The Los Angeles Angels have many reasons to be excited. They have a new general manager in Jerry Dipoto, who surrounded himself with a new staff that bring with them the hope of something new. But more importantly, the Angels have outfielder Mike Trout, who introduced himself to Anaheim in 2011. The good news for Trout is that, contrary to previous thought, he is eligible for the Rookie of the Year award in 2012.

Major league rules grant rookie status to players with “not more than 130 at bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues during a previous season or seasons, nor more than 45 days on a major league roster during the 25-player limit (excluding time in military service, or on the disabled list).” Trout had just 123 at-bats with the Angels in 2011, but he appeared to have enough service time to disqualify him from rookie status with 56 days prior to September 1.

However, the Angels’ PR staff explained why Trout is still eligible for rookie status:

Was selected to Major League roster on July 8, 2011.

Received an optional assignment on August 1, 2011; thus, was on the 25-man roster for 25 days from July 8^th-July 31^st.

Was recalled on August 19, 2011; thus, was on the 25-man roster for 13 days from August 19^th-August 31^st.

Thus, Trout was on the 25-man roster for 38 days in 2011.

Since Trout was on option for less than 20 days before being recalled again, he is retroactively credited with the days while he was on option.

Even though he now gets credit for those days, the fact remains that he was an active player on the 25-man roster for just 38 days in 2011.

Since he was under 45 active days on the active 25-man roster in 2011, he keeps his rookie status for the 2012 season.

So congratulations Mike Trout, you have a chance to win Rookie of the Year next season. Now all you have to do is get playing time on a team that has Peter Bourjos in centerfield and $41 million total committed to corner outfielders Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter, plus another $9 million to designated hitter Bobby Abreu.

For more news on Mike Trout and the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

Warning: the following post contains humorous references to adult situations and colloquial descriptions of the excretory bodily functions of a major league ballplayer.

So, the strongest earthquake in the recorded history of Oklahoma rumbled throughout the Midwest on Saturday night. Folks felt it in such places as Kansas City, St. Louis and Dallas. Among those affected was Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter(notes) and his family, who live north of Dallas in the offseason. After getting the shakes, he took to Twitter:

We just had a earthquake in North Dallas area. Did anyone here just feel that?

My house just shook like crazy.

@LeeannTweeden1 was not fun

And then …

I was about to make luv then an earthquake happened. I don’t like earthquakes. Lol….

Me and @knutts48

So, the earth moved before he could make the earth move with Mrs. Hunter. Is that what he’s getting at? Aftershock-blocked? Funny. Perhaps a little TMI, but fair enough, Torii. Hunter also accused his kids of running running to him and “screaming like they were Lil Jon.”

Meanwhile, Hunter’s teenage son Darius was tweeting a different tune:

Dude we just had a earthquake!! @toriihunter48 was screaming like a girl! @knutts48 over here investigating! -_- #yess Finally I’m not tripn

And then:

@toriihunter48 over here taking a dump earthquake happen he ran out the bathroom with toilet paper on his foot @knutts48 over here dien! Lol

Aw, heck no. You just threw your old man under the bus, kid! Hunter’s sense of humor has been passed along to the next generation. Before long, the Hunters ought to have their own reality show. A&E, make it happen.

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Related: Los Angeles Angels, BallMedia, Ballpark Mischief, Meltdowns

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his right foot.

The Angels announced Trumbo’s injury on Monday before opening a series against the AL West champion Texas Rangers.

Trumbo also would miss the postseason. The Angels trailed Boston by three games with three to play Monday.

He is among the top candidates for the AL’s rookie of the year award after batting .254 with a club-leading 29 homers and 87 RBIs. He could become the first Angels rookie to lead the team in homers and RBIs barring a big finish by Torii Hunter, who has 23 homers and 82 RBIs.

Trumbo left last Saturday’s victory over Oakland with pain in his right ankle, but played in Sunday’s loss.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his right foot.

The Angels announced Trumbo’s injury on Monday before opening a series against the AL West champion Texas Rangers.

Trumbo also would miss the postseason. The Angels trailed Boston by three games with three to play Monday.

He is among the top candidates for the AL’s rookie of the year award after batting .254 with a club-leading 29 homers and 87 RBIs. He could become the first Angels rookie to lead the team in homers and RBIs barring a big finish by Torii Hunter, who has 23 homers and 82 RBIs.

Trumbo left last Saturday’s victory over Oakland with pain in his right ankle, but played in Sunday’s loss.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Los Angeles Angels rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo(notes)
will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his right foot.

The Angels announced Trumbo’s injury on Monday before opening a series
against the AL West champion Texas Rangers.

Trumbo also would miss the postseason. The Angels trailed Boston by three
games with three to play Monday.

He is among the top candidates for the AL’s rookie of the year award after
batting .254 with a club-leading 29 homers and 87 RBIs. He could become the
first Angels rookie to lead the team in homers and RBIs barring a big finish by
Torii Hunter(notes), who has 23 homers and 82 RBIs.

Trumbo left last Saturday’s victory over Oakland with pain in his right
ankle, but played in Sunday’s loss.

TORONTO, Sept. 19 (UPI) — Mike McCoy reached on an error and came around to score on a 10th-inning fielder’s choice Monday, handing Toronto a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

A miscue by shortstop Erick Aybar put McCoy aboard leading off the 10th. He went to second on an Eric Thames single and to third on Jose Bautista’s groundout.

With the Angels’ infield and outfield playing in, McCoy took off for the plate when Adam Lind hit a sharp grounder to second that was scooped up by outfielder Torii Hunter, whose throw home was high.

Casey Janssen (6-0) earned the victory with a scoreless top of the 10th in relief of starter Ricky Romero, who held the Angels to two runs on six hits over nine innings.

Scott Downs (6-3) surrendered the winning run for the Angels, whose playoff hopes took a blow with the defeat.

Los Angeles fell five games behind idle first-place Texas in the American League West with the setback.