Daily links for the LA Angels including Halos on the verge of a huge TV contract, the most important Angel off-season in years, Mike Trout and the cautionary tale of Ed Kirkpatrick and much more.
The Story: Peter Gammons says the Angels are on the verge of a $4 billion TV deal.
The Monkey Says: WHOA! If true, that would trump the mega-deal the Rangers just got and line the Halos’ pockets for some serious spending this off-season. This is the first I have heard of such a deal, but I can only assume the package would be with Fox Sports and likely eliminate the those Sunday games on KCOP. Stay tuned.
The Story: A look at the Angels’ off-season agenda.
The Monkey Says: The headline calls it the most important off-season in years, and I can’t say that I disagree.
The Story: Mike Trout and the cautionary tale of Ed Kirkpatrick.
The Monkey Says: It is a twisting and turning tale, but suffice it say that giving in to the fan fervor and promoting Trout to the majors for the 2011 season is probably a bad idea… which I could have told you without even reading the tale of Ed Kirkpatrick.
The Story: Mark Trumbo and Hank Conger are starting off their winter league play in Venezuela.
The Monkey Says: Both are off to reasonable starts, but nobody really cares about winter league ball unless somebody does incredibly well or incredibly poorly. Now that I think about it, didn’t Brandon Wood have a lousy winter ball performance last year or the year before? Hmmmmm.
The Story: Which Angel rookies will be back in 2011?
The Monkey Says: I hate that the 15% chance for Conger is probably realistic. Personally, I think that the Halos are likely going to be stupid and keep Jeff Mathis next season, and that they should just have him split time equally with Conger. That way Conger gets enough playing time, but he also isn’t overburdened either. That probably won’t happen though. It makes too much sense.