Daily Links for the LA Angels including Morales cleared to take BP, Wells held out with more hamstring issues, Downs recovering quickly and much more…
The Story: Kendrys Morales has resumed taking batting practice.
The Monkey Says: He still isn’t running, but at least he is doing something. It is starting to sound like Kendrys won’t be ready to come off the DL into near the end of April at the earliest.
The Story: Vernon Wells did not play in yesterday’s game even though he was expected to do so.
The Monkey Says: This is a little alarming, but the team is saying it was just a precaution. It is worth noting that Wells took BP and shagged flyballs, so he can’t be feeling that bad if his hammy is really still bothering him.
The Story: Scott Downs is already throwing off the mound again.
The Monkey Says: This is great news as Downs appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery. If he can come back fast, the Angels might be more inclined to give a quick hook to Scott Kazmir in the rotation, replacing him with Hisanori Takahashi since they’ll have Downs ready to go as the bullpen lefty.
The Story: Did anyone have a worse off-season than the LA Angels?
The Monkey Says: Thanks for opening up that old wound when all this really was supposed to be was a season preview.
The Story: The first six Angel Alumni that will throw out the ceremonial first pitches have been unveiled.
The Monkey Says: The first six are Eli Grba, Albie Pearson, Bob Lee, Mark Langston, Jim Fregosi and Roger Repoz. Apparently, the Halos are having an Angel Alumni throw the first pitch at every single home game, so expect to see some pretty obscure players returning. Tell me you wouldn’t get a good chuckle out of seeing them dust off Ben Weber and his herky-jerky delivery for one ceremonial pitch?
The Story: FanGraphs presents their top 100 prospects.
The Monkey Says: I feel like they’ve already done this twelve times this off-season, but whatever. Trout is #1 (shocking, I know). Segura is up next at #51 with Chatwood the only other Angel on the list at #85
The Story: Kendrys Morales is the “X Factor” for the Angels this year.
The Monkey Says: Common Man, you sonuvabitch! I basically have my own take on who the Angels “X Factor” is for this season ready to go for today and had it planned for weeks, now I look like a copycat. Good thing I didn’t choose Morales as my X-Factor. Who will it be? SPOILER ALERT: It won’t be Scott Kazmir.
The Story: Ten things you may not have known about the Angels and that “other” original AL expansion team.
The Monkey Says: This is good stuff, but I think he needed an eleventh item: that the Angels are no longer called the California Angels.