The Streak Ends, And Then Some

After a perfectly wretched first half, the Angels concluded their run into the All-Star break on a tear, taking three straight from Oakland. They started their second half just as hot, sweeping the mostly hapless Tampa Bay Devil Rays at home, despite some peculiar moves by Mike Scioscia, who apparently likes to announce his intention to use the suicide squeeze so often they're thinking of putting the hotline on speed dial. The Angels then took two of three from a surprisingly wilted Cleveland team:

• On Monday, they started the series with a dubiously effective rookie, Dustin Moseley; once upon a time, he was a first-round draft pick with the Reds and the best pitching prospect in their system, but a lack of an out pitch and the turning pages of the calendar have relegated him to second-tier status.
• Joe Saunders got his third major league appearance and his first major league victory despite a messy bullpen implosion, with Kevin Gregg retiring two batters fairly easily and then transmogrifying an easy 7-2 win into a 7-5 win, with help from "K"-Rod, who allowed his inherited baserunners to score in the ninth.
• Finally, John Lackey had a couple of his patented 2003 innings in which he got the first two batters easily and couldn't get the next n batters out. Of course, it happened on an afternoon in which the Angels couldn't quite get equivalent traction against old teammate Paul Byrd.

Neglecting, for the moment, the Angels' appalling 9-4 loss to the Royals, it's time to discuss something entirely different. With the exception of the last couple weeks or so, the Angels have been scrapping for offense wherever they can get it. There's been talk of adding a big bat almost constantly, yet despite the constant churning of the rumor mill, neither Bobby Abreu nor Alfonso Soriano seem likely to end up in the Anaheim of Los Angeles.Instead, Bill Stoneman seems content to add by hoping the kids get better. So far, that plan has worked out, especially with the recent addition of Howie Kendrick. Howie, who always hit well in the minors, is now hitting .455 so far in July, and is now Adam Kennedy's platoonmate against lefty pitchers. Kendry Morales has also upped his production, hitting .298 on the month with four doubles, a homer, and eight RBIs, the latter good for third on the team.

One trade that might actually go down, though, is a move to get Shea Hillenbrand of the Blue Jays. Hillenbrand, who had been designated for assignment on Wednesday, apparently found himself challenged to a fight by manager John Gibbons; no wonder he wanted out of Toronto!

Word is that the Angels have interest in Hillenbrand, unlike so many rumors to hit the airwaves and blogosphere. Earlier in the year, Ken Rosenthal reported that the Angels were in talks with the Jays for Hillenbrand, with the reported return being Adam Kennedy; the sticking point was supposed to have been the amount of salary Toronto would have to eat. With reports that Casey Kotchman won't likely return this year, the team may have run out of patience with Morales. It would be a pity, especially as he's starting to warm up.