Fallen Angels

My Angels are on the wrong path this season and it doesn’t look good for next season either. After going 2–9 this so far in August, the team is sitting at 49–67, 19 games behind division leading Texas and 14.5 out of the wild card race. Just 2 years ago, the Angels had the best record in baseball with 98 wins and here they sit, just half a game out of last. What’s up with that? They’ll be lucky to avoid having 98 losses this season.

The Curse of Hamilton

There are so many issues with this team, it’s hard to point a finger at the primary problem, but I’m gonna call it the curse of Josh Hamilton. The “left fielder” was nothing but problems for the team and they are still quite literally paying the price – they are giving him $28 million this year and another $28 million next year to “play” for the division rivals Texas Rangers. No wonder Texas is doing so well – they have a “slugger” on their team who they don’t even need to pay for. It’s too bad this alcoholic drug user couldn’t get his act together to actually earn the millions people are paying him, but it seems he’s cursed the Angels.

So with Hamilton’s millions on the books, the Angels have been unable to find anyone even remotely capable of playing left field. Their 2 big acquisitions this offseason – Nava and Gentry hit .235 and .147 and contributed to a hole on the left side that sits so far in last place in MLB in terms of so many offensive categories it makes you wish the AL let pitchers hit rather than put these guys at bat.

Pitching on the DL

That is if the Angels had any pitchers. The count is up to 3 now – 3 young, up-and-coming pitchers who are sitting on the DL either having Tommy John surgery or praying to avoid it. What is so wrong with the training program of the team that they can’t keep any pitcher healthy? Thier veterans? Well, there are hundreds of pitchers who’s change up is faster than Weaver’s fastball – and they’re in high school, and Wilson is like the rest of the staff…sitting on the DL. The one highlight, Santiago, was shipped off to Minnesota in hopes that maybe next year the weak returns will somehow blossom.

The Future?

I really feel bad for Trout. He is clearly the best player in baseball but he is stuck on such a mediocre or dare I say, bad, team. And where is that team headed next season? With millions still owed to Hamilton, how is a team that already pushes the luxury tax limit supposed to compete? Perhaps after the All-Star break next year they might get 2 of their Tommy John pitchers back, but who’s gonna pitch in the first half? Richards should be back if his prayers are answered but even if he comes back with his ace form, the rest of the staff is 3rd or 4th starter material at best. And then they need someone to at least wear a glove in left field. It just seems like next season is gonna be a problem as well, even if people manage to stay healthy and return from injuries.

I love the Angels. They’ve been my team forever, but I feel fans are in for a tough time. 2014 was a fun year (at least during the 98 win regular season) but it looks like it may have been the high water mark for a while. The brutal 3 game sweep at the hands of KC may be the last playoff appearance the team can expect for a few years, but hopefully they can turn things around before the end of Trout’s contract. He deserves to be in the playoffs and should be setting records there as well as the regular season. I just hope the team figures out how to keep their pitchers healthy and fill the holes caused but the curse of Hamilton. This year definitely is not the year and perhaps next year may be rough as well, but 2018…hopefully.