Coming into this Major League Baseball season I had pegged The Los
Angeles Angels to win The American League Pennant. Last offseason, The
Angels signed starting pitcher C.J. Wilson and first baseman Albert
Pujols to lucrative deals in the hopes of returning to the postseason
for the first time since 2009. Instead, The Angels will be sitting home
next week as they watch their division rivals The Oakland Athletics and
The Texas Rangers in the playoffs. Since being named Angels manager in
2000, Mike Scioscia has led The Angels to a World Series Championship
and only three losing seasons, but he never had expectations heaped on
him in the fashion that they were this season.
Pujols was signed to a 10-year, $264 million contract while Wilson
received a five-year, $75 million deal as The Angels were expected to
steamroll The American League. It didn’t help The Angels cause that
Pujols only had a .217 batting average in the month of April without
hitting any home runs. As a result, The Angels finished the month of
April, with a record of 8-15. The Angels finished the month in last
place in The American League West as they were nine games behind the
first-place Rangers. Pujols’ early struggles also led to the departure
of longtime Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher who had clashed with
Pujols.
received a five-year, $75 million deal as The Angels were expected to
steamroll The American League. It didn’t help The Angels cause that
Pujols only had a .217 batting average in the month of April without
hitting any home runs. As a result, The Angels finished the month of
April, with a record of 8-15. The Angels finished the month in last
place in The American League West as they were nine games behind the
first-place Rangers. Pujols’ early struggles also led to the departure
of longtime Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher who had clashed with
Pujols.
The Angels offense didn’t get it going until April
28 when All-Star center fielder Mike Trout was called up from the
Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. Trout has enjoyed a season for the ages.
Besides being a lock to win AL Rookie of The Year Award, Trout is a
legitimate candidate to be The AL’s Most Valuable Player. With two games
remaining in the season, Trout is second in The American League in
batting average at .325. Trout has hit 30 home runs along with 48 stolen
bases. Trout also leads MLB in wins above replacement with 10.7.
28 when All-Star center fielder Mike Trout was called up from the
Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. Trout has enjoyed a season for the ages.
Besides being a lock to win AL Rookie of The Year Award, Trout is a
legitimate candidate to be The AL’s Most Valuable Player. With two games
remaining in the season, Trout is second in The American League in
batting average at .325. Trout has hit 30 home runs along with 48 stolen
bases. Trout also leads MLB in wins above replacement with 10.7.
The Angels just appeared to be fighting an uphill
battle since opening day as they always were in catch-up mode to The
Rangers and then The Athletics came out of nowhere to become contenders
as well. It also didn’t help The Angels situation that they lead The
American League with 22 blown saves this year.
battle since opening day as they always were in catch-up mode to The
Rangers and then The Athletics came out of nowhere to become contenders
as well. It also didn’t help The Angels situation that they lead The
American League with 22 blown saves this year.
Starting pitchers Dan Haren and Ervin Santana didn’t
give 20-game winner Jered Weaver protection in the starting rotation.
Besides Weaver, no other pitcher in The Angels rotation has an earned
run average under 3.00 with Haren at 4.32 and Santana at 5.16. Angels
general manager Jerry Dipoto attempted to beef up the rotation over the
summer by acquiring 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zack
Greinke from The Milwaukee Brewers. Greinke has posted a record of 6-2
with an era of 3.53 since coming to Southern California, but it wasn’t
enough to get The Angels over the hump.
give 20-game winner Jered Weaver protection in the starting rotation.
Besides Weaver, no other pitcher in The Angels rotation has an earned
run average under 3.00 with Haren at 4.32 and Santana at 5.16. Angels
general manager Jerry Dipoto attempted to beef up the rotation over the
summer by acquiring 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zack
Greinke from The Milwaukee Brewers. Greinke has posted a record of 6-2
with an era of 3.53 since coming to Southern California, but it wasn’t
enough to get The Angels over the hump.
Dipoto has plenty of decisions to make over the offseason.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has already stated that Scioscia will return
for 2013. The Angels hold club options over Haren and Santana while
Greinke is expected hit the market as a free-agent. Outfielder Torii
Hunter is a potential free-agent and at 37-years of age, you have to
wonder if he is still in the future plans of The Angels. The Angels are
still stuck with the contract of Vernon Wells through 2014 as he is
scheduled to make $21 million in each of the next two seasons. Pujols
and Trout, along with utility man Mark Trumbo who leads the team in home
runs with 32 are locks for The Angels lineup next season. Weaver will
once again be the ace of this staff, but things after that are a little
gray. With a payroll over $151 million this season and without a playoff
berth it just shows that money cannot buy happiness nor a trip to the
postseason.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has already stated that Scioscia will return
for 2013. The Angels hold club options over Haren and Santana while
Greinke is expected hit the market as a free-agent. Outfielder Torii
Hunter is a potential free-agent and at 37-years of age, you have to
wonder if he is still in the future plans of The Angels. The Angels are
still stuck with the contract of Vernon Wells through 2014 as he is
scheduled to make $21 million in each of the next two seasons. Pujols
and Trout, along with utility man Mark Trumbo who leads the team in home
runs with 32 are locks for The Angels lineup next season. Weaver will
once again be the ace of this staff, but things after that are a little
gray. With a payroll over $151 million this season and without a playoff
berth it just shows that money cannot buy happiness nor a trip to the
postseason.
Sources: baseballreference.com, baseballprospectus.com
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