Mendoza Line Offense

When your team is batting just above the Mendoza Line for the past 11 games they really can’t afford to commit many errors. Too bad that’s exactly how they’ve lost 2 outta their last 3 games.

On Saturday, the Rays beat the Angels 5–3 when they gave up 4 unearned runs and Tuesday, the Blue Jays beat the team with the same score and number of unearned runs.

Angels Lose 5–3 to the Blue Jays

When the offense isn’t even scoring enough to overcome runs that are gifted to opponents things are definitely headed in the wrong direction.

Garrett Richards yesterday and Heaney on Saturday both pitched well but the guys behind them didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. But I suppose the people committing the errors were not expected to be everyday players. The underlying problem is that the Angels have been forced to turn to non-opening day starters to perform because the regulars are injured or playing like crap. Even the vaunted Mike Trout is in on the slump as his average has fallen over 50 points…but he’s still at .289. When you look at how bad Kinsler (.197) and Calhoun (.160) are performing it really makes me sad. Even Zack Cozart who had been hitting well at leadoff in the early days of April is down to .223. That’s 3 of the main, everyday players that are closer replacement level than the major leaguers they are expected to be.

What is up with these guys?

I had hopped they would shake things off as they headed out on the road since they seem to like playing elsewhere this season, but not on Tuesday.

So what happened against Toronto? Well, the first run was all Richards’ fault. He gave up the double to Josh Donaldson, let him get to third on a wild pitch, and then gave up the single to Teoscar Hernandez – all his problems. But then he gets Kevin Pillar out to make it 2 away. Then the fun happens…ok, perhaps there may have been a questionable call that allowed Smoak to walk instead of strike out, but…

Chris Young then missed a simple catch in Right Field and that’s all she wrote. 2 runs scored and it was 3–0. Kendry Morales finished off the scoring with a 2 run home run and that was all Toronto needed. The anemic Angel offense could barely muster 4 hits and somehow managed to get 3 runs outta that to make the final score seem slightly competitive.

With the way the Angels have played lately it’s becoming harder to pick my Player of the Game when they are pretty much not doing much. I could give it to Richards who only gave up the 1 earned run or to any of the guys who knocked in runs on outs. I think I’m gonna give it to Shohei Ohtani who hit the ball into the upper deck during batting practice though. At least during warmups these guys look like professionals.

It’s still early in the season since we just past the 1/4 mark but I wonder when it might be time to start looking at who’s coaching the relievers and offense. Right now, neither is functional for a team that wants to make the playoffs.

Hopefully Wednesday’s game will see the Angels play more like they have been on the road this year.

Daily Ramble 243.1 | Sports – Mendoza Line Offense