the bump isn't a hill. Oh, here's a little more negativity...sorry...Angels-Tigers Preview - Yahoo! Sports. "Los Angeles (49-41), meanwhile, has dropped seven of 10 away from home after winning 14 of its previous 15 on the road."

I'm glad they (whoever "they" are) think a major leaguer giving up 7 hits over 5 innings to single-A players is "sharp": Angels' Haren sharp in rehab start - MiLB.com News. "Haren allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings as the Class A Advanced 66ers topped the Lake Elsinore Storm, 5-4, on Monday. He struck out two while not allowing a walk and threw 44 of his 65 pitches for strikes. Haren is expected to rejoin the Angels rotation this weekend in a series against the division-rival Texas Rangers. "I'll be good to go," the 31-year-old right-hander said. "I wanted to make sure everything went fine today and they wanted to make sure I came out of everything good. We'll see how I feel in the morning."

Vernon Wells' imminent return to Angels could be problematic - latimes.com. Ya think? "Vernon Wells, out since May 21 because of a torn ligament in his right thumb, is expected to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment of seven to 10 games this weekend, moving a big step closer to a return that could cause tension in the Angels' clubhouse and test the patience of fans."

This totally surprised me: Poll: Most Underrated Position Player - SI.com. "#2 - Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" As voted by over 200 players.

This also surprises me, but in a different way: Ryan Dempster Rumors: Red Sox in Hot Pursuit - MLB Daily Dish. "The Red Sox are not alone in their pursuit of the right-hander. Over the weekend it was reported that at least teams teams have shown "legitimate interest" in Dempster, including the Dodgers, Indians, Tigers, Yankees, White Sox and Braves." It's been rumored the Angels were looking in on Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels, but why not Dempster? He's arguably have just as good of a season, and would cost less in a deal (I'm assuming).

This is just weird: Maybe the greatest catch you’ll ever see - HardballTalk. "The best I can figure is that when it goes past his glove — and it really looks like it went past his glove — it didn’t go over the fence. Rather, it came down right in front of the fence and into his bare hand and he amazingly held on." I've watched the video a bunch of times, and it sure looks like the ball goes past James' glove. Watch it for yourself.

Two Rob Neyer posts: Hall Of Fame Cemetery: An Immodest Proposal - Baseball Nation. "A couple of my friends and I have an odd little hobby: When we're traveling together, we like to locate the graves of Hall of Fame baseball players -- or non-Hall of Famers, if they're all that's at hand -- and play a bit of catch."

The Hawkeroo on Reggie - Hot Corner - Baseball Nation
From Monday night's White Sox broadcast, here's Hawk Harrelson:
Harrelson: I know Reggie. He first joined us in Kansas City; we played together. Reggie has always been all about Reggie. It's just that simple.
Steve Stone: So, he wanted to close the Hall behind him--
Harrelson: As soon as he got in there, he wanted nobody else in there. That's it. He can't believe anybody else would be in the Hall of Fame. He is so full of it, it's unbelievable. And I've told him that many times.