(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Along with many Angel fans over the Vlad years, I have been a proponnet of them doing something either in the off-season or at this time of year, the All Star Break. By doing something, I mean either a top signing or a trade to fill in a hole.
This year's surprising and late free agent signing was Bobby Abreu.
I liked this signing initially because I had been a fan of this classy and polished ball player. I read differing accounts of what his signing could do for and against the team - his patience at the plate would help our younger hitters but his defensive liabilities would cost the team some games.
At this point, I think that it's safe to say that we have gotten all the positives of Abreu with minimal negatives. His patience at the plate is a shining example to our younger hitters, especially Aybar and Itsuris, and helps Mickey Hatcher, our hitting coach, by showing them what patience at the plate truly means.
On the other hand, his few defensive lapses combined with some gems have cancelled out the negatives that were laid at his feet in the off season that he would be a defensive liability.
True, Vlad's injury let him go back to his more natural position of right field and that definitely helped him out, but the forecasts of his lack of defensive prowess has been proven to be wrong.
The expectations at the beginning of the season was that the division was the Angels to lose. Almost universally the prognosticators gave the division to the Angels. Their past performance combined with their depth, added experience for their young guys, and the Abreu signing all seemed to point that way. Unfortunately, that's not what is happening.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Angels are getting a run for their money by not only the unexpected Mariners but the Texas Rangers. The Mariners are only 4 games out at the time of this writing and the Rangers are a 1/2 game out.
Will the Mariners improve and stand the test of a pennant race? It's possible but not likely.
The Rangers, under the new managment of that tough and wiley Texan, Nolan Ryan, however, could be the real deal after usually fading in the second half of seasons.
Ryan, the HOF pitcher, knows what it takes to pitch in the blistering Texas heat in the summertime. He let the entire Ranger pitching staff know that their off season and in season conditioning is key for them to continue to contend in those hot July and August nights. He won't abide excuses, he wants results and he commands the respect necessary to achieve these aims. I don't think the Rangers are going to go away without a fight.
Okay, that leaves us, the LA Angels of Anaheim. We all know whats gone right this season.
We are hitting for average at a very unexpected, league leading rate of .280 right now and scoring runs in bunches. We have overcome deficits and comeback to win games 26 times already this season.
That's great, right?
You have to look at the other side to this coin though. Why are we having to come back so many times? Because our starting pitching is not what was expected. This is the crux of the problem.
Our expected ace, John Lackey, who is in a contract year, went on the disabled list and was delayed starting his season. Since he has come back he has been inconsistent at best and definitely not what one would consider a #1 pitcher on a staff to be. He has not gone deep in games consistently. His ERA is over 5 (5.14) and he has a losing record right now of three and four.
Whether it's the pressure of a contract year or just trying to get through his spring training during the actual season is best left up to his manager and pitching coach.
Joe Saunders, our all star from last year, started out the year in all star form. After getting rocked in a start nearly a month ago he has not been the same pitcher. I am hoping this is just a temporary thing because he is our only lefty and I have always liked him. Before last year, he was always coming up to get a spot start, would usually win it, and then be sent down.
Saunders never complained and showed his class many times despite the feeling you got that he was better than guys that were in our rotation at the time. It might take a little time, but I think he can right the ship in the second half of this season.
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