WeekEnd HaloLinks: R-E-L-A-X

Bud Norris and Edwin Diaz knew exactly what they were doing yesterday: giving Mike Trout an opportunity to get plate appearance #5 in efforts to qualify for the leaderboards. Mike Trout ripped a Troutian double on a well-placed Edwin Diaz slider, and won the game for the Angels. The dive is the cherry on top....

The Angels are just ONE game back of the second wild card, though they do have multiple teams still in their way. They just won the most difficult game of the Seattle series, now they need to take care of business against Marco Gonzales, Erasmo Ramirez, and Ariel Miranda. That should be doable...

Have some Bud-gets-the-win Links:

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A Little Bit of Angels News

At the 25-minute mark or so, Jeff Sullivan and Ben Lindbergh answer a listener’s question: If Albert Pujols and the Angels agreed for him to play until he died, how long would it take for him to reach 0 career WAR? The sad part is, Albert Pujols is at 99.5 bWAR on his career and falling — he may never get back to 100 bWAR, ever.....

But don’t take my word for it. Take Mike Scioscia’s! “Albert right now is not getting as many hits falling as we’re used to seeing, but he’s working hard at it,” Scioscia said. “I think he’s the best guy to hit behind Mike.” “If you look at batting average and OPS, they are not what you’re accustomed to, but there is no doubt, seeing him every day, he’s hitting the ball hard,” Scioscia said. “He’s leading the team in RBI (68). I think there are still some positives. The only good thing was Albert coming through in the clutch. Now? He’s not even top-10 in RBI despite hitting behind Mike effing Trout......

There are a million reasons to blame Scioscia last night, but we are all relieved the Angels secured the victory in the end. But taking out a solid starter who had pitches left and leaving in a struggling reliever for a batter too long was clearly the wrong call. So not only has Bud lost the closer job, they are “taking a step back”.

Major love to C.J. Cron, who has turned his season around in a hurry, as well as Andrelton Simmons for the DINGERZ yesterday. Impressive...As was Tyler Skaggs, who generated weak contact against a very dangerous Mariners lineup in his best start back since the oblique injury. His defense helped, for sure.....

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Josh Mayhood's Library of Mike Trout Hagiography

Take another look at Trout’s go-ahead double from last night. The thing that strikes me the seven times I’ve watched it is that it wasn’t necessarily a bad pitch. That’s a superhuman playing against a mere mortal in the same edifice, nothing more, nothing less.....

He’s getting closer...Mike Trout is at 5.2 fWAR, closing in on Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve. Here are those leaderboards...

Aaron Judge first half: 198 wRC+

Aaron Judge second half: 75 wRC+

Mike Trout first half: 210 wRC+

Mike Trout second half: 205 wRC+

It should be no surprise that Mike Trout is the better player.....

Mike Trout was the best player in baseball in 2012 and 2013 and 2014 and 2015 and 2016. Here’s my bold prediction: Mike Trout will be the best player in baseball in 2017. And this time, he will carry his team to postseason relevance. And if he gets there, then he has to get MVP too, right?? ......

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Everywhere In Baseball

Could Michael Jordan be a part of Derek Jeter’s bid for the purchase of the Miami Marlins? .........

Rhys Hoskins was promoted to the majors yesterday. He ran a 161, 174, 159, and 166 wRC+ over the last three years. Jeez........

The Angels just scored three runs off this Paxton guy, and two home runs at that. Too bad Paxton got injured though........

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Jordan Serena Destiny Watch

Serena didn’t play yesterday, but he got to watch Jahmai Jones hit a home run! Jahmai is OPS’ing .885, Joe Gatto had a nice start, and the 66ers got the win 2-1.....

Your daily farm report is here...

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