- The Story: Torii Hunter aggravated his old groin injury but says he will be OK. The Monkey Says: Sonuvabitch. Torii may say he is OK, but Angel fans should be cautious as this is the same groin that sent him to the DL for several weeks last year. It was supposed to be repaired by surgery this off-season and if he is tweaking it this soon into the spring, I have a hard time believing it won’t be a problem later on in the year.
- The Story: Emotions were high when statues of Nick Adenhart and Preston Gomez were brought into the Angel clubhouse. The Monkey Says: A very somber reminder to the Angels about the hardships they fought through last season and a move that definitely should serve as motivation for the team again this year.
- The Story: Jon Wilhite has made an amazing recovery from the life-threatening injuries he suffered in the Nick Adenhart car accident. The Monkey Says: It sounds as if Wilhite is almost fully healthy again despite being internally decapitated in the crash which supposedly is almost impossible to survive much less fully recover from. That, my friends, is a miracle.
- The Story: Will Hideki Matsui really play the outfield this year? The Monkey Says: We all know he will since Mike Scioscia insisted on playing Vlad Guerrero and Garret Anderson in the field long past their ability to even be average fielders. The idea that there is no risk involved is laughable since Matsui is playing on bad knees and would be subjected to unnecessary wear and tear by patrolling left field.
- The Story: Fernando Rodney has been cleared to throw off the mound. The Monkey Says: And the Frodney ERA is now ready to begin. Excuse me if I don’t plan a parade in his honor.
- The Story: This could be Scot Shields’ last season as an Angel. The Monkey Says: Even if Shields has a bounceback year, history suggests the Angels will let him leave in free agency just like they have with almost all of their other veterans in recent years.
- The Story: Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria is now free to sign with any team. The Monkey Says: The Angels have shown interest in the prospect, but the Cubs and Yankees seem like they are bound to outbid them.
- The Story: The Angels are stacked with a deep rotation. The Monkey Says: I like the premise that the Angels may not have a real ace but are more than happy to have five number two starters. First off, not only does that make some big assumptions about Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana and Joel Pineiro but what really bothers me is the mentality of being OK with a collection of solid starters when we have seen plenty of proof that you need more than above average starters to win in the post-season.
- The Story: Freddy Sandoval’s versatility shines for the Angels. The Monkey Says: I sure hope it shines because I would much rather he make the team than Robb Quinlan.
- The Story: Mike Scioscia is eager to get Brandon Wood’s power into the line-up. The Monkey Says: Or so he says until he realizes that Maicer Izturis won’t have a starting job then I am sure Izzy will be starting at third and batting fifth before you know it.