OUR FANHOUSE TOOLBAR INTEGRATES THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS INTO YOUR WEB BROWSER AND INSTALLS IN SECONDS.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE TOOLBAR HERE.

FanHouse RobbQuinlan

Latest RobbQuinlan Stories

Rumor Mill Roundup: July 22

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- Sometimes with trade rumors, it's just a matter of connecting the dots. The Dodgers have a scout in Tampa Bay for this week's Rays-A's series, and with Los Angeles tied with Arizona atop the NL West, you can bet he isn't there to check out Evan Longoria. Back in Tinseltown, manager Joe Torre announced his intentions to showcase give Andy LaRoche plenty of time at third base over the next few weeks.

Even considering Ned Colletti's apparent antipathy for young players, LaRoche is the one prospect who seems to have been jerked around the most. Oakland GM Billy Beane appears willing to deal just about any of his established big leaguers, and the Dodgers could use help just about everywhere. Reliever Huston Street is the obvious target, but shortstop Bobby Crosby and starting pitcher Justin Duchscherer could also end up on the move. LaRoche would be a more than handsome return for any one of those players.

- Brian Fuentes continues to be the hot commodity on the relief market. According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, scouts from seven different teams have watched Fuentes pitch over the last few days, including almost all of the big boys from the American League. Fuentes gave up five runs in a loss on June 30 and since then has been utterly dominant, striking out 13 and walking none in his last seven appearances. Elsewhere, the Cardinals are reportedly stepping up their interest in Baltimore closer George Sherrill.

The Angels Lose Another Infielder

Man, there's something about being the top team in the AL West that makes a team have to use it's disabled list a lot more often. I already went over the Athletics' problems with keeping people healthy yesterday, but the injury bug isn't limited to Oakland's city limits.

Nope, it's made it's way down to southern California as well. Invading Anaheim, Orange County, Long Beach, Compton, Los Angeles, and whatever else the Angels are putting in their name these days. After already being without Chone Figgins and Howie Kendrick, it looks as though the Halos are going to have to add Erick Aybar to the disabled list as well.
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar left Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning after dislocating his right pinky while fielding a ground ball.

X-rays on Aybar's hand were negative, but he will visit a specialist on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage.
The Angels finished the game by moving Maicer Izturis over from third to short, and putting Robb Quinlan at third. They're going to await the results of Erick's trip to the specialist today before making any move official, but I'm guessing that if Aybar has to go on the disabled list, that the Angels will call up Brandon Wood to take his spot on the roster.

I'm Pretty Sure the Angels Are Cursed

Another day, another player added to the Angels disabled list.

A team starved for offense lost another of its top hitters Wednesday when second baseman Howie Kendrck, who was batting .327, went on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand.

Kendrick, hit by a Chad Gaudin fastball in the seventh inning Tuesday night, returned to Southern California on Wednesday for an MRI test and CT scan, which revealed a non-displaced fracture at the base of his middle finger.

The team has no set timetable for when Kendrick will return but he's likely to be out until the start of June.

In case you haven't been paying attention, here's the list of Angels who've spent time on the DL this season.
  • Jered Weaver (just returned)
  • Bartolo Colon
  • Chone Figgins
  • Robb Quinlan
That list doesn't even include the latest injury to Vladimir Guerrero's wrist.

As for the struggling Angels offense, I'm not sure that's a fair assessment. You have to have an offense for it to struggle, and the Angels haven't had one period lately. After being shutout by Dan Haren and the Athletics on Wednesday night, the Angels have scored six runs in their last six games. Not coincedentally, they're 0-6 in that span.

To replace Kendrick on the roster, the Angels are expected to bring up the promising Brandon Wood from the minors.

Previously at the Fanhouse:
Bobby Crosby Ruined Jered Weaver's Day
Vladimir Guerrero Hurts Hand, Angels Fans Leap From Buildings
Bartolo Colon Is Better At Rehab Than Britney Spears
Chone Figgins Can't Give You The Finger
The Angels Will Start The Season Without Jered Weaver

Featured Writers

Featured Voices