Wednesday Halolinks: Streaking Angels Get A Lift From Trout's Cycle

In yesterday's Halolinks, I wondered if what we're witnessing is an Angels' season turnaround. Last year the club had an awful April and then had the best 5 months in baseball. As we've seen this season, April (9-17) was even worse than last year, and May has only been slightly better (9-10), but since the 9th of May, the Halos have gone 7-5. Sure, 7-5 isn't going to win any pennants, but at least, AT LEAST there is finally hope. And at least there are Halolinks:

• I think this might be something like the fifth time I've written this, but last night's game was the sort of game I expected every night. The hitters put up double-digit runs, while the pitching staff produces lights-out innings: Trout hits for cycle, drives in 5, Angels rout M's - Yahoo! Sports. "Trout hit for the cycle and drove in five runs, Josh Hamilton celebrated his 32nd birthday with a homer and a triple his first two times up, and Howie Kendrick also went deep in the Los Angeles Angels' 12-0 rout of the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night."
  
• After spending the first month of the season in the minors, Trout hit .324 in May of 2012. And then he hit .372 in June. And then .392 in July. Mike Trout adds cycle to lengthy list of achievements - angels.com. "The feat extends Trout's torrid pace in May, as he has now collected 18 RBIs and is hitting .343 for the month." Sit back and enjoy the next few months.
  
• As I wrote above...isn't this what we expected? Mariners-Angels Preview - Yahoo! Sports. "Since falling a season-worst 12 games below .500 with a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Friday, Los Angeles (18-27) has reeled off three straight wins to match its longest streak of the season. The Angels are batting .340 with 10.0 runs per game during their current run after pounding out 15 hits in Tuesday's 12-0 victory."
• Within this post are some really cool tweets and video: Mike Trout hit for the cycle and drove in five runs in a 12-0 victory by the Los Angeles Angels - FOX Sports. "When news of Trout’s accomplishment hit Twitter, his No. 1 fan immediately chimed in."

  One proud Mama!!! Standing ovation at the Big A !!! TROUTSTANDING !!!

  — Debbie Trout (@DebbieTrout27) May 22, 2013

  "Troutstanding" has just been added to the HH lexicon.
  
• Just as important as Trout's night was the performance by Jerome Williams. This should have been his second straight win (remember that 74-pitch start last week?) Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels - May 21, 2013 - CBSSports.com. "Jerome Williams (3-1) scattered six hits over eight innings, struck out six and walked two while helping send the Mariners to their season-high fifth straight loss. The right-hander got one more run of support as he did in his three-previous starts this season combined."
• If I remember correctly, Rev Halofan used to have season tickets in this same area: Breaking Down Every Angels Cycle - Bugs & Cranks. "And then the left-handed Lucas Luetge threw what was likely ball three, a low fastball that Trout drilled 408 feet to right-center for his ninth homer of the season, just a few feet away from the season ticket seat I’ve owned since 1998. I didn’t make it to this game, though my friend that had the seat left early. Sucker."
• We'll learn tomorrow morning if Weaver will be back sooner, rather than later: Jered Weaver could return from the disabled list next week - HardballTalk. "The Angels’ hideous 4.77 team ERA ranks 28th in the major leagues, in front of only the Blue Jays and Astros. Which probably played a big role in Anaheim’s decision to rush Weaver back without a rehab start." Weaver's return dependent on extended spring game - angels.com. "I think if he comes out of this strong and finishes and gets to that level, the next step of six [innings] and 90 [pitches] is something we can consider up here with us," Scioscia said. "But, it's all going to be contingent on how he does in his workout and how he feels coming out of it."
• Cool story, Bro: Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels - May 22, 2013 - MLB.com. "Maurer will start for Seattle on Wednesday in the finale of a two-game series at Angel Stadium, about 12 miles from where he grew up in Costa Mesa, Calif.... The right-hander pitched at Angel Stadium once when he was in high school, during a tryout for the Angels Elite team." Hey, what about the Angels' pitcher this guy will be facing? Remember C.J. Wilson? Fountain Valley high school?
• LA Angels shortstop Erick Aybar exits with right knee soreness - angels.com. ""His knee got a little tight up almost where his quad is," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He should be available tomorrow, but we didn't want to take any chances tonight."
• Today's doppelganger:
  
  Aaron Harang and Carl from "Family Guy"
• I don't think Rob Neyer is too enamored with Mitch Williams: Baseball on pape - Baseball Nation. "Mitch Williams currently works for MLB Network as an analyst. I wonder if he might put on his analyst cap, and suggest some pitchers, currently active, who might be good candidates to save 192 games while walking 7.1 guys per nine innings." Can you guess which Angels' pitcher has a 6.8 BB/9 this season? Angels' closer Enesto Frieri. Sure, that's about twice his career walk rate, but he's doing "okay". Besides, what do you expect from a guy whose nickname is "Wild Thing"? No one has ever mentioned the name "Mensa Mitch".