Kuzul

It’s time to check in on three more prospects from around the minor leagues.  Are any of them primed to make an impact in the not too distant future?  Let’s take a look:

Freddie Freeman—Atlanta Braves, First Baseman
Triple-A: .287 (84-293), 10 HR, 50 RBI, 36 R, 2 SB
It was a slow start, hitting .259 through May, but he has significantly turned things up since the calendar turned to June.  He’s gone 42-131 (.321) with 5 HR, 26 RBI and 15 R in that time.  That’s certainly more like it.  While he doesn’t have elite power, he’s showing that last year’s 8 HR was the aberration. 

However, the fly ball rate has fallen to 30.9% (his career mark is 36.6%), so that’s clearly not his ticket to the big leagues.  He appears to be a 15-20 HR guy at this point, but that’s about it.  What he does is make contact (17.1%).  However, even with the turn around, with Troy Glaus at first it’s hard to imagine Freeman getting a look in 2010.  He also wouldn’t be more then a platoon player, as he has hit just .217 against lefties this season.  He needs to improve that significantly before he’s going to have fantasy value. 

As it is, without the power, he’ll be very similar to someone like James Loney, in other words a low-end fantasy option.

Wilkin Ramirez—Detroit Tigers, Outfielder                                                                  Triple-A: .219 (25-114), 3 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R , 4 SB .  When we last checked in on Ramirez he had spent just 25 AB at Triple-A.  Now that we have a bigger sample size, we can definitively say that his struggles at Double-A have followed him to the upper levels.  He strikes out a ton (38.6% at Triple-A), making it impossible to hit for a good average. 

Before you hope that maybe it’s improving, know that he’s struck out 22 times in his last 39 AB.  Over those 10 games, he’s struck out three or more times five times.  Despite his power potential, there’s just no chance of any type of significant impact with strikeouts like that.  Until he learns to limit the Ks, he can be ignored outside of the deepest of dynasty leagues.

Mark Trumbo—Los Angeles Angels, First Baseman
Triple-A: .270 (89-330), 20 HR, 70 RBI, 55 R, 2 SB
Sooner or later, barring an acquisition, the Angels are going to have to take a look at him at the major league level. 

Granted, the power has come in the Pacific Coast League, but it is not like he hasn’t shown power in the past (32 HR in ‘08).  His fly ball rate is key, getting back to 39.4% (it had fallen to 33.6% in ‘09).  He had only 12 RBI in April, but has 58 since (despite the average falling).  It just shows he’s capable of driving in runs, and the 22 additional extra base hits (18 doubles and 4 triples) help support the power.  Just keep a close eye, because he’ll have value in deeper formats if the Angels opt to go that way.

What are your thoughts on these three?  Who is going to make an impact in 2010?  Who has the best long-term potential?

Make sure to check out our new Prospect Tracker, for links to the latest updates on all the top prospects in baseball, by clicking here .

Make sure to check out some of our Prospect Reports:

• Dustin Ackley
• Yonder Alonso
• J.P. Arencibia
• Jake Arrieta
• Phillippe Aumont
• Josh Bell
• Jason Castro
• Starlin Castro
• Allen Craig
• Aaron Crow
• Kyle Drabek
• Todd Frazier
• Christian Friedrich
• Jeremy Hellickson
• Daniel Hudson
• Jay Jackson
• Desmond Jennings
• Mike Leake
• Will Myers
• Martin Perez
• Buster Posey
• Gaby Sanchez
• Carlos Santana
• Michael Saunders
• Anthony Slama
• Mike Trout
• Mark Trumbo
• Brett Wallace

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Imagine for a minute you’re staring into a boxing ring somewhere between Anaheim, California and Arlington, Texas.

The Los Angeles (don’t call me Anaheim) Angels just watched as the Texas Rangers stole left-hander Cliff Lee right out from under the New York Yankees. It was like a stunning left cross that the Angels never saw coming.

While they stare off into space, stunned that the once lowly Texas Rangers just threw their biggest punch in years, and while the stars they’re seeing start to wear off, owner Artie Moreno has to be hatching a plan on how the team responds.

They certainly didn’t expect to lose Kendry Morales to possibly one of the most freakish injuries in baseball history, breaking his leg while celebrating a walk off home run. But the Angels didn’t freak out, they didn’t rush out and overpay the first player available that could take over at first base.

They’ve stood back, weighed their options, and have begun compiling a list of players they could possibly land at or before the trade deadline.

Sure there were plenty of names that have been tossed around recently, but the Angels’ front office is still holding its cards close to the vest and not giving any indication on which direction it plans on going.

We’ve heard several rumors over the last month-and-a-half, and we know there are certain things that are true about what the team needs. So, we can start there and see where we land.

But, before we do, one question needs to be asked. Are the Texas Rangers done dealing? The answer to that, according to one report, is no.

On July 9th, Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago reported that the Rangers had, or have, “serious interest” in Chicago Cubs’ outfielder Xavier Nady. Levine says the Rangers have interest in Nady because they “traded their first baseman (Justin Smoak).”

While that might be true, the Rangers filled that hole at first by calling up Chris Davis from Triple-A, so there’s no indication about whether the interest in Nady is still there or if Davis will be the guy for the remainder of the season.

Davis brings solid defense to the position, but his bat is suspect at best. He struggled mightily over the first few months of the season and was demoted to the minor leagues, at which time Justin Smoak was given the chance to be the new first baseman.

Unfortunately for both Smoak and the Rangers, he also struggled, with a batting average that just barely lingered above the .200 mark. He was dealt to the Seattle Mariners in the deal that brought Cliff Lee to Texas.

The Rangers aren’t the only team that will be interested in Nady, but unless the Rangers are wanting a reserve first baseman or outfielder, I don’t know that the interest was ever really that strong to begin with.

As far as the Angels are concerned, there are a whole host of names that they have been linked to.

Derrek Lee (Cubs), Paul Konerko (White Sox), Adam Dunn (Nationals), and Prince Fielder (Brewers) have all been mentioned in connection with the open first base job at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Konerko’s name seemed to be the one the Angels were most interested in while the White Sox were floundering around in the AL Central. But a big turnaround has all but killed the possibility that Konerko is headed west.

So, with him out of the mix, you still have Lee, Dunn, and Fielder as possibilities. The Cubs are in a selling mode, and would more than likely be willing to deal Derrek Lee, who would be a good fit for the Angels. He brings not only solid defense to the position, but he also gives them a solid power bat in the lineup.

As for Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder, these are probably the least likely of the remaining three names that could be on the Angels’ radar.

Adam Dunn has made it very clear that he does not want to be traded by the Nationals and would like to work out a contract extension with the team. However, over the last few days, those feelings seemed to have disappeared thanks to what Dunn calls a “lack of urgency” from the team. Dunn has also made it clear that he doesn’t want to be traded to an American League team just to be a designated hitter. Though, if he’s traded to the Angels, they would want him as their full time first baseman.

Last, but certainly not least, Brewers’ first baseman Prince Fielder. There’s no question that he’s a player the Angels may “kick the tires” on, but he’s not a player they will get serious about for one reason—Scott Boras.

Earlier today, ESPN’s Buster Olney apparently had some things to say about Boras, comparing Fielder to Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira. Olney suggested that some general managers and scouts around baseball think there’s a 180-degree difference in the two players. Olney also says that Fielder is “one of the worst first basemen in baseball.”

Well, Boras wasn’t going to let that stand and decided to throw his comments to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal . Before I post good ‘ole Boras’ comments, you should know that the Brewers approached Fielder and Boras with a five-year contract extension said to be worth upwards of $100 million. The offer was denied and talks have gone nowhere since.

The main problem that Buster Olney brings up is Fielder’s body size, and he says he has talked to “unnamed sources” that share that concern.

Boras shot back through the aforementioned Haudricourt by saying, “This stuff about a ‘bad body’ is bull. He may be a thick guy but he’s an athlete. He certainly is not the worst first baseman in the league like they say.

“It’s all hearsay. I’m tired of unnamed sources. No one put his name on those comments. Nobody mentioned that he just tied the (Brewers) club record for consecutive games played (274). He goes out there and plays every day. How many guys do that? They didn’t talk about that.

“People who know Prince know about his work ethic, what he’s like in the clubhouse and the attitude he takes out there every day, wanting to win. It has nothing to do with his body type. All of those things boost his value.”

The Angels are in need of a first baseman, that much is true, but the other piece that may slingshot them to yet another AL West crown is a starter to complement Jered Weaver. While a guy like Roy Oswalt might be too rich for the team’s blood, they could look towards a few starters like Ted Lilly, Jake Westbrook, or perhaps Pedro Martinez, who you know has to be watching each race with tremendous interest.

As it stands right now, the Rangers have the ace they’ve needed for so long, and they’re hoping that Cliff Lee is able to keep them in front in the AL West. But, if the Angels land another starter, as well as a guy like Derrek Lee, it could make the race a tight one all the way to the end.

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With all the talk seemingly centered around guys like Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt, another big name that will make its rounds around the rumor sheets is current Washington Nationals’ first baseman Adam Dunn.

While Dunn has made it well known that he would rather not be traded and would like to sign a contract extension with the Nationals, the likelihood of that seems slim to none at this point.

ESPN’s Buster Olney talked about Dunn losing interest in signing an extension over the last few days and cited the fact that the Nationals have no sense of urgency to get anything done.

Not only that, but the team has already approached other teams about their interest in Dunn, so it seems the Nationals aren’t going to hang on to him past the trade deadline.

ESPN’s Buster Olney reported earlier this morning, “Nationals have had conversations with other teams about possible deals involving Dunn, and it figures they will trade him.”

So, with that being said, here are the three most likely destinations for the power hitting first baseman.

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It appears that Scott Kazmir has reached a crossroads in the 2010 season.

I have been following Kazmir’s season since spring training , discussing the ups and downs , and documenting his progression .  Unfortunately, this time around all the positives have turned into disappointment for, I’m sure, management, the fans, and undoubtedly, himself.

After four starts in mid-June, he went 4-0 with a 2.34 ERA.  All signs pointed to a return to the Kazmir of old.

Since his June 24 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, those numbers have taken an ugly nosedive.

In his four starts since then, Kazmir has gone 0-4, and he has given up 30 runs in less than 20 innings, more specifically, an ERA of 13.73.

More disturbing was Kazmir’s last start on July 10, against the light-hitting Oakland Athletics.

Kazmir’s line: 5 innings pitched, 11 hits, 13 runs, 13 earned runs, 3 HR, 3 BB, 2 SO

If that does not destroy one’s confidence, I just read in an article on the Los Angeles Times website that 13 earned runs is the most ever given up by a starters in the club’s history.  The last starting pitcher to give up 13 was Jason Marquis against the Chicago White Sox on June 21, 2006, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Midway through 2010 his fastball is a averaging a touch over 90 mph (90.5), yet there is still a concern at how much he is throwing it.

His fastball is being thrown more than 70 percent of the time, while his slider, thrown sparingly (12.7 percent), has also seen a reduction in velocity, down four mph since 2006.

Whether it is the velocity, the pitch type, or a combination of both, it is now a legitimate possibly that Kazmir could lose not only his spot in the rotation, but also his roster spot with the Angels.

With the All-Star Game on the horizon, Kazmir and the second place Angels have some time to regroup, relax, and possibly come up with a contingency plan.

Could the bullpen be a solution, maybe a lefty specialist in the late innings?

It is an idea, but upon inspection, lefty-specialist may not be in the cards.  Against lefties this year, Kazmir has only three strikeouts, and has given up 23 hits in 17 innings. To make matters worse, a .319 average against does not help his cause.

It will be interesting to see what does happen after the All-Star break, but after this recent string of appearances, I am unsure of how many more times the Angels can afford to let Kazmir hit the field until a suitable solution can be found.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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While many baseball fans will get wrapped up in the allure of Evan Longoria playing next to Derek Jeter on the left side of the infield or Hanley Ramirez swinging for the fences in the Home Run Derby, it is former Major Leaguer and longtime Angels broadcaster Rex Hudler who is really going beyond baseball at the 2010 All-Star game by highlighting a cause close to his own heart.

The allure of home field advantage, dream lineups, and majestic blasts over the terraced bullpens in the outfield may help craft this week’s headlines, but Hudler is in Los Angeles promoting volunteerism and celebrating some very special all-stars among us who don’t receive the fanfare they deserve.

Hudler’s first son Cade was born with Down Syndrome 13 years ago, and it was the Wonder Dog who was on hand to emcee a heartwarming game between youngsters with special needs to kick off All-Star weekend in southern California on Friday.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects one in 733 babies—approximately 4,000 children each year—and causes delays in a child’s physical and mental development, according to the National Down Syndrome Society.

Hudler, who spent 30 years playing and commentating on professional baseball, created the non-profit Team Up For Down Syndrome charity with his wife Jennifer in 1997, and he said he was thrilled to work with the MLB and Bank of America to support the Little League Challenger Division. The LLCD is a branch of Little League which enables children with physical and mental challenges to enjoy America’s national pastime.

“To see the joy on my son’s face, it just lit me up like a tree,” Hudler said, when talking about watching Cade play baseball. “I was so excited to see how much joy it brought him.

“It wasn’t as structured as Little League, but they played. They went to the plate and the coach flipped a ball up there and they hit it and ran and they did the best they could to throw them out and catch the ball.”

For Hudler, who has three other children besides Cade, it was just one more reminder that youngsters with special needs can do just as many things as typical children.

“I had the typical dreams that a dad has of his kid becoming a big league player, but they [the doctors] told us three days after we had Cade that we had a child that had Down Syndrome.

“It didn’t change the way that I felt at that moment because he was healthy and felt good and was a typical child as far as I knew, but then the reality set in that he did have Down Syndrome. We had to let go of the dreams we had for a typical child, and we had to change our dreams around a child with a disability.

“I have to tell you 13 years later that it can be tough and it can be challenging at times because he is a little more emotionally delayed, but he gives more joy, more unconditional love, than I ever imagined possible. We are blessed to have three other kids besides him, he not only enhances my life, but his other siblings’ lives as well.”

With this year’s midsummer classic set in and around the Los Angeles area, Bank of America and the Little League Challenger Division have been providing an abundance of opportunities to highlight these inspirational athletes.

They donated more than 3,000 tickets to LLCD programs in Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties and are hosting an exhibition game between two LLCD teams to mark the official opening of MLB All-Star FanFest.

“My son wanted to play baseball,” Hudler, 49, said. “They didn’t have a Little League that could take care of him when he wanted to play baseball, but I found out that there was a league called Challenger League for children with disabilities. So we drove him across town and he played with other kids with disabilities.

“Challengers are starting to sprout up everywhere because kids with disabilities love to play baseball just like typical kids, and it’s more exciting to watch them play because of the joy they have on their face.

“The typical kids in the league get to shadow and buddy up with the kids with disabilities and they help them play baseball. It gives the typical boy a perspective on life and how thankful they are to be able to walk, and catch a ball, and talk and it makes overall life better.”

But it’s not just the children who learn valuable life lessons about living, playing, and working with people with disabilities. For Hudler, it meant literally re-writing his idea of parenthood and changing his perceptions of being a father.

“As a parent you always strive for patience,” he said. “That’s one thing as human beings that a lot of us are short on, but I’m getting better. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m learning how to breathe two or three times before I react.

“Most males have a hard time when the kid spills the milk or breaks a pane of glass or drops a plate or something like that, but I’m learning how to take a take a few deep breaths and not say anything which is hard for me being a ‘Type A’ high-strung male like I am. So I’m learning a lot about patience but also about unconditional love, how to love people unconditionally.

“I’m learning about differences in people all the time. People are different, things are different, and my acceptance level is at a much greater spot, a much higher level of accepting differences, so that’s a big impact my son has had on my life.”

With Hudler knowing first hand just what impact special needs children can have in families and societies, he said it was fantastic that a corporate sponsor such as Bank of America had teamed up with the charities to raise awareness of the condition.

This week alone, 275 Bank of America associates will devote 1,200 volunteer hours to community projects—including a series of Little League Challenger programs—as part of their goal to donate one million hours in 2010

Bank of America staff also helped baseball fans attending the MLB All-Star FanFest on Friday discover local volunteer opportunities. Everyone who visited their booth and committed to donate their time was entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Tuesday’s All-Star game.

Hudler, who played for six different teams including three years with the California Angels in the mid ’90s, added, “They’re not just writing a check. Bank of America is a great sponsor and they have their people out there in the community doing stuff and that’s what we’re excited about…getting some corporate sponsorship and raising awareness of these Challenger Leagues.

“Pick out something that is worthwhile to you. Maybe it’s something in your family, maybe you want to get involved with the environment. By getting involved you can make the world a better place, and I really mean that.

“I’m loving giving back because I’m learning more about myself and I feel good about myself as a human being. It’s about giving back, it’s not about ourselves. If you want to grow as a person, reach out and do something for someone else.”

• To contact Team Up For Down Syndrome, call 714-665-TEAM or 1-888-4-TEAMUP. You can also visit the charity’s website here or get involved by contacting the NDSS here.

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The last stop on our trade deadline needs tour is in the American League West. The West has two teams that will be buyers and those teams are the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

We have already seen how serious the Rangers are this trade season as they acquired Cliff Lee from division rival Seattle earlier in the week. Here are the deadline needs for the Rangers and Angels.

Texas Rangers

Record: 50-37, first place in AL West

Needs: Starting Pitching, Backup Infielder

The Rangers fired the first shot of the trading season when they acquired LHP Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners for 1B Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. Lee gives the Rangers something they haven’t had in about 25 years — a legit ace.

Acquiring Lee solves the Rangers biggest need, so what else could the Rangers use? I feel they could still use a veteran backup corner or middle infielder. Getting someone who is capable of filling in for Ian Kinsler or Michael Young would allow Ron Washington to keep those guys fresh and more importantly, healthy.

Potential Targets: Adam Kennedy, Craig Counsell, Bobby Crosby, Jeff Keppinger, John McDonald

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Record: 47-43, second place in AL West. Fourth in Wild Card

Needs: Third Base, First Base, Bullpen

The Angels need a lot at the trade deadline and I am not sure they can get everything they need. The Angels used to be a team built on depth, but thanks to recent free agent departures and injuries, the Angels are really thin this year.

The injury to Kendry Morales might have been the death blow to the Angels this year. Trying to replace his production has been a very hard task. Anaheim could make a splash and go after Lance Berkman or Prince Fielder or they could after a serviceable guy like Lyle Overbay. The Angels could also use a third baseman as Maicer Izturis and Brandon Wood have not been the answer this year.

The Angels keep bringing in mediocre closers to help their bullpen and it really hasn’t worked out. The Angels rank 11th in the AL in bullpen ERA and Scot Shields, Kevin Jepsen, and Brian Fuentes are having down years. No Angel reliever has an ERA under 3.50 — that is not good.

Potential Targets: Derrek Lee, Prince Fielder, Lance Berkman, Lyle Overbay, Adam Dunn, Miguel Tejada, Jorge Cantu, Adam LaRoche, Kyle Farnsworth, Will Ohman, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Octavio Dotel

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim need help to reclaim another American League West division title. With the Texas Rangers adding Cliff Lee to their rotation it’s going to be tougher than ever for the Angels to catch the Rangers. 

Currently the Angels own a 47-42 record and are four and a half games out of first place. Yet, if the Angels would like to catch the Rangers and pass them for first place the Angels could use some help.

Where does the help come form? The Oakland A’s. They’ve got two players that would improve the team considerably. When making a trade with the A’s the Angels don’t have to give up players who are already at the Major League levels, just some prospects. 

Now the Angels could actually trade for two players from the A’s. One players alone would help them with their fielding problems and give them a bat in the lineup, and take away from the platoon at third base. 

Kevin Kouzmanoff has had an up and down season with the A’s hitting the ball. He’s aggressive and not very patient, but he would fit right into the Angels lineup. Not only that he wouldn’t have to be hitting so high up in the lineup as he had done with the A’s. 

He’s hitting a decent .269, with 89 hits, 16 doubles, eight homers, 40 rbis, and a stolen base. Kouzmanoff would definitely be an improvement of Brandon Wood, Macier Izturis (currently injured), and Kevin Frandsen. 

Defensively he improves the Angels dramatically. Of the group of players that have seen time at third base for the Angels they’ve combined for 14 errors while Kouzmanoff has only seven errors.

The other player that would benefit the Angels would be Michael Wuertz. After an outstanding season with the A’s last year he’s been inconsistent this year, but a fresh start may help him regain the magic that he had last year. 

It also wouldn’t hurt the Angels because the bullpen has been struggling throughout the year and the addition of Wuertz could boost some life into the bullpen. So, far Wuertz has appeared in 23 games, has a record of 2-1, with a save, an ERA of 5.71, has struckout 13 and walked 10. 

The season before that though Wuertz went 6-1, in 74 appearances, had four saves, and struck out 102 while walking 23. 

With the year that Wuertz is having though it maybe difficult for the A’s to include him with Kouzmanoff. So, Brad Ziegler could be the other option in the trade to help improve the Angels bullpen. 

Ziegler has had a decent season so far he does struggle a little bit against left handed hitters. He’s appeared in 41 games, has a record of 2-4, and has 25 strikeouts to go along with 17 strikeouts. 

As for the Angels what players would they give up in a trade to the A’s for Kouzmanoff and Wuertz or Ziegler?

Michael Kohn is a 24 year old right handed relief pitcher who’s appeared both at the Double-A and Triple A level and is having a solid year in 35 games he has a 2.08 ERA with 52 strikeouts to 20 walk, and 10 saves. 

Tyson Auer also 24 is an outfielder who can play each position who has appeared in Advanced A ball and now Double A is hitting a combined .340, with 103 hits, eight doubles, eight triples, three homeruns, 30 rbis, and 44 stolen bases. 

Also, coming over could be Casey Haerther who’s at the Single A level who has played both third base and first base. He’s 22 years old and currently hitting .315, with 90 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, four homeruns, 54 rbis, and nine stolen bases. 

Either way the trades would benefit both clubs it would bring in a reliever that the Angels could definitely use a third basemen that can not only hit but provide defense at the hot corner and the A’s like they usually do they’d be getting young talent to build up their farm system. 

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It was nice while it lasted, Angels fans.

With the stunning acquisition of Cliff Lee by the Texas Rangers from AL West rival Seattle, it is time for the Angels to cut their losses and let the fire sale begin.

Not only should this be the nail in the coffin for the Angels, but maybe for the rest of baseball as well. Texas just assured themselves not only a trip to the playoffs, but a real chance to take it all.

Angels fans, don’t feel bad.

Three years in a row was a good run, but now the Angels have a chance to heal, re-tool and try to come up with a plan for next season.

The following players need to be sold to the highest bidder in the next three weeks: Brian Fuentes, Fernando Rodney, Scott Kazmir, Mike Napoli, Brandon Wood (if someone would be willing to give us a fungo bat for him), Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui, and Torii Hunter.

Get on it Tony Reagins, and make sure to get a third base prospect that can actually play this time.

Those eight players account for roughly $60.1 million in payroll. None of them have a future in helping the Angels win a championship due to age, performance or injury.

The Angels should trade them all. Get at least one draft pick in each deal and completely reload the organization with talent for another decade.

The Angels should then turn around and sign $60 million in young free agents with which they can build new chemistry around their nucleus.

Congratulations to Texas on that amazing acquisition.

Angels fans can take comfort in the idea that Nolan Ryan may finally get his ring.

An entire nation, with the exception of one certain city, can take even further comfort in knowing that he didn’t go to the New York Yankees—as was reported eminent by Buster Olney of ESPN earlier in the day.

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The Angels had the second best record in all of baseball for the month of June.

The problem is, the Texas Rangers were the only team better, and they are the team the Angels are trying to catch.

July has not started out with as much promise.

The Angels now find themselves 5.5 games back in the AL West after being swept by the Chicago White Sox during a four-game series in Chicago for the first time in 27 years.

Many are ready to push the panic button and start the fire sale. However, all is not lost with the Angels. One major move, accompanied by some minor tweaks, could manage to save their season.

Here are five things the Angels need to do going forward.

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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim stand at a very precarious spot in the season.

At 46-41, just slightly past the halfway point and 5 1/2 games behind the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, they must make a decision: give up and tough it out with the players they have, or make a move and wrest back control of a division they’ve owned for the better part of a decade.

The Angels are in a bad spot right now, particularly where their offense is concerned. In the last seven games, they’ve gone 2-5 and have scored more than two runs only once, thanks to a seven-RBI day from the team’s only consistent player, Torii Hunter.

That was also the last game in which any Angel hit a home run.

How did they ever win two?

After securing a key series victory over the Rangers, it looked as though the Angels were back on track and headed in the right direction.

The starting pitching slowly came around, the patchwork infield was starting to mesh, and even the bullpen hadn’t blown any leads in awhile.

Since then, however, it’s been a steady downhill slide. Errors, poor pitching—especially from the relievers—and a stagnant offense like we haven’t seen from this team in years, have all joined forces to put the 2010 season in serious jeopardy.

Because, well, where do you go from here? The Angels are certainly not out of contention by any means. After all, it’s only July. Even the Baltimore Orioles have a shot to make the postseason.

Technically.

But the ways in which the Angels can turn the season around right now are few and far between. It is more likely they will make their big moves in the offseason, when guys like Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford hit the free-agent market.

Still, the Angels can’t be content to trudge along with what they have in the meantime. Paul McAnulty, Cory Aldridge, Robb Quinlan, Brandon Wood, Reggie Willits—these are not intimidating names in any lineup.

Couple that with the dismal slumps of supposed run-producers like Hideki Matsui, Juan Rivera, and Bobby Abreu and the Angels aren’t going anywhere this season. Not without a little outside help.

Over the last month, the rumor mill has been buzzing around the Big A pretty loudly. Paul Konerko was surely going to be the next Angel. Then it was Adam LaRoche and Hank Blalock. Last week, Adam Dunn was all but a lock in Anaheim.

This week, the rumors have faded and the buzzing silenced. The only sound around the Big A now is the soft echo of brooms sweeping up in preparation for the coming All-Star festivities.

This can only mean one thing: Tony Reagins is making calls instead of just taking them.

L.A. has always been a tight-lipped organization, jealously guarding its hand like Doyle Brunson at a no-limit hold ’em table. Sure, sometimes a card or two gets spotted by some enterprising reporter or MLB insider.

But when the chips are down and the season hangs in the balance, the Angels clam up.

If that’s the case here, then the Angels have to be addressing at least one of the holes on their team and the most glaring one of all is the offense. The bullpen certainly needs help, but fewer options are available there than at the plate.

The Baltimore Orioles have already hung the “For Sale” sign on the 2010 season and are making available pretty much everyone not named Adam Jones. Ty Wigginton or Miguel Tejada would make fine additions in Anaheim.

The Houston Astros, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, and Milwaukee Brewers are all on the verge of doing the same thing. Each has at least one player the Angels could reasonably deal for.

Even the Boston Red Sox could be willing to deal Victor Martinez if the price is right. The once-mighty BoSox have been bitten by the injury bug this season and are in desperate need of fresh bodies in the field.

If the Angels do make a move, it likely won’t come until after the All-Star break, which should give them just enough time to consider their options as they stand at the precipice of a season that could be very good, or very bad.

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