Tuesday Halolinks: Pujols Gets Trumbo Home Run Gig, Haren Looks For Improvement

Jered Weaver improves to 9-1 as Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland Indians - FOX Sports. "The Indians loaded the bases in the seventh off Weaver, who got a forceout at the plate, foul pop and strikeout to end Cleveland's best threat. ''I don't know the last time that happened, me getting out of something like that,'' said Weaver, who has allowed just one run in his past 21 2/3 innings. ''You want to lock it in when you get in a situation like that. I was able to make some pitches. You try not to do much, but that's easier said than done. You have to make some better pitches and keep those guys off balance as much as possible.''

Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Indians - July 3, 2012 - MLB.com. "The 31-year-old has struggled with tightness in his back, and his pitches have been slightly up and a little flat. Scioscia said Haren understands his issues and has made a few adjustments, giving hope that he can look more like the pitcher who was 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA in 2011, and less like the one who is 6-7 with a 4.53 ERA in 2012."

Haren's future with Halos unresolved - The Orange County Register. "Those two have been the Angels most undependable starters this season with a combined ERA of 4.83 (two runs higher than the rest of the rotation). "Of course, I wish I was having a better year for the team not only for myself and my own situation," Haren said. "It makes sense for the Angels to wait and see if I turn it around. I definitely want to stay here. But in order to stay here, I've got to be pitching better. Hopefully, I do turn it around and pitch better because I like it here and I want to stay with the Angels. It's a great group of guys and I always wanted to pitch for the Angels. "I've been traded enough in my career."

Angels-Indians Preview - Yahoo! Sports. "Facing the Indians could help Haren work out of some recent woes, as he has a 7.94 ERA despite a 3-1 record over his last four outings. He allowed a season-high six runs over six innings last Thursday in Toronto but still got credit for a 9-7 victory. Haren has gotten 24 runs of support in his last three wins."

Cameron Maybin hits the longest homer of 2012 - HardballTalk. "Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin took Arizona’s Trevor Cahill way out of Chase Field on Monday night, hitting a 485-foot homer to left-center. " Here's a link to the video.

Pujols' request helped Trumbo land in Derby - angels.com. "Pujols, who has competed in three Home Run Derby events, would've done it if he had been picked for the All-Star Game. But if not, he asked Cano if he would pick teammate Mark Trumbo, instead. And so he did, ultimately choosing Trumbo, Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder and Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista. "I told Robbie to call him, because I thought he deserved it," Pujols said. "It's great to have fresh faces in the Home Run Derby. He invited me, but I told him, 'Robbie, to be honest, if I don't get picked for the All-Star Game, I'm not going to do it, but I'd love it if you invited Trumbo,' and he told me he'd do it."

Talkin' OC baseball history - The Orange County Register. "Every OC devotee of the summer game should be chest-bumping Chris Epting for his just-published "Baseball in Orange County" in which he pulls together text, rare photographs and maps in a 127-page volume that seems all-too short. It begins with a photograph of Johnson, who grew up in what is now Brea, and ends with a photo of the diamond at Murdy Park, home of the Ocean View Little League team that won the 2011 Little League World Series. In between is much magic."

AL West: heading to halfway - The Hardball Times. "It's not Wells' fault that Toronto grossly overpaid for him years ago. It's not his fault that Anaheim made one of the worst trades ever for him, either. What he is culpable for is playing his entire career with a swing-at-everything approach. That style of hitting has produced long periods of terrific hitting. Unfortunately, it has also produced periods of miserable offensive numbers, like his first season with the Angels last year, when he hit .218/.248/.412."

The Week In Worst: When Baseball Goes Wrong - Baseball Nation. "Hello there, friends, and welcome to your weekly reminder that the players selected to compete at the highest level because they can compete at the highest level are not always competing at the highest level."

Cutters [and Sliders] w/ Roger McDowell & Randy St. Claire - FanGraphs Baseball. "Savvy baseball fans know the difference between a cutter and a slider, but what differentiates the two pitches is a mystery to many. Roger McDowell and Randy St. Claire understand the nuances of both."

Top 120 Prospect List for 2012: Midseason Revision - Minor League Ball. "Here is a revised Top 120 list for mid-season. I have deleted anyone who has exceeded rookie qualifications, or who is expected to do so, so you won't find Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, or Addison Reed or Robbie Ross. One exception is Anthony Rizzo, who was promoted while I was working on the list."

Texas Rangers broadcaster Dave Barnett to take leave of absence expected to last for remainder of season - Texas Rangers Blog. "Barnett, 54, has undergone a battery of medical tests and hoped to return as soon as possible. He sounded optimistic in several conversations last week, but his tenor was different Monday. "I have specialists disagreeing, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel," he said in a telephone interview."

How To Burp Like A World Champ In 5 Steps, Featuring Competitive Eater And Burping World Champ Tim Janus. "In June, Janus became the burping champion of the world. He belched, uninterrupted, for exactly 18.1 seconds. Accordingly, we have produced this helpful video for you, as part of our Lifespin series, in which we teach you how to do something useful and relevant. Today: how to burp like a champ."

Blue Jays Designate David Pauley For Assignment - MLBTradeRumors.com. "Pauley, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels on two different occasions earlier this year. The Jays picked him up off waivers on June 20, following his second DFA. The right-hander appeared in just four games for Toronto, allowing seven runs in 6 1/3 innings."

Brewers' longtime employee passes away - Fox Sports. "The game was delayed as emergency medical workers attempted to perform CPR on the Brewers' long-time Grounds Crew Lead, before transporting him to nearby Froedtert Hospital. But despite the efforts of the emergency medical team tending to him, Adcock passed away."