Tuesday Halolinks: Arte Moreno Sticking With Mike Scioscia "Long-Term"...For Now

Good news! The Angels didn't lose yesterday! Bad news. They still fell further behind in the standings. Sometimes it not even worth getting out of bed, but at least there are Halolinks. Yes, good ol' linkage to soothe your aching spirit:

• I'm not really sure what to take from this quote. On one hand Moreno is saying he's going to stick with manager Mike Scioscia for the long-term, but then mentions how baseball staffs change and you make moves when change is needed. Angels owner Arte Moreno: Our goals can still be achieved - angels.com.
  MLB.com: Then let's go right back to this year. Have you allowed yourself to think of the possibility that this team could fall short of the playoffs? And if that happens, how does that play into your evaluations of the coaching staff?
  Moreno: I signed Mike long-term, and I'm invested in Mike long-term. For you, as a writer, you're going on a day-by-day, writing articles and you want me to pull some kind of rabbit out of a hat and give you something about what we're going to look at after the season or how we're going to look at the beginning of the season next year. A couple years ago, (Ron) Roenicke was our bench coach and he was asked to be the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. A few years before that, our pitching coach (Bud Black, went to the Padres). So the changing of baseball staffs happen, or adjustments happen sometimes, because they get an opportunity to go somewhere else in a leadership role. And sometimes there are decisions made where we need to make a move because change is needed.
• I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "Tiffany Simons!" HBT Extra: Angels are sinking fast.
  
  
  Money quote: "What's going on? Mike Scioscia's going to get fired."
• Scioscia may not lose his job, but another coach from his staff is on very thin ice: Angels remain hopeful they can make another turnaround - latimes.com. "A rotation many thought would be the best in baseball has gone 3-7 with a 6.53 ERA this month, giving up 75 runs and 22 homers in 103 1/3 innings.There is hope for a bullpen that was torched for 32 earned runs in 27 1/3 innings, five losses and four blown saves on the last 10-game trip to Texas, Chicago and Oakland." Earlier this season the Halos gave hitting coach Mickey Hatcher the boot after the club started the season with poor hitting. With their current pitching performances mirroring their early season hitting woes, Mike Butcher may also find himself selling Dodger dogs soon.
• Yeah, but can he pitch? Cron collects four hits for 66ers - MiLB.com. "The Angels' No. 2 prospect went 4-for-6, hitting two home runs and two doubles to drive in five runs as Class A Advanced Inland Empire beat Bakersfield, 16-6. Cron also scored three times and his Minor League-leading RBI total to 121 for the 66ers this season."
• No! Someone get Mike Trout away from that body snatcher pod before he starts using more empty platitudes: Angels-Red Sox Preview - Yahoo! Sports. "The Angels (62-60), however, have faded in that race by going 5-13 this month and head into Boston after getting swept in four home games against Tampa Bay. Los Angeles was outscored 37-14 during that set, and home runs from Pujols and Mike Trout were hardly enough in an 8-3 defeat Sunday. "It's baseball. Just come out Tuesday against Boston and turn the page," Trout told the team's official website."
• Did someone mention firing the pitching coach? Boston Red Sox relieve Bob McClure of pitching coach duty - ESPN Boston. "General manager Ben Cherington said the decision to relieve McClure of his duties for the remainder of the season was solely "performance based" and had nothing to do with McClure's relationship with manager Bobby Valentine, which reportedly was strained." Performance based? Currently the Red Sox have a staff ERA of 4.31, while the Angels' ERA is sitting at a fluffy 4.21. You may say, "But ERA is a worthless stat!" And I'd reply, "STFU, this is my column!" Here, go look for yourself: Baseball Reference
• This has got to be one of the weirdest things ever. What happened to Scott Kazmir?? Scott Kazmir walks eight, loses fifth game - thegmsperspective.com. "Sure, Kazmir walked eight batters and dropped to 0-5, but he went six innings, the most in his eight appearances. He only allowed two earned runs, and four hits while striking out four. Again, this is a testament to the hard work he is putting in." At least he has someone to carpool with: Roger Clemens signs with independent Sugar Land Skeeters in Texas - ESPN. "The 50-year-old Clemens signed with the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League on Monday and he is expected to start for the minor league team on Saturday at home against Bridgeport. "His fastball was clocked at 87 mph; all of his pitches were working," said Randy Hendricks, Clemens' agent. "He threw a three-inning simulated game after an extensive workout warm-up."
• Here's a fun read: Outfielders and fans develop fascinating dynamic - ESPN. "During one game, manager Ron Washington made a pitching change and Hamilton, Byrd and a third outfielder were conversing in center field when a fan vaulted the outfield fence and began running toward them. Somehow, the security detail failed to notice, and the fan wormed his way into the middle of their discussion. "The guy was like, 'Hey, how you doing?'" Byrd recalls. "He was standing right next to us. When I saw the security people coming I told him, 'You better run.'"
• It's fun for everyone except Chris Perez: Cleveland Indians' Chris Perez doesn't regret incident with Oakland A's fan - ESPN. "The video, which has gone viral, shows the back of Perez while he's yelling at the fan. Perez said the exchange needs to be put in context. He said that particular fan has been riding him in Oakland for the past four years when he shags balls in the outfield before the game."It's one of those things ... four years and I'd had enough. I'm not even playing the game. I'm shagging. I understand during the game it's all part of the game. It wasn't just a random guy that I just pointed out. It was the same guy for four years who has just been on me and on me. The video shows his ulterior motives. It's unfortunate. It's out there and I've just got live and learn from it." What's funny is the fan's persistence...for four years he's been riding Perez! And what has Chris Perez ever done to garner the attention?
  
• Who's ahead of the Angels? These guys: Stephen Drew traded to Athletics for minor leaguer - Yahoo! Sports. "The A's are in the thick of the AL West race as well as the wild cards, but they're also 25th in runs scored. Cliff Pennington has gotten most of the at-bats at short, and while his defense has been strong as usual, he's one of the worst hitters in the majors this season." And these guys: MLB Recap - Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers - Aug 20, 2012 - CBSSports.com. "Dempster was pitching on extra rest after missing the weekend series in his native Canada for personal reasons. While he wasn't with the Rangers for the three games in Toronto and missed his scheduled start Saturday, he threw a bullpen session over the weekend." You know what the "personal reasons" Dempster had for not going to Canada? He couldn't find his passport. Yikes.