Tuesday Halolinks: Trade Deadline Approaches, Kendrys Morales Ups His Value

Tuesday linkage before everything goes nuts tomorrow:

• He must have seen Vlad Guerrero do this: Kendrys' homers produce historic side effects - MLB.com. "He had just three hits in his last 28 at-bats, striking out 14 times, and was trying just about everything to find the right balance in the batter's box and get back to his old self. Finally, after striking out in his first plate appearance against Rangers starter Roy Oswalt on Monday, he decided to scrap the batting gloves, a method that temporarily worked for him while at his peak in 2009." Batting gloves are for wimps.
• Angels-Rangers Preview - Yahoo! Sports. "Weaver will go for his eighth straight win and 14th overall Tuesday night when the Angels continue their crucial series against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers."
• One day, you'll look back and say, "I remember the day Williams got that save!": Jerome Williams gives up five runs, earns save - HardballTalk. "Jerome Williams became the first pitcher in 26 years to give up five runs and get a save. Since the save became an official stat in 1969, just six pitchers had given up five runs and earned a save. The last was Seattle’s Mark Huisman on July 12, 1986." And here you thought Jerome Williams' performance last night wasn't historical
• Angels notes from Angels.com: Trumbo out of starting lineup with back spasms - angels.com. "Trumbo felt pain in the area while hitting in the cage prior to Sunday's game against the Rays, but played through it and indicated that sitting out on Monday was only a precautionary measure. He took part in batting practice, is available to pinch-hit and will probably start at designated hitter on Tuesday.
  Dan Haren and his back stiffness: Angels manager Mike Scioscia stressed Monday that the current pain is "nothing connected" with the lower-back stiffness that placed Haren on the disabled list earlier this month. "It's really nothing like it was before," Haren added, pointing to the fact that his back injury was more of a structural issue than a muscular one, like this. Asked whether Haren will start Wednesday, though, Scioscia said: "Right now, we're not sure."
  Izzy wants to stay: But lacking playing time hasn't seemed to sour Izturis on the organization he's spent his last eight years with, an organization few realize he's the longest-tenured member of. If given a chance, he'd like to return next season. "I would like to keep playing here," Izturis said in Spanish, though he hasn't been offered any sort of contract. "I respect this uniform a lot and I appreciate this fan base a lot. I've been in four playoff runs with this team and everybody knows what I'm all about, on and off the field. If they're not interested in me or what I bring, then no hard feelings. I'll test the market."
• Since when does anyone listen to baseball announcers?: Sox' Miller surprised by Hershiser's criticism - WEEI.com. "Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller was the target of criticism from ESPN analyst Orel Hershiser during Sunday night's game, as Hershiser took exception with Miller chuckling in the dugout after allowing a double and being lifted in the eighth inning." And then there's former Angels' color-man Rex Hudler going oldschool too: Ned Yost bans fraternizing on the basepaths because it angers Rex Hudler - HardballTalk. "Royals announcer Rex Hudler has made it his personal mission to stop Royals players from being friendly with opposing players during games, so Ned Yost has put a stop to it." Here's Rob Neyer's take on the situation (he mostly agrees with Hud): Ned Yost Bans On-Field Fraternizing, But Why? - Baseball Nation. "I've missed this during the broadcasts, but apparently Rex Hudler has been complaining on the air about various Royals "fraternizing" with opposing players during the games, sometimes after the opposing players have gotten big hits (and there have been a lot of those lately). And according to Fox Sports Kansas City's Jeffrey Flanagan, Royals manager Ned Yost has told his players to cut it out."
• Deadline: Angels players get caught up in trade talk too - The Orange County Register. "It's exciting 'cause it's like a puzzle," Angels veteran Torii Hunter said. "We're always talking about it. Nobody wants to admit it. But they're just being politically correct if they say they aren't paying attention."
• Alex Johnson, Angels' sole batting champ, and his enigmatic ways - latimes.com. "In 1970, he hit .3289 to edge Carl Yastrzemski by .0003 and win the Angels' first and only American League batting championship. By the middle of the next summer, he had been fined, benched and suspended by the Angels for lack of hustle and a poor attitude." Here's an example of what pissed Angels' management off: "His run-ins with team management started in earnest the next spring, when he stood in the shadow of a light structure during an exhibition game. He followed the shadow as it moved across the outfield on the sweltering day, disregarding standard defensive positioning."
• A Lyle sighting: AL West race comes down to starting pitching - angels.com. "It's a very good feeling to win again," Santana said, having been winless since dealing a one-hit shutout against the D-backs on June 16. "A lot of positive things in my mind. My slider was way better, and my fastball was coming out very good."
• Source on Phillies: 'They're going to unload' - csnphilly. "Cliff Lee has been in play for weeks and remains so. There were reports Monday that the Phils and Texas Rangers had stepped up trade discussions, but the Rangers aren’t in a position to take on the $87.5 million that Lee is owed for 2013-15."