Forget the Outfield, Anaheim Needs Angels on the Mound

Forget the Outfield, Anaheim Needs Angels on the Mound

 

 

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have not been to the postseason since 2009, despite being a playoff regular for much of the aughts. Even though pitching has been their main problem, the offense has certainly deserved some blame as well, despite some pretty impressive talent. The Angels have the best player in all of baseball, one of the greatest players of all time, and a guy who is one of the greatest pure talents in the game over the last 20-25 years. How can a team be on a playoff drought with such quality talent? The answer is simple. Management from Mike Scioscia on up to General Manager Jerry Dipoto and Owner Arte Moreno are to blame. Spending big money on superstar talent and then filling the roster out with replacement level talent doesn’t work, especially when most of that replacement level talent is in charge of run prevention and getting the other team out.

All discussions about the Angels begin and end with Mike Trout, the best baseball player on planet Earth. Honestly, he may be even better than whatever baseball talent is in outer space also. What he has accomplished over the past two seasons are unlike anything we as fans have ever seen. He is fourth in the Majors in WAR over the last three seasons, and again, HE’S ONLY PLAYED TWO SEASONS!!!! Unfortunately though, the guy can’t do everything by himself. Big money was spent on both Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton and so far nothing to show for it. Pujols is certainly on the downside of his brilliant career and Hamilton may have had the talent drained from his body by the Monstar from Space Jam that is most likely inhabiting Trout’s body. Hamilton is a swing and miss machine who has never seen a pitch he didn’t like. Pujols and Hamilton need to regain some of that old mojo if the Angels want to compete for a playoff spot, especially when they play in a division with both Texas and Oakland. Both of those teams are dealing with injuries and the Rangers have some depth issues, so the time is now to capitalize and return to form in Anaheim.

In order for that to happen though it is going to take a pitching miracle. Jered Weaver is a decent pitcher when healthy, C.J. Wilson is one of the most hit or miss pitchers in baseball, and the rest of the rotation has more question marks than The Riddler’s suit. The bullpen isn’t much better. They are going to have to catch lightning in a bottle if they want to sustain success. Another big problem for this team is a farm system that is pretty barren with talent. This is a team that could be in big trouble until the Pujols and Hamilton money come off the books, and if I were Mike Trout I would think long and hard about my future after this season and whether I would want to continue to waste my prime with this team.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the National League Champion Cardinals who are primed to make another World Series appearance. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.