Tuesday Halolinks: Angels finally show potential, wait until next year!

Goodbye protected pick, hello kick-ass team...and Halolinks:

This is so frustrating...It's so much fun watching the team do well, but frustrating that it took so long for them to show up: MLB Recap - Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics - Sep 16, 2013 - CBSSports.com.  "Los Angeles has won nine of 12 and 18 of 24. But with two weeks left in the regular season, the Angels are 15 games behind the first-place A's in the AL West. "There's no doubt this year has filled us with a lot of frustration," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "This last month gives us a lot of hope looking forward to some of our kids that are playing well, some of the things we've been looking to take place and be in place during the season."  The big question is; will Scioscia be there to see the kids grow up?  Although I hate to concede the season, 2014 is looking like it could be whole lot better, at least offensively, with the addition of Kole Calhoun and a rejuvinated Josh Hamilton: Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics - September 16, 2013 - MLB.com.  "The A's quickly learned this is a different Angels team. These Angels pitch. They got seven innings of one-run ball from Wilson, then two scoreless innings of relief work to put the staff ERA at an AL-best 3.19 since Aug. 23. These Angels hit. Kole Calhoun (23 RBIs in his last 22 games), Mark Trumbo (34 homers and 99 RBIs on the season) and Trout (24 homers and 89 RBIs on the year) each drove in three runs, pacing an Albert Pujols-less Angels offense that has nonetheless averaged 5.7 runs per game in September."

Yeah, he's pretty good: Mike Trout Edition of September History Watch - ESPN.  "It's a good thing Miguel Cabrera and Chris Davis didn't take the year off, or else this Mike Trout guy would be leading the American League in, basically, everything."  Here's proof from last night's game:

I don't think Trout will be getting Morosi's MVP vote, but Craig Calcaterra shows us he's a weasel: Jon Morosi: finding new ways to support Miguel Cabrera for MVP depending on the circumstances - HardballTalk.  "In 2010, of course, the Tigers finished 81-81 and were out of the playoff picture while Hamilton’s Rangers won the AL West with a huge assist from Josh Hamilton. I guess that whole thing about "helping their teams win division titles and make the playoffs" criteria for the MVP award only matters when it helps Miguel Cabrera and doesn’t matter when it hurts him."

Yes, Bob Melvin has done a good job with his team: Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics - September 17, 2013 - MLB.com.  ""[A's manager] Bob [Melvin] just understands talent," Scioscia said. "The way he's mixed and matched and the way these guys have pitched and played defense, it's been textbook. From where they were last June to where they are now, it's incredible. They've certainly taken it to us and we need to get better."  Has Scioscia been taking notes?

September call-ups: RHP Tommy Hanson recalled from minors by Angels - Yahoo Sports.  "The Los Angeles Angels have recalled right-hander Tommy Hanson from Triple-A Salt Lake and added four others to the roster. The Angels also recalled infielder Tommy Field, selected first baseman Efren Navarro and right-hander Matt Shoemaker from Salt Lake, and reinstated righty Robert Coello from the 60-day disabled list Monday before opening a series at Oakland."

I completely forgot about Chad Cordero, which is a bummer considering how much I was rooting for him last spring: Cordero's comeback ends in Minors, for now - angels.com.  "Cordero eventually earned an invitation to Spring Training, began the season at Class A Inland Empire, earned a promotion to Triple-A Salt Lake two weeks later and finished his first pro season in two years with a 5.53 ERA in 58 games. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Cordero's name came up "various times" this season, but the big leagues will have to wait until at least 2014."

I don't take pleasure in other people's misery, but...Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Recap - September 16, 2013 - ESPN.  "Matt Garza (9-6) gave up six runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings to lose his third straight start for the Rangers, who have lost seven in a row and are 2-12 in September. Garza is 3-5 with Texas since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 22."

Hey, if it works for TSA ... - Baseball Nation.  "Adhering to a new Major League Baseball league-wide mandate, the Oakland A’s will begin using a walk-through metal detection system for fans entering O.co Coliseum for all remaining home games beginning Thursday night when the team hosts Minnesota at 7:05 p.m."

I guess Trout's not the best player on the Angels...at least last week:  Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim catcher Chris Iannetta wins American League (AL) Player of the Week Award - angels.com.  "Iannetta is the first Angels player of any position to win the Player of the Week award in 2013, after he drove in five runs, scored seven and drew two walks over six games last week. Iannetta led all AL hitters with a .952 slugging percentage and was second to teammate Mark Trumbo in total bases (20)."

Forbes 'Richest 400 Americans' includes 32 sports owners - ESPN.  "The richest person involved in the sports world is Nike chairman Phil Knight, who Forbes says is the 24th-richest American at $16.3 billion, $55.7 billion behind Bill Gates, who topped the list for the 20th year in a row." The article makes no mention of any baseball team owners, but if it had, here's the Halo's owner: Arturo Moreno - Forbes.  "Arturo Moreno on Forbes - #1250 Billionaires, #392 Forbes 400 Net Worth $1.25 B"  Cha-ching.

I suppose it could always be worse: Miami Marlins front office takes backseat to owner Jeffrey Loria - MiamiHerald.com.  ""I think people tend to believe that an owner should hire a GM and not be involved, and that’s really old-school thinking," Bowden said. "There are very few situations left in baseball where the GM has full autonomy in making the call. I’ve never had a situation my entire career where I got to make the call, ever." That said, Bowden added that "the most important thing is to be on the same page."

Lyle Spencer: Vladimir Guerrero exited quietly but deserves entrance to Hall of Fame - angels.com.  "Guerrero, who spent six years with the Angels after eight with the Montreal Expos, was one of the game's greatest players. There will be debate over his Hall of Fame credentials, but for one member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America spanning four decades, it's an easy call. This man belongs in Cooperstown."  Yes, I concur.

Potential Angels' signing?  Free Agent Profile: Ubaldo Jimenez - MLBTradeRumors.com.  "As a reliable innings eater with ace-caliber upside, I expect that he will sign a three-year, $39MM contract, with an outside chance that a team makes an Edwin Jackson type of offer (four years, $52MM)."  Probable Angels' non-signing: Alexander Guerrero Joins Boras Corporation - MLBTradeRumors.com.  "Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero has joined the Boras Corporation and is now entertaining offers from all 30 Major League teams with Boras leading negotiations, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez (Twitter link)."  Hopeful Angels' signing: Angels, who beat A's, 12-1, could go shopping in Japan for a pitcher - latimes.com.  "The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Tanaka, who features a 94-mph fastball, sharp slider and a superb split-fingered fastball, won't come cheap. If the Eagles, as expected, post Tanaka, it could cost a major league team $25 million or more just to obtain the rights to negotiate a deal with him. Tanaka, 24, could be worth it. Two scouts who have seen Tanaka pitch but are not authorized to speak publicly about him said that although Tanaka might not be in Texas ace Yu Darvish's class, he could be as good as or better than Hiroki Kuroda, who is 68-68 with a 3.37 earned-run average in six big league seasons."

Something funny: Ryan Braun’s apology phone calls meet that one scene from ‘Swingers’ (a Big League Stew parody) - Yahoo Sports