The Angels added two minor leaguers to their 40-man roster to boost the total to 37 players. Infielder Mark Trumbo and right-handed pitcher Anthony Ortega were added as of Thursday.

Somebody might want to adjust those odds on Francisco Rodriguez returning to the Angels. Owner Arte Moreno used the airwaves of his own radio station on Wednesday to let it be known that negotiations with Rodriguez have not been going well for over a year now. Looks like the Angels will have a new closer in 2009.

Moreno also said he would be interested in adding Manny Ramirez to the fold. To paraphrase what Moreno had to say: Manny's good. Why wouldn't the Angels be interested?

We still aren't sure how the Francisco Rodriguez contract negotiations will go, but the betting website BetOnline.com seems to think that K-Rod will be back with the Angels next season. They have him as an overwhelming 2-to-5 favorite to return to the Angels bullpen.

Not that we're into plugging websites or condoning gambling for that matter, but they had an interesting take. Here are the other teams that could land Rodriguez and their odds of getting him:

Tigers 5/1

Mets 6/1

Indians 6/1

Other 3/1

For the eighth consecutive season, Angels center fielder Torii Hunter was named an American League Gold Glove winner. Hunter did not have an error during his first season with the Angels. Also winning their eighth Gold Glove was Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.

Other AL winners: pitcher Mike Mussina (Yankees), catcher Joe Mauer (Twins) first baseman Carlos Pena (Rays), second baseman Dustin Pedrioa (Red Sox), shortstop Michael Young (shortstop), third baseman Adrian Beltre (Mariners) and outfielder Grady Sizemore (Indians).

For Young, a Covina native, it was his first Gold Glove. Mauer, Pena and Pedroia also won their first Gold Gloves.

Hunter's eight Gold Gloves as an outfielder trail only five outfielders all-time -- Roberto Clemente (12), Willie Mays (12), Ken Griffey Jr. (10), Andruw Jones (10) and Al Kaline (10)

In what might have been the easiest choice the Sporting News crew needed to make, Francisco Rodriguez was named the American League relief pitcher on their postseason all-star squad. Here are the Sporting News picks, which were just announced via e-mail.

SPORTING NEWS' ALL-STAR TEAMS

A.L.
C Joe Mauer, Twins
1B Justin Morneau, Twins
2B Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF Carlos Quentin, White Sox
OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers
OF Grady Sizemore, Indians
DH Aubrey Huff, Orioes
SP Cliff Lee, Indians
RP Francisco Rodriguez, Angels

N.L.
C Geovany Soto, Cubs
1B Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2B Chase Utley, Phillies
3B David Wright, Mets
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
OF Matt Holliday, Rockies
OF Ryan Braun, Brewers
OF Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
SP Tim Lincecum, Giants
RP Brad Lidge, Phillies

The best team didn't win in John Lackey's humble opinion. Not long after the Red Sox won the ALDS with a walk-off victory Monday, Lackey was seething.

"They were better than us last year," Lackey said. "They weren't better than us this year."

And there was this: "It's like I want to throw something through a wall."

And don't even compare this ALDS to last year's.

"It's frustrating," Lackey said. "It's way different than last year. We're a better team than they are."

Manager Mike Scioscia has already said that even though the bullpen was needed to absorb 7 1/3 innings Sunday, everybody is available for Game 4. Scot Shields pitched 2 1/3 innings and Jered Weaver went 2 innings, but Scioscia said that both could pitch today if needed. Darren Oliver (a third of an inning Sunday) might get more use than normal. Scioscia was noncommitial on using rookie Kevin Jepsen saying the staff is looking at situations "that might or might not be his role."

The Red Sox just announced that third baseman Mike Lowell was removed from the ALDS roster because of his ongoing right hip strain. He will be replaced by infielder Gil Velazquez. Lowell started Games 1 and 3 and was hitless in eight at-bats against the Angels. Because he was replaced, Lowell would not be eligible to play in the ALCS if the Red Sox advance. Velazquez has just eight major-league at-bats with one hit.

There was much debate a day ago, before Game 3, about whether or not Angels manager Mike Scioscia guaranteed a victory. While being asked to compare his team's plight to that of the already defeated Cubs, Scioscia wouldn't do it and said the Angels were not going to get eliminated.

It figured then that before today's Game 4, Scioscia was asked if he was willing to make another prediction. The exchange went like this:

Reporter: You were confident enough yesterday to emphatically say to us, "we're not getting eliminated."
Scioscia: Let me say this, if there are more questions out there about be doing some kind of forensic anaylsis or pre-mortem, I'm going to have the same response. We're going to win.

Different reporter: I think Jack was tryng to get you to guarantee a victory.
Scioscia: Well, ask me to do a forensic anaylsis and I'll guarantee it. I'll guarantee a victory. I'm not going to sit here and compare. The question yesterday was comparing us to what happened to the Cubs. The Cubs were eliminated. We're not eliminated. That's my position on that.

Just one slight change with the Angels lineup and it is a direct result of Mike Napoli's productive Game 3. He will jump up one spot ahead of Juan Rivera. The Red Sox have made more changes. Mike Lowell (sore hip) is out with Kevin Youkilis playing third base and Mark Kotsay at first.

ANGELS:
Chone Figgins 3B
Garret Anderson LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Torii Hunter CF
Mike Napoli C
Juan Rivera RF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Erick Aybar SS

John Lackey P

RED SOX:
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Kevin Youkilis 3B
JD Drew RF
Jason Bay LF
Mark Kotsay 1B
Jed Lowrie SS
Jason Varitek C

Jon Lester P