Bill Plunket:

The four-day All-Star break gave Reggie Willits time to do just what he needed to do.

“Absolutely nothing,” he said.

Willits went into the break hurting and showing it in the way he played. After running into the outfield wall at Angel Stadium to make a spectacular catch June 27, Willits missed three games because of a bruised right knee and sore right shoulder. The injured knee was already hurting from a May encounter with another outfield wall, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

When Willits returned to the lineup, it wasn’t with the same spark that had made him the feel-good find of the season for the Angels. He was 2 for 23 and didn’t score a run in the final six games before the All-Star break.

Since the break, though, Willits has looked more like himself again. He was on base eight times in the three-game series with the Rangers and scored three runs.

“I feel a lot better than I did before the break,” Willits said. “I needed that pretty bad. When I came back (from the outfield collision), I was pretty sore. It was a pretty bad contusion on my knee. But it was one of those things where I knew the break was coming so I thought I could push through.”

FIGGINS STEALS MARK

Chone Figgins matched a career-high with three stolen bases in Sunday’s loss. That ran his career total to 187 and moved him past Gary Pettis for the most stolen bases in Angels franchise history.

Coincidentally, Pettis is the Rangers’ first-base coach. When the record-breaking steal was announced to the crowd, Pettis tipped his cap to Figgins from the Rangers’ dugout.

“It’s funny. Only in baseball do you see things like that,” Figgins said. “A couple years ago, (Orlando) Cabrera got his 1,000th career hit against the team that signed him (the Washington Nationals nee Montreal Expos). Sammy Sosa gets his 600th home run (earlier this season) against his old team (the Cubs).”

EXTRA WORK

The Angels will start a six-game trip in Tampa Bay on Tuesday with the sagging back end of their rotation scheduled to start the first two games – right-handers Ervin Santana and Bartolo Colon.

Santana is winless in his past five starts with an 8.00 ERA in that time. Colon is 1-4 with a 9.07 ERA in his past eight starts

Both have gotten special attention from pitching coach Mike Butcher during the Angels’ mini-homestand, throwing side sessions in the bullpen.

Colon will have had 11 days off since his last start when he takes the mound on Wednesday and has a history as a better second-half pitcher.

“The ball’s coming out of his hand great. He needs to match command with that stuff,” Scioscia said in a refrain that has become familiar. “Mike has worked with him on a couple things. He needs to change speeds better to create depth in the (strike) zone.”

L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

The mounting injuries, the offensive funk, and the rotation and bullpen cracks that underscored the two weeks before the All-Star break, when the Angels lost eight of 12 games and had their American League West lead over Seattle trimmed from eight to 2 1/2 games, didn’t deter Gary Matthews Jr.

“You can’t fool anyone for half the season,” the center fielder said. “This team is for real.”

Nor did the slide dampen Matthews’ optimism for the second half, which begins tonight against Texas.

“This team is really balanced throughout the lineup, and that takes pressure off everyone,” Matthews said. “Those are the teams that go really far in the playoffs, because any one player can have a great day, and that can be the difference between a win and a loss.”

As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, the question of the last three summers confronts them again: Could one player be the difference between the Angels winning the World Series or not? Between making the playoffs or not?

The Angels have overcome injuries, generating more offense with less power, and relying mostly on three starters and two or three relievers to go 53-35 and hold first place for 75 straight days.

But they haven’t been able to shake the surprising Seattle Mariners, and injury-depleted Oakland, nine games back at the break, has a history of second-half surges.

The Angels probably will need reliever Justin Speier, activated today after a 2 1/2 -month absence because of an intestinal infection, and outfielder Juan Rivera, who could return in August from a broken leg, to win their third division title in four years.

And the team with the perennial need for a big bat might actually seek rotation help if Bartolo Colon and Ervin Santana continue to struggle.

“If there’s a move that will make us stronger now and in the future, Bill will do it,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of General Manager Bill Stoneman. “If that doesn’t happen, we’re very comfortable with the 25 guys in that room getting us to our goal.”

O.C. Register, Damian Calhon:

Thursday seemed like spring training all over again for Angels relief pitcher Justin Speier.

As teammates filtered into the clubhouse before the off-day workout at Angel Stadium, Speier was greeted with hugs and high-fives as if it was the first day of the season.

“The guys on the team have been supportive,” Speier said. “Any time when a guy goes on the disabled list, he doesn’t feel like a part of the team and then he comes back and everybody welcomes him back with open arms. It has been unbelievable.”

Speier, who hasn’t pitched since April 30, had been out because of an intestinal infection. Speier pitched in a bullpen session Thursday and declared himself fit afterward.

“I’m ready to go,” Speier said. “The first time I came back, I felt like I rushed it a little bit; this time, I went down (to the minor leagues) and pitched in five games at Rancho Cucamonga and I felt like I needed to get a regular work week in, to see how my body would recover.

“It has been a long road.”

Speier, who said that his weight is up to 216 pounds, had a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings before his ailment.

“I really want to be back and help the team as much as I can,” Speier said.

“Every time I saw (Scot) Shields go out and pitch two or three innings, I figured he was picking up my slack. The thing about it, (Dustin) Moseley, (Chris) Bootcheck and (Darren) Oliver have done a great job, so I’m just going to try to get back out there and fit into my role.”

Mike Scioscia said he won’t hesitate to throw Speier back into the fire, as soon as tonight’s game. The Angels will have to a make a roster move to activate Speier.

“You like to get a guy out there and get his feet on the ground, but we’re not going to hesitate,” he said. “If there is a spot where he can pitch in tomorrow’s (Friday) game and help us, well, we will use him.”

NAPOLI ON THE MEND

Catcher Mike Napoli was placed on the disabled list July 2 because of a high left ankle sprain.

Napoli said he went through agility drills Wednesday and believes he will be ready to go when his time on the disabled list is up.

“We’ve been very fortunate with Mike’s progress,” Scioscia said. “When it first happened, there was some evaluation done and there was a lot of concern that it could have been a little different injury that could take up to 6-8 weeks.

“As of right now, it looks like we’ve definitely dodged that one and hopefully we will see him shortly.”

L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

The All-Star game could be on the way to Angel Stadium as soon as 2010.

The Angels are expected to be awarded an All-Star game in coming months, a high-ranking baseball source said. The game is scheduled for Yankee Stadium next year and St. Louis in 2009. Commissioner Bud Selig has not announced any sites beyond then, but an American League ballpark is expected to be selected for 2010.

Selig likes to use the All-Star game to showcase a new park, but the game already has been played in all the new AL parks.

Angel Stadium boasts a $118-million makeover, and the Angels helped Selig by playing host to the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

“We know we’re on the short list,” Angels spokesman Tim Mead said Monday. “We’re very hopeful we’ll be the host sooner or later.”

The Angels last played host to the All-Star game in 1989, in what was then known as Anaheim Stadium. The game has not been played in Southern California since 1992, in San Diego.

The All-Star game was last played at Dodger Stadium in 1980. The Dodgers also have asked Selig for another game.

—————–

The Angels requested unconditional waivers on right-hander Hector Carrasco on Wednesday, General Manager Bill Stoneman announced. The team had designated Carrasco for assignment July 3.

The Angels also released first baseman Shea Hillenbrand after he cleared waivers. They had designated him for assignment June 29 and placed him on waivers Monday.

Carrasco, 37, was 2-1 with a 6.57 ERA in 29 games for the Angels this season. They signed him as a free agent Dec. 2, 2005.

L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

The Angels, unable to trade Shea Hillenbrand in the 10-day period after he was designated for assignment June 29, had no choice Monday but to release the former designated hitter, who is now a free agent.

In a similar position last season, after struggling pitcher Jeff Weaver was designated for assignment, General Manager Bill Stoneman was able to acquire a decent outfield prospect, Terry Evans, from St. Louis for the right-hander.

But apparently no team was willing to give up a prospect for the 31-year-old Hillenbrand, who batted .254 with three home runs, five doubles, 22 runs batted in and 19 runs in 53 games for the Angels.

Hillenbrand is free to sign with any team, and the Angels will be required to pay all but about $180,000 of his $6.5-million contract.

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Chris Resop, who left Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees because of an elbow irritation, was diagnosed Monday with tendinitis in his right triceps. The reliever will be reevaluated Thursday, but the injury does not appear serious.

L.A. Times, Bill Shaikin:

Vladimir Guerrero did not follow the flight of the ball. He knew he had won the All-Star game home run derby.

He dropped his bat and took a few steps toward the 18 friends and family members gathered on the field. His cousin jumped into his arms. He waved a flag from his homeland, the Dominican Republic.

“Any time you do anything well,” Guerrero said through an interpreter, “you want to wave your flag.”

In the final round, Guerrero beat Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays. Rios hit a derby-high 12 homers in the semifinals but only two in the finals. Guerrero, batting last, clinched the victory with his third home run of the finals.

Guerrero’s home runs averaged 435 feet, the longest of any of the eight participants, including a 503-foot shot to the heel of the oversized glove behind the left-center-field bleachers.

Guerrero, who does not wear batting gloves, said he paused during the first two rounds to tape his right index finger so it did not crack.

In the first round, after he started slowly, Dominican countryman David Ortiz interrupted him, taking his bat and switching it for what appeared to be one of Ortiz’s bats.

“It was my bat,” Guerrero said. “We had it planned. If I wasn’t doing well at the beginning, he was going to bring it to me.”

Guerrero’s victory gave the Angels their second derby titlist in five years and third overall, following Wally Joyner in 1986 and Garret Anderson in 2003.

Anderson hit a home run the next day too, winning honors as most valuable player of the All-Star game with a homer, double and two runs batted in.

From Jeff:

It occurred to me as I was cleaning up the car today that a few Dodgers parking stubs had collected on the dashboard of the vehicle. It then occurred to me that this corresponded well with our recent poor play and mounting injuries. So, just to be safe, I took matters into my own hands. The cracking sound is the ash tray getting too hot.

O.C. Register, Bill Plunkett:

Russell Martin did something American League pitchers couldn’t: He cooled off Casey Kotchman.

The Angels first baseman was one of the hottest hitters in the AL for five weeks. In 30 games from May 12 through June 16, Kotchman hit .450 with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 21 RBIs.

But on June 16 at Dodger Stadium, Kotchman was hit in the head as he dived back to second base on a pickoff attempt by Dodgers catcher Martin. Kotchman suffered a mild concussion and needed stitches to close a laceration on the right side of his head.

Kotchman hasn’t been the same since. He missed seven games recovering from the concussion and then went hitless in his first 19 at-bats after returning to the lineup. He was hitless for another 13 consecutive at-bats before a single in the 12th inning last Sunday and is now 3 for 36 since the concussion, dropping his average under .300 for the first time since mid-May.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I’ve never had a concussion, missed eight days and then tried to jump back into the middle of a season.

“It’s not the same as another kind of injury. With those injuries, you could still work out your other body parts and stay in shape. With this, I basically did nothing for a week. You get out of baseball shape.”

Kotchman was not placed on the disabled list with the injury so there were no rehab at-bats in the minor leagues to work out the kinks before going back into the lineup.

“I would say I’m seeing the ball fine. The overall results haven’t been there on paper and that’s all that really matters. That’s a given,” Kotchman said. “I’m not squaring the ball up as much as I’d like to or as much as I was before. Obviously, you give yourself more chances to get positive results if you’re squaring the ball up more often.

“It’s just a matter of getting your rhythm, your timing, everything back in sync. You get taken out of it (with an injury). I have to be patient. We always want things right now. It’s human nature. … I’m just trying to get back in the swing of things. It takes time.”

O.C. Register, Bill Plunkett:

Vladimir Guerrero will be swinging for the fences Monday. Good luck telling the difference.

The Angels outfielder has agreed to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby as part of the All-Star festivities. Guerrero joins Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez and Twins first baseman Justin Morneau from the American League and Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder from the National League.

One more player from each league will be added to the competition.

Ironically, Guerrero has not homered since June 23 (an 11-game stretch) and has only three in the Angels’ past 32 games and his past 126 at-bats.

Guerrero is the first Angel to participate in the Home Run Derby since Garret Anderson won the competition in 2003 at U.S. Cellular Field. Guerrero has participated in the event just once, in 2000. He hit just two home runs at Turner Field and bowed out after the first round.

Guerrero said he would ask Angels coach Dino Ebel to be his designated pitcher in the contest.

Willits struggling

Reggie Willits was hitless in five at-bats Friday with three strikeouts and is now 1 for 16 with six strikeouts since returning from a bruised right knee and sore shoulder suffered when he ran into the outfield wall at Angel Stadium on June 27.

Willits missed three games after that catch and he said his knee is feeling better. But he has not been able to provide the same spark at the top of the Angels’ lineup since his return. But Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he doesn’t think it’s necessary to move Willits out of the leadoff spot until he gets his game back in order.

“We’ll visit any lineup changes as we feel they’re needed,” Scioscia said after Friday’s loss. “We’re going on a tough, maybe, 20 at-bats for Reggie. There’s still that ability to work counts and he brings a lot of things.

“I don’t think we’ll move him down to (batting) nine yet. We still have a lot of confidence in what Reggie’s going to bring.”

A-ROD BACK IN ACTION

Nothing heals a hamstring like a favorable matchup.

After missing Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was back in the lineup Friday to face Angels right-hander Bartolo Colon.

“Is he in there?” Scioscia asked when the subject came up before the game. “I kind of figured that.”

Going into Friday’s game, Rodriguez was 20 for 45 (.444) in his career with eight home runs. That includes his three-home run, 10-RBI game against the Angels in April 2005.

“Alex has incredible numbers against a lot of pitchers,” Scioscia said. “Bart’s numbers against A-Rod — I just put a little ‘white-out’ on them and turn the page. I don’t want to see them.”

Rodriguez had a double and a single off Colon before Scioscia pulled the right-hander in the third inning. Rodriguez later hit his 29th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Angels reliever Chris Bootcheck in the sixth inning.

LACKEY VS. CLEMENS

It’s a Texas showdown today at Yankee Stadium with a pair of Lone Star aces matching up – Yankees right-hander Roger Clemens and Angels right-hander John Lackey. It’s the first time Lackey has started against one of his idols – though Lackey was more of a Nolan Ryan fan while growing up in Abilene.

“It’s going to be fun, going against a certain Hall of Famer,” Lackey said. “He’s somebody I kind of followed growing up, a fellow guy from Texas. But, I mean – it’s not like I’m not going to try to beat him like everbody else.”

Clemens’ 350 career victories include a healthy chunk at the Angels’ expense. In his career, Clemens is 29-9 against the Angels (though he hasn’t faced them since 2004). No pitcher has beaten the Angels more times. Bert Blyleven and Catfish Hunter are next with 28 victories over the Angels.

For Lackey, today is also the one-year anniversary of his one-hit shutout of the Oakland A’s. A year ago today, Lackey allowed a leadoff double to A’s outfielder Mark Kotsay and then retired the next 27 consecutive batters.

L.A. Times, Ben Bolch:

Orlando Cabrera acknowledged being bothered by his exclusion from the American League All-Star team Wednesday, but said he would “put things behind me and turn the page, try to write another one.”

Cabrera is hitting .332 with five homers, 48 runs batted in and has committed only five errors, fewest among AL shortstops, after going one for four in the Angels’ 4-2 loss to Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

“In the beginning I couldn’t understand it. I’m really disappointed,” said Cabrera, who finished third in fan voting behind the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter and Detroit’s Carlos Guillen, who was voted onto the team by players. “I think I did enough. I deserve to be on the team.”

Cabrera’s offensive numbers are comparable to those of every AL All-Star shortstop except Guillen, who had 12 homers and 60 RBIs before Wednesday. Cabrera was far outpacing the All-Stars defensively, with Guillen having committed 13 errors, Jeter 12 and Texas’ Michael Young 11.

Cabrera said several players told him he deserved to make the All-Star team — including Young, added to the roster by AL Manager Jim Leyland as the Rangers’ lone representative.

“He said that he felt bad, but it’s not his fault. He had nothing to do with it,” Cabrera said of a conversation that was relayed to him by his agent, Dan Lozano, who also represents Young. “He told me that he couldn’t believe that I wasn’t picked.”

Cabrera said he didn’t blame Leyland for the glut of five Detroit players on the All-Star roster, and he shouldn’t; all were selected either by the fans or their AL peers. As for the player vote, Cabrera said he might have been penalized by playing in the Pacific time zone.

“For us, being on the West Coast, by the time we play [other players are] eating or they’re sleeping,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do. I just have to keep going.”

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Chris Resop retired the Rangers in order in the eighth inning Tuesday in his first appearance for the Angels, an outing indicative of the recent dominance that resulted in his promotion to the major leagues.

The right-handed reliever compiled a 2.25 earned-run average in June for triple-A Salt Lake after struggling during spring training and for much of the early season. Resop attributed his success to increased confidence and improved control of his curveball.

“Just confidence was what I was looking for, and I hadn’t found it and it took awhile,” said Resop, who was acquired from Florida in November in exchange for reliever Kevin Gregg.

“I just quit trying to pick the corners and stuff like that. I had to trust my stuff.”

Resop, 24, filled about every relief role for the Marlins except closer during several stints during the 2005 and ‘06 seasons. He failed to make the Angels’ opening-day roster this year but was called up Tuesday when the team designated Hector Carrasco for assignment.

Resop pitched two innings on Wednesday, giving up a run and three hits.

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Garret Anderson was the designated hitter for a second consecutive game in his return from a torn hip flexor tendon but could resume playing left field as soon as today, Manager Mike Scioscia said…. Reliever Justin Speier, sidelined since the end of April by an intestinal infection, pitched a scoreless inning for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday.

O.C. Register, Bill Plunket:

Angels infielder Erick Aybar will have wrist surgery on Thursday and miss 6-8 weeks.

Aybar injured his right wrist when he dove for a ball on the warning track in left field Sunday at Camden Yards and will have surgery to remove the hamate bone. Manager Mike Scioscia said Aybar’s wrist “had been hurting him on and off for awhile.”

“That might have been the final straw,” Scioscia said of Aybar’s dive.

Meanwhile, catcher Mike Napoli also had his left leg re-examined at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles and Scioscia indicated the prognosis is better than originally feared, although there is no timetable for his return.

“It doesn’t look like it was as high of an ankle sprain as they thought which is good news,” Scioscia said. “It’s more of a contusion. … so the time frame, though it’s still kind of open-ended, might not be as long as it could have been.”

Jeff Mathis joined the Angels in Texas and will share the catching duties with Jose Molina in Napoli’s absence. At first, Molina will probably get most of the playing time.

“Jose will probably catch a little more because there’s a familiarity with the pitchers,” Scioscia said. “He’s established a good rapport with these guys. We’ll work Jeff in. We’re going to need both of them.”

Offensively, Mathis slumped badly in May, batting .171 with just two RBIs in 22 games. But he has rebounded in the past month and went 14 for 39 in his past 10 games.

“I was in a pretty bad slump there,” Mathis said. “I was trying to do too much. I worked on some things in the cage, made some adjustments and it’s been better of late.

Associated Press:

The AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels designated right-hander Hector Carrasco for assignment Tuesday and recalled right-hander Chris Resop from Triple-A Salt Lake.

The 37-year-old Carrasco was 2-1 with a 6.57 ERA in one start and 28 relief appearances this season. He signed with the Angels as a free agent on Dec. 2, 2005.

The Angels have 10 days to trade, release or send him to the minors.

Carrasco, originally signed by the New York Mets organization as a non-drafted free agent in 1988, has a 44-50 record with 19 saves and a 4.00 ERA in 10 starts and 638 relief appearances. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals before joining the Angels.

Carrasco was roughed up in his final appearance for the Angels, allowing three runs in the seventh inning of a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Resop was 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 27 games at Salt Lake. The Angels acquired the 24-year-old pitcher from the Florida Marlins last November for right-hander Kevin Gregg.

The Marlins took Resop in the fourth round of the 2001 free-agent draft. He has a 3-2 record and a 5.63 ERA in 37 games for Florida in the 2005-06 seasons.

L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

It’s not that Mickey Hatcher is waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the batting instructor has been around the game long enough to know teams can’t continue to hit .319 and average 6.1 runs a game, as the Angels did in June.

“I’m praying to God it lasts a long time … but I’ve played the game, and it doesn’t last for anybody,” Hatcher said.

“There will be times they go bad again, and they’ll have to battle through those periods. But it’s always good to know we can hit like we are now. These guys are feeding off each other. It’s a different hero every day.”

A mere nine hits and seven runs in the final two games of a weekend series in Baltimore could indicate a possible downturn, but the Angels are still batting .288, which is tied with Detroit for the league lead.

The Angels also rank fourth in runs (416), fifth in on-base percentage (.347) and 11th in home runs (64), so they’re getting the most out of an offense with limited power.

Five regulars — Orlando Cabrera (.337), Willits (.337), Vladimir Guerrero (.328), Figgins (.324) and Casey Kotchman (.307) — are batting above .300, and Kendrick (.293) and Gary Matthews Jr. (.281) aren’t far off.

“When guys are going good, they feel good about their at-bats,” Hatcher said. “I’m impressed, especially with the young guys like Kotchman, Kendrick and Willits, who have pressure to prove themselves every day. Some of these guys look like they’ve been here for 10 years.”

Also impressive is the fact that the Angels, never known for their patience, have three regulars with more walks than strikeouts, Guerrero (46 to 30), Kotchman (24 to 19) and Willits (38 to 33). Cabrera has 23 walks and 27 strikeouts.

“A lot of guys have developed a good two-strike approach,” Hatcher said. “Willits brought that to the team, Figgins is doing it now, Cabrera has always done it. When you’re feeling good about your swing, you see the ball better, and your confidence increases. That’s what it is right now.”

From Angels Website, Larry Anderson:

The Angels made a slew of moves on Monday.

Garret Anderson and Maicer Izturis came off the 15-day disabled list, taking the roster spots of Mike Napoli and Erik Aybar, both of whom moved to the DL after getting injured in Sunday’s game at Baltimore.

Napoli fielded a laser from right fielder Vladimir Guerrero as a sliding Melvin Mora knocked his left shin guard loose. Napoli applied the tag in time to end the game and preserve the Angels’ 4-3 win over Baltimore, but not before suffering a high left ankle sprain. X-rays did not reveal any broken bones, but foot and ankle specialist Dr. Kenneth Jung will examine the catcher tomorrow.

It’s the first trip to the DL in Napoli’s career.

Aybar was sidelined with a right hand contusion after attempting a diving catch in left against the Orioles. Like Napoli, the DL designation marks the first in Aybar’s career. Inconclusive X-rays prompted a CT scan and examination by hand and wrist specialist Dr. Steve Shin.

Also on Monday, the Angels optioned outfielder Nick Gorneault to Triple-A Salt Lake. He went 0-for-4 with a run scored in two games with the Halos. Gorneault joined the team after Shea Hillenbrand was designated for assignment, making his Major League debut on June 30.

Catcher Jeff Mathis, who was with the Salt Lake Bees, will replace Gorneault on the 25-man roster, while injured outfielder Garrett Anderson and infielder Maicer Izturis were activated from the 15-day DL to replace Napoli and Aybar.

Anderson has been out since June 17 after aggravating a strained right hip flexor that resulted in his first DL stint from April 28-June 3. Anderson has a .264 average with three homers and 15 RBIs in 34 games this season.

Izturis has been out of action since May 3 with a tight right hamstring, but he was further hampered by a strained left oblique in his rehabilitation assignment at Salt Lake. In seven games at Class A Rancho Cucamonga, Izturis batted .318 with three runs scored and three RBIs. In 29 games with the Angels, he has hit .245 with 14 RBIs and a home run.

L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

Just as notable as the Angels who made the American League All-Star team Sunday — outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, pitcher John Lackey and closer Francisco Rodriguez — were the ones who didn’t: shortstop Orlando Cabrera, pitcher Kelvim Escobar and set-up man Scot Shields.

“That’s a shame,” Shields said of Cabrera, who is batting .337 with 53 runs, 24 doubles, five home runs and 48 runs batted in, and has four errors, fewest among AL shortstops. “There’s absolutely no way he should not be on that team…. I don’t even know what to say.”

Escobar, who is 9-3 with a 3.32 earned-run average, is one of five players still eligible to earn a spot through Internet and cellphone balloting. Shields, who is 2-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 38 games, received strong consideration, but “there’s no way I should be disappointed if Cabrera and Escobar didn’t make it,” he said.

The three appeared to be victims of a system that requires that all 30 teams have at least one All-Star representative.

“There’s no doubt Orlando is having an incredible season, one you’d like to see rewarded, but he’s a victim of the system,” said Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, an opponent of the one-from-each-team requirement. “He’s not the first player to be caught in that trap, and he won’t be the last.”

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Scioscia said Garret Anderson (right hip flexor tendon tear) is “running very well” at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga; so well, in fact, that the left fielder could join the Angels in Texas on Tuesday after a brief minor league stint.

“We want to start that adjustment process to major league pitching, so after the All-Star break, he’s ready to fire,” Scioscia said. “There’s always an adjustment to major league pitching, whether you get 10 or 100 minor league at-bats.”

Scioscia added that utility infielder Maicer Izturis, who is coming back from a rib-cage injury, probably will join the Angels on Tuesday, and reliever Justin Speier, out since May 1 because of an intestinal infection, is not far behind.

Speier threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings for Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, and the Angels may want him to throw in consecutive games before activating him this week.

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Left fielder Erick Aybar suffered a bruised right hand while diving for Kevin Millar’s ground-rule double on the warning track in the second inning Sunday. Aybar left after grounding out in the third and was replaced by Nick Gorneault. X-rays Sunday were inconclusive.

From listener Janine:
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O.C. Register, Bill Plunket:

Garret Anderson went on the disabled list for the second time this season as a 34-year-old outfielder. But will he return as a 35-year-old designated hitter?

Anderson (who turned 35 Saturday) continued his minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga this weekend. The Angels’ decision to rid themselves of Shea Hillenbrand could make it more likely that Anderson will see increased DH duty when he returns from his second attempt to rebound from a hip injury.

“We had tried to work him into the lineup slowly (after the original injury). What I think was disturbing about the second time was he felt good up to it,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Anderson’s aggravation of the hip injury while chasing down a line drive in the gap on June 17. “He’s going to have to get his at-bats to be productive and he’s going to have to stay healthy to get his at-bats. You have to balance that.

“Is he going to be an every-day DH? No. Is he going to DH as needed? Yes. It remains to be seen how much he’s going to need to. We really don’t know where Garret is going to be when he gets back. We’ll get a grasp of that and adjust accordingly.”

Scioscia said it is likely that both Anderson and Maicer Izturis (also rehabbing for the second time with Rancho Cucamonga this weekend) could return before the All-Star break in eight days.

“I think it would be important to get those guys some at-bats before the All-Star break so that they can come back and be productive (in the second half),” Scioscia said.

Scioscia admitted keeping Anderson productive in the second half might mean “he’s going to DH more.”

“How much is that going to be? That remains to be seen,” Scioscia said. “We need the flexibility of him being able to play the outfield. Vladimir (Guerrero) is going to need to DH. Gary (Matthews Jr.) is going to need to be able to DH. Garret has to be sound enough to play the outfield if we’re going to keep the offensive continuity we have going.”

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Outfielder Reggie Willits missed his second consecutive game with a bruised right knee, sore shoulder and hip, all suffered when he crashed into the wall making a catcher during Wednesday’s game.

“There’s still some soreness,” Scioscia said. “He’s getting better. We’re still going day-to-day. If he doesn’t play tomorrow, we’ll look to play him Tuesday.”

Scioscia said he would consider starting Willits at designated hitter to get him back in the lineup. But when he does return, Scioscia said it would be as the leadoff hitter with hot-hitting Chone Figgins sliding back to the No. 2 slot.

“I think we’re still very comfortable with the Reggie-Figgy look on top with Orlando (Cabrera) third and Vlad (Guerrero) fourth,” Scioscia said. “I think we’ll revisit that when we get all the pieces back.”

NOTES

Nick Gorneault made his major-league debut Saturday, playing left field and going 0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored. He also threw a runner out at the plate in the third inning. … Friday’s starter for the Orioles, Steve Trachsel, was placed on the disabled list Saturday with a strained gluteus muscle. Trachsel lasted just 1 2/3 innings against the Angels. He said the move to the DL was “a bit of a surprise.” Left-hander Kurt Birkins was promoted from Triple-A to replace Trachsel.

L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

Howie Kendrick was not thinking home run when he stepped to the plate with a runner on and the score tied in the top of the ninth inning Friday night.

“Honestly, I was trying to get something over the plate, put a good swing on it and get a hit,” he said. “It just happened to be a home run.”

This was no ordinary home run. It was a 420-foot blast to center field that gave the Angels a 9-7 victory and came as a surprise to the second baseman who is known more as a line-drive hitter with gap power.

“To me, it was more of an accident,” said Kendrick, who is hitting .305 with four home runs and 16 runs batted in. “I don’t try to hit home runs, and when I do, I get myself in trouble, creating other problems with my swing.”

Vladimir Guerrero opened the ninth inning off closer Chris Ray by getting hit by a pitch, but he was rubbed out on Gary Matthews Jr.’s fielder’s-choice grounder. Casey Kotchman flied to left for the second out, but Kendrick drove a 1-and-0 fastball out of the deepest part of the park for his game winner.

“He happened to make a mistake out over the plate, I took advantage of it and put a good swing on the ball,” Kendrick said. “It’s a crazy game. I could go back out a thousand times and not have that happen.”

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His right knee was still swollen and stiff. His right shoulder was sore. There was a scratch over his right eye.

And if Reggie Willits had it to do all over again, if the center fielder could run full speed, face first, into the wall to make a catch, as he did Wednesday when he robbed Kansas City’s Billy Butler of extra bases in the seventh inning in Angel Stadium, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Any time you save a run,” Willits said, “it’s worth it.”

Willits paid the price though. Two days after re-injuring the same knee he hurt running into a wall to catch Kenny Lofton’s drive over his head in Texas on May 12, he was unable to start against the Orioles, and he’s questionable for today’s game.

“That’s the hardest I’ve ever hit a wall — I wasn’t able to slow down at all,” Willits said. “Normally when you hit the fence, you have the opportunity to catch the ball and a half-step to shift your body. I couldn’t have slowed down and still caught it.”

Willits, who ranks fifth in the American League with a .337 average and third with a .430 on-base percentage, was featured on the front page of Friday’s USA Today sports section, which did a centerpiece story on the Angels’ rookie.

“I’ve been catching a lot of grief for that today,” Willits said.

What, Willits doesn’t consider himself the face of the franchise?

“No chance,” he said. “That’s funny.”

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Better late than never. That’s how Nick Gorneault must have felt Friday when the 28-year-old outfielder was called up from triple-A Salt Lake to replace Shea Hillenbrand, who was designated for assignment.

For Gorneault, who spent seven years in the minor leagues, it was his first big league call-up.

“I know every person in the game has a different journey to the big leagues,” said Gorneault, a native of Springfield, Mass. “It has taken me a little longer to get here, but all that time in the minor leagues built my character and my game to the point where I’m ready to perform here.”

By Jeff:

My only regret is that I will be unable to use this photo I shot of Shea with his cold-sore again. I love this shot. It captures so much of the man. Chip on his shoulder… clueless as to why being antagonistic to the press and aloof to teammates could make him so unloved by everyone.

A source at the game yesterday informed me (this is serious) that the Yankees are considering acquiring his services. What a perfect ending to two grandiose parties horrible seasons.
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L.A. Times, Mike DiGiovanna:

Shea Hillenbrand vented his frustration about losing his designated hitter job Tuesday, saying he felt “pushed aside, put on a back-burner,” and that if he wasn’t going to play for the Angels, “give me enough respect to trade me or get rid of me.”

Wednesday, the Angels informed Hillenbrand he would be designated for assignment Friday, giving the team 10 days to trade or release him.

Did Hillenbrand think his strong comments Tuesday led to his departure Wednesday?

“Not at all,” said Hillenbrand, who left Toronto under different circumstances last July, when he torched Manager John Gibbons and the front office after being designated for assignment. “This team has been awesome. It’s a great organization. I wished I could have finished my career here.”

General Manager Bill Stoneman insisted Hillenbrand’s comments “had nothing to do with this.” Hillenbrand’s playing time had evaporated, and with outfielders Reggie Willits and Gary Matthews Jr. banged up, the Angels need some outfield depth. Plus, outfielder Garret Anderson and Maicer Izturis are due off the disabled list soon.

“We didn’t see a whole lot of playing time for Shea,” Stoneman said. “He had over 200 plate appearances, and we saw his productivity to this point. What will it be as a bench guy? We felt it was smart to make the move now.”

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In the baseball equivalent of a group intervention, Manager Mike Scioscia held a lengthy closed-door meeting with struggling pitcher Ervin Santana, a gathering that included pitching coach Mike Butcher and catchers Mike Napoli and Jose Molina, among others.For more than 30 minutes, the group tried to figure out why Santana, who has given up 11 runs — nine earned — and 18 hits in 11 2/3 innings of his last two starts, has not seemed like himself lately.

“The biggest thing is we didn’t see his best stuff out there,” Scioscia said. “Whether it’s not turning the ball loose aggressively or repeating pitches, you want to find the reason for it. Sometimes it’s mechanical, sometimes it’s focus, sometimes it’s mental aggressiveness, sometimes it’s a delivery flaw, sometimes it’s an injury.”

Santana assured Scioscia he is sound. So, what was the verdict?

“The biggest thing is he’s trying to pitch a little too much, which is taking away some of his aggressiveness,” Scioscia said, “as opposed to turning the ball loose and bringing more stuff on the mound. … If you’re going to get beat, you want to get beat with your best stuff.”

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Reliever Justin Speier, out since May 1 because of an intestinal infection, will resume his rehabilitation assignment at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga today, and infielder Izturis, out for most of May and June because of hamstring and rib-cage injuries, will begin playing for Rancho Cucamonga today. … Anderson, sidelined by a right hip flexor tendon tear, will begin a rehab assignment at Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. … Matthews, who sat out the Royals series because of a hamstring strain, is expected to return this weekend.